I know there's really nothing that I can do about it, but it feels like my period lasts forever, and misery loves company : ) I do have a copper IUD. I have about 2 days of light bleeding, 3 heavy days (we're talking changing tampon every hour), and then about 3 more days of light bleeding. (Sorry if that's TMI) It's forever! By the middle I just feel so run down, tired, and headache-y.
Is this normal? And what do you do to survive your period (foods to eat/avoid, meds, etc)?
Thanks!
Now that I'm older things have changed over the past few years, but basically for 30 years it was the same, 1 day light, 3-4 days heavy, and the last 2 light or just spotting.
Having to change a tampon every every is too heavy. Make an appointment with you GYN.
Hi J.,
Mine suddenly became heavy - using the super (orange wrapper) for a day. Went to the health center - low in vitamin D and anemic. I've been taking supplements. There's been improvement.
Good luck,
: ) M.D.
J.,
My periods were like that but I also had horrible cramps from the time I was 13 til 40. Then I started taking supplements to deal with the migraines I was having. My periods went from 7-10 days down to 3 with no cramps.
If your are interested in what I take, let me know.
Victoia
when i was in high school i bled for 11 days each cycle (and most of those days were heavy) then i lost a lot of weight (estrogen is stored in fat which is why women have higher fat content then men and why anorexics can stop getting there period) because of an eating disorder and starting skiping months and when i did get my period it would last 2-4 days. now that i have had my son my cycle is more normal (but still ranges from 29-33 days) and i bleed 4-5 days only one heavy (the other days i can forget to change a tampon and on the heavy day i only use about 4 tampons) a "normal" period last anywhere from 2-17 days so there is a very wide range
hi there--
what my ob/gyn told me when i was discussing iuds what that the copper one, while having no hormones (yay!) would possibly lead to heavier, "worse" periods (boo!). i went with the mirena iud since, while it has a little hormone (much less than the pill), my periods would be lighter and easier. i am very happy with the mirena. i get a little pms (a little moody, maybe a little headache) but not like on the pill (3 days of bloatedness, headache, rage ;)), and no cramps. plus i only need a liner for a couple days as opposed to the week-long bleeding on the pill. very light period which only really comes due to acupuncture and my body regulating that way.
i agree with the other poster that changing a tampon every hour is something to check with your doctor about. if you can, maybe look into acupuncture-- it really helps me with a host of things. also, exercising helped me with pms and period symptoms.
good luck!
Your period sounds A LOT more normal then mine. After I had my daughter, I had a period straight for 14 months (She is 20 months now). My obgyn finally did a uterian ablation and tied my tubes (I only have one child and do not want anymore). He said the ablation should stop my periods or just make me spot once a month. I had the ablation done in June and since then I have a period that lasts 8 days and then I spot for 2 weeks and about 20 days later, I start my period again. However, the last month I haven't stopped my period. It's a never ending cycle for me. He said the next step is a partial hysterectomy (and I'm only 30). I have an appointment on Wednesday to set up surgery.
I typically HATE chocolate. However, when it's that time of the month, I absolutely love it. It seems I can't get enough of it. I just crave sweet and salty foods. If I eat something sweet, I have to follow it with something salty and vice versa.
Could you talk to your doctor and see if they will try Mirena IUD instead of the copper? See if that makes a difference? I feel sorry for anyone that has a period with everything I've been through.
Mine is either 4 days of Heavy or 10 days of light spotting. It varies from month to month.
Having a period of 8 days doesn't seem abnormal to me, however the three days of heavy bleeding could get some attention from your ob/gyn.
I used to have horrible periods. At one time I bled for years with only an hour break every few months. Dr. could not figure out what was wrong, started taking the pill but if I was late taking it (took at 8:30 instead of 8:00 one morning) then I would bleed the rest of the month. The Nuva Ring helped but I could no longer afford it so I got the Mirena IUD in August of 2009 and have not had a period at all since November of 2009. When I was having periods with the Nuva Ring I did have heavy bleeding and noticed it was the worst when I drank a lot of caffine in the week before my period. If I stuck to drinking just water it wasn't as bad. I am much happier now and have not had any problems with the IUD.
well...i just had a baby 5 weeks ago and I'm going to be asking myself this same question very soon...
normally though mine lasts a good 5 days with light flow the first day then heavy for a few then tapers off in the end where I don't need a tampon. I never found Midol or others like that to work. If I feel I need something for cramps I just use Ibuprofen and a heating pad...
my ob just prescribed me Lo Seasonique which I plan on starting tomorrow. He didn't reccomend an IUD for me because I have had 2 c-sections and could run the risk of it moving and causing lots of potential problems. I've heard you can go 3-4 mos without a period on this pill...not sure.
My 14 year old daughter just started and bleeds very heavily for about 6-7 days. I also had several really heavy periods (I am peri-menopausal). The ob-gyn recommended taking ibuprofin for 24-48 hours round the clock (every 4-6 hours) and it amazingly reduced the flow to almost nothing. My daughter's still lasts about a week but the flow is so much less. Mine has always been about 4-5 days and still is.
Periods revert to "normal" on paraguard. My best friend's lasts 2 days on hers... mines closer to yours... 1 light, 2 heavy, 2 light.
Foods?
Steak (mooing), spinach, mushrooms, sushi, and other iron and mineral and protein rich foods.
In my teens, twenties, and early thirties, I had a normal period. Then I got an iud and my period got unmanageable. I had the same thing as you do, very heavy periods, not being able to make it through hour long meetings at work, having to basically schedule my life around my periods. And cramping got worse and worse until I finally saw my doctor. He took the iud out and things improved but then I was eventually diagnosed with endrimetrious and had a partial hysterectomy, which solved all my problems. You should talk to your doctor. The bleeding is too much, something needs to change.
