Unusually heavy AF - how heavy is too heavy?

[Indadhanu]

Ok TOTAL TMI post here, so I'll say it one to get it over with. TMI!!!!
Oh, and I'm not sure if this is a post-natal/post-birth thing or not, but since its never happened before, and I've had AF issues since Jazz was born, figured this was a fairly good place as any.

Got AF Friday mid-morning, in full force, have been really heavy but not unusual until last night, when I had to change my pad multiple times overnight, and then this morning I got up at 7am, put on a new pad and a tampon and lucky I doubled up as by 9am I had completely soaked through both

I hasn't let up yet, and I'm almost through another pad.

This is unusual for me, I've always had heavy 5-7 day AF, but this is crazy! I also had 4 months of no AF, and this is the second AF for the year (last one was mid-April, before that it was early January).

How heavy is too heavy? How long does it go on for before I worry? I'm just not really sure...???

[BellyBelly]

Get onto acupuncture for cycle regulation hon.... I suffered really soaking heavy periods like that too for over a year until I got sick of it, everyone kept telling me my body was just trying to get in sync after having a bub but I couldnt handle it anymore. Seriously, one session of ap, the very next cycle a month later was medium and 5 days!!! I was so happy, its been that way since. It may take more than one go for some people, but I think it's an awesome way to help it regulate, and much better than the pill, which often is used to regulate cycles.

[squidipa]

i can get this as u prolly know already i think obviously if really worried ask a professional. but at a guess i would say its all those months of no af coming out, if u start to feel very lethargic tired ask a proffesional. Also keep your fluid intake up and water and rest as much as possible as hard as it is and have some iron ... tuna is good and red meat i always eat tuna during my af.

If this is not normal for you i would ask for advice. like 13 health?

[idacq223]

Most people dont realise how little blood it actually takes to soak a pad. Of course all pads are different but try it sometime, measure about 20mls ( add a bit of food colouring to make it easier to see) and pur onto your preferred type of pad and see what it looks like. Repeat this until the pad is soaked, I have actually done it with blood for an educational tool for midwives, to estimate blood loss following birth and was surprised how little it was.
The time you need to worry about how much blood you have loss is if it compromises how you feel. If you are feeling dizzy then you have lost too much and need to see a doctor ASAP. If you are feeling tired and run down then you might be anaemic and need to have your Hb and iron levels checked. If its just annoying but you feel OK then your body is coping with the loss and will replace the blood over the next few weeks. Think about blood donation they take 500 mls or so out without it being a problem every three months and belive me if you saw that much blood spread out it is big pool.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Until starting acupuncture, all my periods (by that I mean the 2 I got per year!) were like this. I couple of times I went to KEMH as I was feeling more tired than usual and slightly dizzy - every single time I was told that if I was still bleeding like that in 2 weeks (from appointment, not start of AF), then I should go to my GP. Idacq's right, we don't actually lose a lot of blood when having a period. Unless you start going through more than one pad/tampaon in an hour, I really don't think a doc will do anything except maybe suggest iron tablets, KWIM?

Believe me, I know how scary and frustrating it can be chicky

[angelaartsstudent]

This is how all my periods would be when I was on the pill strangely enough - I would bleed straight through two night pads.

Are you on anything - hormonal or non hormonal - just to regulate at the moment? The accupuncture def sounds a nicer option than going on the pill...which I wouldnt recommend going on just to regulate, personally, but everyone has a different experience with it.

[Michelle71]

Definitely acupuncture. I went from painful and reasonably heavy periods to a menstrual cycle that started (and continued) without ANY pain and light, pinkish, fresh red blood colour (compared to the thick, dark menstrual blood from before).

However, I would also see a GP and maybe an U/S. Fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding - particularly if it is different to before and grow with hormones. Something to consider - particularly if there is a family history of them.