ibuprofen helps me. I start taking it when I feel like I'm pmsing. It's best to take the lowest possible dose that will help because it can cause stomach issues if you take too much. So start with one advil and if that doesn't help, move to two. Good luck!

I have horrifically heavy periods with lots of pain and had succumbed to eating ibuprofen almost like candy (only slight exaggeration). I was paralyzed with back spasms this month (usually just have bad lower back pain during period). I took Aleve instead and it was like my period all but stopped within an hour.

What is it about NSAIDs lightening flow?

Definitely going to look into ablation though.

I don't have a dedicated gyno yet; I've been seeing GP for well woman visits.

Can anyone recommend a doctor/practice in Northern Virginia who can do this procedure, preferably a woman?

You all have motivated me to do ablation, thank you! I'm 41 and 3 kids later, husband has been recently snipped, we are done! Periods now last 12 days, gah!!!!, the first 3 days are torrential. Today was a perfect day to go to the pool, and the only thing I could think of was the fact that I couldn't go into the water because I know I'd leak a super super-sized tampon within 1.5 hours. Done! Calling the doc on Monday to schedule it!

I take ibuprofen all the time to lighten the bleeding. My ob suggested it. Works well. I sometimes worry about how much I take it because I also use it for joint pain.

Have you tried Always Infinity pads? They are amazing.

Is this part of perimenapause? My cycles are heavy and I feel like I get my monthly bill every three weeks

I have to plan my life around my period. I have missed many many events because of it. I have always envied women who have light periods or even normal ones.

When I still had my period (stopped in February thanks to my ablation!) I used to take a lot of ibuprofen for cramps. I would usually start taking them a couple of days before my period started because the cramps were so bad. I would take 600 or 800 milligrams at a time. It didn't lighten my period at all that I know of. I also tried Lysteda for a few months. It did not help either. The ablation was the best decision ever. Good luck to you.

Never lightened my flow. Only BCPs did that.

A friend who is a midwife recommends ibuprofen therapy starting BEFORE your expected period for heavy flow.

Anonymous wrote:What is ablation? Can a 46 yr old take bc? I cannot swim at all on my heavy days due to fear of leaking in pool

An ablation is a procedure where the uterine lining is burned off. Takes about 2 min, but the entire procedure is about 20 min. You have to go under general anesthesia. It was done in an out patient center by my OBGYN. I took a day off from work the day I had my ablation and was back the next day without any problem. Best decision ever. I went from using super extra plus tampon (had to order on amazon because they don't sell it in the store) WITH a pad every hour to regular tampons and no pad every 4-6 hours.

What is ablation? Can a 46 yr old take bc? I cannot swim at all on my heavy days due to fear of leaking in pool

Ugh. My DH had a vasectomy last year because we were done with kids and I just had to go back on the Pill. But period was stretching to 9 days and incredibly heavy for 5 of them. Good luck OP.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I think I will go for ablation. Meanwhile, I'm going to try the ibuprofen this month in hopes it will help. I'm just starting tonight, which means tomorrow will be horrendous. And of course we're going away for the night for our anniversary!

231:12 here. I'm so sorry OP. I knew it was time to get the ablation when I had to cancel a weekend camping trip. We were all set to go to the beach to camp, and I got my period on Friday morning. The thought of having to trudge in the woods to find the camp bathroom to change my super duper plus tampon every hour of the night was less than appealing. I ended up staying home while my family went on.