OMG, I've only been on Warfarin since September, and each period has been worse than the last. Longer and way, way heavier. The last one was absolutely MONSTROUS. It was so bad that my gyno put in an IUD to stop them.

I had no idea what a normal period was since before my PE I'd been on the pill 20 some years so during that time , my period then lasted only a day. Went off the pill and started warfarin at the same time so hard to tell if being off the pill made it heavier or warfarin. I suspect it was being of the pill.

And when I say "heavier" I don't mean anything outrageous. It's totally manageable, probably on par with a normal heavy period many women not on warfarin experience. I don't think warfarin made me bleed more. What I notice most for me is that the consistency is different, less viscous.

Hi,

This is my first post, but I have been on OAC ( Warafin) for 2 years straight now and previously for an 8 month period.

The first period is scary, especially as most of us are coming off the pill and we can't take anti-inflammatory pain killers like advil for the period pain. (use heat packs if needed or talk to your dr in advance about pain killers on scripts)

The first thing - don't stress - easy to say harder to do... but it will work. Every time you think about it. Sit and take 5 long slow breaths in and out ( 5 seconds in, hold, 5 seconds out - or as long as you can) . You don't want to start a bad association within yourself between periods, OAC and the first one.

With everything you have been through already the last thing you need is more stress.... I have been there and have done it to myself and know.

Second thing prepare.

You will ( most likely - remember everyone is different - so I am going on my experience here) bleed a lot but I would not say its heavy because the blood is thin, so while it is high in volume it would not be what you would traditionally think of as a heavy period however it is likely to get messy dispite all best efforts to the contray, it you have a dark sense of humour or like us aussies can laugh at yourself it can come in really ahndy here... but it is good to prepare and to prepare anyone else (like someone who share your bed) what they might see if your period starts unexpectedly one night. Just remember - (this is a good time to do 5 deep breaths) blood washes out of bed clothes and pjs (or whatever you may wear to bed) and a shower gets off the rest.
(take 5 deep breaths again) We fondly refer to my first period after hospital as a crime scene, it started during the night and it was not expected, its soaked and spread sheets above and below, and because the blood doesn't clot and turn brown for hours, in the morning it did look like a crime scene. After a massive hug, My partner grabbed the bed clothes and my pjs and put them onto soak, and I jumped in the shower for about 30 minutes to get clean. It was strange, unusual, embarrassing and distressing at the time, but it now is a running joke between us, I put police tape on the calendar to indicate my period. Laughter for me is the best medicine. This was my first period on warafin (the first time I was on warafin and came out of the blue - it had taken about 3 months of being out of hospital for my stress to decrease and actually have one. During this period which lasted 7 days *the longest one - I am now more regular, at each 30 days for 3 days* I got so concerned at day three, that I was going through so many pads, and bleeding so much, feeling so weak ( wasn't having period cramps and still don't - bonus there ;) ) that I went up to the ER so concerned that I was bleeding out on a period because of the warfarin, after an INR test (that was in normal range), a quick look from the on call OB and a quick chat from my vascular specialist and a little bit of a sedative it was all okay and I got to go home and was told just to relax. They of course set limits with me regarding what is a concerning leave of bleeding during a period which I keep in my medical folder, which would indicate bleeding out from a period on warfarin, but it literally has to be uncontrollable bleeding, ie like cutting an artery, but this is something your Dr should have talked to you about (this is something you need to get medical advice on - this is something that to often they forget to tell women about)

I have gotten used to the fact now that there is now more blood (the same way there is during a paper cut or even when I get waxed) than I had before ( I find about 2 or 3 times more pads are used), and the blood is redder and thinner (and it does not turn brown and I do recall remembering the smell changed to be more pleasant - but it has been so long now its hard to remember what it used to smell like). I sleep at night on dark coloured towel (only because I only have white sheets and don't like to bleach the cotton to often as I don't like to smell of bleach) and don't find tampon comfortable so I can't say how effective tampons are with the increased style of warfin blood flow.

I find the upside to periods on warfarin is that I don't get the cramps like I used during my periods, also my periods are shorter in length, they are more regular, and I don't get PMT ( and no chocolate cravings). With the expectation of a little more mess because of some thin blood periods almost pass by with no notice for me, where they once used to stop my life for almost a week.

I am guessing all of this is highly personal but I think the common thing will be to relax, to accept like everything to do with your blood now, it will be thinner and it will take longer to clot. And do what you need to in order to feel comfortable, whether that is to gather more information, talk to your Dr or allied health workers about it (especially if they have not already spoken to you about it in terms of what is considered a danger point), wear dark clothes, get those extra thick liners / extra absorbent liners (in Australia we have some really thin really absorbent liners which are fantastic)...

Wishing you a really stress free time ... lots of hugs ... and lots of support

P.S I just had my last period over xmas ( xmas eve to boxing day) and with the expectation of remembering to pack the pads in the handbag when we were heading out and about and also the baby wipes ( I always take these when I am out and about and want to freshen up during a period or need to wipe down a toilet seat if there are any blood traces), honestly it was like nothing at all...this is just a million times better than what it used to be like - can't say its all to do with the warfarin but I am sure it has something to do with it.

I think it depends on the woman, really. I've never noticed a difference between being on and being off warfarin. All seems about the same, to me.

Yeah, it really is an individual thing.

I don't know about anyone else, but I think the last time I ever got my underwear or bedding bloody from my period is when I first started having it, at age 11. There's pads and tampons, all the stuff we're familiar with as women. I mean, it's just a period, not a crime scene.

Oh geez. Before Warfarin, mine were light and only lasted a couple of days. On Warfarin, they were heavy, messy, went everywhere, and lasted at least 5 days. I felt like I was bleeding to death. I hope this IUD works and stops them, like my gyno said it would.

If you're used to having them for a day or two, it can feel like a burden when it's anything more than that although I think on average most periods fall into that 4-7 day range.

My last period was 9 days, ha ha! Has nothing to do with warfarin, just where things are at with my body. Perimenopause is FANTASTIC.

Mrschicopea,don't psyche yourself out. It'll be what it will be and it will be fine.

I think we just have to go with the flow, literally and figuratively.

Warfarin definately made my periods heavier, but not unmanagable. They were also VERY inconsistent on warfarin. One month it would be 9 days of moderate bleeding, then next month I would bleed so heavily I pretty much had to stay near a bathroom, but it would only last one day then just spotting for a couple more. I was really worried before my first warfarin period, but it was really worse in my head than in reality.

I was on the pill for three decades and the last three years was on continuously because of hormone headaches. After experiencing the massive PE on August, of course, I have stopped the pill. I have not experienced any bleeding but it could be my age, early 50's. I do believe if you are experiencing heavy bleeding you should contact your doctor.

I'm in a Coumadin group on Facebook, and heavy periods are a common complaint. Some have had medical procedures to stop them. I guess it depends on if you plan to have children or not. My Anti-Coagulation clinic told me to ask my doc, and my doc sent me to a gyno. She put in the IUD and said it'll probably stop them after 6 months, and if it doesn't, it'll make them very light. It was painful, and I've had periodic cramping and spotting since then, but it's not too bad.

I too was worried about my first period on warfarin and off birth control. The flow was heavier, but thinner, and was maybe a day longer. I had to change pads a little more frequently than before, but it wasn't a drastic change. I did take an iron supplement, as suggested by my doctor, since my iron was on the low side even before this.

OP here - normally they last about 5-6 days and the first two are very heavy and painful and then start to dissipate. I use a diva cup rather than tampons or pads and I'm worried that won't be enough - or maybe I'll just have to change it more often. Things to think about. Period still hasn't arrived. At least I feel better reading all of your experiences with it.

AussieAnnabel, thank you for your long and thoughtful reply as well.

With regard to having children (something someone mentioned or asked) - no more for me! I have four and I'm all done. :)

In that case, if you're done having children, some people have recommended having ablations. I'm not exactly sure what those are, but some have said they helped. Good luck. I'm sure everything will work out.

Since I had to remove my Nuvaring in the hospital I had the pleasure of starting it while I was there. Since then they have become heavier with more cramping which I attribute to not being on BC, since that is the reason I was on it. I will be looking into the ablation that someone recommended below as I was requesting a hysterectomy for this reason and that is not given without medical need. Ugh. like heavy painful long periods aren't medical need. At almost 40 I don't know if having children is still in the picture for me anyway.

I've had an Mirena for over four years now, and I usually get a period that lasts about 1/2 day. I've been on warfarin for the past 3 months. I am currently on day 7th day of my period. I'm not bleeding excessively or anything. Is this weird or usual?