TMI advice for heavy periods

I have never really had issues with my period or with terrible cramping until now.

I had my 3rd child in April of 2020. I exclusively breast fed her so I went over a year without a period. Once it did start I had one month of a very light period. But for the past 5 months now it’s been like a blood bath each month. It has been worse than my postpartum bleeding. It only last 5-7 days, but the first 3-4 are awful. I feel like I can’t go anywhere. I have to wear thick pads and at night I have to wake up in the middle of the night to change or I leak through.

One month I was up with my little one because she was sick and I was walking around with her I got a gosh that over filled a pass and was dripping down my leg. It’s always bright red and has clots.

I started my period yesterday with horrible cramps and woke up in the middle of the night to change my pad. I had to wait for the bathroom and in the time of waiting I feel the blood just flowing out of me and then also out over the front of my pad. It takes me so long in the bathroom to clean up Anderson this time it looked like a murder scene. I got blood on the toilet seat and it dropped down the bowl to the floor. Is this normal for a heavy period or is it something I should get checked out? Is this what happens as you get older? I’ve never dreaded my period more than I do now. I plan to call my doctor after the holidays since we are traveling.

Any tips or brands of pads that are best for really heavy periods? I feel I need postpartum pads or diapers. Advice for cramps and feeling sick also.