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Original poster

To seek medical help today (very heavy periods)

67 replies

Egm5478 · 21/06/2025 12:45

Hi all,

I have already got an appt lined up with my GP for next because this is an ongoing issue but hear me out.

since having my daughter 5 years ago my periods have been very heavy for the first 3 days - think soaking through pads and tampons, then they last another 3 or 4 days but at a manageable level.

I’ve had an ultrasound and all was clear, I do have anaemia (bloods result was 101 last month).

I came on my period on Thursday and have been heavy since, I bought a menstrual cup a couple of months ago so I can now see how much blood I’m losing - I’ve filled it (15ml) 3 times already today and emptied it 7 times yesterday - it was full everytime.

ive had a headache for 2 days but this has gone today however today everytime I stand up I feel dizzy for a few seconds and generally feel quite weak. Otherwise I feel well.

would it be a waste of time going to the walk in centre today? Would they even be able to do anything for me? Or just best waiting for my GP appt on Thursday?

posted in AIBU for traffic - sorry! 😊

OP posts:
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user1471516498 · 27/06/2025 21:29

I am 50, and have fainted at least once with every period since I was 12. I usually vomit from cramps on day one as well. I have known since I was about 15 that this is very normal, and have just learned to push through it. I would probably be diagnosed with endometriosis if I pushed for it, but I have grown up seeing my.mum and my two sisters all go through it as well as myself and just power through it. No point wasting a doctors appointment.

lovemycbf · 27/06/2025 21:03

I have fibroids too

lovemycbf · 27/06/2025 21:01

If you’re done having children ask for an ablation for me it was life changing

Original poster
Egm5478 · 27/06/2025 20:54

Update for anybody who is interested..

saw the GP on Thursday who was really great, ordered bloods and a repeat ultrasound as she suspects fibroids and my last scan was 2 years ago.

ive had an appointment through already for an ultrasound next Wednesday, I thought I’d have to wait but seems quick!

bloods came back today, Hb is 102 but ferritin is only 4! Which according to Google is super low?

trying not to self diagnose and waiting for my follow up call where well hopefully have a plan!

OP posts:
MummyJ36 · 22/06/2025 20:34

Some of these replies! Absolutely go to the walk in centre if you need to. You are not wasting anyone’s time. I’m sick of this idea that we’re somehow saving the NHS by suffering in silence. I don’t care if anyone comes for me because I’m sick of seeing threads like this where someone is genuinely struggling and the first few replies tell them to suck it up and not waste NHS time. Screw that. Look after yourself OP ♥️

Corgiears · 22/06/2025 20:32

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 18:25

And telling every single person to go to a&e is also dangerous. Like I said previously she is a grown adult if she genuinely needed to go she would go. I'm sure she's not stupid and wouldn't just sit at home dying just because someone on the Internet said speak to the pharmacist.

Edited
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Give over, nobody has done that.

Lingfield01 · 22/06/2025 19:43

God some of the replies here are plain nasty!

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 18:25

Corgiears · 22/06/2025 16:48

Ascertain whether she’s dangerously anaemic or has any other issue, such as unexpelled or trapped tissue. While that thankfully seems not the case here it absolutely has been in the past and has been possibly fatal. Telling women that have sustained heavy bleeding and secondary symptoms such as lightheadedness that there’s never any urgent risk is irresponsible and uninformed.

Show quote history

And telling every single person to go to a&e is also dangerous. Like I said previously she is a grown adult if she genuinely needed to go she would go. I'm sure she's not stupid and wouldn't just sit at home dying just because someone on the Internet said speak to the pharmacist.

Corgiears · 22/06/2025 16:48

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 07:26

She has an appointment with a gp coming up even if you faint a&e arent interested like she's been told previously she can go to the pharmacy and get iron tablets and tranexamic acid. She had her bloods done recently and her levels of haemoglobin isn't low enough for a transfusion her ultrasound was clear. What do you expect a&e would do for her.

Show quote history

Ascertain whether she’s dangerously anaemic or has any other issue, such as unexpelled or trapped tissue. While that thankfully seems not the case here it absolutely has been in the past and has been possibly fatal. Telling women that have sustained heavy bleeding and secondary symptoms such as lightheadedness that there’s never any urgent risk is irresponsible and uninformed.

Tooearlytothink · 22/06/2025 14:15

The lightheadedness is to be expected with low iron/haemoglobin - have spent months like this unfortunately both during pregnancy & prior to, due to low iron.

Capillaryaction · 22/06/2025 14:11

Hiya, I'm gonna say this like I always do on these threads.
The NHS is broken and appalling about gynae care.

If you can pay for £15 a month get yourself on Benenden healthcare. After six months you'll be able to see a private specialist and get proper help.
There is something wrong and you need proper help.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 22/06/2025 14:02

I had heavy periods from day one, which became so bad year on year that I overcompensated, trying to stay fit and hiding the issue by avoiding some aspects of a normal life. I had severe anaemia picked up when I went to give blood!! Turns out a fibroid had junked my uterus (grapefruit size) and was beginning to impact on other health issues. Seek medical advice and it needs investigation, as it is definitely not normal and do not be fobbed off!

Greys3456 · 22/06/2025 13:18

I have had gynaecological issues pretty much my whole adult life - the only time I have been to a walk in or A&E is when it was literally gushing all over the floor every time I stood up - despite wearing several layers of period protection. I’m glad to hear that it has started easing off now.

Original poster
Egm5478 · 22/06/2025 12:57

I’m happy to report the bleeding has really slowed overnight after taking a few doses of the tranexamic acid so I’m a lot less worried today!

still feeling a bit rough but no worse than yesterday and I’m sure I can wait to see the GP now. So awful to hear how many people have had similar experiences, being a woman is full of joys isn’t it!

OP posts:
feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 07:49

LoafofSellotape · 22/06/2025 07:44

She might need a transfusion by now. She needs to be checked.

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If she genuinely thinks its that bad then as an adult she can choose to go to a&e and any point. She doesn't have to listen to the advice of others online she has free will.

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 07:47

Soontobe60 · 22/06/2025 07:38

Maybe check she’s not haemorrhaging?

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Do you even know what hemorrhaging means

LoafofSellotape · 22/06/2025 07:44

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 07:26

She has an appointment with a gp coming up even if you faint a&e arent interested like she's been told previously she can go to the pharmacy and get iron tablets and tranexamic acid. She had her bloods done recently and her levels of haemoglobin isn't low enough for a transfusion her ultrasound was clear. What do you expect a&e would do for her.

Show quote history

She might need a transfusion by now. She needs to be checked.

Soontobe60 · 22/06/2025 07:38

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 07:26

She has an appointment with a gp coming up even if you faint a&e arent interested like she's been told previously she can go to the pharmacy and get iron tablets and tranexamic acid. She had her bloods done recently and her levels of haemoglobin isn't low enough for a transfusion her ultrasound was clear. What do you expect a&e would do for her.

Show quote history

Maybe check she’s not haemorrhaging?

Soontobe60 · 22/06/2025 07:37

Sahara123 · 21/06/2025 13:22

I’m always going on about the Mirena coil, totally saved me from 3 week long horrendous periods . Took a year maybe but eventually my periods stopped completely, bonus being that as I had no periods I went through the menopause without noticing !

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Same here. I would say that a mirena coil not only helped me physically but also helped me mentally. 3 days of having to stay home each month, lack of understanding from my employer and just feeling generally awful made me spiral into a depression. 6 months after having it fitted I felt amazing!

LoafofSellotape · 22/06/2025 07:31

wordywitch · 21/06/2025 13:19

No wonder women are gaslit and have their pain ignored by medical professionals, when even fellow women are like ‘Suck it up love, it’s just a PERIOD you silly little girl’. I’m sure OP knows what is within the limits of heavy but normal for her and if this feels alarming then she is perfectly reasonable to seek medical advice via 111, especially as she is symptomatic and anaemic.

Absolutely agree. Seek advice OP.

feelingbleh · 22/06/2025 07:26

Corgiears · 22/06/2025 02:39

Oh well, as long as we’re all lightheaded, then that’s fine 🤦‍♀️

Show quote history

She has an appointment with a gp coming up even if you faint a&e arent interested like she's been told previously she can go to the pharmacy and get iron tablets and tranexamic acid. She had her bloods done recently and her levels of haemoglobin isn't low enough for a transfusion her ultrasound was clear. What do you expect a&e would do for her.

Corgiears · 22/06/2025 02:39

feelingbleh · 21/06/2025 13:38

Of course she's lightheaded she's anemic and it 30 degrees where all light headed.

Show quote history

Oh well, as long as we’re all lightheaded, then that’s fine 🤦‍♀️

CandleARBRA · 21/06/2025 20:10

@nhsmanagersanonymous 101 is the police - they probably can't help with this 😉

MissSmith80 · 21/06/2025 20:06

Good luck. It was pre-menstrual cups for me but I had the same as you - tranexamic acid helped massively in the short term. I ended up having a fibroidectomy and Mirena - was an absolute game changer.

stichguru · 21/06/2025 19:33

Egm5478 · 21/06/2025 19:27

Thanks for all of your replies, I appreciate the advice.

i got some tranexamic acid from the pharmacy this afternoon and have taken 2, the pharmacist said I should see an improvement by tomorrow morning but if not then to pop up to the walk in centre to have some obs done.

she took my blood pressure which was a little low but that is quite normal for me. I’ve done some research about the Mirena this afternoon and think that’s what I’ll be asking for from the GP next week 😊

This sounds very sensible. Good luck x