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Help me to decide whether to go to A&E in the morning

264 replies

Cailleach · 04/11/2020 18:17

Briefly...have now had period for 20 days straight. Seems to be getting heavier as the days go by...bright red, no clots, not like normal period blood, used 9 pads in a 10 hour shift on Monday.

Am 43. Quick history of recent menstrual issues as follows:

  • Age 36 - periods become thin, pale pink, last three or four days.
  • Age 38-42 - periods disappear entirely.
  • Sept 2019 - periods return, light and pale pink again, last three or four days.
  • Last four months - considerable discomfort and bloating around ovulation in left ovary with masses of egg white mucus being produced over a two week period. Over the last six weeks ovulation appears to fail, no egg white mucus produced, appears to try again, huge bloating, constant need to urinate, once again fails to produce ewm, period comes.

20 days later, it's still going. Over the last five days, tenderness again in left ovary area...uncomfortable to press on lower abdomen. Strong need to urinate every half hour. Dehydrated. Fast heart rate. Nausea. Dizzy on standing. Sleeping 12 hours a day when not working.

Triaged by emergency clinic over the phone as no gp appointments left. Recommends A&E. Would have to get bus, 12 mile journey, really can't be arsed. Fell asleep sitting up at the dining table whilst considering this - that was 11am, woke up at 2pm. Went back to bed for a few hours (day off today and tomorrow.)

What are the chances of this period stopping soon? We are a tier 3 area and whilst I'm not bothered about the virus itself per se, I really don't want to rock up at A&E whimpering that "me periods mekking me reyt gippy sicky like" in the middle of a sodding pandemic.

Can any lurking medics or people with similar experiences advise?

My thanks in advance.

PS: family history of early menopause (40's)

OP posts:
AudTheDeepMinded · 04/11/2020 20:01

Hmmm, there's 'not bothering people', and there's being a blooming martyr! Be sensible, you're not presenting with a splinter! And A and E have been really quiet when I've been in lockdown (twice for DC).

DryRoastPeanut · 04/11/2020 20:06

Do you have a walk in centre? A nasty period is neither an accident nor an emergency.

If you don’t live near to a hospital with a walk in centre, phone your surgery and ask to have a phone consultation with somebody sympathetic about periods. For what it’s worth, I went to my gp with bad periods just as you describe,I got great relief from having a Mirena coil so maybe talk to your family planning clinic, but please don’t go to A&E

Arosadra · 04/11/2020 20:10

It’s not ‘a nasty period’, OP has several red flags.
Periods stopping and restarting always needs investigation.

Interested in this thread?

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Sweettea1 · 04/11/2020 20:13

You say periods are normally light an last a few days. This sounds more than just a nasty period especially with the bloating. You are not wasting there time go an get checked over sooner the better really.

SamsMumsCateracts · 04/11/2020 20:14

I don't want to scare you, but my aunt had her periods restart after several years of not having them, it was endometrial cancer. Please go to A&E.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/11/2020 20:15

I suspect their funnelling everything through a+e at the moment.

They won’t be as full though because the pubs are shutting here.

Pickypolly · 04/11/2020 20:16

Investigating via GP referral to Gynae specialists, probably as a fast track.
Op needs investigations so the route for this is GP.

Our local A&E have a post on face book currently asking people to only go if life threatening injury is present due to “unprecedented pressures”.
What can A&E do ?
Op will be waiting to be seen probably on a corridor for hours and hours to be told to go to her GP..
It doesn’t sound like OP has sought her GP s advice at all during a quite long history of gynae issues. Now wants to go to A&E. this isn’t appropriate.

mama3bears · 04/11/2020 20:20

Not an accident or an emergency so I would ask GP for a gynae referral instead

AudTheDeepMinded · 04/11/2020 20:21

Is no one reading the bit about being triaged over the phone, no gp appointments being left and being told to go to A and E then?

tofuschnitzel · 04/11/2020 20:21

Ring 111, explain your symptoms and see what they say. The amount that you are bleeding is worrying, and it has also been going on for most of the day. I think you have to call 111 at the very least. Please don't leave it, and please don't think you are bothering anyone, they are there to help you.

MoreHairyThanScary · 04/11/2020 20:23

I'm a nurse and tend to get really pissed off at the rush to send people to a&e but I think you have several symptoms that worry me...

Bleeding for a very lengthy time
Bleeding still large amounts (9 pads in 12 hours this far into your 'period'
Falling asleep sitting up at the dinning table for several hours
And felling generally unwell in yourself

All of these would have my radar pinging individually put together I think you need a fairly urgent in person review- preferably tonight.

Are you able to take your own pulse rate?

Cailleach · 04/11/2020 20:23

I don't want to go to A&E - I was advised to by the local walk in centre after triage over the phone.

I have asked two gps and a prescribing nurse about my periods in the past, none of whom seemed to be remotely interested.

OP posts:
riotlady · 04/11/2020 20:23

If you’ve been told to go to A and E, I would do that. The weakness and tenderness doesn’t just sound like a period imo

MoreHairyThanScary · 04/11/2020 20:25

I've just reread and think a&e tonight.

Joeblack066 · 04/11/2020 20:25

111 or GP not A&E. it’s not life threatening in the moment.

CrunchyNutNC · 04/11/2020 20:25

If it's not 'a period' (which it doesn't sound like it is) then you are bleeding. If you were sore and bleeding from any other body part you would go to hospital, this is no different.

Also, things will get worse at hospitals rather than better, I'd want to be seen sooner rather than later in case access to hospital services becomes less reliable.

Cailleach · 04/11/2020 20:28

Hairy, thanks for your advice. Not sure how to take my pulse but my heart rate on my fitbit is currently 79bpm and i have been lying in bed for three hours now. I should point out that I am very fit indeed for my age and generally have a resting heart rate of 54bpm. Not sure if that is of any use to you.

OP posts:
woodlandwalker · 04/11/2020 20:32

When I was in hospital post hysterectomy a woman was admitted to the ward from A&E due to prolonged heavy periods. They gave her a transfusion as she had become anaemic. A&E definitely don't always just dismiss this. They could be more helpful than your GP.

slipperywhensparticus · 04/11/2020 20:33

Are you keeping hydrated

Is there anyone there who can keep an eye on you

TidyOmlette · 04/11/2020 20:34

No I wouldn’t go.

Speak to gp again tomorrow. It’s an ongoing issue and a&e won’t do any investigations as it’s been going on so long.

LuckyAmy1986 · 04/11/2020 20:35

I would go personally.

addictedtotheflats · 04/11/2020 20:36

Can't your GP or 111 refer you directly to gynaecology assessment unit? A lot of a&e's have a GP "in house" so you could see if your a&e has one. If needs be the GP can refer you straight to gynae assessment from a&e.

Namenic · 04/11/2020 20:36

Probably a&e - ideally today. Having blood tests and examination could ‘rule out’ some things - including some urgent things people have mentioned above.

ememem84 · 04/11/2020 20:37

@tiredofthistoday has a similar post. I hope you both get medical help soon xx

DougRossIsTheBoss · 04/11/2020 20:38

I think you should go to A&E tonight
I don't think an ambulance would be overkill actually.

You've been bleeding really heavily for a long time, you feel weird and light headed and your pulse is upper limit of normal just lying in bed (pulse rate goes up before BP falls in young people)
That suggests the blood loss is very significant.

You seem like an uncomplaining person but I think you are getting very ill and shouldn't be on your own tonight.

This isn't a normal/ heavy period at all.
I wouldn't term it like that to A&E.
It's gynae haemorrhage
They can check your obs, do bloods and maybe an ultrasound.
I think you should go

I'm a Dr

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