I’m so intimidated by my gp I’m scared to approach them despite bleeding heavily since beginning of November, any advice?

[Specksofwhiteallaround]

I’ll start by saying I’m currently obese, no denying it and I absolutely get the seriousness of it. I know it’s contributing to my health problems and it’s something I’ve been unsuccessfully dealing with my entire life so I’m not complaining about her bringing it up, I get that it’s her job to do so.

I’ve been having issues with fertility and irratic, heavy periods since my early twenties both when I was thin and varying degrees of overweight but in 2018 the problems ramped up and I had a heavy period that just wouldn’t stop. When I first saw her she did blood work but that was fine apparently, she organised an ultrasound which was fine and was supposed to refer my to my local hospitals gynaecology department although I’ve since learned she failed to do so. I wasn’t offered anything to actually stop the bleeding until it had been going on over two months and it was at the point I couldn’t leave the house I was flooding so often. I only got help when I went back and happened to see a different gp as she was on holiday, he prescribed tranexamic acid which stopped it within two days.

My periods were mostly regular again after that if heavier than normal so I just put up with it and tried to deal with my food issues.

Then this November my period started and just hasn’t stopped again, I requested tranexamic acid and it reduced it massively until I stopped taking it then it came back immediately so I requested a phone appointment. She suggested the pill as long as I had a blood pressure check so I got that done and admittedly it was very high. When she rang back she launched into a long lecture about my weight and that I just needed to sort it out as I was getting too old for this and I was going to end up dead. She also questioned me on whether I’d always been fat and said she assumed my whole family was also obese (they’re not) then said I had to go buy a home blood pressure monitor and submit twice daily recordings of it for a week before agreeing to prescribe the pill.

My issue is I simply didn’t have the money to go out and buy one three days before Christmas and it will have to wait until pay day at the end of January but I was too intimidated to say this. Now the bleeding is if anything worse after starting the pill but I’m too scared to speak to her again about it. I have severe social anxiety so I’m not very assertive and my general anxiety is through the roof with the whole situation. I just don’t know what to do anymore.

Brilliant op I am sorry my last post should have said don’t no do but I’m delighted a much better result this time.

Well I’ve just had my coil removed after 12 months of agony and it’s been a godsend, no more pain we’ll see what my next period is like if I have one and should be getting biopsy results soon.

As soon as I read your first post it took me back to my early 40s. I was just the same, bled constantly, huge clots. A mirena coil made a dramatic difference, almost certainly saved me from having a hysterectomy. I went on to have 3 over a 15 year period and never had any more problems.
Please don't dismiss the idea if the Dr or gynae suggest it.

Op so glad it went well for you. Glad you are getting the support and treatment you need and the referral to gynae

@Iceskatingfan it's not fearmongering when it's true

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.imperial.ac.uk/news/146546/gp-incentive-scheme-increases-long-term-reversible/amp/

The pay-for-performance programme in the NHS provides incentives for GPs by linking their income to achieving certain targets for healthcare services.

There are also NUMEROUS threads and posts on mn alone by women who've succumbed to the hard sell and the coil has made them ill/suffer and they've had horrendous obstacles to getting it removed which is also being reported in the msm and I am aware of a number of incidents in real life too

How about drs stop lying to patients?

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/3641325-To-ask-if-your-GP-tries-to-persuade-you-to-have-the-coill

https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amm_ibeingg_unreasonable/2558742-To-want-the-Mirena-out-Right-NOW

The mirena is not a treatment for the cause of heavy or painful periods because in so many cases the cause has not been identified as so many women struggle to get a referral (many reasons for this, cost a factor)

Again op really glad you're being treated properly, only wish it were true across the country

I am having the exact same issues as you op, speak to a different doctor and push for a referral to the gynaecologist. I just got mine through for next week.
Have you had your iron levels checked as well? Mine were on the floor so worth checking.
Dont just leave it though even if you do feel embarrassed, speak to someone else as it really does need sorting - I know what hell it is

Sorry just seen your follow up post that you have made progress - great news!

@BettyOBarley A different gp checked my iron levels checked the first time I had the continuous bleeding and I was borderline needing a transfusion, this time it’s even heavier and going on for longer so I dread to think what it will be this time around. I’ve got zero energy, never been so pale and I find I’m laid at night with palpitations and restless legs despite taking iron supplements so suspect I must be quite low. Really hoping her suggested course of action stops it asap.

@Specksofwhiteallaround

Yes it sounds like you might still be very low then. My iron level after 3 months of prescribed iron supplements was lower than it was before I started!
My GP compared it to a bath with the plug out, you just can't fill up your iron fast enough as the flow is so bad. I hope you get sorted soon.