At my absolute breaking point with periods, how do I make my GP listen?

[InsideOfEmptiness]

Just got my period. As usual, it's ridiculously heavy. That's not the only problem though. I start getting horrible period pains, tender breasts, and unbearably painful nipples at least a week before my period arrives, every single month.

Then I have a week to ten days of excruciating and heavy period. Then it feels like no time at all before the horrible ovulation pains and breast tenderness start.

I've essentially got about a week a month free of some form of menstrual related misery, and it's destroying me.

I've spoken to my (lovely, but old school, GP) about this multiple times. His answer is always the pill. I've tried various pills, they've never helped, and have only made me gain weight / feel seriously depressed / caused hyper-pigmentation etc. He's suggested the injection but given my experiences with the pill, I'm so wary.

Aside from any of that, surely feeling like this for at least three weeks out of every four isn't normal? Should I insist that he refer me to Gynae? I hate even using the word insist, I don't think we should be able to just demand medical referrals. However, something is causing me this much pain.

I had a CT a few years ago (at the instance of a locum GP) for abdominal pain. The letter that was sent back to my GP mentioned free fluid in my pelvis and recommended a Gynae referral. He read this out to me at my follow-up appointment and said, that's ridiculous and totally unnecessary. I took his word for it at the time.

Do I just accept he's right and this is my life until menopause? Or is there anything I can do?

It seems negligent that you were recommended a referral and he refused

I had 2 coils before I had dd, neither caused any problem on insertion. Slightly unconfortable, yes, but not really painful. Take neurofen before should help.

Re getting the coil fitted, I’m getting mine fitted next week, same sort of menstruated problems you mentioned - I have fibroids and stage 4 endometriosis, anyway I queried the timing as I would be mid period and the hospital said getting it fitted then, mid period is the least painful time as the cervix is softer then.

I've been suffering from incredibly heavy periods for 3 years. I've repeatedly spoken to the Dr about it. I ended up being VERY graphic about the level of blood loss, the palm sized clots, the flooding down to my knees and onto the floor at work. ......

Tried various pills, depo injection. Referred for a scan, then for a gynae appointment . No appointments for at least 18 weeks.

Then the GP suggested I try tranexamic acid. She didn't think it would help. Nor did I. I left them in the cupboard for a couple of months. Then decided it couldn't be any wore, so I tried them. 2 tablets, 3 x a day. By the end of day 2 I had spotting. By day 4 it had stopped. Previously have bled daily for 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months on one occasion. I used them for 4 periods now, and am currently taking 4 a day instead of 6.

It has honestly changed my life. I'm still waiting for the gynae appointment

Women’s issues are just not taken seriously enough, it makes me angry. My issues started like yours OP, I did go on the pill, tried loads and found one that was okish but then started having break through bleeding and bleeding after sex, I tried another pill and ended up bleeding so bad I ended up in A&E, a few weeks ago I started passing large clots and flooding pads every 2 minutes but because of covid I refused to go to hospital. I have been waiting for a gynaecologist appointment for 6+ months, my gp has called them twice telling them I need to be seen urgently but no luck. I’m on iron tablets because I’m bleeding more days than not. I have come off the pill but am in pain and bloated all the time. I have been told I’m likely to be seen in March.

Referrals are taking a while with the pandemic actually, so it would be beneficial to call your GP surgery and speak to a different doctor first thing in the morning.

@Lovemusic33 have you called the hospital directly? I waited a year for an appointment, called the department directly and the secretary booked me in within the week.

[quote sofiaaaaaa]@Lovemusic33 have you called the hospital directly? I waited a year for an appointment, called the department directly and the secretary booked me in within the week.[/quote]
Yes, have called them a couple times, GP has advised that every time I'm bleeding heavily that I call them and demand to be seen or failing that I go to A&E. My period is due now and I'm getting anxious about the thought of it.

@Lovemusic33 that’s awful, it’s worth calling the hospital’s PALS and discussing your concerns as they can get you seen sooner.

I have the copper coil (not the mirena but as far as I know they're essentially the same in terms of insertion etc?) and although it's a bit uncomfortable having it inserted, it's literally just 20 mins of discomfort that then give you years and years of ease. I find it so so worth it just from the contraception angle, so if the hormones of the mirena could help with your periods of say it's 10000% worth it.