Please help me because the NHS won’t

[Draculaswetdream]

I have been bleeding heavily and continuously from my vagina for 40 days. I am 32, I have PCOS and my last episode of continuous bleeding was after my son was born in 2021 and I bled for 16 months non stop. That eventually resolved itself and I fell into normal cycles (35ish day cycles for me normally, period last between 4 and 7 days).

My PCOS does not cause continuous bleeding for me, it causes the occasional very long cycle and sometimes cycles where I don’t ovulate.

I contacted my GP 2 weeks ago and got a phone appointment with a phone GP service a week later which I attended, and he sent me for a blood test because I am anaemic. This blood test has confirmed I am severely anaemic (HB is at 8.1) and yet instead of thinking ‘shit we need to find out why and stop this woman bleeding’ the action plan from my GP has been to prescribe me iron tablets and leave it at that (I am already taking iron tablets unprescribed and have been for 4 weeks because I’m not an idiot and knew I was having a bad period and would need topping up. This was before the period didn’t stop). I also have trans something acid which is supposed to stop the bleeding but I have repeatedly expressed that this is not working to the GP’s.

Today, I very suddenly flooded through a pair of heavy duty period pants and a maternity pad (I wear this combination 24/7 at the moment) and ruined an office chair at work. Totally saturated it and left a saturated patch about 20cm in diameter.

I have been to the GP’s 8 times about heavy periods and twice in the last 40 days, and have not been offered any further investigations like a scan despite insisting this is not normal for me. They appear to be convinced this is PCOS related.

Are there any medical people on here who can advise me how to navigate the system here? It feels like they’re content to just leave me like this but I think something is really wrong with me.

Copper coils will do that, hormonal ones should lighten it.

Go to a&e. This is all too common with gynae issues that drs dismiss them. It is not acceptable. Please do it.

Go to your hospital walk-in centre and also change your doctor.

I hope the GP takes you seriously
Please ensure you book a smear too

Hope the appointment goes OK and they get you sorted ASAP.
Separately have you tried the gestational diabetes carb pairing diet, I found it very effective (as I had gd), I did expect to get high cholesterol as there's alot of cheese and cream involved, but actually it was better.
Wish I'd kept it up, but its more tricky when you only get tine to eat carbs, but I do try to pair tge carb with protein where I can..

It is suitable outside pregnancy btw.

Also, do u mind me asking, have you ever been offered a cervical smear test? I know they start them later but I thought screening started at 25 now? I'm quite shocked you've never had one. Perhaps it's due to your medical history though.?

I suspect this might be the case

I had this issue, anemia was 4.1 and had heavy period for years. Iron tablets were completely ridiculous and ineffective but I kept getting them prescribed. It was only when I was prescribed Tranexamic acid that it changed my life. Game changer for sure.

Good luck for your appointment today Dracula.

It’s so hard but you have to advocate for yourself. Next time you speak to the GP, TELL them (don’t ask) for a gynae referral. Give them a brief, but blunt, list of what your symptoms are, the things you’ve done to alleviate it yourself and how it’s impacting your daily life, mental and physical health and be strong in what you need. I also have PCOS, thankfully haven’t had any problems as bad as yours (yet!) but have had to fight for an ENT referral after 4 years of losing my voice completely for 2 weeks at a time every few months. I was fobbed off time and time again with “rest & fluids” and it was only when I was at breaking point and told the GP I wanted a referral and I wouldn’t leave until it had been made that he did it.

I totally appreciate how understaffed and underfunded the NHS is, but it is impossible to be seen/ heard- especially for anything women’s health related.

Please,please,please go back and see a dr,I was like this and I don't want to scare you,but I had stage 3 womb cancer,it needs to be investigated and quickly

Good luck op

I scond A&E .... with 8.1 iron, you must feel awful, palpitations etc you likely need an iron infusion and investigations.

How did it go @Draculaswetdream ?

Hi all - appointment actually went well, I feel like I’ve learned how to talk to the NHS (finally!) from you lot so thank you so much.

I have been referred for an urgent transvaginal ultrasound and MRI and she’s also referred me to gynaecology to get the ball rolling (it can take 6 months she said so she’s referred me now and I’ll go with a full set of test results).

Shes also ordered more bloods, thyroid, HB (again), and a ton of others I can’t remember but clotting was in there and so was liver.

Shes given me progesterone tablets to try and stop the bleeding short term, and booked me back in to see her in 2 weeks time when hopefully I’ll have blood results and potentially scan results to get us further towards a diagnosis but even if we only have bloods she still wants to see me to make sure the bleeding has stopped more than anything.

Shes the best GP I’ve seen about this and took me seriously. I felt listened to and heard.

Great update op. Hope the progesterone tablets help and you soon get some proper answers

Wonderful update. Hopefully this is the start of the journey to getting this all sorted.

Good news. Let’s hope you can make a full recovery soon and be able to enjoy life again.

wow, well done OP! When are you likely to get tv us and mri? Were you given a timeframe for an appt or can you just attend imaging with referral? This is the bit where you need to stay on the ball and be proactive to manage your care - with our help! - and make sure this happens.

So pleased for you.

I second that❤️

Good to hear a positive outcome. Hope you are feeling better soon.

That's really good news
Hopefully you will finally get sorted

Please keep us updated. Thank you.

Don't forget the smear test!

Excellent news. Keep us updated.