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Please help me because the NHS won’t

570 replies

Draculaswetdream · 22/11/2023 17:00

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.

OP posts:
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summerlovingvibes · 11/12/2023 22:07

I really hope they see you soon and get a plan in place so you can bed down for the night.

FranticHare · 11/12/2023 22:33

Glad you’re being sorted. And that you have a lovely nurse.

keep up that fighting spirit - And good luck with period pant roulette!

Draculaswetdream · 11/12/2023 22:36

I just had a big flood, I’m now out of pads but lovely nurse has brought in the big guns and I’m now wearing what I can only describe as a nappy opened out. It’s like a cushion.

Im still waiting for gynae to come down, lovely nurse is chasing them for me after witnessing the flood. I’ve created a puddle on the blue pad on the chair so she’s grabbing me a new one of those too.

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LongDarkTeatime · 11/12/2023 22:40

I know this sounds like a grim suggestion but bear with me. Is the nurse keeping all the pads to show the Gynae consult when they arrive? Visual evidence is stronger than just hearing the details. Even if she can keep one and say ‘there were X like this’.

WitcheryDivine · 11/12/2023 22:46

Honestly this sounds so horrible but I’m so glad you have a wonderful nurse and you’re somewhere you can be taken care of x

Draculaswetdream · 11/12/2023 22:47

No im keeping them in nappy bags in my handbag ready for gynae though!

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Hiddenvoice · 11/12/2023 23:09

Hi @Draculaswetdream I’ve just read all your posts and I feel so angry on your behalf. I feel you’ve been really let down by your gps who seem to have categorised you under a ‘bad period’.

I’m glad you’ve found a helpful nurse and really hope you get some answers tonight. You’ve clearly lost a lot of blood over a long time but even more so tonight so I hope you get properly seen soon!

Draculaswetdream · 11/12/2023 23:25

I’m still waiting to see a doctor, I’m very tired Sad

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WitcheryDivine · 11/12/2023 23:31

Is there a comfy chair you could get a nap in? You’re losing blood no wonder you’re exhausted!

321user123 · 11/12/2023 23:31

Op.. I’m this doesn’t reassure you.. but when it happened to me a couple of yrs back, I was bleeding through a (very capient!) menstrual cup in about 40-50 mins for days on end and while in the A&E as well….

the doctor in the unit made me remove the cup and lie down for an examination ( while free flowing EVERYWHERE!!!!!) 😩😩😩😭😭😭

my lord the embarrassment 😂 I dread thinking of that

321user123 · 11/12/2023 23:38

321user123 · 11/12/2023 23:31

Op.. I’m this doesn’t reassure you.. but when it happened to me a couple of yrs back, I was bleeding through a (very capient!) menstrual cup in about 40-50 mins for days on end and while in the A&E as well….

the doctor in the unit made me remove the cup and lie down for an examination ( while free flowing EVERYWHERE!!!!!) 😩😩😩😭😭😭

my lord the embarrassment 😂 I dread thinking of that

Was meant to say this might not reassure you, but may give you a laugh

321user123 · 11/12/2023 23:39

Draculaswetdream · 11/12/2023 23:25

I’m still waiting to see a doctor, I’m very tired Sad

Oh my… they’re really taking their time 😩

Draculaswetdream · 11/12/2023 23:41

I’ve been given a bed, I got a bit light headed being sat in the chair so I think lovely nurse was keen to get me more comfortable. She has been joined by her equally lovely friend and I can hear them talking about Turkey cookery and cackling at the nurses station.

Im still waiting on a doctor, he’s in theatre apparently.

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Firefly2009 · 11/12/2023 23:50

What is your blood pressure and Hb OP? Or take a look at your chart and blood results. I'm a little surprised they haven't at least put you on IV fluids. Make sure you're drinking lots of water. If you feel dizzy again ask for the nurses to take a set of obs again.

Theatre should end soon. It must be an emergency surgery.

The pads weighed to see how much blood you've lost in the past so many hours. (Make a mental note of what time the first pad you have with you was put on). Personally, I think you need to be on the gynae ward as an inpatient, but will be interesting to see how they proceed.

Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 00:05

Blood pressure was 117/78 which is low for me as an overweight person (im a 130/85 normally), pulse was in the mid 90’s I think. Don’t think my bloods are back yet.

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Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 00:12

If it's been a while since they checked it, and you feel any worse, please do tell them and ask them to check this again. Pulse on the higher side, BP on the lower side is something to monitor. Ask about your bloods because typically in A&E they get an instant read-out on the machine.

Or you could just rest! :-) I hope you get seen soon. Just don't get fobbed off or forgotten at any point because you're exhausted.

Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 00:16

Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 00:12

If it's been a while since they checked it, and you feel any worse, please do tell them and ask them to check this again. Pulse on the higher side, BP on the lower side is something to monitor. Ask about your bloods because typically in A&E they get an instant read-out on the machine.

Or you could just rest! :-) I hope you get seen soon. Just don't get fobbed off or forgotten at any point because you're exhausted.

They’ve literally just done my obs again, 118/80 (again, low for me) and pulse was 99

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Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 00:22

Hopefully they will know your Hb level soon; so long as they are continuing to monitor you.

mamakoukla · 12/12/2023 00:27

So sorry to hear you’re going through this but glad you have a good nurse helping you. Maybe keep a note of her name and write a nice letter to her supervisor when you’re out. Hope you make a good recovery and get to the bottom of this 💐

321user123 · 12/12/2023 00:39

Im almost off to sleep OP, but I wish you all the best xx
hang in there 🥰

Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 00:46

Can’t help feeling it would be quicker to qualify as a gynaecologist at this point… still no
doctor.

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Sugarfree23 · 12/12/2023 00:53

@Draculaswetdream he'll get to you, the second you go to sleep 😴. Sods law.
Seriously try and get some sleep, you must be exhausted. Sleepy time for me. I'm fingers crossed for you that it's a quick and easy fix and they can do it ASAP

SquirrelSoShiny · 12/12/2023 00:53

I'm sorry your care has been so shoddy OP. Hope you get seen soon.

321user123 · 12/12/2023 01:01

Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 00:46

Can’t help feeling it would be quicker to qualify as a gynaecologist at this point… still no
doctor.

I’ve considered becoming an endocrinologist to avenge all of us PCOS ladies!

we could became the invincible duo! 🤣🤣🤣

Goodnight babe xx

Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 01:27

The doctor just saw me, they are keeping me in given the amount of bleeding and the unknown cause. He took a full history, but is grabbing a senior registrar to come and do the examination.

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