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Original poster

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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10
SurreyWifi · 12/12/2023 02:25

Hi OP. I hope you can get some sleep now, knowing you’re in the right place and you’ve got people there trying to help you.
Sending lots of love and hugs to you. 💐

Rowgtfc72 · 12/12/2023 04:12

Sincerely hope you're sleeping now, that lovely nurse stays around as long as she can to be followed by more lovely nurses and the doctors get you sorted quickly.

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 04:23

I’ve just been examined by the senior registrar. Cervix looks fine, bleeding still very heavy and she’s giving me IV fluids due to blood pressure and also IV teansexemic acid to try and stop the bleeding even if just to give me some respite. Im
off for a scan in the morning and possibly a camera up there to have a look around if the scan is inconclusive. She asked in detail what the GP had done for me so far and she’s appalled I’ve not been seen sooner.

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Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 04:39

I’m so glad you’re being looked after now; IV fluids and the medication, plus a scan. Plus some validation. You’re finally in the right place.

Freddiefan · 12/12/2023 04:41

Finally some progress. I hope you get sorted out soon, it’s looking more hopeful.

SwishSwashSwooshSwersh · 12/12/2023 06:09

Thank goodness, you’re in the right place

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 08:31

I’m finally up on the gynae ward, transferred at about 4am I think. Lovely DH is on his way in with a change of clothes and some essentials. I am absolutely desperate to get out of these clothes and into a shower.

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 12/12/2023 08:53

I bet you are, rest up. Your in the best place and being taken seriously.
Hope you get answers today.

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 09:54

I’m showered, hair washed, teeth brushed and in clean clothes. I have never appreciated a shower more in my life! Lovely DH has gone home again and will be back for a visit this evening if I’m still here. DS is at our childminders today, and she’s sending me loads of pictures of him having a lovely time which is helping so much. I miss him like mad.

OP posts:
WitcheryDivine · 12/12/2023 10:27

What are they saying about what’s next for your treatment? Or are they just keeping an eye?

so glad you got clean stuff! Hope you can have a nap

Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 10:31

Probably waiting for doctors' round, hopefully soon. OP, make sure you speak up during that and ask lots of questions.

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 10:42

Just had doctors round, I’m having a scan to check the thickness of my uterine lining and thst will determine next steps. Over 5mm means further testing and probably a biopsy, less than that I’ll be discharged on progesterone. The doctor today disagrees with the doctor last night and thinks I need 3 months of a very high dose of progesterone to knock my bleeding out and reset my cycle Hmm

OP posts:
Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 10:44

Have you not had progesterone before OP?

Sugarfree23 · 12/12/2023 10:50

Wait until they see what the scan shows up. Something clearly isn't right.

Have you asked if their is any risk of fibroids or anything like that?

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 11:01

Yes he mentioned fibroids and a few other possibilities, one of which is cancer but he said that’s unlikely.

OP posts:
Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 11:01

Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 10:44

Have you not had progesterone before OP?

Yes it’s what my GP put me on that didn’t work…

OP posts:
Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 11:04

If you’ve had it before and it didn’t work then absolutely do not accept this as a plan of action . You will just be discharged and back to square one. Sometimes you have to tell doctors what’s what.

WitcheryDivine · 12/12/2023 11:16

Firefly2009 · 12/12/2023 11:04

If you’ve had it before and it didn’t work then absolutely do not accept this as a plan of action . You will just be discharged and back to square one. Sometimes you have to tell doctors what’s what.

That is what I was going to say. All their years of medical training saying this could work is no match for the fact that you have tried it and it didn’t work FOR YOU. All bodies are different. In fact it made you worse and that’s why you ended up here so you could say that unless they want to see you back here in a couple of days they need to try something else.

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 11:24

WitcheryDivine · 12/12/2023 11:16

That is what I was going to say. All their years of medical training saying this could work is no match for the fact that you have tried it and it didn’t work FOR YOU. All bodies are different. In fact it made you worse and that’s why you ended up here so you could say that unless they want to see you back here in a couple of days they need to try something else.

Show quote history

I said the increase in dose coincided with the bleeding getting much much worse and he said that was likely coincidence. I’ve been brought down for my scan, I just want to see what that says at this point and decide next steps. If my uterine longing thickness is normal then that’s great and should mean the bleeding will stop on its own, if it’s thick I need more investigations.

OP posts:
WitcheryDivine · 12/12/2023 11:27

Best of luck with the scan @Draculaswetdream (and don't let some bloody bloke not listen to you about your own body) xx

HeraSyndulla · 12/12/2023 11:34

Draculaswetdream · 22/11/2023 17:25

Unfortunately I can’t afford a private referral at the moment but in April next year I’m getting private health insurance through work so that’s the plan. Private health cover is against everything I believe in Sad

The Labour Party privatised GP services.

Sugarfree23 · 12/12/2023 11:48

@Draculaswetdream good luck with the scan, remember just like midwives they've seen it all before!

321user123 · 12/12/2023 11:56

Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 11:24

I said the increase in dose coincided with the bleeding getting much much worse and he said that was likely coincidence. I’ve been brought down for my scan, I just want to see what that says at this point and decide next steps. If my uterine longing thickness is normal then that’s great and should mean the bleeding will stop on its own, if it’s thick I need more investigations.

Show quote history

Im happy some other ladies said it too, DO NOT accept his plan of action because you tried it and it didn’t work, in fact it’s gotten so much worse.

When I read “he disagrees with the doctor from yesterday” I had a feeling he’s not a fan. And responded in my head, well, you can disagree with him! 😅

Do not let them discharge you with progesterone, whine with whoever will listen including walls if you have to and say you do not feel safe or happy etc etc.
Ensure full investigations ensue. 💐

Sugarfree23 · 12/12/2023 11:59

The issue is if they can see anything on the scan, what else would they do?

Make sense to me if they cannot see anything physical that they'd be able to go in and fix, to try more drugs before taking risks of operating. When they don't know what they'd be operating on.

Original poster
Draculaswetdream · 12/12/2023 12:17

So the ultrasound guy was lovely. I had an internal, absolutely destroyed the bed I was on and bled everywhere but he couldn’t have been nicer about it.

He also told me my lining is really quite thickened which was nice of him to give me that information there and then. Looks like we’re talking endometrial hypoplasia.

OP posts:
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