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.

Thanks for this, there’s a boots near me so I’ll go today. I‘m still bleeding heavily, fewer clots now though. Only 2 big pads needed overnight.

Ive got a quick handover call with work today, I’m on a few projects that need my input so I’m just handing over any bits that only I can cover and said I was happy to do that and it will also make me feel a lot better about being off. Work have been great, very understanding and haven’t asked any questions although I’ve chosen to let my manager know the basic facts of what’s happening so there’s no mystery involved.

We are hosting Christmas this year for DH’s family and I’m a bit worried about managing that. I love hosting Christmas here but I’m slightly concerned by that point I’m not going to have the energy

Just thought I’d pop in to say that if you are taking fish oil tablets or St John’s wort, you need to get off those. Any other supplements need to be checked out too. Some of them act like blood thinners.

Are his family the sort to sit back and be waited on, or can they be pointed in the direction of the drinks cupboard & kettle?

My family are very much muck in sort of people. IL want waited on!

They can he a bit of both.. I’m not entirely convinced they understand that this situation is serious honestly - because I’m up and about and don’t ‘look’ poorly I think they assume I can just crack on.My own mother the night I came back from hospital said ‘we’ll you can work from home cant you??’ When I told her I’m signed off

I’m in quite a lot of pain today - a lot of cramping. They did say this would happen with the progesterone dose I’m on. I wouldn’t mind, but I’m still effing bleeding

my mum had very bad periods like that because she had a big non cancerous growth in her uterus. She had to have hysterectomy. so maybe check for that?

I

yeah they have - no signs of fibroids on the ultrasound but when they stick a camera up there they’ll have a proper look :)

How are you getting on now? Hoping your feeling a bit better.

I’m feeling much the same but the bleeding has slowed right down, still there but like a light- medium period now which is a relief!

Glad the bleeding has at least slowed. Hopefully it will stop soon and you can start to recover and get some energy back.

Have they suggested taking iron tablets or anything to help you recover? You must have lost a lot of blood.

Yes I’m taking iron tablets and have been for a while.

The bleeding is just spotting now , I’ve finished the transexamic acid course so I’m just on the norethisterone now, so hopefully it stays light. My pad was pretty much dry overnight, just a couple of splotches so I am absolutely over the moon with that. It still hasn’t stopped completely but that’s ok, at least it’s better.

One thing I don’t understand though: if I’m not bleeding, does that mean the endometrium will be getting thicker again? Where is the blood going?

Hey OP,
I've been following your post. I'm so glad you're finally getting relief. Sounds so awful what you're going through.

I've been prescribed tranexamic acid for 4 days per period to help with the flow and mefanamic acid for the pain. My periods are so much better on the tranexamic esp as I was bleeding through maternity pads within a couple hours lots of clots and the pain was so bad like i was giving birth. They got even worse after having my 2 children. My periods now last 6 days but I can actually function each month without being stuck at home scared of leaking and not in as much pain. I was told the tranexamic acid clots the blood so you don't lose as much each month.

I hope you get some answers very soon and nothing bad. 🙏

Aaaaaaaand the bleeding is back to a moderate period level

Do I submit a GP form or just wait it out??

Submit GP form and contact the contact you have at the hospital today this morning

I'd contact the hospital.

Thank both, I’ll submit a form and call the ward.

Hi all, me again.

I have my biopsy tomorrow but I'm still bleeding moderately, is this going to be a problem? can they still do the biopsy if im actively bleeding?

I don't think it would be a problem, by the nature of the biopsy you are having done I would imagine bleeding would be a common occurrence. Could you call the department and ask?

I had my hysteroscopy and biopsy just before Christmas. I wasn't bleeding at that point but no one asked me if I was or not before the procedure so I can't see that it would be a concern (nor would I expect it to be as I suspect it's very common for someone undergoing a hysteroscopy to be bleeding). If you want peace of mind I agree you could try and call but I wouldn't worry.

I wouldn't think it's an issue. Good luck

I had a hysteroscopy and was told it didn’t matter if you were bleeding.

It won’t be a problem, I had it done last time whilst bleeding and will likely be bleeding when I go this time (still waiting), they are used to it as many woman having it done are having it done for the same reason.

Good luck, hope all goes ok x

Yes they can absolutely still go ahead. Good luck.

Praying they sort it out for you soon OP. ❤

I’m home, it was fine. Unfortunately even though I’m on progesterone the endometrium hasn’t thinned at all but no signs of polyps or a fibroid anywhere. Biopsy results in 8 weeks.