Will I ever stop bleeding?

[ShowOfHands]

I have had a lifetime of predictable periods. 28 day cycle and manageable. Over the last 18 months or so, they've become slowly closer together and I now have a 21 day cycle and bleed for 8 days, often heavy with flooding and clots and it's more painful. I don't think I'm ovulating anymore either as I used to have clear signs.

I'm currently 16 days into bleeding and for the first 13 days it was so heavy. I'm on norethisterone from the GP to try and stop it but after 3 days, it's slowed down massively but still there when wiping.

I'm clearly anaemic and the GP has given me iron tablets and referred me for blood tests for everything she can think of (no appointments for 2 weeks for that), and ultrasound but that will take a few weeks and she's recommended a Mirena but the GP can't do them and the clinics have a 6 month waiting list and will only give them for contraception. So I have to lie given that DH has had a vasectomy and I don't think I'm fertile anyway.

Meanwhile, I swing between thinking this is normal and just the perimenopause and being terrified that it's something sinister.

I am so so so so done with bleeding. I feel grey and lifeless and exhausted and I don't understand what is happening and if it will ever stop.

I don't even know what I want from this thread.

An urgent referral to a gynaecologist - speak to your GP to arrange it
you should have a scan to see if anything is going on internally
it sounds exhausting
yes it could be peri etc but it’s affecting your daily life so think it needs to be escalated

I'm 44 btw if that's remotely relevant.

I've been referred for an ultrasound as I said in my op.

I would want a blood test before 2 weeks. Are you breathless or have any chest pains?

but your situation needs escalating ?
you’re grey and exhausted and bleeding
you need to have an urgent scan not wait
has your GP referred you to a gynae?

No chest pains. No breathlessness. I'm fucking knackered but I think that's the anaemia. I'm really prone to anaemia anyway and I've been having heavy 8 days periods every 21 days.

I don't think so. I've been referred for an ultrasound and bloods. I think she's waiting to see what they show.

You can have the coil fitted privately if you can afford too.

I'm not sure where I would find somewhere to do it. The only places coming up on Google are the ones the GP has suggested. And they have quite long waiting times.

I found liquid iron much better - Sytron (Sodium feredetate) was a game changer for me. Take it with a Vit C tablet and avoid tea and coffee for an hour after. I don't have any advice on your bleeding but anaemia is the absolute pits.

Could you ask about taking the pill?

Ask for an urgent gynae referral. I went round in circles like this for months. Ambulance blue lighted as they thought blood transfusion.

Anyway I finally had a TV scan 11 days ago (via emergency gynae which still took 2 weeks). They weren't happy with a mass they couldn't identify and I had an MRI 7 days ago. I'm waiting on hysteroscopy and biopsy.
I was prescribed Norethisterone 10mg 3 times a day for 5 days, then 10 mg twice a day for 5 days then 10mg once a day to see me through the month.

I haven't bled for 10 days, first time since November!

GP kept giving me Provera but only for 10 days and I swear that was fucking me up even more.

I don't mean to worry you with what I am going through but don't waste time and demand to be referred.

All the best.

I'm taking liquid iron as well as the tablet prescribed by the GP and I have it in orange juice every day.

I just want to know why it's happening and how to stop it. It's slowed right down but won't go away completely.

GP says she thinks it's just peri but I am terrified it's something else.

I'm glad you're finally getting the right support and investigations and I'm crossing everything that it's resolved and nothing to worry unduly about very, very soon.

I will ring the GP tomorrow.

If all is okay with me, they are just going to fit another Mirena which suits me fine.

This happened to me, u need your scan earlier! Find out if you have a gyno A&E - I didn’t know this was a department until it happened to me but look at your nhs trust and find out where and get your gp to call ahead that your coming in for scan and bloods.
don’t be stupid and wait till it’s too late

Yes, keep on at them and everything crossed here for you too as its just thoroughly miserable.

This is could have been me writing that post. It was perimenopause and I went on HRT to regulate the bleeding.

I've just sent an enquiry to the local private hospital about how much it would cost to have bloods and a scan with them.

I don't know how long waiting for an ultrasound will take otherwise. I was referred on Thursday and had a text message on Saturday from what looks like a private clinic which takes NHS referrals saying they'd be in touch with an appointment.

How old were you when it happened? 44 seems early but maybe not.

Let us know how you get on @ShowOfHands

It's a bit minging but photograph pads and clots. One of mine was the size of my palm and there would be several others in the same day. They were shocked in to action after yada yada... Peri... Try this... Blah blah blah

You're not listening to me!!! Look!!!

Oh.

Same here - referred to the local private clinic. It was to be one month (okay) then they put it back to 2 months.

Sadly you don't get the plush surroundings with urgent NHS gynae, but they've been absolutely on it with me. I don't really care where it's done lol

Nothing to photograph now as it's just blood when I wipe but the clots last week were like tangerines. I will be sure to photograph if it happens again.

The GP, to her credit, was lovely and has ordered a full bloody count, thyroid tests, ovarian cancer test and so on. As well as an ultrasound referral. She examined me as well.

Have you experienced, or are you experiencing considerable stress? I had HORRENDOUS periods last year when I was going through an incredibly stressful time. Huge blood clots and pain to the point I would just lie on the bathroom floor and cry out for my husband to "put me down" (not a nice thing to say but I was miserable and in excruciating pain) - I have never experienced anything like it. I had scans/US/blood tests etc but they found nothing apart from iron deficiency, of course. It all resolved once I had the stress under control. Whilst peri may be the root cause, stress can seriously exacerbate periods/hormones! Just mentioning in case it is helpful, if not please ignore. Hope you feel better soon.

Sorry if I’ve missed it being mentioned elsewhere but you can have the coil fitted free at sexual health clinics

It is the local sexual health clinic they've told me to speak to but they have long waiting lists for Mirena fittings and only do them for contraceptive purposes.