TMI alert. I bleed ALL the time and I don’t think I can take it any more.

[TaylorSwiftsWeddingPlanner]

I’ve bitten the bullet and got myself a GP appointment who has since referred me for an ultrasound, a fit-kit, a swab and a blood test, so I’m doing all the right things. But it’s not for another couple of weeks.

I ‘bleed’ all the time. I’ll have a week or two off, and then back on. Current ‘bleed’ started mid Sept. It’s not blood, it’s brown/black sludge. I can’t not wear pads, I never have sex with my husband anymore. It’s awful and I am exhausted by it. GP was sympathetic and proactive at least. I have lost 30lbs in a year, lower abdominal pain on and off. I have a copper IUD.

Has anyone else experienced this? Every time I go to the bathroom and see more disgusting sludge coming out of me, I jsut want to cry.

No I haven't but no wonder your at your wits end.

Hope your ultrasound gives some answers.

Is the coil still in the correct place. Can that be checked?

Are you taking anything to stop the bleeding E.g tranexamic acid and/or mefenamic acid?

How long have you had the copper coil? Does it coincide with the bleeding? Wonder if it could be contributing

Yes! I had that too for over 4 years. Turned out to be a fibroid. Frustratingly I had so so many gp appointments and checks to rule out cancer but no one looked ‘down there’ and frankly after I got the all clear from cancer no one cared to follow up (bar throwing iron tablets my way). I paid to see a gynaecologist privately and she diagnosed and removed it the same day. It had started in my womb and prolapsed into my cervix. Re your GP ask for an internal from a consultant- it’s not much fun obvs but I truly believe it saved my life. I was SO desperately anaemic by the time I was finally treated. I hope this is helpful - my point is really advocate for yourself because it may well be a very straight forward reason but it’s miserable whilst you are waiting and I am sorry you are going through it xx

OMG thank you thank you for the replies

@dementedpixie Yes I manage with tranexamic acid to give myself a day off every few weeks. Had the coil for 4 years and this started roughly two years ago z

@Sunshineandrainbow yes as far as I am aware it is in the right place but I guess the scan will let me know.

@Oliveoiloli this is so useful thank you. I don’t know if I am iron deficient but have a blood test soon, though to look at me, Im basically grey and dizzy so… I would bet I am. How did your private Gynae diagnose a fibroid?! And what even is a fibroid? I might mention it during my scan or at my follow up GP (in January…) about whether it could be that. Thank you. I was feeling so deflated but glad someone else experienced the same and was ultimately ok.

I was the same, so huge sympathies, OP. I had a lot of small fibroids (15+) none of which was big enough to be sure that removing it would improve things so I ended up with a hysterectomy. And when that was being done, diagnosed with endometriosis. It was fairly extensive but the surgeon took out everything she could find and I've been so much better since. Hope you get some useful answers soon.

I am perimenopausal. And my contraceptive pill isn’t keeping the bleeding back anymore but I cannot come off it. I have had break through bleeding for over a year and a half ( have had a scan and all is fine ).
ao I get you I really do. I found going to period pants much nicer and I was less sore. But I just wanted to come on and give u a virtual hug as I know how it feels to be on constantly.

She could actually see it during the physical exam (which was a bit like a smear) as it had slipped down by that point. It was picked up in an earlier ultrasound a few years before but they were unconcerned about it because it was small / non cancerous. I suppose I am saying from the ultrasound onwards they were happy I didn’t have any thing seriously wrong so they were ok treating me with iron tablets.

The copper coil is actually notorious for messing with your periods and making them worse

Is this the first time you've sought medical input in 2 years? This is so awful, I'm so sorry. You have some very alarming symptoms so I would expect a decent service from GP and referrals x

If you have had a cesearean get them to have a good look at your scar. Ive gone nearly 4 years with problem bleeding and issues and it turns out I have a hole in my uterus that's possibly causing it

It's not the first time I've been, but I usually just get given tranexamic acid, another type of bleeding-stopping drug I can't remember the name of and told to eat more greens/dark chocolate. I think it was only because I saw a different GP, or the fact I look so miserable, that they've decided to give me every test available. The fibroids does make most sense.

My sister had a terrible time with the copper coil, she was in pain and bleeding. Now quite a few years with it out she still has pain, and has been told there's some tissue damage but that apparantly they can't attribute it to the coil... I would consider having it removed!

I had a copper coil. Started bleeding in between periods, not a huge amount, but it was brown and sludgy too. It was happening for about a year before I noticed a pattern, copper coil had been in for about 18 months by then. Was referred to gynae. who thought the random bleeding might have been due to my age (I was about 36) and, I assume, perimenopause, or the coil could have caused the bleeding. He recommended getting the coil out.
I had the copper coil out and replaced with a merina coil which, after 3 more months spotting 🙄, the bleeding stopped completely!

If you have had a cesearean get them to have a good look at your scar. Ive gone nearly 4 years with problem bleeding and issues and it turns out I have a hole in my uterus that's possibly causing it and its been missed at every single scan, mri or ultrasound and i really dont understand how.

I had this with adenomyosis. The progesterone pill has cleared it up.

I bled constantly with the copper coil. My dd did too

Surprised it hasn’t been mentioned but you know that these are symptoms of ovarian cancer right?

I am having similar issues, I started HRT and had a Mirena fitted for menopausal symptoms and every time I had a GP appointment i told them that i still had a regular bleed, that was about 3 years ago, I'm now 55.. I had a blood test for another issue in March this year and was diagnosed with anaemia and referred for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy which were both normal. 5 montgs later, my GP was in touch and I was given a referral for a scan and found to have fibroids, the largest is 8cm. These are most likely the cause of the back pain I've been struggling with alongside the bleeding and the HRT feeds them so they've got fat on the hormones! Now, I'm waiting on an appointment with a consultant having had a womb biopsy which thankfully ruled out cancer. I'm waiting to see what they suggest. I had another Mirena as they always tell me that it'll stop the bleeding but its one weekmoff then spotting and bleeding for the rest of the month and I'm exhausted. I didn't want a hysterectomy when first given as an option but now I'd take it without question just to feel normal again.
I hope you get a quick diagnosis and medical plan soon OP.

Why on earth have you got the copper coil in? Get that whipped out and put a mirena in!

There’s a long waiting list to get the coil taken out, but I’m on it and the GP is going to speak to my local sexual health clinic to get it expedited. My husband has waited four years for the snip but it’s due next summer. Suffice to say, I will get it taken out and nothing is going in (coils, penises or anything else) until this is dealt with. Sludgey black discharge has been as good as separate beds when it comes to contraception.

@OhMaria2 funnily enough, I did have it inserted during my c section four years ago, would you mind giving me more detail on this hole thing? I want to be armed with as much information for my ultrasound as possible. Fibroids, holes, the lot.

@irotoyu yes thats the elephant in the forum. I hope the blood test and scan quickly rule that out.

@Sausagescanfly thanks I’ll check that condition out now and add to my list.

Two hours on MN and I’ve got more options than two years of GP appointments.

I would really recommend getting that coil out asap. My bleeding was awful with the copper coil. I went to a woman’s clinic at the gp - took 2 mins getting it out and everything was back to normal

@TaylorSwiftsWeddingPlanner if your cesearean scar didnt close properly, was badly done, or tore a bit, you can get a fluid filled area that can cause pain, bleeding irregular periods. I believe they are called isthmocele or uterine niche. I had a nice email from my doctor telling me not to worry unless I get symptoms, which I have been going to him with for nearly 4 years.
They can cause secondary infertility too.

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23351-cesarean-scar-defect

Hi everyone, just wanted to update before I go down a google rabbit hole. I had my ultrasound today, and blood tests are next week. The GP just called to confirm there's a thinking of my endometrial (?) wall, which is concerning, and I'm on the two week pathway on a cancer referral. She tried to sound reassuring, but I'll need a biopsy to rule it out. I'm sure it'll be fine. I hope I can get this done and dusted before Christmas.

Good luck with it - I'm glad you are being investigated.