Is there a point I go to A&E?

[DesignedForLife]

I've had heavy periods most my life, they've got gradually heavier over the last 8 years, but in the last year (since giving birth) they've been very heavy, using night towels all day and changing sometimes every hour. I've seen GP 5 months ago and they referred me to gynae, no medicine as I'm still breastfeeding. Acknowledgment letter from hospital but no appointment. Saw GP again last week, she's arranged ultrasound and blood tests and will try to chase up hospital (I know from a friend that there is a huge backlog there ATM).

I'm in my period now and heavy as usual, not too bad overnight but this morning I've changed pads three time already and I feel shaky and wiped, and trying to juggle two boisterous toddlers. Really struggling to cope.

[WishfulThanking]

It's only because this is a "women's problem" that it's brushed off so lightly by some.

Absolutely. The night I was sent to A+E my partner was terribly worried at the amount of blood I was losing and said "you wouldn't accept that much blood loss from any other part of your body, would you? You'd be calling 999!"

[ineedwine99]

How are you OP?

[DesignedForLife]

I've talked to the emergency GP and have an appointment this afternoon. As others have pointed out I'm aware that rarely there can be real medical emergency with extreme blood loss from menstruation as seen in a couple previous threads on here. I do not take trips to A&E lightly & would only go because I'm worried something is seriously wrong- i.e. An emergency.

[OutnumberedbyFurchesters]

Glad to see you've gained a Medical opinion and have an appointment for this afternoon. Hoping you have managed to get some rest before the appointment, and they can help you manage this month and get a plan for the future.

[DesignedForLife]

And sadly can't find anyone to help with kids (who are crazy today of course) so CBeebies and lots of tea for me.

Good suggestion upthread re stopping breastfeeding for medicine, baby is 12 months and nearly weaned, I'd be happy to push the last bit but they won't take any other milk still.

[Bettercallsaul1]

I'm very glad you've got an appointment, OP. If it's making you feel so weak you can hardly stand, it definitely needs investigation.

[WishfulThanking]

You can have the progestogen only pill while breastfeeding, or the Mirena. Both help reduce menstrual blood loss.

[letsstickmyhandinthere]

Please anyone who has the same problem as the OP get it looked into, I posted earlier on this thread saying I'm having problems myself. Since posting I've had to call 111 on my doctors advice and now waiting for an ambulance for an assessment. OP I really hope they help you at the Gp

[MrsMyreton]

Best of luck for this afternoon

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

Glad you have an appointment OP. Will you take the kids with you to Drs? Probably best if you can get someone to watch them for an hour but I get that it's not always easy at short notice

[C8H10N4O2]

FWIW my local hospital trust is 19 A&E nurses short - this is the state of the NHS, we are just starting the run up to winter. Someone mestruating is not a life threatening medical emergency.

Rubbish.

I was sent to A&E in this situation because I'd lost so much blood. I did end up having a transfusion because idiots like you insisting it was 'just menstruating' left me feeling I would be wasting resources to go earlier.

Just because menstruating isn't normally an emergency doesn't mean it can't be. And your local A&E is short of nurses don't tell women that 'womens ailments' are somehow less important.

I'm regularly amazed at the lack of empathy from some women for those suffering from menorrhagia in its extreme form.

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

letsstickmyhandinthere good luck.

Please let us know how you get on. It will also let 'doubters' realise that this can be a serious issue and does warrant A&E at times

[JonSnowsWife]

Someone mestruating is not a life threatening medical emergency.

Whilst the staff shortage is unacceptable. That's not the OPs fault.

Not even going to bother replying to the ridiculous menstruating comment part.

OP. Hope you get on okay at the docs.

[BlueSapp]

I'm glad your seeing someone OP don't let idiots every stop you from getting the help you need.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

OP good luck ,hope you get clarity and a prescription for some medication that can help you

BTW, people telling her not to go to A&E are not necessarily "idiots"

(1) AIBU is not the place for medical advice
(2) its a place for opinions
(3) many of us are worried about inappropriate use of A&E
(4) many of us have been through what Op has, and come out the other side

and Op, I get it. I went to AE when I was in unbearable agony once, it was a gynae issues but it was 3am and I needed morphine, so shoot me

I am sorry of this thread has been mixed

[BlueSapp]

OK not idiots, ignorant people, who need to learn what does and does not consitute an emergency.

I was on the phone to an out of hours doctor one night (while I was sitting on the toilet because i was bleeding so heavily that was the only place I could be). He was busy telling me to go and lie down and it will calm down, next thing I know I woke up with two paramedics carrying me out of the bathroom, was having a miscarrage and passed out because of the heavy blood loss mid conversation, so my point is bleeding can esculate very quickly, if I had not been on the phone that night I would've died because there was no one else there to see what happened.

The OP clearly said she was alone with her children, I mean it doesn't bear thing about.

[Justaboy]

I really hope 1 thread about sepsis isn't going to make the whole of MN traipse up to A&E for heavy periods. After all, for that 1 thread there have been about 10000000000000 which haven't necessitated A&E.

Well good that the OP has now been in contact with a doctor and the appropriate course will hopefully follow. It is a problem deciding when to go to A&E or not. Course sometimes its obvious but not always and there is a valid point re clogging up these departments.

That's why 111 was set up but even then people are sometimes reluctant or hesitant to call.

However even posting on Mumsnet may not be a much better option but sometimes that call will be picked up on her by a med professional. and as can be see often it wil tip the poster into doing the right course of action.

Its a far from perfect life situation a fair old bit of the time making the right call. A GP i used to know got one wrong once and a young child died, he never got over that poor sod and otherwise he was an excellent GP.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Good luck OP and letsstickmyhandinthere I hope you both get sorted asap.

[Opheliasgoldenwine]

Hope GP visit goes okay OP and that the kids have settled down

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

OK not idiots, ignorant people, who need to learn what does and does not consitute an emergency

that's the problem, we cant tell on here can we! Look maybe I feel guilty as I was one of the people saying to visit GP, call 121

I mainly draw the conclusion that maybe we should call 121 and not ask AIBU as its too, confusing and frankly inaccurate

and horrible for the sick person too

[BlueSapp]

I get why peolpe might just post on things like these, self doubt, not wanting to be a burden, it can be confusing thinking is there something seriously wrong with me or am i being silly. So any form of reassurance is going to make them more comfortable.

The way that some posters though virtually attacked her to dare to complian about a period. thats not on.

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

I hope you're ok OP?

[DesignedForLife]

Yes seen the GP who's checked me over and given me a different tablet to try and take edge off. Fortunately since my initial post the flow slowed down quite a bit otherwise I think it could have been a lot of blood lost. I've got to wait for appointments, but might go back to my normal GP to ask about mini pill option- I'd been avoiding that as I got bad constant nausea on the pill, but might be better than the way I feel right now. Really don't like the idea of a mirena.

[TiesThatBindMe]

Would be lovely to hear back from you OP if all is ok?