I feel like I'm slowly bleeding to death while pretending it's not happening, should I "advocate" for myself with the doctors? How?

[questionzzz]

TMI and long. Please help. Nothing like this has happened to me before.

background: 45 yrs F, 2 DC, generally healthy. No former complications with childbirth, reproductive system, periods etc.

So, over the past few years I have generally had regular, fairly light periods, lasting 3 days at most. A bit of cramping and heavier flow on the 2nd day, nothing an ibuprofen couldn't take care of.
Right on the dot 5 days after my 45th bday, I start a mild spotting (last Sunday, to be precise) just less than 2 weeks after my last period. I have a bit of a panic, wonder what going on, make an appt to see family dr but that's not until 20th Sept, continuing to bleed, so on Tuesday I go to walk-in clinic and see dr who examines me, takes swabs and writes up bloodwork, also gives me a pep talk about how it's probably just "life changes".
Call back from dr following day (last Wed) saying the bloodwork returned all normal, even for peri menopause my hormones don't indicate that, so just a fluke. They'll call me if anything irregular
in the swabs, but not otherwise.
No phone call so far, thankfully.
meanwhile the blood flow is getting heavier and showing no sign of stopping.
It's been ten days now I'm bleeding, with some clots, feeling a bit weak and woozy sometimes, but otherwise no pain, no cramps or anything.
Sex last night ended up looking like a murder scene. (dr said I could have sex)
What should I do? Just wait it out? Seeing my family dr on 20 Sept. Should I just wait till then? I feel at this point I'm slowly bleeding to death but not sure what to do?

[Lunde]

My periods went very long, heavy and clotty just before the menopause (I could soak through a "night towel" in 10 mins). I had a gynae appointment with bloodwork and ultrasounds which all came back as "normal" however my periods ceased for good just a couple of months later.

[Myriade]

@questionzzz, unfortunately, its not unusual for women to start bleeding for the whole month until their 'next' period.
I wouldnt go to A&E for that unless you are strating to feel unwell.
Then have a word with your GP to check to any potential causes. but a 'fluke' might just be that.

[bluebeck]

Changing pads three or fours times a day doesn't sound that heavy to be honest, although I totally understand this is worrying if it's more than you are used to.

It does sound like a perimenopausal symptom but worth getting checked out again just in case.

[Rachelover60]

You must have a referral to a gynaecologist, question. I had the same symptoms when I was still quite young - not the light flow for three days but flooding and clots. I saw a gyn, was given some pills to take for a month and was fine thereafter! I wish I could remember the name of the drug but I can't

What you describe is not uncommon at all. It's a real drag.

[Singlenotsingle]

It's probably because you're approaching the menopause. My periods got very heavy and didn't seem to stop. The doctor put me back on contraception, but that wasn't a good move because it thickened the blood and I ended up with a DVT.

[Aquamarine1029]

Sounds like classic peri-menopause to me, and I went through it as well. Bled for three months straight at one point before starting HRT.

www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

[questionzzz]

Thanks again all,

I talked to a nurse who went through my symptoms and said the 20th Sep appt was "reasonable" but to call back if my symptoms got worse, I got pains, faint etc.

So I will.

[lilypips]

I bled for 2 years. Not heavy all the time but there were flood days sometimes. I had a mirena fitted and it changed my life! It took about 3 months to become free of any bleeding at all

[questionzzz]

@Aquamarine1029 three months! bloody (literally) hell!

So sorry for all that we undergo.

[Hazhaze]

If your anemic already then that's probably not helping you feel great. Do you have any iron tablets or iron water sachets to take?

You do need to be checked out as it's unusual for you and as pps have said fibroid is a possibility.

In terms of heaviness your ok. I get through 6 pads a day easily for 6 days and i used to flood every 20 mins when I was younger. I have all the skills needed to clear up a murder scene

Eat little and often to keep your blood levels steady.

[sonjadog]

This happened to me about a year ago. I have been clockwork regular since I started getting periods and then last autumn I had a period that went on for two weeks, sometimes getting stronger and sometimes getting weaker. I was in the first weeks of a new job so had no time to go to a doctor. After that time, my periods went back to normal time-wise. But they have changed in how they are now. I get much heavier bleeding the first few days and they stop a couple of days earlier than previously. I'm the same age as you so I assume it is the start of the perimenopause.

[Kko1986]

Hi op,
I'm in the same boat I'm 33 I have had a baby 2 years ago by c section went on the prostate injections then came off last October and for the last 5 months I've been bleeding every 2 weeks I've had scans and nothing is showing but like u I feel tired drained and dizzy I don't know what to do next other than keep seeing the dr

[fotheringhay]

Poor you OP, and others, sounds miserable.

Weird question but are you vegetarian? Could be a total coincidence but in my life I've noticed friends who don't eat meat tend to have much heavier periods. As I say, it could be pure chance!

[Evilmorty]

I had this between babies 1 and 2. I took something to stop the bleeding and then fell pregnant with baby 2, and then almost immediately pregnant with baby 3.

The periods are back but are similar to yours, the doctor said if it goes on too long to come back and have that same drug again. I can’t remember what it was called

Call and make an emergency appt, don’t clog up a&e unless you really feel faint.

[hopefulhalf]

I had a similar thing last year (aged 42). They gave me tranxamic acid (sp) to control the bleeding. It did work, I ended up having fibriods. Not sure if you can get it OTC or through GP

[shushymcshush]

Please go to GP. IF possible, check if a GP at the practice specialises in women's issues (can usually tell by letters after their name DRCOG or something like that).

It could just be one of those things, but we are still expected to function aren't we? I had something similar 7 yrs ago, about 1 yr after son was born, periods were so heavy, flooding through nighttime pads, clothing etc. First GP said "see how you go", when I phoned back and said I'm not happy with having to change three pairs of trousers today and make a nappy out of maternity pads, they gave me tranexamic (?) acid, which sorted it and never had same prob...until recently.

First few days ok. Middle of period is like a massacre. Convinced its perimenopause.

Also are there any other medications etc you are on. DSIS and I are both on vit d (whole other story) which can affect blood clotting.

[steff13]

PookieDo, has your doctor suggested uterine ablation?

[missnevermind]

Not long after I turned 42 I had a big bleed. I have an Implanon implant and never have a period.
It started on Christmas day and finished mid April 2 days after a cervical biopsy. It was never lighter than a light flow but at points was heavy enough to soak through a pack of maternity pads in a day.
No reason for it. No after effects. It just happened. Then stopped.

[missnevermind]

I was given the Transxamic acid but the first tablet made me so ill I was told not to take them again.

[BrendasUmbrella]

You don't get same day appointments in your area?

I have been having this. Norehisterone stops the bleeding, only 1 or 2 tablets, I'm currently getting one heavy period (that doesn't seem to stop by itself) every three months. Definitely peri-menopause.

[Ilovellamas]

I’m 47 and I had a couple of these periods. They both started on day 12 and one lasted 10 days and the second for nearly 4 weeks. Very very heavy bleeding, loads of clots, I felt my body was doing something horrible to me (sounds weird, bit I did). Dr put it down to perimenopause, I pushed for a scan and had fibroids too, so something to keep an eye on. I started taking progesterone gel for the first half of my cycle and since then have been fine.

[shushymcshush]

How old where you when this happened @flouncyfanny ? If you don't mind me asking

[Itsnotme123]

I had this similar to yours.. it was like the grand finally before menopause . I was back and forth to the doctor, but really nothing to worry about.

[confusedjuly2019]

Sounds very familiar to me when I was 43-44. I had treatment for fibroids (no pain or symptoms) plus mirena coil fitted under GA......brilliant.....no more periods.