Gp not taking me seriously because I have anxiety

[Bobbyandme]

So upset right now. I've been suffering with on and off anemia for months. I've been weak and exhausted. My periods have been painful. I had a particularly bad one that made my eyes blurry and I've had four days in the house with a headache and weakness. Palpatations etc. Ofcourse it makes me worry. I'm a parent and when I'm down it affects my husband's work and my child needs to get to school etc.

So after my family expressed their worries when I cried yesterday I called the drs. I told her I do get anxious because I've had alot of worries about being able to function for my kids. I told her I'm worried because since February when my iron was down to 6 I've felt rubbish. I've tried the mini pill and bled and bled. I tried transexamic acid and it did nothing. I tried microgynon and it made me nauseous and low moods. She told me she would refer me but today she suddenly remember any of that. She ignored me telling her my ovary has been hurting for weeks. I told her I'm bed bound on period days.

Her only solution was join the waiting list for steps to change. Or have a hormonal coil put it that can cause bleeds for six months. No matter how hard i tried to tell her my anxiety is from my anemia and bad periods. She wouldn't believe me.

I am anxious because my periods ruin my life. I am always weak and in pain.

I'm really upset as now I feel there's no help for me. What do I do? I desperately need them to take me seriously. It's gotten to the point where we've discussed taking DD out of school until I'm better as oh job is 90 miles away. He works from home the best he can. But sometimes this isn't an option. On top of everything else I want a life again.

How old are you Bobby? HRT can be used on a much more personalised level than the pill and the Mirena, but few GPs have the knowledge (or willingness) to prescribe it in that way.

I can understand your frustration. They're treating anxiety as the cause of your problem, when it could well be a symptom of a hormone imbalance or other deficiency.

Going to speak to a doctor who specialises in blood. Iron infusions. Blood transfusions
These are extreme suggestions at this stage and would be costly just because you don't want to try a coil.

Have you have confirmation you are still anaemic? When was your last blood test?

I would get in touch with your local Sexual Health nurse as they are trained in this subject area whereas most GPs will barely touch on the subject.

I'm 32. Had trouble since my son was born 2 years ago. before then I was ok.

Exactly its a side effect of my life being ruled by periods and exhaustion. I've had some really upsetting days recently. I'll admit that. One was about taking my DD out of school as I can't get her there at the moment. My partner is determined it won't come to that. But if I can't get her there then we will get into trouble with the law. Deep down I know I'll struggle to home school and she needs the social side of school. But that's how desperate I am now. I'm so worried.

@dontdisturbmenow

This has been a long term issue over at least a year but bad since February. I had no reserves left. I've tried all the pills. My iron needs to get to a good level and stay high so I can function and live a normal life.

Having a coil fitted with hormones isn't for every women and you should read up on that. Hormones do not suit me and I have the right to not want to shove a coil into my womb with no control over it after the experiences I've had with hormones!

Your GP isn't going to refer you to haematology because you are anaemic from a gynae related problem! That needs sorting first. A coil can be removed in about 5 seconds by practice nurses/GPs/sexual health nurses/ contraceptive nurses...so may people, there would be no issue getting it out if it didn't agree, I am lost as to why you wouldn't try it for a month or 2 to see how it goes.

@SantaIsReal

That could be an idea thanks. Are they able to refer x

I have never been able to take the pill- I also had two hyperemesis pregnancies. My body reacts oddly to hormones! My GP suggested giving the mirena a go and it really has been fantastic. I was on my knees before planning my whole life around periods.

I was really worried that the coil would make worse. I really understand how you feel but it really is worth a try.

You are not responding to the question about anemia. If you are still anaemic despite taking tablets since February, then that is more of a concern and indeed, anaemia can make you very poorly.

Being anemic can make you anxious ..I know from experience. ....but you don't say if you had your levels rechecked

If only she knew how unwell I feel

She does, you have told her. She has elected not to believe you.

If tranexamic acid doesn't control/improve things you need the gynae referral. Women often have to fight to get even basic access to care for "women's issues" and it can help to be well prepared for the appt. Write down the points you want to make such as:

• can you explain how anxiety causes bleeding that doesn't respond to tranexamic acid?
• can you explain how you have ruled out endometriosis?
• can you tell me when the referral to gynae will happen as we agreed in my May appt?
• so far we have tried a,b,c,d,e,f and the most effect was 'c' which still left me with an unmangeable quality of life and heavy bleeding
• when will the gynae referral happen?
• " " "

And then change doctor or see a different GP in the practice to go through the same thing

If your stress/anxiety issues were caused by the medical issues can you also add:

• if you look at my notes you can see the medical issues arose first and its the failure to progress any effective treatment or management which has triggered a mental health issue.

@Bobbyandme With resepct, you can't just dismiss the idea of the Mirena coil outright. Every type of pill or hormonal treatment is different. The progesterone in the Mirena is different to the other pills you have used. You really won'tknow if it works for you unless you try it!

As for not being able to get it out- where does that idea come from? Of course you can have it removed!

I was offered a Mirena as part of HRT and my dr said if after 3 months I didn't like it, he could take it out.

Why do you think it can't be removed?

The Mirena is a godsend for a lot of women.

I can understand how you feel upset but I can also understand your GP too. They have offered you a very successful type of treatment and you are refusing to even consider it - based only on 'prejudice' of other types of pills in the past.

You have tried all the other options.
At this point, all that is left for you is Tranexamic acid (again), the oral contraceptive pill, or an endometrial ablation which would probably mean you cannot have more chldren.
OR the Mirena coil.

Surely it's worth trying it rather than being sure in advance it's not going to work?

Has your GP taken a blood sample for analysis, which showed you to be anaemic?

Or have you been self diagnosing by some rip-off DIY test.

*Having a coil fitted with hormones isn't for every women and you should read up on that(

Your language is very emotional 'Having it shoved up'. They hardly do that!.

But you don't know if you are one of those women!
The hormone in the coil is released very slowly and it's not like taking the Pill.

There are millions of women with a Mirena who love it!
Why should you think you aren't one of those?

Is the iron you take prescription strength or one you buy yourself?

*@Bobbyandme * after nearly 30 years of chronically heavy periods, low iron levels and generally feeling really rubbish for 1/3 of a month, I had a Mirena coil fitted and so wish I'd done it earlier. I didn't want to earlier for similar reasons to you, but my goodness I wish I had done!! The other things I did was switch from tampons to a mooncup and I'm certain that also made a big difference - it certainly helped with the cramps even if the flow didn't reduce.

It actually sounds like the gp has tried a lot if this has only been happening for a year. From your list I was expecting you to say it had been 5 years or so.

Have things actually been given long enough to work?

I am currently low iron and had a private blood test for thyroid, this was slightly more in-depth than the GP thyroid test and it came back saying my T4 is too high. However, for there to be a thyroid issue you need a problem with T3 as well.

Anyway, the reason I mention this is that I went on a specialist thyroid forum. When I told them my iron test results, they said it was too low, but they recommended I have a full iron panel test before supplementing.

They have a full iron panel test at Medicheck - medichecks.com/products/iron-deficiency-check-blood-test - I'm afraid I have no idea if these fuller tests are available on the NHS, or what the results would or could tell you, but perhaps get a new GP, get bolshy and ask them?

Also can I ask what your neck issue is? I currently have a problem with my neck and am also having awful periods - I have three days of weakness, no appetite, unable to do anything apart from lie down - it is ruining my life too (at that time) and I am trying to get to the bottom of it. I've seen a neurologist who said it was a silent migraine but I am not so sure.

I have no idea if my neck issue is totally separate or somehow related, but it all happened at the same time.

Could you have the Mirena fitted privately?
Have you tried taking the regular combined pill, and then take it for 3 months back to back. That stops your periods virtually completely for 3 months.
Also take iron supplements every day. It can take 3 months to replenish the iron stores back up to normal level so you have to keep taking it daily.
With the tranexamic acid you have to take it 2 days before your period and then the first 2 or 3 days.
You could also consider medication for your anxiety as this might help you manage better while the periods thing is being sorted out?

Every woman I know who has had the coil has had problems. I would never have it. Don't feel pressured into something you obviously don't feel comfortable with, OP.

@bobbyandme As someone who has suffered years from Endometrioses I can highly recommend the Mirena coil. I have suffered years of very very heavy periods and constant exhaustion. I still take Iron supplements however am not to the level of what i was before i got it in. I now have my life back, no excoriating painful periods every month, not weepy tired from exhaustion. Am very lucky had a very understand partner by my side as it also had an impact on his life. Please try everything your doctor suggests, it might work for you. But you don't know unless you try. Hormones are not the only thing that have a affect on your body and mind. Exercise and diet also have an affect on these things.

Why are women on this post not respecting the OP’s decision, based on her experience, not to use hormones? I refused the mirena after reading up on it, I used the copper coil instead, although not an option for your issue. The coil once in can’t be removed quickly as appointment are hard to come by, this was my experience, and will be worse now.

Excessive bleeding should be escalated if the obvious solutions haven’t worked or are undesirable. There will be options the gynaecologist has that the GP won’t know about. This is exactly why Americans fight against socialised healthcare, although it doesn’t have to be like this and the US system is terrible for other reasons.

@Bobbyandme I’ve had anemia for about 5 years getting prescriptions form the GP and getting scans for my ovaries. No matter how bad it is they have never offered me blood or iron transfusions because it’s simply too expensive. They won’t give it to you likely unless you are collapsed in A&E. no advice because I’m just managing along but if you can afford private care then it’s probably the only option if you’ve done all the hormonal contraceptives, tranexamic acid etc and don’t want the coil.

"blood or iron transfusions because it’s simply too expensive"
When I first entered the medical profession 35 plus years ago blood transfusions were given to loads of people. Now here are NICE guidelines that we have to adhere too, as to when transfusions can be offered, your HB has to below a certain level and the cause has to be considered, is it an acute anaemia or a chronic one etc why? Blood transfusions have very recognised complications and in some cases life threatening complications.
Iron transfusions are also risky and have a significantly high incidence of serious allergic reactions.

Have you tried any other combine pill other then microgynon? I had to try about 5 different combined pills before I came across marvelon which worked for me. And had to give them 3 months each time.

What are your iron levels now? I take I ibuprofen during my period as it lightens my flow. Anemia that bad can make your hardly function and become so anxious.