To think the male GP just mansplained?

[FuckingFabulous]

I have called today to speak to a GP because for the last eight months I've been having an issue with my periods. Rather than a light to medium flow for five days , I've been having a light flow for five, a crazy heavy flow for one abs then back to light for three days. And I mean crazy heavy. I know many women have it worse but on that day I'm changing super plus tampons every 40 minutes and waking up absolutely flooded three times a night. I feel light headed and trembly on this day and the two days after too, and I get a lot of sparkly/flashing lights in my vision for about a week after.

So. GP. I called the GP when the second period was like it and was told to monitor it for six months. By a male GP, just in the interest of full disclosure. I called again today. And the GP told me I should consider myself lucky that the full eight days aren't like it and what I need to realise about the menstrual cycle is that all women have a varied cycle and sometimes it's extremely heavy and sometimes it's extremely light. It's all normal. I said I didn't find it normal to be bleeding through super plus protection in under an hour, despite it only being a 24-36 hrs event in my monthly cycle. I use more protection in that one day than I do in the seven others! And the feeling of being so light headed for days and the visual aura make me feel unsafe to drive. I explained that I literally go wobbly and start to get that darkening at the edge of my vision so need to put my head between my legs, multiple times a day. He sighed and said "oh, I'm afraid it's part of the trials of being female. You'll get used to it. There's nothing I can suggest except take yourself to bed with a hot water bottle or go out for a jog."

What. The .Fuck?! Firstly, I'm a mother of three and can't just fuck off to bed. Go out for a jog when I'm bleeding like I just gave birth?? And I've been having periods for 25 years- I know what they are! Get used to it, indeed.

I'm so annoyed. Years ago I had Mefanemic acid or something similarly named for heavy bleeding, but apparently now there's "nothing" and I'm to just appreciate that it's not for the full eight days.

AIBU to be pissed with his attitude?

Yanbu. What a grade A twat.
Please complain and see someone else.
You're probably anaemic.
Fucking men. (Ok, some men.)

YANBU

Right...And how many periods has he had??

Different GP, kick up a fuss until you get a diagnosis and then formally complain about Dr Mansplainer.

I always ask for a female GP if it’s a ‘lady’ problem and it’s never been a problem.
I was feeling off recently and discovered my ferritin was very low. I had a poo test which was negative, so that was that. I asked if I should have a coil, as that must be what’s causing the problem, and was told no. So it’s just going to happen again !

As PPs have said - I would assume perimenopause. I always had light periods until late 30s - then woosh!!!! Nightmare for about a year then they fizzled out and I had an early menopause in my 40s.

He was totally dismissive and mansplaining - you've been having periods for years and you know what's normal for you. Appalling condescension!

What a prize cunt he is. Luckily for him he’s a cunt that does bleed in a debilitating manner every month.

Complain and complain loudly. Totally unacceptable.

On side note iv found ibuprofen lightens my flow taken regularly over heavier days.

I have found that the only way to get anything sensible out of a male GP re periods is to explain in detail with photos what the issue is. Either they are so revolted they cave or they continue with the dickishness. At which point I remind them of the NICE guidelines, point out that I have told them that my symptoms suggest an investigation and ask them to provide me with a written explanation of why they have decided to ignore them - never fails....

Insist on a referral and see a gynae. This is utter bullshit. I hate to say it but this is why I have private health insurance. Or at the very least you can sign up to an online GP service (there are a few of them now, you pay by appointment) you will have a referral by email in minutes. If no private health insurance as well you will need to pay £250 approx for consultation with gynae. If you can spare the cash it is worth it to get it sorted in day rather than six months! It’s a quality of life issue.

Was it tranexamic acid you had OP? I seem to remember someone saying it can be bought OTC but not sure if that is current info. If it is an appropriate medication in view of individual medical circumstances it is life changing

I went to the GP once because I was in pain and thought my coil has dislodged. He refused to even look
Ended up in a&e that night having it removed as yes it had dislodged and was wedged half in half out my cervix. If he had looked, he would have seen it

This is appalling OP. Complain to the practice manager and request an appointment with another GP. Hope you get sorted soon

He's ill-educated. Complain.

That's pretty poor and I am usually an advocate for GPs. Speak to a female doctor.

I'm picturing your GP as 24 and single
Sorry to be contrary but I have always found young male GPs to be the most sympathetic (including but not limited to female issues)

OP,

Tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron tablets) is available on prescription for v heavy periods. I had similar to you & take for 3 days each months (when heavy) & it has worked. Of course if you've any other meds / health issues that may prevent you being able to take...but ask your GP about it.

@mrwalkensir

had similar chat with young female gp - not necessarily mansplaining

Totally.

I've had a lovely female gp treating me but the man I saw today was horrified and he's not taking a wait and more approach if my iron is still low.

And he's a young (possibly 30's) locum.

Probably completely the profile you wouldn't expect but it the older GPS I've found more "let's keep waiting"

This is just terrible on every level! Medically negligent (those symptoms warrant prompt investigation and you are clearly anaemic with your blood pressure on the floor, which is why you’re fainting). His attitude is nothing short of misogynistic and he is, quite simply not listening to the goddam patient (I’d get ‘listen to the goddam patient’ tattooed on the foreheads of all doctors on graduation). Complain!

My periods became just like this wheniwas peri-menopausal-it was horrendous as ruined weekends away- so embarrassing as I flooded a sheet at a hotel- mortifying and then when we went out for a day trip I spent most of my time looking for toilets to change in as was going through tampons and thick towels in under an hour.I tried a coil and that did actually help for about a year until it started up again.In the end I paid privately for an endometrial ablation-was the best thing I ever did!

Wow.
Lucky he didn’t speak to me as he would experience a hormonal rage like he’d never known. What an arse.
Get a second opinion, it’s not on.

I was fobbed off almost four years ago by my female gynecologist when I called to report soaking through nine ultra absorbent tampons a day right after starting a blood thinner,then I got a panicked call from her a few days later when she consulted with a medical college classmate and realized how severe the bleeding really was and I wound undergoing a uterine ablation.

No point getting the rage but do ask for a another appointment as you have a medical problem that can be treated. It sounds like you're not anaemic which is good (as you've just been tested I think?)

Mefenamic acid or tranexamic acid or hormonal treatment should help promptly

I think (personally) that another issue is that in the past GPs were seen as demi-Gods by many people especially when you knew your own GP well.

Nowadays I think many people have wised up to the fact that just like in any other field some GPs are lazy and / or incompetent.

Please don't shoot me for this but whilst many in the past year have gone over and above, many medical professions have shown their true colours.

professionals NOT professions

So you def need to be reviewed by a gynecologist. Such a significant change should be investigated properly as there are a load of really nasty things that can present this way.

In the mean time
Take a large dose of vit C with your iron, it helps it be absorbed, do this at breakfast
At lunch take calcium and vit d
At dinner take magnesium, selenium and a multivit with high doses of the B vitamins

This should help replace all the vits and minerals that are literally flooding out of you, that may well be what is causing the dizziness and visual disturbances. Make sure you are well hydrated and eat a healthy diet (dont skip meals).

On a side note thats nothing to do with the bleeding but your iron levels - have they checked your B12, nothing used to bring my iron up no matter what supplements it never got above about 9 (I also have coeliacs) - collapsed, bone marrow shut down ended up with blood transfusions - turned out it was all to do with my B12, once was supplemented with that my iron levels went up to 13 without any other changes.
One autoimmune disease increases the chances of another

But with the regards to the bleeding, I've been similar to yourself -rang GP months ago - had phone consultation with one who wasn't wonderfully helpful, but asked what I wanted to achieve, I said at that point my issue was the tiredness (I was putting it down to perimenopause) had blood tests which said I was ok but lowish in vit D

Contacted them again, saw a different doctor who was 'I need to see you in person' - was lovely 'you can't go on like this' - prescribed me contraceptives to try and help with bleeding, did swabs and refer to gynae. Contraceptives did nothing, gynae did a colposcopy said it's not my cervix it's inside the uterus gave me norethisterone to stop the bleeding and referred me for hysteroscopy (possible ablation) - only problems with those tablets are they worked amazing - first time in months I'd had more than a few days without bleeding (I was havign nothing then tap turned on for an hour would soak through tampons of every size and clothes then turn off for 24 or so hours) - but was told take for 3 weeks then stop for a week - I'm now 5 days after stopping and today back to flooding again. But seeing them again on Thursday

I'm so glad the second GP I saw referred me on - I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel (ok the hormones say I'm not perimenopausal I suspect I am anyway)

Please speak to someone else