To take a photo of my menstrual loss?

[Perplexed0522]

I have the most awful periods.

I pass the most awful of clots throughout the day, I can flood through 3 layers of clothing easily, I have to lie and sit on towels, I have to carry spare pairs of clothes around with me at all times, I usually can’t leave the house for the first few days and I’m dreadfully anaemic.

I’ve been on iron supplements for over 2 years now and my levels are still low and it has been attributed to my heavy periods.

I had an USS scan about 6 months ago, which was done about a week after my period had finished, and I was told everything was normal.

It’s been suggested by various Doctors that I have a Mirena Coil but I’ve had two in the past, which didn’t suit for me various reasons, and so because I said no they’ve washed their hands of me.

I have also been suggested to try Transaexemic Acid (sorry, I don’t know how to spell it) but I have a chronic condition which TA isn’t compatible with.

Im currently on my period now and I’m just so bloody fed up with it. It has a huge impact on my life and the Doctors just don’t care and aren’t interested.

In total frustration I’ve just taken a photo of the sanitary towel that I’ve just changed because of how totally flooded it is and because there are huge clots on it too. I want to show it to the GP so they can see how heavy it is and explain the flooding and the clots happen constantly (I have to change my towel every few hours), just so I can prove how bad it is.

I think they think I’m exaggerating about how bad it is, but I’m not.

My DH said it’s really inappropriate to take a photo to show them, but surely the GP will have seen worse?

I just can’t take it anymore and just want my life back. I feel beholden to it every month and I’m so fed up.

I have heavy periods too (but apparently not anaemic) I read somewhere that the average blood loss from a period is 30-40ml. But I know from using a menstrual cup that I usually exceed 50ml in the first 24 hours. I used to have to change a super plus tampon within 2 hrs on the first few days.

The last 10 years have been a nightmare. Periods so heavy that I would flood, ruin clothes and bed sheets,

Im so tired of throwing clothes away and replacing towels all the time. I don’t leave the house or get in other people’s cars for the first 3 days (because of how quickly the flooding can happen) unless I really, really have to.

I have to have a mattress protector on my bed too because of how bad the night time flooding is.

Mind you there is nothing worse than waking up, standing up and feelings lots of blood and clots just fall out of you. I often find that I have blood running down the lengths of my legs.

It just makes me so miserable.

I was like this, my periods were like having a mid term miscarriage, I was using super plus tampons & maternity pads together, the force when I flooded caused my tampons to come out, it was awful, I was in agony with periods that lasted 10-14 days & then ratty for the other two weeks because I knew what was coming up. I had a new partner & couldn't have sex half the month & didn't feel like it the other half because of the hormones & depression it caused. I got myself referred to a brilliant gynacologist who did a laparoscopy, diagnosed an ovarian cyst & endometriosis, I chose to have a hysterectomy, it took some fighting with my local CQC who tried to push me into having a mirena coil even though my consultant said the chances of it working were less than 50%. I had my remaining ovary removed as well & was on norethisterone whilst waiting & fighting for the operation, I had it done keyhole & was home the morning after, I felt better the moment I woke up from the anaesthetic.

Definitely take a picture and keep pestering. A relative had similar, as well as breathlessness and kept getting fobbed off- not believed about how much it was affecting her. Eventually, when finally looked into properly was told she was on the verge of needing a blood transfusion and given a hysterectomy. Doctors won’t be squeamish- it sounds awful- I feel for you.

I have periods just like this and iv took photos and shown the dr. There drs they've seen so much worse it's only period blood it's not a big deal to them

I would also really like to know if your advice would be the same if she was bleeding from her head or her arm? And if not, why menstrual blood is so offensive to you.

This was my argument to my DH.

Mind you, I’m a little bit worried that I will show them and they’ll say it’s within the realms of normal ☹️ It’s hard to know what is it isn’t normal when you’ve got nothing to compare it to.

Ask to be referred NHS Choose & book to your local private hospital, you will be seen quicker, they do all the latest treatments, are more efficient & you get private treatment on the NHS.

Second this. You need to be referred to a gynaecologists asap.

You should not have to suffer like this every month, it is affecting you physically and mentally and by the sounds of it is affecting your whole life.

Good luck OP I hope you get the help you require to get this under control.

I have had the ablation. It's life changing, no exaggeration. I was the same as you @Perplexed0522 . Ask for the referral.

I had mine under GA, felt woozy and uncomfortable for 24 hours and then fine. I had mine 4 years ago and wish I'd done it sooner.

I have a whole album in my phone and use this guide to track roughly how much I loose I’ve got endometriosis so loose a lot maybe worth seeing if you might have endometriosis photo guide is under section 2 yogaandthemenstrualcycle.com/blog-how-much-blood-loss-during-period/

It was getting a mooncup and realising that I passed in a few hours what most women lose in a whole period to get the GP (a younger new female one) to take me seriously. I am on tranexamic acid now and my iron level is normal for the first time in 15 years.

Yes absolutely take photos and records of blood loss. Ignore people who are saying it’s gross. It’s actually really helpful.

You need a referral to a gynae consultant.

Slightly different scenario but I had two episodes of vomiting black blood up admitted to hospital both times
I'd taken pictures, when I asked the doctors if they wanted to see a picture they said absolutely. It helps them as everyone describes things differently.
I think a doctor would find it helpful to physically see what's happening

Take the picture. Maybe hide it in a folder so you don't scroll across it in public though. I'm a nurse and it's just a picture of blood. Wouldnt be the first time I've been on my lunch and realised that I have a full sample jar in my pocket ready to go to the labs.

I am also a heavy bleeder, all investigations normal so far. But please give a cup a go while you are waiting for investigations. You get large ones which can be a little uncomfortable but hold 42ml. A super plus tampon holds 15ml. It's a total game changer for me. A night time pad holds 15ml. I'd soak through them at least hourly in the first 2 days. I can't always get to the toilet if someone's unwell at work so I have a large menstrual cup and night time pad and could get a good 3-4 hours which is lifechanging for me. On the last couple of days I just pop it in in the shower in the morning then take it out at night before bed.

That sucks... I had no idea you couldn't take the pill if you have epilepsy. I suffer from migraines so can only take the mini-pill.

@Perplexed0522
Just to say I work as a midwife. I have been shown photos of blood loss and other vaginal discharges on sani pads by women. I have had pads brought into the hospital to show me what they have passed.
As a HCP it didn't bother me one bit. It's only blood. Your GP will not be offended shocked or horrified. I'm sure they have seen a lot worse.

I weighed my night time pad and when I told the doctor that I’d lost more blood in one night than I should be loosing altogether in one period she agreed to change my coil from copper to mirena and gave me an appointment the following week.

The mirena has been a life changer for me. I have put on some weight but it’s a small price to pay for no periods!

Oh God yes, I’ve had the blood running down my legs on my dog walks, it’s horrendous. Stood there talking to people whilst the blood is pumping out and I could feel the pad getting heavier and heavier, awful.
You honestly can’t go on like this, please don’t leave it as long as I did and end up horribly anaemic.
I had to actually ask the gynaecologist for the ablation, they kept pushing the mirena for 6 years but it made me feel ill.
I had endless hysteroscopies with biopsies and polyps removed 4 times, one lot in day surgery. Each time they told me that would sort it but I still kept getting the heavy bleeding and felt no one was taking me seriously.
They only starting listening once my ferritin dropped so low and I could barely walk up the stairs.
Definitely show them your blood loss and ask to be referred ASAP.
I hope you get it sorted soon.

Have you ever had an iron infusion? It’s the anemia that is likely causing the clots and heavy bleeding. It’s a viscous cycle.

I did this, also with my bowel movements. I was being minimised and not believed about the blood loss and the horrendous stomach issues i was having. I took pictures and printed them and finally got through to the doctor that this wasn't over exaggerating or anxious or in my head 😑.
Do whatever you need to get the help you need. Doctors have seen it all before I don't see why it would be inappropriate.

Can I get one if they’ve already discharged me?

When I had my USS they said it was normal so discharged me back to my GP.

Even though I was discharged I wrote to the Consultant to say I wasn’t happy with their decision as my scan was done about a week after my period had ended (so not much to see) and I asked if I could have another scan near to when my period was due to start so they could assess the endometrium lining at that point.

I received a letter from Gynaecology saying there was no justification for any further investigations and to speak to my GP about any concerns.

And since then I’ve just been left to get on with it all.

Ignore your DH. He is but a lay person and has no clue.

I would try spatone as an iron supplement. I have had awful anemia and iron tablets didn’t touch the sides but spatone did. (Liquid iron).

I would keep going to the GP until they took you seriously, it’s awful, unacceptable and you don’t have to put up with this.

YANBU if they aren't listening to you @Perplexed0522 . I'd maybe be more confident doing that with a female doctor than a male. I don't see how else you can show them if they aren't listening. x

Well my periods were just like you describe. I thought was normal and did nothing. I ended up in emergency surgery and turns out I had endometriosis and adenomyosis. Ask for another opinion. Many doctors don’t appreciate how bad this can be. X good luck

From the thread title I thought it was us you were considering showing a pic. x