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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to A&E

230 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 13/03/2023 09:01

Unbelievably heavy period for me.
Day 3 of it literally falling out of me. I am bleeding through lil lets ultra in about a hour, sometimes 2.
Small clots too, size of a 5p.
Last night the cramps started and I am in a bit of pain from them which is not normal for me at all.
Eventually I fell into such a deep sleep I didn't hear any alarms going off this morning, or the children waking up.
Usually I have heavy periods but this is just crazy. I stood up off the toilet last night to try and have a look and it was running out of me.
Sorry TMI but I'm worried and feel horrible.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 13/03/2023 09:59

Sounds like it could be adenomyosis, make sure you ask about this because they often put it on your file but don't tell you, shocking but true.

Sunbird24 · 13/03/2023 10:01

Two of my miscarriages came with haemorrhages, both required a trip to A&E. With one they managed to stop the bleeding but I still needed a drip and an overnight stay, with the other they had me in resus for 4hrs with a drip and blood transfusions and eventually needed to do emergency surgery as it wasn’t letting up - lost around 1.5litres of blood just in that time. Had to take iron tablets for quite some months afterwards due to the resultant anaemia.

This is not even a normal heavy period, and with the length of time you’ve been losing blood at this rate I would absolutely encourage you to at least call 111, whatever your GP said. The worst thing that will happen is that they say the same thing.

Seeline · 13/03/2023 10:05

How old are you OP? Start of perimenopause?

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:11

PillBoxes · 13/03/2023 09:50

If a man was pouring blood like that from his penis he would be seen straight away.

Women are far too tolerant of dismissal when it comes to periods like this. I don't know what the solution is, but it is not fair at all.

Precisely what do you think hospital or even gp can do at this moment in time?

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:11

@PillBoxes and you're analogy is ridiculous

Sosadsolangafter · 13/03/2023 10:12

It could still be a miscarriage if you haven't had sex for a month, it just means it would be 6w+, which would fit more with such extensive bleeding :-(

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 13/03/2023 10:12

I just don't know what to do.

I'm 35.

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 13/03/2023 10:14

With the level of exhaustion you are describing (not even waking up to children) I would be insisting on actually seeing someone medical in person today. Who that is depends on the services in your area, but if there is no urgent care or GP who can see you, then I do think you should go to A and E . That amount of sustained blood loss accompanied by severe exhaustion is concerning. You may need intervention.

ArcticSkewer · 13/03/2023 10:14

I've been given transanemic acid at this point in a period before. Are you taking ibuprofen as that also helps reduce bleeding?

Thatwastheweekthatwasnt · 13/03/2023 10:14

Go to hospital. Take a supply of heavy duty maternity pads with you and let the triage nurse decide what to do.

My experience went:

Triage
Majors
Admitted to gynae for the IV
Sent home same day

I was passing massive clots and took a photo of one to show them so they could understand the extent of the blood loss.

ShimmeringShirts · 13/03/2023 10:14

I had a period like this, was told to go to a&e if I started feeling dizzy, breathless or had pain between my shoulder blades

2022again · 13/03/2023 10:16

the trouble is 1 persons heavy period is another persons norm, its very difficult to determine seriousness from a mumsnet post so glad you've spoken to your GP...... i would echo another poster, how old are you OP? if 40's ,this was exactly what happened to me going into perimenopause , i couldn't leave the house, ultimately mirena coil worked miracles.

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:16

@Sunbird24 They will advise a&e because that's what there algorithm says. She's established she wasn't pregnant, no injury or treatable cause. It's horrible but nothing can be done to stop it. The uterus holds a finite amount of blood and it empties when it empties. Getting someone to look after the kids would be a practical step.

ChaChaRealSmooth · 13/03/2023 10:17

I had this, went the GP who tried to do an internal exam, couldn't see anything due to the blood and sent me up to a&e.

I had an IV of tranexamic acid and given tablets to take home and referred to gynea.

Had ultrasounds internal and external and was diagnosed with PCOS.

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:19

Sosadsolangafter · 13/03/2023 10:12

It could still be a miscarriage if you haven't had sex for a month, it just means it would be 6w+, which would fit more with such extensive bleeding :-(

Absolutely correct. Any possibility of miscarriage I would go to A&E. No possibility would be a waste of time.

MyNameIsErinQuin · 13/03/2023 10:20

In my experience, the tablets work quite quickly. The GP told me to double up the first couple of doses. Do take iron, ferrous ferritin tablets from the pharmacy, they will help but take a few days.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 13/03/2023 10:20

I should pick up the prescription later today if I can get out the house.

I think regardless of GP advice I might just start taking it and see if it helps.

I'm dealing with a lot of cramping right now.

In half a hour I've filled but not leaked thro a ULTRA tampon that holds 18-21g.

I'm exhausted and it's worsening my anxiety I know it is so I'm maybe flapping a little bit but I do feel like this needs investigated today.

OP posts:
purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:29

Take the tablets with some painkillers and rest. It may be you have fibroids as it's a common cause of heavy periods. Unlikely to be any thing sinister

steppemum · 13/03/2023 10:29

Please go to A&E
The guideline is soaking through a thick pad in less than an hour.
Your tiredness and exhaustion sound like you are severely anaemic. Are you cold? That can also be a sign.
This happened to my mum 40 odd years ago and they admitted her and gave her a blood transfusion.
heavy periods can be more serious than 'just a period' the resulting blood loss can leave you veyr unwell.

What you GP has prescribed may be fine for next time, but it is not dealing with the medical emergency which is now.

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:30

If you can pay for a private uss they are about £150. Put my mind at rest.

steppemum · 13/03/2023 10:31

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 10:16

@Sunbird24 They will advise a&e because that's what there algorithm says. She's established she wasn't pregnant, no injury or treatable cause. It's horrible but nothing can be done to stop it. The uterus holds a finite amount of blood and it empties when it empties. Getting someone to look after the kids would be a practical step.

But this does not allow for

  1. medication to reduce /stop the bleeding
  2. the effect of the bleeding ie severe anaemia, which can be life threatening in itself
Bepis · 13/03/2023 10:32

I read that if your period is soaking more than 1 pad an hour then you need to seek medical care. If it is pouring out of you then I would go to A&E if it was me.

Irisheyesareshining · 13/03/2023 10:34

My teenage daughter was hospitalised for a week with symptoms like this . She was losing so much blood it was frightening. She was also severely anaemic. Call 111 at least !

Marchforward · 13/03/2023 10:36

purpledalmation · 13/03/2023 09:43

The uterus is a closed environment so the blood can only come from there and it's therefore a finite amount.

Injury or pregnancy or blood thinners are potential complications

This isn’t true. Your body puts more blood into your uterus.

Original poster
OnNaturesCourse · 13/03/2023 10:36

I do recall tales of other woman in my family passing out from heavy periods in menopause etc.

My heart is racing when I do simple things like stand up too quick etc.

If I soak thro this current tampon as quick as the others I am going to phone GP back.

I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm worried.

OP posts: