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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Surely this level of blood loss should be taken seriously ?

41 replies

FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:27

AIBU to think that excessive period bleeding should not be dismissed?

Im going through a nightmare and not being taken seriously. Im anaemic, exhausted, drained. Has been going on for 3 years.

I can’t take the pill so was given the mini pill initially but it made me bleed constantly. Came off that and was told a non hormonal copper coil would be better. It made it worse which I didn’t think was possible. Had to have iron infusions and then removed it as it was horrible. Tried a mirena and it came out with the next period , had a new one put in and 3 months later that one made an exit with a large clot.

I had to wait 13 months for a gynae appt to be told there’s nothing they can do except manage symptoms so if I need iron supplements or occasional infusions that’s the treatment plan. Discharged.

I’ve had to go to an and e a few times in recent months and got told off! I had soaked through large pads in less than an hour but they were dismissive and said it wasn’t the right place to go for gynae issues.

Im sure if men had to experience this it wouldn’t be dismissed so easily !

OP posts:
CrispAppleStrudels · 04/02/2025 14:33

That sounds awful for you, OP. Sorry you are going through this. Has anyone mentioned taking tranexamic acid? My GP prescribed it for me when I went through a phase of extremely heavy period bleeding after DD1 was born. I only needed it for a few cycles before things settled down, but she told me to come back if I ever needed it again in the future.

MatildaTheCat · 04/02/2025 14:34

Utterly unacceptable. You need investigating to find the reasons for such heavy bleeding. You may have fibroids for example which can be treated. Medication can be prescribed if IUDs aren’t working.

Ask your GP to refer you for an ultrasound scan. Insist that you are taken seriously and that it is not ‘impossible’ to treat this. Menorrhagia is a medical condition that can even kill.

Good luck, this has given me the rage so I imagine you are properly Mumsnet fuming.

CrispAppleStrudels · 04/02/2025 14:35

But yes i completely agree that it shouldn't just be dismissed! Is it within your means to see a private gynae for a second opinion?

Original poster
FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:37

I’ve made another gp appt for in 2 weeks as that was the earliest available. My gynae appointment was ridiculous I asked about a scan and was told it wasnt necessary. I might try to see if I can get a private one and take results to the gp. I’m so out of breath my last ferritin level was 10 and I’m barely functioning

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 04/02/2025 14:37

Have you ever been investigated for PCOS or endometriosis?

I'm really shocked at how much you've been dismissed. I spoke to a nurse in August about heavy periods, had bloods the following week and a scan in early November, followed by a PCOS diagnosis and gynae appointment in January just gone.

I would also look into tranexamic acid for the bleeding, and naproxen for pain.

Yellowcakestand · 04/02/2025 14:37

My aunt had this. Have you had a scan? It was connected to a benign tumour they found in her liver.

OneLilacGuide · 04/02/2025 14:39

Yes it’s absolutely awful and as you say, if you were a man loosing that amount of blood it would be an entirely different story!

Gynae are talking nonsense saying there’s nothing more they can do, they should be giving you an ultrasound/MRI to see if they can diagnose you!!

Can you afford to be treated privately - the NHS are absolutely useless when it comes to chronic/long lasting health conditions which sadly a lot of women’s health issues can be! I was finally diagnosed (by the NHS) with endometriosis after 20 years of struggling with GPs and nurses but decided to go privately for treatment because the NHS waiting times were so long.

steff13 · 04/02/2025 14:45

I'm in the US, but I've experienced this. My doctor is recommending uterine ablation. You have to be done having kids, though. I'm still looking into it. The women I know who've had it really recommend it.

Guiltypleasures001 · 04/02/2025 14:48

Hi mop I had the same , I've had two hysteriscopys all clear
Bleeding like you was horrendous, I got pots given provera stopped it within 48hrs kid you not. I never left the house for two yrs prior, was sitting on bath towels ruined my bed numerous sets of bedding.

Provera 10mg twice a day, I now take 3 @ day as it started again whist I had covid, good luck

Guiltypleasures001 · 04/02/2025 14:48

Op not mop sorry Grin

ItGhoul · 04/02/2025 14:50

It's a horrible thing to experience but it's not a matter for A&E. Losing the blood that's already built up in your womb lining isn't quite the same as losing blood from an injury. It's awful for you, but not an emergency or anything A&E can solve.

You definitely need further gynae investigations and better medical support, but A&E isn't the place for that.

Original poster
FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:52

ItGhoul · 04/02/2025 14:50

It's a horrible thing to experience but it's not a matter for A&E. Losing the blood that's already built up in your womb lining isn't quite the same as losing blood from an injury. It's awful for you, but not an emergency or anything A&E can solve.

You definitely need further gynae investigations and better medical support, but A&E isn't the place for that.

The gp had told me if I ever soaked more than 1 pad an hour and passed clots bigger than a grape that’s where to go but each time I was told it wasn’t inappropriate so the gp must have been giving incorrect advice ?

OP posts:
steff13 · 04/02/2025 14:53

I just reread your OP - I had the same issue with Mirena! Except I got pregnant on it and had a really awful miscarriage.

Have they done an ultrasound to see if you have fibroids or anything? My mother has fibroids her whole life and they always made her periods bad.

Hankunamatata · 04/02/2025 14:55

How old are you op?

Original poster
FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:58

Hankunamatata · 04/02/2025 14:55

How old are you op?

40

OP posts:
User7288339 · 04/02/2025 14:59

Sorry you have been dismissed.
I'm surprised the GP didn't refer you directly for a scan if there has been a change in your periods and/or offer transaxemic acid (sp) as a pp mentioned

Original poster
FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:59

steff13 · 04/02/2025 14:53

I just reread your OP - I had the same issue with Mirena! Except I got pregnant on it and had a really awful miscarriage.

Have they done an ultrasound to see if you have fibroids or anything? My mother has fibroids her whole life and they always made her periods bad.

They were awful they just wouldn’t stay in !!! I had been pleased the insertion wasn’t too bad as heard horror stories and then they came out 😭

OP posts:
JustMyView13 · 04/02/2025 15:03

Do you follow get.the.lowdown on Instagram? They’re honestly amazing, and if you send them a message they are always super helpful.

Also, I’m on the Depo. Have been for over 10yrs and been very happy with it so far. I would say there’s some horror stories online (as with all forms of contraception) but having tried almost everything else this is the one for me. No periods, no hormone fluctuations, no weight gain. Over the course of a year I just get random symptoms, such as random boob soreness for a couple days. Then a random spot or three. But then it’ll be weeks / months with nothing.

Anxious153 · 04/02/2025 15:10

I also had previously had a mirena inserted and it fell out after three days which was inserted for prolonged bleeding (in excess of 12 months continually). In the end the only thing that was remotely helpful was ablation and mirena coil fitted at the same time. I had no periods for two years after this procedure but did eventually end up needing a hysterectomy. I would ask for another gynae referral.

PixieLaLar · 04/02/2025 15:16

So sorry OP that sounds awful!

Have you tried different brands of mini pill? I only suggest this because I have had brands where I bled constantly and then a different brand with no bleeding at all.

Zanatdy · 04/02/2025 15:19

it should be. My DD became very unwell after her first period wouldn’t stop. Eventually had an emergency transfusion after iron went from normal to below transfusion level in 7 days. She sat on a chair in A&E for 10 mins and it was covered in blood. She was fobbed off at first, but then taken very seriously. Sadly she’s not been right since (4.5yrs on)

NoKnit · 04/02/2025 15:21

FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:37

I’ve made another gp appt for in 2 weeks as that was the earliest available. My gynae appointment was ridiculous I asked about a scan and was told it wasnt necessary. I might try to see if I can get a private one and take results to the gp. I’m so out of breath my last ferritin level was 10 and I’m barely functioning

OP I'm so sorry you are going through this.
Of course there are things they can do. Firstly you could get a scan I assume it could fibroids. However if you are bleeding this much then they probably won't be able to see much on the scan. This is what happened to me.

Then obviously they can do ablation and if that doesn't work last resort a hysterectomy.

I had hysterectomy last year no regrets best decision I ever made. It was pushed because at the gynecologist I almost destroyed the chair with all the bleeding.

NoKnit · 04/02/2025 15:24

FarToo · 04/02/2025 14:59

They were awful they just wouldn’t stay in !!! I had been pleased the insertion wasn’t too bad as heard horror stories and then they came out 😭

Show quote history

Had same mirena just came out.

You need answers OP incant believe they send you home with this.

I'm not in the UK though so our health care is, well better is an understatement 😆

IncaDove · 04/02/2025 15:29

This appears to be a common problem, where woman's health concerns are not taken seriously. We are dismissed, accused of being overly anxious about our health.

I was sent home from A&E twice, with my abdominal pains dismissed as period pains. I was 30 I knew it wasn't period pains. It turned out to be an ectopic. It ruptured and I lost a fallopian tube and overly. All because doctors would not take me seriously. I only survived because my friend took me back to A&E a third time and that's where I was when it ruptured. If I had been at home it is very possible I would have died

I took legal action. I did not claim compensation. I just wanted the trust, and the specific doctors to have to face up to the fact that they nearly killed me. I did receive an apology in the end.

TheSandgroper · 04/02/2025 15:32

Might I suggest getting a digital scale and actually weighing everything that comes out of you? Perhaps over three months? Weigh an empty pad first and count how many pads you use so you can get an accurate figure.

Then you can advocate for yourself with hard data.

And because I am the bloodthirsty, bolshy sort, I would be freezing each clot and presenting the little suckers as show and tell.

Wishing you the best of luck.