Any doctors about? Panicking

[Howldens]

I will try to keep this brief but backstory relevant. Would be so grateful for any words of wisdom.

I'm in New York for work. I am experiencing a heavy bleed (mid-cycle). Yesterday it was so bad that I was bleeding through sanitary wear and trousers every hour. today I woke in pain and heavy bleeding - a big clot plopped out in the shower - like two fingers width & length.
bleeding all day & more clots but not so massive.

im panicking bc about 10 yrs ago i had some retained matter after an abortion but I was on holiday in a developing country, experienced crazy heavy bleeding, passed out & got taken to a hospital, had my womb scraped under general anaesthetic and lots of antibiotics. I think I nearly died- but didn’t ever really get full picture.

because of that I am finding this really scary and triggering. I don’t know if I need to go to hospital - could there be another infection?

I messed up my HRT - oestrogen gel & progesterone tables and I’m currently taking the progesterone at night but should I stop as not sure I’m taking it right.

i went to urgent care this morning - temp & heart rate fine. They said there was nothing more they could do and next step in treatment is A&E for ultrasound & bloods if I wanted to seek further treatment. I’m not sure if i should go?

I feel very very far from home & im panicking.

I think I am fine now (not dizzy like before - can’t decide if I am pale or not) but my fear is I go downhill overnight like last time and I can’t help myself. Last time it was my husband who got me help when I collapsed I but I’m alone here.

If you're still bleeding and passing clots with pain i would go to hospital. Do you suffer eith fibroid. It's scary when you're on your own especially in a different country.

You think?

please don’t judge me bc I know I am going to sound like an idiot BUT I don’t have insurance.

it was a mix up bc my last company covered insurance when I travelled so I didn’t think of booking it with this trip. I don’t think I have any cover at all.

so it could be mega expensive.

I was going to say go too. But not having insurance is a worry!

I don’t think I suffer with fibroids but I read they could come with age.

Oh god. I am so upset with myself. My dad was in the travel insdustry and drummed the need for insurance into me. But I’ve made a horrendous error here.

I am so scared and feel so alone.

Are you both doctors?

You won't have to pay for anything upfront. If you go to the emergency room they will treat you and do whatever they need to do for you to get better.

Hospitals in the US will generally write off emergency room bills and things like that if you don't have the money to pay them. But you won't get the bill for a while. There should be a social worker at the hospital that would tell you what your options are. I'm not in New York but in my state we have a program called non-citizen emergency medical assistance that is a form of Medicaid for individuals who are not citizens and therefore not eligible for regular Medicaid.

Get on a flight home

yeah I looked at flights but nothing until tmrw.

No im not a dr. But mid cycle bleeding that is heavy should really be investigated. But without insurance it’s difficult…

Does your company have a 24 hour emergency travel line? If so, ring it now and find out if you are covered on your work policy at all.

If you are go to A&E, if you aren't you need to have them book you on a flight home as soon as humanly possible id suggest.

I obviously don't need to tell you what could happen if you need medical interventions without insurance in the USA.

Does your bank account give you travel insurance? Do you have a random Annual insurance plan you might have forgotten about?

I’d fly home tomorrow , it could end up hugely expensive without insurance

How are you feeling. You can become anaemic if you're bleeding heavily. If it's unusual for you then I'd seek medical help, are you in a hotel, can the staff arrange for a doctor to see you.

I’d fly home asap without insurance

Get the next flight home. Any medical treatment in the US with no travel
insurance could end up costing you 10s of thousands of pounds.

Are you sure its not a menopause bleeding
https://www.menopausesolutions.org/post/managing-heavy-periods-during-perimenopause-understanding-your-treatment-options

This is the thing. I don’t know if I am being paranoid because of my previous experience or whether I genuinely have an issue!!

I'm not a doctor either, does your husband have any insurance that covers you. Steff13 sounds good advice.

This is helpful thankyou so so much

Ditto - I’m not a Dr but I’d fly home tomorrow. Sounds scary and best to get checked out - but without potentially crazy costs.

1. any chance you could be pregnant? (Trump’s America - it’s something you’d want to know before heading to the ER) 2. If you’ve messed up your HRT it’s quite possible to have random bleeding. 3. How much longer are you in the US? 4. The fibroid question is also relevant as they can and do cause the bleeding you’re experiencing especially with exercise like lots of walking

So - IF you’re sure it’s not a pregnancy and you’re back to the UK within maybe 2 weeks you could probably risk leaving it - but be watchful. Hate to think what investigations would cost! If you do a preg test and it’s positive it could be an emergency. If you aren’t pregnant and choose to leave it, once back in the UK you probably want to be checked under the 2 week rule for post meno bleeding if you’re a year after your last period. Obv head to the ER if you appear to be properly haemorrhaging. Travelling to the US without travel insurance is asking for trouble but you know that!

Oh and FGS don’t stop taking the progesterone

If there is any chance you could be pregnant, you need to be seen ASAP. How much blood do you think you have lost so far?

Thankyou so much - this is helpful.

I am certain I’m not pregnant as they did a test at urgent care this morning along with the other obs which were all ok. negative.

So you don’t think too much risk of rapid escalation over night? (Last time was linked to pregnancy).

and yes I am beyond angry with myself for making such a stupid stupid error re insurance.

Call your employer asap. They have a duty of care towards you, and even if the onus was on you to get insurance (and claim the cost back), they should help you figure out next steps now.

i would also try to get home, but with all the sanpro I could fit in my hand luggage, and maybe try to get to a department store for some period pants? Or get a concierge service to get some to you.

If you really are in pain, seek medical help. Whatever has to be done should be done, and the rest can be figured out one way or another.