Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Menopause

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Am I going to bleed to death?

125 replies

Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:15

Warning - before I get numpties telling me to call 999 the title is tongue in cheek, but an accurate description of how I feel.

Age 48, apart from a bit of insomnia I've been ok with perimenopause. Cycle reduced from 28 to 21 days which I considered annoying. But what I didn't know was what my uterus had planned next. I've been on my period for a whole month. 28 days of bleeding. What fresh hell is this and why did I know this was a thing ?

I have a GP appointment tomorrow. What should I be expecting ? Ask for?

Everytime I think the thing has gone , it comes back again. How is it possible to bleed this much and not be dead?

And if DH tells me one more time how tired he is I will scream..

OP posts:
Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 08:19

No idea when they can see me as she said the receptionist will call me. I have no faith in that happening but I'm not going in for all those examinations. I want them to just refer me for a scan so I have 1 procedure not 3. I think I'll call tomorrow and try and talk to someone else as this seems so far removed from what everyone here has had happened.

OP posts:
Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 08:23

When I questioned why I couldn't have something to stop the bleeding she said it was due to my age Hmm. And that it was for heavy periods. How is a 4 week period not a heavy period. She's an idiot.

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 09/03/2022 08:27

A scan can't replace a smear so get that booked. I'm not sure it could detect infection either hence the need for swabs.

I really think you should ask your GP these questions rather than just dismissing her out of hand.

thaegumathteth · 09/03/2022 08:30

Also take a look at NICE guidelines

MsMartini · 09/03/2022 09:04

People here were just recounting their experiences, which are different from yours (many including mine were about heavy periods and flooding - not a month long bleed). We don't know your medical history and none of us are qualified. Please have the tests your GP recommends. They will be over before you know it and if your smear is overdue you need that anyway.

I was told I needed a scan because of my age - to make sure symptoms caused by something else were not attributed to perimenopause. I'm not saying that's the case for you. Please don't ignore your GP's advice because it doesn't fit with what you have read here.

Livelifeinthebuslane · 09/03/2022 11:39

I've got constant bleeding, though not heavy, and I had a smear and swabs done at the same time, then I had to go back the next day for another nurse to feel my abdomen (the first nurse was lovely but she couldn't understand why the second nurse couldn't do the smears and swabs), then a CA125 test, then a scan which didn't get a full picture although did question hyperplasia. That was four weeks ago and it seems uncertain what happens next, I'm only getting to speak to the GP tomorrow. So sounds similar-ish to your experience.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 13:04

Thank you. I'll stop being such a grump then Blush

What's a CA125 test?

OP posts:
Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 13:06

I've just read it's a blood test. Anyway, she called me back and said she will give me something to stop the bleeding. No idea why the change of mind.

OP posts:
poorbuthappy · 09/03/2022 13:12

@Seema1234

I've just read it's a blood test. Anyway, she called me back and said she will give me something to stop the bleeding. No idea why the change of mind.
Hopefully she's ben on here in her lunchtime.
Guiltypleasures001 · 09/03/2022 13:16

Hi op I thought I was b,ending to death for 18months
Clots the size of my hand

Had biopsy's they were ok finned off with coils came out with the clots
Was a anaemic and low iron thought I was going to pass out all the time

In the end a+e through to gyeane was given Provera and the bleeding stopped
With in days

Op I never left the house was sitting on bath towels and huge incontenance pads constantly and ruined my mattress and tons of underwear
Provera saved my life I kid you not

Good luck

Guiltypleasures001 · 09/03/2022 13:18

Sorry for spelling I had two hysterscopies and both clear

TyrannysaurusXXrightshoarder · 09/03/2022 13:31

@Seema1234

When I questioned why I couldn't have something to stop the bleeding she said it was due to my age Hmm. And that it was for heavy periods. How is a 4 week period not a heavy period. She's an idiot.
Because it might not be a period. Mine wasn’t it was ovarian cysts. Which is why I was sent for a transvaginal ultrasound. Luckily my gp didn’t just attribute my very ‘obvious’ peri symptoms to peri menopause and sent me for all sorts of test first because it turned out it wasn’t peri, it was ovarian cysts as mentioned and pernicious anaemia for which I require medication. It sounds like your GP is doing a good job and investigating thoroughly.
Xpologog · 09/03/2022 13:34

I had similar. Always every fourth Friday, didn’t know what a period pain was then wham! Like blood Niagara Falls for weeks at a time. First GP fobbed me off with tablets which did help. Second ran hormone level tests and prescribed HRT which got everything back on track for a while. Then the brand of HRT stopped being produced and alternatives made me feel sh. One last horrendous period… then nothing again. Bliss.

TheFnozwhowasmirage · 09/03/2022 13:52

I've just started a similar thing. 53,still having regular periods Hmm. Finished one period,one week with no bleeding,since then I've been bleeding for 10 days so far.Why aren't we told about this sort of thing? Had a phone appointment with a GP yesterday and she said it sounded like peri menopause,and if it carried on they'd check to make sure that I wasn't anaemic.
I was really surprised that she didn't to refer me for a scan at the very least. All the fuss we hear about if something isn't normal for you,to tell your GP and get it checked out. I'm at a bit of a loss what to do now. Just live with it? How long do you allow yourself to bleed for before ringing the GP again? She reminded me that my smear test is due shortly,but I can't go if I'm still bleeding.
OP I've had at least 3 internal scans for various reasons and they are fine,far better than a smear test as far as I'm concerned.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 15:16

I wish they'd be consistent. My GP told me to come in for a smear despite bleeding. Anyway I've taken some methotrexate so hopefully that will stop the bleeding. What a nuisance.

OP posts:
SparklingLime · 09/03/2022 15:50

Methotrexate??!

CaMePlaitPas · 09/03/2022 16:20

I think it's worth seeing a GP OP. My Mum had this and it turned out to be cancer.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 18:01

Well thank you for that ray if sunshine . Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 18:08

@SparkkingLime. I meant mefosomething acid. I just looked up what methotrexate is. Definitley not that. I didn't even know that was in my brain. Confused

OP posts:
vipersnest1 · 09/03/2022 18:15

OP, I suspect you mean mefenamic acid?

Original poster
Seema1234 · 09/03/2022 18:19

That's the one.

OP posts:
Blackopal · 09/03/2022 18:42

OP you need to speak to GP and ask for a blood test .

You also need to push for a scan to check for things like fibroids etc that can cause heavy bleeding. People are mentioning biopsy to rule out the v small possibility that the heavy bleeding is caused by cancer.

I really hope you dont just accept this situation and dont see a gyno.

I suffered extremely heavy bleeding and ended up in hospital as an emergency for several blood transfusions.
My situation was caused by fibroid and endometriosis. Had I avoided a gyno the situation would not have ended well.

I note you suffer migraines, I also do, they seem to be linked to the hormone imbalance behind all the above issues.

I hope you do get some help, you dont need to accept this is normal for you now.

Blackopal · 09/03/2022 18:44

*CaMePlaitPas+

I am sorry to hear about your mum x

CaMePlaitPas · 09/03/2022 20:36

That's sweet of you @Blackopal, thank you. It's been a scary experience but she's OK.

OP I didn't mean to upset you, but it's too important to ignore. We never in a million years thought that it'd be what it was.

MrsT777 · 09/03/2022 21:00

@Seema1234

Hi Seema1234,

I would really follow the advice of your GP. We don’t know your past medical history so can’t give you the proper advice that you need. We can only tell you our individual stories, which may or may not be of help to you.

That said, I thought I would tell you my story. I was having very heavy periods. I would put a super plus tampax in the stand up and I would be flooding. I had to get up every hour during the night otherwise I would have flooded the bed and often I wouldn’t make it in time.

I went to my GP I had the blood test that was previously mentioned CA 125. This is looking for ovarian cancer. It doesn’t detect uterine cancer (there is no blood test for this) Luckily it came back negative. This level of bleeding is not normal and no one should put up with this.

I was referred urgently to a gynaecologist. I had an abdominal scan (like the ones you have when you are pregnant) and a transvaginal scan. Neither of these hurt. The transvaginal scan is looking at your uterus and ovaries. My scan showed I had thickening to my uterine wall - endometrial hyperplasia. This can often be caused by a polyp or it can be cancer. I had a biopsy taken of this thickened area at the same time. I have a low pain threshold but I managed it, it wasn’t too bad. Again I was lucky and it came back negative. I had the Mirena coil put it as it reduces the thickening of the uterine wall. I had 6 monthly scans and biopsies and the thickening is reducing.

Please don’t put up with this bleeding. It can just be hormonal. My gynaecologist told me you can only say it’s hormonal once everything has been excluded. Contact your GP and ask to be referred to a gynaecologist.

I hope this is of some help. Let us know how you get on 💐

Swipe left for the next trending thread