Constant bleeding - I'm getting really worried

[iwasagirlinavillage]

I have the copper coil, which I had fitted 9 months ago. I've had longer and heavier periods but no other problems aside from some spotting in the first month.

Since the end of January, I had some spotting before my period, then a very long and heavy period. It never really stopped, just eased off to spotting. I then had cramping as well. Most days I had spotting and cramping together. Occasionally I'd have neither and sometimes one or the other. I checked for the threads of the coil and they were in place but thought I felt a bump on my cervix so went to the GP. He did a pregnancy text which was negative, did an internal and couldn't see a bump (but did note that I have an ectropion cervix) and took some swabs.

The day after I went to the GP, the cramping got very severe and I was feeling faint. 111 advised to go to UCC, which I did. Urine showed up high white blood cells so they gave me antibiotics and some pain killers. The pain killers helped. 3 days later I started bleeding more heavily and thought maybe it was my period (4 days early). Yesterday (after 2 days of what I assumed was a period), the bleeding stopped and my abdomen became very swollen. I went back to the GP today and got the results of my swabs - one of them showed I have Strep B and the GP has prescribed antibiotics. I told him about the painful cramps and he said it's possible I had a very early miscarriage, which was too early for the pregnancy to be detected.

Strep B doesn't usually cause any symptoms or problems, so I don't think that would be the cause of the bleeding. And the bleeding seems to have gone on for too long to have been a miscarriage.

I'm concerned because none of these possible reasons seem to add up and I still don't know what's going on. My abdomen is very noticeably bloated, which doesn't usually happen for me. My cervix also seems to have moved down and is pointing towards the back, which is not a position I've felt it in before (I used to check the position when TTC). This afternoon the bleeding has started again but it goes from very heavy, with small clots to nothing at all. The cramping is also bad again.

My GP has said that if the antibiotics don't resolve the issue then to go back after another cycle and he'll refer me for an ultrasound. But I'm worried about what's going on. It seems that my uterus is swollen/enlarged in some way as it's pushing my cervix down and my abdomen out. Of course I can't be certain that that's what's happening, but it seems to be the case. I don't want to have to wait another month in case there is something seriously wrong.

Sorry this is long, I'm worried and I don't know if I'm overreacting and worrying needlessly.

Bump.

Anyone?

The pain has become unbearable today. Pain killers aren't touching it. I'm so scared.

I've no specialist knowledge to offer but think you should go back to Drs ASAP, if they can't fit you in phone NHS helpline again and hopefully you'll get it sorted quickly. I bled for months continuously when I first had the mirena but no pain and it eventually stopped and settled down.

Bumping for you OP

Thanks Pantah.

I managed to get an appointment with the GP who sent me to A&E as she said I needed an ultrasound and sooner than an outpatient referral would get me seen. After spending nearly 6 hours in A&E, Gynae wouldn't see me, they advised the A&E doctor that it's most likely caused by the coil. I've been advised to have it removed, and get an urgent referral for an ultrasound. In the interim I've got a prescription for a painkiller and something to stop the bleeding, neither of which I could get this evening so I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow to get them.

All in all a massive waste of time.

I've found somewhere that can do a pelvic ultrasound tomorrow, privately. But I don't know if I should spend the money on it.

If you can afford to, do it. It's hell being in constant pain and not knowing if this is supposed to be normal. I get ovulation pain which is paralysing but only for 2-3 hours not continuously, it took years before I got a diagnosis. Mefeneric acid (ponstan forte) is very good for the pain. Fingers crossed they get you sorted this morning.

Just wondering if it could be fibroids? How old are you?

I have them and can be very painful, and have made my tummy quite swollen....

Can also cause bleeding.

Mine were diagnosed by ultrasound.

Hope you get things resolved x

I wondered about fibroids. I'm 32 and I've had children which apparently decreases the risk.

I'm not 100% convinced about it all being down to the coil. It just seems to strange to have gone from being fine with it, albeit with long and heavy periods, to bleeding constantly.

I don't know what to do about having the coil removed. If I do and that's not the cause then I've lost a perfectly good contraceptive for no good reason. Hormonal contraceptives don't agree with me at all so my choices are limited. I've been prescribed tranexamic acid to help with the bleeding now and, if the cause of this bleeding is known and resolved, then I could take tranexamic acid to reduce the bleeding each month with the heavier periods if I did keep the coil. I wonder if it's worth holding off with having the coil removed until I've had an ultrasound and all other causes have been ruled out, rather than the other way around? The A&E doctor has advised the GP to refer me for an urgent trans vaginal ultrasound which she said should be done within 2 weeks.

I have been prescribed mefenaric acid to help with the pain. My partner has just gone to get it now, so hopefully that will help with the pain and then it would all be more bearable to put up with while I wait for the ultrasound.

Those yellow pills are very effective OP, just remember to have something to eat when you take them, I normally have a banana.