At what point would you go to A&E with bleeding (possible TMI)?

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Ongoing issues which I have posted about several times (sorry).

Have been having prolonged bleeding and break through bleeding for 18 months now, getting nowhere with my gp. Last 6 months it has gotten worse and worse to the point I’m bleeding 3 weeks out of 4, in the last 2 months I have had 5 days not bleeding. I am waiting for a phone appointment with my GP (7th October) but I have now been bleeding for 3 weeks, getting heavier and heavier, tonight it’s got worse and I’m passing large clots, I’m in agony, bloated, pain in my back and legs. I have take tranxemic acid which has had no effect what so ever.

I’ve got to the point where I wake up in the morning in tears because I know it’s going to be another day of bleeding, pain and feeling tired. I’m not sleeping well because I’m scared to move and bleed everywhere. I’m struggling with work and my memory is awful due to feeling tired.

My gp doesn’t seem to listen to me, refuses to refer me to gynaecologist . I keep getting told to try various things and come back if it doesn’t work but then can’t get an appointment for a month and am left in pain and possibly anaemic. I’m not sure I can wait until my appointment on the 7th especially if I continue bleeding like I am now.

Would going to A&E be an option? I’m getting desperate.

Try a different go or 111 for advice

GP

Not a and e unless miscarriage related bleeding.

Ask for a routine GP appointment

@WINDOLENE

GP

My gp doesn’t seem to listen to me, refuses to refer me to gynaecologist

Come on, the thread's not that long yet!

Pharmacy can give decent pain relief if you haven't already got

I am pretttu horrified on your behalf that your GP won’t refer you to gynae, this is impacting your life significantly and not being referred is unacceptable.

I know it’s hard when you in pain but you need to:

• get to see a different GP
• INSIST on a referral
• or pay for a private gynae appt if you’re able to

If things have worsened recently A&E may be a good idea, but I’m sure others will come along with a better idea, I only don’t say yes immediately as I don’t know if that would get the referral you need.

Don’t put up with this any longer. I hope you get some treatment really soon

Dd has been bleeding for last five months and - I’m not lying- hasn’t had a day off

She’s 13. Dr putting her on the pill

Very heavy bleeding and large clots is absolutely an a&e trip op. Mumsnet doesn't think anyone should go to a&e unless they have a leg hanging off.

Sounds dreadful. You must be so fed up with it. There's a very high chance you're anemic so your GP should be testing you for that and referring you to a gynaecologist. Please phone back and say you need a consult asap. If it's interfering with your life to that extent you need to be properly listened to and a treatment an sorted. I think ibuprofen is meant to reduce blood loss. They can also prrscribe tranxemic acid to reduce blood loss. And the pill. Hope you get some answers soon

Why won't your GP refer you? It sounds utterly miserable.
Bloods, possibly scan , reduce bleeding with ibuprofen or mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid if you can tolerate them and plan treatment, usually hormonal if no worrying underlying cause needing surgical intervention.

I think you should at least ring 111 tonight. Blood loss on that scale isn't normal and you definitely need a referral- start stamping your feet and telling health professionals just how much your life is affected.
Mention how much pain you are in and that it has changed recently and is now in your back and legs, please don't let anyone minimise what you are going through.

If you're in agony and bleeding a lot I think a trip to a&e is justified tbh and I almost never say that on these threads

Op, a&e won't do anything much and could even be a bit off with you for attending for a chronic rather than an acute issue. The most they'll probably do is test for pregnancy (to rule out mc), maybe prescribe stronger painkillers which is possibly a good reason to go, and rarely they might do an u/s (and use the "clear" results to fob you off!)

You need a better gp (and your experience is sadly very common so get a recommendation first) and to really push for a referral to gynae (which they hate doing for a number of reasons but includes cost and getting a bollocking for "over referring")

Unless you can afford to go private in which case lucky you.

@Ginogineli PLEASE don't let that be the end of things for your dd

The pill is NOT a cure, it masks symptoms of many Gynae issues and if she goes undx she could well find her fertility impacted in future years, plus quite honestly that level of continuous bleeding could even be indicative of something more serious, she NEEDS the cause to be identified

I have endo which is one of the conditions op or your dd May have.

Took me 14 years to get a dx and even then by happenstance

Absolutely no thanks to any gp!

In that time numerous gp appointments TRYING to get a dx and effective treatment but also to get endless repeat prescriptions for the pill, tranexamic acid, iron tablets, painkillers including mefenanic acid which was useless, migraine meds... plus several a&e admissions due to the fainting, longer hospital admissions for ovarian torsion, mc and ectopic pregnancy...

And my symptoms weren't quite as bad bleeding wise as yours.

I bled heavily for 2 weeks out of 4 sometimes longer but I usually had at least 10 days between bleeds.

You poor, poor thing, OP.

Your GP is shocking.

If you're at the end of your tether than absolutely to to A&E.
Sounds like you can't take another day of this.

Good luck and I hope you get someone to listen ❤️

I'd go in.

OP I'd def consider going in. Surely the constant blood loss alone, untreated is significant.

Best wishes

OP, I had a similar experience. I needed up writing a letter to my GP and copying in the practice manager officially requesting a referral to Gynaecology. I listed all my symptoms, mentioned all my appointments, the fact that no treatment pathways made any difference and talked about how badly it was affecting my mental health and relationship.

I had a referral pretty quickly. It took a year or so but I ended up with a hysterectomy for fibroids, Adenomyosis, stage 4 endometriosis and a frozen pelvis. I have never felt better!

Worth a try?

I really hope you get somewhere soon by the way. It really does suck.

You are possibly severely anaemic (I was) so insist on a blood test too. Make sure they also test for ferritin.

Please go to a and e. The rules is if you soak through a heavy sanitary towel or tampon in an hour every hour it’s not normal and with large clots too I would say an emergency. Not wanting to get off the bed because you are bleeding so much is absolutely a reason for a and e

How are you OP? I'd say in this case to try out of hours and start down the referral path if you can. You poor thing

Thank you for all the responses, just to a answer a few questions...

I have tried the pill, it helped a little but because it gave me head aches I have been told not to take it (I have tried many different ones over the years), I still bleed on and off all month on them.

I have various pain killers including naproxen, nothing’s touching it and nothing’s reducing the bleeding.

I have been the GP several times and had several phone call appointments since lockdown. I went to the sexual health clinic a couple months ago and was treated for PID, I didn’t have it and all my tests came back clear. I am a waiting list for the coil as my GP refuses to refer me to gynaecologist until I have tried it, I don’t want the coil.

I have been up 6 times in the night to go to the loo, have been in pain last night and am still passing clots and thick blood this morning, I’m pale and feel awful.

I’m just waiting for the dc to go to their dads so I can decide if I going to A&E or call 111?

I am 38 years old, my DM had the same symptoms when she was my age and had fibroids which resulted in a hysterectomy when she was in her early 40’s.

And I can’t change gp’s, I’m in a rural (ish) area where all 3 local surgeries are run by the same gp’s, I have seen most of the gp’s in the practice.

Do you know what the triage system is for your local A&E. At ours we have to phone first, if that's an option I would give them a ring. If you can't get to A&E then insist on an emergency GP appointment tommorrow. You shouldn't have to live like this.

Definitely be seen today. Significant blood loss is something that can't be ignored - regardless of where the blood is coming from.

I suspect 111 would point you towards A&E anyway but you could try them first.

Having to wait for a telephone appt on 7th October is ridiculous. It sounds like this is approaching an emergency.

If you think you need acute attention due to blood loss (and resulting anaemia) or to rule out life threatening condition, go straight to a&e.

If you think you need a referral to gynae but are not acutely unwell then a&e won't really solve anything- unless you need gynaecology emergency admission they can only ask your GP to refer you to gynae- a&e cannot usually do 'routine' referrals.

Working in a&e I've had similar patients in before and whilst we can give drugs to stem the bleeding (short term) and rule out serious anaemia and PID, we are very rarely able to get the route cause or get the patient what they ultimately want (gynaecology).

The system is SHIT, sorry. I would complain to practice manager and/or private gynae if you can afford it.