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.

If I call 111 they are likely to send me to local walk in (minor injuries) which is fun by nurses, can’t see they can do much for me so I think it’s easier to go to A&E at the main hospital, hopefully they won’t be too busy. I’m hoping they will at least give me a blood test and like you say it might rush through a quicker appointment with the gp.

I am tempted to go down the private route.

All I’m expecting today is a blood test, possibly something to stop the bleeding (though haven’t found anything that works so far) and possibly some kind of examination.

Pretty sure it’s either fibroids or endometriosis but I’m not getting anywhere with a diagnosis as I need a referral to gynaecologist. The hospital I’m going too does have a great woman’s health department but without a referral I will get nowhere.

An emergency department will refer you back to your GP. It’s not an emergency, it’s a chronic condition. It’s also a Sunday. What are your expectations around this?

Go on Monday and be more assertive about a referral. Ask why they are reluctant to refer.

I can’t believe some people here think this is ok just to leave and leave until a gp finally takes Op seriously

Women’s problems need to be taken more seriously

Honestly if you have the money for a private consult, while it is shit that the system has failed you - just get that booked.

It will be quick and you can get some answers and start getting your life back.

Yeah Rebel would men end up in this situation, I don’t think so

I think what @MeganChips says is a great plan and definitely worth a try but it doesn't fix your immediate problem ("waiting list" for a Mirena? WTF?). Whether A&E is worth it today is a bit of a lottery - you might get a sympathetic response and some short term relief which will tide you over until tomorrow.

Your GP is shocking. When you write Megan's letter copy your local CCG complaints system.

Honestly letter as someone says to GP saying all your symptoms - your appointments - your treatment the fact that you don’t want the call - all your symptoms and how is it effecting you physically emotionally and mentally and saying despite the go refusing on this date to refer you to a specialist and that you are asking again not to have the coil and to be seen by a Specialist and the could The practice manager And senior partner reply in writing. Most of the time it is cost saving - the gp surgery is A business and then the fact that ‘women’s problems’ are seen as just that. I suffered for years and it took a New male GP To say ‘this isn’t right let’s refer you’ rather than my female GP who told me ‘50% of the population has periods and none of them make the fuss you do’

I was going to suggest an out of hours doctors but then seen you live rurally. Where we are (medium sized town) there are a few nearby (within 10 miles) out of hours walk in centres where you can see a gp. 111 might give you a phone gp apt which would be different from your own gp and hopefully might suggest a different course of action than your surgery.

@Rebelwithallthecause

I can’t believe some people here think this is ok just to leave and leave until a gp finally takes Op seriously

Women’s problems need to be taken more seriously

So I just leave it until my gp will talk to me (7th of October)? I’m not getting anywhere getting a earlier appointment. There’s a high chance my iron levels could be dangerously low? the wait for a blood test at my gp surgery is 2 weeks.

What am I hoping to get out of today? A blood test, iron tablets or transfusion (if it’s that bad), pain killers, possibly meds to slow the bleeding down and possibly a note to my gp demanding they give me an appointment tomorrow 🤔

I have been bleeding heavily for 3 weeks after a 5 day break, before that another 3 weeks of bleeding and pain. I’m sure there will be people in A&E with cuts that have lost less blood than me yet they will be treated.

Wouldn’t!

Am shocked by both the GPs ongoing attitude and the time taken to get a telephone appointment.

Nice guidelines outline what you should expect:

We want this guideline to make a difference to women with heavy menstrual bleeding by making sure:
• doctors take your symptoms seriously, ask the right questions and use the best tests to find the cause of your heavy periods sooner
• you can see a healthcare professional with specialist knowledge of diagnosing and treating heavy periods if you need to
• you are given information about the full range of treatments that could help and what they involve, and support to choose one that is right for you.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng88/informationforpublic

Given you have seen all the GPs at the surgery and still got nowhere I would be calling them tomorrow to:
1 say I need an emergency appt and gynae referral as this is still affecting my life in a significant way.
2 say Nice guidelines on women with heavy menstrual bleeding say that women with suspected fibroids should have a hysteroscopy for diagnosis.
3 tell them that if there continues to be a delay in diagnosing the cause of the heavy menstrual bleeding you will have no option but to make a GP complaint.

Hopefully the GP realising you know what the NICE guidelines say and are willing to make a complaint will stop him / her trying to fob you off.

I think that’s a fair set of things to want for tosh OP.

Do you have the money to pay for a private gynae?

Today not tosh... sorry

Please go to a&e op! Stop dithering and just go. Ignore all the posters telling you to wait.

There was a case a few years back on here where the OP was worried about heavy bleeding. Can’t remember all the details except to say at the urging of other posters she went to A and E and it saved her life. Think it actually made the Daily Fail.

Sorry but I would go to A and E and not take any risks.

Go to A&E OP. I hate this MN attitude. You've got heavy bleeding with clots and can't get help anywhere else. It could be serious. What's the worst that could happen - they send you home. Good luck

Could you afford to find a private gp (might cost around £100 for a consultation) just to get a referral to a gynaecologist. There are also online gp’s that you can try who I think can do referrals (liv health or push doctor) that would be cheaper

Failing that write a letter to the practice manager as some one suggested

You should not have to be fighting for this. I’ve had similar issues but each time I’ve been to the Gp I’ve been referred. It’s taken about 5 years of referrals and subsequent discharges after one issue has been dealt with to finally get a diagnosis of endometriosis and I am waiting for an appointment at a pain clinic and to see another gynae.

There are so many treatment options that you should be offered. I’ve had so many scans I’ve lost count, polyps removed and currently take tranexamic acid which works for me. Every time I’ve been to the doctor I’ve been listened to and taken seriously so it’s so wrong that you are not.

I would 100% go to A&E.

I do not give you this story because I think you may be in the same boat, but to show that GPS do not always call things right and that we have the right to stand up for ourself if we do not feel something is right:

Friend, 28F, bleeding for approx 12 months. Weight loss, pain thag worsened over the time period. Anaemic due to blood loss. Frequent trips to GP, where she was diagnoses as constipation No gynae follow ups booked.

One day, she called me crying saying that she had just passed a fist sized clot and she was panicking. I told her to put her coat on, I was coming to get her. Drove her to A&E where they were a bit about our arrival with what they were clearly considering to be a period. Anyway, send down a gynae consultation. She was referred for tests. Ultimately, my friend had stage 4 cerival cancer.

Now, I reiterate that I am in no way saying this story reflects on you OP. I merely think its an important lesson that we not put all our faith in GPs, as they do make mistakes. My friend had clearly been unwell for a very long time. But maybe, just maybe, if she had been referred to gynae 12 months earlier when she first visited the GP, she would have stood a chance.

Do what you feel is right for you. Fight for the tests you think you need.

A&E will only stop you bleeding to death today. They aren't any help for chronic conditions.

My mum had similar and in the end we did take her to a&e as she was flooding. It was a gynaecological problem but she did get help. (This is going back a few years ago though)

Let us know what happens when/after you go to A&E, OP. I'd love to be wrong & for a visit to A&E leading to terrific progress towards helping you.

I agree with others who have said you need to go to A&E - if the bleeding has become this significant and you're passing course everyday then something clearly isn't right.

You have my sympathy op. I once had bleeding as you describe for about a year (finally managed to get preg). Luckily I wasn't in much pain but was passing cloys the size of tennis balls (which I took photos of and showed gp who was not interested). I ended up needing an iron infusion and the hospital on standby for a blood transfusion. I would go to A&E if you're in pain along with the heavy bleeding. They can do blood tests there and then and refer you to gynaecology.

A&E might get you an iron test and a note added to your record that you attended. They may give you some better painkillers.

The GP needs to know about the pain aspect. The guideline says to carry out a physical exam if you have other symptoms besides heavy bleeding. A telephone consultation on October 7th is no good.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng88/chapter/Recommendations

Good luck.