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

[Lovemusic33]

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.

I'm so pleased to hear you're being seen OP.

It absolutely boils my blood the way women are sometimes fobbed off by GPs. It's an absolute disgrace.

My iron levels are OK, they are going to talk to gynaecology to see of theres anything they can do but its unlikely. Hopefully I can get an appointment with gp tomorrow as emergency but I doubt much will be done until my iron levels drop. Not been offered any medication.

You are probably anemic - which will make the blood loss worse.
Walk in clinic instead of A&E?
And ask to see a different gp?

@Lovemusic33 I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when I first went to the GP about my periods. It can cause heavy periods. Other symptoms I have are dry/itchy scalp and skin, hair loss, weight gain, feeling the cold more, tiredness, constipation and feeling slow and fuzzy headed.

Maybe you need to go and sit in the GPs and just bleed everywhere. I think bleeding like this is easy to underestimate because you make every effort to hide it but if it was pouring out of your nose they’d want a look.

@Okbutnotgreat

Maybe you need to go and sit in the GPs and just bleed everywhere. I think bleeding like this is easy to underestimate because you make every effort to hide it but if it was pouring out of your nose they’d want a look.

Very tempted to do that.

The doctor at the hospital has written on my notes to advise my gp to refer me to gynaecologist so hopefully they will listen and finally do this. I’m now home and in a lot of pain, I wouldn’t say it was a total waste of time as the GP might now actually refer me.

Not sure what I’m going to do in the meantime as I really can cope with bleeding all the time, I’m really tempted to start taking the pill again even though I have Ben told not too, I have 2 packets her which would last me 2 months, I do still bleed on them but at least I get at least 2 weeks not bleeding instead of the 5 days a month I’m getting now.

How graphic have you been in your descriptions to the GP? I didn't hold back, "heavy bleeding" covers a pretty wide range. Really, go into detail. I think they often just don't get it. Tell them it's affecting your life every day. Your ability to work, socialise, look after children, whatever it is you do.

@ImFree2doasiwant has a point, even on here on discussions about heavy periods there have been posters who've started claiming they have "heavy" bleeding but then when myself and others like yourself op describe in detail exactly what that means (in my case 2 weeks out of 4, heavy every day of that fortnight, heavy meaning max absorbency tampon AND pad needing to be changed hourly and even then sometimes leaking/flooding, clots, thick dark blood, clothes and linens ruined by repeated staining and stain removal...) some have then had the grace to come back and agree that what they thought was heavy was nowhere near that bad.

The problem is societally these things aren't discussed even among women only groups.

When I first spoke with a gp about my heavy periods following an incident where I'd fainted at the top of a flight of steps at school and hurt myself and been sent home and mum had taken me straight to drs (in the days you could get quick appointments!) and be coaxed out of me (very shy teen) exactly how much and how long I was bleeding both he and my mother were shocked.

This was pre internet days and the only "advice" I'd had until then was stupid agony aunt columns in teen mags which all said 'everyone's periods vary they usually settle down in a year or 2' WITHOUT giving any indication of what was abnormally heavy.

Mum has always had light periods and didn't notice I was going through a lot of sanpro and even buying my own (abusive chaotic home, I had money from babysitting etc and didn't like asking her for money out of embarrassment and knowing money was tight)

She was hurt and disappointed I hadn't told her, I didn't want to burden her in my mind.

As a mother now myself I understand her perspective better.

But even despite all that, the gp didn't refer me to gynae, didn't even examine me, just put me on the pill.

Glad you went to a&e. I was going to suggest waiting until tomorrow as you might have got further....possibly. My local hospital has an emergency gynae assessment unit which is only open mon-fri, don't know if yours has similar. Also really push GP to refer for a scan as well as to gynae. Helps to have the scan prior to referral so if the gynaecologist sees something they think is urgent you'll get seen quicker. Especially useful as the waiting lists for routine referrals are generally so long at the moment

Maybe i need to be more graphic, I did tell them I’m passing large clots and flooding sanitary towels.

In the end TMI I started weighing the sanitaryware I was using and calculated the blood loss. Gross, but it actually showed I was bleeding out at an unreplenishable rate.

I'd definitely recommend getting hold of the NICE guidelines and referencing them as well as pushing for an earlier appointment if possible.

It sucks OP, I was bleeding for six months straight and it just got heavier and heavier, it was absurd.

Totally fed up with this now. Have been awake since 3am, in pain, bleeding, crying because I can't put up with this but have no choice 😢.

Will call the gp first thing to try and get an appointment, have filled a econsultant for in but I suspect that won't get me anywhere so will have to call and demand a call back.

Im going to start taking the pill in hope it at least stops the bleeding for a few days as I don't know what else to do.

OP I am so sorry. I could have written your original post. My GP refused to refer me to a gynaecologists. I also had very low iron levels and she just told me I'd have to put up with it.

I tried everything, including the Mirena coil, and nothing worked. It just got worse and worse. Eventually I wrote down a detailed description of one day and took it to a different GP in the practice. She immediately referred me to hospital.

it turned out I had fibroids. The gynae consultant discussed options with me, including hysterectomy, but in the end I had an op to remove them. 5 years later I havent had any further issues.

You need to insist on a gynae referral. I wish I had done it earlier. good luck

So sorry you have been through this too but glad you eventually got it sorted. The thought of having to wait so long before I get any treatment really scares me right now, I don’t feel I can continue like this much longer. At the moment the only thing that might help slightly is going back on the pill but whilst I’m on it I still spot and can not have sex without bleeding but it’s better than the heavy non stop bleeding and pain I have now.

When you see the dr today, explain you were in a & e yesterday and you won't be fobbed off anymore. Are you a forceful person? I never used to be but then I had a child with ASD and fighting at every turn for help has made me unafraid to speak my mind! Good luck

Handhold ... I'm going through the same although the GP is taking it seriously but the hospital is slow due to Covid.

I'm on day 59 of bleeding and before that I had a 5 day break and bled for 28 days.

Have you always seen the same GP? Or different ones?

GP refused to see me, received a email telling me they will not speak to me until my appointment date. I will be putting in a complaint.

someonesay sorry your going through this too. My worry is that even with a referral I will be waiting a while but at the moment I can’t even get a referral 😢. I have seen 2 different GP’s, I’m not sure which one is calling me next week.

Gosh this is terrible Op, I really feel for you. I never know what their remit is really but would PALS at your CCG (who usually commission GP services) be able to help perhaps?

Honestly that's terrible. I'm so angry for you.

Feel free to pm as we are both going through the same right now.

I've been lucky they are taking it seriously, I went to see them on 3rd Aug and the immediately referred me for urgent scan, but radiology rejected it and they resent in it mid August. I went back on 1st sept and they sent an urgent 2 week referral to gyn, I've had different iron and medication to try. I spoke with them again yesterday and she is emailing both scan and gyn to say this is very urgent now and I need to be seen immediately. Still nothing for the hospital which is frustrating but you must be going out of your mind.

Fire off a letter of complaint and list your symptoms in it. Emphasis on that this bleeding is unusual for you.

That's appalling! For all they know you have serious worsening of symptoms!

Definitely put in a complaint and if at all possible move to another surgery

This is shocking. Definitely complain, write to the practice manager but also send a copy to the CQC, I think?

Wow
On what grounds?

Can you move practise?

Oh this thread has really boiled my piss. You poor thing! It's bloody horrific how women are treated by some GPs around these kind of problems.

Are you able to phone the surgery and speak to a human, even if it's a receptionist? Cry on the phone, tell them this is affecting your life to the point that you are worried for your mental health too and insist on speaking to the GP. It is not ok for you to be left bleeding this heavily for so long. Putting on a brave face isn't working so maybe going all in might wake them up a bit.

Good luck. I really hope you get your gynae referral ASAP and can get your life back. If you don't get anywhere with the gp please take it further (PALS?)

A&E

Sorry just read the thread! Fellow sufferer here x