Help please! When to get help for anaemia due to an everlasting period (hopeful it will end soon, just feeling a bit fed up)

[kattekitt]

I've been on oestrogen gel for the last few months and now also taking progesterone tablets as I'm peri menopausal.

I've been bleeding for about 5 weeks now, some days just spotting but others really heavy. I've mentioned to my GP who said things should settle in the next 3 months and bleeding is normal.

I can soak through a sanitary towel in less than 5 minutes at times, it only seems to be either really heavy or spotting. I've noticed now that my gums are looking pale and have also started bleeding, I'm knackered all the time and just struggling. I have other health conditions and I really don't want to bother my GP any further as they didn't seem worried when I mentioned it. Im also looking very pale and inside my eyes are also very pale. The blood I'm loosing is bright red.

I'm already taking iron supplements from the GP as normally anaemic before any of this. At what point do I need to be concerned? Has anyone had anything similar?

Any help or advice would be appreciated

Hi, I had similar, neverending bleeding.

Consultant prescribed tranexamic acid (not sure if that's the correct spelling!)

It stopped the bleeding and it didn't happen again.

It may be considered 'normal' but it's treatable and you shouldn't be expected to put up with it.

It breaks my heart when yet another woman is fobbed off by a doctor (yes I know there are some good ones).

Go bother your GP, it's what they are there for.

Wish you all the best x

This kind of thing really makes me mad as women definitely get the "dirty" end of the stick with periods etc. And that woke lot go on about cisgender privilege. Some privilege. Sickening.

Have you had your iron levels checked? I became very anemic after horrendously heavy periods. Had iron checked and requested referral to a haemotologist for iron infusion. Felt much better after that. TA didn’t do much for me.

Thank you all, it's good to know I'm not being OTT about it. My GP is normally absolutely amazing, so maybe I've been a bit dismissive of it - as we are taught to do! It's only a period crack on type thing.

I'll get an appointment tomorrow as I honestly can't even begin to describe how tired and how tearful I've been today. I feel like I'm heading for a breakdown and I'm really not coping. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. Thank you x

When I had similar bleeding it turned out to be a haemorrhage from a ruptured ovarian cyst and required emergency surgery.

The advice if you are soaking through a pad in less than an hour is to go to A&E.

@kattekitt

Thank you all, it's good to know I'm not being OTT about it. My GP is normally absolutely amazing, so maybe I've been a bit dismissive of it - as we are taught to do! It's only a period crack on type thing.

I'll get an appointment tomorrow as I honestly can't even begin to describe how tired and how tearful I've been today. I feel like I'm heading for a breakdown and I'm really not coping. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. Thank you x

Hope you get some answers, it can be so difficult especially when we're taught to put up with things. Perimenopause can be a rocky time for many women, myself included. I can't wait to be out the other side... My mum tells me it does get better so I'm holding on to that thought!

Take care x

Please "bother" the GP with this issue!. Do not put up with this and be your own health advocate.

I have had similar problems pertaining to dysfunctional uterine bleeding and the initial treatment of tranexamic acid tablets did not work. I was extremely close to becoming anaemic as well due to constant blood loss.

I would go back to the GP and ask, no insist, on being referred to a gynaecologist. The cause of the heavy bleeding needs to be determined; you should be checked further to see if fibroids, polyps or endometriosis are the cause (all of these along with imbalances of estrogen and progesterone can cause heavy bleeding).

This is not a normal period bleed; this is uncontrollable bleeding and the cause as well as the symptoms need to be determined and treated accordingly.

Go back to your GP. My periods were heavy but I was fobbed as them being 'normal'. I went to the GP to ask for antidepressants because I was so rundown as miserable. Thankfully the nurse I saw did a bloodiest. The GP surgery rang me the next day and told me I had to come in for an urgent blood transfusion because my iron was so low.

My regular GP isn't in until the end of the week but I called the Doctors this morning. Had a phone appointment with a female GP and she's booked me in for a blood test in an hour and will have a follow up on Friday. Thank you all so much

Well I'm shocked, I'm not anaemic! Thyroid within the normal range too.

Being sent for a scan to see what's going on and causing the bleeding

Thanks again for all the advice x