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Women's health

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What’s wrong with me? Always bleeding, surgery not successful.

21 replies

Lovemusic33 · 29/07/2021 22:27

Totally fed up, have posted here many times. I’m hoping someone can recognise my symptoms because I am stumped and Hospital keep telling me nothing is wrong.

For the past 2 years I have had heavy periods with spotting in between, I say spotting but it’s almost continuous bleeding but heavier when I’m actually on my period, bleeding after sex but no pain, bleed if I strain (to poo). I was eventually referred to gynaecologist last year, had a camera inserted which found one tiny fibroid but nothing else, I was then sent for endometrial ablation and was sterilised at the same time (this was almost 3 months ago). Since the surgery I haven’t stopped bleeding, it’s not heavy but is often pure blood rather than period blood.I have been back to the hospital twice. Last week I was sent for a scan, during the scan I was told that I looked like I hadn’t had ablation as my uterus lining was still thick, I hung around to see a doctor and was then told my scan was normal, I questioned this and was just told that the lining would thin out eventually 🤔. I was told to wait a few more weeks to see if bleeding stops. So far it’s getting worse.

The bleeding is effecting my life so much, it’s making me depressed. I’m single but there’s no way I could date as I would have to explain that I’m bleeding 99% of the time so a intimate relationship would be hard. I can’t wear nice clothes as I’m constantly bloated or the bleeding catches me out. I’m on iron tablets as I feel so drained and dizzy all the time.

I just feel like I’m being fobbed off by the hospital, I can’t see me suddenly getting better in a few weeks, I know things can take a while to settle after ablation but things are not settling at all.

OP posts:
Babdoc · 30/07/2021 09:50

It sounds like the ablation has been unsuccessful in thinning the endometrium.
If it doesn’t settle after your next period, I would ask to be referred for either a repeat ablation or a discussion about hysterectomy.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 30/07/2021 10:21

I would contact the hospital here asap as bleeding like this will lead to you becoming anaemic if it has not happened already.

I would also be contacting PALS in this hospital to determine exactly what happened during in your previous stay in hospital. Did they or did they not perform both the ablation and sterilisation?. They may have done one but not the other (ablation) for some reason.

I've had ablation surgery and in my case there was no bleeding afterwards. Ablation surgery is not normally repeated if it has already been performed.

DumDum32 · 30/07/2021 10:28

Gosh your symptoms sounds exactly like mine at the min. I've just had a scan so still awaiting results. I did panic a little as the radiologist took external images too.

Contacting Pals is a good idea to get clarity on the procedures. Hope you get some answers soon x

Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2021 17:23

I have been back to hospital several times and they just keep saying “it’s early days” and that “the ablation was successful” 😐, how can it be successful if it hasn’t worked?

My period is due in just over a week so I will see if anything improves after that, if not I might ask to be referred to a different hospital. It sounds like they don’t like doing ablation a 2nd time. I am a single parent to 2 DD’s with SN’s and have no one to help if I have a hysterectomy so it really is a last resort.

OP posts:
DumDum32 · 30/07/2021 18:19

I think that's a good idea if no change then a second opinion is definitely worth doing. It's so hard when your doing it alone. I feel your pain (hugs) x

HmmmmmmInteresting · 30/07/2021 18:22

This is appalling. I can't imagine you being made to put up with this if you had gone private.

Cailleach · 30/07/2021 18:23

Have they done an ultrasound? When I had constant bleeding it turned out to be an ovarian cyst - an endometrioma.

Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting · 30/07/2021 18:26

Keep questioning OP x

Lovemusic33 · 30/07/2021 20:07

@Cailleach

Have they done an ultrasound? When I had constant bleeding it turned out to be an ovarian cyst - an endometrioma.
Yes, had ultrasound last week, external and internal, that’s when they said my uterus lining still looked thick (like I hadn’t had the ablation), everything else looked fine, they did mention a small build up of fluid but apparently this is nothing to worry about and has shown up on all my scans (I have had a few over the past 2 years). Had hysteroctopy (sp) before my surgery and biopsies which were all clear other than one small fibroid.
OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/08/2021 10:12

I have been back to hospital several times and they just keep saying “it’s early days” and that “the ablation was successful” 😐, how can it be successful if it hasn’t worked?

I am wondering if they performed ablation at all because it does not sound like they did anything like this. This is why I suggested contacting PALS in the hospital. It sounds like you're being fobbed off.

"My period is due in just over a week so I will see if anything improves after that, if not I might ask to be referred to a different hospital".

No re "might" ask, insist on being referred to a different hospital now and particularly if your next period is problematic.

Lovemusic33 · 01/08/2021 16:12

I am away this week so will contact my gp when I return, I have gone almost 48 hours without bleeding but have been horribly bloated and have had thrush or some kind of infection 😭. I will see how I am when/if my period arrives.

I think they did preform the ablation or the must have done something as I had bleeding and discharge associated with it when I returned from theatre but most of the pain I had was linked to the sterilisation. I’m just unsure if they did it correctly. I haven’t had a heavy period since, just the almost constant bleeding with a few days break occasionally, it’s not heavy bleeding like I was having before surgery.

OP posts:
DinosaurDiana · 01/08/2021 16:14

A coil can reduce/stop periods and the progesterone will thin your womb lining. You

DinosaurDiana · 01/08/2021 16:15

I had cauterisation to my cervix for post sex bleeding. They said I would have a discharge after and to use pads. Some time later I still had this discharge, turns out I had an infection.
Maybe you should ask for a swab.

Lovemusic33 · 01/08/2021 16:16

@DinosaurDiana

A coil can reduce/stop periods and the progesterone will thin your womb lining. You
I am going to ask if the coil is possible if the ablation hasn’t worked, if when I have another scan my uterus has thinned then they won’t allow me to have the coil.
OP posts:
LizziesTwin · 01/08/2021 16:23

I had pink and then clear discharge after my ablation. They told me it was not completely successful as I have a very big uterus (preens) but I only had periods for a year afterwards and now they have stopped, I’m early 50s.

Lovemusic33 · 01/08/2021 16:27

@LizziesTwin

I had pink and then clear discharge after my ablation. They told me it was not completely successful as I have a very big uterus (preens) but I only had periods for a year afterwards and now they have stopped, I’m early 50s.
I’m hoping eventually mine will stop altogether, maybe it’s just taking a while to settle? It’s only been 3 months. I guess I was hoping for a miracle after bleeding non stop for the past 2 years. It’s just most people who I have spoken too who have had the surgery have seen improvements pretty much straight away. The only improvement I have seen is the ‘not so heavy’ periods but tbh I would rather have normal periods and no bleeding in between, the constant bleeding is just a pain.

Fingers crossed things will settle eventually.

OP posts:
LizziesTwin · 01/08/2021 21:27

In your situation I would really push your GP for a referral. I haven’t re-read all the posts but suggest you tell your GP that the bleeding is affecting your mental health and that you are very worried. I was referred to a gynaecologist who was horrified by how heavy my periods were & she was very sympathetic.

How old are you roughly? I hope you receive better care soon.

YelloYelloYello · 01/08/2021 21:31

Endometriosis can cause heavy bleeding and bleeding between periods. It could be lots of things really, the fact you’re not being taken seriously is awful.

Lovemusic33 · 02/08/2021 00:12

I am 39.

Pretty sure I have endo but no one will take me seriously, I get told after scans that I don't have it despite the fact it can't be diagnosed from a scan. I have all the symptoms and was in so much pain after surgery possibly due to scar tissue (which is associated with endo?), im still in some pain from the sterilisation.

OP posts:
LizziesTwin · 02/08/2021 09:15

I recorded everytime I changed protection so they could see it was intolerable & I think that helped

YelloYelloYello · 02/08/2021 09:23

Yes you’re right, it can’t be diagnosed from a scan. You need to keep requesting second opinions and referrals going until you find a good gyne who will listen to you.
EndometriosisUK are a great charity, they also might be able to offer some support.

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