This is no life

[Pojji]

Suffering with horrendous periods. I'm not over exaggerating when I say I think I've probably lost a pint of blood in the last 3-4 days..... maybe more. The blood is pouring out of me.
Yesterday I bled onto my chair at work. I felt completely humiliated.
My iron and iron store numbers are in my boots. I've absolutely nothing left. My Gp did a test before Christmas and my levels were 7. I'd guess they're significantly worse after this bleed.

My gp has recomended the mirena coil so I'm trying to get one fitted but my surgery only has one clinic a month so I'm waiting....Feb is full.

Asked for an iron infusion because I'm on the floor but that was met with maybe.....its apparently not standard procedure. I can't tolerate most oral forms of iron due to another health condition which I manage really well through diet (no red meat, dairy and other things) so I've avoided a flare up for over 2 years now.

Woken up in pain for day 5 of my period once again in a pool of blood despite nappy sized pads. I feel like absolute shit and need to summon up the energy to shower away the grossness of it all and go to work. I feel dirty. I am shattered despite 9 hours sleep.

I came home from work last night, fed my kids and went to bed with the baby.

I'm not sure what I want.....I am just so totally and utterly done with feeling like this. Trying to function, parent my kids, run a house, work.....I've nothing left in me to even get out of bed this morning. I'm so tired. I'm depressed. I have no quality of life what so ever. Tuesday the bleeding was so bad I couldn't leave the house. I just had to sit on a towel and try and get through the day.

I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it through the day and I have a schedule of meetings that I can't miss at work.

Not sure what the point of my post is, I'm just completely fed up.....beyond fed up. Just needed to get it out.

I had awful flooding and tranexamic acid is a wonder drug. Basically dried up my period.

I wish I'd asked for it years ago.

BTW a month for a mirena coil? Apparently some sexual health clinics fit them, could you call and ask?

@Pojji
I'm not sure what age you are or whether you are planning on having more children at some stage?

No one has mentioned an endometrial ablation yet. I had this procedure having experienced exactly the issues you are describing in your OP. 10 minutes under a local anaesthetic using a laser which removes the lining of your womb.

I've not had a bleed since and that was 7 years ago. I had tried everything and couldn't even leave the house due to flooding even when taking TXA.

They say that it is not a contraceptive procedure but I think the chances of a pregnancy are greatly reduced so obviously not suitable for anyone planning more children.

My lovely friend confided in me that she was having terrible periods and, having also tried all the other options available including the Mirena coil, went and consulted with her GP about having an EA. She had the procedure and her life too has been transformed.

I have no absolutely no idea why more women aren't given this option?? 🤷🏻‍♀️

You need to find out the cause of this first. They are fobbing you off with a mirena. You need to see a gynae.

I agree with every word of advice here. It's no longer a GP issue. Immediate referral to Gynaecologist to check what is going on.

I'll echo everyone else saying you need referring to gynae to find out what is going on. Are you passing large clots too or just lots of blood?
I know exactly how you are feeling when you say you are on the floor with tiredness, and no amount of sleep is enough. I found I couldn't sleep when my iron level was at its worst as I got really itchy skin.
Low iron isn't just about the tiredness though, it can be quite bad for your internal organs if it's left too long without being treated, and I wish gps didn't fob us off all the time. Luckily when I went to my gp originally about one thing, which I can't remember what that was now, but she got me to have a blood test and when she got the results she said she couldn't believe I was still functioning on such low levels.
Last year they were at their lowest, ferritin was 3 and haemoglobin was about 60, and I really did feel very unwell. I have had three iron infusions over the past three years and last year also had two units of blood via a transfusion. I am on the waiting list for a hysterectomy, almost at one year so far, but I hope it's soon.

Sorry only read the first page of replies.

@helleborus do you mind me asking how much they cost you? I looked online and one place charged £500 which is out of reach for me.

I am 35, I think I am done having babies. My last pregnancy/Birth was pretty traumatic so I don't know how safe it would be for me to have any more kids, plus I don't have space in my house for an more.

My GP said the referral to Gynae would be rejected if I haven't tried the coil as a solution. He said he would look into the iron infusion so I will call on Monday to find out if he has made headway with that although from his tone I felt he was setting me up to say no.
I might see if I can get one of my family members to chase/advocate for me. I have a child with SEN and I spend pretty much every day fighting for her and trying to get her what she needs and sometimes it feels like I have nothing left for me. I am generally not very good and doing things for myself so it might be better to get someone else to push it for me.

I have had a load of time off work recently with Covid and then my child has been ill non stop so I'm reluctant to take time off for this. I might try and have a word with my manager- he is usually very sympathetic and find out if I can WFH on my heavy days next month.

@Pojji bloody GPs and the mirena coil!

I flatly refused any hormones as they don't agree with me. I got a referral to gynae and an appointment. Doctor actual found a cervical ectropion which made the coil unsuitable for me anyway.

At 35 you're on the cusp of being too young for an ablation. I had mine at 38 and am considered young to do it.

I pass quite big clots......usually when I sit down on the loo I see them all in the bowl of the toilet.

I have had anaemia since I was 14. No one has ever taken it seriously. I can't eat red meat and I eat broccoli/Spinach/iron rich foods till the cows come home. I also take spatone on a daily basis. Nothing helps unfortunately.

Would A&E not think I was being ridiculous and wasting their time because in a few days it will stop? I know next month it will return with vengeance but surely they will tell me to get my GP to deal with it

@Twizbe thats interesting.....I am pretty sure when I had my last smear test they said I had an ectropion.

I can't believe your gp said your gynae referral would be refused if you didn't have a coil first! That's outrageous. It was about 10 years ago Ithink when I first saw gynae, and this was years before having a Mirena fitted. I only had one fitted about 4 years ago I think, it wasn't sat correctly and eventually at 5am during a very heavy bleed and passing huge clots I passed the Mirena. From speaking to gynae they said this was due to the fiboids and polyps, so really it's a waste of your time and your gps time to have one fitted before having the area checked to see what is causing your issues.

I will ask again about the referral then. Its so hard to know what the truth is. I don't trust them anymore because they seem to be telling blatant lies. I find the anaemia make me really fuzzy headed too so fighting everything they say is really hard.

I looked online and the sexual health clinic in my city only does under 20's with out a referral from GP.

Sadly, times have changed (even compared to a couple of years ago) and lots of referrals from GPs are being rejected unless every possible alternative has been tried first. Your GP could refer you to the gynaecologist, but it would be a waste of time as the hospital will reject the referral. This is the current state of the NHS 😥

That said, you should probably have an ultrasound scan booked (whilst you're waiting for the mirena) to check for fibroids. You don't need a gynaecologist referral for this, the GP can organise it directly.

If you can speak to your GP today, ask whether you can try norethisterone.
It's a progesterone but higher dose than a contraceptive pill, and should stop the bleeding over the course of a couple of days. If your periods are more frequent/longer as well as heavier, you can stay on it until you get the mirena. If you're having short but very intense bleeding, then tranexamic acid can be helpful - you take it for the first 4 days of your period to reduce the bleeding.

It's definitely worth getting some help today given that you're feeling unwell and it's affecting your ability to manage at home and work. If you can't access your usual GP, try 111 to get an appointment with the OOH GP. 💐

Just as an update, My GP has just text me to say he has submitted my referral for an iron infusion so I have to wait and see if they accept it.

I was similar to you. I had heavy days like things but I was bleeding for months at a time. I was given tranexamic acid to begin with and it did nothing. I was then given utrogestan tablets which made it less beut did not stop bleeding entirely. I had a break as advised then it just returned as before . When I resumed the utrogestan it did nothing. After three more months of bleeding I told my GP I can't do this anymore. I'm sore to the point of being raw, I'm in pain and I feel unwell. She got me an appointment with gynaecology the same day and he told me I needed a scan etc but to double the dose of utrogestan which was twice the max dose but it stopped everything! In time I had a couple of scans , a hysteroscopy and a mirena. Now I still have my periods but they are really light! I also have oestrogen tablets and it has helped. I really hope you get some help with this because you can't carry on like this.

OP, don’t hesitate to go to A&E if you feel you need to. I ended up in A&E with a horrendous PV bleed over Christmas- passing tennis ball sized clots - I almost didn’t go. I collapsed in the waiting room and ended up in resus. Had a bit of a gentle bollocking for not seeking help
sooner (was actually following 111 advice I’m not going!)
it’s taken me a month to get back to even semi normality and I’m still off work

The “gynae won’t see you without a coil” sounds like BS, as I’ve got a gynea referral and not yet got a coil, or even an appt to get one (I was transferred to the gynae ward tho). Have had a scan and I have a fibroid and haemorrhagic ovarian cyst.
Definitely push for investigations 🌸

Insist they refer you for an iron infusion. If your levels are that low, haematology won't decline you. It can take a few weeks to feel the effects so the sooner the better.

Up until last year I was in the exact position as you. Years of bleeding so heavily and passing clots until my ferritin levels fell to under 3. I begged my GP for an infusion, they kept refusing but eventually the gynae department referred me. I had the infusion in February. I refused the mirena as I don’t do well with artificial hormones so asked for an ablation. I had that in April last year and whilst I had 6 months of periods after they have now tailed off to a very light, one day period - it’s bliss.
I hope you manage to get it sorted as it’s no way to live, I agree.

Personally I'd go to the surgery and bleed all over your GPS chair then he might do something

I had endometrial ablation 14 years ago, it changed my life.

"My GP said the referral to Gynae would be rejected if I haven't tried the coil as a solution"

That is a falsehood. This person has not even bothered to refer you. I would put in a written complaint to the practice manager. I would also change GP practice too as this one is messing you about big time and you're suffering as a result.

I feel you. I was similar with heavy flows and low iron levels. You can take tranexemic acid tablets to reduce the flow until mirena fitted? Ask GP for it.
I swear by mini pill otherwise.

re been and done it s comment:
"Personally I'd go to the surgery and bleed all over your GPS chair then he might do something"

I would indeed have done this but was in no fit state to leave the house let alone climb the stairs to the surgery!.

I got similar BS from my GP as well re the Mirena (its offered to women because it is cheap). With the level of bleeding you're having it could likely be expelled by your body. In addition it does not address why this is happening, you need to find the cause of this bleeding and there are several possible causes that need investigating.

The GPs sum total involvement in my case was sending me for one blood test. After this was declared "normal" by phone (it was not but that was missed) I wanted to discuss these results. They could not offer me an appointment for another three weeks. After yet more bleeding with clots and feeling like I was going to pass out I self referred to the local private hospital.

NICE guidelines say nothing about trying the coil

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng88/resources/heavy-menstrual-bleeding-assessment-and-management-pdf-1837701412549

Bastard.

Insist on a gynae referral. I had my ablation at 36 because I was "family complete" - I was very clear I wouldn't be having more babies

Is there a possibility you have endometriosis?
If you get to see a gynae it will be worth asking.

I currently get injections of Triptorelin every 12 weeks. It puts you into a chemical menopause (I started on this at 49). All bleeding stops. I've had no menopausal symptoms. It's been brilliant. My gynae agreed to let me stay on it a couple of years until hopefully I've actually gone through the menpause.

I know it is prescribed to younger women shorter term. Worth a bit of research & asking if it would be suitable.

Novasure endometrial ablation. Changed my life