How much blood is it actually possible to lose?

[GCAcademic]

I’m on the mini-pill while waiting for a hysterectomy for fibroids. I don’t normally have a regular period, but rather very light bleeding most days. Today however, I’ve had horrendous cramps and have had huge clots gushing out of me, around 5-6 of these approx 8cm clots an hour. I’ve lost a good pint of blood today (which I can measure fairly accurately as I use a menstrual cup) and it’s still going on. I’ve taken tranexamic acid. Surely there can be much more to lose? How much can there possibly be in there? I’m supposed to be going to work in the morning!

@GCAcademic i was told by 111 to go to A&E if it’s “more than a couple of mugfuls” - a pint would count. I assume it’s either stopped or you’ve sought help by now, but worth seeking help next time if it’s that bad again. I hope you’re ok today.

The answer to your question in my case was enough to be dangerous. This may sound gross but if you have any way to measure it, do. I didn’t get taken seriously until I managed to bleed badly in A&E where they could see and measure it themselves, and then I got my hysterectomy 48 hours later.

Take pictures/measure it in a jug/wear adult nappies and take the evidence - all things I did not do out of embarrassment, and I lost half my blood volume on the final one. I hope things are not as bad for you. Keep pushing, it’s hard to get believed. Good luck x

Thank you for replying @LulaK . It’s not stopping at all. I’ve been flooding though a menstrual cup, nighttime pad, knickers and pyjamas bottoms every hour. I spoke to the GP earlier and they prescribed something to make it stop (not norethisterone but something similar). But no pharmacy around here has it in stock. I’ve thought about going to A&E but I know I’ll bleed all over the car and and all over the floor when I get there.

Can you put a waterproof sheet on the whole of the car seat (back and seat), and sit on a folded towel? At A&E the floor will be their problem, not yours. You really do sound like you should be there. If they see the state you are in, it might expedite your hysterectomy.

I’ve sat on a towel on a plastic shopping bag. When my bleeding was torrential the gynaecologist was shocked and my treatment was sped up. Get to hospital.

Mini pill didn't help me but a standard contraceptive did. Otherwise I'd of been begging for a hysterectomy. Are you able to take a combined pill?

@GCAcademic i agree, sit on a towel on a bin bag and go. They need to see it in action to take you seriously, in my experience. They have drugs that can stop it, and hopefully you’ll get an acceleration on the hysterectomy x

I'm hoping that you've got there now @GCAcademic

It’s stopped! Or at least turned into a normal period. DH managed to find a pharmacy that had the medroxyprogesterone and I was gearing up to go to A&E but then the huge clots stopped. I’m feeling really wiped out though.

Thank you all for your replies.

@GCAcademic Glad you’re doing better.

Should you take iron, having lost so much blood? Definitely drink plenty.

Are you able to take tranexamic acid? I found that a life saver and I was also prescribed iron/b12 supplements (which were apparently different from those available over the counter).

Thank you. Am trying to drink a lot.

I tried the tranexamic acid and it didn't work. I do take an iron supplement - I think I will double up on that.

Sorry I misread your first post where you already mentioned tranexamic. I did have to use a higher dose than was originally prescribed as the basic dose didn't work - might be worth checking if that is possible.

Also when I was being treated my iron level was monitored quite closely and I was told the next step from the prescribed supplement was B12 injections if iron didn't come under control. This did help mitigate some of the worst feelings of tiredness.

Thank you @C8H10N4O2 I've just taken the dog for his walk and am absolutely exhausted. I know my iron levels were fine before this episode, but I think it might be worth getting them checked again.