Bleeding for 4 months

[gracep24]

I've been bleeding for 4 months. Mostly heavy with clots, occasionally a bit lighter and more like spotting. There's only been a handful of days in the time I've not bled.

Timeline so far...
Background: In 2020 was told I might have pcos due to slightly raised hormone levels and some of the symptoms. Was on pill briefly Dec 2021 - Jan 2022, didn't like the side effects so went off it. Period was normal after that until November 2022. In October 2022 GP did hormone tests again and says everything is I'm a normal range and it's unlikely I have pcos)

• in November I started bleeding. after 3 weeks I called GP and she said it's not a problem, just a blip, and sometimes our bodies do that. I was a bit distressed but thought I'd monitor how it went the next month.
• by January I was more concerned because it had been a couple months and as well as the bleeding, sex was painful during and after. As well as the mental impact on me and not having energy for anything either. I went into GP for pelvic exam and bloods to check everything including iron in case I was anaemic. GP said everything looked normal on my uterus and when I called about the blood tests a few weeks later the receptionist said it all came back normal. I had to battle the GP to refer me for an ultrasound, which she eventually did, and I was told to just sit and wait for the appt which GP warned could be quite a long wait.
• now 6 weeks later, I'm still bleeding, and feeling rubbish. Resigned myself to this being my life from now on, have felt pushed to the side and distressed. Not had a letter about my ultrasound appt yet.

Also trying to battle the anxiety about possible conditions that could be causing the bleeding.

Other info, I'm 23 so this is defs not normal, and also hoping to try to conceive soon, so don't want coil/birth control. I also try to live more naturally so personally would rather get to the bottom of what's causing this than cover it up.

So a few things:

What kind of wait have people had for transvaginal ultrasound?
Anyone else had non stop heavy bleeding for months, what did you do?
Anyone gone private for ultrasound/gynaecologist can share their experience? (Can't really afford it but emergency savings will be used because the effect on my mental health is terrible)
Any hope too would be so appreciated ♥️

Sorry you've been having so many problems OP and are struggling to get things investigated.

Just for comparison I was referred for a transvaginal ultrasound to investigate ongoing bleeding and my appointment came through very quickly. I was referred on 21st Feb and had the appointment at the gynaecology department on 27th Feb. I am 48 and my referral was made under the two week wait protocol. I haven't had the results of the biopsy they did at that appointment back yet though.

Not sure if it was the two week thing that made my appointment come so quickly or whether it depends where you are in the country?

My bleeding hasn't stopped yet but am waiting for the results of the biopsy really before I think about anything else. So not sure I have any advice on that front as am just waiting too.

Really hope your appointment comes through soon.

I'd see a different GP and request an urgent referral under the urgent pathway.

If you start to feel unwell then go to A&E.

Hiya, did you both get the answers in the end currently going through the exact same thing :(

Have you changed your diet relatively recently? I had something similar once when I started eating a low carb/Keto style diet. Everything reverted to normal when I switched back to my previous way of eating.

@Summergirl89
my biopsy results came back normal which is obv good but hasn’t resolved what was going on.

I think that period lasted about 45 days. Then I stopped for 10 days before starting again.

They tweaked my utrogesten dose and have asked me to give it at least 3 months to settle down. It hasn’t really. Am generally bleeding for 10 days then will stop for about 5 or 6 before it starts again. It’s v irritating.

am away at the moment but planning on going back to the gp when I get back. It started for me when I increased to 3 pumps of eosteogel. Thinking about coming off HRT totally but worried about my anxiety levels. I tried to drop to 2 pumps to see if that helped with the bleeding but within 48 hours the anxiety was back. :-(. Don’t really know what to do tbh

hope you get things sorted. Have you seen a GP?

@pistachioicecream
Gald your results from the biopsy were normal, its definately the most stressful time the waiting.
I can imagine how irritating it is i know how you feel.

I went for a private ultrasound and she said the lining was very thick and so she did a biopsy just waiting for those to come back this week, she put me on medroxyprogesterone acetate to calm the bleeding but its still unpredictable could be be light one minute then heavy the next.

After a couple of days of been on them tablets i passed a decidual cast which is the entire lining of the womb in one piece very painful, as i have pcos and periods are non existent im assuming the lining has just built up to much.

Its a just a nightmare when its out of your control :(

Has the doctor offered you Transexamic acid? It's a tablet you take and it stops/slows bleeding.

Also what is your ferritin level? NHS normal is not optimal for ferritin levels.

I had peri meno bleeding in the autumn and my ferritin was 16. The range was 12-280. NHS said normal but 'GP to investigate reason for low level'.

You may not be able to see the number on your NHS app (our GPs don't let you see them) but if you ring the reception they will print you a copy of your blood tests.

@Summergirl89 That sounds horrid and a bit terrifying passing such a huge clot! Hope your biopsy results come back quickly and are ok. 🤞

@Moredarkchocolateplease no they haven’t given me anything for the bleeding. Have just checked the NHS app and can’t see anything like ferritin in my last blood test. Do you have to request it specifically or might it be listed as something else?