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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Where to turn for a severe case of menorrhagia?

Gentlemen, and those ladies more sensitive to bodily functions:

This post concerns severe blood loss during a woman's monthly cycle. I really don't think you want to read it. Feel free to do so, but don't say you haven't been duly warned.






I have to figure out what's causing all this bleeding.

For the past four days, I've had to change my super plus protection once every hour or hour and a half (at most). On the couple of occasions I couldn't change, such as driving from home to Petite's daycare and then to work (from 7:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.), I ended up bleeding through clothing and onto upholstery. I'm ruining all my pants. All the black ones anyway; I'm too afraid to wear anything else at the moment. I'll be doing extra washing this week, that's for sure.

This is crazy. In the last 31 days, I've had maybe seven days (not consecutive) of no bleeding at all. And on the days that I bleed, I can't actually do anything.

I have to interrupt choir rehearsal to go to the washroom.

I have to run to the washroom as soon as I arrive at the office.

I have to make sure I change protection right before I leave the office for the day, and even that's no guarantee.

I can't take time to go anywhere or do anything because I am watching the clock and figuring out when I'll need to excuse myself.

It's absolutely nuts.

My sleep is interrupted. My work is interrupted. My life is interrupted.

Every time I change, the toilet bowl looks like a massacre. I truly think some CSI dude is going to swab for blood and go "Whoa, this is our primary crime scene."

And I have clot, after clot, after clot. Not little ones. Large ones. HUGE ones. Toilet bowl staining ones. That was normal and expected after Petite's birth.

But it isn't normal for the entire 11 months that my period has been back. Not at all.

No wonder my iron levels are severely depleted. But why, oh why, aren't the iron supplements being absorbed? Im taking upwards of 300 mg per day for God's sake! And yes, I'm taking vitamin C with them, so the iron should be absorbed.

It's making me totally exhausted. I'm worn out and I'm not even doing anything! I was so tired yesterday, I didn't know if I'd make it home from work without passing out behind the wheel. That's not good.

For two days now, I've tried to get an appointment with a doc at my regular GP's office. My GP is out of town, but any of the others could take my file and see me. Problem is, they're booked and all their emergency appointments are booked too. I'm at the point where I think a walk-in clinic or emergency room may be what I need to do.

All I know is, this bleeding, this much, these clots, the pain I have and the lack of energy are indicative of something. What, I don't know. But definitely something.

Ideas, thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

8 comments:

Serenity said...

How about your clinic? I know that if I can't see my GP and it was a bleeding/fertility issue, I'd call my RE and see if I can be seen.

Either that or I'd do emergency room and/or urgent care.

This sounds serious. Get it taken care of!

xoxo

Marc said...

Dear Gil, this isn't normal, keep trying to see someone at your GP's office, in the meantime get to the urgent care clinic asap!

Anonymous said...

Okay, you need to be seen by someone ASAP! Get in wherever you can. And start eating Malt O Meal, it's loaded with iron. And also take prenatal vitamins in conjunction with your regular iron pills. Good luck! I wish you well....and normal cycles!

Kakunaa said...

I think it's time for emergency care, hon. You have to be seen! Hang in there.

BigP's Heather said...

I would call the RE and if they won't fit you in, go walk in somewhere and start bleeding on them until they find you an exam room. Seriously.

When I had bleeding like that my ob/gyn couldn't figure it out and he gave up. I called the RE and they couldn't find anything. He finally just scheduled a D&C to see if he could find anything and it turned out I had lots of polyps hiding in the back of my uterus. Once they were removed it was better.

I will be praying for you. I know how much this SUCKS. Cancel everything and just take care of you.

Anonymous said...

Do you still have ins at any of the in-town clinics(I know the one I go to needs a GP referral if you haven't been there in over a year)? If not I'd even hit an Appletree - there are several that have women's health depts that I'm sure would help asap.

Pam said...

In the past did your RE or your own doctor ever say anything about fibroids? My period used to be extremely heavy and required double protection and frequent changes (although not as extreme as yours) and it turns out I had several fibroids. Once they were removed, my period has returned to normal. Before that diagnosis my iron was low and I was put on elemental iron, rather than basic iron pills. The iron deficiency is definitely contributing to the fatigue.

Definitely get hound your doctors office, or try and see your RE if you can. Don't let it linger.

ms. c said...

Oh Gil! I'm sorry that you are bleeding like this. And like everyone says- please get checked out ASAP.

(On the bleeding level, I do comiserate: when we dicided to cycle again I took Provera and it produced a 2 week long period that sounds pretty much like what you are describing. Bleeding through tampons and filling super-sized pads in like a hour, and the clots... Oy. But- it stopped. This continuation sure has me concerned for you!)