Neverending "period"- going to doc's, please help!

[Joy27]

I posted a few weeks ago when strange things began to happen to my body, but things have developed further and I'd be really grateful for some advice from more experienced TTC ladies.

I stopped taking the mini-pill on 10th May to ttc no.1. I had a (seemingly) normal period five weeks later which ended on CD6.
I started spotting again on CD9, which continued until CD16 when it became a full-blown "period". I'm now on CD24 (if I can even call it a cycle!) and still in full flow. This is definitely TMI, but what the hell: it's all been very "clotty", too.

So basically I've been bleeding for over three weeks and am fed up and concerned. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow and what I DON'T want to happen is that she fobs me off by putting it down to coming off the pill. I appreciate that this might be the case and it might be totally normal. But equally I want any other possibilities to be investigated or at least talked through in my appointment.

So my question to you is this: what else could this possibly be apart from coming off the pill? I want to go armed with info.
Could this be an early miscarriage? Could it be PCOS? Etc. Go on, I can take it.

And does anyone have any advice about how to avoid being fobbed off at the docs?

Thanking you kindly.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Joy27

You should be evaluated further by a gynae to see if fibroids are present. These can cause both prolonged and heavy bleeding like you describe.

WOuld not think this is PCOS.

If the GP cannot determine the cause insist on a referral to a specialist gynae. Be polite but firm with the GP.

HTH

Attila

[Joy27]

Yes it does help, very much.
Thankyou Attila

[eleveld]

unfortunately I can't help but just wanted to wish you luck for tomorrow. Let us know how you get on

[Joy27]

Thanks Eleveld, I will.
When I came off the pill two months ago, I thought it would be like whoosh! Knocked up! Ha. The scales are falling from my eyes, that's for sure. I just hope that I AM being paranoid and that this is normal and will settle down.

Any other tips for things to ask the doc about, MN-ers?

[Joy27]

So I went to see the doctor and she assured me that this type of abnormal bleeding can be totally normal when you come off the pill. Didn't mention anything about fibroids, but did tell me to come back if it hasn't stopped in a week or two. Not sure I can take another two weeks of this!!

She also sent me to the nurse to have some blood taken to check for thyroid, liver and kidney function (not sure what the significance of this is). And she took a sample to send for a pregnancy test (as the sample appeared to be a half blood/half wee cocktail, I somehow doubt this is the case). Whilst "creating" my sample, someone opened the door to the loo which I had not locked properly. So you see I've already developed "nappy brain" in preparation for a future pregnancy!

As an aside, the doctor was also quite patronising and said "I assume you've begun your pre-pregnancy planning" and then proceeded to rattle of a list of forbidden food including bagged salad, pate, soft cheese etc, not to mention wine. Now I do realise that drinking when pregnant or possibly pregnant is bad. But surely when TTC, a glass of wine can actually, ahem, help? Was made to feel like naughty teenager and felt like stropping "well since my insides appear to be falling out of my hoo-ha at present, I'd rather assumed that a glass of red was OK!"

So anyway I have to phone the Dr's on Friday to see whether there is anything unusual or whether I'm (yeah right) pregnant.

Thanks for the advice yesterday.

[Joy27]

I'm not sure if anyone's reading... But just wanted to update. Yesterday I thought the bleeding had stopped, then it came back with a vengeance. I'm getting through "women's products" at a rate of one an hour and am more worried than ever.
Now I've found out that the doctor wants to speak to me tomorrow but isn't in until the afternoon.
I'm worried that this is a miscarriage- though I had a neg pregnancy test last week (doctor's test not come back yet though- will find out tomorrow I guess).
Actually I'm more worried that I AM pregnant- I was sure I wasn't thanks to negative test and huge period. But if I am, I'll feel terrible as I have been drinking (not binge drinking but not exactly abstaining either) and have had the odd cigarette when out.
Argh.

[Joy27]

Just spoke to doc. It's a miscarriage.

[assdoc]

What a rollercoaster. So sorry to hear that Joy.

[FlirtyThirty]

Oh, Joy! I've just found this tread...I'm so sorry for you.
I just don't know what to say. Just...hope you're coping somehow and being good to yourself...

Cyber hugs...

[Joy27]

Thanks very much assdoc and flirtythirty.
I am OK, just sitting on the sofa under a duvet with a cup of tea. My managers were really nice about it all.

Physically I'm not in pain at all, just uncomfortable at the feeling of the constant rather horrid outpouring of blood etc (in my heart I knew on Sunday, when I passed something unidentifiable which I won't describe here). I'm very drained due to losing the blood, and more than a touch hormonal.

Emotionally I'm confused. Should I be sad? Am I sad? Do I have any right to be sad about a pregnancy which may never have been "proper" in the first place? I would have been three weeks pregnant tops and it was probably never viable.

I'd describe my current mood as flat.

Above all I feel like such a nob. I thought (for various reasons) I definitely wasn't pregnant and as such was carrying on with my normal lifestyle- drinking the usual amount (couple of glasses of wine several nights a week), smoking (around 5-8 a week) etc. The doctor assures me that nothing I did caused this (and says don't listen to anyone who tells me otherwise- so please don't tell me otherwise, I can't take it). But I feel I don't have a right to be upset because I was hardly creating a wonderful home for a baby in my body. Feel so stupid.

Sorry for wiffling on.

[assdoc]

Don't be hard on yourself Joy. Lots of us have done much the same as you in early pregnancy without realising.

As your GP said, anything you did wouldn't have made any difference. Some things are just not meant to be. I had 2 MCs and it took me such a long time to realise that they were totally beyond my control and as you said probably never viable.

You have every right to feel sad or not. You can't account for how you will feel. You've been on an emotional roller coaster and are under the influence of raging hormones too.

Are you going to have a scan? Is your GP concerned about your blood loss? Perhaps you need your haemoglobin testing, you could well become anaemic which won't help how crappy you feel.

Please take it easy on take care of yourself.

[Joy27]

Assdoc, the GP will do a test tomorrow to see if I need a scan/procedure. It all seems to be happening naturally at the moment but she's keen to keep an eye on things. She's been really nice.

Unlike the emergency doc I spoke to last night on the phone when I was bleeding really heavily, who said there was nothing to suggest I was having a miscarriage or was pregnant, and that the out-of-hours doctors service "do not have the resources to discuss women's menstrual cycles"! He said, and I quote: "some women think they're bleeding to death and have blood dripping down their legs, but it's totally normal".

Grr.

Am very much taking it easy and still lying under duvet. Really do feel weak, though am pleased there is no pain (touch wood).

[m0nkeynuts]

Joy - I'm so sorry to hear your news

And I can't BELIEVE what the emergency doc said to you!!! That's so awful. I'm glad your regular GP is being so good. Just try to take it easy & take care of yourself.

[assdoc]

Hi Joy. I was wondering how you are. Did you go for a scan? Hope you're ok.