Persistent Bleeding for 8 Months: Seeking Solutions After Multiple Consultations
I’m a 25-year-old woman, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. Currently, I am taking iron supplements, B12, Zoloft, and Sprintec, along with regular iron infusion treatments. For the past eight months, I have experienced almost continuous bleeding, with perhaps only about 15 days where I was free from it. This ongoing issue has left me feeling dizzy, fatigued, and quite depressed. I have undergone three D&C procedures along with hysteroscopy interventions in an attempt to halt the bleeding, and I've had numerous ultrasounds and lab tests performed. Medications I have tried include Provera, TXA, Megace, and Gallifrey, and I am currently on Sprintec for the second time. My hope is to have more children in the future. Presently, I am losing approximately the amount of blood equivalent to a super plus tampon every hour. When sitting on the toilet, the blood flows out like a stream, similar to urination. I even attempted drinking raspberry leaf tea, as suggested in various online groups, but it didn’t help. I’m looking for additional suggestions to manage this condition. It has been a particularly distressing week. I reached out to my hematologist about my situation, and she suggested another infusion. Meanwhile, my OBGYN recommended waiting three weeks, advising me to seek medical attention if I experience shortness of breath, bluish skin, or confusion. I have sought multiple opinions regarding my condition. How can I at least slow down this bleeding? I find myself needing to change frequently while sitting on the toilet, and I worry about the consequences of this relentless bleeding. I’m feeling overwhelmed and frightened about what might happen next.
Answers (1)
8/6/2025, 4:40:54 PM
OpenHealth AI
I'm truly sorry to hear about the ongoing challenges you're facing with persistent bleeding. It’s understandable that this situation is overwhelming and distressing, especially given its impact on your daily life and emotional well-being. Let's discuss some potential steps you can take to manage your symptoms effectively while you continue to pursue medical evaluations and treatments.
Main Points
- Ongoing bleeding should not be ignored; it needs effective management.
- Focus on symptom control, hydration, and dietary support.
- Close communication with your healthcare providers about your symptoms is essential.
Explanation
Continuous bleeding for eight months is concerning and can potentially lead to serious health issues like anemia and fatigue, which you're already experiencing. The treatments and medication trials you've undergone signify a thorough approach, but it can be frustrating when you're not seeing improvements. Importantly, both your hematologist and OBGYN have provided necessary guidelines, but it’s critical to seek strategies for immediate relief and symptom management.
Next Steps
-
Maintain Hydration: Ensure you drink enough water throughout the day. This is crucial for your overall health, especially as you're losing blood. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water daily, adjusting for your own comfort and activity level.
-
Monitor Symptoms Daily: Keep a log of your bleeding patterns, symptoms (dizziness, fatigue), and emotional health. This can help you and your providers identify any patterns or triggers, and aid in decision-making for your future treatments.
-
Dietary Considerations: Focus on iron-rich foods (like spinach, lentils, lean red meats) to help combat fatigue and anemia. B12 is also crucial, so include foods like fish, meat, and dairy. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, consider fortified foods or speak to a dietitian.
-
Discuss Current Medications: Revisit your current medications with your healthcare providers. Ask about the possibility of adjusting the dosage of Sprintec or exploring other hormonal options that may help stabilize your bleeding.
-
Consider Supplemental Support: Continue your iron infusions as recommended, and discuss with your hematologist if other supportive treatments like IV fluids or medications to manage bleeding, such as Desmopressin or newer therapies, can help even if you’ve tried some before.
-
Coping with Emotional Health: Finding a mental health professional to discuss feelings of depression and overwhelm can be immensely helpful. Seeking support from a counselor familiar with chronic health conditions may also help you navigate emotional struggles.
-
Immediate Care: If you experience increased severity in symptoms, such as shortness of breath, severe dizziness, or confusion, act quickly and seek immediate medical assistance as advised by your OBGYN.
Your health and well-being are priorities, and while this situation is complex, there are paths to explore. Don’t hesitate to share your concerns and progress with your healthcare providers to adapt your treatment plan as needed. You're not alone in this journey.
Related Questions
Concerns Over Organic Charcoal Toothbrush
Greetings, I am a 26-year-old male experiencing significant anxiety. Recently, while brushing my teeth, I encountered something unusual—what appeared to be a bristle lodged in my mouth. I'm uncertain whether I managed to spit it out or if it accidentally went down the wrong path. I had also been using Anbesol to relieve cavity discomfort, which adds to my confusion. Despite my attempts to rinse thoroughly, I still can't be sure if I ingested the bristle. It seems quite brittle and has sharp edges, as it originated from a low-cost organic bamboo charcoal toothbrush. This has left me particularly anxious about the possibility of gastrointestinal perforation should I have swallowed it. I appreciate any guidance on this matter.
Persistent Health Struggles: Seeking Insights on Undiagnosed Conditions
**Title: Female in Her 30s Facing Chronic Low-Grade and Exertion-Induced High Fevers, Positive ANA, Neurological and Gastrointestinal Symptoms – Is It an Autoimmune Disorder or Dysautonomia?** I am reaching out after feeling unheard by multiple healthcare professionals, hoping to find someone who will consider my situation and perhaps offer insights. I welcome any feedback, even if it means telling me I might be overreacting. ### Profile: - **Gender:** Female - **Age:** Early 30s - **Duration of Illness:** Several years with a gradual worsening of symptoms ### Key Symptoms (Chronic and/or Exacerbated): - Consistent low-grade fever (between 37.5–38.5°C) occurring nearly every day, which surges above 39°C with moderate exertion (for instance, a mere 10 minutes of standing increases my temperature by 0.7°C). - Unrelenting fatigue and a profound sense of malaise following exertion. - Chronic headaches and migraines since my childhood years. - Notable inward turning of my right eye, likely a neurological issue, according to an ophthalmologist. - Cognitive difficulties manifest as brain fog and significant memory problems. - Sensations of numbness and tingling along with weakness in my left arm, coupled with overall muscle weakness. - Scalp lesions lasting over six months, resistant to dermatological treatments, and not consistent with psoriasis. - Ongoing pain in joints and muscles, particularly in the lower back. - Possible hypermobility, raising suspicion for conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), with a Beighton score exceeding 4 (currently awaiting further evaluation). - Gastrointestinal complaints include frequent nausea and episodes of diarrhea lasting weeks, with glucose level fluctuations. - Instances of tachycardia and breathlessness, especially during flare-ups. - Development of a facial rash triggered by sun exposure or physical exertion. - Diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa, with tendencies for excessive sweating. ### Previous Investigations: - **MRI of the Brain and Spine:** Conducted multiple times; no significant abnormalities identified. - **Rheumatologist Consultations:** Every three months for over three years without a definitive diagnosis, as symptoms have been deemed "not severe enough for treatment." - **Nephrologist Evaluation:** Rule out chronic kidney disease and no evidence of nephritis detected. - **Neurologist Opinion:** Symptoms attributed to stress with no substantial findings reported. - **Dermatologist Assessment:** Psoriasis ruled out despite a strong family history. - **Hospital ER Visits:** Several instances with no urgent concerns noted at the time of discharge. ### Laboratory Findings (Spanning Several Years): - **Autoantibody Tests:** Positive ANA, yet all specific ENA tests (anti-Smith, SSA, SSB, anti-dsDNA, etc.) returned negative. - Positive results for MPO-ANCA in the past, but currently within the normal range. - CRP and ESR levels chronically mildly elevated. - Fluctuations in white blood cell and platelet counts frequently above normal ranges. - Ferritin and vitamin D levels slightly below normal values. - Slightly elevated C3 and normal C4 levels noted. - Occasional increases in alpha-1 and alpha-2 globulins; slight decrease in albumin concentrations. - Positive for HLA-B27, with a family history of psoriasis and arthritis. - Fasting glucose within upper normal limits, and normal HbA1c levels, although there is a family inclination toward type 1 diabetes. ### Additional Considerations: - A previous case of appendicitis went undiagnosed for three years, only confirmed through laparoscopy, revealing that gut tissue had fused with the abdominal wall. - Throughout my journey, I meticulously recorded symptoms and flare patterns and presented photographic documentation of skin conditions during medical appointments. - I have consistently encountered dismissive attitudes from physicians who attribute my symptoms to stress or anxiety, despite ongoing test results and a decrease in my functioning abilities. It is worth mentioning that I am on the autism spectrum. ### Questions I Have: - Is it plausible that I am experiencing a seronegative autoimmune disorder (such as lupus, Sjögren’s, ankylosing spondylitis, or microscopic polyangiitis) or dysautonomia (including POTS, ME, or CFS)? - Could this indicate a rare overlap syndrome or an early-stage condition that does not yet fulfill diagnostic criteria? - What appears to be the most probable cause for these symptoms? I have a sense that I may be exhibiting signs of various autoimmune disorders—do any patterns emerge? Please excuse any language errors; English is not my first language. If you require more information, please do not hesitate to ask, and I'll do my best to provide necessary details. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any assistance you might offer.
Dealing with Pinworm Infestation
In our household, we are currently addressing a pinworm infestation and have implemented a comprehensive cleaning routine. This includes morning showers, frequent laundry sessions, extensive vacuuming, and thorough disinfection. However, my struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) complicates our efforts. I experience contamination OCD, which heightens my perception of dirtiness in everything around me. I'm particularly anxious about potentially inhaling pinworm eggs while emptying the vacuum cleaner, and the inability to wash our dog every day adds to my stress. Even touching my hair prompts an immediate hand wash for me. It’s quite overwhelming, and we’re only on the third day of our treatment. I would greatly appreciate any advice on effectively eliminating these pests so that I can restore a sense of normalcy in my life after we finish our treatment.
Recurring Health Issues Over Several Weeks
**Age:** 19 **Gender:** Female **Height:** 5 feet 3 inches **Weight:** 141.6 lbs **Ethnicity:** Caucasian **Duration of symptoms:** Around a month **Affected area:** Lower abdomen and swollen pituitary gland **Current medications:** Hyoscyamine sulfate and Zofran (prescribed during ER visit) Hello, Reddit community! This is my first time posting here, and while I do have forthcoming medical appointments at the end of this month, I wish to share my experiences in detail. If graphic descriptions make you uncomfortable, consider this too intense to engage with. To give you some context, on July 10th, I woke up feeling generally unwell. There was no nausea, yet I was frequently vomiting alongside having dark green to black, soft, and tar-like stools. Notably, the odor wasn’t unpleasant, merely typical of stool. I had to collect a sample for tests, which meant dealing with it myself, and it was somewhat distressing. Initially, I thought my discomfort was due to nerves because I was scheduled to pick up a friend for a concert at my boyfriend's place. I began my day around 7 or 8 AM, dealing with continuous vomiting and rapid trips to the bathroom. Although I experienced some relief initially, subsequent bathroom visits produced only small amounts of stool until nothing came out; eventually, I was retching only saliva. Despite feeling poorly, I persevered and fetched my friend, as she had spent a great deal on concert tickets. I felt somewhat better on the return trip and that evening. However, the concert’s morning was a different story. I woke up doubled over in pain, drenched in sweat, and experienced more vomiting along with similar stool consistency. We managed to attend the concert, but after eating a pretzel, I had to leave and missed a significant part of the show. It was quite frustrating. The trip home was a repeat of earlier vomiting and bowel distress, leading to me collapsing into bed. On day three, I needed to return my friend home, yet I awoke at 8 AM with intense pain primarily in my lower abdomen, with cramping around my uterus and gastrointestinal area, and I was also sweating and shaking. The ER staff conducted a CT scan, administered IV fluids, and tested my urine, but couldn’t determine the issue and sent me home with medication that surprisingly provided some relief. This included a stomach relaxant and nausea medication—though I was retching without feeling nauseated; it felt like my throat was perpetually open, producing saliva. After leaving my boyfriend’s place, I was unwell for nine more days while staying with my grandma. It lasted from the 10th to the 17th or 18th, but eventually, my symptoms diminished, leading me to believe I had overcome the illness. I did notice, however, an increase in swelling of my pituitary gland from all the vomiting, but it felt manageable. Interestingly, my symptoms usually re-emerged at night or early morning, worsening upon awakening but gradually easing off. Fast forward to August 4th: I had been symptom-free for about a week. I underwent wisdom tooth removal and felt fine throughout the day until around 6 PM when the black, tarry stool returned along with severe abdominal pain and that troubling sensation in my throat. The next morning, I vomited again and could only produce stool intermittently, experiencing frustrating efforts in the bathroom. It felt like no matter how much I attempted to go, I would end up sitting for an extended duration for minimal results. Now, I find myself on day three of sleeplessness this early morning, trying to stave off sickness before bed to ensure a peaceful night devoid of waking up in pain. Since the 5th, I’ve retched multiple times, including twice that day, three times the following day, and just recently purging stomach acid at 3:30 AM alongside a brief episode of tarry stool. Soft, cold, and lukewarm foods are all I can manage currently, completely avoiding anything requiring suction or straws. I’m seeking insights into whether anyone else has experienced similar symptoms and any understanding of what might be happening within my body that I’m currently unaware of. **Symptoms Overview:** - Vomiting without accompanying nausea - Black green tarry, sticky stools produced in short intervals - Cramping and aching in the lower abdomen, described as a burning sensation that shifts when I change positions - Persistent swelling of my pituitary gland, which started on the fourth day of my initial episode and has since subsided somewhat but continues to be present. This marks the second incidence of these recurring symptoms, and I find myself staring in the mirror trying to reassure my reflection out of fear for what’s happening to my health. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Post-Hysterectomy: Has My Natural Odor Changed?
Age and Gender: 40F Height: 5'6" Weight: 215 Ethnicity: Caucasian Existing Health Concerns: High blood pressure Current Medications: Olmesartan 40mg, Wegovy 2.4mg Lifestyle Choices: I do not drink alcohol, smoke, or use recreational drugs. Main Concern: Since undergoing a laparoscopic hysterectomy six weeks ago (which preserved my ovaries), I have been experiencing a somewhat sour odor intermittently. The scent seems most pronounced in the mornings. Duration of Issue: Approximately 19 weeks My physician has conducted tests on my urine and performed vaginal swabs, all of which returned negative results for bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and STDs. This situation is driving me to distraction. Out of sheer frustration, I attempted using boric acid suppositories; they provided temporary relief for a couple of days before the smell returned. Additionally, I've switched to a fragrance-free, sensitive skin soap, abandoning my usual cleansers. It’s worth noting that when the odor first emerged, I wasn’t engaging with any sexual partners. What unusual factors should I consider discussing with my doctor at my upcoming appointment? Is this change in my natural odor permanent?