Prolonged Bleeding, What does it mean?

Hiya, bit long but please bare with me.

I was just wondering if anyone else experienced the below after having surgery to remove their ectopic pregnancy and left fallopian tube?;

So on 1st May I had my surgery which also resulted in the loss of my left fallopian tube and immediately after surgery I experienced heavy bleeding but the doctor wasn’t too concerned as I wasn’t going through a pad every 2 hrs although I was going through a pad every 3 to 4hrs and using packs upon packs of pads.

After around a week and a half the bleeding just stopped, there wasn’t any reduction in the flow - the bleeding just suddenly stopped.

I didn’t bleed for 5 weeks then which I expected and know was normal as it takes up to 10 for your period to return. I had what was my first period after everything and whilst the flow was heavier than usual (which again I expected) everything was pretty normal with the exception of a sharp pain on my left side but I assumed it was simply because of the surgery.

Well since that first period, I have had several bleeding episodes each lasting a week to a week and a half. Since that first period, these bleeding episodes haven’t been period like (hope that makes sense), the symptoms I’d usually expect with my period are non existent and I’m experiencing nausea and fatigue which I never experience with my periods. The blood itself is also completely different. It’s a bright red and looks more like fresh blood whereas I usually have a dark brown with clots.

In total I have had 5 bleeding “episodes” in 2 months.

I called the ward where I was to get some advice as my GP had no appointments and 111 was recommending go to urgent care. The ward recommended TXA and to ask my doctor for this however when I called my GP, they said I’d need blood tests and further investigations before they can prescribe.

I have been trying to get in with a doctor for several days to no luck so I will be going to the out of hours GP this evening after work.

I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this and what was done? I am very concerned especially as I only have one tube left and the doctors don’t seem to have any urgency about them.

What would you do? And if anyone has experienced this can you please provide some advice and reassurance?

Hi Lauren0112,

I am so sorry to hear that you have suffered an ectopic pregnancy and loss, and are now going through this worrying time. It is very good that you continue to seek medical advice and advocate for yourself. I know that the waiting can make it hard to do at times, and can create extra anxiety for us.

I am not medically qualified to comment on your situation, but I would encourage you to continue reaching out to your doctors. Following surgery for ectopic pregnancy, women have reported having different types of periods and changes to the rhythm and flow. There is also reporting of feeling ovulation pains, whereas you may never have noticed them before.

As you are concerned, it is advisable to continue seeking care. If you haven’t already, you may want to keep a journal of dates, times, blood flow, and what you did to mitigate the pain. This will help you communicate with your doctors.

Please know we are here for as long as you need.

With good wishes,

Michele


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