Need to vent. Had to take my wife to the hospital Saturday night.

[diabeticman]

Female issues to the point of her getting dizzy from the bleeding. 2 days past her cycle changing every 40-45 minutes. sometimes double pads on. We are there until 3:30 am( got there at )

They did give her fluids BUT the first IV imploded in her arm. They claim her "levels" were not in danger and they basically sent her home with adult diapers because her bleeding was so extreme saying there was nothing they could do and she just have to let it run its course.


My poor wife is still bleeding heavy she an appointment to see her pcp Thurs, she couldn't get an appointment with a specialist until the 10th.


Is women's healthcare really this bad in this country?

I get embarrassed talking or listening about these issues (I am sure most men do) But I am piss watching my wife so tired and using adult dippers at night because there isn't a pill or even a shot to give her to stop this even temporary.

[elleng]

1. Sounds ridiculous to me.

Should be able to get appointment with an OB/GYN ANYTIME, and she should have one of her own. Check a local directory.

[diabeticman]

3. Well, she has put her health on hold because I am diabetic and the fewtimes I was in between

insurance my insulin has cost $400 for each type.


She called the GYN they told her to call this morning and they said earlist appoint was the 10th. Then after work she called her PCP They are able to get her in Thursday after work.


This seems it could be life threatening... or am I over reacting?

[Chan790]

8. Not overreacting.

See the brief story in my other post...post #6, I think.

If she'd taken the advice you've been given, I'd have been an 8 year old orphan.

[elleng]

9. Very serious, at least.

[REP]

22. No, it's not.

They did imaging, and if she's not pregnant, it's not life threatening. Probably peri menopausal menorrhagia. Not unusual.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I agree with elleng: your wife needs her own doctor right now.

[diabeticman]

4. She has her own PCP now. I am lucky that I am able to get her on my insurance so cheaply.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. That's good, but she needs to get the bleeding stopped.

A gynecologist is what she needs, and the sooner the better.

[diabeticman]

7. Yes, that's why we took her up Saturday. They gave her no medicine. I am hoping her doctor gives

her something. She can't even get a good sleep.

[diabeticman]

11. I am hoping the pcp can get her in to a GYN sooner after seeing her.

[Chan790]

6. Age? Also, no. This is problematic.

What you're describing is exactly the symptoms and presentation of my mother's nearly-fatal uterine perforation at age 31. (Resulting in a total hysterectomy) That can't be ruled out or dx'ed without imaging...and I saw no mention of actual examination, let alone imaging. (I don't mean this to be diagnostic...there are 100 other possibilities, any of which would have required actual examination to at-least identify the source of the bleeding.)

Heavy flow isn't uncommon...but I've never heard of heavy flow lasting this long or so heavy as to cause dizziness or fainting from blood loss which seems to be what you're describing. I'd be right back at the ER.

[diabeticman]

10. They did a vaginal exam. And to Ultrasounds. Ine she said was a vaginal one.

Brought back bad memories of her assult.

[DebJ]

12. Did they give her a vitamin K shot?

I had troubles with this all my life til the Big M.

I went to the ER once, way back in the 90s, for this, and once about 8 years ago.

Back in the 90s they gave me a Vit K shot to help with clotting. I don't think they did that my last trip though.

[Laffy Kat]

13. Bleeding like that is not normal.

If she continues losing that much blood you will need to go back to the ER. I'd be pissed off too if I were you.

[woodsprite]

14. I had heavy bleeding before and it resulted in me being anemic.

I was going through 2-4 of those postpartum pads at a time and had been to the docs for the excessive bleeding. He had prescribed progesterone to try to get it to stop and cycle again. It wasn't working, and I started feeling my lips and fingers were tingling and I was short of breath when I went upstairs or exerted myself. My hospital told me that I was anemic due to the bleeding An iron level of 8 meant I'd need a transfusion and they would cancel any surgical procedure my OB/GYN wanted to do. I was told by an ER nurse that a level of 5 or lower is extremely dangerous and life-threatening.

I went in with a level of 8.5 and was sent home with an iron supplement and instructions to eat iron rich foods (beets, spinach, molasses, liver, beef, etc.). Two wks later, my bleeding had cycled off and I tested at a level of 13 (they wanted to see an 11 or above). My OB/GYN did a uterine ablation. Essentially, it's when they cauterize the inside of the uterus. For a lot of women, it stops the cycles all together.

Hope your wife finds out what's going on.

[Arugula Latte]

23. I ws going to mention ablation as well. I know a couple people this has helped.

[REP]

29. I had a uterine ablation

It burns away the endometrium. Mine was hydrothermal, done essentially with boiling saline. Hurts like hell, but worth it. At the time, there wasn't equipment small enough to use the newer techniques on women like me, who've never had children and have very small uteruses, but it's more widely available now, and those hurt less.

Women in under 40 who have it done are likely to have a regrowth of the endometrium and a return of periods, but they tend to be much lighter.

[Enthusiast]

15. I wish you all the best.

[Sweet Freedom]

16. If they can't find a reason

other than an irregular cycle, she may want to consider an IUD. I had one when I was younger and I loved it, mostly because it ended my cycle completely. I'd stay away from shots. I used shots after the birth of my child and at first it was fine, but the second time I had the shot, I had every horrible side effect imaginable.

Good luck to your wife.

[mcar]

17. Uterine fibroids

can cause excessive bleeding like that. I dealt with it for many years until I had my ovaries removed last year. Such relief!

Your wife has my sympathy. I hope she can get help.

[RebelOne]

27. That was my first thought.

I had heavy bleeding many years ago, and the doctor diagnosed fibroid tumors. He put me in the hospital and performed a simple D and C and that fixed the problem.

[clarice]

18. I'm sooo sorry to hear about your wife. My thoughts are with her....but

I don't know if it's a question of Women's healthcare alone. The entire Medical industry has been thrown into a complete shambles.

[laundry_queen]

19. I'm in Canada

And it's not much better here for dealing with this type of thing (except the doctor visits are paid for I guess). I had periods like that after my cycle returned after my 4th baby. I was going through a super plus tampon and night time pad in 45 minutes. I was seriously changing pads more often than I did after I gave birth! I ended up going on the pill to deal with it. I'm on a waiting list to see a gyn to get a hysterectomy. I've also been told ablation is an option (They burn out the lining of your uterus). My doctor also had me on anti-inflammatories to take the second I knew I was going to get my period. It helped a tiny bit. The pill helped a lot more but I'm getting kind of old to be on it. But what choice do I have? I cannot function without it.

Good luck to your wife. Hopefully they give her some good options.

[Texasgal]

20. Take her back to The ER.

Seriously!

I know this sounds shitty and no one will say anything but damn, you sound like a shitty person to your wife. All the crap you post about her being mentally affected by your condo and the the no pets rule, her being upset by the neighbors...etc...and all you do is complain!

And NOW about YOUR diabetes cost! Holy shit! Take your wife BACK to the dam ER and demand attention and answers! JAYSUS!

[REP]

21. That can be perfectly normal

It's called menorrhagia and it's not an emergency. I lived with it most of my life. It can be controlled with hormone therapy or surgery. If anemia occurs, iron supplements can be prescribed.

[Marrah_G]

26. Exactly

I have it as a symptom of Perimenopause. Doc put me on birth control pills and iron pills.

[REP]

28. I had a uterine ablation

My youth was spent inventing ingenious ways to go more than 45 minutes without ruining my clothing until I had the ablation. My perimenopause was so uneventful my doctor ran tests to see if I'd finally reached my life-long goal of menopause (finally, last year).

[mackerel]

24. Is there an update?

[Marrah_G]

25. She needs to see a gynecologist