hemoglobin dropping, and my bottom hurts (more than ya'll wanted to know!)

MNfarmgirl · 05-11-2006, 06:06 AM

April 18th I started bleeding, soaking a pad every 20 min or so and monster clots, FOR GROSS!

Had to go to urgent care (not ER, its like a triage thing) and they said it was hemmoraging. She tested my hemoglobin and it was 17.1. She said that it was fine, it was a very high number and I'm sure it is because I eat a lot of meat and get extra iron that way. She put me on ibuprofen 800 mg 4 x a day, and started me on orthocyclin (mononessa). Anyhow, I'm still bleeding now, its a pad every 2-3 hours but no clots which is nicer but still icky. I had labs today and my hemoglobin has dropped to 13.0, which they say is still " within normal" but dropping more than 4 points in 3 weeks? I don't think that is "healthy". She did say that my long term glucose is 101 which is good. Again, I eat about 70 percent meat and the rest veggies so I am sure that is why. No starches at all.

Ok anyway the second problem- I have "diaper rash", I think it is all the moisure from bleeding, and dampness from the pads- I'm not "dirty", I change them, and I take 2 showers a day or I'm afraid I'll smell icky from it. I tried some bag balm, then some A and D ointment on the puffy swollen areas but that didn't help, I even tried preperation H cause it said it shrinks inflamed tissues. This is icky but the only thing that helped was putting old sheets on my bed and going "commando" for a night, but then I had to throw away the sheets and it was a HUGE mess in the morning.

I don't have enough old bedsheets to do THAT again, I am at a loss- can anyone think of anything??

Oh and the funnest thing is that tomorrow I am supposed to start the "placebo" phase of the BCP, and that is when you are SUPPOSED to bleed. I told the nurse this and she said well yes, take them just like that. Maybe your body just needs to bleed a lot for a while til it gets regulated?? Does this make sense to anyone?? I don't think it is good to bleed for weeks on end. I'm afraid to take the blue pills, I feel like just starting the next pack because what will happen? The gushing, clots (SO GROSS) etc?

I feel like such a drama queen.

debir · 05-11-2006, 06:53 AM

I wish I could offer more help, but having experienced long bleeds before, with lots of clotting, I wanted to send my sympathy!
The last long bleed lasted a year! I finally got back on metformin and within a few days the bleeding stopped! Zip, nilch, nada!!!
As for the rash, could it be a yeast infection? There are a few skin infections that will cause a raised rash as well, I would deffinately have it checked out by a Dr.
Hope everything goes back to normal for you soon!!

MNfarmgirl · 05-11-2006, 07:17 AM

Hi- OMG I think I'd literally die if I bled for a year. You poor thing! Now I feel bad I was so whiney over 3 weeks...

Its not really a rash- its like the outer skin area where the pad rests is puffy and inflamed. I wonder if it is an allergic reaction to the Kotex? Do they have latex in them?

Oh Lord don't get me started on seeing the dr. I've been struggling with severe left sided pelvic pain and their answer is take ibuprophen, it don't do squat. I had an appointment with a gyno (here you have to have a referral, they are considered specialists) last week and sat in her waiting room for nearly 3 hours past the appointment time. Finally they said she was too busy to see me because she had so many pregnant people to see and it was running late. I guess they only care about the "OB" part of OB/Gyno. She didn't even attempt to reschedule, just said, "sorry we can't see you today". I've pretty much given up any hope of a doctor listening and helping me.

I called my doctor today and told him I am filing a complaint with JCAHO because they are not adressing my pain, and are in violation of JCAHO standards. He was quiet and then said I have to do what I feel is right. I'm sure I'll end up trying to see a doctor outside this clinic system shortly.