brightgull95 said:You didn't put anyone at risk—don't let that weigh on you. As for everything else, just be upfront with the hematologist about exactly what happened and leave it at that. Hematology isn't my primary specialty, but from what I recall studying physiology (among other things), two or three weeks is plenty of time for a healthy person to replenish what was lost during a blood donation.
Thank you; I truly hope you're right regarding the recipient.
Regarding the lab results... the EPO level is what worries me most. I came across some studies suggesting it can stay elevated for quite a while after blood loss, sometimes spiking significantly. We're talking about levels remaining over 25% above the individual's baseline even four weeks later—is that actually possible? Knowing that, I feel like it would be irresponsible, if not downright rude, to waste the doctor's time if this specific marker won't provide the clear picture they're looking for.🤷
brightgull95 said:Roughly how much blood was lost? How old is the patient? Any chronic kidney failure—if so, what stage? Diabetes? Lung issues like COPD? Or is the person otherwise perfectly healthy?
Female, 37 kg (around 81 lbs), donated blood. One unit, so about 450 ml, I think. I donated on call because the CK was at 3.7—they were short on supply (I’ve done this a few times before in previous years). No diagnosed illnesses, BUT due to some totally random lab results from tests I had done a couple of days prior to donating—just routine stuff for a minor surgery—my high erythrocyte count sent me to a hematologist, though they noted, "it's likely nothing." I saw the hematologist today, and they actually want me to re-test my erythrocytes, hemoglobin, EPO, etc. Because of that earlier "it's nothing" comment, it didn't even occur to me to mention I had just donated blood. Now I'm spiraling—I'm panicking, wondering if I potentially put someone at risk with that donation (what if there *is* something?), and also, what will my own test results look like if I go get them drawn now? I've completely tangled myself up here; I don't even know how to fix this, and now I'm just trying to minimize the fallout. Should I call the CK first thing tomorrow morning and let them know about the tests (does that even make sense...?)? What should I do with these current results—should I even bother testing right now, or should I wait a certain amount of time (and how long?) so I don't lead the doctor to a wrong conclusion... I really managed to screw this up beautifully.🙂
The hematologists referred me because I've had similar results a few times in past years, but it was always stated, without any doubt, that everything was fine.
Does anyone know how much blood loss or donating blood actually impacts lab results? Specifically looking at red blood cells, hemoglobin, and things like that. If I were to get tested, say, 2 to 3 weeks after a donation—could those numbers theoretically trigger a false flag for low RBCs, high erythropoietin, or some kind of anemia? Or does the blood loss have to be significantly larger to make a meaningful dent in the data?
ruggedviper38 said:Does anyone have any actual experience using Estrofem tablets? I was prescribed them because I’m on Qlaire, and by the twelfth pill, I start getting this bleeding that just keeps going until the pack is finished... so my doctor suggested switching to Estrofem for seven days to stop the spotting, then cycling back to my regular pills once I finish the course. I’ve been reading through the instructions, and honestly, nothing is clicking; I don't see myself in any of the descriptions of the women they actually recommend this for. I’m 22, and before she handed me the prescription, she didn't even run any tests or check my bloodwork. I’ve decided I’m just going to power through this current pack first, and then I'll look into trying something else.
Why are you taking them? Is the bleeding not stopping or something? They literally saved my life last year.
Coma... what kind of complications can pop up two years after surgery?? Could something like redness at the tip be an issue? 😁 Honestly, I'm a walking comedy of errors.
Interesting. It’s almost identical to my own experience. That specific regulation completely screwed me over—and then he acted like he had no idea afterward. I got sorted out at the Forest clinic; highly recommend them!!
I just don't get one thing. He claimed you need a new meniscus. So why didn't he actually perform the procedure??? If he knew he couldn't do it or didn't know how, why operate in the first place? Just terrible.😢
It’s way too early to start worrying. Trust me, I went through two surgeries myself. After the first one—where it was immediately obvious my nose was tilting TO THE SIDE (plus it was huge, along with all those other lovely issues)—it was clear the surgery had been rushed and poorly done. After the second one, my nose was straight but MASSIVE—just long and terrifyingly weird. And yeah, there was also some kind of "bump." That’s how it felt for a good 3 or 4 months, until you eventually just "get used to it." A year later, it looked completely different. Now, it’s been a year and 10 months since my surgery (so almost 2 years), and just these past few days, I've noticed that the "bump" has flattened out—it's gone. Only now have the grafts softened up a bit; only now does my nose look smaller, or rather, a normal size. Right after the surgery, it was so long I looked like a stork, but now it’s quite short. And I have very thin skin. So, yeah, there's hope that you'll be happy with the results. I know it’s incredibly hard to hold onto hope when things feel impossible right now, but believe me, things ALWAYS eventually settle into place. There’s a reason why they say you should wait at least 2 years before making any calls.
William Robinson80 said:I'm planning on having nose surgery at Dubrava KB, and I was wondering which department I should choose? I want both functional and aesthetic corrections.
Casey Booth3 said:God-knows what you've all been through! If you don't have something like fibroids or something similar, you can still bleed like that. Or maybe you're entering perimenopause—it seems even doctors can't figure it out, so they just keep feeding you pills. Honestly, go see a specialist and get some real answers. Everything was fine for me, then nothing for three months, followed by one month of absolute chaos with heavy bleeding—eventually, I had to get a D&C, and things have been okay since then. I do have fibroids, though. My doctor told me they were causing the heavy flow, but for me, it was basically a constant "Always Night" situation.
Hey, no—there is absolutely NOTHING wrong. I’ve seen five or six different gynecologists altogether for this exact same issue, including my primary doctor, the ER doc on duty, and a private specialist. And none of them found anything; that's just how it works. Nothing at all—not on the ultrasound, not on the Pap smear...
Anyway, this thing about Vitamin K really caught my attention. I'm skeptical because I think my clotting is fine (though who knows if it could be better?), but I do have osteoporosis, issues with my gums, and my blood work always shows something off with my liver and something else—it looks like I'm malnourished. In reality, I'm far from that.😁 Is there actually a test to determine if you're deficient? Well, I already went through the trouble of testing all my hormones to check that too...
Grace Chase97 said:It looks like I finally cracked the code on my issue. For the last three months, I’ve been taking Vitamin K for five days leading up to my period, and everything has gone back to being totally normal. I didn't want to say a word until I was absolutely certain this was the fix. But yeah—it is.
Really? Where did you even get the idea to try that? In my case, they eventually stabilized things with estrogen, and now I'm on progesterone... and honestly, I'll probably be on it until the day I die.🙄
And all my lab results are perfect—you wouldn't believe it.
I honestly don't know... I think I'll just go ahead and buy it then, see what happens. At least someone is actually doing something about this—I'll just follow the trail and see where it leads. And honestly, it would be a nice change of pace not to have people constantly telling me, "Oh, that's just normal for your age." Now, I just need to get through all these tests and hope they find something before I completely lose my mind.
Hey, I haven't heard back yet. So, I finally made it to my appointment with the next gynecologist—went with a private practice this time. Still waiting on all five results. BUT, they’re running hormone checks for my thyroid and adrenals, plus a coagulation profile, so we’ll see where things stand after that. And yeah, I need to stop the birth control IMMEDIATELY... Just great.
It’s not over yet. Actually, it feels a hundred times worse since I started the pills. I have an appointment with a private OB-GYN tomorrow—honestly, I can't wait just to get some answers. If they tell me everything is fine, then I'm heading straight to the Mayo Clinic.
God-knows... maybe I should just head down to my primary care doctor and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist... I’m honestly at a loss. She keeps sending everything straight to my insurance provider, and they're just happy to keep me on birth control—everyone's satisfied except me. The absolute worst part is that I don't have time for this crap. Every single doctor's visit requires me to take a day off work, and I am running out of them 🙂
Back when I was a kid, I had an amazing endocrinologist who kept everything perfectly under control until I turned 15, but he was a pediatrician... now, I have no clue where to even start or who to see...
Look, I’m no expert on androgens or prolactin levels. But regarding everything else—just like what you're experiencing—I would have expected much lighter, less frequent bleeding, not this. None of this feels right to me. I’m starting to suspect this might not even be a gynecological issue; maybe it’s just manifesting this way? 🤷
I'm not sure if there's a connection, but my liver enzymes are constantly running low, so I'm trying to see if there's a link there. I'm also heading in to get my thyroid levels checked. I'll find out what's going on one way or another—whatever it is, I am just completely over this.🙂
My hormone levels—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, LH, and FSH—are all technically within range. That said, my estrogen and progesterone feel quite low (even if they haven't officially dipped below the threshold), and my FSH is nearly double what my LH is. Pelvic exams, Pap smears, ultrasounds—everything comes back perfect. Honestly, doctors can't find a single thing wrong through physical exams or imaging. I’m talking about a ten-year stretch here; from my very first checkup to my most recent, I've seen five different gynecologists, and every single one has told me everything looks textbook perfect.
I haven't had an MRI yet, nor has anyone even suggested it as an option... Is it actually possible for everything to look completely normal while this is still happening? What could an MRI possibly catch that wouldn't show up on an ultrasound? I have a hard time believing they'll even refer me for one since my results are supposedly fine.
Nothing. And honestly, the pills make me feel terrible—so I've been cutting my dose in half on my own. 🙂
Hmm. Out of all the pills you've tried, which one was actually the easiest to deal with?
I honestly don't know—contraception drives me absolutely insane (back on the pill as of today). I felt nauseous starting this morning, took another dose in the afternoon, and now I’m supposed to take yet another one! I think I might just quit again because these two brands have been miserable. And I just don't get how everything can be "normal" while the bleeding refuses to stop. I’m entering my seventh week of spotting now. It’s exhausting.
As for Mirena and Nexplanon... I haven't heard of those, I assume they're types of IUDs or implants? Personally, I couldn't care less about birth control—I wouldn't choose to take a pill or have anything inserted into my body voluntarily if I had the choice. But I'm stuck dealing with this crap because I'm being told there isn't any other option.
I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of what could be causing this, since my doctors are completely stumped. So far, I've checked my hormone levels and my gynecological exams are all clear. I also went in to check my coagulation (since I have a genetic predisposition for thrombocytopenia), but that came back fine too. I'm totally out of ideas...
I’m looking for some perspective and help regarding a situation that has been absolutely draining me for the last 6 or 7 years...
I’m 29. My first period arrived when I was around 12 or 13, but prior to that, I was on Lupron for eight years due to precocious puberty where they couldn't find an underlying cause. The first couple of years weren't a huge issue, but starting at 15, I had a few episodes of heavy bleeding that landed me in the ER and forced me onto birth control pills. I had brutal side effects from day one—vomiting, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations—so I always ended up stopping the treatment after two or three days because I just couldn't handle it.
The real trouble started about two years ago, when my periods stopped being predictable. They come every 22 to 24 days, but they don't stop unless I start taking Provera (which is what I've used so far). It more or less solves the immediate issue by halting the bleeding. However, the catch is that it takes a massive toll on my mental health, my focus, and my overall mood. But I feel stuck using it because if I don't, I end up bleeding for five or six weeks straight... and things only get worse once I try to restart.
Doctors have told me there's no other way out than switching to oral contraceptives. Honestly? I'm terrified. Every single pill I've tried in the past has caused side effects—the nausea during that first week is unbearable—but even worse is how much they mess with my head. Pardon my French.
For context: I go to the OBGYN regularly, and nothing has ever been flagged; all my tests come back normal. Between routine visits and ER trips, I’ve seen five different gynecologists now, and not a single one could pinpoint the problem. My hormone levels are all within the normal range, though my estrogen and progesterone run slightly low—still technically within limits. Also, I've been dealing with osteoporosis for the last 4 or 5 years.
If anyone has any ideas or has dealt with something similar, please reach out with advice. I am truly at a loss for what to do next.🙂
darkmaker9 said:I had nose surgery about nine months ago to fix a septal deviation. My nose actually looks great—it’s small, straight, and has no bumps or anything. But that deviation made breathing impossible and caused my nose to pull slightly to one side. Well, here we are two and a half months post-op, and I’m starting to see a depression right down the middle, and my nose is drifting even more to the side. Of course, the indentation is on the same side as the drift. I’m going to call my surgeon and schedule an exam... but honestly, based on what you all have gone through, what could be happening? Is it some kind of bone resorption or something? I'm starting to panic because I really can't afford to go under the knife again! 😢
This sounds incredibly similar to part of my own experience. I never actually found out exactly WHAT that indentation was (assuming that's what it is)—to me, it looks like there's just a "hole in the bone." It’s also on the side where the nose drifts (though less so now than before), specifically in the bony section, near the upper third of the nose. Even after my second surgery, it stayed there. 😢 Admittedly, they offered to fix it by applying a graft over the area, but I never followed through because I could never find the time... and now, it seems unlikely they'll want to go back in and fix it. Basically, I was told the reason it's so noticeable is because my skin is extremely thin (that was the doctor from my second surgery—and since it wasn't his "mistake," but rather the first surgeon's, he has no reason to lie). Also, after the second surgery, something similar popped up on the other side of my nose, just a bit lower and more "subtle," so it's most likely just due to thin skin, which isn't much help at all. :/
But definitely ask her.
By the way, does the skin feel "tacked down" or tight in that area of your nose?