Dysfunctional Bleeding at Work?

WHAT CAUSES DYSFUNCTIONAL BLEEDING WHEN THERE IS NO MEDICAL CAUSE?
I injured myself at work in late August 2006? lifting a box weighing around 45-50 kg (90+pounds) onto a shelf about 6ft high.  It took a couple of efforts to get it to the rim of the shelf, then I pushed up with my fingertips trying to get the box over the shelf lip.   There was a sharp pain in my lower right abomen, and I left fluid run down my legs.  My boss was watching and commented I think she has hurt herself this time.

I went to the toilet and found that I had pee'd my myself, passed excrement and that the fluid running down my legs was a very bloody jelly.  I was sent home from work.  Over the next couple of weeks I used one & a half packets of maternity sanitary napkins per day.  The blood clots were as large as my hand.  I drove myself to the local ambulance and they took me to the local hospital.  I never made it passed emergency, after 6 hours I was sent home with a tablet to stop the bleeding and was advised If I was pregnant that the test showed I wasn't any more.  I was frightened because they didn't know what was wrong with me.  I bleed out until mid december 2005, and was left feeling tired, ached all over and from October 2005 was continually sick, catching everything going around.

In March 2007, lifting heavy boxes at work again I started bleeding but the clots were about 1/4 the size.  I ended up at the Royal Hospital this time and received a full transfusion and fluids.  My blood pressure had dropped to around 60/40 and my haemoglobin had dropped to 28.  I am Epileptic.  After many tests I was told that I had been severely anemic since the injury in 2005 and that my immune system, thyroid, hearing and sight had been affected.   The transfusion did make my eye-sight better.  The hospital advised I had Dyfunctional Bleeding.  My GP advised that this term is used when there is no physical or medical reason for the bleeding.

I no longer work at that company, and will never lift heavy items again.  This has never happend before and has not happened since.  

BUT I want to know what caused the severe bleeding?  Dysfunctional Bleeding doesn't tell me what is wrong!  I have attached a photo of one of the small clots.

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Dear Mouse2804:

Unfortunately, sometimes physicians and medical providers are not able to identify the exact cause of the symptoms that patients experience. When we cannot define a specific cause, we use descriptive "medical terms" to describe the condition. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is an example of one of these medical terms. The word, "Dysfunctional," more or less is meant to describe abnormal uterine bleeding; that is, bleeding that occurs at times besides the usual bleeding during a menstrual cycle. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal bleeding during a woman's reproductive years. Physicians make the diagnosis of DUB only after other hormonal and structural causes have been ruled out.

You mention in your posting that the injury occurred in August of 2006 and then you later mention that you had bleeding in October 2005 and then again in March 2007. What was the exact time course of your dysfunctional uterine bleeding?

Did you have a biopsy of your uterus? Did you have an ultrasound or another form of diagnostic imaging?

Do you have any medical problems?
Do you take medications (or did you during the period of dysfunctional uterine bleeding)?
How old are you?
Have you had children? How many? Vaginal birth or caesarian section?

Lastly, you might consider posting your question about DUB in another physician mediated forum such as: Gynecology or Urogynecology.

I am happy to provide additional comments as well.

~*~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.