I have suspected von Willebrand's disease (as does my sister) as we have both had blood tests that have showed slow clotting. Whilst I am already on the contraceptive pill (and have been for 7 years) to stop myself bleeding so much I was permanently anaemic, I am getting breakthrough bleeding which they now think might be due to this.

Does anyone else have this? My doctor is next to clueless about it and has referred me to a haematologist- but this is the NHS so I fear I will be waiting quite some time for an appointment....

My friend discovered he had this when he had his tonsils out. He woke up 3 days later.

If you've had surgery without any complications, then...hmm.... are there differing severities of it?

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Yes there are, there are three main types, with the first type being the most common (and mildest) and the most severe being Type 3. Clotting factors can come and go in your life too- oestrogen levels boost them. We think we got it from my grandma, who was fine all her early life with operations etc and then when she had my aunt started exsanguinating at a rate of knots and nearly died in a giant pool of rather thin blood.