Have you ever had period so bad you considered going to A&E?

[Basilneedswaterandsun]

Today, for 6 hours I was on my hands and knees, crying out and wretching with pain it was that bad. I’ve taken feminax plus (naproxen) and paracetamol - did not touch the fucking sides. Luckily I’m at home.

It’s easing off now but at one point I thought I can’t cope with this level of pain (10/10) for much longer and thought how bad would it look if I presented to A&E with period pain, given that despite the agony it’s not going to kill me. Realistically though I couldn’t even go downstairs let alone get to A&E. Also I would feel ashamed about wasting services so would never actually do it. But the thought did cross my mind.

Have you ever had period pain this bad? Have you ever thought this?

I get period pain badly every month but not this bad. Gonna have to take myself to the GP to look at options.

[Jamhandprints]

That sounds awful OP. You have my sympathies. Please go to the drs. I was offered a hysterectomy last time I complained about my periods. I was too nervous to go for it. I hope there is something they can do to help. X x

[JudyOha]

I've had similar but where it's agonizing some times, including severe vomitting, diarrhea and fainting and other times, not an ounce of pain.

Maybe get your blood vitamin and mineral levels checked as well as hormone levels? Also I find that how long the cycle is really affects pain levels.

[PinkBuffalo]

Good idea to book an apt just to get checked out.
I didn't do this but haven't had that really bad period pain since. Like you, I experienced it once a few months ago. Woke up in the night with the most severe waves of pain. I haven't had kids but I imagined it was what contractions might feel like iyswim! I was actually crying out in pain. Never experienced anything like it. Like you, no painkiller touched the sides, I had to wait it out & by morning it had subsided. No way I could have got myself to hospital though (and due to other unrelated issues I won't go to hospital anyway unless made to)
I haven't done anything about it, but I would be interested if anyone does know.
Just wanted you to know it's has happened to me too. Glad it did get a bit better for you, but it's scary when it's happening isn't it?

[Dontforgetyourbrolly]

There have been a couple of times that the pain level has been so high that I've considered it - I mean abdominal pain that's so bad you are physically unable to stand and on the verge of passing out - you'd be advised to go to a&e . Unless you are a menstruating woman of course , then you just have to grin and bear it .
I feel for you op. It took 15 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis and since then not a lot has been done about it .
Hot water bottle and rest helps me but not always possible

[Basilneedswaterandsun]

Thank you jamhandprints

@judyoha I agree - I had a long cycle this month and I think this is why I’m suffering

[Dontforgetyourbrolly]

And labour was no where near as bad as my worst period ! So there is always that

[TwoM]

Yes but that's because I have a condition called endometriosis. You need to see a GP and ask for a referral to a specialist. That much pain is not normal

[theworldistoosmall]

I'd previously been admitted and a few weeks later I was in horrific pain, and the pain relief they'd prescribed wasn't working. I was also flooding. After a couple of days, I went as the meds weren't working.
I went in, rushed through to a cubicle and monitored whilst they decided what to do - borderline keep or go. Was let go, placed on bedrest and a list of symptoms to go back straight away.
I had to slowly walk downstairs with help and got a cab to drop me right outside the doors at A&E. I took one of those bedmat things to sit on in the cab and a change of clothes which was all needed.

[Bringbackthestripes]

Sympathies
My pains are so bad they frequently make me retch, cry and be unable to stand. Even prescription strength co codamol only takes the edge off.
Mefenemic acid & tranexamic acid helped a little in the past, my long awaited hysterectomy will be a permanent solution. I hope you have a sympathetic Dr who can offer you something that helps.

[Basilneedswaterandsun]

@pinkbuffalo yes...I could feel my uterus fluttering as it was cramping. I was thinking surely labour can’t be much worse than this!

I had a laparoscopy about 4 years ago to remove a fibroid and they didn’t find any endometriosis (I have no more fibroids)

Part of me thinks that, well, as a woman you just got to deal with it. Or maybe I have a low pain threshold.

[theworldistoosmall]

I found labour a lot easier than this pain. Managed that on gas and air. For this, I'm on oramorph, dihydrocodeine and paracetamol.
Even appendicitis wasn't as bad.

[Basilneedswaterandsun]

Thanks everyone, sorry to hear you all have suffered too

[BillywigSting]

I've had periods that have made me faint and throw up with pain, prescription strength painkillers not touching the sides but never considered going to A&E for them. A few of them were more painful than my induced labour.

I'm on hormonal contraception now to stop them completely. I think if I had another one that bad again though I'd consider A&E. I realised when I had ds that the pain I experienced was far from normal.

[Stevienickssleeves]

I did and my DH took me to to a&e but i regretted it as they did nothing other than park me on a bed, it was worse then being at home as I didn't have any San pro with me and they didn't have any there, had to borrow a tampon from a nurse! They offered no pain relief. I later found out I likely have adenomyosis which is endometriosis in the uterine walls.

[Stevienickssleeves]

Yes and labour was easier as they give you pain relief!

[WoodlandOaks]

Yes. I have endometriosis. I was diagnosed when after going to a and e (referred by gp) they concluded an appendicitis. Got in, my appendicitis was inflammed, but that was because of the large quantity of blood in my abdomen.

As others have said I ended up nearly having my baby in a taxi cause I didn’t realise the “cramps” I were having were contractions. I was told to expect period pains so when I wasn’t in agony didn’t ring alarm bells...

[Pomello]

I did once. I called an ambulance and they were very nice because they were convinced I was miscarrying. I was GREY. I wasn't pregnant and I told them I wasn't pregnant but the paramedics clearly believed there was a chance. They were lovely but then when I got to hospital I had to wait on a bed in a corridor all night and it began to ease (the awful pain). It sounds dramatic and I may sound like a timewaster to some but I thought I was dying.

I'd had a camera up my loo la a few weeks earlier and I reckon it was something to do with that. I'd never had such an awful period.

[TheJobNeverEnded]

This is the problem though isn't it? The mindset that it is just a period when in fact no woman should suffer like this.

Like PP I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis after 10 year of going to the doctors and being told I just had painful periods, all women have them and basically to suck it up.

It was only when the pain got so bad I couldn't actually walk and Dh had to physically carry me out of a shopping centre that he said enough was enough and booked me in to see the GP but he asked for a female doctor.

Ridiculous looking back at that, I just been dismissed so many times I genuinely believed I had to live with it.

You need to see your GP to tell them how bad your period pain was and go from there. I was referred to an amazing gynaecologist which turned my life around. Just because they didn't find any endo deposits 4 years ago doesn't mean there aren't any now.

[theworldistoosmall]

Agree just because they didn't find anything then doesn't mean there isn't anything now.

I was lucky in a way (have a thread about it on health) - admitted in December after being sent by the gp with kidney pain (I ignored the menstrual and ovary pain and heavy bleeding). During that admittance, I was diagnosed with adenomyosis and fibroids.

Prior to that my pain was manageable. I'd previously had scans that showed nothing (other health issues)

[KatnissMellark]

No no no. Absolutely not normal. Until DC my periods had ZERO effect on my daily life. Now they make me very tired and I have horrible pain that can make me start or feel about faint. Still not in the league of your pain, or anywhere near my induced labour/multiple gynae procedures. Please seek help, if not for now, for the longer term.

[NameChange176]

Call 111. No matter how much some doctors will tell you it’s normal to have period pain, that level of pain is not normal.

There are a number of possible causes for severe abdominal pain, some gynaecological but also others (some emergencies) which could just be coincidental with your period- i’m not a doctor so can’t tell you the diagnostic differences, but recently had a similar experience. I didn’t go to A&E but saw my doctor soon after, in spite of the first doctor I saw rolling her eyes at me and telling me the kind of pain I had was generally an exercise injury (which happens to occur each month with my period without me being aware of doing myself any kind of injury?!) I pushed and have now been diagnosed with an endometrioma, and have been told to go to A&E if the pain gets really bad again as I may need emergency treatment.

[Myusernameismud]

I've considered it before, but put up with it and went to the Gp. I've always suspected I had endo
(nan, mum and sister all have too) so I asked for a referral and the GP told me there's no way I could have endo as I'd have 2 kids and 'endo makes you infertile'. Which is just bullshit, I know. But at 23 I didn't have the confidence to be a bit more pushy. I've had a mirena ever since, and not had a period in 10 years thank god. DH and I did consider having another baby, but one of the things putting me off was the idea that I'd have to come off mirena and have periods again. There were various other reasons, but that was the decider for me.

[Mishappening]

My periods were unadulterated misery from the first to the last. I had a hysterectomy as soon as I could after finishing my family. I sometimes calculate the proportion of my life that was given over to this torture; and thank god that my DDs do not suffer in the same way. It was truly appalling. Such a bloody design fault.

[Myusernameismud]

I'd had* 2 kids already

[cojmum]

My periods are awful, I can't get out of bed without Naproxen and that only takes the edge off.

I have x6 transexamic acid per day whilst I am on my period and still have days off sick nearly every month with nausea, exhaustion ect, but the GP just doesn't listen, I need a longer term plan.

It's is really awful and I hope you feel a bit better soon.