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Original poster

Spiralling (spotting, back pain, cramps, fatigue) anyone else had this and what was it?

24 replies

user2466 · 15/09/2026 21:40

Hi,

For context I have OCD related to intrusive thoughts and harm prevention so automatically my brain is screaming cancer.

I’ve had lower back pain for some time now but have also been experiencing period type pains when I’m not due on, extremely fatigued, pain when I pee or poop during my period and at random times during my cycle.

ironically I have a scan tomorrow to see what might be causing this.

Anyone else had this? What was it?

Posting on this board for traffic

OP posts:
EnglishRain · 15/09/2026 21:41

Endometriosis?

3luckystars · 15/09/2026 21:45

It sounds like a normal period to me? I have adenomyosis though but didn’t know until it showed up randomly on a scan too.

Could you have ibs or anything stomach related?

Original poster
user2466 · 15/09/2026 21:46

I’m not due on my period as I had it two weeks ago @3luckystars

Nope nothing stomach related

@EnglishRaincan an ultrasound diagnose this?

OP posts:
MyPinkOtter · 15/09/2026 21:47

A gentle message from a fellow OCD sufferer with health anxiety. Nothing anyone says here is going to make you feel any better and it has a very good chance of making you feel worse. You have a scan tomorrow. Step away from the phone tonight and trust that the scan is the appropriate next step, you’re doing all the right things and the answers you want/need are not going to come from mumsnet.

and don’t talk to any chatbots about it either!

noctilucentcloud · 15/09/2026 21:49

OP it could be a number of different things. Kindly, no-one is going to be able to tell you. As someone who has anxiety you're better trying to stop the spiralling - distract yourself, watch something nice on TV, read a good book, have a bath and go to bed.

Myunhappyheart · 15/09/2026 21:50

If you had period 2’weels ago it’s likely ovulation cramps. They can be brutal.

Specialagentblond · 15/09/2026 21:57

Hopefully your scan will be able to get to the bottom of it.

Original poster
user2466 · 15/09/2026 22:14

@MyPinkOtteryoure right. I just wish I could stop the little voice in my head that says it’s probably cancer. No matter what I do it’s there in some shape or form

OP posts:
SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite · 15/09/2026 22:18

This sounds like endometriosis to me as an endo patient myself. I would get yourself a gynae referral

Ashemark · 15/09/2026 22:23

I've been living with adenomyosis for many years and it can cause the symptoms you describe. I hope you're able to get some answers and reassurance soon.

SpecialShark · 15/09/2026 22:46

The period around ovulation, so about two weeks after your period, can cause the symptoms you mention.

Original poster
user2466 · 15/09/2026 23:00

@SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite@Ashemark thank you. Was it diagnosed via an US?

OP posts:
Specialagentblond · 15/09/2026 23:08

@user2466 it’s normal to fear the worst. Don’t put yourself down about it. Try and distract yourself to pass the time. Scanxiety is a thing and unfortunately totally understandable. Fingers crossed it will be fine. I’ve been on a few urgent referral appointments. Plan a big wodge of chocolate cake for afterwards for whatever happens.

SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite · 15/09/2026 23:15

@user2466it can be diagnosed on an ultrasound if you happen to have endometriomas aka chocolate cysts. I had this - very frustratingly I had been told by two gynaes before they were functional cysts. But you can have endo without endometriomas. Mine was also visible on an MRI in other locations. The gold standard for diagnosis is a laparoscopy where they look inside with a camera and they usually remove anything they find as they go. It’s minimally invasive - I’ve got two tiny scars that are smaller than an insect bite and one I can’t see inside my belly button. Mine was stage 3 and even with the removal surgery I was completely fine within a week of the surgery

The bleeding between periods can be a symptom too and I had been told it was from an ectropian. Mine was a dark kind of sludgy bleeding and the consultant said that can be a sign. It stopped completely since my surgery

I had some odd symptoms (like joint swelling) but also just a constant pressure feeling that was completely gone when I came around from the surgery and hasn’t come back

It obviously manifests differently in different women which is why it gets missed, but it’s worth seeing a gynae in any case to get yourself checked out. My consultant said the official statistic is 1 in 10 women have endo but in his experience it’s more like 1 in 3 or 1 in 4. It progresses with age and it’s getting diagnosed more so now as women are having babies later so it gets uncovered in fertility investigations

I was also very tired too. Get your thyroid checked too. There’s a link with hypothyroidism and it only has to be a bit sluggish I find (as in TSH getting close to 3) for me to feel dreadful. Much better under 2

Ashemark · 16/09/2026 07:04

Yes, my adenomyosis was diagnosed via ultrasound. The gynaecologist said it's very likely that I also have endometriosis, but I have chosen not to pursue referral for laparoscopy. I have a Mirena IUD and have had two courses of Zoladex injections (which manage both adenomyosis and endometriosis).

Original poster
user2466 · 16/09/2026 09:49

@SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite thank you for your detailed response. I can really relate to a lot of the symptoms you’ve mentioned.

My bleeding has been darker too, it’s not the usual ‘period’ colour bleeding. It’s darker, like a brown colour.

I feel a heaviness too, not every single day but at random days around my cycle, even when I’m not ovulating. Have really bad back pain too and feel DRAINED every single day.

It’s just a waiting game now because as far as I’m aware they won’t share the results today will they? They’ll probably say my GP will be in touch.

OP posts:
Original poster
user2466 · 16/09/2026 09:50

@Ashemark thank you. What symptoms did you have? Are there any side effects to the contraception you take?

OP posts:
Original poster
user2466 · 16/09/2026 09:51

@SpecialShark it’s not just around ovulation. It’s at random points in my cycle

OP posts:
Original poster
user2466 · 16/09/2026 11:17

Scan’s in 20 minutes - feel so anxious

OP posts:
beaglescurleduplikebagels · 16/09/2026 11:25

I have this - mine was PCOS.

Original poster
user2466 · 16/09/2026 11:49

She mentioned that the GP will get back to me with results. She stated that there’s nothing to worry about. I asked if she saw any cysts and she said no, so still unsure as to what it could be…

OP posts:
beaglescurleduplikebagels · 16/09/2026 12:20

My PCOS was missed twice on a scan - have you had blood tests at all?

Original poster
user2466 · 16/09/2026 13:12

@beaglescurleduplikebagels not for this no, just the general FBC for anaemia and iron deficiency etc

OP posts:
Ashemark · 16/09/2026 13:13

Adenomyosis symptoms: excessive bleeding, pelvic pain. My womb is the size of a 4-5 month pregnancy and sometimes it presses on my bladder. I sometimes get internal pain after doing a poo.

Mirena side effects: low mood, I have also had issues with them not staying in the correct position (as the adenomyosis progresses, it affects the shape and size of the womb).

Zoladex side effects: menopausal symptoms (but it was worth it because the bleeding and pain improved a lot).

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