Period pain coping tips?

[dreamingofalevelonechristmas]

I’ve been given dihydrocodeine and naproxen from OOH doctor last night . I’m in exceptional pain - to the point I was on the floor groaning like some sort of injured horse last night . Doctor is satisfied it’s ‘just’ menstrual cramps as I have a history of severe period pain, I’ve been admitted several times for morphine - but I’m struggling to manage it even with the meds and don’t want to face this every month .

I’m very heavy as well - wearing three pads at once - and shattered .

I’ve taken the codeine at 9 last night, three this morning, then 9am again, plus naproxen before bed and after breakfast . Have got a hot bottle and lying on sofa watching bake off ...

I’ve previously had an implant, coil (never again - needed an anaesthetic and came round in agony), pills (x 3 different ones), and injections to try and stop periods as well .

I’m absolutely knackered and wondering if it’s worth asking to see gynae again .. if there’s anything else they can do short of an ablation ?

I'm sorry I have no advice but wanted to let you know that I empathise with you. I'm on no form of contraception for the first time in 20 years (except for during my two pregnancies) and my periods have returned with a vengeance, currently having the heaviest most painful period that I can remember but it doesn't sound in the same league as yours so I'm sending you best wishes. Hope you get some useful advice and some relief soon xx

In my experience there is not much they will do for you . I've had endometriosis for a very long time ( not diagnosing you )
The only time my periods were manageable was when I kept to a strict anti inflammatory diet and I was fitter than I'd ever been, going to the gym 3x a week
That was years ago now and I'm entering peri menopause, that has gifts of it's own to give !

Have you had an ultrasound to rule out fibroids or endometriosis? Also, get your bloods checked for anemia.

I have yes, they do think there’s endometriosis, adhesions and an ovarian cyst too . I haven’t got fibroids or at least didn’t at last ultrasound .

I do have anaemia unfortunately, waiting on GP starting treatment .

I’ve managed to take two paracetomal, one ibuprofen, don’t think I can have more dihydrocodeine for a bit as pulse is a bit slow for me (I’m on propranolol too) and I’m not sure that I wouldn’t be ODing by adding in more meds . Hopefully something works soon and I can move again . It’s horrible, horrible pain .

I’m sorry you’re in the same boat @WhatTheFoot , hopefully we both feel better soon!

If they think you have endometriosis then you need a referral to a BSGE endometriosis centre for excision surgery. Endometrial ablation wont help if it is endometriosis and ablation of the endometriosis is often not successful. Hormones can help to an extent especially if your pain is mainly during your period, but it can take a lot of trial and error to find something that’s suitable for you. I have endometriosis and adenomyosis - can no longer take the combined pill and progesterone only pill / treatments are very bad for me. I take morphine daily and have for many years.

This chart may help you work out which pill would suit you better.

You need to go back to your GP and state that even with these painkillers the pain is unmanageable - there are lots more things they can try which are stronger than dihydracodeine, but they won’t prescribe unless they absolutely have to. It took me being admitted many times for IV morphine before they would prescribe morphine at home.

I also find buscopan (available OTC for IBS) helps somewhat with severe cramping as it’s for muscle spasms. Always take paracetamol too as this makes the codeine / opioids more effective. Always take the painkillers as soon as the pain starts or it’s harder to get on top of it. Electric heat pads make a huge difference to me, also TENS machines, but heat is the only thing that isn’t painkillers that actually has an impact - doesn’t make it go away obviously but even with morphine I couldn’t get through it without my heat pad.

Sorry, here’s the link
gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=731512902

I had to try 8 pills before I found one that worked, if i had this info at the time I could have figured it out in 2 or 3 attempts. But awful migraines and age mean I can’t take them any more safely.

@SinkGirl looks to have said everything you could possibly need. The main message is unbearably painful periods are never normal and as you’ve already been diagnosed with endo it’s bemusing they’re still telling you this.

If you do choose to pursue a solution further I would just like to stress that ablation is NEVER the solution - you must ALWAYS request incision at the minimum - reading through Nancy’s Nook Facebook page is a quick way to educate yourself on this and the many other misconceptions we all get told by gp’s

Good luck with whatever you choose, I had my excision surgery (and bowel resection as after 8 years untreated/managed with painkillers 🙄 it had reached that dire point). That was 14 months ago now and my life has changed so incredibly. It was the best decision I ever made to advocate for myself and fight to get the answers and treatment they should have given me 8 years before!

I hope you can find solutions and in terms of painkillers, I never found much relief from codeine but mefanemic was my go to, just make sure they prescribe omeprazole to protect your stomach from the codeine/ibuprofen or you’ll end up like me with damage from the painkillers!