passing out while on period?

[bloodyunicorns]

DD has now passed out twice while she has her period, through pain.

She's going to ring the GP, but what can she do to prevent this? She already takes Feminax as soon as her period starts, and keeps on top of pain meds.

Does anyone else pass out with pain, and what helps you?

Your DD has my sympathy. The only thing that stopped it for me was going on the mini pill.
I used to have to take 3 days off school every month and had symptoms that included drastic fluctuations in temperature (freezing cold and shivering one minute, boiling hot the next), an upset stomach both ends, and passing out.

I was prescribed ultra strong ibuprofen to take the day before my period started, and the first day, morning and evening.
Mini pill once I'd had DC.

But you should try to get her seen rather than just dosing up on pain meds, look into endometriosis etc.

Iron usually helps, cook liver if she will eat it.

I used to pass out too, as a teen. I could feel myself going and would slide down the wall or sit down on the floor. Freaked out the teachers and my friends.
Nothing was ever done about it. Until in my 20's a doctor told me to take 2 Ibuprofen every morning when I was on my period and it was a huge help, two in the evening too.

That's a big red flag for endometriosis, unfortunately. She needs a referral, preferably to one of the specialist centres on the BSGE's accredited list.
Good luck.

Heat patches.

Mefenamic acid.

Eat little but often.

iron and vit d supplements

ask GP for help asap.

Hope she feels better soon 💐

I used to pass out as a teen it was awful. I knew if I didn't take ibuprofen as soon as I came on, then I was be in agony, sweating, dizzy and nauseous. The only thing that helped me was going on the pill, is that an option?

Thanks. She's 18.

Has a copper IUD.

She uses a warm wheat bag for pain, so heat patches might be a good call. She will ring GP today.

If she has passed out twice from pain in 6 years, is this enough to suggest endometriosis? She doesn't have any other symptoms - just pain the first couple of days of her period.

Supplements are a good shout. I have them, just need to remind her to take them.

Hi OP passing out from period pain is definitely enough to rule in endometriosis. I've never passed out from period pain and I have endometriosis so passing out twice in a year suggests she's in a lot of pain. Just be aware some GP's are really crap with periods and endo and if it is endo then things like the pill are not a cure. A lot of GP's will fob you off with "it's just womens problems".
Definitely agree with other posters about regular ibuprofen or feminax during periods and if she knows when her period is due then it can be helpful to take ibuprofen a few days leading up to expect period.
Wishing you and your daughter all the best

Bless her heart, I used to be like this too. Is she taking feminax with naproxen? You get it over the counter as opposed to the normal stuff you can buy. She needs to be taking it at the very first twinge or preferably before - it won't take the pain levels back down once it's bad, IME. But it can stop them from getting to that point in the first place.

I don't have endometriosis btw, but primary dysmenorrhea - which means it hurts like fuck, but for no apparent reason. So it may not necessarily be endo (although of course that should be checked). Get her to the GP and keep on at them - I had an investigation under GA to check there was nothing nasty going on, then had naproxen prescribed, as I couldn't have the combined pill (migraine) and the mini-pill didn't suit me.

Copper iud makes period pain worse ?
Or is that a myth ?

Yes, she was told that the copper IUD can make period pain worse but they were pretty bad before it, tbf. She doesn't want to go on the pill as so many of her friends have had side-effects.

My Dd has been on desogestrel for a couple of years now because of this; she's found it very helpful

Where are you getting feminax OTC?

Sorry that's a proper question not a finger pointer question. 😂

I also had this as a teenager and occasionally still faint now. I have very painful periods for the full 7 days and then also when I ovulate. I don't have endo, fibroids, polyps, PCOS or any other gynae abnormalities. Unfortunately sometimes it's just one of those things and the GP wasn't interested in helping me. This was in the early 00's so things might be different now. There's quite a severe lack of gynae help from GP's in this country for teenage and young girls. I take ibuprofen and paracetamol together 3 times a day now.

You can buy Feminax OTC in any supermarket or pharmacy.

I used to pass out too - the pain was so severe. I missed school/work it was so bad. Was prescribed meds to take when the pain started but I was cramping so much I would just vomit them up. What I found worked, after a few years of suffering, was taking basic paracetamol as soon as I felt a niggle - which for me was backache before my period started. In 2006 I had a laparoscopy to diagnose and treat (laser) endometriosis and haven't had any symptoms since. Best of luck to your daughter.

I was like this as a teen. Look at endometriosis and adenomyosis. Also postural tachycardia syndrome. Good luck

I was the same as teen - only happened a couple of times that I actually passed out but struggled with pain the rest of the time. Tbh what helped me was going on the pill. Feminax barely touched the sides and I was also prone to vomiting so couldn’t be sure I’d keep the painkillers down. When I came off the pill years later I still had painful periods but manageable with OTC drugs and no more keeling over and being wheeled out of class. So might not be endo (really hope for her sake it isn’t) but don’t be fobbed off - I’m still pissed off at being dismissed as “just period pain” and thinking I was a weakling with a low pain threshold. It wasn’t until I was in labour that I understood how bad my period pain had been.

I used to get this. Was told not to take feminax as something in it messed up blood pressure ( this was over 20 years ago mind - think it might have been caffeine?) I was given mefanamic acid which did help

This used to happen to me when I was very young.

I tried everything and eventually settled on OTC codeine based painkillers (Solpadine or Nurofen Plus) and a hot water bottle. I used to shake like I had a fever for about 30 hours. Not a single GP could have cared less.

i had to get control of the pain.

I had this as a teenager, used to faint and throw up and go hot and cold. It wasn’t because of pain though - it just happened when I had my period. I remember lying down on the floor in the school loos. I went on the pill at 17 and it sorted it out. I was very worried I had endo but don’t seem to have, and I worried about the effects of being on the pill for years, but I have had two kids since so no harm done apparently. I’d love to know why it happens though! I hope your DD finds a solution. I get what’s she’s saying re side effects, but lots of people do manage the pill ok with no side effects.

Happened to me as a teenager and adult. I spent my entire adult life suffering and dosing myself up on ridiculously strong pain meds I’m surprised I never ODd. Finally last year at 45 I went on the mini pill OMG I can’t believe I let myself suffer all those years.

She definitely needs to see a GP to make sure there isn’t anything going on. If she’s just someone who sufferers badly I’d seriously get her to consider the mini pill. I have 3 daughters and although I don’t want them starting the pill too early I definitely don’t want them to suffer as I did.