It's totally normal for women to suffer from periods so painful they faint

[WearsblackLoveschocolateAvoidspeople]

This was said to my ds's 21 year old girlfriend last night at A&E after she has passed out from this pain.

I am getting really pissed off that women's health problems, particularly gynae issues are being dismissed, overlooked and we are made out to be some kind of drama queens.

Ds's girlfriend has been suffering for a few years now and the pain and heavy bleeding is getting worse. The pain is so bad she is fainting and nothing she takes or does eases the pain. She saw an endo gynae at our local hospital a few months ago who was very dismissive of her issues (this consultant has a reputation for her lack of bedside manner), wouldn't consider the possibility of endometriosis despite her mum having a full hysterectomy at the age of 30 due to endo and her auntie being a sufferer. She came out of the consultation very upset.

She complained to PALS and the hospital has agreed to do a mri scan (she has not yet received a date for this) and a follow up appointment with a different gynae this week.

It boils my blood so many women are frequently dismissed over their health issues.

My own sister had suffered from gynae and bowel issues for decades. At the age of 44 a mass was found on her ovary and they suspected ovarian cancer, after a 5 hour emergency op to remove the ovary it was found (luckily) to not be oc but a massive endometrioma. She ended up losing an ovary because of this lack of earlier diagnosis not to mention the stress of thinking she had cancer.

My friend ended up having a very serious op which resulted in her losing a kidney and part of her bowel and spending several nights in ICU due to her lack of diagnosis and 8 years on she still suffers.

I too have suffered with digestive and gyane issues for decades. Struggled to conceive from the age of 26-32 and told it was all just one of those things, some women suffer more than others. Since 2013 I have been under the same gynae department (same one as ds's girlfriend). EVery year since I have had procedures for my excessively heavy periods including 5 hysteroscopies to remove recurring polyps and a uterine ablation which has failed leaving me in more pain. My gynae just wanted to discharge me with a prescription for pain relief but I pleaded for a mri to find the source of the pain. This was 8 months ago and lo and behold deep endometriosis and diffuse adenomyosis was detected all at the age of 50!

DS's girlfriend has asked me to accompany her to this appointment as she is very nervous about being dismissed again. I am not a particularly assertive person myself but really want to advocate for her, would it be right for us to insist some kind of investigation if they dismiss her again, should we be push for this?

Good luck with the surgery, hope it all goes well for you.

It's ridiculous isn't it.
My lap won't be until next year either, in the mean time I also have constant pain and discomfort from the failed uterine ablation they have left me with and no follow ups or help whatsoever.

I don't understand why the NHS still insists on offering ultrasound scans for endometriosis, it rarely shows up. I have had countless US scans over the decades and nothing other than a thickened uterine lining and polyps showed up. When I was presenting with more pain last year the gynae ordered another US, that was in October and came back fine. I pleaded for a MRI which was done just 7 weeks later and deep endometriosis and diffuse adenomyosis diagnosed. If I hadn't pushed for the MRI I would still be none the wiser.

Poor girl. I fainted from period pain when I was about 16, I remember dragging myself across the floor to be sick in the loo then I passed out. It prompted me to go on the pill as I'd been given mefenamic acid that didn't work, a strong painkiller that didn't work and gave me diarrhea and was just told by GPs that some women get periods like this.

If either dd suffer in the same way I will be helping them tell the doctor that no, this is not just how it has to be.

My friend had similar symptoms for over a decade, including fainting, vomiting and anaemia. She was told her symptoms were normal and basically she should just get on with it. She lost her fertility, her health and her independence due to this. It's shameful.

You’ll be amazed where you find your strength and voice for someone else. I’m useless when it’s for me, but when my daughter suffered with endometriosis I got stuck in there, I’d had enough. Keep on making a noise and don’t give up, I’ve been there with my daughter and her horrific journey with endometriosis, she had a hysterectomy last year at the age of 28. She’s much happier now she’s period free, although the trauma of years of being ignored and not believed have led to a diagnosis of Complex PTSD, we’re paying for therapy for this as yet again the NHS have let her down, it’s a shit show that’s never ending, 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

My heart goes out to all women who are suffering still in this day and age, I’ve had endometriosis way back in the 90’s. I had an amazing G.P, it was caught early nipped in the bud and never returned. I hope your son’s girlfriend has a positive outcome, keep on banging on doors until you’re heard. I once aired my thoughts and reasoning in front of a packed waiting room, I was so bloody angry. I really feel the pain of everyone who is in this position, would it be the same if it were men that were suffering so horrendously??

Thanks for advocating for her! You sound like a great support. From experience I think it's always best to have someone else with me at medical appointments. It keeps the doctors behaving themselves.

Thanks everyone, things are going well, she is due to have an MRI soon and hopefully things will progress from there.