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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want my doctor to .....

18 replies

keepingupwiththejoneses · 05/03/2012 19:03

find out what is wrong with me not just shrug and say it might be your age? I am 36 FFS!
For the last year my periods have slowly been getting worse and worse until 3 months ago I was curled up in a ball sobbing in pain for a day even with ibuprofen. Added to this is the horrendous acne I now have, headaches and clotting. Basically The day it starts I have the worst cramps ever (I have had 3 dc's by cs and it's pretty close as to which is worse) I have 3 days of very heavy period which is clotted, it then starts to slow down for 2-3 days, after which I have discoloured discharge for 2 weeks. It has been like this for the last 4 months.
After the first one I went to see the GP who said I might have POS and did some blood tests, which came back normal, by this time I was due again and the acne had started. The acne is horrid, all over my body, back, arms and stomach are the worst. The GP gave my long term antibiotics, told me the results of the blood test (which I already knew) and said she had no idea what the problem is and maybe I am just like that or it could be my age!
I could set my watch by my periods at one time, I hardly ever had pain and just got on with them.
I have come on again a few hours ago and just feel miserable knowing what I am in for over the next few days. I have taken pain killers but am still in pain, I know I won't get any sleep tonight with it (last month I came on in the morning).
AIBU to think, this is not normal and there IS something wrong?

OP posts:

RuleBritannia · 05/03/2012 19:07

It doesn't sound very nice and, if I were suffering from the same, I would be a bit more assertive. Ask for a second opinion. As for its being your age, I think that is rubbish! I am not a doctor but it just needs common sense to see that something is going on here. I used to have such painful night cramps (not period related) in places all over the body and was readily given quinine tablets which have been an absolute boon and I haven't had cramp since. Ypour period business needs to be looked at more seriously.

juniper904 · 05/03/2012 19:07

POS is diagnosed through an ultrasound, isn't it? That's what I had done anyway. Not sure a blood test is enough, tbh.

Do you have pain at any other time?

Have you looked into endometriosis? It's one of the other causes for period issues, and gets progressively worse over time as each period causes additional scarring.

faeriemoo · 05/03/2012 19:09

You are definitely NBU to ask for further tests/second opinion.

I hope you can get to the bottom of it - sounds depressing.

Original poster

keepingupwiththejoneses · 05/03/2012 19:18

I am going to go back this week and try and see a different doctor. I have some pain at random times which feels like tendon pain more than this. It has only been over the last year or so, so not sure about endometriosis. Stupid doctor wouldn't even give me pain killers.
It is really getting me down, I am just totally out of action for 2 days, and changing every 2-3 hours, and that is with super plus.

OP posts:

WildImaginings · 05/03/2012 19:18

YANBU to want your doc to investigate properly.
I've had awful period pains since I started my periods. Much like you described; lying a ball just crying even with medication, I experienced fainting from the pain etc.
Docs put me on pain relief tablets (which also didn't work) and that was it.
I'm 21 now and was younger at the time, so basically docs said- nothing to do with your age, it's probably just the way you are.
They wouldn't test me for anything.
After years of this and at the end of my tether, I started taking the mini pill Cerazette, which has stopped my periods completely.
That's not for everyone, but for me I just felt like there was no other way.

I completely sympathise, I know how awful the pain is and how shite it is to have no explanation

Seona1973 · 05/03/2012 19:26

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-painful/Pages/Causes.aspx - other causes of painful periods. I would be asking to be referred to a gynaecologist as they would have more expertise with these types of problems

Original poster

keepingupwiththejoneses · 05/03/2012 19:28

It's crazy how they wont investigate, isn't it. Not sure about going on the pill, I have been sterilized but before that the pill never really agreed with me, I used to have a coil as any hormone contraception had a bit of a horrible effect on me, think raving lunatic.

OP posts:

crystalglasses · 05/03/2012 19:32

I had similar aproblems which was eventually diagnosised as endometriosis. abolutely crippling pain and dreadfully heavy periods. Insist on a referral for a scan.

Tranquilidade · 05/03/2012 19:32

Remember the GP is a generalist, not an expert in any particular field, which is what it sounds like you need. Age can cause changes in the body but something like this should be investigated before that is assumed to be the cause.

Ask for a referral to a gynaecologist

WildImaginings · 05/03/2012 19:38

I was prescribed cerazette rather than the combined pill as I am a smoker.
For me, the side effect of having no periods (this doesn't happen for everyone on this pill) was a welcome bonus.
I know what you mean re raving lunatic, when I was on a particular type of combined pill for a short time I felt, and probably acted like a madwoman!

So bloody frustrating when it seems like nothing is being done, I would definitely seek a second opinion as others on here have said.

flossiebella · 05/03/2012 19:39

You can insist on a referral. It might take months years a millennia to come through but you can.

Honestly? Sounds like endometriosis. They thought I had it prior to having DS1. It's pretty horrific, and diagnosed through a laparoscopy. No cure but laser treatment can help and NSAIDs. Will they give you anything strong for pain? Diclofenac is good.

hackmum · 05/03/2012 19:40

I would second the idea of asking to be referred to a gynaecologist or, if they won't, find a private one.

I'm not a fan of the US healthcare system, but there are times when I get frustrated by having to see a general practitioner when what you need is a specialist. In the US, you'd go straight to the gynaecologist, no messing around.

Original poster

keepingupwiththejoneses · 05/03/2012 19:44

Thank you for all your replies. I am really glad that it is not just me and I am not going mad. I have had such an easy time over the years with that sort of thing that I must admit I did think maybe this is what it is supposed to be like. Don't know if it means anything but I have also realised that my cycle is longer, used to be 28 days on the dot but is now over 34 days.

OP posts:

COCKadoodledooo · 05/03/2012 20:07

Jeez OP are you me?! I have the same symptoms, though my cycle appears to be shortening rather than lengthening. And I haven't been to the doc at all yet

shemademedoit · 05/03/2012 20:11

Have you had an STD test? I bled (sometimes v. Heavily) with massive clots for 4 months once. Refused certain test as I've been married for ages and couldn't possibly have anything like that. Only I did. It's gone now. (And so is the au pair....)

Original poster

keepingupwiththejoneses · 05/03/2012 21:08

shem, I must admit I would think the same. We don't have an au pair, not that, that means anything. I have had them in the past but not since ds3, they do them automatically in pregnancy here.

OP posts:

juniper904 · 05/03/2012 21:08

I too am on cerazette and have no periods. Gynae suspects I have endometriosis, but since my pill is managing it, and I'm not trying to conceive, they aren't willing to investigate it.

Definitely glad to not have periods. Like you, they used to wipe me out. I'd be massively anaemic and weak all the time.

MyLittleMiracle · 05/03/2012 21:49

I suffered from pcos for over 2 years, going back and forth to doctors and cos i was only 17 they put it down to IBS, which it wasnt when i moved and was on strong painkillers, the new doctor questioned why i was on such strong painkillers, why had i been on them so long and when i took them. He then went on to ask about symptoms etc. He then referred me straight to the hospital and they found it to be pcos, and all the other medications previously (other than the painkillers), had of course been useless. I now have a contraceptive implant (implanon), and havent had any periods or pain for the last 18months since having it put in. I also used to bleed very heavily when i did, was dreadfully irregular. I also used to pass clots which could be the size of a 50pence peice or bigger. It was horrid. I am so glad i had my implant, but definetly get tested cos it could be endometerosis, which is what my doctor suspected, apparently the reason it was likely not to be picked up on sooner was cos PCOS is MAINLY found in people over the age of 40 OR overweight. And i was neither.

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