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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want more advice! more traffic here. my dd is 10, started periods 3 months ago at 9. Has had ten days of severe cramps but no bleed.

201 replies

piratecat · 21/06/2012 19:56

original thread in preteens

her first period was 10 days of heavy bleed, clots, the lot, with the same pain.

the next two were lovely normal periods, 28 day ones. No Ponstan or painkillers(Mefanimec acid) required.

Was taking the Ponstan when these pains began as they were so bad (this is day 41 ish), later told by 2nd gp we saw a week ago, this in itself may have stopped the bleed. Stopped the Ponstan one week ago, but same cramps and still no bleed.

Pain is crippling at night, at bedtime and i have had to lie down with her for ten nights now to soothe her to sleep. Has had every painkiller going to no avail.

How can there not be any blood. Where has it gone??!!

Sorry to post here, but i thought there would be lots of ladies out there who may have had this type of period, or irregular cycles, with no bleed just pain, to help me understand that part. thanksx

OP posts:
ethelb · 21/06/2012 19:58

I had weird stop start periods for the first year or two and I started at ten. However are you sure these are periods as they sound pretty sinister. I would be pushing for an investigation.

piratecat · 21/06/2012 20:05

ooh helllo (waves in desperation!)

The first 3 were fine, this one is weird. First one very painful tho as i said but understandable and there was blood. We are seeing gp tomorrow, again! She spoke about wanting dd to have an ultrasound when we saw her monday. I will ask if she has requested one.

Has been tested for urine infection, and i took a swab in on monday for testing.

OP posts:
piratecat · 21/06/2012 20:06

ethel, did you have a period with pain but no bleed at all. have googled so much, and found next to nothing on this, apart from the obvious 'are you sure you're not pg' answers.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 21/06/2012 20:08

I girl I know had a huge ovarian cyst (on the outside) when she was only 12 - could it be something like this? They thought it was appendicitis and all sorts, she was in agony and it had (in hindsight) flared up a few times previously prior to that.

RandomMess · 21/06/2012 20:09

It hasn't caused and damage and it can be the onset of puberty that causes these one of cyst issues apparantly.

piratecat · 21/06/2012 20:15

hmm, well last year dd had severe pain in her left side. this time last year that lasted a few weeks with a night in hosp. They investigated, did an ultrasound, but focused on her kidneys, stomach and urinary areas. I was there and he did do a thorough job, even pointing out her ovaries to me. Said all looked fine.

The consensus was mesenteric adenitis, which is inflammation of the lymph glands in the stomach area (after a virus).

Never had it since tho, so thats prob nothing to do with this.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 21/06/2012 20:17

My DD had very similar to your DD when she started.

She then, two years later, had constant bleeds. By the time that she was 14 she was diagnosed with PCOS.

She was diagnosed after an ultrasound and blood test.

Your DD is to young to diagnose via a blood test, yet, because her hormones will not be as they should be, anyway.

At least they are taking it seriously and my DD (16) now no longer suffers as she used to, pain and bleeding wise, because they will treat her, appropriately.

NortyNancy · 21/06/2012 20:22

Poor child. I went on the pill at a very young age because my periods were so bad.

I didnt have pain and no bleeding, I just had two weeks on, two weeks off constantly with horrific pains and bleeding. Got anemic regularly.

If I had a daughter who suffered badly every month, I would do the same for her.

I would go back to the GP. I really feel for her.

bunnyspoiler · 21/06/2012 20:22

She needs a physical exam and probably also an ultrasound. Poor thing. To b honest if this is menstrual related and she continues to get painful menses I don't think Ponstan is the best painkiller available. Froben is excellent for this type of pain.

ethelb · 21/06/2012 20:27

No I didnt but I did have very bad pain. I had nausea without bleeding though for up to a week before period due. Sometimes with vomming. Lovely. So prostaglandins did have an effect in that way.

Banderchang · 21/06/2012 20:28

Your poor DD! What you're describing sounds very similar to my experience of endometriosis which I had in my early 20s. Not sure whether it would be possible to have it as young as 10 though. I had horrendous periods through my teens (though not what you're describing) and was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis aged (counts fingers....) 23. Laparoscopy is the only way to diagnose. I had it twice and finally stopped it with Mirena coil.

piratecat · 21/06/2012 20:28

thankyou, so much, it's great to hear all these experiences.

As she is ten, the gp has said she cannot prescribe the pill, it woul dhave to be done through a referral to local hosp, and in due time. I understand this, as we are at the beginning of dd's puberty. Yet, she is the height of your average 12-13 yr old, and very slim, so really age is just a number here.

gp bit flumoxed with her age, when prescribing period related drugs, and anti-spasmodics (we have had Buscopan, and Spasmonal in the last two weeks-neither have helped a jot) because all the drugs seem to be for age 12 and over. Gp's have to be so careful i guess, yet she has given dd the drugs, just adjusted it to her weight, but tbh only having half the does a 12 yr old would have may not be that beneficial.

I will ask about Froben thankyou.x

OP posts:
dubbada · 21/06/2012 20:32

Although its the beginnning of puberty i would still be worried about these symptoms and be pushing to see a specialist if only to alay fears, that in itself might help your daughter relax. Enquire on pay as you go with bupa not always that expensive.

Worry can worsen symptoms

Birdsgottafly · 21/06/2012 20:34

The GP shouldn't perscribe anything.

That comes from the consultant after the results are back.

My DD cannot take most types of pill and they do not help to regulate her hormones.

She is treated to stop the bleeding (Norethisterone) and takes suppliments to counter act the anemia etc.

She has had to miss school on occassion and takes a mix of pain killers and anti-inflammatories.

dottygirl1 · 21/06/2012 20:48

Just wanted to second what randomMess said. My 11 year old niece had a cyst on her ovary. The poor child suffered awful pains and was in hospital for many days before they realised what it was.

Jenny70 · 21/06/2012 20:49

Sounds to me like uterine tissue is accumulating blood into cysts, hence no "bleeding". But if her first period was heavy (which is unusual, I think, in itself) maybe she has eitehr cysts (PCOS) or uterine tissue outside the womb (endo).

I'd take the referral to a specialist - if it has settled by the time she gets the specialist appointment (no idea how booked up they are) then fine - if not she'll be well and truely peeved with this after 3-4 months (and she has a lifetime of periods ahead of her).

piratecat · 21/06/2012 20:55

oh gosh, i hope not. her last two periods were text book, no pain like this. They were uncomfortable in that she had to have a few ibuprofens.

OP posts:
Latara · 21/06/2012 23:26

Definitely keep in touch with the GP & do push for a referral to a relevant specialist.

The cause of your daughter's pains should be investigated asap due to the severity & length of time - it may even be nothing to do with her periods; the cause could be related to any gynae, abdominal or even bowel problem.

The GP must not focus solely on gynae causes - but should examine & test for all problems. She must concentrate on finding the cause of the pains more than on prescribing medication to treat the symptoms.
See another GP if you're not happy.

To assist any doctors: Write down all the symptoms she currently has & the date it started; include the dates & details of her last periods; also bowel movements; diet & fluid intake. Also write down the meds she has taken since the pains started, & what effects (if any) that they had.

Remember A&E is always available - if you have to go, then do try & take your daughter to an A&E at a hospital that treats children.

Your GP can order an Ultrasound Scan (USS) herself - she can write out the form & to save time you could actually take the form to your local hospital Ultrasound Reception - speak to the Receptionists there & explain that you are very concerned about your daughter.
The Receptionists at my local hospital's Ultrasound Reception, for example, take the hand delivered forms & give them to the Consultant in charge of the Ultrasound dept - who then reads & prioritises each form. Get the phone number of the Reception & check up on the progress of the form regularly.

You may get referred to a mobile scanner (they travel around various surgeries) on the 'Choose & Book' system - do check that they can carry out the required type of USS when you phone to book the appointment.

Ask if any blood tests may be required - an FBC & Renal bloods test are a good idea.

Good luck; hope your daughter starts to feel well soon.

BurningBridges · 22/06/2012 01:14

You need to get an ultrasound - my DD was referred to paediatrician at local hospital, he then arranged blood tests and ultrasound. What you are describing could actually be bleeding caused by a cyst as this can happen to younger girls just before puberty. Although in my DD's case it wasn't exactly like your DD's I would definitely get an ultrasound - press your GP.

fedupandtired · 22/06/2012 07:58

I had something similar to your DD when I first started my periods. Had intense pain (bad enough for a couple of days off school) GP said it was period related which I thought odd as I wasn't bleeding. It then stopped and I never had it again.

Fast forward years later and now I think the pains were ovulation pains. Never had them since but lots of people online talk about them. Fingers crossed it's something similar for your DD.

Theas18 · 22/06/2012 08:02

I do love Hmm threads offering medical advice - they always get more and more alarmist and more and more "interesting" in their advice.

See your GP again- today. politely request a referral to a paediatric gynae specialist if things don't settle down, and maybe a scan.

Why shouldn't the GP prescribe anything? Birdsgotta fly?? Are they not trained in gynae?

And to the poster saying that Froben is "so much better" than ponstan in these circumstances- just to remind you that Froben is not licensed for menstrual pain (that's not to say it isn't used but off licence and the patient should be aware of this) and ponstan is the licensed drug here therefore is IS used and actually generally is pretty good.

At least no one has yet suggested homeopathy or crystal healing as the answer to everything!

OP hope your DD is feeling better soon. What ever the cause there will be a solution (and yes your GP may have it!)

anychocswilldo · 22/06/2012 08:12

She needs a blood test to check for certain hormones and make sure they check for things like prolactin, oestrogen, Testosterone etc. My periods started at 11 and then just stopped and after much messing about it was discovered that I had a benign tumour on my Pituatry gland. Tablets sorted it. It could also be Polysistic ovaries. The important thing is not to be fobbed off, your daughter needs a Gynae ref ASAP to check this out. Gp's may try to use her age to not do anything, insist on the referral and blood test. Hope she feels better soon bless her, it's miserable.

piratecat · 22/06/2012 08:54

hello, i will insist today, thankyou.

Even if noone here has the definitive 'answer', and that's not what i'm expecting, then experiences and support in realtime are so welcome.

The doc said last friday, she didn't expect these pains to last too long, but now they have, so we go from today in the next step. Our local hosp is a good hour away, i will ask about getting the ultrasound asap. Fingers crossed it's a glich in her body trying to stabilise itself. I will also ask for a gynae referral.
She has missed so much school, 7 days with her first period, and now 9 with this her '4th', and the EW officer is now involved.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 22/06/2012 09:04

"Why shouldn't the GP prescribe anything? Birdsgotta fly?? Are they not trained in gynae"

No tests have been done, so a cause isn't known, so a perscription shouldn't be given, the pill isn't a harmless drug to hand out to 10 year olds.

The GP wanted to perscribe my DD the pill and basically fob her off. When i saw the consultant he said that to many GP's rush into perscribing hormones (the pill) and this means that there is no point in doing bloods for three months because they won't know what is happening in a girls body, only what is being artificially caused.

GP's don't have solution, to problems before the patient has has investigations done and then they take direction from the doctors that are experts in the field. They are very often the prescribers of the repaet percriptions and nothing else.

RandomMess · 22/06/2012 09:10

I hope your dd gets some answers and solutions soon, I just know in young girls they will look at other causes of pain before considering it is cysts/gynae problems because they are unusual in young girls. Friends dd was messed around for months - it was adonitis, appendicitus, constipation then when they finally operated the cyst was large - small orange sized Shock no wonder she'd been in pain and it did keep coming and going until the last month. Like I said no damage at all and it was caused by the kick off to puberty so they don't expect it to reoccur and it was over a year ago now.