to phone in sick with period pain?

[TheDowagerDuchessOfDinglyDell]

Seriously. Hurts so much I don't know what to do with myself. Night shift tonight. Have already taken as many painkillers as I should today.

Don't know what to do.

I think probably endometriosis. GP is shit but has refered me to gynae finally. Sadly can't take codeine.
Will look at suplements.

And for not telling me to just get on with it.

Sorry Attila, I have never had endometriosis, just hideous period pains and a screaming bitch act that was extremely unnerving to be on the inside of, let alone on the receiving end of.

But that would be one of the easiest fixes for OP!

Sympathies from here too. Day 2 of my periods in the pain department easily matches 3-4cm dilation type contractions (had no pain relief when gave birth so can compare directly!) If very heavy as well as painful you absolutely do need some med investigations as well as advice as can be symptomatic of other issues (eg under active throid) as well as maybe leading to iron deficiences so I'd ask for a full blood work up.

Best plan that works for me is Nurofen Plus (ibuprofen based) then 2 hours later Solphadeine Max (paracetomal based) as safe to take both and if time each dose well means you are getting pain relief every 2 hours throughout the day so manages it pretty well (though the codeine can cause constipation so you might want to take senna at night to ensure no additional cramping!)

One note of concern though, how many paracetamol have you already taken that already maxed out until 2am???

Attila I had a pelvic ultrasound, which didn't show anything. Does that rule out endometriosis, do you know?

I had a massive fibroid when pregnant with DS, so wondered if that might contribute.

Being stressed doesn't seem to help, either.

You have my sympathies, I'm also on my period and in a lot of pain
Don't feel guilty for calling in sick, hope you feel better soon

YANBU - but for some reason no one ever understands how painful it is. Most period pain is just mild cramping but for us unlucky ones it is like someone is ripping your insides apart with a rusty knife!

I suffered for years and used to get to the point where I'd nearly pass out at work because the pain was so bad.

The doctors did nothing until I had fertility problems which led to tests and operations that showed I had endometriosis, cysts and adhesions.

In the end only the mirena put an end to the misery.

I hope you feel better soon

4 x 1g since 2am.
Might crack and take tramadol. See you in a week or so.

YWNBU to call in sick. Bad period pains are awful. hope you feel better soon OP

X post with your can't take codeine one. Shit, poor you if pain is that bad and you are reliant on para only

IsItMe I had a pelvic unltrasound and (IIRC) gyne said that confirmed no endometriosis as the thickening would have shown.

Endometriosis.uk says scans are not conclusive diagnostic thingy. Only way to diagnose is laparoscopy.

pain is pain - regardless of the cause, if you are too ill to do the job then you call in sick!

hope that the specialist will be able to help. Don't let this go on.

Got it, brain fogged so poss you had been taking it sinc early hours didn't enter brain! TBH I'd take the tramadol now as if you're still in pain maxed out on para yet can't even re-dose until 2am the chances are you will end up taking it at some point so I'd say do it now and cut yourself a break, really hope it eases up.

Don't feel guilty about taking a night off. If you are so sore you couldn't work then you've done the right thing. Just a thought but how is your diet? I used to have terrible period pain but it improved a lot after I started eating a more balanced diet.

"Attila I had a pelvic ultrasound, which didn't show anything. Does that rule out endometriosis, do you know?"

No, it does not. Its not usually detected on ultrasound scans (speaking also as someone who has had more of these than she cares to mention!). I was riddled with endometriosis deposits throughout my uterine cavity. They are so small that they are not readily seen, it usually takes a laparoscopy to spot it along with a good surgeon who also has an interest in endometriosis.

Fibroids tend to make periods heavier but endometriosis particularly if the disease is "mild" tends to cause pain. It is usually when this becomes more chronic in nature that pain seems to subside more.

I am only glad that you have been finally referred to a gynae; ask this person right out about endometriosis and their experiences in dealing with it.

Sympathy from me too. Pain wise I am not too bad but emotionally I currently hate everyone .

Puked again. Urgh

Call in sick, but ask to see a gynaecologist if it gets no better.

Any woman that says period pain doesn't hurt is lucky - I've been rushed to hospital with mine before as the doctor thought I had ovarian torsion or a burst cyst I was so unwell.

But definitely don't feel bad about calling in sick - until I got some treatment I was losing a week each month, which included family events, university exams, all sorts.

YADNBU OP, they hurt a LOT!! I'm also usually extremely tired and likely to burst into tears at every remotely sad song.

The mirena is quite good but it's not a miracle worker - I'm a year in, had at least eight weeks of endless problems to start with, had false contractions and that until it settled. I now get a roughly four weekly bleed with mild to moderate pain, and very light bleeding, which is OK for me but not what I was promised.

Painkiller wise, best things I have found are - voltarol gel, xr voltarol tablets, and dihydrocodeine. Worst thing I ever had bizarrely was morphine when I had the mirena put in, wore off very quickly and only made me feel happy, didn't take much of the pain away.

And puking wise, ask if you can get anti sickness tablets. You can get some that disperse under your tongue, we use them a lot at work (I'm a nurse) as you don't need to swallow anything for them to work.

Can you take ibuprofen? I find that is normally more effective than paracetamol for period pain, can take alongside paracetamol.

You have my sympathies, I have been curled up on sofa all afternoon with hot water bottle myself - it is horrible and am glad I have not had to work today.

YANBU

In terms of actual period pain I don't seem to suffer as badly as some people. I do get them but usually a couple of Nurofen do the trick. However, during my period I often get a headache that no amount of painkillers will shift and have sometimes had to call in sick as a result.

Don't feel guilty about not feeling able to go into work. If you're in so much pain (for whatever reason) that you feel you are unable to do your job then calling in sick is completely fair enough.

I used to get a couple if weeks in agony every month, painkillers didn't touch it. Dope help reduce some if the crampings though. Surgical ablation and mirena coil have been a god send for me. Rest and sleep if you can, sympathies xx

Since I've been in my 40's I've had some period pains which is choose any of my 3 labours over.

YABU. I spent decades with mild to moderate discomfort but recently it floors me and I can't actually move. For the first two days I flood too.

You are definitely not BU. I still get period pain but more often than not nurofen and a hot water bottle sorts it out. Does anyone find it gives them a bit of diarrhoea? As soon as the pains hit I find I have to run to the toilet .

It was worse in my teens. I tried mefenamic acid which did nothing, raspberry leaf tea, all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff. Nothing worked. I was taking a day off every month at school because of it and my GP helpfully told me that having a baby was the only cure. At 15. Funnily enough, I haven't taken her advice.