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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It isn't normal for period pain to make you cry?

30 replies

CuteKinn · 27/11/2017 12:53

I have been having awful period pain. I took one co-cadamol this morning at 9.30 and by 12.30 I was crying my eyes out in pain (despite having a very high pain threshold). GP has said it's just period pain (suggested the pill but they give me awful moods) but AIBU to think this can't be normal?
(Ibu profen and the acids are not an option as I have history of stomach ulcers)

OP posts:
Wellthatwasembarassing · 27/11/2017 12:56

I thought co codamol also wasn’t good for stomach ulcers? That’s what my last packet says.
You’re right though, there could easily be an issue and you need a second opinion. Anyone who says it’s “just period pain” is an idiot. Everyone has different levels of period pin and often serious pain can be a sign of an underlying condition. It doesn’t mean you have a condition but you are right to ask for help.

Greyponcho · 27/11/2017 12:58

if You’re taking the highest dose and it still hurts, sounds like dysmenorrhea.
Period pains shouldn’t be bad enough that they can’t be treated with OTC meds and ruin your day

munkynutts · 27/11/2017 12:58

Not normal

GoldenBlue · 27/11/2017 13:01

I suffered for years, with heavy and very painful periods, plus migraines it want until I moved GP that it got sorted. They trialled different pills until we found one that works. It eliminates the cycle completely, no ovulation so no moods and no migraines. It works really well for me.

Keep pushing just putting up with the pain isn't reasonable

ThatEscalatedQuickly · 27/11/2017 13:05

GoldenBlue do you mind if I ask what you are taking? You could message me if you'd prefer. I'll be going to my own GP and obviously I'll take their advice but, having had a very similar experience to the OP and by the sounds of it to you (migraines etc), it would be good to go armed with some info on what has worked for others.

GoldenBlue · 27/11/2017 14:16

Desogestrel 75microgram tablets

They flatten the cycle meaning you mostly get no periods at all, occasional spotting that's all.

It's like a miracle, mine used to be so heavy, I'd be light headed and faint as well as I'm really bad pain.

I went from 2-3 migraines a month to 2-3 per year.

QuitMoaning · 27/11/2017 14:18

I had this until I went on Mirena. Doesn’t work for everyone but it does for me. Haven’t had a period for about 8 years (apart from changeover, which was not the best experience but still worth it).

lookingforthecorkscrew · 27/11/2017 14:19

I had a miscarriage at 11 weeks this year and I swear that pain was as bad as my period pains at their worst. You have my sympathy.

rosie39forever · 27/11/2017 15:27

I had period pain so severe I would curl up in a ball and sob, nothing touched it, I got the Mirena coil 18 months ago as it’s fantastic, no periods and no pain, if you choose to give it a go and It doesn’t work you can always have it removed. It’s been a life changer for me.

Amanduh · 27/11/2017 15:37

I've had period pain that bad and often. Really awful, heavy (you can't even imagine) too. I would take 2x cocodamol with 2x ibuprofen and it barely took the edge off.
Went on the pill and they got x1000 better.

Kokorunner · 27/11/2017 21:34

Agree with pp I used to suffer with very painful periods, the worst pain I have experienced and frequently made me physically sick and was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. I fell pregnant soon after and had a back to back labour with no pain relief, I would say the labour pain was comparable. I have a Mirena now and have no pain and v. light bleeding. Do not suffer in silence go to your GP and ask for help.

tiredbutFINE · 27/11/2017 21:36

Tranexamic acid. On prescription from GP, reduces all of the cramping. Life changing.

BabyLlama · 27/11/2017 22:11

I also suffered from excruciating period pain, and would just curl up and cry in agony for the first two days. It's not normal and women shouldn't have to suffer that much, especially if it's so bad that it's preventing them from doing normal tasks. I have a high pain threshold too. I found labour pain very easy to deal with as I was used to having such bad periods

NotAgainYoda · 27/11/2017 22:13

When I had periods, they were excruciating.

Hence Mirena coil - no periods for 15 years

Try and see a more sympathetic/ specialist (female?) GP

Ellendegeneres · 27/11/2017 22:18

I had this when I was in my teens and was prescribed mefanamic acid. Seemed to help.

ScreamingValenta · 27/11/2017 22:22

Definitely not normal - keep pushing until your doctor takes you seriously. You need to find out whether there's an underlying reason for the pain being so bad and make sure you're given effective treatment, rather than being fobbed off.

RaspberryOverload · 27/11/2017 22:27

I have made notes from this thread. You're describing my 17 yr old DD to a T. She has seriously heavy periods, and major pain where OTC meds don't do a thing, leaving her curled up on the floor sobbing her heart out in pain.

From her notes (she's been keeping a diary at my suggestion) and looking at the internet, I'm suspecting endometriosis. Got a doctor's appt soon and I'm going with her. She's not going to be fobbed off this time.

Heavy periods run in my family. NHS website says an average period blood loss is 30 to 72 ml. I use a mooncup, which holds just under 30 ml. I generally empty a full cup at least 3 times per day for the first 2-3 days, and DD is at least as heavy as I am.

OP, I'd get a second opinion. I think it's sad that there's still a culture of "grin and bear it" in respect of female issues like this.

Fluffyears · 27/11/2017 22:27

I had awful periods as a teenager and He pain made my physically sick which meant painkillers wee useless as I just brought them back up. I came off the pills while ago and they are still painful but just about manageable but have been making me tearful and a bit crazy. Last cycle I actually though about jumping in front of a truck.... i’m Keeping an eye on it because that’s not right surely.

BMW6 · 27/11/2017 22:50

I too used to suffer appalling period pain - so bad I hallucinated a couple of times.
I saw the GP at 17 as was prescribed the Pill, even though I was not yet sexually active. It worked.

twinnywinny14 · 27/11/2017 22:52

I’ve been taking mefenamic acid 500mg for the past year after suffering in silence for about a year before that and I wish I had gone to gp sooner or researched what to request. I without sounding too cheesy it has literally changed my life x

Fluffyears · 27/11/2017 22:57

BMW it was the only thing that helped me I used to lie sobbing and begging for out loud for the pain to stop. It affected my life deeply as i’d be shattered as well and as I approached my exams it was big concern. After giving me useless painkillers I told my GP that I wanted to die and he suddenly took it seriously. I got out on the pill and my dad hit the roof as I was 15. My mother who had suffered as well told him to rind his neck in and stick his opinion up his arse. She also reminded him she had been on the pill at 15- No uterus no opinion!

Bookishandblondish · 27/11/2017 22:59

For me, I had to have the pill with the lowest oestrogen (I think it was femedene 200 - but don’t quote me). Now contraindicated due to age so had the Mirena. I still get periods and pain but nothing compared to without anything. It’s now over five years and am getting a replacement as can’t cope without something.

By the way, I personally found female GPs to be the worst for understanding. It was my male, no bedside manner GP who went through every possible Pill to search for a replacement when mine was banned for a short time, and who worked out that oestrogen levels was a factor. The female GP thought I was making it up and that I had low pain tolerance. Women are not always understanding of other woman’s problems, just because they are women.

ImTakingTheEssence · 27/11/2017 23:05

Yes i do get it. It to it gets so bad that putting a tampon in hurts and taking it out is just as bad. Sitting down hurts if oh even touches my bum for some reason it hurts. Ive been bent double before came out the cinema early as i felt like i was having contractions. The only thing that sort of eases it is sitting on the toilet. I would love to know what it is Confused

NotAgainYoda · 28/11/2017 05:04

Bookish

Good point

I guess in my Practice, the ones who specialise in women's health are women, but I get that that's not always the siuation

Teamkhaleesi · 28/11/2017 07:17

It’s definitely not ok for you to have to go through that much pain every month. Keep going back until they give you something that works no matter how many times you have to. My pain was so bad every month that I was sometimes physically sick and twice even passed out. I put up with it for 7 years because GPs made me feel like a drama queen and said I was just unlucky. One day I pushed for a referral (with an extremely put out doctor) and didn’t take no for an answer. I never did pursue any further as I then found out I was pregnant. I will be going back when my periods return.

Keep going back OP - you shouldn’t have to put up with this and there will be a way that works for you to manage pain

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