To think that it's not normal for my periods to be so painful and heavy?

[Painfulperiodshelp]

I work in retail and do a lot of different shifts. I've had to do a shift on my period before and I had to keep nipping up to change my protection even though I wear an ultra pad + tampon, the pains are so bad I've seriously considered calling an ambulance before, it's comparable to early labour pains. I've had to go home with period pains before as I couldn't hardly stand.

When I have the heaviest days I want to cry, vomit, curl up, or just die even because I can't deal with being in that much pain and painkillers don't touch it at all.

Finally went to GP after years of this and he said it's normal for periods to be painful and 'had I tried ibuprofen?'. I don't like my GP at all he's so dismissive of everything. I told him I was concerned about endometriosis or something sinister and he basically just brushed me off and said most women have painful periods.

AIBU to make another appointment but insist on seeing a female doctor?

Not normal at all. It sounds very like the experience of my friend that has been diagnosed with endo. Can you see another GP? It took her a long time to get diagnosed, I think she paid privately in the end. Even with the diagnosis though it's only managed with strong painkillers.

I think you need to push for some investigation on this. Your pain sounds extreme, and you shouldn't be left like this. Yes periods can obviously be painful, but not usually to this extreme.

So many poor woman put up with this and it's soooo unfair.
I've had such a horrible time. Tried lots of different pain meds and meds to try and ease the heavy flow.
I ended up going back in the pill-even tho I don't need it for contraception.
You definitely should go back to your GP

This isn't normal. You are not being unreasonable.

I am generally quiet and chilled and have found that, medically speaking, being a complete dick and pushing hard has got me the diagnosis or treatment or appointment I or we did end up needing.

I hope this helps. From a fellow sufferer.

Sounds like endo. I equally was brushed off, by a female doctor. She out me on naproxen which helped but after about a year it didn't help quite so much. I went back on the pill which has helped enormously. I'm on a low dose one.

You should absolutely be requesting a female doctor asap as a priority appointment and be looking to get referred for a proper gynaecological check and scan. If they fob you off again then consider changing surgery. This is terrible - you should not be going through that much pain each month without a proper investigation if only for recommendations for pain management. The GP can in some cases even book the appointment with a hospital from the surgery. Get them to check for fibroids as well as they can cause a lot of havoc. Don't worry about being pushy as it's your body and your health so be good to yourself.

Another vote for endo, I have it and I get these symptoms and pain.

Ask for an appointment with a female doctor. It shouldn't be required but sadly this still happens.

You don't need to see a female GP, just a good and understanding GP.

Pain to the extent you are debilitated isn't normal. It does warrant investigation. Have your periods always been like this or is this a new thing?

In the first instance for symptom control, I'd suggest you need tranexamic acid (reduce bleeding) and mefenamic acid (best anti-inflammatory for painful periods). (Both are prescription meds)

Would you ever consider the combined contraceptive pill or the mirena coil? Both are effective in controlling heavy/painful periods.

Definitely ask to see a different doctor.

I have adenomyosis (similar to endo, except the growths are confined to the uterine wall).

I spent ages 12 to 34 in agony each and every month, vomiting, blacking out, and curled into a ball as painkillers did absolutely nothing. I almost gave birth to my first child at home on the bed, as I didn’t realize how far along I was in labour, as I was so accustomed to excruciating contraction pain.

Get yourself to an OB as soon as possible. Most GPs are useless when it comes to women’s reproductive health.

Sounds like my endo symptoms so definitely go back. I found male doctors were actually better for me as they had no periods to compare it to. I got misdiagnosed 3 times by female doctors before I saw a man, who figured it out straight away. The last female doctor told me I was a hypochondriac.

Sounds like you need to get this looked into - perhaps ask for another GP and ask for a gynae referral. Arm yourself with facts - diarise your period, how many tampons you use and how frequently. The scale of your pain etc.

I have similar symptoms and my GP was excellent and referred me for an ultrasound scan. Fibroids were ruled out but it turned out I had a form of endomertriosis that is now being managed. You should not have to suffer.

I was told this for the best part of 15 years. It was only after I landed up in hospital with a ruptured cyst was I taken properly seriously. I'd been bounced to gynae a few times, had fibroids diagnosed once that they thought had gone away and tried pretty much all the hormonal treatments going which didn't stop anything for longer than a few months (implant gave me 18 months, but after that it was back to not normal). In my case it was excessive womb lining which made everything look fine on an ultrasound, but was found with a transvaginal and it was hiding all manner of polyps and fibroids.

Sounds similar to mine. I've tried explaining how bad my periods are and I don't get any response from my GP. I have to set alarms to wake up in the night to change my tampons and pads. I can easily fill both a night time pad and super plus Tampax in an hour. I have to put bathsheets on the bed to protect the bedding too. I can literally feel my cervix contracting. After having 4 kids and my miscarriages I believe it is endo as my mother has it. However I'm not getting anywhere at GPS.

You have to force GPS to help. I had to do it for a skin referral because they kept trying to fob me off with steroids without understanding that I would have to bathe in the stuff.

I sat and I insisted on a referral over and over again. Eventually she gave me the referral.

Push them and keep pushing