Hi, sorry if this is wrong place to post.
My dd (nearly 16, mid exams) suffers horribly with period pain. She's on the pill, we've changed it a few times, any improvements are shortlived. Been advised by GP to take 3 packs consecutively so she only has a bleed once every 9 weeks. Done that for probably 18 months now, so well established cycle.
She is very overweight (5'8, size 18) despite being extremely active and submitting food diaries etc. She eats half what her skinny friends do and is getting more and more upset. GPs can only suggest no carbs which as a dancer makes her feel faint etc. I'm very conscious of contributing to an eating disorder too but no sign of that, just upset about her weight. Obvs it's about her general health mainly but appearance is bothering her too.
She's now getting severe pain a week before the last pill of the third packet, so that lasts about 2 weeks before she even starts bleeding, then pain continues through that of course. After a couple of days of bleeding she starts the next pack of pills. 5 days later, bleeding and pain eventually stop and she's fine again.
She's also been having random bowel issues as well for 3 months ish. I put it down to exam stress and got her a food sensitivity test just in case. We've worked on cutting down/out anything that came up which has helped quite a bit but is restrictive.
She has had a Myoovi tens machine for a year or so, uses it loads and loves it - but even with max doses of painkillers and that on full blast, she's in so much pain. It's heartbreaking and I'm desperate to get to the bottom of it for her.
GP is now referring her for a laparotomy (?) to look for endometriosis and possible ablation if they find any. She doesn't think PCOS is consistent with symptoms. They have suggested a Mirena coil which dd is very anti (won't even use tampons). I'm concerned that it won't help and will just be traumatic for her, docs obvs just say it might help which to her mind isn't a good reason to go through that if not sure.
Does anyone have any advice? I'm happy to borrow the money to have some investigations privately. Just feel I'm banging my head against a brick wall with different GP every time and getting nowhere. In the meantime, she's sitting exams in severe pain, drugged up to the eyeballs and with her tens machine on.
Any ideas also gratefully received on how to go about getting some help privately, if GP referral is likely to take forever?
Thanks for reading.