For feeling fobbed off?

[LemonStork]

Unexplained daily stomach pain for over a month, starting with an acute episode that was the worst pain of my life (history of painful and heavy periods, but nothing so extreme). 111 sent me to A&E. Dismissed as period pains, told to take painkillers and sent home. Booked myself in for a hormonal coil fitting, because I don't have time to go to bloody A&E with 'period pain'.

While I waited for my coil appointment, pain continued daily after my period ended (mostly at manageable levels - my pain tolerance is high and I took cocodamol when needed - but still concerning). Worse after eating and intense exercise.

Then I had my coil fitted, which was excruciating, and since then I've had 24/7 pain (currently 7/10 taking all the painkillers I've been prescribed) and I can't function. I'm also nauseous and I keep dropping/breaking things. After I eat I get stabbing pains in my womb area.

I had a uterus/ovary scan on Monday and the coil is apparently fine and I've been advised to come back to the sexual health clinic in 6 weeks if my pain persists. The gynaecologist seemed sympathetic but quite insistent that coils are great and I'll be better off in the long run by keeping it.

Bloods done by GP to investigate my stomach issues came back 'unremarkable'. H.plyori negative. So my GP suggested I might have IBS, even though my bowel movements are pretty normal when I'm not taking loads of co-codamol. Made vague suggestion that I could try to identify trigger foods, but gave no guidance on how I can do that.

Am currently underemployed on a zero hours contract, and I lost my only consistent work because I couldn't focus due to this pain.

I know the NHS is under immense strain, but I feel like I've been asked to put my whole life on hold for 6 weeks. I live alone and can't look after myself properly when I'm feeling this unwell. I also really want and need to get some work before recruitment stops over the Christmas period.

I don't know if I'm not doing a good enough job at communicating the pain I'm in or if being treated like this is just normal? From my perspective I URGENTLY need to stop feeling this way because it's unsustainable, and I'm seriously considering getting the coil taken out. The whole situation is making me feel suicidal. I feel pathetic even writing this because I've basically been made to feel like I'm making drama out of nothing. Maybe if I had a breadwinner at home supporting us both, none of this would matter, but I'm alone and scared.

AIBU?

I was in a lot of pain for a month after my coil fitting. How long has it been?

It's only been 6 days. The pain hasn't got any better since it was on the day after insertion. I wasn't expecting to be unable to function for days. If I had thought this was remotely likely, I wouldn't have had it put in, but I'd been led to believe that at most I'd experience some light cramping at the time of insertion.

My mirena was really painful. I had it removed after a week or so. I wasn't in pain beforehand though, so different to your situation, but pain just at insertion wasn't true for me.

Wishing you well.

Is it stomach or period problems? I can’t tell what you mean.

If it’s stomach try keeping a food diary to see if anything triggers it and eliminate things such as dairy. I used to get crippling stomach pain before I did this and realised I was lactose intolerant. Mebeverine is great for IBS pains.

The stress is also likely to be a massive trigger.

I am thinking of giving it another week, but I'm just not sure if I can tolerate more than that if the pain doesn't abate, unless I'm given stronger painkillers, which seems unlikely. The gynae I saw yesterday said I should combine cocodamol with mefenamic acid, but that just seemed to make the pain worse.

I don't know - at first the doctors thought what I was reporting as 'stomach issues' was my period, because it came on when my period did. But I continued having daily stomach pain after my period ended. I'd say my bowels are fairly normal, so I'm not sure if IBS would make sense. The doctor who spoke to me about my bloods doesn't seem to be interested in considering gynae causes.

Any chance you were pregnant? Could be an infection. Maybe some swabs might be a good idea.

If you've had blood done that would show any infection.

To look at IBS Google FODMAP, that explains how to look at food triggers etc.

If you've had a gynae ultrasound that would have surely looked at your ovaries so they'd have told you if it was cysts.

Maybe it is a food issue as it predates the coil.

I hope you find some answers soon. Try heat pads (they are £1 for two) in places like Home Bargains/B&M.
Or a tens machine if you have one.

I don't have any medical background but you say you have a history of painful heavy periods. This can indicate endometriosis (this was the case for me). Endometriosis can spread beyond the pelvic area, which might (please note 'might') account for pain in the stomach area, as well as the pain after your coil was fitted. Doctors are notoriously bad at diagnosing endometriosis.

One thing is sure - you need to insist that the source of this pain is identified. Nobody should have to put up with this.
Wishing you all the best.

It sounds a bit like you were fobbed off with the period pain explanation - particularly if the pain was not just during your period. I would keep a diary of all symptoms. And go back to your GP and say you are not convinced that you have been properly diagnosed. Ask referral to a gyne specialist. If there is a chance you could be pregnant do take a test as pain could be an ectopic pregnancy which would need treatment urgently.

Hugs to you, it sounds hard and I hope you feel better soon. If you are not sure you have been properly communicating the pain then you must mention to your GP, including that it is to the point of making you feel suicidal.