To think period pain should not be this bad?

[ithinkiminhell]

I’ve been lying on the floor or doubled over since 9am. I rang 111 a few hours ago and was told they wanted to send an ambulance to assess/take me to A&E as they were concerned - groaning out loud in pain.

I refused as it’s not a 999, it’s period pain what can they do in hospital that I can’t do at home!, but it’s so so so sore it’s unreal.

I used to be admitted a lot in my twenties with the same, used to be given morphine and a couple of days of IV fluids. Back then thought it was endometriosis but never been diagnosed.

I’m losing my mind, I don’t want to go near hospital, I had to take a client to the same A&E recently and it’s like a war zone of people lying in trolleys everywhere - trollies parked outside WHSmith with people on drips. I don’t want to be lying on a trolley still in pain and bleeding.

Am I in my rights to plead with Gp for a hysterectomy? The only reason I’m having a period is because I get given northisterone every 3 months to cause one - or told I’m risking endometrial cancer, but this is awful.

At the moment I’ve had 60mg codeine, paracetomal, ibuprofen and a hot bottle and lying on my front, hoping that does something soon.

Mine were so agonising they made me vomit and have me doubled up in such pain I couldn’t leave the house, you have all my sympathy

the GP can’t actually request a hysterectomy but ask the GP to refer you to gynae where they will (take their sweet time 🙄) doing investigations, at least you will be half way to a hysterectomy once you are referred.

I did eventually beg gynae for a hysterectomy (fibroids and Endo) and it has been absolutely life changing. I hope you get you get to have your pain resolved too.

Thank you , I’m glad you were able to get yours sorted! I’ve not seen gynae for ages so maybe is worth me asking to see them again yes. It’s so bloody sore. My GP did mutter about morphine a while ago when I said I was struggling on the cocodamol to manage and asked about extended release stuff instead (eg XR dihydrocodeine), she said zomorph might help and then said didn’t think it was severe enough at that point … bloody hell at the moment I’d take gas and air. It’s just constant, no matter what I do I can’t get rid of it.

You have my sympathy OP. I have had pretty bad experiences with period pain throughout my life, especially in my mid teens, when it was so bad I was actually physically sick. Might I ask how old you are? If you face a long wait for a hysterectomy,a Mirena IUS might be a temporary solution. When I got to my mid 30s and had had just about enough of the debilitating pain every month,my GP recommended that I have one. It was an absolute life saver. After a few months of minimal bleeding and very little pain,I had no periods at all. I went on to have 2 more,up until I was in my mid 50s and past the menopause. I know the Mirena gets quite a lot of bad press on Mumsnet,but for me,it was a god send.

What were you hoping 111 would be able to do?

Mine were like this, often throwing up all morning. A friend of my mother's said bad period pain was was than giving birth. It took my working in a hospice to realise people dying of cancer were in less pain than me. I went to my GP and he put me on heavy duty analgesia which transformed my life!

Don't have periods.

It's a lot easier.

I have endo. I got the implant - no periods.

I used to be on depo provera which is supposed to be a period every three months but on the advice of my consultant I never left a gap.

My last period was in 2012 and the one before that in 2002.

You really don't need to have them.

Dihydrocodeine or something like that, or naproxen - something I can take in between cocodamol doses. The 30/500 has finally kicked in but still getting twinges, and still pretty much stuck in bed.

I’ve had a mirena twice before but had problems both times, might ask again though or see if theres an alternative.

I thought you had to - GP and gynae previously said if I went three months without bleeding I’d need to take northisterone to induce one. Hence given that for the last week. It would be a blessed relief not to have them. I’m 34, the only thing that worries me is I don’t have children and I don’t know if I want them!

To be honest I had call the midwife boxset on earlier and realised I must have looked similar, bent on all fours in tears!

I was in A&E last week unable to move without crying in pain, various scans have revealed sizeable fibroids (exceeding 10cm in diameter) I'm now going through the steps for a hysterectomy. (I'm 36 but I have completed my family)

I have suspected endo, waiting on laparascopy currently.

the coil helps me in the meantime. Best to ask the doctor to an alternative to Mirena. It isn’t acceptable for women to be left in this state. Good luck to you.

I used to have this. Had laparoscopy discovered no endometriosis had 2 children and have never had painful periods since. Sympathies OP

Without going to A&E and having history of actual recent hospital visits you're not going to get a hysterectomy. I think you would need a diagnosis of something too, who's to say this is period related if you refuse to get checked? Maybe it's something else.

I also think a GP would reject painkillers that strong without a diagnosis or at least on a pathway to investigating a diagnosis.

You should have just gone to A&E as 111 advised, you'd probably have been treated by now. You don't get any badge to say you're a hero for rejecting their ambulance. Perhaps you're having an ectopic pregnancy?

Definitely not ectopic, the last time I had intercourse was a year ago! It’s definitely period pain, it’s exactly the same pain I had when I was a teenager. Hopefully it’s over the worst soon, today’s day 2 thank God,

Unfortunately not having periods isn’t possible for a lot of us as contraceptives simply don’t have that effect.

I wish mine would do one, I think I’ve been in peri for approximately 400 years.

Look into endometriosis

Also prostaglandins elevate a lot during menstruation and they cause pain. The only natural inhibitor is ginger. If you have ginger tea it may help the pain

Whats your diet been like lately? I find when I've been eating rubbish the pain is bad.

You need to see your GP and impress upon them how you require a referral to GYN, the funding for hysterectomies is like a lottery win imo, I've been on the list for 3 yrs after fighting for it for 7.

Gynae. There is a wait though

My periods (and pain in between) mean I'm on morphine and have had to go via a&e several times. I use a tens machine too and a heat pad plus naproxen and dihydrocodeine
I take the painkillers daily except morphine which I use when I flare up

Movement sometimes helps, I do an attractive sort of hip twirling, side to side shuffle

Waiting for surgery - if it is endo, a hysterectomy isn't a cure and you need excision surgery

To add gynae waits are around 18 months on average, much worse in wales

I am waiting for a hysterectomy having been through the mill like others. I would really add in a Tens machine and heat, and then try the belly dance/hip wiggle mentioned upthread. I get the dame codéine as you and don't find it great but I can't tolerate NSAIDs which work better.

I also listen to pain mindfulness meditations or yoga nidra, I have chronic pain from other conditions too and being accepting of the pain really does help, in part I believe as you stop tensing which definitely helps.

Solidarity, hope this calms down soon

As an aside I have 3 kids (and have had 6 miscarriages) and took a really long time to realise I was in labour each time asI was so used to pain

For what it's worth the more you go to an and e the more evidence there is it is serious.

NSAIDs generally work better. Naproxen if you can get it. I find not eating helps as well - stops bowel cramps.

My gynae approved the no periods plan (obviously not everyone reacts to contraception like this). My DD is also in the implant and does not have periods.

Maybe worth a second opinion?

Sending sympathy, mine used to be awful before going on the pill/ having a child/ now on implant. Have you tried mefenamic acid or tranexamic acid? I found the first one really helpful when over-the-counter painkillers didn't help. 💐

Mefenamic acid in the meantime.