Period pain is crippling me

[Froggy623]

Not an AIBU just in desperate need of help.

My period pain is crippling me, days 1 / 2 I’m taking back to back ibruprofen, at night also taking paracetamol as without I just can’t sleep through.

Tonight the pain woke me up again but I feel so sick I’ve only managed to take ibruprofen, I think the paracetamol will make me sick. I feel like it will catch my throat and I’m currently sat on the bathroom floor in anticipation for vomiting. I’ve also been on the toilet a few times tonight.

I’m in agony and can’t take it anymore. I’ve been to the doctors and had scans all is fine below, I just feel like a massive wuss. Does anyone have any tips to help to put me out of my misery?

I don't believe you can diagnose endometriosis with a scan. I had many for various things and it wasn't diagnosed until I had a laparoscopy by which time I had developed adhesions. Adenomyosis quite often accompanies endometriosis and that's a whole different type of agony. The pain was unbearable, you have my sympathy.

In terms of analgesia I found naproxen worked the best for me. I have heard that mefanamic acid is also effective. Usually you need a prescription for these drugs but you can buy Naproxen 250mg tablets from the pharmacy at Boots, it's called period pain reliever.

https://www.boots.com/boots-period-pain-reliever-250mg-naproxen-9-gastro-resistant-tablets-10307099

Warm baths and hot water bottles helped too. I tried a Tens machine but it wasn't terribly effective for me.

I hope you feel better soon. I remember many nights where I felt paralysed by the pain and nausea and others where I spent it lying in the bath feeling so exhausted but unable to get out because of the pain. The menopause gave me my life back. Go to the doctor and make a fuss, it's not OK for women to have to live with such debilitating pain.

@Froggy623 If you have issues with vomiting also ask GP for antiemetics (stop nauesa and vomiting) they're many different ones which people find helpful. Depending on which scans you've had, transvaginal ultrasound and pelvic ones alo with MRIs can definitely diagnose adenomyosis. It is more about the muscular tissues so can see signs much easier than endo.

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I have stage 4 endo
gynaecologist said I’m ‘riddled’ and it showed up on an MRI

Tranexamic acid from the doctor will do the job.

also if you can’t stomach paracetamol try taking calpol as you’ll be able to swallow

Ask for a Gynae consultant referral. Pain like this isn’t ‘normal’ even if it is your normal.

Ademyois and endometriosis unlikely to show on ultrasound.

Sounds like adenomyosis. Push for full bloods (which will check infection markers) and scan to check thickness of the uterus and whether you have any polyps. Also cocodemol took the edge off for me.

A vaginal ultrasound can detect thickness of the uterus. That's how mine was first diagnosed.

Short term: buscopan, hot water bottle. I used to use this tiny tens machine which is designed for period pain. It sort of worked, some of the time (sorry)

Longer term: would you consider a Mirena coil? It has completely sorted out my horrific heavy flooding cramps painful periods. I barely bleed at all now.
I had it fitted a year ago, honestly life changing (the fitting was not nice, and the first 6-8 weeks I felt a bit off as I got used to the tiny amount of progesterone it releases , but in spite of that… I love it ).

They can, but they're not a guarantee. If someone has suspected endo and their ultrasound is clear, they should be referred for a laparoscopy.

Sorry, I meanslt adenomyosis, not endo. Mine was diagnosed through a scan.

Read up on adenomyosis and endo, I have both and the best pain relief for me was wheat bags extreme heat across my stomach , I did end up with burns at the peak of pain. Also started taking codeine and on a few occasions I needed morphine prior to surgery.

if it’s alway this bad that’s not normal levels and needs some investigation, ovarian cysts etc can all cause high levels or pain.

you’ll need a laparoscopic procedure to detect endometriosis but never let the NHS near with ablation surgery.

fingers crossed it’s eased off for you, but vomiting from period pain isn’t to be ignored or normalised.

It can but not for everyone.

But for adenomyosis a trnasvaginal and pelvic ultrasound almost always diagnose. It's much simpler for adenomyosis to see. Also an MRI will definitely also pick up on it. Whereas for endometriosis it depends - sometimes an MRI can detect it but often not and then diagnostic laparoscopy is needed. For adenomyosis the main treatment is Mirena coil, NSAIDs and painkillers (opiods mainly). You can also have a hysterectomy to cure adenomyosis but obviously a massive decision. That's as per the NICE guidelines

Buscopan and naproxen is my drug cocktail of choice.take two naproxen ( powerful anti inflammatory) with paracetamol as soon as period pain start then one every 12 hours thereafter. They sell it over counter at boots for period pain or doctor can prescribe. I take ozemaprole to protect stomach when taking naproxen.

Thanks so much everyone, will do a bit of googling and will definitely go back to the doctor. I’ve been off the pill for 5ish years, I was reluctant to go back on it but don’t want to feel how I felt this morning every month, might have to reconsider it - had zero pain when I was on it.

I had a vaginal ultrasound a few months ago but no concerns were flagged.
A hot water bottle soothed things a bit, I ended up being sick around 6am and as soon as I was sick the cramps eased?!

Some things don't show up on scans - I have Endometriosis and it took me 21ish years to be diagnosed and the only way it was found was via Endoscopy. No scans, swabs, blood tests found it. Keep pushing with GP. Periods shouldn't hurt that bad despite the fact that a lot of us clearly suffer. Keep fighting! I was prescribed quite a high dose of codeine but it'd make going to the loo difficult which brings it's own pain and problems. Harass the GP

Apologies, I meant I had a Laparoscopy not Endoscopy

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I also have endo and sounds like you may have. As said this does not show up on scans it needs to be via surgery. From personal experience male doctors took me much more seriously than female. I got laughed at by one who told me "well we all have periods, some of us just get on with it better than others". I have a pretty high pain threshold - I did a yard of 17 horses on a broken foot before going to hospital and have broken lots of bones over the year that didnt hurt as much as the endo pain. The pain you are experiencing isn't normal and you are not a wuss but you may need to work hard to get them to listen to you. Long term coming off all birth control was what helped the most even though they use it to treat endo

As far as I'm aware I don't have Endo or any other issues. I just have horrendous periods. I have had tranexamic acid which can help with heavy bleeding, as well as mefenamic acid which is made for period pains. It's stronger than ibuprofen and more targeted. I also take buscopan (I have Crohn's too) which helps and a hot water bottle is a must for me. If you get back pain with it you could try tiger balm too.

I'd look into all the above and then get booked back on with your GP to discuss options. Zeletta is the only thing that stops my periods and as we don't plan on anymore kids it works for me.

Good luck 🍀

Paracetamol doesn’t work for me in the first couple of days, it sounds to me like you need something stronger. I use cocodamol when it’s really bad and when it’s less severe I use nuromol. I need to be really careful with anything containing ibuprofen though as it really goes for my stomach if I don’t eat something first.
I also find a hot water bottle really soothing.
But yeah, if over the counter painkillers aren’t doing the trick you may need the doctor to prescribe something stronger.
Period pain is no joke that’s for sure.

If it's only 1 or 2 days a month then it's worth just trying stronger painkillers.

Taking naproxen from before the symptoms start then co-codamol. Both are stronger than paracetamol & ibuprofen, are available from a pharmacy without a prescription .

It's worked for me. I had a similar level of pain & no gynae issues but pain free on those medications as long as I start the naproxen before the pain starts or at the very earliest sign of pain.

Mefanemic acid, neurofen plus are others that can be bought without a prescription.

Talk to a pharmacist as they can advise - naproxen can be harsh on your stomach & codeine addictive but usually fine for 2 days use a month.

Failing that a GP can prescribe stronger pain relief for short term (less than 3 days a month)

Anti sickness medication can also be taken if nausea & vomiting are a problem.

I don't understand why women are so shy of taking pain relief for period pains - you would take them for any other pain of that severity. It's continuous use for chronic pain that carries risks.

Have you been on the pill?

Currently in the exact same situation right now.
I'm not coping either.
I take tramadol and ibuprofen and paracetamol and it just isn't helping.
I've also had ultrasound scans and they say it's "mostly fine". Mostly? 🤷🏻‍♀️ It really feels like they don't take us seriously, I'm 39, not 12, I know when it just isn't right but what do I know? I'm just a silly girl. I'm also unable to carry to term and with that and the unbearable menstrual pain I've repeatedly asked for a hysterectomy and they've repeatedly told me no because my fiance may want kids with me in the future. 🫩 Like, wtf?!
So, I empathise fully and send love.
Ask for better painkillers, tell them what you've said here. 💜