To feel like I can’t catch a break (A bit tmi)

[Studentnursesos12e]

Im 21.
I’m diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I suffer from really bad period pains, my bladder has been affected and I have bowel symptoms too, and quite a lot of epigastric pain. I’m also chronically exhausted.

For years and years the GP has said I probably have endometriosis. I saw a different GP who point blank refused to refer me to gynae / for endometrial ablation / key hole surgery because she has decided I don’t have any worse pain than any normal woman.

In context I have pelvic pain 80% of the time, during the period I am bed ridden and take cocodamol 30/500 and naproxen for the pain with vomiting, severe pain and heavy bleeding as well as fainting. My periods occur every 3 weeks. As I previously said I am becoming borderline urinary incontinent age 21. Bowel wise I am either loose stools or constipated, no in between with epigastric pain. Some blood / mucus.

I am a final year student nurse and desperate to qualify and work. All I have to go is the dissertation, 2.5 more weeks of placement and then management placement starting May.

I dipped my own urine and it was +++ for ketones and ++ for leukocytes but I’m not even bringing that up with new GP as that’s probably normal age 21 in her book too.

On placement I have to get up at 530 5 days a week, get home at 6/7 and fall asleep soon after. Luckily it’ll be over kind of soon.

My diet has disintegrated, and exercise gives me DOMs for weeks.

I have an extension for my diss, and could well defer til August (hopefully don’t have to).

I don’t know what to do, I’m struggling to just get by at the moment.

Any thoughts appreciated

See a different GP

Are you on an adequate dose of thyroxine? Do you know what your TSH is? If you're on too low a dose of thyroxine, that could account for the extreme tiredness, heavy periods and constipation. Or the heavy periods could be making you anaemic and tired. It does sound like there's something else going on though. Perhaps a different GP would be prepared to run some investigations or refer you to a specialist.

Thanks both.

My thyroid levels were checked pretty recently and will be checked again in 2 weeks. However, it could well be that.

I’ll have to attempt to get a GP appointment ( like gold dust) with a different GP

Definitely push for a different GP (easier said than done I realise) as it was a game changer for me, having been told I must just get used to heavier and more painful periods since my daughter was born a different GP examined me and discovered cervical ectropion and referred me for treatment for that and an ultrasound to rule out other related issues. My periods are still heavy but the regular pelvic pain, mid cycle bleeding and pain and bleeding after sex have all eased off.

I hope you get some help soon, it is absolutely miserable to be stuck in that cycle.

Try acupuncture worked for me