Painful periods.....whats the strongest over the counter meds i can take ??

[nutcackle]

Have suffered with painful periods since they started. Regularly blacked out, vomitted etc etc.

Now i don't blackout or be sick but i get horrific pains for usually about 4 days and feel like i've done several rounds in a boxing ring.

Even sitting still hurts. My stomach feels so sore.

Have been taking paracetamol but they don't really touch it. What can i take instead ??

ooh I'm sorry hunker. I have to confess I worried through each pregnancy that it would return.

I've found IQ with evening primrose oil has helped a lot with the pain, and pmt - I used to use Feminax but it knocks me out like a zombie.
Definitely go to your gp - there's lots of good prescription things you can try, even if it is endometriosis.
Two other rather boring things that definitely help are giving up coffee and booze, at least for the week leading up to your period.

Mine was shockingly bad though - I was referred to Chelsea & Westminster - I'd found out who the best surgeon was and asked to be referred after I was told by local gynae that Zoladex had no side effects (er, right - it induces menopause for one...!). Had no confidence in that doc, so got the referral.

The surgeon at C&W told me it was the worst he'd seen - I was literally in knots inside He'd not thought it would be that bad because I am always stupidly humorous about my health and never "make a fuss" - he'd told me he thought he could give me five years clear before the op...afterwards, he came and sat on the hospital bed and said he really hoped he'd given me two, but he couldn't promise that. 23 months later he operated again.

I used to have painful periods and would take 8 neurofen each day for the first two days + have a hot water bottle to deal with the pain. Then I tried eve prim oil one month and my period on the first day wasn't painful AT ALL and in fact I went to the gym!!!!! I took x2 500mg and was AMAZED at the difference!!! Would highly rec.

Nutcackle,

I would have to say that endometriosis is a strong possibility based on what you have written. You have my sympathies - I have had similar symptoms since starting menstruation and the underlying cause was endo. Sitting down was agony for me as well.

Would second Hunkerpumpkin's advice to get seen by a gynae cons/specialist. My counsel would also be to not try loads of painkillers in the often forlorn hopes it will help any - you may well end up becoming reliant on strong painkillers and you do not want that. You should have a laparoscopy done - this is keyhole surgery and the standard procedure for detecting endometriosis deposits. No blood test or ultrassound scan will detect it.

Your bicornuate uterus would not have anything to do with endo being there.

You will need to be persistant here; some GPs are highly ignorant of endo and may try to fob you off (I think this has happened with you already).

You may want to change GPs if current one is unhelpful.

Rang docs this morning but can't get in until next week cos it's not an emergency.

Was in absolute agony this morning for at least 2 hours. Had to go hide in the bathroom so I could cry. Couldn't even sit down, without it hurting like hell.

Feeling a bit better now so hopefully thats it for this month.

Will let you all know how i get on at the docs, and thanks for the advice.

Chicpea
do you mean you took 2 x 500 evening primrose every day from end of period? Do you still have to take it daily?

nutcackle, didn't mean to ignore you! Hope you get what you need from the doctor.

Nutcackle,

I would ask the GP when you see him to refer you to a gynae to see if this is endometriosis. Do not take no for an answer re the referral request; you need a referral. You do not have to put up with this indefinately. Purely from what you've written it sounds awfully familiar to me as an endo patient.

Would suggest you write down every single symptom you've had to date and given this list to him. Ask him to comment.

Any symptoms that are cyclical in nature and that get worse during menstruation can be due to endometriosis.

Ive had painful periods since I was 14, now 38. I have been on the pill, which helped but, being 38, I dont want to go down that road anymore especially as DH has had snip. Ive had ponstan, NSAIDs, and mirena coil, all of which were either no good or had unpleasant side effects. GP prescribed Transexamic Acid tabs (think thats right spelling) and I have found something that actually works after years of pain. This is not a painkiller, but it prevents heavy bleeding which in turn prevents the cramps. Might be worth a try.

Oldbuzzard,

I feel for you I really do. I've suffered similarly since starting menstruation at 14.

Transexamic Acid tabs are often given to women where endo is at the root of the problem. Glad its helping for the moment at least.

Why did your GP not refer you to a gynae as well as giving you such tablets?.

Unfortunately (and that's an understatement) many GPs seem ignorant of endometriosis and is misdiagnosed as other things like IBS. I had one GP tell me that endo is not all that common - I replied to him that its the second most common gynae problem seen in women after fibroids. See how you can get fobbed off?.

Any symptoms that are cyclical in nature and that get worse during menstruation can often be due to endometriosis.

MeerkatsUnite
Gp did refer me to Gynae, and after an internal examination he decided the best thing would be the mirena coil, which turned out to be a nightmare. Lasted 8 months and had it removed, couldnt stand it any longer. Gp wanted to try transexamic acid before they referred me back to Gynae, to have part of the lining of my womb removed. Willing to give it a try, hopefully it will continue to work, dont fancy the surgery.

hi

have had endo and got over it with treatment (for now)so can sympathise

I think the best over the counter is non big brand ibuprofen especially proflex... they make some tablets that last 12 hours which measn you can get a good night's sleep at least...

the gp can also prescribe anti-inflammatory suppositories which are very good once you get used to them, especially if you have a bad stomach

but all the advice groups say that if the pain can't be controlled by over the counter medicines then you do need to take it further... good luck

Meysey, if you don't mind me asking, what treatment did you have?

i posted something similar about 3 weeks ago, made an appt with gp and then chickened out cos im fat. can they do a laparoscopy if you are overweight? i have images of them trying to see through all the fat and not being able to! period is now looming again and i am wishing i wasnt such a coward (i think the doc will shout at me), anyone know?

gigglinggoblin - thats exactly what I am doing now, thinking 'oh i feel fine now', but i know once my period is due again i'll be regretting it if i haven't been to the docs.

I am sure being overweight will make no difference to them doing a laproscopy.

I am feeling loads better but am also surprised exactly how much pain I am in if someone touches my stomach. Dd2 lay across it this morning without warning and I nearly shot through the roof.

Only thing I find odd is that most people with endo have heavy periods and mine are reall really light, but i do get alot of brown blood which is mentioned on the link.
Have printed the link out and highlighted all the symptoms that fit and there are quite a few.

don't mind you asking at all

I had laser treatment during laparoscopy (if that is the right word for doing something and not just looking)... they also took my appendix out as they found endo on that...

if you can try and get both treatment and laparoscopy done at the same time, it makes sense

it made a huge difference to the pain and I have gone on to have two kids since then (I hadn't been TTC before so have no idea if my fertility was affected)

apparently the average time women wait before getting a diagnosis is 10 years, as they get fobbed off so much... shocking really...

I find endometriosis quite mystifying, as i also had no trouble conceiving but lots of pain and following lap was def diagnosis but I also find that although my periods are regular thye start showing symptoms early but never get going until I drink loads of red wine? Not joking. Also very heavy to the extent of not being able to go anywhere embarrassing floods but not particularly long lasting. And can be very painful.

Paramol helps or did for me anyway. dhydrocodeine and paracetamol excellent painrelief but may feel a little spaced

If you find your GP isn't helpful, you could try going to family planning and seeking advice there. Family planning doctors should also be able to refer you for a gynae assessment if they think it is appropriate. Plus, as a lot of the doctors working in family planning specialise in the area of women's health they are more likely to know about the best most-up to date treatments etc because it is their area of knowledge IYSWIM. Just a thought. HTH

Know you've had a lot of advice re. painkillers, though thought I'd add that I've have always had very painful (and heavy periods)- the only thing I found that really helped was Feminax (which is a painkiller designed for period pain). I've been using it for years.

I also had endometrosis (picked up when trying to conceive) and was removed by laser-laproscopy. It's definitely worth investigating whether you may have it.

Hi
I've been using a product called Ladycare (if you do a google you should find their website). It is a magnet that you stick down your undercrackers and it rests against your tumty (no really this isn't a joke) I have absolutely no idea how it works I just know that I have gone from a heavy 7 day bleed clock watching until I can take the next dose of painkillers, early bed with winnie the pooh hot water bottle. I now have a light bleed over three days and use no painkillers at all and winnie the pooh is gathering dust in the wardrobe I've recommened to loads of my friends who have converted and one even sticks her's in her bra to stop the sore boobs the week before (as recommended in their website) which does the trick also. Hope this helps.