Worst period since i started again

[samoa]

I am having the worst period ever since my period started again after pregnancy. I have had severe dysmenorrhoea since I was 12, started periods when I was 9 years old. After my pregnancy my period were not so painful and the moodswings controllable. But this period now is killing me. I am having strong contractions, like in labour. I have major PMT, but it has not gone away with the start of the period. I feel like crying, extremely irritable and angry, faint, very bad nausea, without an ounce of energy and shaking.

I have no idea what to do, can't take anti-inflamatories because I am allergic to them and paracetemol just doesn't help.

Anybody have any pain relieving solutions?

get yourself to a dr or walk-in centre and get something decent. I think you need some codeine or similar.

So sorry you're going through this, it must be very debilitating

samoa,

I would ask your GP to refer you to a gynae asap as endometriosis may be the root cause of all this.

Use a hot water bottle on your stomach and keep a pain and symptom diary.

Thank you for the responses. I am just trying to get through the day because I have my 15mth dd with me.

I have been to a lot of gynaes since I was 12 and I am pretty sure that they ruled out endometriosis. They just told me that I had severe dysmenorrhoea and a rather small uterus . I have kept it under control by taking the pill for 3 months at a time, so not having a period for 3 month and then a break. But this time round I have decided that I do not want to take the pill anymore because it makes me depressed and tired.

Since my period has returned it has been manageable but this one has just knocked me for six. I will see if I can get some codeine from my doctor.

I will defenitely keep a pain and symptom diary, I had never thought about that.

samoa,

Endometriosis is usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery operation called a laparoscopy. I know of some endo patients who have taken the pill exactly as you have described.

Glad you have found my suggestion of a pain/symptom diary helpful; keep this from now till the time you are seen by the cons gynae again.
Think you have just been fobbed off by the medical people you've seen; I would ask the GP to refer you to a consultant gynae asap to see if endo is at the heart of all these pains.

You should not just have to put up with this; you do not have any clear diagnosis to date. The underlying cause of all this needs to be properly determined; it is having a bad effect on your day to day life.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers. Would like to know how you get on so if you can provide an update at some point that would be great.

Have a look at www.endo.org.uk as well.

Thank you AttilaTheMeerkat.

I am feeling a bit better today. The fog is lifting but still have some contractions and feeling shaky.

I do need to get a clear diagnosis. I have been fobbed off quite a bit. It is really surprising how many gynaes don't take it seriously. I have been dealing with this since I was 12 years old and it does get quite depressing. Usually the PMT starts 2 weeks before and I get really confused, it is as if my brain has turned off. Then one week before my period starts I start getting contractions. The first two days of my period are the most painful with extremely strong contractions and I just can't function mentally or physically. But now I have a 15mth dd I just can't close myself off in the house for 2 days.

I will try and see another gynae. I had given up and was tired of just being given the pill.

Thank you very much for the advice and I will update you.

Don't assume it has all come back- I used to have hideous periods, en they were fine after DD, then I had one horrendously painful one..which was a one off!

But do get checked out of course!

Update: feeling dreadful. Lucky if my dh gets out of the house alive! poor dh, he is trying to help me but it just makes things worse!

AttilaTheMeerkat: I spoke to my mother this morning and asked her if she remembered what the doctors diagnosis was when I was younger. She told me that they had diagnosed as suffering borderline endometriosis. Is that possible? it sounds very strange to me

Sorry to read you're feeling dreadful today

I wonder how the docs came to that conclusion originally, probably based on your symptoms at the time if surgery was not performed.

Never heard of borderline endometriosis (I also have endo and your story does have parallels with my own in that these problems started early on, in my case at 14) but cases of endo that are for instance stage 1-2 and have not become chronic can cause great pain.

www.endo.org.uk is a helpful website and they also run a helpline.

Do get this checked out by a gynae, the GP needs to refer you sharpish. You need to find a cons gynae though who knows his stuff, you need a proper specialist with a specialist interest in endometriosis.

Do keep us updated.