Periods and possible TMI alert

[RoyalWelsh]

i am aware that this could be completely normal and I just need to 'man up' but I am typing this while sitting onthe loo unable to leave because of the pain.

My periods are always heavy - I have to use the biggest sanitary towel available and will still leak through those every now and then. My cycles are irregular and range from 28 days to 45. I van cope with all that, that's fine, but every now and then, perhaps every third or fourth cycle, the pain is awful. This is the fourth day I've bled (sorry) and I woke up this morning in such crampy agony. It's a dull pain that has made me break out in a sweat and feel nauseous with it. It makes me feel like I need a really good poo (sorry again) but it doesnt help. I have fainted, before, through the pain of it, on four different occasions. I have also vomited.

I am prepared for you to all say that it's normal, but I sincerely hope it isn't! I am now also going to be late for work because I haven't been able to stand for long enough o get to the shower. I know once I'm in the shower I will feel a bit better though. Any thoughts or advice would be gratefully received :)

Have you spoken to your gp? What contraception are you using (might sound personal but may affect the bleeding).

I've spoken to them about the length of cycle and the man basically said well if it's normal for you then it is normal. We use condoms, so nothing going in hormonally or chemically IYSWIM

The cycle length doesn't seem unusual just the pain and bleeding I was thinking of if no hormones are involved.

Could you try another gp? I've been having joint problems and one gp just told me it was normal but another referred me to hospital. I occasionally get heavy bleeding and clots since not using hormones (sorry if tmi) but my cycle is always 31 days and it's not painful and always lasts 4 days.

I could ask to see a woman at the practice I suppose couldn't I! Or do youthink the nurse would help? I know the nurse - she's lovely. Oh I was really hoping I could fin the answer without having to say all these words out loud - I'm so repressed!

Depends what the nurse can do if she can refer or prescribe. I suppose if you try her she may speak to the doctor for you? Must be worth a try?

I don't think it is normal. It sounds horrendous and I really hope you are feeling even slightly better by now. Or at least some painkillers have kicked in.

Last year I eventually went to my doc with similar problems including the slightly variable cycle, blood loss, cramping etc and was given painkillers. Then one day the pain was so overwhelming that I collapsed and was taken to A&E (and admitted). Long story including blood tests and scans but the outcome was endometriosis and an ovarian cyst (not malignant just to do with the endometriosis).

So for me there was something actually wrong. Please go to see yr GP, and talk about what is happening. At the very least there are painkillers and various medications you can have to reduce the blood loss and the cramping.

Thanks both of you :)

I think periods are still difficult things to talk about and then you just don't know if it is normal or not IYSWIM?

Pandsbear your story about A&E sounds remarkably similar - one morning I had got up to get ready for work, started my period and the pain was so intense that I passed out in the bathroom from a standing position. Luckily, I missed hitting my head and came round enough to want to get back in to the bedroom to wake DP up, but en route - about ten steps - I fainted again and hit the door frame on the way down, which woke DP up. He was frantic bless him because he couldn't wake me up and called his mother! Then the ambulance...

They didn't take me in or anything, they said my blood pressure was a bit low, so actually it wasn't anything like yours...

It is much better now, but I will go and see the doctor. I suppose it's all well and good me saying that they just said my cycles were normal and nothing else, but the poor buggers aren't mind readers are they, so I should probably write a list and take that with me.

A list is a really good idea and if you can keep a diary of when in your cycle you feel the pain/amount of cramping/have random stabbing pains etc - gives them something to look at and may show a pattern. Incidentally the day I collapsed in pain was the first day of my period as well.

Hope you get some answers.

RW

This is not something that is either normal or something that you should put up with.

I would see your GP asap with a view to getting a referral to a gynaecologist. This is not within a GPs remit; some GPs are not good at all when it comes to such issues.

Irregular cycles can also be due to hormonal imbalances.

Any number of things could be the root cause of this; fibroids and or endometriosis could be the causes of the symptoms you are feeling. Please do not delay; get this checked out properly via a gynaecologist.

Keep a daily pain and symptom diary as well in the meantime to show this person.