I Can't Cope With This Every Month

[ClicksArse]

Once again I am laid in bed curled up round a hot water bottle barely to move because of such bad period pain. The only time I am moving is once every half an hour to go and change my sanitary towel because I have flooded another jumbo night time towel.

I have taken maximum doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol and I am still in agony. I can't taken codeine because it makes me vomit so I really don't know what else to do now.

I have seen my doctor about this more than once and she has told me that because the cramps and flooding only last 48 hours this is not classed as heavy periods and so there is nothing I can take or that she can do to help me. I cannot take any form of hormonal contraception because I am 2 stone overweight (I am trying to lose it) and because I have not had children of my own I cannot be considered for a hysterectomy despite the fact that I am very clear in my own head that I do not want children.

Sorry for the rant because I know that in the grand scheme of things this is a very minor problem but I am at my wits end and I can't see how I can cope with this happening every 21 days anymore.

Go back and see a different GP, periods shouldn't be like this.

I would be asking for a referral to ensure there is nothing else contributing to them, I'm rely surprised she will not give you anything to try and ease the pain/flooding - there are drugs out there that could reduce the bleeding for sure.

on your behalf.

Excrutiatingly painful periods are not normal.

Ridiculous GP - go and see another one.
What has being 2 stone overweight got to do with you taking the OC Pill unless you have other health problems as well? You could still take the progesterone-only pill, probably (although that may not help as much).
There are different painkillers more specifically for period pain - mefenamic acid, for one.
And if you're losing huge amounts of blood, even in the first couple of days, you could still be at risk of anaemia.

See another GP.

You should not be regularly taking large doses of paracetamol etc. - this can lead to stomach problems. You should be treated by a pain specialist who can find the best painkillers to suit your condition while maintaining quality of life. I hate the way GPs try to fob people off who have genuine illnesses which have a serious impact on their lives. You absolutely need to see a specialist gynecologist about this. It could well be endometriosis or one of several other conditions, for all of which there are various treatments more effective than 'go away and just take more paracetamol'.

One thing I would support her on, though, is the issue of not giving you a hysterectomy as a first option. Firstly, there are many examples where women maintain they absolutely don't want kids, and then hit 35 or older and do an absolute 180. You can't know yet that you won't be one of them, and it would be heartbreaking if you felt like that but were no longer able to get pregnant. Secondly, there are real medical reasons against having a hysterectomy too young, such as preventing early onset osteoporosis. I'm 42 and have endometriosis, but my gynecologists are refusing to do a total hysterectomy because of those dangers. However, I'm in Germany, and my impression in the UK is that doctors there are less concerned with the long-term picture and happier to whip it all out under 40. Sometimes a hysterectomy will be the right option - but it should not be the first one unless it's a life-or-death scenario.

All the women I know who have suffered horrifically with period pain have all had underlying gynae problems - even though some of them took 15 years to have them discovered. Please do not be fobbed off and insist on a gynae referral.

Yes think you should try another Dr as they aren't doing anything to help you. I have suffered terribly with period pains all my life and most of this time I have been taking mefenamic acid tablets to make them lighter. I also had a mirena coil fitted though know this is not a possibility for you as they only fit these if you have already had children.
There is definitely more help out there for you and don't let anymore dr's fob you off cos sometimes we have to push to get the proper treatment..

You can have a Mirena fitted if you don't have children - I have one and have never been pregnant. It has made my periods stop entirely, which is bliss!

I second the comments above, get another GP. Yours is being an arse. Periods should not be crippling and anyone that tells you to put up with it isn't being a good doctor at all. Whilst my periods weren't as bad as yours are, they have always been heavy and long and the Mirena got rid of all those problems (and I have not suffered side effects, aside from slightly greaser skin).

Good luck with your new GP!

I have a similar problem and similar GP (maybe we have the same GP), my periods are painful and very heavy, have been to the GP a number of times and he tells me to go on the pill or get a coil fitted (the pll makes me feel ill and i don't want a coil), i would rather no what is causing it rather than controling it with the pill.

My periods last for 10-12 days, so i seem to be bleeding for half the month (or so it feels), i have 2 really bad days where i can't do much (which is today and tomorrow) and then it just drags on and on .

Ask for cezarette
No periods apart from light spotting
All you need is a panty liner
Has changed my life

Thanks for the replies. Am in floods of tears now because I feel like someone has actually listened to me about this and agrees with me that it is not normal.

I know deep down that a hysterectomy is not the answer. But when I am feeling this bad it is just a thought I return to over and over again is it would be the one guaranteed way to not have to go through this anymore.

To the poster who said about anaemia (sorry that I can't check names, I am using the app) I do take a iron supplement daily and have been doing so for about a year now on the suggestion of my GP. I have never heard of mefenamic acid before so I am going to go and Google that so I can go and see a different GP armed with a bit more knowledge. Basically my GP told me that there was no point in prescribing medication as the flooding only lasts for 48 hours and therefore nothing would have a chance to take effect before it stops naturally anyway (there is little comfort to be taken from it only lasting this long though when that it still two nights of setting an hourly alarm to wake you up to go to the toilet and when you stand up at work after spending 45 minutes on the phone to a customer and realise you are I such a mess that you end up going to Primark across the road to buy emergency clothing because any attempt at a clean up will be absolutely futile and there is nowhere at work you can store a change of clothes!)

Sorry to be ranting on

Does the flooding start immediately?

You can take tranexamic acid to reduce the bleeding and it starts working within about 4 hours I reckon, so as soon as you know your period is about to start you take the first dose.

I was given mefenamic acid a couple years ago, it helped for a few months but then had no effect but it does work for some so worth asking your GP.

My god, please go to see a different gp!
You should not have to suffer like this, you need to be referred for proper investigation.
I suffered with endometriosis for years before someone bothered to listen to me and investigate.
I was then prescribed mefanamic acid and told to take it from a few days before my period was due, so it had chance to build up effect.
You must insist this be investigated, no-one should go through this uneccesarily.

No Clickarse you shouldn't have to suffer like this as there is help out there.And it is extremely stressful when your always worrying about leaking etc and everybody noticing it I have been there too. I know you said you wouldn't want to try something like a coil but believe me I have had several in the last 14 years and I tend to forget that I even have one in. I was never able to take any of the contraceptive pills ever as they used to make my head go crazy. You would nearly think I was a rep for the mirena coil but it honestly changed my life I don't have to worry about leaking anymore as my periods are so light now and its a contraceptive (even though i have been single for the last few years) I just wouldn't't part with it...lol
Hope you get sorted with what suits your needs you won't know yourself in a few months when you get all this sorted..

Do you have any other symptoms mid month? Pelvic cramps, tightening and lacerating pains, shooting pains up your vagina for no particular reason? I really agree with everyone else - you need to go back and see a different GP or demand a better solution from the first one.

My periods have mostly been fine/lightish all my life but I have had one op due to mild endo/adhesions, and I have had a handful of periods (since children) which have been absolute hell pain-wise, so I really sympathise with you. It's incredibly debilitating and it's barbaric to force you to live like this with no end in sight when there are solutions out there.

I take Mefanamic acid, it helps a little. Aunty Flo has been very mean and has been to visit for the last 9 days. I have a hospital appointment tomorrow and it's showing no sign of stopping. I'm hoping they will give me something else so I'll let you know.

Oh, I sympathise! I know what you mean about the relief of being heard - when a new (male) GP told me in my mid-thirties that "no woman needs to suffer for her periods" I nearly broke down! He gave me tranexamic acid as flooding is my main problem, then mefenamic acid for cramping (I may have got those the wrong way round.)

It turned out that I had PCOS - one ovary's now been removed - which was diagnosed during a routine sexual health check. Wish I'd had them both out now but you try to keep your options open, don't you?

Definitely change your awful GP! And I hope it eases off soon.

doesn't PCOS have a tendency to make you overweight and very difficult to lose weight? Have you looked into the symptoms of gynae problems PCOS or endo?

find yourself another gp
I had really bad periods as a teenager that eased when i went on the pill
when i stopped taking the pill because it sent my bp soaring the heavy periods returned
I became so ill, with heavy bleeding, pain, anemia, passing out at work that it affected my ability to have a normal life
which is exactly what is happening to you. I don't believe there is nothing that can help you
my gp gave me tablets to lessen the blood flow
he laso sent me for a check-up at the hospital - i had a scan and a biopsy, both came back negative
he then suggested a mirena coil which has worked wonders. no bleeding, no pain- it as completely changed my life
please don't just accept what your gp has said- there is something that can be done to help you

I read your OP and immediately thought endometriosis. I've also heard that the coil can really help.

Nothing more useful to add, except I hope you get some help with it and things improve.

When I started flooding the first thing my gp did was do my bloods and send me for a scan - I didn't even have pain!

It is not a minor problem; this is impacting on your day to day life. I would think endometriosis is to blame here based on what you write.

Your first sentence sounded like me when I was around 15 or so. Was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis at 31. Endo can also cause heavy bleeding to arise as well as pain.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost and for that you need to see a gynaecologist.

Coil, mefanemic acid and such like do not address the underlying cause and I would put a fiver on it that endometriosis is present. Infact endometriosis is the second most common gynae problem seen in women after fibroids.

Hyst is not always advised when endo is present as it can recur post hysterectomy. Also both ovaries would need to be removed during hyst as these "feed" the endometriosis deposits.

GP is talking rot; see another one within the practice and insist to them strongly that you are referred to a gynae for further evaluation. If GP practice is unhelpful change GP practice. Also many GPs are pretty much useless when it comes to such issues anyway so many women do get fobbed off and ignored. There is a lot of ignorance around endo and many GPs do not make a potential connection.

To insancerre - scans, biopsys and blood tests do NOT detect endometriosis if it is there; its usually only diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. I would also think that endo is the root cause of your period issues. Mirena is often prescribed but it may give you problems in the longer term. Such things do NOT address the underlying cause.

OP, i have had endometriosis and painful periods are not normal.

i used to be sick most periods due to endo on my intestine. the operation to fix it was less pain than i had suffered in one normal month.

until you get the right diagnosis & treatment for you, i found codeine very useful. take soluable when you need really quick relief.

possibly, meerkat, but always discounted it because I have had no problems with fertility, In fact just the opposite, I got pregnant no problem all 3 times we planned it. In fact DH was only home from working abroad for 2 weeks when DD was conceived.

endo and fertility can be related but they dont have to be - it depends where the endo is. mine was on my intestines so not really relevant to reproduction!!