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Original poster

Period pain

11 replies

florencedombey · 07/10/2013 21:48

So last night I spent two hours lying on the bathroom floor moaning in agony thanks to my period. Terrible cramps in my stomach and back and shooting pains up my bum (sorry!). The pains are strong enough to make me cry out involuntarily. I get them most months, but not every single month. I took paracetamol and ibuprofen but it didn't really touch it. Have been to dr in the past and was told that it was part of getting older (am 37) and something we women have to put up with. Is it? Anyone got any ideas?

OP posts:

BigW · 07/10/2013 21:55

Agh Florence. I so know your pain. I used to vomit, pass out, the works.

Could you try going on the pill? I think that would help. Either way you should visit your GP.

For me, the only real relief was a few minutes after I woke up.

megcleary · 07/10/2013 21:59

Same here, sigh.

yegodsandlittlefishes · 07/10/2013 22:02

No, this is not acceptable. Find another doctor! You should at the very least have been offered stronger pain relief. Have any tests been done? Are you periods also heavy? Low iron, fibroids, thyroid problems, dehydration, all kinds of things can cause or exacerbate painful periods.

Original poster

florencedombey · 07/10/2013 22:02

Not allowed on the pill any more - had a DVT. Plus would quite like to TTC, if I've not left it too late.

Periods were much less painful when I was on the pill.

BigW, I thought I was going to be sick last night, the pain was so bad.

OP posts:

Original poster

florencedombey · 07/10/2013 22:05

Yegods, I had an internal ultrasound which didn't find anything. Dr gave me some mefenamic acid tabs which helped a bit with the pain but left me very swollen and bloated, so just exchanged one problem for another really.

OP posts:

Pandsbear · 08/10/2013 12:30

It is NOT part of getting older. That is terrible of your dr to say this. Please go back to a.n.other dr in the surgery- this level of pain is not normal you poor thing. I completely sympathise as I was in a very similar situation in 2011 - including being fobbed off by the (female) dr who said vaguely 'oooh some women are just unlucky and their periods get worse after having children...'

It was complete crap. I had undiagnosed endometriosis - this does not mean you have -only that there is probably something further to investigage. (An ultrasound will not diagnose something like endo anyway, just looking for cysts etc). It took me several visits in varying degrees of pain over 2 years to finally get a dr who referred me to the gynae, I should have been referred much earlier.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/10/2013 14:32

All of that made me wince in sympathy; I was exactly the same as you some years back.

That reads like endometriosis to me I am sorry to say, shooting pains up the bum have been quaintly described on here as "javelin arse" and it can be to do with endometriosis. Infact all your symptoms could be due to endometriosis. Mefanemic acid tabs are often given to such patients as well but its like putting a sticking plaster on an open wound i.e it does not work and importantly does not address WHY this is happening. You need to find the cause!!.

I see also that you've had an internal ultrasound which showed nothing. Endometriosis if it is there is not detectable on such a scan.

Would suggest you return to the GP pronto and demand a referral to a gynae. In the meantime prior to this apt, keep a daily pain and symptom diary as this will give the gynae clues.

No, it is not a part of getting older and it is not something that you should blithely put up with. There is some sort of real physical problem for which you need to see a gynae. Many GPs are not up to speed when it comes to such problems and a person can all too easily be fobbed off. Do not be fobbed off again, you will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

My eventual diagnosis - endometriosis.

www.endo.org.uk is a good website.

Lottie4 · 08/10/2013 14:45

As others have said, go back and ask to see another doctor. Explain what you've told us, you're in agony and can't carry on with what you need to do. If you are taking any form of pain relief, take it as soon as you have an inkling you're going to be in pain, ie try and take the edge of it before it gets really bad. Haven't tried them myself, but you're probably aware there are things like Feminax and other period pain tablets you can buy - whether they would help?

JohFlow · 08/10/2013 14:51

I can only echo some of what the other posters say. Ridiculous response from the G.P! Any amount of pain above over-the-counter meds/mefanemic acid needs to be investigated further by a gynae specialist. Any pain that makes you do things involuntarily is a clear sign that you require medical attention. I would re-approach a different doctorn and explain that your pain medication is not working and you are now concerned and would like further investigations.

Good luck

Original poster

florencedombey · 08/10/2013 18:21

Thanks, all. Sorry to hear others are suffering, but strangely reassuring to know I'm not alone. I will go back to the Dr with renewed determination!

OP posts:

humphryscorner · 08/10/2013 18:26

attilla snap! I have endometriosis too. I had to crouch down in my bosses office once during a meeting as I was going to pass out! For sine reason I get urge to go toilet -pooh-- but the pain is shocking When I do.

op I've found running a red hot bath even in middle of night effective enough for the pain killers to start .

Good luck xx

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