"You only have endimetriosis if it's painful when you have sex"

[Chocol8]

This is what my gynae said to me when i asked why i am always in so much pain before and during my period.

I am in pain up to 2 weeks before my period, and leading up to d-day, i am a total bitch from hell, in agony and nearly fainting from the pain. My periods are very heavy, so much so, that they only last 3-4 days. Today i was excessively heavy and went through quite a few towels. I get (sorry if TMI) blood, skin and large clots.

My gynae suggested 3 things - the pill (doesn't agree with me), the marina coil (not keen at all after reading the extra long thread on MN) or hysterectomy (i am 41, but think this is a bit drastic!)

Should i have to put up with this pain every month or should i push for a second opinion?

bumping for you

that much pain needs a diagnosis...aswell as allthe other horrendous prbolems...i'd ;ush for a second opinion

FWIW.......i have had a mirena coil for 14 months now and am really pleased.....have barely any periods, no PMT and am grateful not to have to remember to take anything

what does he say it is? it is certainly not normal and clearly impacts on your life in a negative way. Don;t know much about endometriosis, but whatever the problem is, it needs sorting....

I have diagnosed severe endometriosis. I have had three major surgerire to treat it and have actually not been asked the sex questionapart from once. When being rushed to A & E after collapsing with pain and arriving in an ambulance the Doc asked me do you think the pain would be worse after having sex WTF! If i was capable of having sex do youthink i would be here!

On a serious note I would try to get a gynae referral and then speak to the specialist regarding your options.

I think you should try and get a second opinion. The only way to say for sure if someone has endometriosis is through a laparoscopy. Some people can have severe endo with not much pain and others can have terrible pain and endo thats not too bad. I have suffered for years with this condition and it took a very long time to get it diagnosed so dont be fobbed off. No woman should have to suffer pain like that every month. The very best of luck to you. x

Totally agree Lulumama (thanks Mummynetter) - but i have a male gynae and when i told him about the negative things about the Mirena that i'd read on MN, he just scoffed. The results seem about 50/50 for and against, but i'm not good with the pill so can only presume that i wouldn't be great on the coil and not sure i want to have it incase my moods are worse!

It really does impact on mine and my son's life, it has become a bit of a joke at work as i have to warn them when i am due incase i do anything out of character! I turn into a total flake and the anger is awful, such rages.

He won't give me a name for it but i suggested it only when the symptoms seemed to fit what i was going through.

push for laparoscopy - i had the same, but pain with sex, but no endometriosis... you won't have all symptoms, I think yours are enough to require further investigation I think. Although my gynae suggested hysterectomy as an option aswell (I was 18 at the time!)

Really? 18???? WTF! I thought 41 was ridiculous, but 18!

Thanks for your messages, i am gonna push for a second opinion but cannot go through the gynae. He really is a gruff bloke and as far as he's concerned, besides being anaemic, i am fine.

At one point i was having homeopathic treatment from GOSH for suspected M.E. and he just laughed and called it all ridiculous.

Don't have much faith in him or my doctor.

I defo think you should have a second opinion - could you go private? Have they ruled out fibroids?

I did ask him about fibroids too but he doesn't seem keen to give it a name/diagnosis. Can't really afford to go private at the moment but certainly a thought.

He suggested that if i get pregnant, then it may help with the severity of my periods afterwards(it only worked for a few months after my first child), and for a few months i considered this - not because he suggested it obviously, but the thought of missing 9-10 periods sounds like heaven at the moment!

Sorry i'm a bit late on adding to this thread.But i just wanted to let you know.I have v similar periods to yourself..ridiculous levels pain,clots,restricted movements,turning into a dragon etc.I had a laparoscopy at 25 and they couldnt find anything.But i was still in lots of pain..so i asked to see another gyno..went on different set of medication and they sent me for another laparoscopy 2 yrs later and i was diagnosed with endometritus.(can never bloody spell it!)i'm 34 now.. 2 children down the line and now i suffer from Anemia and take iron through the heaviness.You should go and check with your doctor as you may need an iron boost from what you are losing.This will make you feel a bit better in itself.The pill does not agree with me so they have prescibed me something which helps with the clots and the muscle contractions.Deffo ask to see another consultant..you should not have to put up with feeling so horrible 2 weeks out of the month.It is far too consuming.I think they offer a hysterectomy a bit too easily.I have been offered one 3 times my first at 21!..you just need to find some medication that makes it manageable.Hope you get it sorted x

I suffer from endometriosis too and it took 6 years to diagnose - I was in agony the whole time - unfortunately it is one of the most miss diagnosed diseases that women suffer from.
I would definately push for a second opinion - I have seen many gyne's who tried to fob me off saying it was just bad period pains (despite me fainting and not being able to walk everytime i got my period), and it was only because I kept on fighting for an answer that i ended up with a brilliant gyne who discovered it through a laproscopy - even though i had already had 2 and been told that I didnt have endometriosis.

Let us know how you get on.

That's NOT true at all, Chocol8 - I had severe endometriosis and no pain during sex whatsoever.

Definitely get a second opinion.

Did you have a scan to see whether they could see fibroids. Do you get ovulation pains - I have suffered with these (and they are excruciating I am doubled up) since my 20's now mid 40s).

I too have been anaemic due to heavy periods but I def have fibroids. All is now relatively under control after going through a very difficult time- sounds weird but during my period I cut out all caffeine (and get a headache!) and alcohol as this makes the bleeding/clotting much worse. I have also had homeopathic treatment and this has helped enormously. Plus a recent convert to a mooncup which I think reduced the flow.

I have been offered a hysterectomy but declined because I am scared that this will bring a whole host of other problems. Also tried tranexamic acid but I felt that this gave me worse problems. Didn't fancy the Mirena but I have a friend who really likes it.

I would seek a second opinion - if you are in/near London there is a clinic for period problems run at the Hospital of St John and Elizabeth in St John's Wood. They are private but think they are a charitable foundation so might not be as expensive as others.

Hope this helps. My periods have always been troublesom but since birth of DS 2 they have been something else!

Chocol8

Think I would return to the GP and ask for a referral to another gynae. Your current gynae's knowledge is not up to date and is spouting crap basically.

Would also suggest you look at www.endo.org.uk (would recommend this particular website to all women with endometriosis) as this is very helpful.

Ooh, lovely thanks so much for all that information - and just in time too...i'm due next week (supposedly) but it could be any time now.

I am behaving like a troll bitch from hell and i am a complete liability at work (open mouth, insert foot job)! My boobs have looked like Jordan's for the last week and are very, very painful.

I will look into the website and hospital in St John's Wood as i am only about 30 miles away from there.

I have been anaemic for over 20 years and take 3 iron supplements a day, I have drunk decaf tea and coffee for about 15 years and am veggie (anaemic!) and don't (except very recently) had alcohol for probably getting on a year now.

Agree that i defo do not want a hysterectomy but will push for a second opinion. Thanks for reviving my thread Jellobean and for all the info - i knew i could rely on my fellow MNers.