Period pain/changes but all tests clear

[JoandMax]

Hi

My periods started to change around a year and a half ago - cycle down to 24 days, heavier and clots, more painful etc. I saw a doctor and had bloods, ultrasound and all was fine.

I'm now in agony each month, tmi but the pain in my bum is horrendous! It feels like I need to bare down and give birth! If I pass wind or a stool it eases slightly but comes back after a while. Only thing that helps is ibuprofen 800 and a hot bath. The pain is that bad I can throw up or feel like I'm about to pass out.........

I went back to gynae and they just gave me stronger pain relief and said as tests are fine it's 'just one of those things'. Surely though such a change isn't normal?! For 20 years my periods were fine, my last baby was 7 years ago so not hormones settling or anything and I'm dosed up on drugs for 5 days every 24 days!

Any ideas what could be causing this or anything else I can try? We're not in UK so I can go straight to gynae but they're hit and miss on how good they are.....

Do you mind me asking your age jo? I recently had a conversation with a friend who is 47 and she said since age 45 her cycle has gradually been getting shorter - from bang on 30 days down to only a 24 day cycle. Apparently its the first signs of peri-menopause.

I had horrendously heavy periods a few years back before having coil fitted (although the coil is a whole other thread!) and I remember being at my book group and the period was so heavy and cramping so bad I had an enormous amount of trapped wind (which obviously I couldn't release in front of everyone). I remember getting home at midnight to sit on the toilet and release the gas and I genuinely felt like I was about to give birth. That feeling in my bum like a head was crowning . I think the cramping can be so bad sometimes it affects your bowels, hence the wind.

Not sure if you can request a blood test for peri-menopause where you are?

Thanks Major - I'm only 36 so would be pretty early for peri menopause but will definitely check!!

We're in the Middle East (just moved to a new country 6 weeks ago) but they do fit could here so may see if that's an option if any tests come back clear still.

Yes totally agree on the wind felling like you're crowning!! I had that earlier and was sweating and panting like anything......

Aha yes, it does seem too early for peri then. I do think hormones start to go haywire mid-30's though, I was fine until I hit 35, then have had all sorts of mini medical / gynae issues ever since. Its either my age (now 38) or the third baby that finished me off .

It could be endometriosis. I have stage 4, and the bearing down/wind things you mention are really familiar to me. I've also thrown up due to the pain in the past. Could be worth a second opinion and mentioning endo.

No, its not just one of those things and you need to see a different gynae doctor now rather than just one who says its just one of those things (it is not) and gives you pain relief. They need to find the cause, not just treat the symptoms.

Pain that is cyclical in nature certainly should be investigated further to see if endometriosis is the cause.

I also thought of endometriosis being a real possibility here re the cause of your symptoms. It does fit with all that you describe. I would keep a daily pain and symptom diary if you do not already do this to show another gynaecologist. You will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

Blood tests and ultrasound scans do not readily detect endometriosis if it is there. The usual way it is diagnosed is through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy.

Thanks for the responses, I've been reading up about endometriosis and I think it's definitely something to investigate as a lot of the symptoms fit.......