My period makes me want to kill myself

[KevinTheDinosaur]

Hello
I realise I'm not exactly your average MN poster, but here we go.
I'm a 14 year old girl who's been having my period since I was 12. It started off alright, but soon after my cycle settled down I started getting period pains, mood swings, the standard. Soon after I turned 13, I had a period where I started TMI alert projectile vomitting and suffering from diarrhoea, culminating in me fainting and having to go to hospital, where I was diagnosed with dysmenorrhea.

Since then, I've been having tranexemic acid for the blood loss, mefenamic acid for the pain, and cyclizene for the nausea. Luckily, I haven't experienced a period that bad since then, apart from fainting in school a few times from blood loss and pain.

My problem is that now, my period seems to be having an effect on my mental health, as well as my physical.

The seven days I have my period, despite the medication and the aid of Buscopan, paracetamol, and ibuprofen, I am always in intense pain. On days two and three I cannot get out of bed without collapsing on my bedroom floor, even though my bleeding is about average, I get through a pack of pads per period. After my period finishes, I get a couple of days pain free, then I start getting pain above my hips, on either side, for about 5 days. Then for about another 5 days I get cramps, shaking hands, headaches, etc. Then, for 2 or 3 days, I'll get crippling pain, where I'll have to get by on paracetamol and buscopan. My eczema also flares up horrendously these days, resulting in bleeding and weeping. My mental health also becomes less than ideal. I cry at the smallest of things, and begin contemplating suicide. It's not even big things which set me off, just little things, and I end up sitting in lessons thinking that if I jumped out of the classroom window, my classmates would probably have a party. I haven't actually tried to commit suicide, I've only got as far as finding out how many pills of my other medicines I would need to take to kill myself. Then, the next day, 2 weeks after the first period, I'll start again.

I suppose I'm asking, what techniques do you have for dealing with the effect of your period on your health, and would you mind sharing them with me, so I can take back control of my life from my period?

Thank you for reading this, and I'm really sorry for the essay.

I wasn't as bad as you but had horrible periods, depressed episodes and days of vomiting as a teen. Going on the pill was my life saver. When I came off it in my twenties it wasn't as bad anymore. Apparantly as a teen the body does more of a gynealogical clear out of bad eggs which can make your periods worse than later on in life. So ask your GP about the pill and don't worry when you want to come off it later in your life.

The only thing that slightly helped (but not enough) with the vomiting was eating very light, and no sugar, just before my period.

There is no reason to suffer so much so get some medical help.

Oops just read your update. Would the jab be a possibility? Most peoples periods stop when on the jab.

Hello, I've just been to the Drs, and after a long discussion, he's said that his only suggestion is to take the mini pill and hope for the best

Well, at least it's a solution, and he's said if I do have an allergic reaction I can just take the much stronger antihistamines he's given me.

And he's also given me some sort of 'cleaner' codeine, to kill the pain.

I've started magnesium tablets, as my mum took me to a homeopathic doctor, but I've honestly seen no difference.

Thank you all for your help!

(Also, can I ask an annoying question- what are the most common side effects of the mini pill? I want to be emotionally prepared.)

I assume this thread is just full of tumbleweeds now, but I genuinely need advice please!!
I started the mini pill on Sunday, and this past week has been absolutely horrific. I’ve had cramps and the weird thing which happens before migraines all week, I’ve felt nauseous almost constantly, and my god I’m so hungry I want to devour everything in a 10 mild radius.

However, my issue lies with something else. The above I can deal with, but not so much the other problems I’m having. Firstly, the dizziness. It comes on at different points in the day, and it gets so bad I think I will faint. It then takes about half an hour to stop, but by that point I’ve missed half the lesson! It has happened every day this week, and that saline has added up to about 2.5 lessons I’ve missed. (That’s a tenth of my weekly timetable!!)

Additionally, the worst thing by far is the crippling pain. It comes on randomly, and I was on a school trip on Monday to a theatre to watch a performance related to our English texts, and it started then. I felt so bad I nearly fainted, then I nearly vomited, and I couldn’t even focus on the play. It was literally gut wrenching pain, and I understand I’m probably being melodramatic, but I really thought in that moment I would die from the pain. The next day I had to take a day off school, as I could barely get up. The pain had spread over my legs and lower back as well as my whole stomach (the same places I get my period pains). The pain began at 6pm and continued until 12pm on Tuesday. The pain came back again yesterday in a lesson, and it caused me to collapse. I went back to the medical room for the second time in the day, and was sent home. I actually had a slight breakdown about how bad the pain was while I was in there, and I’m quite embarrassed about it . It’s only the second time in 5 years I’ve cried at school, and now school know a lot more about my periods than I’d like them too.

The pain started at 12:30pm yesterday, and is still happening. It’s slowing down a bit now, but it is far, far worse than the period pain I get and it just keeps spreading. With my ‘normal’ periods, I’ve only had this pain once before, when I was 12.

My question is, what can I do now? Please give me some advice, I’m avsoluteky desperate for someone to say something other than “you need to look after yourself” or “you’re not well love”. As nice as they are, it really, really doesn’t help me at all, and I just cry.

Apologies for the awful grammar/punctuation/general coherence of the precious post, I just want to get it all down before I cry

Bump for literally any advice please.

I see you are young, but have you discussed the possibility if having the coil fitted by your doctor?
My friend hasn't had a period for many years since getting it fitted but she gets it checked regularly.

Also have you considered a TENS machine for the pain which radiates to your legs?

Hi, we haven’t spoken about the coil, no.

And I have tried a TENS machine, but sadly it didn’t help.

Thank you for a response!

I don't have any advise as such except I suffer from endometriosis and I get the waves of pain you described. It's like someone is pushing a knife into me and twisting it. It's pain I have to breathe through.. I've been told that the only way to stop this is to prevent my body having a period and preparing itself for pregnancy.. so the mirena coil, pill or implant. Could the implant be a possibility for you?
I've had it twice before and it's been fine..
I hope you can get this sorted and you start to feel better

Hi kevin,

I've not read the whole thread but are you under a gynaecologist? Feeding you up on synthetic hormones can actually exacerbate the issue if you're progesterone intolerant. Few GPs will have the first idea of where to start with this, and even with gynae you'd need to find a consultant that specialises in PMDD.

Sorry, just read back and seen your gynae experience. Look up Professor Studd who specialises in this area. There are other specialists around the country, the London clinic may help you find someone if they are not accessible to you.

(Yes, that's really his name! )

OP - read the post above by Limited on Prof Studd.....his background and treatments have been extremely controversial.

DSD suffered terribly with her periods - not as bad as yourself, but terrible cramps, nausea, headaches, mood swings that frequently kept her off school . There was no magic bullet.

Upshot is she and her Mum kept going back and forth (again and again and again) to different GP’s and consultants and tried a number of versions of the pill until she eventually found one that alleviated her symptoms.

It was a hugely frustrating time and so annoying that the impact to her life was so significant but “diminished” as “normal” by so many healthcare professionals.

So all I can suggest is to keep going back to the doctor as many times as it takes. Be persistent. The pill may not be the answer for you, but also remember that if one doesn’t work it doesn’t mean another wont work either. Go back to the GP and press for a different pill. Keep going back until you get this resolved.

It’s not normal and needs to be treated effectively.

Goodness this is an awful lot for you to cope with you poor thing. I think you just have to be doggedly determined and keep going back to the GP.

If you are anywhere near Guildford and your parents are willing/ able to pay, there is a specialist Hormone Clinic there. They deal with women of all ages. It's called the Surrey Park Clinic.

Hello petal,
So sorry to hear you're still struggling.. Keep bugging the doctors until they sort you out!
Good luck, and remember, all of us on here are behind you

Not had time to read whole thread... Sorry.

Can you copy and paste and print off what you have written here in your op and take it to your GP (or a different GP if your current one is not helpful), take an adult along with you, and push for a referral to gynae. This has been going on long enough!

I suffer pain (endometriosis) and anxiety which is cyclical and associated with my menstrual cycle. The fact that you can see that your mental health is directly related to your periods is brilliant (took me to my late 20s to see what is now clearly an obvious pattern).

Use this to help you rationalise your thoughts when your are having a bad day. If you are having negative or anxious thoughts, firmly tell you self it is the "stupid" hormones and not 'you' making you think like that, if your feeling a bit paranoid and thinking others think poorly of you, than rationalise this rather than letting those thoughts escalate.

Also look at things that make your mental health worse in the days in your cycle when you are low or anxious, and try to avoid them. For me caffeine escalates my anxiety further (so I cut it out), I also try not to make important decisions in the week before/of my period, most things can wait, and I try and let issues that are annoying me go during this time. If it is still a problem after my period then i deal with it then.

You poor thing. This is awful and so like my daughter's experience.

Go to Prof. Studd's website as advised by pp, useful info there.

PM me if you feel the need as can give you useful advice.

Please let somebody know how you are feeling.

I wonder if it is worth asking g your Dr about having a mirena coil fitted ? Many woman have this to stop heavy periods and often they get no periods at all. Your age may mean this isn't possible and insertion is uncomfortable but could possibly be done with general anaesthetic.

I hope they find a solution for you.

You must make people aware of how you feel so as to keep yourself safe.

I vomited a lot as a teen when on my period. It was so bad that sometimes I couldn't drink water the first day. Not eating for 2-3 days was normal for me. The normal pill (so not mini) made me feel pretty allright. Still a bit crampy and amotional but I could deal with that. So you might want to switch pills if this one won't work for you.

Hello Kevin, what an awful time you are having. The symptoms you describe seem a lot like progesterone intolerance - I saw the effect it had on my daughter. She describes it as being like poison. Her GP prescribed it in good faith as a treatment for PMDD. (It's the main component of the mini pill.)
It was that experience that sent her to see Prof Studd privately. Others on here are critical of him but in her words "he gave me my life back".
So I'm not in the least bit hesitant in directing you to his website:
www.studd.co.uk
You seem like a remarkably articulate and intelligent young woman and one who should do exceptionally well academically. I so hope that you find relief from what is a widespread condition that is so poorly treated for many women, and fulfil your potential.

Hi everyone,
To everyone who has recommended Dr Studd, thank you, but he seems to only do private consultations, which I know my parents can not afford. Also, I live in Birmingham, and probably would not be able to travel that far.

I think I will go to the GP tomorrow, as I have reread the leaflet and done some reading on the Internet, and this type of pain does not seem normal.

I think I will make a list and ask them about PMDD, the possibility of having progesterone intolerance, alternatives to the Destrogel pill I am having at the moment, including the mirena.

In the meantime, does anyone have any advice as to what I can do to avoid the side effects of this minipill?

Thank you!

An alternative is noriday as a minipill or long term norethisterone for days 5-25 (ish) of your cycle

See if you can get referred to Nick Panay's clinic at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/womens-health-services/gynaecology-services/menopause-and-pms-clinics/our-team

If you request a referral, your GP should facilitate it. A fast journey from Brum on the train.

And avoid any progesterone, including the Mirena coil, which isn't suitable for someone of your age who hasn't given birth anyway.

I had the Mirena pre giving birth, it was excellent. Yes it hurt being put in but OP you are in so much pain anyway, it won't be worse than that. It is progesterone based though. But a much lower dose, as it works locally and doesn't need to circulate around your whole system. It did give me spotting for months which Was just annoying, and cystic acne on my back, but that was treatable. And barely any period pain, barely any period, barely any PMS.

What was the reasoning against the combined pill again?

Sorry it's all so awful :(