Period pain

[Ilovewheelychairs]

I've recently come off Cerazette in order to ttc so have been experiencing all the joys of period pain again! I had forgotten how disabling it is; at the moment I'm taking 800mg of ibuprofen and 1000mg paracetamol (4 tablets of ibuprofen and 2 of paracetamol) every 4 hours and this just about takes the edge off enough to be able to work, but I'm spending 2/3 days a month in constant pain and feeling sick. Prior to Cerazette I was prescribed Mefenamic Acid which worked better (although didn't get rid of it completely). I can't take codeine because it gives me horrendous stomach cramps and projectile vomit.

Anyway, we've just moved to a new surgery (relocated 150 miles away). I rang and asked them to please represcribe me the Mefenamic Acid because I'm in so much pain. They refused without me going for an appointment and told me I need a 20 minute appointment. The first of which is in 6 weeks time. I literally sobbed down the phone at them and they said there was nothing they could do, and that 'although it's painful it's not life threatening' so I'd just have to cope with it :-( They then suggested that if I was in that much pain I should go to an OOH doctor and get something prescribed there. Which is a total waste of their time and I'd be taking up an appointment that should be used for an emergency! They've also said that because my blood pressure is 'the high side of normal' (but still within normal range) they won't prescribe naproxen anyway, so as I can't take codeine there's only a limited amount they can do.

Is there anything non codeine based that is stronger than ibuprofen and paracetamol that I can buy over the counter? I'm desperate now!! I'd use Pushdoctor but can't really afford the £30 for an appointment plus whatever it costs for the meds at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

Hopeful bump!

Has a cause ever been found for your painful periods? It sounds like it hey he endometriosis which you should push to see a specialist for. While it can only he diagnosed with surgery fertility increases just after the op.

In the meantime are you helped by heat? A stick on heatpad may help.

Thanks for replying! Heat doesn't make much difference unfortunately. Have never had my pain investigated as it's always been the same, and has only ever been the first couple of days of my period, never at any other time. I know I'll be fine today for example as it's now day 4. I know endometriosis causes pain but I thought this was generally throughout your period and sometimes at other times as well?

Your severe period pain should be investigated much further than it has been to date. It should not be like this at all and painkillers do not always work long term. It is certainly in your interests to find out what the cause is alongside treating the symptoms. BTW what you have been prescribed to date is often given to many who are eventually diagnosed with endometriosis.

Endometriosis may well also interfere with ttc so this is another reason for your period pains properly being investigated. Cyclical pain like you describe could well mean that endometriosis is the cause. The pains varied somewhat but I remember vividly that it was particularly bad the first day or two of my period and that rarely varied.

I would keep a daily pain and symptom diary particularly if you do not do this already and insist on being referred to a gynaecologist. If this GP surgery cannot see you for another 6 weeks (and that is appalling in its own right) is there another practice you can register at instead?

This is also a good website:-

www.endometriosis-uk.org/

Thanks so much. I hadn't ever considered endometriosis because literally the only symptoms I have are pain for the first 2 days of my period. Nothing else. Maybe that's why they want to investigate fully.

The 6 week wait is because the doctor has said I need a 20 minute (so double) appointment, and there isn't the possibility of that for that long. I guess I could just take a regular 10 minute appointment and get the talk started, but don't think that's fair for anyone else as it sounds like it will likely overrun.

Re ttc, I suspect my BMI will affect fertility at the moment more than anything (v high but desperately trying to get it down). I'm already 34 though so didn't want to leave it longer than that to start trying. At least then we can have tests after the first year and any weight I've lost up til then will help. Annoyingly I lost weight SO much more easily on the pill; I gain about 10lbs in water before every period and often only lose weight 1 week in 4 when I'm not on the pill :-(

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