omg, severe crapm and shooting pains related to period last night(tmi)

[piratecat]

I have googled and it's called 'Proctalgia Fugax'.

The spasaming started when i went to the toilet and was waiting for a poo, you know just sat there thinking I need to go.

i vaguely remember the pain making me not able to contract my muscles to getoff loo, but i needed/had to get out of that position.

Whne the spasms started i thought rocking my pelvis might help, and breathing, but there wasn't much i could do. I was pretty shocked tbh, and at one point had to cry out and thought i was going to pass out, the pain was so bad. Didn't want to wake dd.

I have removed my mooncup as the thought of it makes me want to wince. Still got slight pains but they are prob more like tender afterpains/normal period pains.

i remember geting this when i was about 14 yrs old, and having to crawl down the landing to mum's room. i had cocyx probs then and they thought it was that. Seems it does have a name tho, so that's ok, and i was wonderingif anyone had had this.

Sorry to moan, but i am still in a bit of a daze!

of course it should say cramp, not crapm !!!

This sounds similar to what I feel when I go to the toilet. I have IBS so think it is related to that. And it does seem to do it when I am in my period too.

Me too Agony. Interesting there's a name for it...

Have any of you raised this with a gynaecologist? I just ask because rectal pain during your period is commonly caused by bowel endometriosis - it's one of the main symptoms, and anyone who has it should always be checked out. I don't think proctalgia fugax is normally specifically linked to menstruation? But maybe I'm wrong?

I had this for years, and that was what it was. It is very painful. But there are medications to keep it under control, so it's worth getting a diagnosis. Also worth it as it can worsen, and it's good to keep an eye on it.

Have a look at this link and see if the other symptoms look like you: www.endometriosis.org/symptoms.html

ooh replies, thankyou.

Hmm so is it endometriosis or pelvic floor pain. I did find an interesting link, which shows postings from women who seem to be describing similar,
many posts about pain

Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain of any sort - the two are not mutually exclusive. But for any pain that happens in conjunction with menstruation, endometriosis is the top suspect. It is really very common.

I've just looked at that link - thanks - and added my comment. I do find it interesting that a lot of the women on there have endometriosis, and are being told it's not linked. The problem is, endometriosis of any sort is hard to diagnose as it needs a laparoscopy. Deep rectovaginal endometriosis is even harder, because non-specialist gynaecologists often don't know to look for it. They see some small patches of endo through the laparoscope, and don't realise it's just the tip of the iceberg, there's much more underneath. So the woman gets a diagnosis of mild endo when she actually has it severely.

Hi piratecat,

I used to get very much as you described with the shooting rectal pains to boot - all of it was due to endometriosis. My problems with endo also started on beginning menses at 14.

Endometriosis as well is the second most common gynae condition diagnosed in women after fibroids. I for one think endo gets very much underdiagnosed partly because it can take a lap op to spot it. Even then not all gynaes are equally able when it comes to spotting such deposits as endo can come in many different forms.

Some women get diagnosed with IBS by their GP when infact they have endometriosis (as the deposits can also get onto the intestines). It is certainly in your interests to find a specialist gynae with an interest in endometriosis and your GP should refer you to such a person.

www.endo.org.uk is an informative website.

Big shout out to VA!!!.

hi, thanks again for replying. I will see if it happens again, that's all i can do for now i guess. I was very tender for 24 hours or so, not just in the regular period pains way. I wonder how many then, of those women who exp this do have endmetriosis, or just have spasms becuase of an unknown. I have only had this once so i will wait to see.

The only time I have had this (or what sounds very similar, like labour pain almost) was when I had a bowel infection.

I still occasionally have that aching feeling but thankfully have never experienced the spasm thing since.

It was v scary.

Interesting to read it could be caused by endo, will have a look...thanks.