Is this normal? Really bad pain!!'

[lamby12]

Just wondered if anyone could help reassure me by saying they've had this and it's ok....

I'm only 4.5 weeks, the last few days the mild cramps I'd been having have turned into really really painful contraction type pains. I've had two previous miscarriages so I'm really nervy - no bleeding at all at this stage.

I can only describe it as really bad period pain or almost like an intense contraction (I have given birth once!) but whereas a contraction is generally across the back this is like right low down at the front pelvis/almost in my vagina it's so low.

When it comes on really bad like this evening I could only curl up and rock. But then it goes again, like a contraction...! It's that painful that if I didn't know it was going to pass I'd be at A&E. It's been each evening on and off for a few hours and I've been 100% fine through the day.

I'm going to call the doctors tomorrow, but in the meantime... Someone tell me this is sort of normal?! I feel like I'm just waiting for a miscarriage now.

I think you should call 111 this evening to eliminate an ectopic pregnancy. It could also be a UTI or even just ‘normal’ pregnancy stretching pains, but I think they say severe pain in pregnancy should always be checked out. Hope everything feels better soon.

Agree with the above. Call 111.

Thanks for your reply @Gunpowder however I know they won't scan this early, the EPAU don't see you until 6 weeks. I think 111 will just suggest A&E and I don't think they can do anything at this stage can they?

I might be wrong, but the last thing I want is to sit in A&E all night... X

I had this. It was so painful I’d be sick. Epu said it was normal. I had a healthy full term baby but it was horrendous. It lasted a few weeks. I had an early scan as I was worried it was ectopic though x

Thank you @WhoAreYah that has reassured me somewhat. I should say to those that said call 111 I'm not dismissing your advice but it has totally gone off now. I've been fine all day and one fine now - it's like in waves. That's why I feel it can wait until morning, hopefully I don't get it in the night, I haven't this far.

I should say I have bowel endometriosis so I'm wondering if things moving around are causing it. I will push for a scan as early as they allow.

I went private as epu weren’t interested. The midwife said it was constipation. It wasn’t. I’d be asleep and it would wake me up. Her advice was to take paracetamol but it would go off as quickly as it came. It was as you describe - a wave of pain. I couldn’t even stand up straight.

I would call epu though as you may have someone more open minded. The pains didn’t last past 6 weeks, my scan was 6+4 I think. It was put down to stretching.

Endometriosis does sound like it could cause some problems.

Thanks @WhoAreYah I am only 4.5 weeks at the moment. I have a private scan booked for 6 weeks (next Friday) but I don't think anywhere (EPU or private) will scan until then. Which is why I don't think anyone will really do anything at this stage?!

I'll speak to the doctor tomorrow, maybe get them to check for a UTI just in case (but no symptoms when weeing). X

That’s when mine started too. Yeah they wouldn’t scan before 6 weeks for me but they may do bloods? An ectopic can show apparently in blood tests x

@WhoAreYah ah ok thank you. This will be a long week or two then! This week is the same week in terms of far along that I had my miscarriage last time so I'm feeling extra nervy.

I will make sure the doctor doesn't fob me off and will ask about bloods too. X

Good luck with the doctor tomorrow. If it helps, I had really bad pain with DC1. Lying on the bathroom floor in agony type pain. Got referred to the EPU by GP when I was around 5 weeks in case it was ectopic but couldn’t see anything on the scan. A week later all was fine with scan and pains subsided after a couple of weeks. Never found out what it was, thought maybe trapped wind

So could be nothing but also could be something so do speak to GP and if pain is unmanageable then consider A&E.

Thank you @Aozora13 reassuring again to know it wasn't anything serious. It sort of feels a bit like trapped wind but it's much much lower, not in my tummy, it's in my pelvis/vagina. And I don't have wind or any sort of tummy trouble at the moment. I really hope like you it turns out to be nothing. X

Will keep everything crossed for you x

I had this, I found heat really helped. I could just about text DH to bring me a hot water bottle and that was about all I could manage when the pain struck, it was definitely just the first trimester, I think it was between about 5 and 10 weeks but th EPAU did a telephone check and as long as I wasn't bleeding they weren't concerned. It was awful. I'm now 32 weeks though and not had to deal with it for months!

Hello, I am 7 weeks and I have had the same issue as you, since 3.5 weeks. Just cramping coming and going and constipation pretty bad. I find mine is mostly at night when I am in bed, I am so unconfortable! I told midwife on Friday and she said as long as no bleeding to just take paracetamol. Have an early scan booked for tomorrow... just want to see if everything alright in there!

Hope you get your answers soon!!

Hi @PlanBea & @TalulaBella thank you for replying. I am feeling slightly more relaxed about it now because I have had it for 4-5 days now and no bleeding so it seems to be just pain.

I can't believe how bad it is though?! I am really constipated today and have bad cramps, but nothing like last nights 'contractions' type pain. Will see what the doctors say today though I expect a similar response.

Thank you for your replies. X

@lamby12 it is probably a mix of uterus pain and constipation to be honest. I'm not used to being this constipated, this is my second pregnancy and didn't have this with my first baby. But it is my only symptom now so!

Fingers crossed

@lamby12 bowels have a lot to answer for! My pain wasn’t in my tummy either but much lower down - genuinely thought I was miscarrying. But was worse after eating a lot and found that laying with my legs up and rubbing my tummy helped which is why I thought it might be wind! EPU were v chilled - my bloods were fine and the 2nd scan was fine so they just shrugged and said dunno, pregnancy innit (or words to that effect...)

Best of luck, it’s such an anxious time.

Thank you @TalulaBella and @Aozora13 yes bowels definitely have a lot to answer for! I have bowel endometriosis which flares up a bit like IBS on my period but never constipated, always the other way!

Just updating for anyone who finds this thread with the same problem, I spoke to the doctor who tested for a UTI which was clear.
The doctor wasn't overly concerned said he has heard this very bad pain coming and going in waves from other patients - though it's not most it's also not totally uncommon. They believe it's early stretching for which the pain can be exacerbated with endometriosis as things stretch and potentially bother endo scarring. As long as the pain wasn't one sided (it's not) and just comes and goes he said try not worry in the absence of any bleeding. Just paracetamol and mild heat.

Thanks for the replies ladies, fingers crossed it improves soon! X