Period cramp help!!!!

[Loz1412]

Hi all...bear with me as this is my first time posting, I will try to keep it quite short!
So I’m 22, and have been suffering with un manageable periods since about 15 years old. I have tried everything, microgynon, yasmin, the injection, the mini pill (cerazette) and most recently the mirena coil. All of these have had pros and cons. Some stopped my periods (no pain!) but my hormones were awful and I felt depressed on it. The pills are fine, I currently take yasmin, but once I get past the 3rd pack mark my body has breakthrough bleeding and I’m in pain without knowing it’s coming and I’m out of control. The coil was the worst mistake I ever made.
Along with the bad cramps and side effects of a period which I only EVER experienced during the pill break, more recently in the last year or so I’ve had issues between. I’m experiencing bloating, stomach pains down the left side, nausea etc. The doctor has been putting it down to IBS but I don’t believe this is the issue.
Roughly 3 weeks ago I had an investigative laparoscopy to see if there was any endometriosis (consultant expected there to be) or cysts etc. They found nothing in that area, all they found was my bowel had an adhesion attaching it to my umbilical port.
Now I haven’t been able to ask questions about what this is, what pain it was causing and so on. I know I’m still in recovery, however these last few days my pain in the left side has come back, and my bloating is back too. I must add I feel completely fine and like I never had surgery, healed very quick!
I was just wondering from other people’s experience, could the surgeon of missed anything? How much do they ACTUALLY look at? Was it a glance or did they find the adhesion, cut that then not do anything else because they thought that was all. I wish I could be awake so I knew exactly what they were looking at lol!
I’m worried because it was an ending specialist, this could’ve been missed. I’m worried I’m just going to have to deal with this pain forever. I’m just really stuck, no other family or friends have ever had anything similar which is why I’m on here!
PS sorry this is so long, thank you if you’ve read it all and replied!!!!!

Did you actually see an endometriosis specialist at a BSGE accredited Endometriosis centre?.

Its not beyond the realms of possibility that something fundamental was missed here with regards to endometriosis and that may have happened if this was just a diagnostic lap. BTW do you actually have a follow up appointment booked to discuss its findings or were you informed post surgery and or in the recovery room?. If that is the case I would make a formal complaint to the hospital via PALS.

It can sometimes present atypically too so you are likely to now need further lap type surgery. So sorry you're going through all this but its not in your head. You will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

Hi Atilla thanks for the reply. I didn’t see a specialist no. I was referred by my doctor to a gynaecologist consultant and went from there. I have recently seen about these centres, but I just feel like I’m going to waste their tike and feel embarrassed if I don’t actually have endo. Every doctor, nurse etc has made me feel like I’m over exaggerating and been told I’m just ‘unlucky’ and live with it!
I was told about 10 minutes after I came around and don’t remember any of it, and just received the letter to say what they found. I have phoned to get an appointment but I was discharged and argued with the secretary that I wanted an appointment. It’s like they didn’t find anything major so deal with it.
I’m just getting tired and down about going to the doctor god knows how many times over 6 years and always being pushed away with pain killers that don’t work.

@loz1412 I had identical issues and undergo surgery in last week of November. The pain you are feeling right now is normal after adhesion surgery, rest even if you think everything is fine and don't lift weight. You will slowly get better. By end of six weeks you will feel 90% alright. You might feel parasthesia pain now and then but mostly you will be alright.
The reason adhesion causes pain during periods specially if you have periods is because uterine contractions cause intestinal cramps too and since your bowel was attached to your omentum it wasn't free to spasm resulting in excessive pain. The pain you are having after surgery is the pain of the cuts caused by adhesion removal and also now your bowel is resuming its function properly which is also causing your bloating. Try to eat low fiber foods and increase your fiber intake slowly. Don't drink fizzy drink else it will hurt more . Also don't wear anything that is too restrictive on your abdomen.

You've been thoroughly let down and on top of that fobbed off. In your position, I would certainly complain to PALS about the overall standard of post operative care too. You should certainly not have been told about the ops findings 10 minutes afterwards!. Very poor practice on the part of the hospital.

Not all gynaes either are up to speed when it comes to endometriosis either and it can present atypically so you do need to see a specialist. You really do need to get referred into one of the BGSE centres I have advised you of; there are a number of them around now and there is likely to be one near you.

Re such places do not at all think you will be wasting their time, not a bit of it!. My family did not know what was wrong with me either and were clueless; when I got an endometriosis diagnosis I felt somewhat vindicated. I have had symptoms extremely similar to your own and in my case I was diagnosed with endometriosis. Keep seeking answers and do not give up!!!. Its not in your head and you owe it to yourself to keep pushing for answers!!!.