Increasingly bad hormonal symptoms and pain

[Star348]

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone has experienced any symptoms like this... I'm really struggling. Sorry if this turns out long.

When I was a teenager I had severe period pain so bad I would have to be off school and would throw up. I used to just have to lie in bed and try to sleep the pain off. No painkillers helped not even prescription ones for period pain (think was mefenamic acid). Eventually I went on the combined pill age 16 and this made things much better (less pain and lighter periods). I stayed on the pill until I was 27 and then immediately got pregnant with my daughter (didn't even have a period).

After she was born, my periods returned within 2 months and things were largely ok for 1.5 years (until summer '22). I had one day where I would have quite bad cramps but other than that things were fine - didn't suffer from bad pms or have major issues at other times in my cycle.

Then suddenly I noticed a shift about last autumn so just over a year ago where I noticed my mood was deteriorating but also that I was getting increasingly bad pre period cramps, bloating and general tummy pain. Fast forward to now and I'm experiencing crippling symptoms at ovulation (cramping, tummy upset, nausea, depression etc) and then experiencing tummy pain and cramps on and off for up to 10 days before my period. I've ended up in A&E today as the pain was so bad. They just said I need a referral to gynaecology and I've been given codeine.

I just wondered if anyone else has experienced anything like this and what it turned out to be or whether I'm just unlucky with these pains.

Thanks

How old are you? Are you heading into peri menopause territory?

Endometriosis? Worth getting checked.

@DustyLee123 I'm 31

@vipersnest1 I seem to get dismissed because my actual periods aren't too bad.

That sounds awfully like endometriosis to me. Any pain that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked to see if this is present. You need a gynae referral and if you can pay to see such a person for an initial consultation do so. I suggest going private because waiting times for gynaecology are miles long in many areas.

Ultrasound scans and blood tests do not usually detect endometriosis if it is present, it’s usually diagnosed via a laparoscopy which is keyhole surgery.

@AttilaTheMeerkat thanks for your reply. Can it still be endo even if your periods aren't really heavy and painful? I quite often have one day where the pain can be quite bad but then it's usually ok. It's just all this pain at ovulation and building up to my period. I was in terrible pain again earlier and it's 6/7 days before my period. It's eased off now though 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes in answer to your question.

I'm now wondering if I have pmdd as I'm also experiencing awful mood symptoms as well as physical. Or could it be both endo and severe pms? The last few days have been terrible, awful rage and suicidal thoughts :( has anyone else felt like this? I'm going back on the pill next week, will this help?

Hi I know this is an old thread but I’m having the exact same symptoms. I’m 36, was there an eventual outcome with yours?