severe period pain - any help / advice

[AmberM223]

Hey all, for context i’m 28, 1 child who’s 2. Had bad periods for as long as i can remember - when i say bad my pains are horrific. And now i have given birth i can quite honestly say they are nearly just as painful as having contractions, but i don’t have the pleasure of them coming and going - just contatant horrific pain for hours on end. My theighs go numb, i feel faint and sick and i’m writhing around on the floor screaming.

I am not on any contraception as i was on the pill from about 15-22 years of age and it wasn’t good for me, i have also tried the patch. I don’t want to go on any (as that’s what the doc suggests to just stop them - becuse i don’t want to mess with my hormones and just generally don’t want anything in my body) I also do want another baby.

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows of anything (tablet wise / herbal / ANYTHING) that helps them with period pains like these??? I know nothing will take them away but just willing to try anything that may help ease. I currently take panadol period pain tablets alongside high strength ibuprofen - doesn’t touch the sides!

Sorry it’s long winded but hopefully someone will relate!!

Have you had any investigation to see if there is reaon for them being so painful? I was the same when younger and so is DD and afraid the only thing that helped is contraception.

There are lower hormonal options, like the coil which is more local so a much lower dose.

The only other thing I can suggest is have you tried a menstrual cup? Because oddly enough I found using one reduce the pain I got with my periods and a lot of women seem to find this. So maybe worth trying. I was happy using just this for a number of years until my periods became worse again pre menopause.

Snap snap snap!

I was diagnosed with Menhorrighia (heavy bleeding) ane Dismenohria (painful periods) when Inwas 13. I been on all sorts of medicines and have seen many OBGYNs had ultrasounds. They suspected it have endometriosis but without elective Op to investigate they couldn't know. I refuse to have the Op and so sufferer in silence.
Mine got better when I was breast feeding DC1. But a month after I stopped it came back with a vengeance.

I do use a menstrual cup and it is full after 1.5hours. So it is very heavy flow. I don't think it helps very much with pain relief but much more comfortable in terms of collecring heavy flow and not sitting in it on a pad and not leakage at night. ( I do have to wake up to emoty it at least once a night)

Evening primrose oil
Red raspberry leaf tea
Apparently if you start having these at least a week before your due your period it can help reduce the pain and you continue to take during your period.
Tens machine ( I have bad back period cramps and I also had bad back labour)

I am going to be using these once my period resumes I had DC2 this month and will nurse until past 20months.

MixedCouple2

You were told two medical terms; not a diagnosis when you were 13. Please do not continue to suffer in silence!. Endometriosis can and does also cause heavy bleeding to arise.

Are you American; I ask only as you write ob/gyn which is not used often in the UK. Ultrasound scans do not detect endometriosis if it is present as the endo deposits are so very small. I can personally attest to this having had more internal ultrasounds than I care to mention; none of them showed the vast amount of endometriosis present.

May I ask why you refused an op?. Its usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. I would push for further investigation and see a gynaecologist.

AmberM223 · Today 07:41
Hey all, for context i’m 28, 1 child who’s 2. Had bad periods for as long as i can remember - when i say bad my pains are horrific. And now i have given birth i can quite honestly say they are nearly just as painful as having contractions, but i don’t have the pleasure of them coming and going - just contatant horrific pain for hours on end. My theighs go numb, i feel faint and sick and i’m writhing around on the floor screaming.

I am not on any contraception as i was on the pill from about 15-22 years of age and it wasn’t good for me, i have also tried the patch. I don’t want to go on any (as that’s what the doc suggests to just stop them - becuse i don’t want to mess with my hormones and just generally don’t want anything in my body) I also do want another baby.

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows of anything (tablet wise / herbal / ANYTHING) that helps them with period pains like these??? I know nothing will take them away but just willing to try anything that may help ease. I currently take panadol period pain tablets alongside high strength ibuprofen - doesn’t touch the sides!

I winced in recognition when I read your post as I had exactly the same.
I would put a crisp fiver on it that endometriosis is the root cause of your painful periods; has no-one ever mentioned the word endometriosis to you to date?.

I found that painkillers taken in the day leading up to menses and hot water bottles helped a little sometimes but often I had to ride it out as the pain sometimes seemed to have no middle or end.

Endometriosis if it is present can interfere with trying to conceive so I would seek medical help from a gynae sooner rather than later. If finances permit I would contact a Spire or Bupa private hospital in your area and see if you can see a gynae for an initial consultation. I suggest that too as waiting lists for gynaecology in many areas are miles long.

Push for investigations with your GP as well; none of this is normal and its something you should not have to merely put up with. Do not be fobbed off here; you will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

Endometriosis UK is a useful website, link here
What is endometriosis? | Endometriosis UK (endometriosis-uk.org)

Are you in the UK? Nurofen Plus is ibuprofen and codeine which I have to take for the first day or two of my period - it can be bought OTC. I can't manage with regular painkillers on those days.

I would just like to point out that despite having investigations, due to having had cysts. The consultant confirmed I don't have endometriosis/ fribriobes or anything else that would explain my painful periods. OK yes I've had two cysts removed and they caused pain and there is a possibility that I may get more in-between. But there isn't actually anything they can do about that other then put me on hormonal contraception.

I do think that my early teen painful periods where just that, painful periods. Without any cause, I don't know if there is a medical term for this. I didn't have problems with cysts until my late 20's.

I get mefanemic acid from the GP and it's the only thing that has helped (apart from codiene which I can't take because it makes me sleepy.) My cramps have been so bad at times they've been on par with contractions. Mefanemic acid has been a game-changer

Thank you everyone for your replies! I will 100% try the tea suggestions and also the other tablets with codine in them!

A doctor years ago once did mention Endo, however as i was young they said they were not willing to do the key hole surgery as it can affect fertility so told me it was best to wait until i had had all the kids i wanted? But since nothing has been mentioned and to be honest i haven’t been back for this specific issue for years, as you just assume you have to get on with it dont you! But it’s just debilitating- which sounds dramatic but it really is. My whole life has to stop while i have the pains and with a little boy it’s really hard! Thanks for all replying as i feel like i’m not the only one!
Also to note i have had ultrasounds for other stomach issues and no cysts / ulcers have been found so i can rule that out!

I have endo and these help massively. I don't know how but don't care
Not for sensitive skin

amzn.eu/d/53YWfLU

So there are painkillers that are often prescribed for period pain - mefenamic acid is one.

Evening primrose is supposed to help but I didn't find it helpful.

Because a lot of it is muscle cramps then a really high bath /hot water bottle will ease it to some extent.

@AttilaTheMeerkat thanks for your reaponse. I am from the UK.
I have seen many many Consultants over the years. And have been poked and prodded with no resolution other then them suggesting lapro.
I don't want the Op as it is surgery and not a garuntee that it will be endo. It carries risks like any other surgery. I also worked as a HCP. At the moment it doesn't affect my fertility so wish to complete my family before I consider it in the future. I am 37 so have dealt with it for a very long time alone.

My BIL is also an OBGYN so have picked his brain a lot about it.

I should add those patches I linked are what I use on top of paracetamol, mefanamic acid, dihydrocodeine and a plug in heat pad! Sometimes they work even when max pain relief doesn't

MixedCouple2

Frankly I think you’ve been badly let down over the years. No woman should have to put up with severe pain and heavy bleeding from her period.

If you are adament about no lap for now then I would suggest you have an MRI scan performed. It may give you some answers.

I had never had any form of surgery before and felt shocked when a lap op was suggested. And Yes I was scared stiff and all sorts went through my head. The fear was worse than the reality though. I had faith in this gynae and I needed to know precisely what was going on in my body. In my case my fertility was being affected. My painful and heavy bleeding periods were stopping me from becoming pregnant.

The cause of this needs to be determined as well as treating the symptoms.

So sorry you're having such a difficult time. I also suffer and trying to explain to people.. men AND women who don't experience period pain this bad is just impossible. Its a blight on a life. I used to miss so much school because if it and and it's affected exams, tests, holidays, everything important.

I'm 50 now. How i manage it is as follows:

Period tracking app to plan when I'm due and plan around it so i can have at least the first day of period at home.

Ibuprofen... take 3 x 200 mg before it starts... usually i can tell about 6 or so hours before due to dragging feeling in legs.. if i can take that combo in advance it really takes the edge off. If i miss the window it doesn't help until too late when I'm writhing on the floor

Multi packs of these www.boots.com/cura-heat-period-pain-10052030?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--LIAs---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_LIAs_Health&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlIG2BhC4ARIsADBgpVRszv_ep2GMUKq6utR1e1gqjnA4RNSUwUN7N6pFum3YhWpa2BXnPAUaAqYWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

which i stick to my tummy for the first few days of my period. The poundland version is good too.

Hot water bottle for front of body

Hot water bottle for small of back

Homeopathic remedy sabina 30c which whatever your thoughts about homeopathy has been life changing for me. I take it hourly for the first day.

Avoid dairy as it makes my systems much much worse

Rest as much as possible

Hot hot bath

I did once find an amazing natural heat patch in a chemist whilst caught short with awful pains near Paddington Station in London but I've never found it again!

I know you don't want to take the pill (neither did i) but I started it and I really regret not taking it years earlier. No periods. Doesn't seem to have affected me in any other way. Life changing.

i used to take tranexamic acid. I also found my pain was worse if I got stressed or drank alcohol in the run up to my period. Also gentle exercise and avoiding tampons helped. I now have a coil.

I took the pull from 15 till 25 for period pains but it made me really unwell mentally. Turns out I'm allergic to artificial progesterone so i feel it robbed me of my youth as i thought it was just me growing up that was like that not realising it was the hormones from the pill

I was the same, tried all the things mentioned on here, originally I was told when I had a baby it would help
.it didn't!! I was given different hormones, and contraceptive pills, nothing helped. Often bleeding 2/3, weeks each month. Then a d and c, and laparoscopy, not endo, but fibroids. Used to take Feminax tablets in the 90s, then they removed the ingredient that worked. What helped me in the end,a course of acupuncture!