Heavy painful periods... no diagnosis yet!

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Thanks everyone for the tips!
I’ve found that heat so showers and hot water bottles definitely help a lot.
Not sure if this helps anyone else, but when I go on vacation near the sea and I go swimming I find that my pain is at ease!
My only issue is that if I do workout I get pain. So. I’m gonna have to find a way around it.

thank you again it means everything to me! xx
 
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Yes, just last year, hot baths were the only thing that helped me.

- heat pads and hot water bottles too
- tiger balm helped A LOT.
- I bought specific pain for period pain which did help a bit.
- I cut back on red meat as I read that can make inflammation worse.
interesting i avoided citrus/oranges etc
 
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For short-term pain relief, I take two ibuprofen AND one paracetamol together, before any pain kicks in (or as soon as I feel a slight twinge) and then keep up the dose every 3 hours or so until it subsides. Probably not ideal but it works if I’m in dire straights.
 
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You need a laparoscopy. When I was at uni my horrible GP agreed to send me for one to rule it out so I stopped coming in complaining. I was 21 and I had it. I was told to get on and have kids now if i wanted any. I was in my second year of my degree and single so no! I got pregnant as soon as I started trying age 33. Very lucky.

It’s a long story as most people with endo have but the best treatment I’ve had was having it cut and lasered out by an endo specialist gynaecologist. It still came back though. I’m old enough to have a hysterectomy now. Just need to pluck up the courage to go for it! Please go back to the doctors and ask to be referred for a lap.
 
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You need a laparoscopy. When I was at uni my horrible GP agreed to send me for one to rule it out so I stopped coming in complaining. I was 21 and I had it. I was told to get on and have kids now if i wanted any. I was in my second year of my degree and single so no! I got pregnant as soon as I started trying age 33. Very lucky.

It’s a long story as most people with endo have but the best treatment I’ve had was having it cut and lasered out by an endo specialist gynaecologist. It still came back though. I’m old enough to have a hysterectomy now. Just need to pluck up the courage to go for it! Please go back to the doctors and ask to be referred for a lap.
Wow, I honestly didn't know I could request for one? I thought I just had to do what I was told.
So sorry for everything that happened, but happy it finally got diagnosed.
 
Wow, I honestly didn't know I could request for one? I thought I just had to do what I was told.
So sorry for everything that happened, but happy it finally got diagnosed.
Ask for a referral to an Endometriosis specialist. You will not want to just see a general gyne as many aren't trained in Endo so can miss it during laps - have read countless stories of women who have had lap with a general gyne and told nothing is there to then go to a specialist actually be riddled with Endo.

With it being NHS, you will likely have to be very firm and pushy. Be prepared for that and stand your ground.

If the doctor says "wait til you have kids" or "getting pregnant can help", they are talking absolute bullshit. But some say it to fob patients off or because they don't know what they are talking about. 1. 50% of women with Endo struggle to get pregnant. And 2. Pregnancy can make the symptoms worse.

Good luck.
 
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Ask for a referral to an Endometriosis specialist. You will not want to just see a general gyne as many aren't trained in Endo so can miss it during laps - have read countless stories of women who have had lap with a general gyne and told nothing is there to then go to a specialist actually be riddled with Endo.

With it being NHS, you will likely have to be very firm and pushy. Be prepared for that and stand your ground.

If the doctor says "wait til you have kids" or "getting pregnant can help", they are talking absolute bullshit. But some say it to fob patients off or because they don't know what they are talking about. 1. 50% of women with Endo struggle to get pregnant. And 2. Pregnancy can make the symptoms worse.

Good luck.
can confirm that was the case for me
 
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So glad to have found this thread, maybe someone can relate to me because I feel so lost. Typing this at 2am because I can't sleep from the excruciating pain I've been in all afternoon and more so tonight. I've basically lay in bed the whole night crying, wishing it would go away.

My periods for years and years have been irregular but for the last year especially my periods have been either non existent for months or when I'm on that's me for a good 6-12 weeks at a time with maybe only a couple of weeks break before it starts again.

I have to be prepared with sanitary lads all the time "just in case" as I never know when it could start again.

I often get period cramps but I've never had it on this level before, to the point it's making me feel nauseous and doubled over, barely able to say a sentence fully because of the pain. Even the trusty hot water bottle isn't helping.

I had never considered endometriosis as a possibility and I'm still not sure even now if that's perhaps what it could be but having read this thread from the start I see similarities with my experience.

I know you aren't doctors and I'm not looking for a diagnosis obviously perhaps just a bit of advice if anyone has any. This last year has been hell but I kept thinking, it will stop or it will get into a routine again or even this may be normal for other women so just get on with it but now I'm at the point where I feel this isn't normal.

Sorry for the biggest ramble ever x
 
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So sorry that you are struggling and hope that from all the advice and info on this group you will be able to get some support from your GP.

I find Doctors an absolute nightmare, I struggle with my periods. I only ever have blood when I go to the toilet :rolleyes:, I’ve stopped wearing anything but when out and about, I’ll wear a pad but it will be clear until I go to the loo and then it’s insane. It is so weird as sometimes, you know when you can feel something (sorry if TMI) so I’m like ok this could be normal this time..... nothing but I deffo felt something. It’s so odd. My GP just says it’s the pill and I shouldn’t be worried but it does worry me but not getting anywhere. Anyone else have a toilet only period 🙈

I really hope you get sorted soon ❤ xx
 
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So glad to have found this thread, maybe someone can relate to me because I feel so lost. Typing this at 2am because I can't sleep from the excruciating pain I've been in all afternoon and more so tonight. I've basically lay in bed the whole night crying, wishing it would go away.

My periods for years and years have been irregular but for the last year especially my periods have been either non existent for months or when I'm on that's me for a good 6-12 weeks at a time with maybe only a couple of weeks break before it starts again.

I have to be prepared with sanitary lads all the time "just in case" as I never know when it could start again.

I often get period cramps but I've never had it on this level before, to the point it's making me feel nauseous and doubled over, barely able to say a sentence fully because of the pain. Even the trusty hot water bottle isn't helping.

I had never considered endometriosis as a possibility and I'm still not sure even now if that's perhaps what it could be but having read this thread from the start I see similarities with my experience.

I know you aren't doctors and I'm not looking for a diagnosis obviously perhaps just a bit of advice if anyone has any. This last year has been hell but I kept thinking, it will stop or it will get into a routine again or even this may be normal for other women so just get on with it but now I'm at the point where I feel this isn't normal.

Sorry for the biggest ramble ever x
I obvs havent been diagnosed and I am still trying too but from everything I have read on Endometriosis there could be a possibility that it could be that. I am so sorry and I have also been in your position, with the amount of pain not being able to sleep, and I am constantly wearing a pad as I'm afraid I'll just start randomly.

Please seek a doctor, my grandmother once told me that a period is not meant to be extremely painful to the point where you cannot move, that you cry from pain, etc.

Feel free to chat in this thread, I'll always reply if you need anyone for support!
 
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I obvs havent been diagnosed and I am still trying too but from everything I have read on Endometriosis there could be a possibility that it could be that. I am so sorry and I have also been in your position, with the amount of pain not being able to sleep, and I am constantly wearing a pad as I'm afraid I'll just start randomly.

Please seek a doctor, my grandmother once told me that a period is not meant to be extremely painful to the point where you cannot move, that you cry from pain, etc.

Feel free to chat in this thread, I'll always reply if you need anyone for support!

Thank you! I'm hoping that I'll see some improvement when I come off birth control. Trying to get a doctor to investigate female health and pain is an impossible task at times 🤦🏼‍♀️
 
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Thank you! I'm hoping that I'll see some improvement when I come off birth control. Trying to get a doctor to investigate female health and pain is an impossible task at times 🤦🏼‍♀️
it really is. atm im waiting for a vaginal swab test as they want to do that before doing scans again. (makes no sense really), did you find that birth control helped with the pain?

it helped with mine, and made my periods less heavy, but it also ended up giving me random periods again. and didnt get rid of the pain completely. i dont know whether i should go off the pill again.
 
it really is. atm im waiting for a vaginal swab test as they want to do that before doing scans again. (makes no sense really), did you find that birth control helped with the pain?

it helped with mine, and made my periods less heavy, but it also ended up giving me random periods again. and didnt get rid of the pain completely. i dont know whether i should go off the pill again.
I've got the implant and I think it's probably that which is screwing my periods up and have done for a long time. If things continue to be all over the place once the implant is out then I'll know that it's to do with me rather than an effect of the implant. Then I can push The GP if I know that it's my body seeing as I wouldn't be on BC.

I hope you get your tests done soon so you can get some answers. Xx
 
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Hi, I experienced all this with periods since 2006 when I was 17. I dreaded each month, I was so ill with sickness and the pain. Hot and cold sweats, lying shaking in dizzy nausea, sometimes passing out. Tried Mefenamic Acid - useless.
Glory, it makes me feel panicked thinking back to it. My doctor told me to get on with it - “some women just have bad periods”. Me thinking - “hmm yeah I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be feeling like I’m about to die.” All my friends agreed that my symptoms were not normal.
I ended up taking matters into my own hands and found a fertility clinic that practiced Maya Massage (I was pretty sure I had endometriosis by this point). I had 3 months of Maya Massage, once and twice a week, combined with some acupuncture. It changed my life. Helped my insides dispel A LOT of clotted material during periods, as they advised it would. Actually, my first period after starting treatment, I did not even realise it had arrived, I felt no symptoms. Wonderful.
Back in October there, I had my first baby, which also appears to have worked well for my system as my periods are very tolerable - no nausea or cramping pain (I was worried they might return badly), although the flow is extremely heavy. Sorry if this is TMI!
Basically I just wanted to let you know that Maya Massage changed my life! It was private, so cost about £600 for 3 months, but it was worth it. Had I had endless money I would have kept going, but had to call time on it!
I wish you all the best!
Thank you so much for that advice. I think thats exactly what i need. I'm 42 and 3 years ago i had my fourth child i have always had heavy periods but since having my daughter they are agony.
Really sorry to overshare information but i feel like every time i'm discharging blood clots/tissue and yet i get the feeling of being full to burst pelvic pain and never feeling completely empty.
Its really getting me down as i'm a busy mother but i cannot function and am bed ridden.
Basically i feel like i need to let go of something (internal pain past trauma sexual abuse) also surgery related pain i.e keloid scarring from a c section and a previous tummy tuck and i have been told i have adenomyosis so to be honest my life is blighted by pelvic/uterine pain.
So my heart goes out to all of you because its just a nightmare really but having said that i'm into holistic medicine so having read all the posts on here i'm definately going to try kundalini yoga again for example because i do feel like it eases the pain.
Also this massage sounds great and once lockdown has finished i'm definitely going to investigate because i'm sick of a life ruled by pain and also not having any pleasure as a woman?
Period pain hits us in our most personal space as a women but because its internal most doctors don't show much interest in investigating (its a mystery) and also woman are almost conditioned to accept pain as if its our natural lot in life?
It takes a lot out of us having to challenge this assumption but i've reached the point where enough is enough so i'm going to take matters into my own hands and try to find a life that is not dominated by suffering.
I hope i find my way i hope we all do. ❤
 
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Same here! The only things that have come up in my blood tests over the years are b12 and folate deficiency. The symptoms do go away on regular b12 injections but they stopped them during covid so I have really heavy periods again. I can't take any hormonal contraceptives as I just bleed consistently on them. I also had a dermoid cyst show up in a scan a couple of years ago but they said it was fine to leave and I never heard anything else. Currently trying for a baby and there's a part of me thinking it might not happen.
 
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Hi, I’ve never posted here before and I don’t think I have endometriosis but I couldn’t find a thread for period pain so I thought I’d ask my question here. I’m now 19 and have been having really heavy and painful periods since I was 11. They’re also really irregular, I often miss months (which is probably why they’re so heavy) but I think it might be becoming more regular know I’m an adult and have stopped growing. I’m on my period right now and had mild cramps this morning so took Mefenamic acid around 3 hours ago but now the cramps are worse. When I went to the doctor before I sat my GCSEs, because I didn’t want to be in pain during exams, that’s what she prescribed me but it doesn’t seem to help. I don’t know if this is just something I’m going to have to suck up or whether there’s an actual way I can stop being in so much pain. So far I’ve never had my period at a really inconvenient time, like on an exam day and I do have university interviews soon so I guess I’m lucky it’ll be over by then, but one day it’s probably going to happen isn’t it? I don’t if this is the right thread but if you can I’d really appreciate any advice anyone could offer.
 
hi everyone, i'm not even sure if anyone else reads this thread! but i remember posting about how i was unsure whether i had endometriosis or not... well i was 19 at the time and i've recently turned 21! and i am still waiting for my diagnosis.

there has been some improvements, i have been referred to a gynaecologist again, which i saw and she gave me the option to have a laparoscopy or not (i said yes) so i am now on the waiting list for that.. it has already been a year, she said it could take up to 3 years. i was on the pill, but came off it a year ago as i just found that it did nothing and i hated the way it affected my mental health.

the one thing that i have noticed is that my pain seems to be better? it's kinda made me doubt my own worries about endo. but i don't know if its because i have gotten a little older, my body is changing, and i am so used to the pain that it's now a little more bearable. my only issue is that i have had to quit so many jobs because of my pain.. i take 2/3 days off each month because the pain is so bad. another + is that i now have a partner, which i have been with for nearly a year and they are so supportive and helpful when it gets to my pain, i think that's also made me feel more comfortable. i do find that my period/possible endo pain gets worse if i am feeling stressed or anxious.

pain still don't do anything, hot water bottles and heat pads are the ones for me!

hope everyone who is reading or is struggling with bad periods is feeling ok x
 
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