Am I the only one that gets really bad period pain?

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That's a shame. It really isn't that bad, honest, you're asleep too. You might be a little uncomfortable afterwards, but it's OK. Have you had an ultrasound scan? If you have any cysts, they would show up with that.

The last one I had was years ago when I was 17. The guy said that the only thing he saw was a lot of fluid, which he speculated was probably from a burst cyst. He also said something to the effect that I was a "regular egg factory", so I guess I don't have to worry about lack of eggs being a fertility problem.

The thought of being asleep makes it sound worse!
I absolutely hate gynecological exams. The feeling is sooooo uncomfortable and the tools hurt and it hurts when they do the swabbing. I don't know how to describe it well but it feels like someone is trying to pull my guts out or something.

Do you think it would be a bad decision to just take a bunch of ibuprofen and just bring on the hell once a month? Other than the mind-altering pain, do you think it would really cause that much harm to let it go for a while?

This isn't a practical solution at the moment, but you mentioned that it got better after you had a child. Is that the norm? I haven't looked it up. I will have to ask my mom since we share a lot of the same female issues. I had hopes of being ready to try for a child within the next year or two but I decided to go change my major to biochemistry and I'm nearly starting all over with school, so I don't know how viable it would be to raise a child and go to school right now.

It really has to be your decision. I suppose in days gone by, women had these problems and never had them investigated. They never had good over the counter painkillers either, so we're much better off than them. But, although it's not malignant, it can spread to other parts of the body. I'm pretty certain I had some in my nose, as I used to get small amounts of blood from there, just before my period started. This wasn't a problem, but spread can cause major problems for some people, especially if the bowel is affected. I've spoken to two women who had to have emergency surgery because of that. I'm not trying to scare you, you do want to know if it's OK just to leave it and I'd be lying if I said there were no risks.

As for pregnancy, yes it does seem to halt it, in most women. I'm fine now. I had a few years of really heavy periods, but that was unrelated to the endo - not sure of the cause, probably more age related than anything. I'm taking turmeric now, which has solved it, for now. Getting pregnant in the first place is the biggie, not that everyone with endo has fertility problems (sometimes it's only discovered during a c-section). In my case, we got married when I was 21, we waited until I was 24 to start trying, but I was 32 before I got pregnant. At the hospital, I was treated as someone with an unknown cause of infertility. Although I had a dagnosis of endo, I had no adhesions and no other physical reasons as to why I was unable to conceive. This happens with endo. Why it causes infertility is not completely understood.

Good luck, whatever you decide x

I had my period at age 12...the pain really hurts until my mum gave advice to me to reduce my ice drink
Apparently it helps and i did control few months without ice-cream, cold-drinks and anything cold stuff

The pain reduce as time goes, but i love cold stuff and just take it occasionally. Thank god, the pain now i got during my menstrual on first day is still bearable.

Mines terrible and heavy too. I had the mirena coil fitted to help which working for 3 months then it went back to the normal way

I can actually will my period pain away.

Always had it. I don't have endometriosis either. When I first started them I was in such pain I used to punch myself in the stomach and want to die. People say it gets easier after you've had children, it didn't in my case. I used to throw up with it sometimes too. A hot water bottle on the belly and painkillers and laying down are all that I've been able to do every time, can't walk around with it, it's so debilitating.

I have wondered whether this is connected with the sensory side of things of AS, because I also have interoception (awareness of inner organs) as well as lots of other sensory issues.

I'm not trying to diagnose you across the internet, but are you certain you don't have endometriosis? I had a laparoscopy in my mid 20s and was told there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. Astonishingly, I was told that I should lose some weight, even though I was wearing UK size 10. I had another lap a few years later, at a different hospital, and endo was diagnosed. I've no doubt I had it at the time of the first lap and for many years prior to that too.

Had posted this question on a thread before I read yours I have suffered for years with heavy periods, pelvic pain etc been dx with IBS and gastritis for 20yrs, now I have to have a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy hope I have a positive out come.

[Mod. edit: link to earlier post on endometriosis: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt205843.html ]

Well I don't appear to have any of the symptoms of endometriosis. The pain is only in the place it should be, if that makes sense. Having just looked on http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/informa ... tisit.html , I have had 2 children so I don't have conceiving problems. I would have thought as the womb tissue grows outside of the womb it would generate pain in those areas?

I'm glad you're happy that you don't need any investigations and also that you've not had any fertility problems (although endometriosis doesn't always cause fertility issues). It's just that extremely painful periods are just not normal, no matter what anyone says. What you're describing sounds like how my periods were for many years (extreme pain, but in the right places), before I started getting pain elsewhere. This was a gradual progression and, for a long time, it just felt like the pain was radiating further. I hope your pain isn't anything more than unusually painful periods, but do seek help if it becomes unbearable. Best wishes.

I have 2 children but I have been dx with endometriosis just awaiting test to confirm but have all symptoms. The pain is unbearable at the moment even with strong painkillers hope to get a positive out come shortly.

Thanks. Just out of curiousity, how do they investigate endometriosis? What tests are involved? I have a half sister who was diagnosed with endometriosis in her 20s. Now you've got me thinking. Me and my 2 daughters are all going into the system for assessment for AS, I can't cope with anything else on top of this right now, but maybe when things have settled I can get checked.

Here is some information as I have only been recently dx I have been educating myself hope it is helpful whirling mind.


Symptoms of endometriosis can include any of the following:

- Painful periods (which persist even when on the Pill)
- Pain at ovulation time (mid-cycle) - Deep pain during and after intercourse
- Painful bowel motions (particularly at period time)
- Rectal (bowel) bleeding at period time
- Constipation or diarrhoea at period time
- Painful urination (particularly at period time)
- Many women also complain of general tiredness and pre-menstrual type symptom

REMEMBER: MANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS CAN OCCUR FOR OTHER REASONS, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS ~ ESPECIALLY IF IT IS JUST ONE SYMPTOM IN ISOLATION. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE CONCERNED.

Infertility
In women with fertility problems, endometriosis is found in approximately one third. Certainly severe endometriosis can lead to blocked fallopian tubes and ovarian cysts, both of which in turn can lead to infertility. However, while mild degrees of endometriosis are found in many women who have difficulty becoming pregnant, it has not yet been proven whether the endometriosis is actually the cause or not. There is currently a view that very mild forms of endometriosis may in fact be “normal” for some women.


· What should I do if I think I have Endometriosis?
If you feel you have symptoms suggestive of endometriosis, you should discuss them with your family doctor or GP. She or he will then refer you to a gynaecologist for assessment.

It may be useful to bring up the question of endometriosis with your doctor, particularly if other members of your family have endometriosis. At present, the only way to have endometriosis diagnosed is by having a minor surgical procedure called a laparoscopy. This is performed under general anaesthetic, and involves a laparoscope (telescope type instrument) being passed into the pelvic cavity, via the umbilicus.

In this way, the pelvis ~ including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries ~ can be visualised. Endometriosis can be seen as red, blue, black, yellow or white areas on the surface of these organs, or sometimes as scar tissue, or ovarian “chocolate” cysts.

· What does it mean for me if I have Endometriosis?

A lot of women may have endometriosis and never know about it because it doesn’t cause any problems.

Sometimes this type of endometriosis is diagnosed incidentally (during an operation or investigation for something else), and does not require any treatment.
Based on the amount and location of endometriosis seen during a laparoscopy, it is graded as minimal, mild, moderate or severe (stage I, II, III or IV). Some mild types of endometriosis may come and go over the years, and may never cause any significant problems. In more severe problems, the disease can behave in a more aggressive manner, and may spread to surrounding tissues, causing significant pain and infertility.

Although endometriosis is not a malignant condition, it can cause both physical and emotional suffering.
Unfortunately it is not possible at the time of laparoscopy which will progress and which will not.
In approximately one third of women it will improve without any treatment, in about a third there will be no change and in another third the disease may worsen.

Ah. Thank you for that information. Years ago I had a laparoscopy as I had an ovarian cyst that needed investigation. It turned out to be fluid filled and they burst it during the procedure. There was no mention of endometriosis made, I'm presuming that they would have a look around whilst undertaking the procedure to ensure that there was nothing else present. I am erring on the side of thinking I don't have it, even though I may not be able to rule it out totally.