Managing pain until laporoscopy?

[louise05]

Hello,

I don't know for sure if I have endometreosis, but this is what the doctor suspects. I have been trying to get to the bottom of sharp pains in pelvis, bleeding and pain during and after intercourse, since about October. NHS gave me the same swabs almost four times and a rejected smear test from lab, antibiotics and no progress. Eventually went private and had a scan which was normal, but consultant suspects endometreosis. I came off the pill and started the injection a couple of months before, pain is a lot worse and extremely debilitating - it is suspected contraceptive pill was masking symtpoms. Has no got to the point where inserting a tampon is painful. Also rectal bleeding. I have a date for a laporoscopy which isn't for another 10 weeks, I am trying to find a way to manage the pain as it has suddenly become so extreme - in either side of groin, varies from cramping to sharp burning pain. If anyone has any advice it'd be wonderful - I don't know for sure if I have the condition but not sure where to turn for now. GP has advised pain relief only option at this point and compared to living like someone with arthiritis - you can only manage the pain. Thank you

[merlin19]

I'm in a similar situation and probably can't be as helpful as some of the more experienced people on here, but what have you tried so far? I struggle with using things like ibuprofen so have been recommended paracetamol and codeine, which you can get over the counter, or as higher dosage from GP. I don't know what you have to do day to day but I do find that simple things like a hot water bottle is quite soothing, doesn't take the pain away but can dull it somewhat, and I think it's that the heat can relax the surrounding area which can help to ease things. I'm in a fairly new job now so a bit uncomfortable with it so far, but at my last place I would have a hot water bottle and cushions on the go when it was bad (but not bad enough to be off work) and that gave me some amount of comfort. I am on the pill at the moment and think it is masking things as now and again the real bad pain with come through and I'm constantly in discomfort that's like really deep pain without feeling all the pain, hard to describe! Anyway, it's good you've got a date set and I hope it all goes well for you, and I'm sure some others on here will be able to give you some better pain relief advice!

[_Tamsin_]

Sorry to hear you are struggling so much with the pain, I understand how exhausting and draining it is! I'm currently taking a mixture of paracetamol, naproxen (stronger version if ibuprofen) and tramadol. The 3 of those together with the help of a TENS machine or a hot water bottle helps me. Anything much less than that doesn't touch the pain on a bad day. Good to hear you have a date for your lap, hopefully the next 10 weeks will move quite quickly for you X

[louise05]

Hello - thank your for your replies. So far I have tried paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine phosphate 15mg and a hot water bottle to help me drift off! I'm going back to the docs to ask for something stronger tomorrow because it's doing nothing, although I'm really reluctant to take crazy strong stuff and mess up my liver, but I don't think I have a choice now because it is just so debilitating. When I went to get the codeine on Friday I saw a different GP from my usual and she wanted to do an examination to see what she thought, she thinks I should have antibiotics but I've already had some when they thought it was pelvic inflammatory disease and I really don't want to put my body through anti bios again. She suspects the pain is adhesions and scar tissue and not necessarily endomtreosis - but now I'm confused because I thought they were all related?! No one seems to know lot about it. Tamsin, does the tramadol knock you out? The main thing I want to acheive is be numb from the pain but still be able to concentrate as I have quite a demanding job and I really don't want to have to be signed off until I have my lap!! Thank you everyone for any help x