Apologies for the long post.
I started my period when I was about 13. And immediately started suffering. I would be in agony for 8 days, feeling nauseous and bleeding heavily. I thought this was normal and my mum told me that it was just periods. End of.
Then I started getting really bad stabbing/burning pains on either side of my pelvis or across it. I couldn't stand up, it made me want to throw up everywhere. Again I was told it was just periods.
One morning I got out of bed and collapsed in pain and was off school that day.
A week later on remembrance Sunday I was just about to March with the army cadets when I started getting that pain. Next thing I knew I was on the floor writhing in agony surrounded by people. An ambulance was called and I was given oxygen as apparently my lips were going blue.
I was taken to the local community hospital where they said it was probably an ovarian cyst and referred me to get an ultrasound. My mum still thought I was overreacting.
I had that ultrasound, which showed nothing, so they suggested the cyst burst.
That was it until I was 17. I lived with the pain, the heavy, irregular periods, the nausea, the tiredness, the bad back.
It got to a point where I was in pain every day. I ended up seeing my GP begging for another ultrasound, something wasn't right. Reluctantly he referred me again.
This time I had an internal examination aswell. Still nothing.
At my follow up appointment the GP suggested i had a hormonal imbalance and put me on the microgynon contraceptive pill.
I still suffered with the pain when the periods arrived every three weeks. And was constantly tired and at one point was prescribed iron supplements as they found that I had very mild anemia.
Eventually I changed pills as I was experiencing bad migraines. The pain came back.
So I insisted on another scan. Which again showed nothing.
Then I went on the implant. I still suffer every now and again. The pain just hits me like a jolt.
Recently I was asked whether I thought I had endometriosis. After looking up the symptoms....even the odd ones such as sugar cravings, bad skin, tired eyes everything was put together like a jigsaw.
It also answers some questions. I've always had a weak bladder. Some days I need to go every ten minutes, sometimes I'm desperate but cannot go.
Sex used to be very painful but now just aches.
So I bit the bullet and went to my new GP. She referred me for another ultrasound then if that shows nothing I'll be referred to a gynaecologist.
I need answers.