Confused and feeling very alone...

[millyvanilla13]

Hi, I really need some advice please.

I can imagine there are several posts similar to mine, people asking what others think of their symptoms so I apologise for the repetition.

Here is my story...

Since the birth of my second daughter in early September last year I have been struggling with severe period pain and heavy bleeding. My periods started about 5-6 weeks after Millie was born and were heavy but i put this down to major labour complications (I had to have an emergency C-section as baby was in distress and the docs found a uterine rupture) and assumed they would settle. They didn't.

Every month now I am crippled with severe pain in my lower abdomen, with the pain generating mainly from my left side. I describe it as like someone squeezing my ovary. It lasts for 2-3 days at the start of my cycle and I can't walk or move at all. It completely wipes me out. I bleed very heavily now too.

I also suffer with an immense 'pressure' lower down and struggle to go to the loo, even just for a wee (sorry!!) as I feel like i'm going to give birth. I end up hovering on the seat, crying my eyes out. I bloat really badly too, so much so that it is unbearable. I can't sit comfortably and I look 8 months pregnant.

Sex is also really painful, especially beforehand as my insides seem to clench really tightly and it really hurts - not really what you want before sex. I bleed 9 times out of 10 afterwards too.

Some other symptoms that i'm not sure are relevant include nausea - 4-5 days before I'm due on a feel really sick before bed and sometimes the only way to make myself feel better is to force myself to be sick. I am constantly tired despite a healthy diet and regular exercise and at least 8 hours sleep. I am prone to bladder infections too. This could be totally unrelated but worth a mention.

I have put up with the pain since the beginning of November last year in the hope it was my body going back to normal but it is getting worse. Docs have prescribed Mefamanic Acid which takes the edge off but the pain is still really bad. I've also had an ultrasound as they wanted to see if my uterus had gone back into place. It came back clear so doc said I should be reassured and leave it at that but I have a niggling feeling that something isn't right.

I came out of the doctors this morning, after being forced there by my worried husband, feeling ashamed because the doctor told me he doesn't think its anything. Although he has referred me I feel embarrassed to waste another doctor's time if it really is nothing but I don't know what to do.

I keep a diary of the pain / my cycle / symptoms etc but can't help feeling like I'm being fobbed off and that its simply 'part of being a woman' and I should just deal.

I need some advice. From what i've described above does anyone think there is more going on? Is it all in my head? Have I made it out to be worse than it is?

Help.

H x

[millyvanilla13]

Preston, Lancashire x

[millyvanilla13]

Thank you for this information. I will read your posts and make sure I know as much as possible, particularly my rights to opt straight for a laparoscopy. I am awaiting a Gynae referral but I am interested in a private consultation as the Doctor this morning has left me feeling very unsure. x

[Hidden]

FWIW I had a very similar response from my GP when I was trying to get diagnosed. I had all sorts of bowel symptoms plus my periods were very difficult, long, heavy, painful. He initially did a few basic blood tests for bowel disease (coeliacs etc) and when those came back normal told me it was IBS, even though I was bleeding from the bowel. He told me my period problems were menopause despite the fact that I was only 37. My initial ultrasound was clear but this doesn't mean anything either - a standard ultrasound carried out by a sonographer won't find endo. It can be seen on a high res machine if you are scanned by a doc who knows what they are looking for but only when the nodules are over 1cm in diameter.

Please don't let the fact that he's been dismissive stop you from seeking further treatment. The way you feel ISN'T normal, even if it's not endo, it could be something else. Far too many GP's are clueless when it comes to this disease and basically just tell us to go away. I felt exactly as you describe - like a bit of an idiot. Don't feel like so much of one now, I can tell you that much, as it turned out that I have severe endo plus endo in the bowel plus adenomyosis.

Keep pushing for answers. Good luck.