Management of symptoms?

[Student_2324]

Hi,

I’m wondering how everyone else controls their symptoms?

Doctors have prescribed me naproxen to take when I’m on my periods, but I’m finding I’m using this more often alongside paracetamol while I’m still waiting for an ultrasound. I often use cyclzine too for nausea.

When I’m due to ovulate I feel nauseous, get shooting pains and occasionally go dizzy- I had to leave work for this the other day.

When I’m on my period naproxen and paracetamol and heat patches/water bottles barely touch sides.

My stomach on the right side is constantly tender and has been for the past year now, I’m just wanting some advice please and if anyone else can suggest anything?

[Koryu]

Hey there,

First of all: I am sorry for the pain you are in. It bloody sucks and I wish there was more they could offer us all by now.

I hope you are taking something to protect your stomach along naproxen? It did my stomach lining in because my GP forgot to do so. I have a sensitive stomach anyway, but better safe than sorry.

In terms of pain relief: By the end they gave me a higher dose co-codamol as naproxen just wasn't cutting it and also it gave me stomach inflammation. I didn't find a way round the dizziness and shooting pains (I am pregnant atm, hence currently past tense), I am sorry.

You might want to get a referral to an endo specialist to have an ultrasound done and check the right side.

For me, I found acupuncture really helped. If I went the day the period started or the day before it could vastly reduce the pain and the seizing up of my abdominal muscles (I can't walk for up to three days sometimes as everything contracts so hard from the pain). I had never done acupuncture before and hadn't really bought into it, so who knew? I hear a chiropracter can also help by seeing if your pelvis is well aligned or you can increase blood flow with exercises etc., but not tried that and this is something I only read about recently.

Other than that I found going to a good dietician did help, you can get referred by the NHS. I went to Dian Shepperson Mills who wrote a good book on it too. She helped me balance my vitamins and minerals out which sorted some of the other symptoms and alleviated the fatigue and weakness in my immune system some. I also dropped eating meat unless organic and found out I am intolerant to cow's milk (that was not fun), though gluten didn't seem to make a difference. Those are things I'd do with a dietician though so you feel safe and in control of the experimental process.

Hope you find what works for you. Much strength your way.

[Moon_maiden in reply to Koryu]

Congratulations, hope everything is going well.

[Koryu in reply to Moon_maiden]

Thank you! So far so good. Considering all it took to get here I am incredibly grateful. Even as I am terrified about not knowing how it will all work out after, but there we are. Small steps.

[Moon_maiden in reply to Koryu]

Have you got support from the gynae team and at home?

Small steps definitely best and not overdoing things 🙂

[Koryu in reply to Moon_maiden]

Not heard from my gynae team, they are a bit overwhelmed with current patients. Though I want to email the specialist nurse and find out what the plan should be for after to start with. At home my husband is looking to use leave to support me for longer at the start in case I do end up in agony after labour, the rest we will all just have to see with covid etc.

Thank you for asking.

[Student_2324 in reply to Koryu]

Hi and congratulations! No they haven’t put me on anything to protect my stomach I need to ring up tomorrow, the person who prescribed it me wasn’t my normal gp, I had telephone appointment with a gynaecologist in May, he wants to send for my ultrasound and made me aware of the possibility of having laparoscopic surgery. I’ve heard a lot about diet so I might give it a go! Thank you! X

[Koryu in reply to Student_2324]

Hey and thank you. Hope you get some support from the GP then. You can get over the counter stuff, but I used Lansoprazole well with the Naproxen. See what they say.

Supporting yourself with diet is always useful. All the very best, keep us in the loop for how you get on.

[Student_2324 in reply to Koryu]

Thank you, I rang them today they’re increasing my naproxen but giving me stomach protection to see how I get on with that.

I wish you all the best with your pregnancy and hope you get the support you need!

[Koryu in reply to Student_2324]

Thank you, all the best for you too and yay for more help and hopefully more helpful meds.

[Mrsburgie]

I second the point about the nutritionist - I found doctors were only really interested if there was something ‘mechanical’ they could do e.g. remove a cyst in a laparoscopy etc. When I started on a gluten free/ dairy free diet it made a big difference to me personally for ongoing maintenance and management of symptoms.

[Moon_maiden]

If your pain isn’t going you do need to go back to GP. Have you had a referral to a gynaecologist?

[Student_2324 in reply to Moon_maiden]

I think I’m gonna have to, I was on the mini pill for contraception but I’m preparing for family of possible so I don’t really want to be on it anymore which is not helpful pain wise. The gynaecologist I had a phone call with said he would send me for an ultrasound but I’ve had no confirmation letter yet.

[Moon_maiden in reply to Student_2324]

Depending on when you spoke to gynae, you may need to chase it. Ultrasound won’t rule out Endometriosis, but can other things.

[Student_2324 in reply to Moon_maiden]

I spoke to them in May but I’ve rang my go today they said they’re gonna chase it for me and hopefully get sorted soon

[Gingernut74]

Hi,

Perhaps you may need something bit stronger like tramadol, or even Orimorph when things unbearable & you just at home & haven’t got to drive anywhere or function properly 🤦‍♀️, it does help - I tried some reflexology & reiki just before the two painful stages of my cycle is this actually helped tremendously 👌, worth a try & less drugs to keep taking.

Good luck & hope you get some relief soon from this awful debilitating condition.

X