Desperately need help/advice if possible!

[Demme]

I've always suffered from painful, heavy periods. So painful i'm violently sick and close to the point of passing out.

In the last year i've started bleeding between my periods and have been suffering with debilitating mental health problems whilst menstruating. I've had the mirena coil a few years back and it made me worse.

Recently had an ultrasound and internal scan but it all came back clear. Have been referred to see a gynaecologist

This may sound really drastic but i'm not sure if I can keep going until I see a specialist. I have an underactive thyroid and am on antidepressants.. I just don't know what to do or think anymore.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Moon_maiden]

Hi, I hope you’re feeling a bit better. If your hormones are out of sync this will effect how you feel. Thyroid is part of this process as well.

Mine were appalling last year, GP gave desogestrel which helped. I’ve been on Zoladex which helped as well, but after finishing couple months back, I’m taking the desogestrel again. I could feel it creeping back last week, pesky things 😂

It’s worth having a chat with GP about better pain management. Pain specialist suggested amitriptyline for nerve pain, also take Oramorph or Tramadol.

Don’t be disappointed in the ultrasound, unless the person looking at it is experienced with endo it won’t show, but rules out other things. The referral is a good thing and hopefully won’t take long.

Explain to GP how you feel, ask if they can check on the referral.

[Demme in reply to Moon_maiden]

Thank you for your response 🙂

I had my bloods checked a month ago and apparently they came back fine. Calling my GP this morning, hopefully will get some sense from them.

It's the emotional/psychological impact of my periods that are taking its toll on me.

I'm going to ask about going on the pill.. I don't know if that will help.

Definitely will ask them to check about the referral👍

Thank you x

[Moon_maiden in reply to Demme]

Let us know how you get on 🙂.

I’m sure it’ll go well with GP, but just in case you may have to dig deep to not let them avoid a response re referral, they can ask questions through the system. I’ve learnt a lot this year 😂

[Demme in reply to Moon_maiden]

Just spoke to one of the doctors at my surgery. She's increasing my sertraline and is prescribing me diazepam? My BMI is too high for the combined pill.

If the increase in sertraline and taking diazepam don't work then she'll look at antipsychotics.. none of this is sounding good to me.

She just said it'll take a few more months to see a gynaecologist.

Really confused tbh.

[Moon_maiden in reply to Demme]

Why anti psychotics? They tried to palm antidepressants on me last year. I only take the amitriptyline because the pain consultant suggested it. It is also antidepressant, but not on the strength I’m taking

[Demme in reply to Moon_maiden]

Not sure why any of it tbh. My moods and anxiety worsen before and on my period to the point were I could inflict harm.. I'm ashamed to write that but it's a symptom I'm experiencing.

Thank you for messaging me. I find it all very confusing and worrying.

[Moon_maiden in reply to Demme]

Don’t be ashamed, this process isn’t kind to our bodies. Have you explained this to the GP? It’s a really important part of what you are going through. I don’t know enough about antidepressants apart from I knew half way through last year I began to suss it might be hormones. I knew it was still physical all year, felt fobbed off lots of times. They can work as muscle relaxants some of the time.

Would you feel strong enough to talk to GP if you haven’t discussed the whys and what’s expected, etc?

I completely understand where you are coming from, it is hard and confusing at times. You seem to be thinking logically though.

I always hate suggesting this as we shouldn’t have to, could you afford to see a consultant initially? I’ve done this and then had option of NHS for lap.

[Noodle1984]

I’m so sorry you’re struggling. It isn’t easy to be sick (I have 17 chronic illnesses, including mental health). The only thing you can do is choose how you react to the situation. It isn’t easy getting up every day knowing you’re going to be sick but try and find the good things. For me I do a lot of art, it’s my therapy and it allows me to sell on the side to feel productive and useful. Find something you can focus on that gives you happy feelings.

A few things you can do for your self right now. One is to find a contraceptive that you’re body accepts (there are so many different ones from taking the pill back to back, depo shots, iud, etc). Endo feeds on estrogen, so the more you allow your hormones to roam free the more your Endo will grow and your symptoms will be worse. You don’t need to have a period unless your actively trying to conceive so why torture yourself!

Eliminate gluten/wheat, dairy and sugar. Remove as many processed foods and eat as organic as you can. These foods cause further inflammation in your body. It’s not easy and it’s a long term fix. This is something that will take 6 months + to see a difference but the pay off is worth it.

Find a specialized physio who works with pelvic pain issues. They will give you different exercises to combat potential issues you may have (penetration pain, pain with sex, incontinence, bladder pain, etc). They work with you to help learn how to strengthen certain muscles.

One thing people done realize is if Endo is left to just party in your body it can lead to something called central sensitization of the area so instead of feeling pleasure you feel pain. And what happens if you leave this condition to do it’s thing it can then turn into fibromyalgia. It’s not something you want! I suffer from it and it’s probably my most daily debilitating condition.

Something you can work on for your mental health is every day writing down 3 things you’re grateful for before bed. It really does help to reframe things mentally. It helps to focus on those moments. I have special people and moments in my life I call my golden nuggets. And when I’m really depressed I think about those memories and people. Mental health is something that we can’t control but how we respond is something we can control. Sending you lots of love. Just keep swimming. 💕

[Demme in reply to Noodle1984]

Thanks for your response.

Tbh i'm not sure if I have endometriosis or PMDD. I'm leaning more towards PMDD. However, i'm not gonna take diazepam or antipsychotics as my doctor has suggested.

I've increased my sertraline and am gonna buy B6 supplements and take it from there.

It took them years to diagnose me with Hypothyroidism.. I have zero confidence in my doctors.

Feeling better now but will dred the onslaught of debilitating mental symptoms from my next monthly.

Hope you're doing good and thanks again for your suggestions x