What is an acceptable level of pain to live in? When should I see a doctor again?

[GemmaAB]

Hi Guys,

I have a questions about what is an acceptable level of pain to live in. Ive had had end for ever I’m stage 4 so I’m used to it and think I have a high threshold for pain. But my Its really hard to figure out these days if the pain I’m experiencing is an issue and I need to get seen or if it’s just life with endometriosis.

I have pelvic end and I’m not too worried about that is ok at the moment. But during my last lap they found some in my diaphragm or lungs I had been experiencing symptoms but didn’t know it was that. That surgery was over a year ago and I’m progressively feeling more pain in what feels like my ribs, both of them. Sometimes it feels like a sharp stabbing pain and sometimes it feels like I’ve been punched and the area feels like a bruise. My shoulders and neck hurt my and its both sides but not always at the same time. Im feeling nauseous and have headaches a lot now when Im feeling the pain everywhere.

I feel like an only lady mess and I’m 35. My body is just a piece of crap and Im totally unsure if I should be seeing a doctor about the change of my pain.

What do you guys think?

[Hidden]

Hi Gemma,I understand what you mean about questioning what a "normal" level of pain is. What you've describe sounds really sore, and it isn't "normal".

I hope you will round up the courage to talk to you GP about it. Can you ask for a referral to a gynaecologist who specialises in endometriosis (as a BSGE centre)? Good subjects to revisit are pain management, hormonal treatment, and surgery. I'm sure you know that already, but there are different things to try under each category.

With endometriosis, I'm going with the mindset of seeing how low I can drop the pain by doing things to try to manage it. It would be nice if I could find a way to become pain free, and if I manage to get there I will be pleasantly surprised. My first goal was simply to avoid needing to go to A&E for endo pain this cycle. With hormonal treatment Mirena & Cerazette together, that was a success - no A&E trip required for this month's period. 😊

A kind GP once told me that patients can really boost the benefits they get from healthcare by being informed, asking good questions, and asking the questions to specialists. This was back when I was a teen, and I thought the first GP I saw had done as much as possible for my migraines by suggesting I take ibuprofen. No, that was only the beginning! I didn't know that a patent was expected to go back if the issue didn't resolve. There are all kinds of things that GPs and specialists can suggest to help, but they need the patients to keep coming back & keep asking. Otherwise, they assume the patients are fine - when they're not.

Sending you good thoughts. 💚

[GemmaAB in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply June. It’s really helpful.

[Bluesea7]

Go to your doctor, sometimes you have to change meds as our body can get to a stage where they dont work so well. You definitely need to be checked.