Changed periods

[Owie123]

This is probably a long shot but I have no idea where to go! Looking for some support and wondered if anyone here could point me to some groups that might be able to help?

I don't know if I have/had endo as I gave up trying to get diagnosed (believed). My periods were very heavy and ridiculously painful from the start.

Several years ago age 31 I got chronically ill from drinking contaminated water which caused various issues like IBS and chronic UTIs. It also made my periods change from hell to light, pain free and more irregular. I would think yay but the blood went from bright red to dirty red, and from smelling like period to being stinky. I also went infertile (now diagnosed with unexplained infertility). Stopped drinking from the dodgy tap after several years. Since then body slowly going back to normal. No IBS, UTIs etc. Cycle back to 28 days. Some pain that's getting worse month on month but no where near as bad as before (I'd feint and vomit prior). Blood still stinky.

GPs telling me all this is normal and my stinky period blood is normal not an infection. My very heavy very painful periods were normal too of course! <eye roll>. I'm really unsure if the GP is being truthful or fobbing me off.

Has anyone 'got better' from their endo during their 30s and had such radical changes in their periods?

Does anyone know what this could be or if it really is normal? Are there any support groups that could help? Like ones for periods in general? TIA

[vizzle_01]

Sorry I can't help really as I have found my periods are now worse in my 30's than what they have ever been as the pill just masked it all, mostly. They were never light - even in my teenage years I had 12 day periods some months and bled through my school uniform and onto bed sheets. Looking back it was horrendous and probably really affected my confidence. Maybe try and ask your GP for a blood test to check your hormones and CA125 level and a referral to a gynaecologist. Have you tried to get any stronger painkillers for the bleeding? I was prescribed Mefenamic Acid by my GP its supposed to reduce the bleeding and make your periods less painful. It helps me a bit but I have to sometimes take more than I should and with regular paracetamol at the same time. It doesn't help with the bowel and bloating issues I have around that time of the month though but you might find it works 👍🏻

[Owie123 in reply to vizzle_01]

Thanks. Hormones normal except day 21 progesterone a little low at 26 (over 30 is normal). CA125 neg. Seen gynaes who just tell me it's normal or my age.

I don't need any drugs now they're that light and pain free. I used to have mefenemic acid. It didn't help and I got SO depressed for 2 or 3 days after taking it. Switched to transemic acid. Also didn't touch the pain just made me clotty. They wouldn't give me anything else just said go on the pill which I didn't want to do. I gave up seeing them about my possible endo then as they weren't interested in helping me.

[vizzle_01 in reply to Owie123]

Don't give up if you are still in pain and feel like it's something that warrants an investigation. You are further along than me in that you've already seen a gynaecologist. I would pursue it now if it's still an issue don't let them fob you off especially about going back on the pill if it's something you don't don't to do (I didn't want to continue taking it after 15 years on it).