I'm new here...

[mydogsavesme]

Hi all, i'm new here and honestly pretty terrified!!

I have been debating whether I go to the doctors or not for my symptoms and almost convinced myself it's all in my head but now thinking I maybe should go.

I have always suffered very heavy periods since they started, I was bed bound for 2-3 days each month which meant missing school & then work. I was put on the pill asap and this did help settle down the pain so I could participate in life again but I still struggled on. Each time I went back to the doctors feeling unwell they tried something new. I have so far been on 3 different types of pill and am now on the self injection. I have been injecting now for almost 4 years and hadn't had a single bleed in that whole time until a month ago I had what was a "normal" seeming period and again this month it's back but with a vengeance. I have bloating daily, so much so I have been asked if i'm pregnant this week (I definitely am not!). I am very gassy all the time (which is horrible) & feel nauteous. I have been getting sharp pains in my shoulders for a few months now which I spoke to the doctors about and they suggested I had just pulled a muscle somehow. The pain is unbearable, stopping me from sleeping which means I am tired all day and distracted at work. I'm struggling to be intimate with my boyfriend because the last time it hurt so much and I have such a fear of bleeding on him. I spoke to the doctors briefly a few months ago and they just told me it was food related issues so I'm sure they won't take me seriously when I "don't look ill."

I hope this doesn't sound daft, I feel so alone!

[Aurora20]

You definitely do not sound daft or are not alone!! This is exactly what this page is for, I’m sorry your going through all of that. Have you seen a gynaecologist or just a doctor? x

[Nikkky]

Hi. It’s a real struggle to get anywhere when you seemingly “look well”. I’m sure this has been a big reason why I haven’t been listened to over the years. If you’ve lost confidence in your g.p, see another one. Explain your history of periods that resulted in time off school/work and being bed bound each month (I would say this is a clue that it could well be endo). Be quite direct with the g.p and say you feel it could be endometriosis and you want to be referred in order to have this investigated. Make it clear that you might look well but you don’t feel well and you don’t see why you should just put up with feeling ill. It’s hard but stick to your guns! Best of luck x

[Dheeps]

Hi sorry to hear the pain you been going through. Don’t give give up on this, it took me a few years to have a laparoscopy. the doctors thought I was going through early menopause! I’ve just been diagnosed with endometriosis- just before the laparoscopy the surgeon said that my ultrasound is clear and all tests are fine and double checked if I wanted to go through it…. I would change your doctor and just keep reporting your pain - they will do lots of tests because they have to ‘tick the boxes’ before they can refer you to a gynaecologist. Even when your with the gyno you have to go on and on at them too! Never ending