Any advice?

[MusicLover87]

hi, I’m 35 with 2 sons aged 14 and 12. Been suffering with extremely painful periods since my eldest son was born and steadily got worse. In 2019, I finally got some answers when I saw a locum doctor who thought it sounded like I had endometriosis. I was sent for ultrasound scans that didn’t show anything other than damage to my womb so was given an appointment for a laparoscopy for May 2020. Of course this got cancelled due to covid and for some reason, in 2021 I was discharged. This prompted yet another few doctor visits and another referral to gynaecology. After over a year of waiting, I was told there’s still a waiting list of 64 weeks. This isn’t for any surgery, this is for a general appointment as I have been put back at the beginning. I have no doubt that it is endometriosis (my mother was diagnosed with secondary endometriosis 5years ago) and have reached a point of desperation, so much so that during my last period, I actually begged my partner to cut my womb out 😫. I have told the doctor how I’m feeling in the hope I can be put back where I was originally on the list but instead I was just prescribed anti depressants and Tramadol for the pain. The pain meds make me feel sick and I’m scared to take the anti depressants as I grew up with my mum on them and she was barely there and distant. I don’t want to feel like that round my children. Sorry for the long post but I feel like I am in a safe space here and can talk about everything without feeling judged. Has anyone else gone through anything similar and can offer advice on how to cope with waiting.

thank you in advance

[Ruby1221]

sounds like it could be adenomyosis to me ask for an MRI it’s the “evil twin” of endo

[Misswah]

I'm sorry you're feeling awful, and it's absolutely horrifying that you were discharged WHILE waiting for a laparoscopy. The only thing I can comment on is what you've been prescribed. I'm assuming the antidepressant you're talking about is amitrityline (or something similar?) If so, when taken in low doses (start dose should be 10mg) it actually acts on pain, not as an antidepressant. It's good for nerve pain and it affects how your body perceives pain signals. I was on it for a few months and it minimised the daily pain I had. It shouldn't affect your mental health - antidepressant doses are much, much higher and they should always start you off on the lowest effective dose. You may just need a bit or trial and error in regards to what time to take it - if it's making you feel drowsy in the mornings then try taking it earlier in the day. It's not a sedative, so it won't "knock you out" as soon as you take it but it might be worth giving it a go while you wait for them to actually do something!!

[MusicLover87 in reply to Misswah]

hi, no it’s not amitriptyline. Not sure what it is cos I haven’t even picked it up from the chemist (my prescriptions are sent digitally) and I can’t remember the exact name the doctor said. I have been on amitriptyline before for nerve pain and would be quite glad to take that. Due on my period any day now, not looking forward to it and actually debating whether to go to AnE on one of my really bad days 😫

[Misswah in reply to MusicLover87]

My mistake then! It sounds like you need a bit of time to process what your doctor has suggested and it may be worth speaking to them again if you don't want to take the antidepressants. Have you not been prescribed any anti inflammatories? If your pain is cyclical sometimes it can help to start taking them a couple of days before your period starts so the pain isn't as bad. A&E won't do much for you in the long run, if your pain is bad enough that your current medication isn't helping, your GP needs to prescribe you something else, otherwise you'll be back there every month.

[Felma]

you really need a gynaecologist visit .it culd be adenomyosis that is the local uterine version of endometriosis or fibroids . oral medicines sp progesterones like dienogest or a mirena could help you after proper investigations

[Cailleach]

hi,

Not clear if you were prescribed the antidepressants for depression or for nerve pain. Your memories of your mum taking antidepressants may not match up with what your own experience would be. Medication that is prescribed for depression now is quite different. I wonder if your mum was also on tranquillisers which might have had the effect you describe or even if it was the depression which made her seem distant.

If your GP wants you to take antidepressants for depression it would be a good idea to go back to discuss it further with them if you are worried about it. Of course in the end it is your decision,

If it is for pain, likewise discuss any concerns you have about how the meds might affect you. You should also discuss you issues with tramadol. I find the same thing with all the opiate drugs -they make me nauseous so that I can’t take them. This is not uncommon. The GP should be able to prescribe something else. As already mentioned, anti inflammatory meds are often used for endo.

The way you have been messed around re your referral to Gynae is dreadful. It would be worth looking at putting in a complaint with a view to getting an appointment sooner. Your GP really should be pushing that as well. Check your local hospital website for how to put in a complaint.

Depending on your finances another option would be to see a specialist consultant privately.

Hope things improve for you soon.