Hi
my 17 year old daughter has been told she had endometriosis after seeing a gynae after an extended period of stomach pain. She was prescribed the combined pain but had headaches so now just started mini pill. She is still having pain particularly after eating. Today is very bad as she has started her period and is crying in bed. She has taken painkillers but it isn’t really helping. Do you have any advice on pain management and trying to control symptoms? Thanks x
hi Islas_mum. I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s diagnosis and pain.
Things I would suggest:
1. Discuss with a gynae or GP with interest in women’s health whether there is an alternative combined pill she could try. Headache isn’t always a reason to stop the combined pill - they would need to take a thorough history but often it can still be used and will manage things better. Taking the combined pill continuously rather than having a break can often help if the headaches occur with the stopping/starting. If she has certain forms of migraine (with aura) then the combined pill is contraindicated but otherwise it often still can be used with a change of type and regimen
2. While it is not always something a 17 year old will want to consider, if pills do not work well then down the line an intrauterine system (eg Mirena) may be helpful.
3. Has she tried tranexamic and mefenamic acid during her periods?
4. Beurer menstrual relief TENS with the heat function or similar device can be helpful for some - it is most helpful for me worn on my lower back rather than front
5. Dietary changes can sometimes help eg going gluten and lactose free. Dian Shepperson Mills’ book on Endometriosis has some great advice. Peppermint tea or capsules are great. I have a peppermint tea with every meal now and gluten and lactose free diets really help. Also low FODMAP - though too restrictive to do fully or for too long.
Hope she feels better soon
Hello thank you so much for your advice. This is new to both of us so feeling my way at the moment. We have ordered the tens machine and I’ll order the book and see what I can help with in the way of changes in diet.
I think we will persevere with the mini pill for a couple of months see how that works but may need to consider other options.
Thank you!
You’re very welcome.
Remember she can take tranexamic and mefenamic acid from the GP for heavy/painful bleeds she has while on a pill too. That should help with pain and heaviness of the flow. Really hope her symptoms improve soon.
Thanks - I’ll contact the GP on this. So useful as had never heard of either of these!
Hi there,
You sound like a lovely mum.It's great that you daughter has such a supportive mother , that will really help her through having endo.
The combined pill has oestrogen and can make endo grow more so I would suggest she stay away from it the POP is much better at slowing the growth of endo.If she takes it for a while or at a double dose it should stop her peiods which will really help, but this does not for everyone some people really dont get on with it.
Hot waterbottles and painkillers help with the pain.
Who diagnosed her ? A GP can guess but she needs to see a specialist gyne to get better advice, get her a referral and a proper scan.
It might also be worth getting a check on her digestive system, if she has pain after eating, I have endo right through the bowel at a very bad stage but it has never caused pain after eating. There might be something with her actual stomach/digestive system going on.You would need to see a gastro enterologist for that.
Good luck
Most evidence shows that combined pills can be effective for a lot of women if taken continuously, especially as they effectively suppress endogenous (what the body makes) oestrogen, and progesterone only pills, while having advantage of no oestrogen, don’t always control bleeding well. However any pill does take time to settle in (at least 3 months). Sadly it is often trial and error to find what works best for you.
The original post mentions she’s been seen by gynae.
I have issues around eating (pain, fullness) when I’m around the time of my period and have it on my bowel, but always worth a full check to rule out other causes.
I think the latest research shows that taking the combined pill to treat endo may lead to developing DIE, but this research hasn't been acted on yet by NICE etc over here. There are several studies with similar conclusions. Worth having a read round the latest research.
Thank you - I am trying to support as much as possible but new diagnosis so just difficult. She had a hot bath last night and we now have a stronger pain killer to try help and her hot water bottle.
She was diagnosed by a gynae but has had an ultrasound only not the laparoscopy scan. She has also seen a gastro specialist but that was not conclusive. The pain after eating seems to be worse when her period starts so maybe that will get better with pill.
Thank you - think we may need to persevere and hope as her body adjusts to taking pill things get better
I had a similar issue. I kept up with the combined pill and after a month or two the headaches went away. It takes a few months for your body to adjust. Now I have no pain
hi there
As long as she didn’t have any migraines or eye auras before taking the pill she should be ok to see if it helps.
Epsom salt baths mixed with Himalayan salts with some lavender and clary sage essential oils are the only thing that help me with my pain.
I have mine before my periods as well and so when they come the pain isn’t so intense. Some may find it gross to bath when on, but it’s the only way to survive
Having a nice hot bath I think the magnesium absorbs well through the body it’s not just a heat therapy
The salts even help lower blood pressure as it did for me after the birth of my daughter
Also the tough thing for someone her age is being careful of inflammatory foods and implementing anti inflammatory supplements and foods into her life
It helps straight away your body thanks you for it. I do like holistic therapies as our bodies do find a way to heal when we aid them with the things they need.
I also have ehlers danlos syndrome so Know about pain long term pain. I hope it might help don’t want to overload
Take care
Pain Management
Pain management for Endo
Intermittent Pain with Endometriosis
Managing endo pain 
Endo and bowel pain 
