Chronic pain while TTC

[boboveena28]

I have endometriosis which leads to bad anal cramps during my ovulation period, atleast a week to 10 days after my period. The pain is so bad that it wakes me up from my sleep and I have to panadol. Pain takes about an hour to go off.

Now that I have started on my IVF cycle, the pain has become more frequent, everyday. The pain was especially unbearable during stim. I have made appt to see a pain specialist next week. Has any of you had similar experience like me? I know that only panadol is safe while TTC. But I cannot live like this every single day. I was on amritriptyline previously and came off it. Its been a month since I have had a proper night sleep. Are there any other pain alternatives I can take other than panadol? How do u manage chronic pain when pregnant. All advice is much appreciated 🙏

[Dorygirl]

Hi, had to reply as it was almost like I had wrote your post. I stayed on amitriptyline but on a lower dose during ttc and also bought a tens machine. Not going to say it totally worked but it sometimes just took the edge off the pain.

It's horrendous you spend at least a week in severe pain during ovulation then another week in pain building up to a period. I naivley didn't expect my endo to make ivf anymore painful than others without endo, but I was so wrong. Only advice is to grit your teeth and get through it, hopefully it'll be worth it. Fingers crossed for you. X

[boboveena28 in reply to Dorygirl]

Thank u dear for your advice. I'm going to see a pain specialist next week to deal with all this pain. I heard some endo sufferers deal with pain even when preggy 😪 Are u on ivf too at the moment?

[Dorygirl in reply to boboveena28]

We've had 2 fresh cycles using icsi, one last September and one last month. Both failed. We have come to the heartbreaking decision not carry on with ivf. X

[boboveena28 in reply to Dorygirl]

Oh dear. Stay strong Dorygirl. Big hugs to you for coming this far 😘😘

[Sappheiros]

Hi, you have my sympathy and looks like you have some good advice above. Paracetamol and tens is all I know I'm afraid, hopefully the specialist can help you. I just wanted to encourage you to stay strong and wish you all the best. I'm on the IVF journey too, just had a mc but looking forward to trying again soon. Also, as a glimmer of hope to you, I had awful debilitating endo period pain (worse than childbirth!) which surprisingly disappeared a few months after falling pregnant with my first baby and for a few years after... I know everyone is different and it's not a cure nor permanent but it was amazing to have respite from it. IVF is tough at the best of times, least of all in a pandemic, and these drugs are definitely not kind to our endo bodies. Try to keep thinking of the positive outcome at the end of all this. Good luck xx