This is my first post so please forgive me if this makes no sense. I'm trying to find answers for what is exactly wrong with my body. As far as I can remember I've been told in anemic, and I've always had heavy and painful periods since my very first period. As I grew up I was told one day my hormones would 'balance out', my mother has also always had very bad periods. Last year I trialled some contraceptives and I haven't been the same since. I have reacted badly to the combined pill and the progesterone pill. I also had a failed IUD fitting which hurt a lot and I was told it wouldn't go in because I have a 'narrow canal' whatever that means. Since last year I had lost 2 stone even though I was already skinny I am now really skinny, I'm not happy about it. I have also tried the brown iron supplements (not sure what the name is) and am currently trying the red iron supplements (ferrous sulphate) but I am still fatigued on a regular basis and get stomach ache and dark pop it's almost as if my body doesn't want the iron?? I also have troubles concentrating and get regularly dizzy spells, I've been hurt numerous times trying to do average things.
My day to day now is this; I wake up usually early morning usually 3 o clock onwards with stomach cramps and bad nausea, I toss and turn in bed until I need to go to the toilet. I usually go 2 or 3 times every morning, jumping back into bed after every toilet visit. It's always diarrhea or constipation. I always seem to have terrible pain in my hips and back. I've been told this is called chronic pelvic pain but I do not know why I have this. This happens every day without fail. I am usually fatigued and it makes my already heavy periods a nightmare. My cycle is all over the place, I'm usually late, this month I was nine days late. The pain builds up through the month until I start my period. The pain is just unbearable. I'll give some examples; my mattress feels like concrete. I have to sit in my underwear because clothes put too much pressure on my hips. I can't even brush my teeth without it hurting because my hips wiggle. It hurts to even push out a fart. I am almost always in some kind of pain. If am not making this clear enough, let's put it this way. Last month was as such; I came on my period July 1st, my period lasted 11 days. I had 5 days of bliss. The pain started back up again July 16th. It built up all month, I came on my period 6th August. I have had ultrasounds and blood, urine and pregnancy tests but still don't know what's wrong with me as they all come back with good results. My mother is worried as she has had the same periods as me her whole life and she doesn't want me to go through this too. My mother is 50 now and only this year was diagnosed with underactive thyroid. I am so lost and confused. Hoping for some answers or maybe just a point in the right direction? If anyone has any ideas please let me know I'm so sorry to bother you all.
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Shametoad
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I would guess your cervix might be narrow or distorted for some reason. One problem that can cause this, and very heavy periods, and severe period pain, is endometriosis. It is not uncommon for endometriosis to affect multiple generations of women in the same family.
The only definitive test for endometriosis is a laparoscopy, but doctors are reluctant to do this - it involves a day in hospital and an anaesthetic. And they can still miss it even with a laparoscopy. The average time to diagnosis for this condition from when symptoms start is allegedly 7 years, although personally I don't believe it. 15 - 18 years wouldn't be terribly unusual.
I think underactive thyroid might be implicated in endometriosis developing, but doctors disagree on this point.
I could be completely wrong. And I'm not medically trained.
brown iron supplements Otherwise known as ferrous fumarate.
From personal experience (from many years ago), getting my iron levels up reduces the amount of bleeding, reduces the fatigue and reduces the pain. Depending on how bad your tolerance of iron supplements is, and how low your iron and ferritin are, you might be able to persuade a doctor to refer you for an iron infusion. Some people manage to get these without too much hassle, but I've always struggled to keep my iron levels up and I've only ever been prescribed the occasional couple of months worth of iron pills. Thankfully I can tolerate prescribed iron supplements, I now know I can get them without prescription, and I now know I can test my levels myself by getting it done privately without ever seeing or directly paying a doctor.
There is a forum on HU for people with endometriosis. They may have some information on how you can get help.
Hypothyroidism is often genetic, especially Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease) so having a Mum who is hypothyroid increases likelihood
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Your ferritin is very likely very low due to heavy periods
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common with Hashimoto's too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
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