extreme period pains

[mcpaula]

i was wondering would somebody be able to help me. . i have suffered with severe period pain since they started and my gp kept fobbing it off as normal until last yr,

i went for an ultrasound and it showed a possible fibroid, i seen a gynae specialist and he put me on yasmin contraceptive pill, i was on it for 3 or 4 months and became very depressed with suicidal thoughts, i told my gp and he changed me back to the pill i was on a couple of yrs previous to this (cilest),

the depression lessened but it is still affecting me, so i took myself off everything as i was very emotional and went home from work unable to stop crying.

i also have stomach problems and was sent for another ultrasound to try fo identify the problem with my stomach, nothing showed up on this ultrasound - it even showed that the possible fibroid had disappeared!

which should be great news bt i feel like im back to square one again trying to identify what is wrong with me. i am going back to the gynae specialist on the 31st sept.

my gp says that it is just a hormone imbalance and it can only be treated with more hormones - but i really dont want to take any more hormones after the last 6 mths on them and feeling like i wanted to commit suicide!!

i am extremely worried about these problems and would really appreciate any information or advice anyone could contribute anything

[Beanmistriss]

Hi mcpaula. I have always suffered from terrible period pain and I too was fobbed off for years by my gp. Mine were so severe I just had to stay in bed and also got sickness and the squits (nice). Anyhoo, I have now discovered that I have endometriosis. This seems to be a condition that gp's don't appear to know much about. I'm obviously not saying thats what you have but it might be worth taking a look at the endo site www.endometriosis.org and have a look at the symptoms bit to see if yours fit. If you think they do theres a link on the symptoms page for a info sheet you can print out, fill in the areas and take to your doctor (you'll see what I mean if you look on the site). Good luck and I hope you get sorted out x

[Velvetee]

I've been on Yasmin before and like you, became severely depressed and suicidal. Your severe period pain could be caused by a condition called Endometriosis, (unless it's already been ruled out) which is where the lining of the uterus, building up to a period, grows abnormally, often into the fallopian tubes.

I would agree that you don't opt for hormonal treatment, as this method obviously does not agree with you. I stopped taking the pill years ago and basically think it ruins the body and mind. How does your GP know it's a hormonal imbalance?

Unfortunately these days, we have to be proactive in helping ourselves, as doctors and GPs tend to offer few solutions to problems. I have Fibroids and I really don't think they can just disappear, it surely must be something else like a cyst. When you have your next appointment, try to be more forceful, afterall, it's your health.

[mcpaula]

thanks guys, the gp said that its more than likely a hormone imbalance but they dont know and they dont think its endometriosis. i was also thinking it could be oestrogen that doesnt agree with me, obviously i dont want to go thru all that stuff emotionally again but the mini pill has progesterone in it and it might be different. i was told the larposcopy surgery (to look closely at the lining of the uterus) is only done in extreme cases. does anybody know anything about this surgery?

[Beanmistriss]

Hi again. I had a laparoscopy (sp?) Basically thay put you to sleep then they look inside your pelvic area with a little camera. You end up with three tiny incisions (mine are in my belly button, one off to the side and one slightly lower down). They blow you up with gas to get a better look. The laparoscopy it's self is not painful, you'll have to take it easy for a couple of days though. If you need more info just ask.

[mcpaula]

i just found out that my cousin and aunt have endometriosis but are very private about their condition so i cant talk to them about it.
i was wondering if blood tests would help to diagnose this?
also, i know that doctors dont like doing laparoscopy surgery coz of the expense of it so what is the likelihood of them doing one on me?
what other avenues can i look into, apart from hormonal solutions? are there any contraceptions that are not hormonal?