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Painful period pains
I'm in my early 30's and have always had period pains. However, in the last few years they have been extremely painful, so much so that I have even thrown-up! They are so unbearable that they wake me up during my sleep and on the morning of my first day I occasional have no option but to take the morning off work until the pain killers kick in. My lower back and stomach and thighs are incredibly tender during these days. I would say that my periods are fairly normal/moderate and not heavy and I am regular/5 days. I haven't had any children and I'm not on any kind of contraception. I have tried the normal over the counter pain killers, but like everything else, they take up to two hours before the pain subsides and even that is only a little. Is there anything else I can do or change in my diet or lifestyle that can help, I dread having my period....please help!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
It sounds to me as though you have endometriosis. This diagnosis can only be made definitively by laparoscopy. In some cases an elevated ca125 level is suspicious for endometriosis, but it is not very specific.
If I were your doctor, I would offer you a few different options:
the first would be a trial of AnaproxDS(Aleve) 550 mg twice daily starting before the pain begins if possible.
Oral contraceptives work nicely in many cases to reduce the pain.
Other cases respond better to depot Lupron--this medication stops periods in addition to suppressing hormone levels so that endometriosis shrinks and quiets down.
Laparoscopic surgery with laser is the best way to diagnose endometriosis, and many women get good relief for quite some time afterwards.
One other thing that helps to quiet down endometriosis is moderate to intense aerobic exercise, such as distance running.
I hope there is something here that might work for you! Get in to your doctor, because you don't have to live this way!
Good luck!
Dr B
It sounds to me as though you have endometriosis. This diagnosis can only be made definitively by laparoscopy. In some cases an elevated ca125 level is suspicious for endometriosis, but it is not very specific.
If I were your doctor, I would offer you a few different options:
the first would be a trial of AnaproxDS(Aleve) 550 mg twice daily starting before the pain begins if possible.
Oral contraceptives work nicely in many cases to reduce the pain.
Other cases respond better to depot Lupron--this medication stops periods in addition to suppressing hormone levels so that endometriosis shrinks and quiets down.
Laparoscopic surgery with laser is the best way to diagnose endometriosis, and many women get good relief for quite some time afterwards.
One other thing that helps to quiet down endometriosis is moderate to intense aerobic exercise, such as distance running.
I hope there is something here that might work for you! Get in to your doctor, because you don't have to live this way!
Good luck!
Dr B
try taking ibuprophen starting the day before your period and take it "around the clock" until your period is over. i too get bad cramps but i find if i start treating it before they get bad and keep treating every 4-6 hours then it isn't too bad...
Hi doctor B, i have the exact same problem. my doctor put me on oral contraceptives recently and with regard to aerobic exercise, should it be regular or would it help on the day of menstrual period pains only?
thank you
thank you
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