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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Obstetrics/Gynecology > Endometriosis > period pain which is giving me alot of pain
Endometriosis - period pain which is giving me alot of pain
Expert: Martha Russell - 11/6/2009
Question
QUESTION: What would your local gp answer and tests be?
I am a 20 year old female. I have had my period since I was 11 and it now last 8 days and is quite heavy. I get mild dizziness, fainting, vomiting feeling, sharp pains/ aching in my lower tummy. This last about 2 days before period begins to 3 days in my period. For the rest of the period I feel very tired, bloated and cramping aching feeling in my stomach top and lower stomach mainly. I don't no what to do about this. Yes I will go to the doctors but i scared what will they do once i tell them all this. just put me antibiotics or do tests or try changing my diet. My diet by the way is meat - red meat, chicken but I do eat seafood all of it. Can u help just to let me no of some of the possible things i might expect when i visit my local gp.
I don't know what to do cause Im in alot of pain and have tried all pain medicines u can get without pescriptions and heat pads warm baths exercising herbal tea
ANSWER: Dear Kirsty
You just described endo to a "t"...I had all of those symptoms and more. I actually vomited each and every month I had my period. Getting to a gyno is the best thing you could do for yourself. Endo is a hormone driven disease, so all the pain relievers, heating pads and warms baths in the world won't help with the pain.
Tell your gyno everything and he/she will probably want to do a laproscopy. This is a minor out patient procedure where they take a look inside to see where there is endo and how severe it is. Hormone treatment will probably be prescribed...If you have a good gyno, you should feel relief almost immediately after treatment starts. You do not need to feel this way. I am sorry that you do.
You will also be told to watch you diet, get plenty of rest and exercise...that's not so bad.
I wish you a world of luck when you go to the Dr., I know it will be a great day for you as you will get the long awaited answers you need and deserve.
Take care
Martha
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the answer but the reason I have yet to go to the doctors or the gyno is because I am scared they will want to do a pelvic/ pap smear examination and I have been told that it hurts and I will be in pain for 2 - 3 days after with like cramping and feeling dizzy and I have very little pain tollerance. What would be the first thing the doctor/ gyno will do when i get to the room and explain my symptoms. like what questions procedures or medication will i be prescribed
ANSWER: Oh I see...a normal Pap/pelvic exam is a piece of cake. Have you never been to a gyno to have one? With all of your symptoms...your gyno will be very gentle. Any pap that I ever had was never painful just alittle uncomfortable during the exam. I was fine as I left the office.
Once you tell your gyno your symptoms...he/she will immediately do the exam. It only takes about 5 minutes. Once it is done, they will again speak with you about what your options are. This is really an easy one and you should not worry...
And if your Dr. orders more tests after the pap, most of them are also very painless...just alittle crampy afterwards. You won't need 2-3 days to recover at all.
If after the exams, you are found to have endo, your Dr will more than likely prescribe a hormone based treatment. You will be surprised how much better you will feel once a gyno gets a handle on your current situation. No reason to hesitate, this is a good step towards stopping the progression of endo.
Best of luck. You'll do great and be surprised how much an educated explanation of your pain will help you understand endo.
Martha
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: thanks I been to see my doctor and she said I will need to come and get a pelvic/ pap smear and that is booked in for coming coming Thursday. I am scared because I was so flusted and nervous about bringing this situation up with my doctor that when she explained the procedure I couldn't really take it all in. Can you explain the procedure and let me know when I might feel pain/ discomfort during the exam so I can prepare my self in time. My doctor said I will need to take this special pain killer she has given me 30mins before the exam so I don't feel any discomfort as she wants to take a few samples and do a good thourer look and she explained a little abaout an IUD the medical centre keeps them on campus so that might be option for me and if so it can be done on Thursday aww scared another procedure. Although I will go any measure to stop the pain.
Answer
Hey Kirsty
I found a wonderful website that includes the following and more...take a look at it. Your procedure really won't be as painful as you think...if you can endure all the pain you have every month...this is nothing.
Here is the website:http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/routinepappelvicexam.aspx
The examiner usually touches the outside of the vulva with a gloved hand to separate the labia and view the external genitalia for normalcy. A speculum, which is like a tampon applicator with a handle, is then gently inserted into vagina to widen the opening. Different sizes and styles of speculums are used for different women. The speculum allows the clinician to view the vaginal walls and the cervix. The cervix is found high up in the vagina. It looks like a mini bagel projecting into the vagina, and feels like a firm, nose-like projection if you were to touch it with your finger. The cervix is occasionally positioned so it is hard to visualize, but a skilled clinician can usually find it with some gentle shifting about of the speculum.
Once the speculum is in place, the clinician can collect a sample of tissue from the outside of the cervix (ectocervix) with a spatula, then another from the cervical canal to the womb (endocervix) with a cytobrush. Several types of devices are used to collect samples, the most common being a contoured plastic spatula similar to a tongue depressor. A small mascara-like brush is used to swish the inside of the cervical canal, and a small plastic broom-like brush is also frequently used. All these devices are gentle but can feel a bit funny to the patient when used. Many women have a more fragile cervix that bleeds a bit when scraped, but this is generally not a serious concern. And some women are more sensitive than others, which is also perfectly understandable.
Nowadays it is pretty standard for the clinician to place the collected samples in a liquid-based container, but in some settings the samples are still smeared onto glass slides and a fixative applied.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is done separately, before or after the Pap. If there is vaginal fluid of concern, the clinician may use a Q-tip to swab the vaginal walls and will check the sample under a microscope for signs of a vaginal yeast infection or other types of infection.
The speculum is then removed, at which point the clinician will typically perform a quick bimanual examination, where she feels the uterus and ovaries as best she can with her skilled hands — placing two fingers of one hand inside the vagina and the other hand on the lower belly. Then the clinician will press a little to feel what cannot be seen.
The Pap sample is sent to a pathology lab for the technician to review the cells under a microscope, checking for normal and abnormal features. An HPV DNA analysis can also be done at that time if requested, to determine whether a high-risk strain is detectable, particularly when the patient indicates she may be at risk or her practitioner notes genital warts (condylomata). When the analysis is complete a report is sent to the practice.
The clinic will usually send you a notice that all is well or will call you if anything requires follow-up. (Click here for a list of terms and acronyms used to categorize Pap results.) Some clinics have a policy of contacting you only if further follow-up is needed, so if you want to be notified of the findings regardless of their nature, be sure to ask them to clarify their policy.
Good luck...let me know how you do.
Martha
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