period pain

[icjen]

Is it normal to have alot of pain during your period? I know when I was a teenager, I had cramps, but nothing to serious. But now, it seems each month comes along, and I find myself saying to my husband each month, "These are the worst period pains I've ever had!" It seems to affect not only my uterus, but my bladder and my bowels too. The whole area feels like it's put together wrong. I can barely sit down right now. I feel like I'll be giving birth soon! Should I be more concerned, or is this common for IC patients?

Thanks,
Jen

[redmowii]

I get extreame pain during my periods as well. I have found something that helps both my IC and my endometriosis. I take birth controll for 3 months straight, then only take 5 days off instead of the normal 7. It helps keep away the endometriosis, and I only have to deal with a period every 3 months (ends up 4 a year). My OB put me on just a genaric birth control and I just skip the blank pills till I'm supposed to have my period. Or you could do the new Seasonal birth control, which is essentaily the same thing. Maybe try talking to your doctor and see if that could be an option for you. I hope you gett feeling better really soon.

[m123]

For the past 3 years since my first "flare" of IC, I've had extremely painful periods. One of them I even had to go to the emergency room because the pain was so bad I was throwing up.

I usually take a Tynenol or Ibuprofen before the pain comes (it takes about 12 hours after my period) and keep taking them an hour before the previous one wore off. This leaves me pain-free, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think this continous use of these kinds of painkillers may have set me up for this nice flare I'm in right now.

[icjen]

Thanks for the responses. Glad to know I'm not the only one with these problems. I'm feeling a bit better now. I've just been on the Tylenol ES all day. I think I'll mention this on my next Gyn visit.
Thanks,
Jen

[Dixiefireball]

I use to be the same way. Have you been checked for endro? a lot of time that can cause the problems you are having. I ended up having a hy in May 2005 not because of endro. it was a cancer scare, but still it may be wroth talking to your gyn and uro about this to see if they think you should be checked.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

P.S what i use to do to help me was use my heating pad, take my pain medicine, take hot showers, and rest as much as poss.

[rosesitty]

I've been in a medication flare for two months, but it also coincides with going off the bc patch for the first time in two years...hmmm...

[icjen]

I think I will definetly discuss the possiblity of endo at my next appt. When I looked into the symptoms of endo, it does describe how I'm feeling. I definetly have painful BM and painful urination with my period. Sometimes it is irregular, and the flow is irregular too. Like one month I will be going through a tampon in 1/2 hour to 1 hour, and another month I can go for a few hours without a problem. I REALLY hate to have another diagnosis though!! They just keep on coming! I swear I'm starting to see the doctors more than my own husband. :mad: I miss the days when I was healthy. But I guess that is life and we just have to take in the good with the bad. Thanks for your help again.
Jen

[Dixiefireball]

I wanted to wish you good Luck. Your gyn will have to do a lap to see if you have endo, but in a lot of cases they can remove the endo. then all things can be back to normal (well as normal as it gets for us ICers) this should stop a lot of your problems if endo is the problem. endo and IC some how seems to go together for many of us. My uro was sure i had endo. that is the reason he sent me to the gyn. after talking to the gyn he also could had swore i had endo also, but thank God i didn't have a trace of it.
Not to many of us get that lucky tho. I wish you the very best and please let us know what you find out.
remember we are always here for you and we do understand.
sending you many hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Betty-Jo]

Hi Dixie, I understand that you had a hysterectomy in May, would you tell me about your recovery? I am having mine Monday the 9th and I am concerned about my pain level and how the docs are going to handle this. I am currently taking Methadone for my pain. I know my pain mgmnt doc said that it will be a little difficult to handle the situation because of my tolerence to narcotics. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Blessings,
Betty-Jo

[PlainJane]

I used to get a lot of pain during my period. One time when I was in summer school at university I ran out of Anaprox DS (the med I usually take for cramps) and I ended up in the hospital because the pain was so bad. They gave me injections of a pain med (can't remember the name) which SORT of helped.

My cramps are a LOT better now. I am not totally sure why but I think it's because I've been going for IV vitamin treatments (for fatigue and it includes calcium & magnesium which helps cramps). I've also been taking omega 3 for cramps (But have been slacking on this one lately should get back to it).

I'm not sure whether pain this bad is normal or not. I always wondered. I was never checked for endometreosis. I'm not sure if this is normal.

[icjen]

I just wanted to give a little update. Went to my Gyn yesturday. He told me of course that without the lapar. it will be hard to know for sure b/c of having IC and IBS. He said if my other problems are not yet under control, that it could be causing increased pain during menstration. He said, on the other hand, IC, IBS, and Endo sometimes come hand in hand...which we all know. He gave me that POP form of birth control (progestin only). He said this will most likely help me out without having surgery, but if I do wish to have the surgery after taking this for 3 months, he will do it to be sure of what's going on. They did an ultrasound in the office and said everything looked good. I had one done a couple months ago, and at that time, they said I had fluid in the pelvic area (said probably a ruptured cyst). Well, hopefully this will help me and I won't even need the surgery. Thanks for the support.
Jen

[Cheries]

He gave you progesterone??? I don't want to alarm you but you might want to look into that regarding flares. I know many IC patients who flare with progesterone. You may be different though.

[icjen]

Oh great!! How do we keep up with all the different meds that cause flares. Well, I start on my next menstral cycle, so, I guess I'll have to see how it goes. Thanks for the warning.

[sami4]

Jen:
I think your symptoms sound very much like Endometriosis particularily the bowel and bladder pain. It is very hard to tell when you have IC. Why this guy gave you just progesterone is a mystery to me? We used to put patients on BC pills continously for a few months to see if that helped control the symptoms.
Sammie

[icjen]

He had to give me the progesterone only because he was very nervous about my smoking along with my heart condition. I already have to take an aspirin everyday because I have a higher risk for heart attack/stroke. He said if there's no estrogen, that it doesn't have all the severe side effects.
I just hope that if the symptoms are controlled, that there won't be any worsening inside. I've had two children, but I would hate to think that if it's endo, I could lose the ability to have children. Is it possible to feel better, but still be progressing in severity without knowing it, or would I most likely feel the symptoms if it's getting worse?
Thanks for your concern,
Jen