Monthly Period pain...........

[indiana]

Before my OB/GYN sent me to the Urologist we did a laprascopic procedure to see if my endometrosis had spread to my bladder, and other areas. It had not and she actually found only three areas, she burned them off and closed me up. We do not know if she got it all sense it could be located in places where the doctor cannot see and we knew we would have to wait to see how my next period was to determine if there was endometrosis left.

I started my period yesterday and my cramping, aching, and pain are not any better. Should I assume that I still have endometrosis in me or does the IC make your period worse?

I have noticed that a lot of us with IC also have endometrosis, do you guys feel that way too?

Also, can I take regular Advil on all of this other medication I am taking, Elmiron, Elavil, Ditropan XL?

Thanks!

[Sarojini]

Hey Indiana,

I know my IC always gets worse at period time. I have my period now, and even though I'm on birth control pills I STILL flare during the pseudo-period week. I have increased IC symptoms for a few days before and then all during my period.

You can take Advil if you want, although some say it bothers their bladder... so you may want to pop a few Prelief with it just in case. :) A heating pad across your belly can help a lot too!

Take care

[heybrej]

I am the same as Sarojini- My IC gets worse around and during my period. My IC does not make my period worse however. I have been off birth control for about 4 months now, but i cant really tell if it has made a difference with my monthly IC pain. All i know is that when I am on my period, my IC pain tends to be worse. Good luck!

[dancemomof2]

My IC acts it's worst a couple days before my period and a couples days during. Hope you get some answers for yourself, I have had endometriosis also and the pain during my period was so similar to my IC pain. Please talk to you GYN about this again.

[glowstrz]

Hi...I am lucky enough not to have pain...on Elmiron 3 times a day and pretty much "urge free" because of it. BUT when I have my period and a few days before I have the constant urge that I have to urinate even though I know I dont. I have been told my the nurse at the dr that many women experience this.

[XoChelsey03Xo]

I always have had period pains. I was just diagnosed with IC on Sept. 8, 2004. For years my mom and I thought I had a GYN problem. I was on all kinds of different birth control pills but nothing ever worked for me at ALL! I went back to the GYN and they did a PUFF test. My number came out 25. If you get a 15 that means IC is questionable. I saw a uro and had a cysto and sure enough I had IC. I'm glad to see (not really glad) that others also have period pain. At least I know that this is normal with IC. Chelsey

[Dixiefireball]

my ic really flares up the week before and the week of my peroid its the most awful flares.
i try to relax take my pain meds.
b.t.w i would like to welcome you two newbies to the ICN. sorry i'm late but i have been gone for a few weeks.
sending you both hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[kelly McC]

I also have period pain before and after. I was having trouble with my periods getting it 21- 24 days a month since march. I am scheduled for a D&C next month. I have been getting depro shots for the last few months.
Kelly

[stillprayin']

I'm newly diagnosed ( 4days ago) I thought I was just a baby when I couldn't get out of bed for the lst few days of my period. Needed a heating pad pretty much all the time. According to my doc increase in IC pain during your period is common. Hormones are going wild at that time. I am home from work today got my period last night so I feel terrible. At least they have figured out there is something wrong and now we can look for better treatments/diet and so forth. good luck, Laura

[tiffanyc]

i was diagnosed with endometriosis and i had a operation 2 seperate my bladder from my womb because it had stuck them together it 2 months after the op and the pain i get when im on my period is still just as bad especially when i go 2 the toilet it is so painfull, so im presuming that the pain im geting is the ic they said i had 2 because it sounds like the same symptoms as you

[stillprayin']

Tiffany
it seems weird that you replied to the thread today. I got my period yesterday and of course feel terrible. I have been checked for alot of other problems including endometriosis. Ihave not been checked for bladder fused to uterus. I did have exploratory surgery 3 yrs ago (they thought appendicitis but it wasn't today I know it was IC pain). I really hope you can get through this, i know its been tuff for me. Again I've been hugging the heating pad, taking ibuprophen(which does nothing so I stopped) today I took pain pills from my doc (percocet) helped a little. I wonder if your doc has given you adaquate meds. I'm almost sure, with all you've had he/she has. I too experience terrible pain with urination when I have my period. I just got a new job and am now having trouble with my drug screen. The screen came back diluted due to high water intake. drinking alot of water seems to help reduce my irritation. I took a second screen today, it looked really lite just like last time. I'm sure it will be diluted again. My doctor wrote a letter saying this isn't uncommon for IC patients to have diluted urine. So I guess we'll see. Again I hope you feeling better, if you need to talk please reply.
Laura

[lauriecircle]

I have had endo all my life (diagnosed at 19 years old). I was just diagnosed with IC last week, BUT I know I have had IC symptoms all my life too. I have had three laps. And really it takes about 2-3 cycles past your lap to really tell the results. Especially the first period after your lap can be painful because you are really clearing out 'leftovers' from the surgery. I would give it a few months to see if Lap helps. Also note that with endo many people with very small or few adhesions have TERRIBLE pain and are incapicated. And then people with endo everywhere (like my mom) never have any pain at all. It is a very strange disease that way. I would be happy to chat anytime about endo and IC stuff. And PS I have psoraisis too! Hope that helps! Laurie

[michie]

I dont have endo thank god but I do have the worst period pain I didn't know until recently that it was due to the IC I was diagnoised 8 days ago. I always thought I was getting older so my periods were just getting worse until about a year ago I never had cramps and my periods lasted about 3 days now they last between 7-9 days and I can barely move the first few days due to cramping and
what im guessing is IC pain. I went to the gyno and he suggested a hystorectome(Spell) I told him he was :loco: I'm only 32 and dI think I'll hold on to what I have a while longer. That was before I Knew I had IC in November.
I guess I should probably make a new appointment. He also put me on the pill to stop the cramping which made me bleed all the time so after 4 months of that I took myself off.



Hope you feel better :grouphug: :kissing:

[michelesgirl]

Wow...alot of ladies with endo and IC...my daughter also has both...she has been on Lupron for 6 months to help contol her endo...had 3 laps...adhesions and more endo even tjough she got lupron. Been on birth control for 1 month since her last lupron shot...hasn't had a period since May so we'll see how bad this one is...it's due next week...she's scared ...hard to tell which is pain from IC or her ongoing endo...guess there's no way to really tell...she says she has pain all the time...sometimes worse then others but constant...lives on her oxycontin and oxycodone for breakthrough...round the clock...what to do ??

Michele

[Sherry5]

I also have endometriosis, adhesions, and ovarian cysts. I had my last lap in November and they removed my endometriosis. That is what led to my iC diagnosis. Before, my laps had always relieved my pain. This time I hurt much worse, so he felt my bladder, I screamed, and we were on our way to a diagnosis. I was DXed two weeks ago and have been in pain ever since. I can't distinguish my bladder pain from my uterin pain. I wonder how long I have had IC and just thought it was my female problems. How do you distinguish?

By the way, my doctor refuses to give me percocet, and made me feel guilty for asking. He said it would make my IC worse. How is that possible when so many ICers are on it? It seems to be the only thing that breaks through my pain.

[stillprayin']

sherry,
It sounds to me that you need to talk to your Dr. I only take my percocet during my period. It can really help along w/ a heating pad. I don't think any Dr has the right to make you feel guilty for having pain killers with this disease. As long as your in pain, you deserve some type of help. Your dr should be your support system not make you feel guilty. Hope your feeling better and good luck
Laura :)

[michelesgirl]

My daughter was diagnosed the same way..her 3rd lap for her endo and the doctor decided to check her for IC because on exam her bladder was tender and that's how she found out about her IC after a whole year of constant pain and the different doctors telling her they didn;t know why and it must be her endo but really shouldn't because of getting Lupron to stop it...now we don't know if her pain is IC or endo...the pain is across her back and abdomen, cramping, stabbing at times...so severe at times she vomits and passes out from it...maybe that is when it's her IC and she has a flare. We are still new to IC..since October so she is trying to avoid the voids and drinks on the "list" and she really hasn't had a really bad painful spell since New Years' day...she drank on NY Eve !!!

She has been taking all the IC meds since October..but still needs her pain meds daily so she can get around, but still can't work...hasn't worked a regular full time jon in almost a year. She either gets fired from missing time or has to quit...she now thinks she wants to try again...
Sorry to hear your doctor won't give you pain meds to conrol your pain. She did take percocet but it really didn';t help and she was taking ALOT more than the doctor wanted..not good because of th Tylenol in it which can damage your liver. That's when he started her on the oxycontin and oxycododne for breakthrough pain and it helps. Yes, she has built up a tolerance to these drugs because she has been taking them so longg and she does have a chemical dependency that the doctor expected but he says right now she needs to be able to function and not live in extreme pain...chronic pain can be controlled with the right meds and the right doctor monitoring them. He does have a game plan on getting her off the meds when her pain starts to decrease....which it has slightly. I am concerned but I trust him...he has been the only one that has helped her in a year.
I hope we can figure out what pain is what..like I said her period week on her pills in next week...1st one since May...we shall see !!!!

Michele

[Sherry5]

Today my doctor gave me Vicodin, and he only gave me twenty. I told him it doesn't really work for my strong pain, and that percocet works better. He said,"I won't give you anything stronger. I only give percocet for surgery patients." I don't know about you, but my IC hurts worse than post surgery. But he made me feel guilty for even asking. I don't even like to take pills. I have ten percocets left from my surgery that I have been hoarding for my cruise next week. I am just afraid it won't be enough. Should I ask to see a urologist? I have heard that Uros are stingy with pain meds as well. What do you think?

He also said that narcotics make IC worse. Has anyone else heard this? I have three small kids, and I need to be able to function.

[tiffanyc]

thanx for replying laura
wot kind of medicane do u take for your pain?
all i have at the moment is ibuprofen and my heating pad.
at the moment i dont feel 2 bad everyday u wake up and womder how you will
feel today.
how long have you had ic, did u say u have had endometriosis?
how do u feel at the moment?