I have the most painful periods... is this normal?

Question

I have always had the worst freakin' cramps ever. They get so bad sometimes that I throw up, faint, and get all clammy. I can sometimes control it by taking midol before I get any symptoms around that time of the month but when I forget it is so painful. I have literally curled up in a ball and cried praying that I don't die because it hurt that bad. I use to miss school, I fainted at work. I dunno. I've been told that it is probably just an iron deficiency but I took iron and still had the cramps. Has anyone else gone through this?

I am actually 21. Not in school anymore. A doctor is what told me I am slightly anemic and said that It was probably an iron deficiency. I'm making an appointment to see a Gynocologist this week but I'm terrified I have something like endometriosis. If I can't have kids... I'll die. This really sucks.

Answer 1

I have and I really feel sorry for you. You need to go to the dr. and let him check you out, there is something that is causing this .

Answer 2

yep - I hear ya! Apart from the most abominable pain (like you I would be curled up in absolute agony) I would also get sweats, diahorrea and vomiting. I have always had this, and I exercise, eat well and have no other medical conditions. Some people say exercise helps ease the pain - well my experience is that is a crock.

I have even had a child and 4 years on not much has changed. Depending on your age, I would say your symptons may improve as you get older. But, I am now nearly 30 and I cannot get by without half a packet of strong analgesia every month. And it is an excellent idea to take it before you get the symptons or as soon as they start, otherwise it doesn't seem to work or it takes ages. I still get tummy troubles each month although I don't vomit anymore. All the best

Answer 3

Yes mine were very bad when i was younger. Like what you are saying.I started mine when i was about 10yrs old. They were very bad. Back then (I'm 49 now) there was the usual over the counter products,heating pad etc. Missing school. When I needed birth control I had the pill. It helped most of it. But I had other medical reasons to get off of them. My period was bad until i got pregnant at 19. After that with nursing and all a few years elapsed and my periods were much better.(Older and a shift in hormones)
Fast track my 3rd child daughter who is now 21 during her 14Th year on had such bad menstrual stuff like you plus such bad PMS mood swings it was unbearable. She missed so much school and had attitude problems with school staff. She was like night and day for half of the month. She tried all the natural stuff that you come up with doing a search. Finally the doctors put her on different birth control pills. That in its self was trying.You have to find the right dose ie estrogen/pro-estrogen blend. Low dose stuff She had to have a few months under her belt to decide. Some made her feel like P.G. Morning sickness. Her high school yrs. were so bad. She eventually found a semi- B.C. pill to work. As she aged her hormone needs changed. She eventually got off the pill due to weight gain on them. She has since 18 not been on the pill. She has had a VERY SLOW turn about in the symptoms. At 21 she now has very little pain. Little P.M.S.
The bottem line is why haven't you gone to a doctor about this? If insurance is a problem then I know for a fact that "Planned Parenthood" does exames and all such things. My daughter went to them in the teens for the pill for her periods. She was a virgin. They can deal with the hormonal issue. They are sliding scale. They can help. Even if you aren't sexualy active. If you have other uterus problems they will be able to diagnose.

Answer 4

When I first started having periods, I too went through a period of time of having very painful periods. I was taken to a gynecologist and he did give me some medication that helped some, but after having more periods, my cramps became less and less.

I was put on the pill when I was 18 to help regulate very irregular periods and that helped with my cramps a lot. My daughter also has painful cramps and finds that Aleve helps her. I have never heard of painful cramps being caused by iron deficiency. I would go and see a gynecologist and have her help you out. There are many things that they can do to help with the problem. Don't suffer anymore, go get help.

Answer 5

I haven't been through it, but I have a cousin who has had the same types of experiences and she was diagnosed with endometriosis.

I'd recommend seeing a gynecologist for a full exam to confirm if what you're experiencing is "normal." If it is, the doctor may be able to provide medication to deal with it. He or she may even put you on a lowdose birth control pill to reduce your symptoms. But only a physician can properly diagnose and treat you!!

IF it is endometriosis: This is where the inner lining of the uterus ends-up on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, etc. During your period, these tissues react just like your uterine lining engorging with blood, but the tissue has no way to escape your body. That's what causes such extreme cramping.

Answer 6

When I was around 13-15 I would get the exact same thing, as I got older it subsided. I still get "bad months" but nothing like it used to be. If it does persist see an OB/GYN. I know the pill helps with bad periods.

Answer 7

I have the same problem sounds to me like endometriosis you can get more info at this link
http://www.stronghealth.com/services/womenshealth/gynecology/endometriosissymptoms.cfm

this link might be better for you

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/endometriosis/a/endoosissympt.htm

Some times the pain can be helped by taking 'the pill' I would recommend you get to a doctor and OB/GYN to be exact and have a check up. It shouldn't this painful.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Yes, you could have ovarian cysts or something else such as endometriosis... See a gynecologist immediately and have this checked out! It makes your hormones go crazy if this is the case!

Answer 9

I know how you feel. Same happens to me, I can't even get out of bed but I'm still there feeling so much pain, nausea, etc. It takes like 4 advil pills to control it. Maybe we sould go to the doctor. I don't know why it happens to some of us.

Answer 10

Yes, I get those too. I have endometriosis. Go talk to a Gynecologist and get checked out.