Painful Period

[latechgrad26.livejournal.com]

Greetings All

I'm currently experiencing severe menstrual cramps. I feel the pain throughout my abdomen, legs, and back. I've been having my menstrual cycle since I was 12 and I've had painful periods since then, I'm now 30. I've tried birth control pills (Lybrel, Ortho Tricyclen, Seasonique, Ovcon 35, Microgestin), Lupron, painkillers (Vicodin, Vioxx, Ponstel, Motrin), and nothing seems to work. I had a laparoscopy to determine if I had endometriosis in 2005 and the results were negative. I also had a D&C at the same time. I've had ovarian cysts since 2005 and I have fibroid tumors, some have now calcified but I have several others.

I was taking Junel but after I started my current pack of pills 3 weeks ago, I've been bleeding. I saw my doctor on Thursday and he told me that he'd be switching me to Junel Fe 1.5/30 but I'm wary of continuing to take birth control pills at this point. He also informed me that my blood platelets were extremely low, I don't know if that's related to the lengthy bleeding or not. He prescribed Ponstel but I feel like I just threw $42 away for medicine that has never worked for me in the past. He's unable to prescribe stronger pain medicine so I'm out of luck.

Is there anything else that I can do? Thank you in advance for any suggestions or advice that you can offer.

Comments

[patchworkorange]

When I went for excessive bleeding and pain, the Mirena was suggested and is indicated today not only as birth control, but to help control this.

Have you considered trying that?

[archangelbeth]

About my best resource would be http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/16972050.html -- good luck!

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

For cramps, I have found nothing better than cramp bark. Yogi Moon Cycle Tea got me through my adolescent cramps, but Vitanica Cramp Bark Plus (http://www.vitanica.com/supplements_05.htm) made my Mirena adjustment much easier. I don't know if you're okay with naturopathic medicine--not homeopathy--but if you're open to trying herbal medicine, it's worth a shot.

[dkwgdk.livejournal.com]

I'm 35, and I've had severe menstrual pain since my teens. I got a Mirena in April of 2011, and it's significantly reduced my pain. Before the Mirena, and during my adjustment to it, cramp bark (suggested above by knittinggoddess) helped a great deal. I took Aunt Flo's Period Relaxer, it was very effective, and it didn't give me the stomach pain that ibuprofen and Aleve did.

The Mirena was a freaking miracle, as far as moderating my cramps and bleeding is concerned. I still have very regular periods, but they are far lighter and less painful. (Not light by any means, but manageable.) And I only needed two doses of cramp bark this time!

I have severe depression that seems to get worse with oral contraceptives, but the Mirena didn't have this effect. I have also tested negative for fibroids, adenomyosis, cysts, etc., basically any explanation for my pain other than possibly endo. I've not had laproscopy yet and as the Mirena is working, I am going to leave it for now.

Good luck, I sympathize.

[tigress35.livejournal.com]

I don't have fibroids, but would get bad cramps... eating a lot of fish high in omega 3 like salmon and albacore tuna, eating as little fried foods/vegetable oils and eating low carb has helped a great deal.