If you have severe AF cramps...

RedPhoenix625 · November 2012

I usually can tell when AF is coming when I start having mild cramps. I usually also have at least a day or two of moderate cramps, where I need to take Tylenol or ibuprofin. Every two-three months, I get severe cramps that OTC meds and heating pads won't help, that have my doubled over in pain and breathing through them.

I've gotten these every once in a while for about 10-12 years. About 8 years ago, I actually passed out from how bad they were once. I was fine afterwards, and didn't have health insurance because I was in between graduating college and starting a real job, so I didn't go to the ER or anything. Months later, I asked my obgyn about them, and she said something about a cyst that could have burst, it was nothing to be concerned about, put me on me BC and said that would help. Which it sort of did. But the severe cramps are back about every other month since we started TTC and I went off the pill.

I'm thisclose to reaching through my stomach and ripping my damned ute out with my bare hands right now. Holy f?cking OW.

So here's my question...er, questions. The first takes the form of a CP because I like bar graphs: How often do you get cramps that OTC meds don't help?

The second question is, what could be causing this? My HSG, SHG, and countless ultrasounds over the past year and a half have not shown any cysts or abnormalities except for one tiny fibroid.

Thanks for your input, y'all!

ETA: I will be calling my obgyn, too. I just know you guys are so smart and have a lot of varied experiences, and I value your input

[Poll]

nbcarlson · November 2012

I have only had cramps like that about three times ever. But I am expecting AF any day now and yesterday at work I could hardly do anything because my stomach was getting these weird sharp shooting pains constantly. They are gone now, so it was really weird. I have never had it before so I don't know what it is, I am going to blame it on post m/c weirdness for now. Sorry you are feeling so crummy though Red!

RedPhoenix625 · November 2012

nbcarlson:
I have only had cramps like that about three times ever. But I am expecting AF any day now and yesterday at work I could hardly do anything because my stomach was getting these weird sharp shooting pains constantly. They are gone now, so it was really weird. I have never had it before so I don't know what it is, I am going to blame it on post m/c weirdness for now. Sorry you are feeling so crummy though Red!

Thanks nb. I hope yours don't get much worse.

RedPhoenix625 · November 2012

car seat:
Endo. Most of my periods were like that before my first lap. I can't even tell you how dramatic the change was after I had that surgery. Before that I was essentially useless for a day or two every month, and miserable for another few days.

Thanks car. This is my suspicion, too, though I'm admittedly looking for anything to be wrong with me at this point. None of the REs will agree to do a lap, but maybe my obgyn will order it.

TLR813 · November 2012

Every now and then I'll have an extra rough cycle. I need a ThermaCare patch on the front, and a heating pad on the back, and definitely taking something for the pain. It's rough, but usually only on the first day.

katharine25 · November 2012

I second the endo. All the pieces fit.

How you doing with getting those ANA's tested?

anitaflora · November 2012

I had to have an MRI a few months ago to check out a large cyst. They discovered I had endo or uterine adnoydosis. She asked me if I usually got severe cramps. I said yes, but didn't really realize it was worse than anyone else. Then we discussed how I have been on bc since I was pretty young because it helped with cramps. From what you're describing it sounds like similar characteristics so endo or uterine adnoydosis would be my guess too.

Rachaeleigh · November 2012

I say that I rarely get cramps like that. I say rarely because I'm pretty sure I can relate to that pain, especially as I've gotten older, but mine does seem to be helped with OTC medications. I hope your OB is willing to help you out Red.

Gatorsgirl731 · November 2012

I'm also agreeing on the endo. It took forever for them to do a lap on me as well now I've had 3. I get those cramps, every few months or so. (pre loss)

I have always been told they were cysts rupturing and causing infection. But I have a history of cysts. The last time DH called 911 because it was the worse pain I have ever felt. I couldn't stand, sit up, walk, it was coming in waves and your right all I could do was shallow breathe through them. The hospital did an ultra sound and confirmed a cyst was rupturing (that was a Friday), the following Monday my RE did an us and saw my right ovary was the size of a tennis ball, and the cyst that was trying to rupture was as big as a plum. This all leads me to ask have you ever had an us WHILE you were having the pains?

km_md · November 2012

That really sucks Red. I rarely get them, but I was on BCP for so long, and that really helped because my cramps were much worse before that. I hope that you get it figured out!

buggirl72 · November 2012

I agree with endo. What you are describing is a fairly classic symptom. I'm surprised that a lap has not been done on you yet. My lap's were done by OB/GYNs. If you have your OB do it (or refer you) I would make sure they plan on doing a surgical lap and not just a diagnostic one if they do find endo.

luciddreamer106 · November 2012

I have severe cramps maybe every 3 months. I try alternating Tylenol with ibuprofen since you can take those every 6 hours. I'll take 300-400 mg ibuprofen, then 1000 mg of tylenol 3 hours later, then more ibuprofen 3 hours after that, etc. It usually does the trick, but sometimes it still really hurts. I had extra Norco from my m/c, so I had to take that a few times for this cycle.

ETA: The cycles with severe cramps also tend to be heavier, so I assume that's the cause. I'm not sure what other causes could be if all your tests come back normal.

RedPhoenix625 · November 2012

Thank you all for your responses!

car seat:
GAH. That's really f?cking annoying. I vote you move up here for a bit and I'll get you into my RE.

That would be preeeetty sweet. Although I do have some maybe promising news...??? (Post to come, because I'm a PW.)

katharine25:
I second the endo. All the pieces fit. How you doing with getting those ANA's tested?

Nothing yet. I haven't had time yet to get in with my PCP, but it is on my list when I see him!

Gatorsgirl731:
This all leads me to ask have you ever had an us WHILE you were having the pains?

No, I haven't. I don't even know how I would go about doing that, but it makes sense! I do plan on making an appointment with my obgyn, and I will ask her if there's some way I could call next time it happens to get in the same day for an ultrasound. Thanks Gator!

luciddreamer106:
The cycles with severe cramps also tend to be heavier, so I assume that's the cause. I'm not sure what other causes could be if all your tests come back normal.

That is definitely the case here. I always have a day or two of heavy flow, but there are definitely more noticeable clots when there is bad pain. Now that I've had so many thingamajigs stuck in my cervix with the HSG, SHG, and IUIs, I notice that the pain from that, while not as severe, is very similar. I wonder if it's not actually my uterus that is in pain, but my cervix trying to expel those clots?

Again, thanks to everybody who gave me input. I have/had a friend with very bad endo, and I have sort of suspected that might be in play in my case...so I will confess that I was sort of phishing for some of you to suggest that might be the case. FX somebody will f?cking listen to me and give two sh?ts one of these days

luciddreamer106 · November 2012

RedPhoenix625:
luciddreamer106:
The cycles with severe cramps also tend to be heavier, so I assume that's the cause. I'm not sure what other causes could be if all your tests come back normal.
That is definitely the case here. I always have a day or two of heavy flow, but there are definitely more noticeable clots when there is bad pain. Now that I've had so many thingamajigs stuck in my cervix with the HSG, SHG, and IUIs, I notice that the pain from that, while not as severe, is very similar. I wonder if it's not actually my uterus that is in pain, but my cervix trying to expel those clots?

For me, part of it is definitely my cervix along with uterine cramping. I could never really figure out the source until I took Cytotec. That suppository clearly made my cervix dilate and it's a similar type pain during AF.

I've been suspecting endo, too. If I end up making my RE appointment after this cycle, it's something I'm going to bring up.

Want a personalized experience?

If you have severe AF cramps...

Re: If you have severe AF cramps...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards