Excruciating Periods

For about two years, most times when I get my period I am in so much pain, I can't move, have terrible cramps, nausea, and vomiting for the entire first day of my period.

I've talked to my doctor, and all he had to say was, "that's wierd"... and he perscribed me painkillers and anti-nauseants... which work... sometimes (also, they have to be taken with food, and it's pretty hard to eat when you're throwing up all day).

So my question is, does this happen to anyone else, and how can I make it stop, or make it better?

I've tried many different painkillers and anti-nauseants, and even when they stay down, they don't do much. Also, I have a really low body fat %... 8% right now (100lbs), and 15% at my normal weight (112lbs). Even at 93lbs in the hospital after abdominal surgery I still got it (unlucky me!) and the pain was worse than my pain from recovery.

The last thing I thought may have something to do with it is nutrient levels, so I've been watching my calcium and iron intake and both are generally over 100%, so I'm not sure if that actually is relevant.

Any thoughts or advice on things to try taking of eating (that might stay down) would be really helpful, since I'm trying to gain weight, and every month I end up losing 2-5lbs because of this (which is really frustrating since it takes about a month to gain 2-5lbs).

Have they checked for endometriosis?  The only definitive way to check for this is surgery.  It's an overgrowth of the lining of the uterus and it leads to very painful periods.  If I were you I'd get a second opinion, preferably from someone who knows more about women's health issues (aka looks for the source instead of just treating the symptoms).

Ask for sodium naproxen! Or, if you're in the states, you can get it over the counter, I think.
It's AMAZING. It takes about two hours to work, but if you start taking a low dosage three days before you think you'll get your period, the pain will be MINIMAL. Naproxin = god. :D  I get pains so bad that I've passed out.. been rushed to emergency... and have gotten concerned calls asking if someone's hurt (I'd scream. LOUD.)

I've actually been perscribed naproxen, and it doesn't seem to work... but maybe I can try taking it a few days earlier... the only problem is I sometimes get cramps/pain about a week before I get my actual period.

I've never heard of endometriosis... but after reading about it on good old wikipedia, I think I should probably look into it further... It also said eliminating wheat and dairy should help...

I used to have really heavy and painful periods.  I got an IUD and now they are almost non-existant.  It made a huge difference.   First of all I would go to a different doctor who has something more to say than "that's weird" and make sure nothing serious is going on then talk about getting an IUD.

I had the same exact thing as you and my doctor gave me the naproxen wistfulxthinking is talking about. You have to take it BEFORE the pain gets really bad for it to work the best. If you realize you are getting your period and take it before any pain even starts, there will barely be ANY pain.  I thought this stuff was a miracle when I first tried it because same as you, 4 days out of every month I just could not function because of excruciating pain.

I feel a lot more "normal" now. Other women would always talk about their periods as just an 'inconvenience'... and now I can feel the same way about it. =) Please keep trying to get a medical solution because this type of pain is NOT normal or necessary. 

I have the same problem.  I had a uterine lining cancer issue, and since then, my periods have been a nightmare.  I go through an overnight pad every two hours during my first two days.  It isn't fun, but I am not into medical intervention if it can be avoided.  I would rather try to work through it that to medicate it.

Working out everyday helps a TON.  I feel a lot better, and the pain (and the whole period) is lighter and shorter lasting.

I also allow myself to lay in bed for a couple of guilt-free hours on my first day with a good book, a cup of tea, and my snuggie.  My snuggie is a sock filled with cracked corn that we microwave for about 3 minutes.  It is nice and warm, and molds to fit what hurts.

I know what to expect every month, so I honor it, and do what works for me.  You may want to try it once, and see if it helps.  If not, you haven 't lost anything!

did you go to a gynecologist or just your regular family practice doctor?

It is never normal to live in extreme pain.  Get a second opinion.  Go to a gyno if the first doc wasn't one.  I have really painful periods and start taking 1 over the counter naproxen pill two days before I am due to start and it cuts it down to a dull ache most of the time.  Naproxen usually works like a charm for this.  So be proactive in your own healthcare and don't be afraid to be a little pushy.  You deserve to be healthy and without pain.

My symptoms were not as severe & my gyno told me it was likely endometriosis.  He said we can treat it surgery or chemically (drugs) and he suggested to try the drugs.  If they don't work we can do laproscopic surgery.  I took megace for several months & it worked like magic.  It helped increase my appetite too because at the time I was very under weight.  Eventually I went on the pill but took them back to back (no placebo, or week off) for 3 months then 1week off repeat.  I did this for 20 years.  The less periods the better.  Now they have seasonique or seasonale b/c pills.  If it's endometriosis you can have some damage with each period.  Please see another doctor & get a 2nd opinion!  Even a third if you are not helped & can afford it.  I hope you are feeling better very soon!  You should not have to suffer.  My doctor said pain like this is not normal. 

Are you on the pill?  I had been on the pill for years and then all of a sudden my periods got really bad.  Horrible bleading, cramps, indigestion, gas and bloating.  Went to the gyno and they did some tests and couldn't find anything wrong.  My doctor suggested that I go off the pill.  I did and haven't had a bad period since.

Wow, I have the same thing! I think you have dysmenorrea <-- can't spell it.  But it's really painful periods but not as horrible as endometriosis.  On the first day I get chills, and then hot flashes and I end up shivering in bed.  I do vomit on the first day and constantly have to go to the bathroom. Yup.  My mom had endometriosis, and they checked me for dysmennorea.  Birth control helped me. On BC I hardly felt anything. 

And I also used to use Naprosen.  It doesn't help as well as BC before.  

Yup, dysmenorrhea is pretty much what you call that whole problem with having insanely bad periods as far as I know. It can be a symptom of endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Some folks here have already explained endometriosis, so I won't bother. PCOS involves cysts being formed on your ovaries where the eggs release from, and the nasty periods are accompanied by high testosterone levels and messed up levels of other things in your blood. I think insulin may also be involved. Anyway, if somebody's weight is more than it seems like it ought to be or you have excess facial hair, those could be other indicators of PCOS. I guess that makes it pretty unlikely in your case, but I thought I should mention it as a possibility. My doctor thought I had it, but blood tests showed that wasn't my problem. I just have unexplained dysmenorrhea. I take birth control pills to keep it in check. As long as I stay on the pills, my periods are lighter, shorter, and a lot less painful. When I go off them, I deal with the horrible nasty ones again. I've pretty much given up on trying to figure out what, specifically, is causing my problem. My doctor said that about 25% of women with dysmenorrhea never do find out exactly what causes it. We decided that as long as we know what treatment works, it's not necessary to do more tests just to name it.

 To sum up, amila, I suggest you give birth control pills a try. A lot of insurance companies will even cover them as long as it's understood that they are prescribed as a form of hormone therapy for your painful periods and not just for safe sex. You could also try a birth control injection, which can stop your periods from happening entirely and thus prevent you from getting really nasty ones, but the side effects are a bit riskier (possible depression springs to mind, and also large amounts of weight gain; weight gain from the pills is generally small and mostly in the breasts in my experience).

 Take care of yourself! I hope you feel better!

I went through much of what you did. I had endoscopic surgery at 30 to remove endometriosis so I know mind bending pain well. I was taking prescribed narcotics to deal with the pain. Surgery was an option but it would have to be a lot more aggressive as it's been ten years since my last surgery and I  have since become type 1 diabetic.  So surgery is v. risky for me on many levels. I went to several specialists. I am fortunate to live in Chicago where there are fantastic docs. One of them actually prescribed a daily pain med to deal with my chronic pain.  I didn't like that since my pain is really only one or two days a month where I can't go to work or be in public and hope not to pass out again.

The long and short of it is after several docs, I found my answer. I cannot get on the pill which is what they also wanted to do...so i got an IUD.  It was tough with daily periods for a couple months but now, I feel FREE!!! I don't have to worry about when my period will strike me down!   My last three periods have been minimally uncomfortable for a few days... NOTHING like real pain...and if you have it, you know what I mean.  I don't even have to take advil for it and I don't have to miss a day of work, vacation or even a meeting!  Ah. I didnt' realize how much it was stressing me out until the pain is removed.