Extremely painful period

Ladies I need a piece of advice. I have very painful period. When I read tips on how to help menstrual cramps it always seems to me that those tips relate to some other category of pain. I mean, "taking a walk", "soaking in a tub", "apply heat" etc  seems ridiculous when I am throwing up, fainting and curl and scream in severe pain. Ibuprofen helps only if I take 4-5 times the recommnded doze (I am serious), vicodin makes me throw up and faint. One time I had to go to emergency room for morphine IV. Doctor said that there's nothing wrong with me (did not run any tests though) and put me on birth control. Since I am homosexual and do not care in preventing pregnancy, the idea of being on a pill only to keep the pain away seems... weird. And it also makes me bleed in between periods. So do you guys think it is normal or that I should find a new doc and try to figure out what is the reson?

Get a second opinion pronto! I had the EXACT same thing happen to me and it's because I had gi-normous cysts on my ovaries. I've since had them removed and voila - no more kick ass period cramps! Well, at least not the kind that make me writhe on the floor in pain. My doctor pulled that 'take birth control' stuff at first too and I thought the same thing as you...I'm a lesbian and was like really? A birth control pill? Is there another way?  There was and now it's much better.

yeah, i've been to a doctor 3 times and they didnt even check anything out just put me on the pill. next time you go, don't drop it until they say something else. it might be cysts, dysmenorrhea, or endometriosis or something else.  

i think bc is bs, and i also used to take a lot of otc painkillers, there are side effects to that crap. 

its scandalous your doc didnt even look into it. their JOB is to diagnose not fob u off with some BCP.

i have PCOS and am on dianette, but even with that i have horrible painful heavy periods--one day out of the month i LITERALLY cannot leave the house at all its so bad. a lot of clotting (sorry) as well.

go back and demand a diagnosis or get another doctors opinion, the latter being the approach i would take.

if u have fibroids, pcos, endometriosis...etc....they all should be treated asap. good luck!x

I agree that you need to find a doctor who will figure out WHY you are having such painful periods. 

I went on BC pills when I was about 16 because I used to get the worst cramps ever during my period- like you said: sweating, throwing up, doubled over in pain. The pill actually helped alot, but I have had a number of other gynecological issues over the years- ovarian cysts, PCOS and uterine fibroids, which I'm sure could have been found earlier, if I had been checked out more thoroughly....

I second the second opinion.  My best friend used to suffer horribly too and they were going to do a hysterectomy... until her dad found a different Dr. that actually checked her out really well and come to find out she had varicose veins (of all things!) wrapped around her internal girl parts.

She's since had 2 more babies and only normal PMS-y stuff every once in a while like the rest of us.

Find a doctor that will *listen*

Thank you so much ladies... it's great that women do not have to get "it's in your head" anymore. I am going to fix an appointment with another doctor.

Even if they do find something else... the best way to treat your heavy, painful periods is probably the pill. It really honestly does wonders for your period and lots of women take it for the period issues and not for pregnancy prevention. I don't think that's weird at all. You could even look into Seasonique, which gives you only 4 periods a year. A lot of women like to have a monthly period because they like assurance they're not pregnant, but since that's not an issue for you, why not get rid of the stupid period for most of the year?

Gosh, I would also recommend seeing another Doctor, and getting a second opinion. I have also been to several Gyns over the years who have had me on this or that pill - all with side effects. I can recommend a book for you - it is usually available at Whole Foods: Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, by Christiane Northrup, M.D. I have found this book to be so helpful with many girlie things and questions. The book gives some advice and know how from a more matriarchal, holistic perspective, which is sometimes nice. Take care and nurture yourself. 

I would probably be ok with the idea of the pill, but I do get bad side affects. 10 days ago I started bleeding in between two periods. I thought "no big deal", I read that spotting is ok. But it has been like a full-blown menstruation, I have been bleeding for 10 days and I guess lost a lot of blood AND I have to constantly be on vicodin (which makes me feel like crap) or ibuprofen because it hurts pretty bad. It sucks. I made an appointment on Tuesday with different doctor.

I know what you mean!!  Exercise!!  I can't stand up without doubling over in pain.  All I can do is lie on the floor in the fetal position and cry. I am up in the middle of the night in tears because I'm having such excruciating cramps.  I'm in my 40s so I am waiting on approval for hysterectomy.  Can't wait.  I dont know how much longer I can stand this intense pain for many days each month.