QuestionI am 24 (march 30, 1980), I have a daughter almost 2 (may 20, 2002) April 20th 2004 was the first day of my last period.
I have been experiencing severe cramping and bloating around 2 weeks before my periods. I even had an ultrasound done the last time this happened and the doctor told me yes, my uterus was spasming. I was also told about 3 months ago I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I have cut out white bread and fast food out of my diet, I've been trying to eat healthier, and be more active, but I am just getting more frustrated because nothing is working. I am around 5'1 in height and I weigh about 118 lbs. Please help me, I have been seeing my family doctor and 3 different specialists, and nothing is being resolved. I can't go on like this. Sometimes I hurt so bad, I can't even take my daughter outside to play. I hurt so bad last month that I had a whole week of work and they had me on tylenol 2's and still nothing helped. Sometimes a heat pack on my stomach (lower abdomin) helped a bit, but didn't fully work.I think it distracted me more than anything. PLEASE help me. I can't go on like this. My relationship with my boyfriend is getting worse because of this, my selfesteem and even my daughter is suffering because of my condition...If you have any suggestions, I am willing to try anything. I hope you can help. Thank you for you time. Kim Landry kim.landry@sympatico.ca
PS: Even if you can give me any suggestions to the questions I should be asking my doctor...please let me know, because when I go for my visits, they make me feel like "what else can we do" and thats not a very good feeling. I am also sick of them not trying anything and then rebooking appointments...like what is that going to do or accomplish, obviously they aren't the ones having to live with these symptoms!
AnswerIf you are having these symptoms every month, around two weeks prior to your period, it cold be due to "mittelshmerz" (middle of the month pain), which occurs around the time of ovulation, or it can, indeed, be due ot an irritable uterus or endometriosis. Tylenol will usually not help. More effective relief will be found with non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents, such as Motrin, Advil, etc., however they may exacerbate your IBS. YOu will have to talk to your Gastroenterologist to see if you can take these types of medications. Another possible therapy (if it is due to endometriosis or mittelshmerz) is to go on a course of birth control pills for awhile. Very often this will alleviate the problem. Of course, a diagnosis of endometriosis must be made by laparoscopy where nodularity would be seen in the areas outside the uterus where some endometrial tissue may be found. However, endometriosis is usually seen around the time of the period, not two weeks before. That is all I can suggest for now. If I think of anything else, I will let your know.
