pain when having a bowel movement whilst menstruating

i no exactually what you are in through im 17 n have been to the doctors 3 times, had a blood test and went on the pill, bt doctors seem to think there is nothing wrong with me, when there clearly is , wen im on i cant even sit down and i end walking round like ive pooed myself because i cant stand up properly, or lay down im still a virgin so dnt now if its goons cause me pain during sex, i hope not!!! mine only lasts for the first day or 2 but the pain is unbearable.

Hello everyone,
I've been experiencing this excruciating bowel pain on the second day of my period for the past 4 years.
I am shocked to see there are so many others with the exact same problem! a year ago during the summer i started drinking a lot of smoothies made from mangoes and yogurt. that month i did not experience any pain at all.
I did this over several months and found that it consistently worked!

I mean i went from screaming and meeting my death on the toilet seat to just slight discomfort. My regular menstrual cramps were not affected but my endometriosis bowel pain (the stabbing going through my belly to my bottom) just disappeared. The months that i don't drink yogurt smoothies the pain comes right back! the only change in my lifestyle is the yogurt smoothies.
I put a half cup of yogurt with a half cup of high fiber fruit (mangoes) and enough milk or water to just make liquid. Try this and let me know if it works for anyone. You have to start about 2 weeks before your period and continue to drink ths every day day
until the day you expect your period to arrive.
I'm really curious to see if this works for anyone else...please post your experience. Start today!!

I wrote about this earlier but as a guest so im not sure when it will get posted. so i registered and am writing about it again:

Drink yogurt and fruit smoothies starting two weeks before your period. drink one or two of these everyday right through your period. I found this helped my: i make a mango smoothie using fresh mango fruit , a half cup of yogurt and a half cup of milk. when i do this regularly i do not experience that excruciating deathly pain on the second day of my period with bowel movements. The usual cramps of menstruation stay the same but the stabbing pain that rises like lightening and courses through to my bottom just doesn't happen when i drink this daily.

Please try it and post about whether it helps you!

I was diagnosed with endometriosis years ago. I saw the post about painful bowel movements and it's nice to see some of the suggestions to help. I do have to tell you that weight is a HUGE factor. The more body weight there is, the more estrogen your body delivers. This personally effects me greatly. When I weighed a lot after my children, the endo was much much worse. When I got down to a better weight the endo was better. Drs have confirmed this. Certain fats are really bad for endo too as they play a role in how your body delivers the estrogen. Do a search for endometriosis & diet. It can be really helpful in avoiding a hysterectomy or even menopause (I spent 6 mos in medically induced menopause when I was 28...it only helped temporarily). Best of luck everyone!

I have had this for years(started at 10 and im 36 now).. but didnt only happen during periods.. About 7 years ago i had a hysterectomy A and P repair and bladder lift and none of these surgeries solved the issue (although they were needed)

Last night i was awaken by the intense crushing pain.. like my lower organs in my pelvic are were all choking each other. cold sweat dizzy and agony unable to sit bent over in the fetal position.. the severe pain subsides after a BM. However i feel all bruised up inside for days later..

I had one doctor tell me that the BM was crushing one of the pelvis floor muscles and causing the severe pain.. i have had another doc tell me i dont eat enuff fiber (i eat 50 grams a day).. another doc said it was menstrual cramps (note having hysterectomy above) Only thing that keeps me sane is i know after experiencing these close to 200 times that it isn't going to kill me but it sure screws with quality of life..

What is it!

I've had this condition every since I turned 14 I'm 37 now I don't have any children. I pretty sure its endo although I've never been diagnosed , when I was younger and would go to the doctor they would just prescribe me some Iron pills and laxtives and Iboughren. Its the most debilitating and excruciating pain, although I've learned to manage it it was much worse when I was younger I would get sweats at night I could actually feel my body tingle with the water going to diffrent places by feet and hands would be swollen I would have back pain headaches and fatigue, now it only last about 2-3 days of my periods I go through about 8 pads in a single day the first two days of my period, when have to go #2 I scream. but the way I manage it now is I take 2 200 Iboughphren tables 3 days before my period and take them through out the day while I'm on it drink lots of water exercise and eat lots fruits and vegetable, a change in diet really does help it can actually totally stop the pain from coming., I don't have any medical insurance so there is no chance of me getting any medical help.

Hello,

I am going through this horrible pain right now as I write this. I finally decided to do some research to try and find and answer to my pain and could not believe how many other women are going through the same.
So here's my story. I am 38 years old and mother to 2 boys, both born by c-section. My pain started about 3 years after my last baby. At first I though that I wasn't drinking enough water. Because the pain left like dry poop moving inside my intestines, scraping the walls and causing the pain. So, once I new that this pain was coming on the first day of my period; I started drinking lots of water the week before I started. It did help on those first few months, but there was never full relief.
I told my OBGYN and she couldn't explain why I was feeling like this and she never even brought up endometriosis. She sent me to the lab and had me scheduled for some ultrasounds. I had and internal ultrasound and also the kind that you have when you are pregnant. They showed nothing. Her next step was to send me to a gastrointestinal doctor. This is what he said. The pain is caused by a combination of stress, hormones and having children. He said he could do more testing, but he felt that it was unnecessary. He told me, you are too young to be put on medication for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so go the healthy way. Since it only happens one day a month, "deal with the pain". He obviously has no idea what pain like this feels like.

I guess I should consider myself lucky because I don't get the pain every single month. My periods aren't as heavy as other women who have posted here. But when I do get them, it is unbearable.
I can't sit; I also don't like to eat during this time. I found out that chewing triggers the movement on your bowels and that is so scary.

Out of all the post I have read, no one has posted a solution for it and this scares me. I can not accept that there's nothing we can do to alleviate this pain. I have theories about caffeine and the intake of water and also stress. I wasn't as careful this month and was drinking a cup of tea every morning the week before my cycle and I've also have more reasons to be stress over this last month that the month before.
I think I'm going to start a journal and write down everything that I do right before my period. Diet, exercise, water intake, stress level, anything that can help to solve this mystery.
Thanks for listening and for posting your stories, it does help to know that I am not the only one who is going through this, even though I don't wish for any of you to be going through it. You know what I mean??
Good luck to all of us.

Hi. So glad to see these stories that I thought I'd share my own feedback so far.

Me, I am 34, 2 caesarians, PCOS and IBS (though much of latter found to be wheat intolerance). I recently had ultrasounds that showed excessively thick endometrium 2 days after a period and about 10 cysts on my ovaries. The BM agony is in the last 3 or 4 cycles, (and like childbirth!) but I have had problems with my hips, pelvis and recurrent pain between my legs and all the attaching muscles and ligaments since my first child. Sometimes I feel like everything is popping out down below, sometimes I have trouble walking. My gynie/obgyn didn't notice any problems 6 months after the birth of my second child, before this BM pain started.

Anyhoo...my women's health clinic doctor has confirmed what I'd started- senna, strong laxatives and stool softeners to soften the poos, lots of water, fibre and pain relief, especially anti-inflammatories like Ponstan. I've been doing this on my own but not to the degree she recommended. I ended up with diarrhoea yesterday and was grateful for it. She wants me to fine -tune until I have very soft poos. I'm not sure how it will go at the beginning of my cycle when even passing a tiny fart is agony, but I thought I'd pass her ideas on.

She suggests endometrosis or pooling of blood in the sac between the anus and the vagina, which seems to match my symptoms. I have pain there a lot, but more during my periods. I always seem to bleed from the bottom during periods but it's hard to 'prove' as they are so heavy. Previous doctors have always discounted the blood that shows up in the urine or BM. She said that BMs etc may have caused a tiny tear or more and that may be worsening the pain and causing bleeding. This one has referred me to a gyno and says surgery may be possible to help.

In the meantime, I'm going to try those smoothies and long walks!

Thanks to everyone who was honest, open and sharing about this!!

I've been posting here a while now, I just thought I would update and give thanks to the more women who have shared what (trust me, I know) are embarrassing tales.

Adding fibre to the diet, for me, made no difference but I'll keep trying it, along with the smoothie idea. Can anyone come up with a list of what are the most fibre-rich fruits? I usually use blueberries/strawberries/bananas when I do smoothies but would appreciate input.

I am now two weeks away from my period, and aiming to take at least one fibre capsule a day. I would also recommend avoiding anything which may cause constipation, or general bowel irritation: this includes certain painkillers (eg. codeine), fizzy drinks etc. I would definitely say avoid the fizzy drinks if you have gas problems because they definitely don't help, and having gone through a huge bottle of pepsi in the last week I'm now suffering for it.

I have had a blood test to see if I can go for the laporoscopy during summer. You won't believe the incompetent doctor I had.. she had the nerve to imply that my pain during sex was because I'd lost my virginity to a guy I "wasn't too keen on." and when I found the right guy "it would all be okay." AND twice had to leave the room to ask her consultant for ideas. I hope she's not practiciing medicine for very long, I felt so insulted. The sort of way that people who don't understand what we go through tell us we should just suck up and cope with the pain.. Anyway, if I get the lap I'll tell you what they find.

Until then I guess I can just keep offering my sympathies, and hope that some of you find a solution for this soon! Best wishes.

-L.

I have never posted a message on a board before but am completely stunned to find out that my random search of my symptoms has brought up all of the above. I've been having sharp shooting pains in my bowel during the first day or two of my period for the past three years or so (as most of the posts above have described) that instinctively make me cry out when I have a bm or have to pass wind. Luckily I have been able to cope as they only last briefly for a day for or so but what worries me is that it could get worse as time goes on. For the first time ever I have experienced what feel like sharp prodding pains on what I can only think is my cervix for a couple of days prior to the period I've just started which made me search the internet. I did mention my symptoms in passing a couple of years ago when I visited the GP but as she was examining me for something else which took priority she just sympathised, although did acknowledge she had heard this before and I got the impression it was just something I would have to put up with.

However, some time ago I came across an article on endometriosis in the newspaper and having read that did wonder if I had endometrium attached to my bowel (!!) as the pains always happened when I have the heaviest time of my period. Having read this thread - and having never seen any other experiences before - it does sound likely. I feel so sorry for those who've suffered so early in life - I assumed endometriosis was something that happened as women got older - although now I will research this properly.

I've saved this thread as a favourite so will check back to see how others are doing.

Thanks also for sharing experiences - it's enlightening to know I'm not alone.

Re the above - as you can see, I am new! Meant to say that I'm 40 with two children - last one born in 1999 by caesarean.

Wow - so many women with same/similar symptoms. I am overwhelmed and feel greedy to get an answer for it all! Drs - please help us!

My experience: 2nd baby born 11 months ago, the days after his birth were my first experience of this pain. So severe it was WORSE than the actual childbirth (which was normal). The midwives thought it was after-pains. They reported also my uterus had returned to shape but was now retroverted (facing my back) for the first time.
No periods for following 8 months while breastfeeding. 3 months ago the pain returned with my first period. Approx 2 weeks before it (and subsequent periods) I get dull ache in lower left abdomen. Cannot sleep-in as it hurts in my abdomen and back in the mornings. Standing upright is the only thing that takes it away.
The pain with bowel movement in first 1-2 days of my period is again excruciating! Screaming on the toilet etc as the rest of you describe. Also painful for even the tiniest of farts, yet letting them out does bring some relief from the pain. Have had to stop using tampons during these days. Milder but omnipresent pain in the same area during the surrounding days.
Have thought of possible reasons: ovarian cysts, bowel cancer(!), IBS, Endometriosis, fusion of endo tissue and bowel, hernia... Waiting to see a specialist next week.
It seems like those who have not had a proper 'lap' test to diagnose endometriosis have had that option perhaps wrongly discounted by doctors?? It must have something to do with it - why else would the pain be associated with menstruation?
Perhaps the retroverted uterus is the culprit? Could it be a hernia (an organ, in this case the uterus, popped through muscle tissue) then when it is swollen pre-menstruation it hurts a lot more?
Your comments have been REALLY helpful. Thanks! The diet tips are definitely worth a try.

I am 28, thin, otherwise healthy. Had 2 early miscarriages before first child. 2 Normal pregnancies and births. Regular periods until this month therefore this is my first suspicion that endometriosis could be what is wrong with me.

I think this is a common assumption, even within the medical profession. The doctor I saw, when I asked her for a laporoscopy to check for Endo, said she didn't want to give me the surgery because I was "only 19, and endometriosis is usually only common in women over 30." As far as I'm concerned this is bull, I think both my aunt and my mum suffered similarly in their youth and from what I've heard on here there are a lot of people my age who also have the symptoms of it.



I have the laporoscopy booked in for the 24th July (finally!) and am hoping this can produce something conclusive. To other people here, I would say if you think you have endometriosis and don't mind the idea of minor investigative surgery, see if your doctor will recommend you for a Lap. It's the only real way to confirm or disconfirm endometriosis, and while I'm finding the idea of any surgery a bit daunting, I'll take it over the thought of having to put up with this suffering.



Hope everything turns out okay for all you girls on here, I'll probably post back again when I get my results.



-L.

Im currently being checked for endometriosis, i have very painful bowel movement during my periods, its awful. Also me and my partner can no longer have intercourse because of the pain. Hopefully it gets sorted out. Ive tried everything to stop the pain, menafemic acid was amazing, took the pain away for a while but i had an allergic reaction to it, you should try this. :-) x

Like everyone else on here, I am so very thankful to have found this thread. I was dreading looking into this, as I was thinking the worst (anal cancer - Farrah Fawcett just died of it!). I'm breathing a sigh of relief that this is actually more common than I thought.

My bio-

I'm turning 31 in August, and have 2 children. My symptoms started about 6 months after the birth of my second child, or about a year ago. I have severe pain in my bowels the first two days of my menses. It is exactly as many of you have described; cold sweats, holding of the breath, and gripping of the sink in case you pass out. Passing gas or sitting straight down also causes the pain during these first two days. I find I have to sit at an backwards angle - that is, if I even venture out of the bed.

My mother had a hysterectomy at the age of 28 due to endometrial cancer. I will be having this looked at in a few months, as medical insurance will be valid then (have to love that 90 day waiting period).

I just wanted to thank all the ladies on here for your personal insights, suggestions, and tips with the doctor. It has eased my mind to know that I can be prepared before I go in to have myself checked out. I will certainly be forceful in my want for a Lap test. I find it interesting that all of these doctors are just shrugging the intensity of the pain off. I think I'll also come prepared with this thread, printed out for proof that I'm NOT crazy!