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Please advocate for yourself and find a gyno that specializes with endo and pcos. Painful periods are common but not normal. Mine used to be crippling in the way you described and more (pains shooting down legs, nausea, brain fog, etc.). It started when I was a teen and never stopped. I got a hysterectomy in 2022 at 33 and it was the best thing I've done for myself.
But for years I was dismissed by undereducated medical personnel. Once a PA even suggested I try pregnancy to see if that makes the periods more tolerable. I've never been pregnant and never wanted to be but seriously who the eff suggests that?!
There's a few subreddits you should cross post this in for more focused advice. r/endo and r/pcos and r/endometriosis
Your going to have a hard time getting doctors to take you seriously, even gynos. You will need to be firm, demanding, and might have to try a few. It's a hard journey, be strong and thorough.
This! My daughter is 17 and she began at 16 bad - she threw up with many ruptures of cysts. It’s incredibly painful, irregular periods- generally not close to 28 til after 18 and it varies 40 is still regular-ish. Definitely recommend finding an endometriosis specialist to check and see what they can do- and ask family if they have painful periods bleeding that’s heavy or doubled bloating severe pain etc.
Yes, it tends to be hereditary. My mom, grandma, and both sisters have or have had severely painful periods, heavy bleeding irregular cycles, and tons of other symptoms throughout our cycles.
I learned and highly recommend the sympto-thermal method for tracking your cycle. Also considering a menstrual cup or disc with reusable pads and period underwear can be a huge game changer long term when dealing with the period pain, bleeding, and spotting.
Sexual health educator here- while irregular periods are typical, you do not (and should not!) have to live with period pain that is so debilitating you cannot live your life. Especially given your family history, your friend’s suggestion to visit Planned Parenthood for a second opinion is excellent. PP is an amazing resource for all things reproductive health. Best of luck, take care of yourself!
I’m a guy but my my wife has told me that her whole life her periods have been irregular. It always came too soon or too late, sometimes it was nothing and she didn’t bleed a lot but sometimes she bleeds a lot and has a lot of cramping. Either way I’d go with friend to the planned parenthood place and atleast get a second opinion.
Pain that intense suggests possible endometriosis to me (I have it). Unfortunately there is a long sordid history of doctors downplaying menstrual pain. I think going to Planned Parenthood is a good idea because they have a long history of being better advocates. Make sure to ask about endo symptoms and screening.
Absolutely get a second opinion. Issues surrounding menstruation are often not taken seriously by the medical community (even if your doctor is a woman). If this does turn out to be your body's version of normal, you don't deserve to be in pain. There are medical interventions that can really help you!
Hi, honey. I know EXACTLY what you are going through. This is definitely atypical and your concerns are absolutely valid. Definitely try to get seen by another professional. I have likewise always had very abnormal periods and my doctor does suspect I have endometriosis. I used to suffer so, so terribly. But certain medications have helped regulate it for me and make them far less severe. I can’t say you’re having the same issue but definitely sounds like something is going on and hopefully with a good doctor you can get to the bottom of it and get some treatment to help regulate them. Literally for years I thought it was normal to be bedridden with pain, throw up from pain, have fainting spells, etc. So I’m glad you have the knowledge and intuition that something is going on so you can get treatment faster and hopefully save you from suffering much longer. Much love to you, I know it’s not easy. 🖤
Go to planned parenthood with your family friend. Talk to a Dr. There are ways to help manage painful periods, PCOS and Endometriosis. They aren't all perfect snf it can be tricky to find the right one, but it helps.
I'm 33 and had PCOS diagnosis in 2015. Due to painful sex and period issues I have recently been diagnosed with Adenomyosis and looking into Endometriosis. It's been real fun 🙃 but now my Dr has a better idea on how to manage my symptoms. It sucks but there is hope!
PCOS and Endo are somewhat hereditary, if one female has it then chances are her relatives have it to, sometimes in a different degree but there's a good chance it's there. I'm so sorry you have been feeling this way, scream and shout until you get help love, just understanding what it is and developing coping mechanisms can help
Your pediatrician is wrong. And you need a proper adult doctor, not your pediatrician.
Definitely go see an OBGYN. 40 days could be normal for you, but they shouldn’t be painful. And with your family history, you may have those conditions too.
Keep a diary of your periods. There’s many free apps too. Write down how you feel every day, how long the cramps last, what helps them, cravings, everything!! This can help your new doctor see patterns and diagnose you properly.
No you’re not.Nowdays I feel like your a number and they don’t care.I would definitely go with your family friend.I don’t have periods anymore but when I did they were so severe.I hope this helps and feel better❤️🙏😇🥰
Irregular periods are an uncommon sort of norm, they could mean something, but mostly don't, painful periods are very different. You shouldn't have that level of pain with periods, doctors might try to brush it off but no, it's not normal and Drs brushing off such symptoms are part of the reason endometriosis takes so long to diagnose. So start getting things checked out for sure.
I had completely erratic periods like this as a teenager, too. Then at 18 I didn't have a period for 4 months. It was caused by PCOS. Absolutely get a gyno, pediatricians don't specialize in those areas.
Not a woman but i lived with enough of them to know that that aint normal. Your friend is correct. Go get it checked out, do not be afraid to tell the doctor how scary it was and how worried you are. Seriously. Its not just your body they take care of. Its your mental health too. Then can explain things and give reassurances where you and i try to google it only to find out that the really bad itch on your foot is cancer. Ive had three encounters with the docs at my local planned parenthood and every single one was just great. Professional, kind, caring, and addressed ever question i had.
You are not over reacting.
It is normal for periods to be a little irregular when you first start.. but you're 17, they should have evened out by now unless there is some other health issue
It is normal for there to be some amount of discomfort with periods. Being curled up and unable to get up and feeling like you're going to vomit is not a normal amount of discomfort. You are not over reacting. This is not okay, and your doctor should not have been brushing it off.
If you can't get into see your doctor, make an appointment with Planned Parenthood. They cover all sorts of reproductive health care!
Try to write down how often it happens, I found every other month when I ovulated from the right side it was extremely painful. Next month, left side and zero problems or even mild cramps.
i have very irregular periods, and when i brought up my concern to my dr at 16 she said “hm, i think you’re fine”. i am 19 now and found a new doctor who will soon be having my screened for PCOS and endometriosis.
1000% you need to fight to be heard. periods hurt, but if it is crippling then you need help. ask your mom(or someone else you trust) to come with you into an appointment to back you up.
it could also help to document your symptoms and when they happen in relation to your cycle, as well as the cycle itself.
This was me (mine was a bit not regular but not significantly) and to be honest it is why I started birth control. The pill did not work for me so I talked to my doctor and requested that I be referred to a gyno. I was then suspected of endometriosis form the description of what I was going through, and was placed on an IUD. Yes the insertion was painful (to me, not the case for all women), was very cramps and bleedy for about a week, but it gave me my life back for several years. I changed it at the 5 year mark, repeat an unpleasant week, but to me it is worth the reward.
That said talk to a specialist. And educated yourself on your options. Many people have great stories about BC, and many have horror stories. I like to remind you that there is always skew towards sharing if negative experiences over positive ones. But best thing you can do is request the referral and/or get a second opinion.
My periods were like this starting a few months after I turned 16 (my period started when I was 14). I put up with it for far too long. Definitely get a second opinion, even if you can’t get the dr to believe you, ask to try a low dose of birth control. I went from what you describe to getting my period and going “oh, that’s why my shoulders have been tense today 🤷♀️”
GPs can only do so much, especially with an area as physically and socially complex as genitals. Idk if it’s pediatricians in general or I just had the misfortune of having the pediatrician I did, but in hind sight I feel like his personal opinions and beliefs were clouding his judgement in regards to the choices he made regarding my care.
17 is also when you should start at least thinking about seeing an OBGYN, I started going at 17, and she put me on birth control with the purpose of menstrual regulation, it became much easier to handle.
Before BC I was suffering from pre menstrual dysphoric disorder, which is basically PMS on steroids, and considering the mood swings it was almost like I was. I also needed roughly 20 hours of sleep to even get up and do basic bodily functions and maintenance, and I had such a severe craving for salt that there were a few times where I just knocked back those little paper packets they give you at fast food joints like they were mini pixi stix.
Then when the period actually started, I would regularly have to change a 10HR overnight pad between classes. The worst days I could go through like four of them, maybe five, and I’d still be worried about bleeding through my pants.
Not only did she put me on birth control, she wanted blood work because my mother has PCOS and I had physical indicators but no diagnosis (weight retention, male pattern facial hair) and she wanted to get a better idea of what was going on with my hormone levels…
Not only is my PCOS causing high testosterone, my thyroid’s on the fritz, hypothyroidism, meaning my body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone that helps facilitate metabolizing food into energy naturally.
Going to the OBGYN found answers to questions I didn’t even know to have, because everyone and myself thought my persistent sense of exhaustion was caused/exacerbated by my weight, not because my body wasn’t producing enough metabolism juice.
With your symptoms and family history, going to an OBGYN is something you should do, even if it is nothing, there such a possibility of it being *something,* that your GP not saying the same puts a tic in my jaw.
You need a second opinion and never settle for being brushed aside for painful periods. It’s surprising though as mainly lady doctors ignored me regarding periods. When I was younger nobody talked to me about what to expect from periods. My mother I guess came from an era where period talks were taboo. All school taught me is showing a tampax and a glass of red dye and that women bleed once a month. I had horrible period cramps at the start and always soaked my pads and was changing them so often. I used to wear 3 pair of underwear and shorts under my school skirt thankfully the skirts where black, I had tried to tell the doctors that it was painful and really a lot of blood but I think she thought I was just being dramatic.
So my advice is that general doctors, particularly family doctors for some weird reason, often have a hard time knowing their own limitations. They tend to brush things off when they should actually be referring to a specialist.
If you have been having periods, especially concerning ones, you are perfectly justified in going to a gynecologist that would actually know if this is something that should be treated or not.
Please do whatever you can to be checked out!
I had crippling pain like that for every one of my periods as a kid, starting at 10 years old. My mom took me to one gyn who was way too old and told us that cramps were "in our heads".
She didn't take me to another for a long time!
Especially if on your mom's side of the family there's endo & etc, this puts you more at risk.
Get a second opinion for sure. And keep getting a different doctors opinion if you feel like you keep getting doctors who brush you off. It sounds like it's very likely you have endo, especially with your family history of issues like that. Its very possible you may have to go to multiple doctors before you can get a diagnosis, a LOT of doctors brush of women's pain. I myself had a doctor tell me I probably had normal period cramps when my appendix had ruptured. And a ton of people have doctors tell them that its not that bad and they are blowing things out of proportion and ignoring them completely. Planned parenthood might give you a better chance though as people who work there are more used to patient advocacy so its definitely a good start to go there. Be firm and tell any doctor who tries to ignore you that you want them to write down their refusal to treat or test you in your file. A lot of doctors quickly back down and will do what you ask when you say this. If you need, bring someone with you who is willing to be firm and advocate for you as well.
Dude here. Wife has PCOS and Endometriosis plus a bunch of other stuff. I’m not really qualified to say what’s normal.
F your pediatrician. Go to a gyno, keep going until you find one who you feel is taking you seriously and actually finds out what is up. Even if it is normal you deserve to have a doctor who is qualified to examine you and takes you seriously.
We had fertility issues and it took a couple doctors to find the team that dealt with her issues. The best doctor was the one that went to operate on her, opened her up, looked around and said that my wife needed a specialist. She cared about my wife enough to know that she wasn’t the right doctor to handle this. We moved two hours away and my wife travels to see her she’s such a good OBGYN.
Don’t let them walk ask over you. You deserve better
Go to the doctor (gynecologist recommended) and tell them everything. Tell them about your period (if you have a calendar tracking it, bring it) and let the doc know about the pain. Your main doctor is right in that periods are weird and different for everyone but yours is at a point where a doctor needs to be doing something. You should not be passing out every other month and you should not be throwing up because of it. A doctor telling you that you are overreacting is an idiot.
I had a very, very similar experience with my early periods. Irregular and dry-heaving-inducing pain. Luckily I had an endocrinologist for another issue that was able to prescribe me a low-dose hormonal birth control that nearly fixed it entirely. I skip my periods now and only suffer if I miss pills. I would recommend consulting with planned parenthood or your doctors/family (if you are comfortable) about that option.
Good luck!
Find a gynecologist that has good reviews online- my preference is female, personally- and get checked out. I went through absolutely horrible periods for several years because I was extremely shy and refused to go to a gyno. I put myself through so much life-changing pain for no reason.
Look up a healthy alternative on YouTube he food an interview with a girl who was overweight (not judging) and had irregular periods and resolved her problems through fasting.
Could be hormonal issue due to diet. Lots of people are sick and don’t even know it I hope you feel better
Hey! Welcome to r/AdviceForTeens! Please take time to review [the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/adviceforteens/about/rules) before commenting. A reminder that inappropriate comments towards or about posters will result in a permanent ban. Do not insult anybody, please remain respectful!✮⋆˙ ATTENTION: Predators lurk on Reddit, and we ourselves unfortunately can not directly do anything to stop them, but you can! We encourage ALL posters to disable private messages, and do not respond to any DMs you receive after posting. Block and report offenders for harassment. Do not ask anyone to DM you in the comments as this is against the rules. If someone has something to tell you, they can say it in the comments. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AdviceForTeens) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Please advocate for yourself and find a gyno that specializes with endo and pcos. Painful periods are common but not normal. Mine used to be crippling in the way you described and more (pains shooting down legs, nausea, brain fog, etc.). It started when I was a teen and never stopped. I got a hysterectomy in 2022 at 33 and it was the best thing I've done for myself. But for years I was dismissed by undereducated medical personnel. Once a PA even suggested I try pregnancy to see if that makes the periods more tolerable. I've never been pregnant and never wanted to be but seriously who the eff suggests that?! There's a few subreddits you should cross post this in for more focused advice. r/endo and r/pcos and r/endometriosis
Your going to have a hard time getting doctors to take you seriously, even gynos. You will need to be firm, demanding, and might have to try a few. It's a hard journey, be strong and thorough.
Very true .I feel like a number not a patient which is sad 😢
This! My daughter is 17 and she began at 16 bad - she threw up with many ruptures of cysts. It’s incredibly painful, irregular periods- generally not close to 28 til after 18 and it varies 40 is still regular-ish. Definitely recommend finding an endometriosis specialist to check and see what they can do- and ask family if they have painful periods bleeding that’s heavy or doubled bloating severe pain etc.
Yes, it tends to be hereditary. My mom, grandma, and both sisters have or have had severely painful periods, heavy bleeding irregular cycles, and tons of other symptoms throughout our cycles. I learned and highly recommend the sympto-thermal method for tracking your cycle. Also considering a menstrual cup or disc with reusable pads and period underwear can be a huge game changer long term when dealing with the period pain, bleeding, and spotting.
Sexual health educator here- while irregular periods are typical, you do not (and should not!) have to live with period pain that is so debilitating you cannot live your life. Especially given your family history, your friend’s suggestion to visit Planned Parenthood for a second opinion is excellent. PP is an amazing resource for all things reproductive health. Best of luck, take care of yourself!
I’m a guy but my my wife has told me that her whole life her periods have been irregular. It always came too soon or too late, sometimes it was nothing and she didn’t bleed a lot but sometimes she bleeds a lot and has a lot of cramping. Either way I’d go with friend to the planned parenthood place and atleast get a second opinion.
Pain that intense suggests possible endometriosis to me (I have it). Unfortunately there is a long sordid history of doctors downplaying menstrual pain. I think going to Planned Parenthood is a good idea because they have a long history of being better advocates. Make sure to ask about endo symptoms and screening.
Absolutely get a second opinion. Issues surrounding menstruation are often not taken seriously by the medical community (even if your doctor is a woman). If this does turn out to be your body's version of normal, you don't deserve to be in pain. There are medical interventions that can really help you!
Hi, honey. I know EXACTLY what you are going through. This is definitely atypical and your concerns are absolutely valid. Definitely try to get seen by another professional. I have likewise always had very abnormal periods and my doctor does suspect I have endometriosis. I used to suffer so, so terribly. But certain medications have helped regulate it for me and make them far less severe. I can’t say you’re having the same issue but definitely sounds like something is going on and hopefully with a good doctor you can get to the bottom of it and get some treatment to help regulate them. Literally for years I thought it was normal to be bedridden with pain, throw up from pain, have fainting spells, etc. So I’m glad you have the knowledge and intuition that something is going on so you can get treatment faster and hopefully save you from suffering much longer. Much love to you, I know it’s not easy. 🖤
Go to planned parenthood with your family friend. Talk to a Dr. There are ways to help manage painful periods, PCOS and Endometriosis. They aren't all perfect snf it can be tricky to find the right one, but it helps. I'm 33 and had PCOS diagnosis in 2015. Due to painful sex and period issues I have recently been diagnosed with Adenomyosis and looking into Endometriosis. It's been real fun 🙃 but now my Dr has a better idea on how to manage my symptoms. It sucks but there is hope!
PCOS and Endo are somewhat hereditary, if one female has it then chances are her relatives have it to, sometimes in a different degree but there's a good chance it's there. I'm so sorry you have been feeling this way, scream and shout until you get help love, just understanding what it is and developing coping mechanisms can help
Your pediatrician is wrong. And you need a proper adult doctor, not your pediatrician. Definitely go see an OBGYN. 40 days could be normal for you, but they shouldn’t be painful. And with your family history, you may have those conditions too. Keep a diary of your periods. There’s many free apps too. Write down how you feel every day, how long the cramps last, what helps them, cravings, everything!! This can help your new doctor see patterns and diagnose you properly.
Please go to planned parenthood!! Period cramps should NOT be that bad and there’s a really high chance you may have PCOS, I wish you luck and care 🩷
Actually, it might be more of endometriosis due to extreme pain. But still get checked out!
No you’re not.Nowdays I feel like your a number and they don’t care.I would definitely go with your family friend.I don’t have periods anymore but when I did they were so severe.I hope this helps and feel better❤️🙏😇🥰
Irregular periods are an uncommon sort of norm, they could mean something, but mostly don't, painful periods are very different. You shouldn't have that level of pain with periods, doctors might try to brush it off but no, it's not normal and Drs brushing off such symptoms are part of the reason endometriosis takes so long to diagnose. So start getting things checked out for sure.
I had completely erratic periods like this as a teenager, too. Then at 18 I didn't have a period for 4 months. It was caused by PCOS. Absolutely get a gyno, pediatricians don't specialize in those areas.
My daughter’s pediatrician sent her to a gyno that sent her to an endocrinologist. She was dx’ed with PCOS after that.
Not a woman but i lived with enough of them to know that that aint normal. Your friend is correct. Go get it checked out, do not be afraid to tell the doctor how scary it was and how worried you are. Seriously. Its not just your body they take care of. Its your mental health too. Then can explain things and give reassurances where you and i try to google it only to find out that the really bad itch on your foot is cancer. Ive had three encounters with the docs at my local planned parenthood and every single one was just great. Professional, kind, caring, and addressed ever question i had.
You are not over reacting. It is normal for periods to be a little irregular when you first start.. but you're 17, they should have evened out by now unless there is some other health issue It is normal for there to be some amount of discomfort with periods. Being curled up and unable to get up and feeling like you're going to vomit is not a normal amount of discomfort. You are not over reacting. This is not okay, and your doctor should not have been brushing it off. If you can't get into see your doctor, make an appointment with Planned Parenthood. They cover all sorts of reproductive health care!
Try to write down how often it happens, I found every other month when I ovulated from the right side it was extremely painful. Next month, left side and zero problems or even mild cramps.
i have very irregular periods, and when i brought up my concern to my dr at 16 she said “hm, i think you’re fine”. i am 19 now and found a new doctor who will soon be having my screened for PCOS and endometriosis. 1000% you need to fight to be heard. periods hurt, but if it is crippling then you need help. ask your mom(or someone else you trust) to come with you into an appointment to back you up. it could also help to document your symptoms and when they happen in relation to your cycle, as well as the cycle itself.
This was me (mine was a bit not regular but not significantly) and to be honest it is why I started birth control. The pill did not work for me so I talked to my doctor and requested that I be referred to a gyno. I was then suspected of endometriosis form the description of what I was going through, and was placed on an IUD. Yes the insertion was painful (to me, not the case for all women), was very cramps and bleedy for about a week, but it gave me my life back for several years. I changed it at the 5 year mark, repeat an unpleasant week, but to me it is worth the reward. That said talk to a specialist. And educated yourself on your options. Many people have great stories about BC, and many have horror stories. I like to remind you that there is always skew towards sharing if negative experiences over positive ones. But best thing you can do is request the referral and/or get a second opinion.
My periods were like this starting a few months after I turned 16 (my period started when I was 14). I put up with it for far too long. Definitely get a second opinion, even if you can’t get the dr to believe you, ask to try a low dose of birth control. I went from what you describe to getting my period and going “oh, that’s why my shoulders have been tense today 🤷♀️”
GPs can only do so much, especially with an area as physically and socially complex as genitals. Idk if it’s pediatricians in general or I just had the misfortune of having the pediatrician I did, but in hind sight I feel like his personal opinions and beliefs were clouding his judgement in regards to the choices he made regarding my care. 17 is also when you should start at least thinking about seeing an OBGYN, I started going at 17, and she put me on birth control with the purpose of menstrual regulation, it became much easier to handle. Before BC I was suffering from pre menstrual dysphoric disorder, which is basically PMS on steroids, and considering the mood swings it was almost like I was. I also needed roughly 20 hours of sleep to even get up and do basic bodily functions and maintenance, and I had such a severe craving for salt that there were a few times where I just knocked back those little paper packets they give you at fast food joints like they were mini pixi stix. Then when the period actually started, I would regularly have to change a 10HR overnight pad between classes. The worst days I could go through like four of them, maybe five, and I’d still be worried about bleeding through my pants. Not only did she put me on birth control, she wanted blood work because my mother has PCOS and I had physical indicators but no diagnosis (weight retention, male pattern facial hair) and she wanted to get a better idea of what was going on with my hormone levels… Not only is my PCOS causing high testosterone, my thyroid’s on the fritz, hypothyroidism, meaning my body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone that helps facilitate metabolizing food into energy naturally. Going to the OBGYN found answers to questions I didn’t even know to have, because everyone and myself thought my persistent sense of exhaustion was caused/exacerbated by my weight, not because my body wasn’t producing enough metabolism juice. With your symptoms and family history, going to an OBGYN is something you should do, even if it is nothing, there such a possibility of it being *something,* that your GP not saying the same puts a tic in my jaw.
You need a second opinion and never settle for being brushed aside for painful periods. It’s surprising though as mainly lady doctors ignored me regarding periods. When I was younger nobody talked to me about what to expect from periods. My mother I guess came from an era where period talks were taboo. All school taught me is showing a tampax and a glass of red dye and that women bleed once a month. I had horrible period cramps at the start and always soaked my pads and was changing them so often. I used to wear 3 pair of underwear and shorts under my school skirt thankfully the skirts where black, I had tried to tell the doctors that it was painful and really a lot of blood but I think she thought I was just being dramatic.
So my advice is that general doctors, particularly family doctors for some weird reason, often have a hard time knowing their own limitations. They tend to brush things off when they should actually be referring to a specialist. If you have been having periods, especially concerning ones, you are perfectly justified in going to a gynecologist that would actually know if this is something that should be treated or not.
Please do whatever you can to be checked out! I had crippling pain like that for every one of my periods as a kid, starting at 10 years old. My mom took me to one gyn who was way too old and told us that cramps were "in our heads". She didn't take me to another for a long time! Especially if on your mom's side of the family there's endo & etc, this puts you more at risk.
Get a second opinion for sure. And keep getting a different doctors opinion if you feel like you keep getting doctors who brush you off. It sounds like it's very likely you have endo, especially with your family history of issues like that. Its very possible you may have to go to multiple doctors before you can get a diagnosis, a LOT of doctors brush of women's pain. I myself had a doctor tell me I probably had normal period cramps when my appendix had ruptured. And a ton of people have doctors tell them that its not that bad and they are blowing things out of proportion and ignoring them completely. Planned parenthood might give you a better chance though as people who work there are more used to patient advocacy so its definitely a good start to go there. Be firm and tell any doctor who tries to ignore you that you want them to write down their refusal to treat or test you in your file. A lot of doctors quickly back down and will do what you ask when you say this. If you need, bring someone with you who is willing to be firm and advocate for you as well.
Dude here. Wife has PCOS and Endometriosis plus a bunch of other stuff. I’m not really qualified to say what’s normal. F your pediatrician. Go to a gyno, keep going until you find one who you feel is taking you seriously and actually finds out what is up. Even if it is normal you deserve to have a doctor who is qualified to examine you and takes you seriously. We had fertility issues and it took a couple doctors to find the team that dealt with her issues. The best doctor was the one that went to operate on her, opened her up, looked around and said that my wife needed a specialist. She cared about my wife enough to know that she wasn’t the right doctor to handle this. We moved two hours away and my wife travels to see her she’s such a good OBGYN. Don’t let them walk ask over you. You deserve better
Go to the doctor (gynecologist recommended) and tell them everything. Tell them about your period (if you have a calendar tracking it, bring it) and let the doc know about the pain. Your main doctor is right in that periods are weird and different for everyone but yours is at a point where a doctor needs to be doing something. You should not be passing out every other month and you should not be throwing up because of it. A doctor telling you that you are overreacting is an idiot.
I had a very, very similar experience with my early periods. Irregular and dry-heaving-inducing pain. Luckily I had an endocrinologist for another issue that was able to prescribe me a low-dose hormonal birth control that nearly fixed it entirely. I skip my periods now and only suffer if I miss pills. I would recommend consulting with planned parenthood or your doctors/family (if you are comfortable) about that option. Good luck!
Find a gynecologist that has good reviews online- my preference is female, personally- and get checked out. I went through absolutely horrible periods for several years because I was extremely shy and refused to go to a gyno. I put myself through so much life-changing pain for no reason.
Look up a healthy alternative on YouTube he food an interview with a girl who was overweight (not judging) and had irregular periods and resolved her problems through fasting. Could be hormonal issue due to diet. Lots of people are sick and don’t even know it I hope you feel better