Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Painkiller advice needed...what would you do?

Hey Guys,

Ok I'd like some opinions, advice, whatever you've got for me! Long story short, I have really bad endometriosis which means that everytiem I have my period (which is thankfully only a few times a year thanks to birth control pills) I'm in crippling pain. It's normally treated with Naproxen which does an ok job...however, when I was hospitalized back in August because my D problems were getting so bad, the doctors recommended staying away from the NSAIDs because they thought my extreme use of them (usually taking 3 times the recommedned dosage just to be able to function) was probably doing my gut in.

I followed their instructions and improved my diet and have been getting much better in the gut department (although I haven't had a period since). Anyways, because I have a bad sinus infection the doctors wanted me taking ibprofen (a less strong NSAID) every four hours to try and reduce the inflammation in my sinuses. I've been doing this for two days and today have had the worse tummy day since before I went into the hospital. I can't eat, I've literally been in the bathroom all day...believe it or not, it seems worse than when I did the colonoscopy prep (oy!).

So, I need to stop my hormones and get my period next weekend because I've booked some time off work (I can't normally go to work cause I'm stuck in bed) and I have no idea what to do about painkillers. I highly doubt I'll be able to tolerate the Naproxen (nor should I try and take it), Advil isn't looking good either, and Tylenol does absoultely nothing for the pain. So, any suggestions? Are IV pain meds absorbed differently? (i.e. if you were to take an NSAID through a shot or IV, since it would bypass the gut would you bypass the gut side-effects)?

I've even tried Percocets although they don't work as well as the Naproxen, but the problem then is that I get very constipated (although that's better than the horrible pain and D). So, any advice would be great...things to try or pain-reduction techniques...throw em' at me!

Thanks guys,
Kelly

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