I really don’t think this is caused by not eating meat
For the past three months, my menstruation changed abruptly, it’s been awful, and I am not gonna lie , a bit scary. I end up on ER twice.
I get severe pain in my lower back, hips, hands, bones and joints, plus extreme exhaustion. I can barely function or get out of bed. My hands hurt while typing.
I’ve had normal periods before, when my only real symptom was feeling sad, sleepy and needing more naps, so this is a huge change.
I’ve already seen a gynecologist, rheumatologist, endocrinologist and ER doctors. Nobody gives me an actual solution. They just order more tests and tell me to start eating red meat and fish because I’m vegetarian.
Ketorolac only helps for a few hours, and the only thing that really takes the pain away is tramadol.
Has anyone here experienced something similar? Could this genuinely be caused by not eating meat, even if I replace the nutrients properly? What should I ask them to test, and what vegetarian foods or supplements actually helped you?
I really don’t think this is caused by not eating meat
I too get bad period symptoms, to the point where I had to go on birth control to stop it. Sounds like it could be endometriosis or PCOS. I’d get pain down my lower back and thighs. Them saying to consume meat and fish is very dismissive. If they think it’s an iron issue, which it doesn’t sound like, b12 pills are just fine. I would demand more tests, like an ultrasound or even Pap smear. Good luck.
Not every diet is for every body. Did you just stop eating meat in the last few months and these symptoms started? If so you either aren’t supplementing or eating as your body needs. Adjust accordingly
The only way to tell if it's from meat is to EAT MEAT and then see if it helps. If it does nothing then obviously you need to press the doctors more into looking into PCOS or Endo. If it helps then well... I guess you have some decisions to make.
This right here. Do the thing the doctors recommend first, if it doesn't help, you know you need a different solution.
This is not medical advice. Please follow up with your health care provider(s) regarding your health status and how to address your health status. Period symptoms change with time (ie: as we age and our hormonal profiles change). I believe your symptoms require further investigation, perhaps a second opinion from gynecology. I work in pelvic physical therapy, and while diet can affect menstrual cycles and symptoms, it is not generally the diet itself but deficiencies (or overabundances) of nutrients that can have an impact. Any unbalanced diet can lead to unbalanced blood levels of nutrients and a vegetarian diet is not likely the specific culprit. Lab work to investigate blood levels of various sorts is necessary, and a hormonal check in would also likely be helpful. Transvaginal ultrasound could provide a picture of whether endometriosis or ovarian cysts could be present. I'm sorry that you are being written off, but if I were you, I'd want a second opinion and/or more testing. If you want to, you could incorporate red meat into your diet for a number of months, note your symptoms, and if not resolved, you could then not be denied that this is not a factor. Good luck.
You seem to be asking a question about your health that is beyond the scope of this subreddit's expertise. Please seek medical attention from a professional. If you are unable to see a doctor due to financial constraints, please consider posting your question on r/AskDocs instead.