Today I called an ambulance and went to the ER for period pain… Did I overreact ? Am I even supposed to call the ambulance for period pain ?
I was traveling in train when the pain suddenly hit.
I suddenly felt nauseous, lightheaded and couldn’t bare the pain so I had to get off the train. I sat on the benches at the station and waited to feel better but it kept getting worse and all I wanted was to get IV pain killers and feel better. It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced, i could neither walk nor talk and it was getting hard to even stay on the bench so was almost going to lay on the station floor but thankfully the staffs came and took me to the office. They gave me a bed to rest in the office but I was already panicking and getting the bed to rest wasn’t enough so I told them to call the ambulance. I thought I was gonna pass out. After getting pain killers and feeling better, I realize that maybe I should’ve just stayed at the station office and waited to feel better rather than involving so many people? What should I do next time when I’m in a similar situation ? Please advice people !
32 comments
Don’t feel embarrassed! You can’t know for sure if you’d feel better by just toughening it out at the station office. At least you got taken care of! I’ve had an ambulance called for me before because of a migraine episode that ended up being nothing. I felt weird about it too, so I know how it feels.
For future reference, if you’re in doubt whether it’s better to call an ambulance or not, call #7119. They will ask you about your symptoms and some background info, and will help determine if you need an ambulance, or which hospital nearby you can go to. They saved me a while back when I had a (another) really weird headache. Told me exactly which nearby hospital I could go to at that time and gave me all the directions.
Please do not feel embarrassed for having to seek help for period pain. It’s normal to seek help when you’re not able to bear the pain. You mentioned how you were feeling nauseous and were not capable of continuing the journey. I believe you tried to endure it till it became unbearable. Since you said this was the worse kind of pain, it was also the very first time it turned out to be that bad for you? Who knows the situation might have gotten worse had you not reached ambulance in time?
I too, unfortunately, have this experience every single time. I’m sharing this because once I did call an ambulance from my home for this very reason. The doctors usually suggest some painkillers for me before my onset of periods, but again, that’s after getting tested for all complications the doctors were thinking of. I think you too might have gotten yourself thoroughly checked and know what would suit you during such times. I’d suggest you to not worry about the embarrassment, everyone is supportive is what I found. Do not hesitate seeking medical help if you feel like it and also, please take care of yourself!
There’s no need to think so much about it. It’s better to be in hospital than sitting around in the station office taking up the time of people who aren’t equipped to help you.
Call the ambulance again if it happens again.
If I had a sudden pain in my stomach I’d probably call an ambulance too. There are a lot of serious things that it could have been like appendicitis. Plus, that’s why we pay taxes for the ambulance to be there in the first place.
haha don’t be embarrassed. A few years back I called the ambulance since I can’t bear the pain (hyperacidity) and I can’t move for 2 hours. Well they arrived and i’m waiting by the front door but the pain was almost gone. Walked inside the ambulance they checked me and told me that nothing was wrong and I just need to rest. I just laughed it off and they moved on.
Btw better to be checked in the hospital if it continues. I got an endoscopy but nothing was wrong with me they just told me it might be related to stress, apparently a lot of young people are going the same situation. if you’re 20s-30s.
> What should I do next time when I’m in a similar situation ?
Nothing wrong with calling an ambulance when you’re in that sort of situation.
If you regularly have severe period pain, seeing a gynaecologist would be wise.
Pain is pain, dear. Just because it’s female-specific doesn’t make it less painful or shameful. Don’t feel bad for involving people–either it’s their job or they’ve already moved on and continued with their lives. You aren’t burdening others by asking for help.
Next time, do the exact same thing (or maybe call the ambulance a little sooner). If there is a next time, you should probably see a GYN afterwards to rule out endometriosis, ruptured cysts, etc.
The service is there to be used, don’t feel bad about it! That’s what we pay health insurance for haha
I’m glad you got the help you needed in that moment and are feeling better 🙂
Your appendix could have burst. You had no idea, you’re not a doctor. If you experience that again, do the same thing.
Use them as much as you can; you pay for that and you deserve a free ride to the hospital
There’s no way of knowing if it would’ve gotten better at the station. Next time use your judgment and do the same thing and ask for an ambulance when you have severe pain, don’t be ashamed/embarrassed!
That sounds like scary pain. I’ve never experienced that but I would be freaked out too. You did the right thing, take care of yourself
People experiencing panic attacks call the ambulance all the time there is no problem station staff and emergency staff are prepared and ready, no one can never be sure what’s happening in these situations so don’t hesitate to call them or have someone nearby help you and call for you it’s very ok and the right thing to do
Pain is pain. It coming from your periods doesn’t change anything. You have all the rights to seek relief. Also there is a reason why there are drugs that were created for period cramps. You’re far from being the only one and if a doctor or a nurse is a real professional they won’t make any disgraceful comment.
Get that checked out. I had severe period pain, turned out I had a uterine fibroid. I didn’t take it seriously for years but eventually ended up in the hospital, getting emergency blood transfusions and an emergency operation.
Hey I passed out one time from period pain when I was 18 and suffered a concussion. You didn’t over react.
I don’t think you did the wrong thing at all. I took a first aid course and they said that if you are EVER unsure about it, it’s best to call.
Side note: Had that exact situation and fainted on the train. I was new to Japan and didn’t know they were free so I refused an ambulance. There was a koban so I asked if an officer would walk me home (scared I would faint again) and they agreed after making me sit for another 15 mins 😫and then he accompanied me as I stumbled my way home (4 min walk). Ended up taking pain killers and writhing around at home until I could fall asleep. Wish I knew it was free and I could’ve saved myself the embarrassment
Iv done it before, the pain was so intense i didn’t immediately assume it was period related. Until i got told by a gynaecologist at the hospital. The issue is menstruation pain isn’t taken seriously in the world . If its health related and you are uncertain about the status of your health. I would call the ambulance
You did the right thing.
My small son put a tiny Christmas bell up his nose. We couldn’t get it out. We called the usual pediatrician, but since it was closed for the holidays, he told us to call an ambulance for the hospital. (Just driving ourselves would not have been seen as an emergency, and we’d have to wait— ambulance = emergency, and the bell was out in 30 seconds). That seemed like overkill at the time, but you know what? We pay for the service, and now we have a story.
Menstrual pain can be a very serious medical episode. Please make an appointment with your provider and push for them to do tests and see what is causing the abnormal pain.
Call #7119 if you can’t decide if you should call an ambulance.
Feeling guilty for using healthcare. Tell me you’re American without telling me you’re American. Odaiji ni
Regardless of the cause, any pain that severe is a reason to seek medical attention. An ambulance is the right call if you can’t make it there on your own. If period cramps is all it was, then consider yourself fortunate. Might be worth a follow-up just to be sure, though.
I really have nothing to add to what so many people have said. Just offering you one more comment of reassurance. Pain is nothing to be embarrassed by.
I don’t think it was a wrong thing to do. I’m a man, so I can’t understand or relate to period pain, but if you are having some sort of extreme internal pain I’d say it’s best to get checked. You’ve no way of being sure of what it is. It could be pain from your period or it could be something different or life threatening. Hope you feel better now.
I’m glad you got the care you needed. This is not something to feel about!
Adding to the chorus: please follow up and get this pain looked into. I have endometriosis and the symptoms started very suddenly, quite similar to what you are describing. I now have medication that keeps it in check, meaning both that I don’t have to deal with the intense pain and I haven’t yet had to have major surgery.
One more comment to say I absolutely think you did the right thing and please don’t second guess or replay or think of alternative scenarios. Like most women who experience pain that can become really bad, I try to head it off early with pain meds. One day my period started I felt fine, ate lunch out, took ibuprofen just in case, got on train to go home. Was overcome by nausea, cold sweat, pain, got off at next stop. Ended up in a train station restroom stall for at least 45 minutes. Will spare you TMI, but when prostaglandins cross over into your bloodstream (I’m really simplifying), it can cause doubling over with pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Like your body is rebelling against itself. In the moment, there are flashing thoughts of “I could die.” Later, my stomach could hold down pain meds and I managed to get home. It’s traumatizing, you aren’t alone. And it varies from month to month, as we know. Be well.
Don’t feel bad. Chiming in with the endo crowd that you should go into a gyno and ask for an ultrasound. Even if they don’t see anything you can still have endo and if you have pain episodes often you might want to think about trying hormones. (That kind of pain could be fibroids as well, that doctors would be able to see on u/s).
Some one else mentioned it but ovarian cysts when they rupture or happen are very very painful.
Do not feel bad about needing to call an ambulance due to pain. Also don’t ever let someone dismiss your pain, everyone has different levels they are able to stand.
Also pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Listen to it. Please please see an gynecologist and find out why you had this pain. Don’t let anyone (hospital or others) dismiss your and wave away your pain.
We as women have a history of the medical profession not taking our pain or issues seriously and it results in more pain, complications and issues for those that get ignored.
Don’t be embarrassed for calling the ambulance! You were in horrible pain and as you said couldn’t even sit, I would say this in itself warrants calling them. Even if it ends up being nothing “serious” it’s best to get help. But if you experience this a lot, I’d recommend you go to a doctor and get to the bottom of it. A few years ago I’d have months when I’d actually pass out on the train on the way to work from similar period pain and it turned out after some time that I had both PCOS and severe anemia, and these two teamed up to cause my horrible period cramps and fainting spells. Now that I fixed my iron levels, it doesn’t happen anymore.
Be careful, it could be something more serious.
I would follow-up with a contrast MRI for soft-tissue.
Just like with the police, ambulance/medical emergency service has a non-emgency line. If you dont know if you have a medical emergency, you are supposed to call there:
If you or someone is sick or injured but are unsure whether you need an ambulance, please call **#7119**.
(Police **#9110** )