over the past year or so, my menstrual cramps have been getting progressively stronger. I'm 39, and when I was younger periods were a breeze but now I'm finding them more and more difficult.

Last night (about 24 hours after period started), I felt like I needed to move my bowels. En route to the toilet I had this doubling over pain. I've had these before, and they're always related to my wanting/needing to move my bowels in the first day or two of my period. Very annoying, but it was pretty much just that, annoying.

What was different last night was that after sitting on the pot for a bit, I started getting very nauseous, and then I started sweating and felt like I was going to faint. I saw the colour completely drain from my face.

So I laid down on the tile floor (it was nice and cold) and suffered through a few more blindingly painful cramps and after about half an hour I felt ok enough to get up. I went to bed shortly after that. If nothing else it was frightening not to know what was happening to my body.

I've read a bit this morning and it sounds like the symptoms of endometriosis. I'm hoping not.

Coincidentally I have an appointment with my dr. to re-insert a new IUD next week, so at that point I'll obviously ask and find out what it is. Maybe it's just time for me to get the IUD out. At least they have an ultrasound machine to have a better look.

Anybody else here who have/had similar symptoms??