Why am I waking up with abdominal cramps?

Waking from nauseating cramps and nausea almost every morning, why!?

• This morning I woke up with severe cramps, felt like menstrual cramping, I had my period last week. Not only did I have cramps but I was also very nauseous. The pain was so severe I felt like I needed to use the restroom, but was unsure if I was going to vomit or have diarrhea, eventually had diarrhea. The nausea feels like hunger pains rather than an upset stomach. I am sexually active, the last time I had intercourse was 3 days ago, a day after my last period (Feb 7). A week after the period before last (Jan 4) was when I experienced my first nauseating cramps. The pain began around 10:30 am and was not as severe as they can be or have been at other dates. The nauseating cramps occur almost daily and always in the AM hours. often times I am awakened by them. The pain occurred ALMOST daily for 3 weeks and the cramps during my period seemed to be a little worse than usual during my most recent period. I am on birth control. I take it everyday between 7am or 10am. But I am waiting for insurance to cover my next 28 day pills and have not gotten the new package, so its been 3 days since my "inactive" pills have ended. So, I get the cramps whether I take the pill that day or not. I have been taking BC for 5 years and have been on the same pill for about 2 years. The only other medication I am on is adderall but sometimes the pain is even before I take that pill or after (doesn't matter). I haven't started eating or drinking anything different than usual And since I had these exact same symptoms last month and got my period as scheduled, I would say its nothing to do with pregnancy.

• Answer:

  You should see your gynecologist. I had those same symptoms and unfortunately I had a bad gyno so I had to deal with it for years. I was referred to a great gyno who did ultrasounds and a laparoscopy and it turned out to be endometriosis and fibroid tumors. I had a hysterectomy before I even hit 30 years old. So see your gyno and get a 2nd opinion if necessary. Also if your periods happen to be bright red, that's a sure sign of infection.