This all sounds very familiar! I would bet it's endometriosis! I always had terrible pain and super heavy periods from early on, clotting and lots of old blood. In my early 20's I started having a lot of cramping, concentrated on one side mostly, I would stand up and feel like I was being stabbed in my lower back and front. My ob at the time was kind of dismissive and put me on bc-which seemed to make it worse, until I got on the patch, which helped some, but not enough. I knew that had to be the problem, but I kept getting shooed away and told that since I wasn't trying to get pregnant, it really wasn't any issue.
Anyway, finally, long story short-at 27, I found an ob that took me seriously and said, let's confirm what's going on once and for all and see what you're dealing with in terms of conception and did laparoscopic surgery, confirmed endo. and removed scar tissue to help my chances of getting pregnant. She also told me that increased hormones from pregnancy and breastfeeding are some of the best fighters against endometriosis. I had no pain until probably 3-4 months ago and I have felt the symptoms creeping back in-makes sense, I am 2 years pp with my son.
Endo can be severe or mild, I think I fall somewhere in the middle, as I didn't have a hard time getting pregnant after surgery and haven't had to be medicated to deal with the symptoms. Keeping your weight and diet in check can really help control it, bc helps sometimes, and having laparoscopy to remove scar tissue can provide relief, though you can't just keep doing that. You don't sounds stupid at all and it could be something else entirely, but definitely discuss endo.
Best wishes to you!