Labor?

Did anyone else have mixed signals from their body at the beginning of labor? My back pain has kept me up for 4 hours, and it is debilitating. It also seems to come in waves. Once it hits my stomach begins to feel like awful period cramps then eventually dies down. My doctor said I will physically feel my uterus contract and should time my contractions that way, but I am nervous that my pain is overshadowing what could be just that. The on call nurse said to call back when they are five minutes apart, but in a world of pain I have no fucking idea when that is and just know that what is happening isn’t normal.

Long story short, can any mamas share how they knew they were in labor? My doctor seems to be writing me off and I don’t want to go to the hospital too early.