To ask you about your periods

[rumpehpumpeh]

I've spent years as a Slave to my menstrual cycle. Feeling shit and not knowing why until D-day and then if dawning on me. So, I've been keeping a diary...and there's a fool proof pattern! I'm so excited by this.

7 days before - massive blind red spot on the right side of my mouth. Some smaller random ones around the chin. Skin on nose goes dry and flakey.

6 days before - giant disgusting spot gets a head. Sometimes two

[Noonesfool]

My skin goes to shit for a week or so before. Big cramps for a day before. Then 4 days of utter exhaustion. Iron supplement has helped a bit with that.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

About 5 days before I'm emotional as hell and easily angered. Poor DH-I usually decide I hate him for a few
days

[rumpehpumpeh]

Noooo I didn't finish

5 days before - spot goes crispy because I've picked it. Make up sticks to it. I begin to find I can't tolerate people or stress. Almost cry in work

4 days before - my stomach is extremely flat and I can wear the one right dress in my wardrobe. Feeling sexy!

3 days before - spots disappearing yay

2 days before - I'm 6 months pregnant overnight. Stomach is massive

1 day before - I'm literally the most hideous person in the universe. Why is my DP interested in me? I'm ugly. I'm overweight. I despise my self

Day 0 - period. Strange feeling of relief. I'm also hot. Can't sleep with covers on.

I'm just interested to know if anyone else follows the same pattern. Is being aware of the pattern a way to break the pattern?

[rumpehpumpeh]

Fool - I forgot to mention cramp. Also going to the loo on day 1 is always awful!

[rumpehpumpeh]

Champagne yes! The tolerance becomes so low. I feel sorry for my DP. He's so good about it though

[anniroc]

Having a coil fitted can help. I had one fitted after my children and it's brilliant as no more heavy periods! I get a bit of spotting but that's it, and no other symptoms

[Crunchymum]

I had my first period in 27m recently (pregnancy then extended breastfeeding)... it was not good.

I'm due any day now and I feel muderous. PMT is noticeable worse than it ever wS before!!!

[ButtonBoo]

Ha! Definitely struggle with the sleeping in the preceding days. Day 2 'BP' and my hair seems to take on a life of its own too. Would have said I'm bloomin irritable for a day or two before. But now I've got early menopause I'm just bloody erratic, emotional and a mardy cow most of the time!

[Quickqu]

I barely get any menstrual symptoms apart from a spot on my chin and bad tummy aches.

Recently diagnosed as anaemic so taking iron tablets - massively heavy periods. But I think I just don't suffer much - am lucky.

[Stevefromstevenage]

Day one I have period and do not sleep a wink, normally I spend the entire night on Facebook and MN. Day 2 absolutely nothing no period at all. Day 3 I go absolutely nuts and usually have a big row with DP over something I give no shit about and then my period starts up again for 5 more days.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

The two days leading to it I eat anything in sight. I eat non stop. It's horrible.
Hair gets greasy. Can't sleep. Cry watching the news, though that might because it's all crap anyway.

[blondieblondie]

I get a few symtoms - crabbit, spot on my chin, etc. but I've also recently noticed my sense of smell seems stronger. Anyone else get that?

[fartlek]

I'm seriously thinking I should look into a hysterectomy. The instant I come on I get cramps and am in agony for 3 days. Can't take NSAIDS anymore so I cane paracetamol and drink wine to get through. It's not very healthy.
We'll not go into the PMS.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

I'm lucky 2 days before my period I get very hungry. Happily eat crap for two days.
During period I feel greasy for 3 days, but nothing major.

I'm on the Mirena so I've virtually no actual bleed now but I still get the symptoms.

[user1466795981]

I have been both obese at 15 st and (very) slim at 7 and a half stone as an adult. I find that when I'm heavy, my menstrual symptoms are MUCH worse. When I'm slim/dieting - I hardly have any symptoms - my period just suddenly appears as if by magic!!

[backtowork2015]

Have never had a lot of pmt symptoms but since having dc I feel irritable a week before and my boobs hurt. Then I come on lightly for 5 days, yes 5 days, before bleeding very heavily for 2 days. I use a super plus tampon and a towel and soak through within a few hours. I have to get up and change tampon at night otherwise the morning is like the godfather film. Then lightly for up to another week. 14 days of bleeding every 35 days. I have a copper coil and have had for years, even before dc, perhaps should consider mirena?

[backtowork2015]

Just read post above, I'm very slim. So no weight issues making me bleed heavily

[ClopySow]

1 week before - boobs feel like they're going to fall off when i remove my bra. Agony.

4 days before - absolutely exhausted until it arrives, horrendous lower back pain.

2 days before - premenstrual BO. Oxters smell like cats piss or an onion farm.

1 day before - sob. Sob sob sob. Sob.

Period arrives. Feels like my uterus is being pulled out by the force of gravity. Period pains right down to my knees. Soles of feet hurt. Massive dose of the shits.

Next day - everythings fine again. Bleed for 5 days.

My cycle is 21 fucking days at the moment. FML.

[MoonStar07]

Week before my period I feel awful about myself, my life...I also hate DH. Two days before my period I have insomnia and really painful cramps and diarheoa. Day before I start crying and arguing with DH. Period starts I feel like the ugliest and most worthless person. Nothing looks good on me and I feel like binning all my clothes. I get really greasy hair and mouth ulcers. I'm also like a walking zombie exhausted and have terrible back pain. I can't wait for them to end. I also get terrible lumpy spots on my back. I'm a wreck! I hate it

[MoonStar07]

I also get awful breast pain in the days before which frightens me and makes me think I'm pregnant.

[Mamalicious16]

PMT? I'm a bloody nightmare anytime from 1 to 2 weeks before. I've lost friends because of it (am also divorced twice........)

[travailtotravel]

yy to all of this (including 21 day cycle, WTAF?) - feeling greasy, food monster, need to kil coworkers (however this is not irrational). Hate DH and actively want to leave him/be independent again. Can't sleep, too hot. Clothes more of a nighmare than normal. A whale appears. Shits.

The shits and hot - does that make us shit hot?. I think we must be for putting up with this.

[Sparklemummyx0x0x]

Wow. I get nothing. I feel so lucky.
I only get tender boobs a couple days beforehand, no PMT, no spots, no cramps. Periods light day 1, moderate days 2 + 3, light day 4, finished by day 5.
I only know I'm due on as its coming up to the 4th week..
Same before and after pregnancy.
Actually I knew I was pregnant 2 days before I was due my period, because I had awful cramps and really sore boobs which I rarely get, so knew something was different.

[CommaStop]

I have PMDD. It is hellish. The two weeks from ovulation to my period are a living nightmare. Every month. Still, I'm glad I finally worked out it was this after years of inaccurate mental illness diagnosis. Bah. I'm not a bit believer in 'alternative' medicines but try using agnus castus - you take it in water twice daily and in what studies have been done it is more effective than placebo for emotional/psychological effects of pms. If it really is causing you problems this might be worth a look: www.pms.org.uk/assets/files/guidelinesfinal60210.pdf

[Discobabe]

I'm similar to Mamalicious! I get a good 7-14 day chunk of pmt. I have very few physical symptoms really, bloating, cramps occasionally, the shits! Mentally I'm a wreck for a good 7-14 days before. Weepy, paranoid, angry, everything. I actually take meds for it now! Sometimes I'm lucky and it only lasts a few days. Other months I barely feel like I escape it at all before it's back.