To ask about your period and if it's ever changed?

[ToodleTweedle]

And whether you've ever been to the GP over it?

I always always used to have a fairly standard 4/5 day period, not too heavy, a bit grumpy and a few cramps but nothing awful.

However, I had a miscarriage a while ago and since then my periods seem to have changed completely. Like they sort of reset as did my symptoms?

Now they are really heavy but only last maximum of about 2 days. However my mood is fucking awful. I am genuinely horrid to be around, I'm moody, I can be mean, I feel so low and angry every time. I want to quit my job, I want to leave my marriage, everyone infuriates me for about a week and a half and then I'm fine again.

WIBU to speak to the GP about this? Its like I seriously feel depressed for a week and a half every month, not just a bit grumpy but seriously low.

Does anyone else get this?

[Duvetday8]

Before I had children I had long heavy extremely painful periods. So painful I would actually throw up, labour pains were about on par. Post children I have light periods with no pain

[Wewearpinkonwednesdays]

Several times. I'm 30. When I was younger periods were heavy, had bad cranps, lasted about a week. Had my first child at 18, periods eased off, went on the pill which reduced them more. Had second child at 23, they reduced even more, went on the mini pill, they disappeared almost completely with the odd one every 6 months or so. I've come off the pill now and the first period I got came back with a vengeance. Just waiting for the second one to arrive soon. Not looking forward to it. They were always pretty irregular aswell.

[ScarfLadysBag]

My experience is largely similar to @Duvetday8

Unpleasant and very painful periods pre-baby, painless, light periods post-baby.

[MikeEhrmantraut]

Mine changed after having a baby and then changed again after ectopic pregnancy and surgery. I didn't see the doctor but in my case they got better with each change.

I've gone from spotting for 5 days pre period and it lasting a week, with cycles being anything from 26 to 35 days long, to a 28 day cycle with one day of spotting and they now last 5-6 days.

[ToodleTweedle]

It's mainly my mood really I'm considering seeing the GP about. Although I don't know if there's anything they can do because I'm fine for the remainder of the month.

I'm just like a completely different person for about a week before hand and then a few days afterwards. I'm really not nice to be around.

[DramaAlpaca]

Mine were regular as clockwork, every 28 days, not too heavy, didn't give me any bother apart from maybe a bit of backache the first day, never had mood swings, returned quickly after childbirth despite breastfeeding... perfect really.

Then I got to 44 or 45 and didn't know what had hit me. Regular cycle out the window, could go three weeks or six, and when I did have one it was ridiculously heavy. I put up with it for a year, then took myself off to see my GP. In went a Mirena coil and within about three months my periods stopped. Stopped forever, as it saw me through the menopause. The Mirena doesn't suit every woman but it was a life changer for me.

Long story short, it's worth seeing your GP if your periods change.

[ToodleTweedle]

I'm only in my 20s though so I'm hoping it's nothing to do with menopause!

[GreenLeafTurnip]

I'm sorry about your miscarriage. I don't like to ask but when was it and how far along were you? After I had my son and periods came back they were basically how you've described being after your miscarriage. I hated my husband with a vengeance and could easily have left him. That was the first one. That was nearly a year ago. The last couple have been much better so it could be your body just settling down again after all the hormones flooded it.

[GreenLeafTurnip]

Sorry I forgot to wrote that while my mood has improved my periods haven't. Really heavy, really crampy. They were never like that pre pregnancy.

[FudgeBrownie2019]

After DS9 my periods went wild - according to my gynaecologist the hormone changes through pregnancy can affect them - so your recent miscarriage would explain this .

Go and see your GP and ask for a referral to a gynaecologist - and don't be fobbed off. Some GPs can be notoriously dismissive of gynae problems.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

As PPs have said, I had really heavy and long periods before DD. I would have awful cramps that left me nearly unable to move and I tried many different things to ease the pain.

Had DD and my periods became lighter after a couple of days of heavier flow and I don’t get the cramps anymore. I’m currently pregnant with DC2 so don’t have periods but it will be interesting to see if they change again.

[ToodleTweedle]

The miscarriage was 2 years ago now and they've just been live this ever since.

They are so short but really heavy. They are still every 28 days like before but for example, I came on on Sunday evening and I had stopped by Tuesday afternoon but it was very heavy during that time.

Like a PP I just resent everyone during it. Like seriously hate them. I've been so close to walking out on my husband during some of them. And then I get to the next week and think wtf was I being like that for?!

[Persiaclementine]

Periods heavy before I went in the pill, then remained light and only for 2-3 days even after first child, then I had a miscarage last year and they have been heavy, painful, and at least 10 days long, this was for 4 months then I got pregnant again.

[EBearhug]

Mine have always been pretty regular and still are at 48. I've never been pregnant. When I was young, they could be painful, but never too heavy. I did go to the doctor about the pain and got mefanamic acid prescribed. Later, I didn't seem to need them as much.

In my late 30s, I noticed I started feeling really low a few days before my period. This probably coincided with me stopping taking the pill, though I didn't track it that closely - and on the positive side, I think the rest of the month is usually better, and I feel pretty good round ovulation.

Into my 40s, they have got a lot heavier with a few flooding incidents. I think it's probably a similar volume as before, but in fewer days. They can be painful to the point I missed work, and that's when I went to the GP, who was fab, and said, "in this day and age, no woman should have her life dictated by periods, and there's a range of treatments and investigations which can be done. We'll start at this end of the scale and go as far as you need." I have been making do with Tranexamic acid so far, which means I can go around 2 hours without having to change protection, rather than less than an hour. (It turns out menstrual cups can overflow.)

I have not done anything about the moods, because I find checking the calendar and reminding myself to see if I feel the same in a couple of days when my period will have started is usually enough to keep me going, and the world isn'the really so bleak (sometimes struggling with that in recent weeks.)

It has been interesting to me how they have changed over 35 years. When I learnt about periods at school, I had the impression that while they could be different for every woman, once yours had settled down, they'd be the same until menopause, except for interruptions like pregnancy. And it appears that's not the caee at all. Of course, I could be misremembering, and they did tell us, and I just ignored them because at age 9 or so, anything past about 25 is unimaginably ancient. Or they didn't want to scare girls that in your mid 30s or so, it could be that you'll find you're recreating the Texas Chainsaw Massacre every month. I don't know. But I do know that I have been surprised at how the character of my periods have changed over the years, particularly in terms of mood and heaviness. To think I used to marvel at his giant and impossibly big my mother's super plus Tampax seemed when I was a girl, puny, tiny things that they now seem...

Anyway, OP, I think if your mood is bothering you enough to ask about it, then it is worth asking your GP. Be aware they are not all as fab as mine was, and if you get one who still thinks women just have to live with it, find another GP.

[SomeBunny]

Mine are two days longer, heavier and more painful since I had my daughter. I had a c-section, so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with the discomfort. I’ve only had a few since I stopped breastfeeding so I don’t know if the change will be permanent.

[Mamimawr]

Did you have a surgically managed miscarriage (D&C) OP? My periods changed in the same way. I did concieve again quite soon. Have a look at Asherman Syndrome, it canbe caused by a d&C.

[cologne4711]

As a teen they started off really light and then after six months suddenly went bad and I didn't realise what was happening to me. They were always quite irregular, painful but not stupidly heavy but lasted at least a week and that didn't change in the brief period I was on the pill, so much for nice light 3 days affairs!

Since I had ds at 30 they've been much less painful and somewhat more regular. However, now I am peri-menopausal and they are still regular but I have a couple of flooding days each month although I think my definition of "flooding" is probably somewhat light compared with some MNers. I've nearly got through a double pack of night time towels this period though and having to get up 2-3 times in a night to change them is more than a bit annoying. As someone said above, I think it's the same volume as before but in fewer days.

I've not noticed significant mood changes at any point in my life but then I am just grumpy anyway!

[Dustbunnies]

OP, my periods changed a while ago to become exactly as you describe, except they last about 10 days without tranexamic acid and about 6 days with. I can live with that, however the change in mood is really the most alarming thing.

As you say, I feel really, really low, depressed and angry for about a week before my period is due. Almost suicidal at times. There is always some kind of emotional breakdown/huge argument with my DP over something that ordinarily wouldn't bother me. As soon as my period begins, my mood lifts and I feel like a different person again.

Anyway, last month I decided enough was enough and spoke to my GP. I was worried I'd get brushed off and told it's 'just' PMT, but they took me seriously and started me on antidepressants. I'm only about halfway through my cycle at the moment, and have only been taking the tablets for a couple of weeks, so I don't know yet whether they'll help, but fingers crossed.

You should absolutely speak to your GP and ask for help. You don't have to suffer every month. Look up pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder as well, I consulted doctor Google in desperation and I'm fairly convinced that's what I have. Good luck

[Dustbunnies]

Forgot to say, if it's relevant - I'm early 30's so (hopefully!) not menopausal or peri-menopausal. I have 1 DC but she's almost 6 now, so I don't think the change is linked to being pregnant either.

[Fucktacula]

Same as @Duvetday8

Though, my last period was early which hasn't ever happened in the 20 years I've been having them.

[Selfsettling3]

I was going to post similar. Since having DD2 it’s like my period has been compressed into a shorter time frame, much heavier, more painful but for a shorter time.

How long ago was your miscarriage? It took a while for my periods to settle back down after both of mine.

[ToodleTweedle]

Thanks. Yes I did have surgical management so perhaps that has something to do with it!

It was 2 years ago now.

Thank you all I may give the GP a call and see what they say, they are still doing telephone appointments.

[Blueuggboots]

I went to the GP about my hormonal moods. They put me on fluoxetine. Have you tried any more natural remedies? My friend swears by starflower oil but says you need to take it every day for a month before you notice a difference.

[Sickandscared]

Yes many changes.

In my teens I got very bad cramps. They passed when I hit my twenties. In my late twenties my periods became heavier and heavier, Niagara falls by my mid thirties. It turned out to be fibroids which I had removed.

Would you try acupuncture? I found it quite effective.

[vanillandhoney]

I had awful periods up until about three years ago - tried everything and it didn't make any difference. The pill helped but the mood swings that came with it were unbearable!

Then I started getting spotting mid-cycle so went to the GP - she did all the tests (smear and STD as well as blood tests) and everything came back clear. She then put me on traxenamic acid for the bleeding - the spotting stopped and my periods are much better now.

She said it was normal for things to change as you got older. I had a miscarriage about 12 years ago but nothing since and I've never had any other pregnancies.