Period symptoms no one talks about

Thank you, Tammy. I’m worried to try HRT for that reason. And if endo can only be diagnosed by a laparoscopy, I can’t imagine getting referred for that now.
What an appalling time you have had

Yes to period poo, usually preceded by a couple of days of constipation just to build up a head of steam.

Also, I'm unlucky enough to get cold sores inside my nose, and these are usually triggered by my period.

Constipation followed 24h later by a major poo
Achy legs
Bloated tummy (2-3 days before)
Insomnia

The fact your body manages to get it time to come on every birthday Christmas wedding an holiday I mean COME ON!

Explosive diarrhea that feels like it’s coming straight out of my chest lol.

Farts that don’t stop.

Abscesses from needing to wear pads for 7 days

Also, reading other people’s posts, I do sometimes have phases of feeling like I’ve forgotten how to talk and like my tongue feeling too big for my head, and stammer a bit. Will have to keep an eye and work out if there’s a pattern to it!

*What on Earth is a period poo??

Neverending diarroea. Normally on day of my period.

Yeah, lljk, imagine you’ve sat on a javelin and it’s gone right up. Shooting pains. I find it eases if I have a poo, but sometimes so bad I can barely stand up straight.

Also yes to really tender and achey vulva. And stinky farts a week beforehand.

I also get ravenously hungry in the couple of days before, a kind of gnawing emptiness like I’ll never feel full again.

What on Earth is a period poo???

@FlibbertyGiblets I thought I was the only person to get period poo!

Weird sensation that my fanny is ‘gaping’ and sometimes a 5 day headache after my period ( may be low iron/anaemia).
The saddest thing is I gave up speaking to Dr’s about other difficulties as I was so despondent with their dismissals and disinterest.
DH and I never had kids and it’s too late now, however, I truly believe if I had been listened to earlier the ovarian cysts, suspected endo, polyps and fibroids confirmed later could have been dealt with sooner...and the outcome and options may have been better

Migraines. Defo related to my period even though the doc says it's nothing to do with it.

Also, javelin arse yes! (makes me laugh that saying, even though the thing itself doesn't make me laugh!!!)

Hideous cramps (obvs!)

Sore chuff bits (and the 'periody' smell!)

The way the blood has phases of gushing out (past tampon AND sanitary towel!) I have had to run to the loo in public many times, to 'clean up' and had a massive heavy uncontrollable flow on a 10 hour coach trip once. Vile.

The mahoosive blood clots the size of a cow are fucking putrid. What is THAT about? I mean, just why.....

And yep, sometimes the period poops.

Greasy hair and zitty face.

Oh and when you have a poo, the clots being forced out of your foof!

Grizzly mood and feeling low and tearful for 3- 4 days of the month.

Having a trip or holiday or special event blighted and marred if the monthly curse pops up during it!

Ewwwww, who would be a woman eh?

I have had periods for over 30 years now, and I have never ever ever got used to it. Most things in life you get used to over time, but periods? Never ever ever. You NEVER get used to them. They are actually vile. There is nothing good about them. NOTHING.

God is obviously a man. A female GOD would never have cursed women with this living hell.

I love this thread. Thanks OP!

Oh the contact lenses! Is that a period thing? I sometimes have days where I just can’t get them to sit comfortably and my eyes are blurry!

Hideous body dysmorphia about 2-3 days before I come on. I can’t bear to look at myself in the mirror, all my clothes are too tight, I look ugly/fat/disgusting - and I have this obsession that my face is getting fatter one particularly bad month I slapped myself in the face. I probably verge on PMDD to be honest and should probably medicate.

Agnus castus and coming off the pill helped sort my physical symptoms off. I get regular as clockwork periods now, 4-5 days whereas before I was having spotting on and off constantly. Just the mental side of things which isn’t improving. It’s a bitch.

@idontlikelambchop have you been to dr for gynae referral? Only wondering because you sound like me and I suffered for years...decades..miserably 😞
Seemingly, huge clots like that and for that long are NOT normal. Neither is curling up on the floor retching in agony but that was an overlooked symptom by ALL medical staff.
However, after a decade on iron tablets for anaemia I have been under gynae for 4 years and -several unsuccessful treatments later-I’m waiting for hysterectomy BUT treatments work for some. please go and speak to your gp about your symptoms

Period poo (but once it’s out, it feels glorious). I’m in my 40’s and only found out last year that this is quite normal, I really thought it was only me!

Tender tits. Jesus, mine are on fire for up to a fortnight before my period.

Headaches at the back of my head and into the neck.

The absolute raging horn the day before I come on, which is not necessarily a bad thing, I know.

Does anyone else smell things (that sometimes aren't even there)? Like ghost smells? I'm sure I get this before my period!

Otherwise, I crash into anything in the room, bang my toes constantly. I become uncharacteristically clumsy basically!

An insane craving for huge amounts of carbs.

A day or two before I come on my contact lenses stop fitting properly - they just don’t sit right and my vision is worse.

Hair seems to be greasy and dry at the same time!

Spidey senses: everything is too fucking loud, especially people eating and breathing.

Javelin arse and shooting leg pain when trying to poo.

Bloody poo.

Feeling fearless and willing to speak up for myself at work, whereas I’m riddled by anxiety the rest of the month. Actually I feel like physically fighting my bosses when I am due my period. I am normally timid.

My sense of taste changes just before my period, no idea why but it's s sure sign it's on its way!
Also, period poo!

I was going to say I mentioned 1/2 of these to a dr when I suffering form period pain but they declared since I wasn’t anemic it was all a coincidence. Here I learned that constipated for 3 days then 24 hours on the toilet, puking, pumping, itching and sleeping all within normal range. Although I secretly suspect if “they” spent a week thinking about it they could come up with a pill to cure it.

Period poo- thought it was just me a while back till I read about it on here. Sudden urge to go and it’s all crampy and painful eurgh

But I didn’t realise other people got the sore legs/thighs! Really heavy achy feeling.

Also I get depressed and start questioning everything. I even start to get annoyed at the dog and she’s usually my favourite!

Oh yes and smelly farts. Don’t know why that is either. Really strange.

Pre DC a lot of back pain, deathly tired and vert dark blood and lots of clots. Headaches and few days of such tiredness I just wanted to sleep. Also craving for chocolate.

On pill - which I later realised was killing my sex drive and causing anxiety got big red spots at gap point. Occasionally happens during normal period but never at any other time – very big not normal spots.

GPs I went tp insited all was normal no tests done - found out that amount of pain wasn't normal when experinced labour - level of pain till pushing was as bad as monthly pain.

Since DC - 5 year gap bf and pg - lot lighter but late 30 started getting some cycles with constipation and diarrhoea and suddenly PMS just before. Also slowly realised my appetite and energy levels and strength and coordination vary over cycle.

Thought it was me but a female weight lifter posted on thread in feminism chat and said it was known appetite and strength varied over month enough to affect training.

Oh and the cholate craving I’d had which I thought stopped because chocolate got shit - was probably magnesium deficiency - oddly I'd started supplements as had other symptoms and it was around then craving stopped.