Period symptoms no one talks about

Blobby10 did that thorough check out inc laparoscopy? Because endo won't show on a scan.

Op I can kinda get why that might be the case for one of my threads (not yet having a dx themselves), but the one about taking a long time to be diagnosed with physical ailments related to all ailments not just "women's troubles" it's shocking that women are still repeatedly fobbed off!

I too have been told I'm just 'unlucky' that some women have heavier periods than others, more pain than others etc etc - total crap and unacceptable, makes me so angry. Even from a pragmatic perspective it MUST be cheaper for the country to have women diagnosed and TREATED rather than having to take time off work, have the symptoms treated with several different meds for many years, struggle ttc, struggle to maintain pregnancies (SURELY it's cheaper to dx & treat the underlying cause than treat both the physical and mh issues around mc/or still birth caused by undiagnosed gynae conditions).

Thank you for this thread . I also get a lot of these things . Does anyone else find their calves get bigger the week before their period ?

Pretty much most things others have mentioned. Plus I had to plan lessons very carefully - secondary Maths but for 4 or 5 days prior to period couldn’t do mental arithmetic (well, not quickly or accurately enough). Once I regained my faculties, my period would start.

Sorry you’re struggling to get a diagnosis, Tammy. It’s shit when you know something’s wrong but don’t have a diagnosis, it sometimes feels like everyone thinks you’re faking it. I hope you get some answers, and treatment, soon

Terrible insomnia the whole week prior. Disappears the minute my period arrives.

Throbbing fanny.

Constipation usually followed by a massive and painful poo.

Clumsiness.

I'll find myself replaying various situations in my head that have recently annoyed me, until I am in a horrible mood.

Extreme emotional turmoil the day before I come on (everything is terrible/can't cope/should get a divorce)

My cervix also drops so my coil strings poke out.

Oh the period pain in the upper thighs I’m clotty too it’s vile and of course period poo and sugar cravings! not envy!

I agree that whilst many of these symptoms are common, we shouldn’t consider them normal. For example, I assumed for years that my fatigue, migraines that became more frequent and debilitating, exceptionally heavy periods and general aches and pains were a normal period thing.

Finally, after several increasingly desperate GP visits where I tried not to cry when my blood test results kept coming back normal, I lucked out and got a locum. He listened to me and sent me for a blood test with a much more thorough thyroid focus than previously. I’ve forgotten the exact results but basically my thyroid was fucked.

Since I’ve been on thyroxine I’ve not just had more energy but I feel like my body is functioning again after years of slowly crumbling. OK so I still have migraines but they’re not as bad as they were. My period is only one very heavy flow day instead of 4-5. I’m running again and walking everywhere as my joints don’t ache, which seems to be helping ease period symptoms too.

The funny thing is that my GP is female but the locum who listened and took me seriously was male. I’m so grateful he was covering that day.

I have PCOS and swollen ovaries, so lots of aches and heaviness in that region in the week prior. Javelin arse (never heard this term for it before, it definitely fits!) and stabbing pain and/or ache in my thighs.

Otherwise blessed with light periods. When I was younger they were heavy, and accompanied by fainting and vomiting.

Worst symptom for me is the random day or two of serious suicidal thoughts a day or two before periods. I'm on ADs and can be depressed anyway, but these come out of nowhere, suddenly, no matter how well I'm otherwise feeling. It's easier to deal with now that I realise what they're related to, and know they'll pass in a few days.

I always assumed the clumsiness and getting wrong words were linked to my dyspraxia which I know is worse when I'm tried - thus assumed it was caused by my cycle making me much more tired and having a knock on effect. But maybe it’s something else entirely.

I don't know if it's just me but I have noticed months I do a lot of extra walking before period - often happens when we have IL visiting we'll spend 10 hours plus on our feet walking for miles - are the months I don't get constipation and have less diarrhoea issues as well.

Reading through, I'm glad other people have mentioned clumsiness as everyone I've mentioned it to IRL has looked at me as if I was mad.

But, yes, clumsiness. I swear things actually jump away from me when I reach for them and I should probably be banned from the kitchen.

Week before I’m really emotional, crying,shouting and tired, start with the headaches over the eye and back of the head also get snotty like a cold starting and overheating in bed, then period poo and period and javelin arse with the side of lower back ache and the feeling of heaviness and swollen vulva and the spots on my chin and the one on the end of my nose every month! The only positive is since I had an abalation my bleeding has lessened.

I get my words mixed up - for example will say the wrong word for something but within the same area; e.g oven instead of radiator (both have a heat connection). It's like my brain just scrambles. Only ever get it when i'm on - i'm fairly articulate the rest of the time, honest.
Would love to know if anyone else gets this??

What a great thread OP

Runny poo
Unstoppable cravings for sugar and bread of any kind
Bloating (could be connected!)
Weepiness
Hate anyone coming near me on the street

And worst of all, just recently (nearing menopause), awful awful tension headaches just before and around onset of period.

So many of you really suffer it’s awful and can’t help thinking if men went through this there would have been far more research in how to elevate symptoms

My symptoms are more inconvenient though when I ovulate at times it’s very painful and I feel dizzy

And the strange phenomenon of women who spend a lot of time together their cycles often sync.

It’s incredible what our bodies go through and how our hormones have such an impact on our everyday lives

I completely lose spatial awareness in the couple of days before I start my period. For example, parking in a car park space (normally a doddle) takes 5-6 goes. Banging arm on door frame as I walk through it, banging head on assorted shelves ... took me years to cotton on that it was connected to my cycle.

I also had really heavy periods but was properly checked out and theres nothing sinister - I just have heavy periods. Fortunately since I finally had the coil fitted last year (didn't need contraception before as now ExH had the snip) they have virtually stopped but this could also be peri menopause! Whatever it is, I'm very happy!!

tammyswanson - that's not what I said.

Not sure many Orthodox Jewish women would agree with you about being forced to sleep in a cow shed

I was talking about my own personal experience which led me to generally wonder about other cultures/ societies.

Reading this thread is like a tick sheet. It amazes me what women put up with or ate fobbed off with.

My periods in my teens were horrendous, fainting with pain, settled a bit in 20's but with nosebleeds, migraines, clumsiness etc then from 35+ have ramped it massively. The pure rage followed by tears over nothing, bowels are fucked up, 3 day head cold, allergies/reactions increase memory/concentration goes, can't park the bloody car, the constant eating, shaky legs, thighs hurt like i've ran 10km, bloating etc etc.

Being pregnant was such a relief. I actually felt human again for a while. So calm and stable.

Now they are back with and feel worse.

I remember when having a driving lesson when I was 18 and after stalling the car about 4 times in 10 mins my instructor asked of I was due on. I was. She told me to make sure when I booked my test to make sure the date didn't coincide with my cycle!

Exams are the same.

Proctalgia fugax aka javelin arse

Is "javelin arse" wind up your back passage

No its literally like someone has stabbed you up your arse. I always got it when i was doing a poo.

The day before my period I have an overwhelming urge to deep clean, organise and generally work my socks off. And then when it arrives, the opposite. For me, it's quite a spiritual time when I feel in touch with being a woman.

I wonder about those societies where women withdraw from everyday communal life during their periods. Men might banish them for being 'unclean' , but is the reality that it's a time to rest and emerge refreshed and renewed.