I have my period. My cycle starts with a couple of light days and then it's full-on exsanguination for a couple of days. I didn't realise that today was one of those days. I used the usual sanpro (tampon and then towel for extra security) and happily beetled off to the gym.
All is fine for a while, I can 'feel' that I'm bleeding quite heavily but I'm perfectly sure that my sanpro is equal to the task. But OH no. There I am on that stair climber thing, the one that means you're standing above the other gym users as you climb and therefore your arse is on full display. Mid-way through my allotted 20 minutes I feel a tap on my leg, "Excuse me," says this lady, "I don't know if you know but there's a lot of blood on the back of your leggings."
WHAT?!
"I'm sorry to disturb you but I wanted to make sure you were aware."
Because, yeah, every female who bleeds is happy for it to trickle out down their bloody legs in the gym. Suddenly I realise that I can see my reflection in a huge mirror across the other side of the gym.
Oh. My. God.
The seat of my leggings is saturated with blood. And not only that, it has continued to make its way down to my KNEES. Everyone else must have thought my uterus had fallen out.
And because of the hot weather (of COURSE it had to be today as we swelter in south coast heat) I was just wearing my t-shirt and I hadn't brought anything else with me. So therefore I had nothing to tie around my waist. In a hurry, I clamber off the machine and the nice lady is still standing there. God knows what I looked like, my bottom half soaked in blood, flushed face from exercise, and a wild look in my eyes as I try to think what to do.
"Do you have a spare jumper? Or workout top? That I could just tie around my waist? I promise I'll wash it." She was apologetic, but the answer was no. THEN, another lady wandered over and asked if I was OK. My wild eyes must have said it all.
"You need something to tie around your waist," she advised. NO SHIT. By this time, I had two women, who I didn't know from Adam, who were well and truly invested in me and my period, and there are also several other gym users beginning to look in my direction. At this point, I must have looked like something out of the circus. Gone wrong.
Anyway, a staff member came over and very kindly offered her black fleece to me to get down to the changing rooms so it was all OK in the end. Apart from my dignity. That's still shattered.
Does anyone else have an unfortunate period story to regale and make me feel better??