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Original poster

Vomiting during period- normal?

55 replies

OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:02

I've always been cursed with hideous periods- heavy flow, lasts ages and very painful. Dd (16) appears to have inherited this, she's having a miserable time of things.

As well as all the issues above she also sometimes throws up on the first day or so of her period. This has only happened a couple of times.

Today (period day 1) we had to pick her up from school at 1130 because she's thrown up several times at school. She continued to throw up in the car on the way home and this has gone on all day.

The cramps are so bad she's only been comfortable in the bath. She's stayed there for over five hours. Still throwing up.

She's slightly better now. Googling I can see that vomiting during periods uncommon.

My question is- is this worse than usual? She's still throwing up stomach acid 9 hours after the vomiting started.

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 17/01/2020 20:07

I often vomit either the day before or throughout the morning of day one. It's horrible. I didn't realise it was particularly uncommon. It has got less bad over the years but that's a long time to wait. I think you should definitely talk to the gp about it. I suspect it's when theres,a rapid hormone drop that's put things temporarily out of balance and causes the sickness although I could be wrong. Hopefully the doctor can help but I would make sure you stress how disruptive to her life it is good luck. Do tell her shes not the only one.

StillCounting123 · 17/01/2020 20:09

Poor DD, she must be feeling wretched.

I have vomited with period pain in the past. Rarely, but it has happened.

No big advice for her, apart from to rest and cling on to the hope that it will pass in a day or so.

InvisibleToEveryone · 17/01/2020 20:11

My eldest DD was like that, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps down to her knees, even passed out once.

Not fun.

Now DD2 appears to be following her, not quite at the vomiting stage yet, has severe nausea though, very painful, heavy periods where she's in tears doubled over.

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Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:12

Thanks all- I'm glad to hear it's not anything worryingly abnormal. It is just depressing that she will also have her life interrupted like this.

OP posts:
BouncingOnATightrope · 17/01/2020 20:13

Yes. It was for me.
It's because of the pain. A super strong dose of ibuprofen on the day before and the first day of the period stopped it for me. But you can't take it for more than a day or two and you should have a liver (I think) function test regularly if you take it regularly.

I was diagnosed with endometriosis and ovarian cysts and have now been put on the pill. It has been life changing. As a child I put up with it because periods weren't something to make a fuss over, every woman has them and only sluts want to go on the pill.

Please take her to a GP and get her checked out. It's not normal and it will have an awful effect on her teenage years. Something can be done about it.

MmeBufo · 17/01/2020 20:14

Being in as much pain as she is isn’t acceptable and the vomiting would worry me too. You would be best to have her see the GP, they will probably just recommend her going on the pill but you should push for further investigation - have you ever had your own symptoms investigated? TBH it sounds rather like endometriosis

IlovecatsIloveeverykindofcat · 17/01/2020 20:14

Yeah it happens to me (usually just once though) if I don't get the pain under control pronto. Only way I've found to stop it is as soon as the pain starts, eat something and take naproxen (prescribed not feminax). Usually takes the edge off the pain enough so I don't get sick. Might be worth doing to the doctor.

TheReef · 17/01/2020 20:15

Have you tried giving he travel sickness tablets,

exexpat · 17/01/2020 20:16

DD (now 17) has had this on and off since she was 13. Not necessarily vomiting every period, but she went through several bouts of months at a time when she would be vomiting for several days during her periods, and she still gets bad nausea as well as cramps, headaches etc. She missed a lot of school due to this.

If you go to your GP, they can try various things to help, including contraceptive pills, anti-nausea medication and meds like mefenamic acid which help with the cramps and also seem to reduce flow.

Hels20 · 17/01/2020 20:21

Yes - I am now in my 40s but when I was in my 20s, for about 5 years I vomited on the first and/or second day of my period at least about 4 times in a day. Sometimes I would just about manage to get the pain under control and would heave rather than vomit. It got better as I got older and my periods also got lighter. I, too, found that sitting in my bath was the only thing that gave me relief.

Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:23

I'll get her to the GP next week. I've been quite startled by how awful she's felt for so long. We were too late with the painkillers- by the time she took them she couldn't keep anything down.

Over the years I've tried just about everything under the sun, nothing has made a big difference. They've done all the various tests and scans and I have no serious issues, just seem to be unlucky. I have B12 anaemia but they've never said if it's connected.

OP posts:
FairyBatman · 17/01/2020 20:24

Yes if I don’t get enough painkillers in to Jeep on top of the pain and cramps.

It may be worthy a trip to the GP, if it’s that bad the pill might help if there’s mefanamic acid that I used to take. It helps with really bad cramps.

BestIsWest · 17/01/2020 20:25

Yes, as a teenager, every time. Diahorrea too. Only the pill stopped it for me.

mineofuselessinformation · 17/01/2020 20:26

As you've already said, you need to take her to the GP.
They should be willing to prescribe something to help - mefenamic acid, for instance.
If they try to fob you off, insist!

Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:26

I've had mefenamic acid before and it didn't touch the cramps. Hopefully it's better for dd. My mum was the same and thinks the menopause is the beat thing that ever happened to her. Depressing thought!

OP posts:
Monetmoney · 17/01/2020 20:26

I get this sometimes, I also get really dizzy, sometimes pass out and have to go to bed to sleep it off. Not very often now I'm older but as a teenager it was frequent, your poor DD!

The pill helps (currently off it which is why I've experienced it again recently).

Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:27

I think my experience is why I've not taken her sooner. Which isn't a great answer really. Just had a lot of different things tried over the years with no real results- I've come away with the idea that I just have to get in with it.

OP posts:
MiniMum97 · 17/01/2020 20:28

Have you had a laparoscopy? That's the only way endometriosis can be diagnosed. If not I would be pushing for that for both of you.

Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:29

No, not a laparoscopy. Some sort of scan of the womb/ ovaries. Was quite some time ago.

OP posts:
Tinty · 17/01/2020 20:30

Take her to the Gp poor girl, my best friend went on the pill at 12, over 36 years ago, she used to vomit and faint.

Beseen19 · 17/01/2020 20:30

I had this when I was her age, was sent home from school pretty much once a month then my first job I fainted and was sick everywhere. My manager was so worried she took me to my GP, was mortified. To me it seemed to be more like a reaction to the blood leaving my body which left me feeling very faint and nauseous.

For me it did get a lot better, I'm now in my late 20's and after having DS my periods are still heavy but manageable. Like your daughter I could spend a whole day in the bath for pain relief. A menstrual cup really helped me and exercise the week leading up to my period.

NotTheMrMenAgain · 17/01/2020 20:30

An old colleague of mine had 3 girls and they all had this - upset stomach and vomiting as well as the more common cramps etc. There is a name for it - which I can't remember - and it was caused by high levels of hormones being released during periods having a toxic affect on the body. So it is a thing. They had medication to take as soon as their period started which reduced all the symptoms and the flow.

So I'd get your DD to the GP asap - poor girl can't suffer through that each month!

As an aside, my periods were nasty when I was young - shaking, sweating, upset stomach, vile metallic taste. My DD hasn't started hers yet but if they're anything like mine we'll be at the GP each month until we find something that helps. Girls/women shouldn't be fobbed off and allowed to suffer this much - some periods are 'just a period' and some are not!

roundtable · 17/01/2020 20:32

I had vomiting and diarrhoea as a teen when on my period. I used to lose 3 days. Eventually put on pill which helped. But now I'm older I want to come off it as I think it's affecting me other ways. But I'm too worried it'll come back Confused

It's great you're supportive though. My mum thought I was making a fuss as they weren't like hers.

Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:34

She does a lot of sport and is generally very stoic which is why this is feeling especially awful. Interesting to hear it may be a specific thing. GP is pretty good so hopefully he can help.

Thanks for all the info- it's really appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
OwlMother · 17/01/2020 20:36

I went on the pill at 14 to sort mine- it did stop the issues but caused me other problems so I have been wary of hormone based solutions since.

I think I have to keep reminding myself that DD is not me and things have moved on medically in the last 25 years!

OP posts:
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