Does anyone else suffer with period flu?

[KillingLoneliness]

Might be a bit of a pointless thread but I was wondering how others manage their health.

I’ve always suffered with my periods, really heavy, lots of cramping etc but I also get really poorly before and after my period and sometimes during ovulation.

I tend to suffer from a fever, sore throat, horrible lower back pain and I just feel like a have a really nasty cold/flu.

I want to start looking into getting back into work and I’m really worried how to manage my period as it literally knocks me out for a few days. I have medication to reduce how to heavy they are but I’ve no idea if there’s anything to help with the cold like symptoms?

From what I can gather it’s all down to hormone levels/an imbalance and how the body responds to it.

Can anyone else relate? Or anyone know what medication can help etc?

I've just posted saying I've had a low grade fever for a week and started my first period in three months yesterday. I'm wondering if it's related.

Yes, I've always thought it might be due to my immune system being lower during this time.

I get this a couple of days before my period, severe aches & stabbing like pains in my legs, all my joints feel on fire, back aches, my sinuses & cheekbones hurt & sometimes it feels like a fork has been driven straight between my eyes & is twisting around in my brain, sore throat, wheezy, hot & cold, wake up with my throat & chest in a cold sweat.
Exactly the same as a heavy cold/flu. I either power through it with cold & flu tablets or occasionally have had to have a day off work.

It lasts anything from a day to 3 days before my period & then as soon as my period starts everything just disappears & I'm as right as rain & feel on top of the world physically & emotionally.

These symptoms only started after I had my child & had an emcs which I sailed through with no problems & no after pain either.
I do wonder if the 'period flu' has anything to do with internal adhesions from my emcs as I also feel like my 2 decades old scar is going to burst right open.
And it's also got worse since the Covid pandemic started even though as far as I know I've only had Covid once & I was getting 'period flu' years before that

From what I gather it's to do with the rise in prostaglandins, lower estrogen levels affecting your neurotransmitters & it all messes with your immune system causing inflammation in your body just before your period.

Though seeing my symptoms written down for the first time I'm beginning to wonder if there's something else going on too?

It’s kind of a relief to know I’m not alone in this but it’s also so sad that others are also suffering!

I also have an autoimmune response when I get covered head to toe in a itchy, bright red, hot rash for a few days and the DRs have no idea what it is, they just say it’s viral but I feel like death! It happens when I’m due my period or if I’m ever sick so it has to be related to a lowered immune system.

There is some evidence that histamines fluctuate in your cycle and can cause those symptoms, some women take antihistamines and say it helps

www.larabriden.com/histamine-intolerance-pms-pmdd/

(Not a Dr but have pmdd and am on some forums where women discuss this)

I often feel awful during mines too. I’d try Naproxen if you haven’t already. It’s a powerful anti inflammatory and takes my symptoms down to a manageable level. Take with paracetamol for max effect. You can get it over the counter at boots for period pain but I have prescription for a higher dose.

My daughter was sick every month for the week before her period. She would vomit for a week straight.

She got the implant which sorted the sickness but then has bled every day since. It's awful for her. She's on the pill along with the implant to try and balance it all out.

I have a chronic automimmune condition and it flares up badly from a couple of days before I get my period until my period tails off. Very annoying!

Take a look at your diet, as any kind of deficiency in vitamins, minerals and lipids can have an effect on this.

Mine is like having a head cold/sore throat, blocked sinuses, muscle aches.

Got worse as I hit peri menopause.

Going through it right now! That feeling of coming down with something, headaches, stomach issues, feeling really tense and achey, it all just seems to build and build until I finally start bleeding and feel right as rain again within about half an hour.

I never had this when I was younger, but have noticed it the past few years. I also had much heavier periods when I was younger and now have much lighter and shorter ones.

I began taking the mini pill which stopped my periods altogether so haven't experienced this for five years luckily!

Yes, the number of times I’ve thought I was starting with a cold/the flu/covid…..

I can’t take any form of contraception unfortunately :( I’ll have to book in with my GP to see if anything can help with it as it’s really hit me hard this month!