to phone in sick with period pain?

[TheDowagerDuchessOfDinglyDell]

Seriously. Hurts so much I don't know what to do with myself. Night shift tonight. Have already taken as many painkillers as I should today.

Don't know what to do.

Call in sick.

And in an effort to pre-empt some of the comments you may receive - There's a special brand of people that claim women who call in sick through period pain are wusses/drama queens. They are cunts who know nothing about just how bad period pain can be.

Call in sick, but then ensure that you make an appointment with your doctor so you can look at long term solutions. If you have regular time off due to this issue, then your employer (quite rightly) as with any other illness will want to know what you are doing to minimise the amount of time you are absent from work.

Call in but, as Lucy said, go to your GP. Mine eventually worked wonders!

Call in sick if you are in so much pain you feel you will not be able to do your job effectively. There is no point in you being there if you won't be any help to your co workers.
Have you seen a Dr about your period pains? If they are so bad you need to miss work I hope you are able to get some help and support with treating them.

FWIW, I went through a phase where my pains were so bad I could barely walk. I got shooting pains across my lower back and down both legs. It was agony to stand and walk. I was lucky in that it seemed to self resolve after a few months. But just wanted you to know you are not alone, periods can be so painful!

Got consultant appt in december.. usually manage to avoid working on day 1 (luck and shift planning) but running a few days behind.

I think I love SipsTea

Shit shit shit shit shit.

I don't do sick. Ever.

I had horrendous pain so you have my sympathies. I used to lie in bed crying and praying it would stop. I once told my mum just to knife me to end it. I went to gp and he was useless (make didn't get it) he gave me painkillers but since the pain made me throw up they were as much good as Viagra in a convent. Eventually I said unless something was done he would be signing my death certificate as I would top myself and lo and behold he finally understood and gave me the pill which was a blessed relief. I still get pain but it's bearable with the pill. I worry that not taking it as ttc will cause it to come back but so far it's only slightly worse. Call in and have a warm bath and get a hot water bottle.

If you're in pain then you can't work.

Tell them you have a migraine if you don't want to tell them it is period pain.

Do get yourself to the doctors though, when you can.

Done. Now weeping because I'm so feeble.

Ii'm shit with hormone contraceptives. GP insists mirena is the only answer. I'm crap with painkillers so can't take the good ones. Utterly fed up with this ruling my life.

Agree with call in sick and ensure you follow up wih Drs etc.

Re painkillers, what have you taken? You know that you can mix paracetamol and ibuprofen, don't you? There's still safe limits obvs, but I find the combo works for me mostly.

Bollocks to feeble! I've walked around on a broken leg for 2 days, but each month I am in agony.
It is a real pain.

i have only had one day off sick in the five years I've been in my current job, and it was because of period pain. agree though that you need to seek treatment if it's that bad. I had my coil removed, which sorted things out.

Max paracetamol until 2am tomorrow. Plus mefanemic acid.2 x 500mg. Saving the third for later.

Try a good acupuncturist, OP. I can highly recommend it from personal experience.

Don't be silly. If anyone says "they aren't that painful!" then they are a lucky fucker and need to shut up.

Get in bed, and stay there until you see your gp.

Bugger. Hot bath? Then a hot water bottle.
And some . But these are nice ones of your choice. They are not the MN 'biscuit of sarcasm'.

for you. It's so hideous. Writhing round on the floor, crying, puking. Mine only improved after childbirth but it's still no walk in the park. You really are not feeble.

Absolutely call in sick.
I used to get horrific period pain.
I would be curled up in the bed, crying.
I have since had 2 babies with no pain relief...so on the plus side it's a great preparation for labour!
Do you take any supplements op?
I take magnesium, b complex, and evening primrose oil. And it does help.

Can you tolerate co codamol?
I found it very good for mine.

The Dowager,

Do call in sick. I should have done this more than once; I used to end up on the floor in sheer agony due to painful periods. BTW I did eventually get a diagnosis - endometriosis.

I would go all out to try and determine what the underlying cause of these period pains are; often endometriosis is to blame for these types of problems. Has anyone ever mentioned endometriosis being a possibility here?.

I would start keeping a daily pain (on a scale from 1-10) and symptom diary if you do not already do this. It can give the gynae clues.

"GP insists mirena is the only answer"

No, no and no again. Many GPs are frankly ignorant when it comes to gynae issues so try and treat the symptoms rather than properly address the cause.

I would think that all of you who have reported similar symptoms have endometriosis as well. It is very common and very much undergdiagnosed in women.

Sorry you're struggling so badly OP. Hope the consultant can help for the longer term.

Could you take the mefanamic acid on a different pattern? I think some people take it a couple of days before period is due, as the benefit builds up somehow.

Period pain can be awful. I'm currently dosed up on paracetamol and mefanemic acid too and nursing hot water bottles. I've missed two days of work in the last year - one for horrific period pain and one for practically fainting due to anaemia caused by blood loss. GP also keeps banging on about the mirena but I really don't want it.