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.

like others have said you can combine Ibroprufen and paracetamol? I think brufen is better for period pain anyway.

I don't think you can take ibuprofen and mef acid alongside each other, though.

I've been sent home from work on a few occasions when I've got to the curling up on the floor stage.

Fortunately in recent years, the implant and breastfeeding have either kept it away or managed it.

There's been some periods that given a choice, I'd swap for Ds2s labour at least it was shorter, and he was back to back.

As a teenager I think I passed a fibroid when I was in the bath. It was some kind of tissue. The pain eased after that. I didn't realise it was odd and thought it was some kind of clot.

I found iron supplements did wonders when I had terrible period pains in my teens

I'm another that has been diagnosed with Endometriosis. I've had two surgeries to try and get rid of it, but the main thing that has helped me be pain free for a number of years is taking back to back cerazette birth control pills. Sadly it put paid to DC2 but has meant I can live my life. If you aren't ttc this could be an option for you - cerazette is particularly recommended for for those of us with Endo.

Cerezette made me very weirdly depressed. A shame as I had no periods at all with it.

If it is so painful that work would be hell and you would be unproductive then call in sick. I have awful pains some months to the point of writhing round in bed crying in agony, thankfully my pain is usually only one day ling and seems to often be at the weekend (I'm irregular) also I discovered naproxen which works slowly (dissolves in the intestines rather than the stomach so takes up to an hour to work and must be taken with food to get there) but stops the cramps in their tracks, if you haven't tried it then please do it's made me so much happier.

That's a shame Dowager

Do you think you're in peri-menopause tilliebob?

And OP, be kind to yourself. You're doing all you can. Period pain is hideous.

Stupid q but have you tried a mooncup? Counter intuitively it (anecdotally) can lessen period pains.

Been using a mooncup for more than 10 years.
contemplating home surgery.

Nanny, I guess so - periods have started getting wonky although mainly still 4 weekly pretty much to the date. PMT has all but vanished but the periods themselves are awful.

You have my sympathy op.

My periods are ridiculously heavy and very very painful. I am currently onto my third implant which thankfully stops them and had the injection for years prior to that.

Earlier this year I decided to give my body a break from hormones and didn't get new implant put in. I lasted 2 months due to the pain.

I hope you get some relief

OP are they also heavy? If so tranexmeric acid is to reduce bleeding, but that may also reduce pain

I run the whole gamut of pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
I've been down the whole pain killer path. Only thing that helped was pethedine. However silly gp wouldn't let me keep it at home .
I'm not sure if it's available in the UK but when it gets horrifically bad then I use a drug called indocid. It's a suppository. It's wonderful. I go from crying on the floor in the foetal position to being up and about working.

Spelt it wrong. Anyway, it mentions it on here www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-heavy/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Not heavy at all. V light. Which is something else the rubbish GP couldn't understand.
Can't wait to hear what colleagues have to say about me not working.

If you have an OH department it would help to get them on side if it happens regularly. I have IBS and during flare ups have to have to have a day or two off as I have to be near a loo. HR started making noises, but they've stopped since I went to OH with GP letters and a hospital appt letter. I was able to expalin, yes I have a problem, yes it may cause the odd days sickness which I can't anticipate, but I'm trying to minimise it by seeing the GP, taking the meds and seeing a specialist.

It's NHS. So I'll probably be summonsed to a manager review and threatened for daring to take time off. The emotionally flogged for letting down my colleagues.

OP, don't feel guilty about taking time off for period pain. I was writhing around on the floor crying yesterday because of it. It is absolutely dreadful and I am always when people behave as if women who suffer badly are being pathetic - it is woman hating in my opinion.

I hope your Consultant is able to get to the bottom of it. I am just about to start the process by going to see my GP, so you have my complete sympathy.

Tell them if you pass out and knock yourself unconscious you will be making MORE work so staying off is the sensible thing to do.

endometriosis-uk.org
^ Amazing charity supporting those affected by endometriosis and raising awareness of the condition. Definitely worth checking out.

Painful periods are not normal. They shouldn't stop you from achieving normal daily tasks. GPs are not always well educated about endometriosis despite it being the 3rd most common non life threatening condition (after asthma and diabetes). Any woman with pelvic pain should request a referral to a gynecologist with experience of endometriosis.

No one has to put up with painful periods.

NHS wise, I assume you're clinical staff - ask if they'd rather you were vomiting with pain whilst working?

You could always ask if you could change the shift to a twilight (if you offer?) - we do twilights from 7-12 for staff that can't/prefer not to stay an entire night. I don't think you can can count them as full time hours but if that works..? At least then you'd be around for settling and what have you. I know this won't be in time for tonight but I imagine it would be Ok for future.

I would also talk to your line manager - mine was quite understanding. Kind of felt they needed to know as if I didn't have the coil, or if for whatever reason it was removed, I'd not be able to work effectively at all.m

YANBU. I have horrific ones. Only mirena helps, it is fab.

I hope you get some relief soon OP. Period pain is terrible and I agree you need to be checked for endometriosis. It is dreadful.

I had mine sloved at 38 by opting to have a total hysterectomy. Best thing ever. Within a week after surgery was back to work and felt like a new woman. It was a hard decision to make, but my DH and I decided it was worth my health being better (we had only just married and had decided to ttc, but knew I could not continue living as I were. My periods would last 6 weeks long at that time with one 1 week break...absolutely dreadful).

Hope you get answers soon and some pain relief.