To ask you about your periods

[rumpehpumpeh]

I've spent years as a Slave to my menstrual cycle. Feeling shit and not knowing why until D-day and then if dawning on me. So, I've been keeping a diary...and there's a fool proof pattern! I'm so excited by this.

7 days before - massive blind red spot on the right side of my mouth. Some smaller random ones around the chin. Skin on nose goes dry and flakey.

6 days before - giant disgusting spot gets a head. Sometimes two

I've recently started using the Clue app to track my periods and symptoms. Every day I can input mood, skin conditions, aches, pains, cramps, contraception, sex, bleed etc. It has really helped me to figure out when I need to be antisocial and hide for the sake of friends, family and colleagues who feel the wrath of my PMS.

I didn't realise that period poo was a thing that happened to other women as well until I read it on MN a few years ago. Up to then, I thought i was the only one who suffered with it.

I had a massive fibroid removed a couple of years ago which made a huge difference to my periods. Now i take Cerelle and don't have periods which is great.

Night before my period I wake up in a huge pool of sweat, from the tips of my toes to the bottom of my chin...
Pmt isn't so bad now I have cut out additives and caffiene from my diet.

Oh god what a pile of shite us women have to put up with. And we get nothing but patronising comments. It sucks, really sucks.
I'm pushing 50 and am perimenopausal. It is only in the last two years I have realised what a significant role my menstrual cycle has played in my life. It's fucked me up no end.
From age 19-32 I was on the combined pill. Week before period I would be seriously irritable and unusually annoyed by things and would blow them out of proportion. Two days into period I'd get a blinding migraine which lasts exactly 4 days. This would begin with a tingle around my left eye socket which would progress to feeling like someone was trying to pull it out at the roots and the sensation would go up and over my left cranium and down my left side. Eventually the doctor said I should continue taking the pill so I never got a period and wouldn't then get the hormonal fluctuations. Fine.
Then I got pregnant and then pregnant again pretty quickly.
Combined pill no longer prescribed in this manner (bad practice apparently)
Mini pill having no effect on hormones
DH gets the snip and I go cold turkey
Shite cycle of irritable to the point of suicide and hating everyone in my life to the 4 day migraine.
Periods became sporadic and I started getting lower back pain and hip pain and generally feeling old, no energy and pretty shite.
Blood tests confirm perimenopausal.
HRT prescribed for headaches. Do no good.
So I'm riding the storm.
2 weeks before I have well rounded, impressive boobs
1 week before I'm as horny as hell
then irritable and can't sleep
2-3 days before I get really anxious and worry about everything
Day 1 I get a sense of relief and couldn't give a shit
Along with cramps and backache.

I went six months with no period but now they are back. I actually can't wait until all this shit just goes and I can move on with my life. Can you actually get a hysterectomy just because you want one? I want all this female shite out of me. I never want any more kids and if I knew then what I know now I think I'd have paid to have all of it removed back when I was 20.

There! feel better now

A few have mentioned period poos. I often get excruciating pain when actually passing mine,to the point where it sort of takes my breath Is that common??

I have very few symptoms leading up to my period, these days my chin seems permanently spotty so can't really predict period from that anymore. My periods are very short and quite light with hardly any cramps anymore. I am so grateful for this. They have been shortening and becoming less symptomatic over the last few years since DS2 was born. I'm 30 now and kind of starting to worry what that means! I do get horrible post menstrual rage. It's vile. I hate it. I always forget it's coming until I'm about to eat one of the DC and suddenly think "what the hell's wrong with me?" And it dawns on me.

I always know when I am about to come on as dh gets really grumpy and irritable- it definitely is him and not me, he even admits it himself!
Symptoms-wise I used to get quite a lot but after taking up yoga when I was pregnant I really don't get much bother. It only lasts about three days and is pretty light and pain free. If I do let my yoga habit slide for a couple of months though it all starts to come back- periods are heavier, longer, more painful and I feel generally rubbish.
Clearly Dh needs to take up yoga to balance his hormones!

Period poos, yes v uncomfortable here and then end up once period has arrived having diarrhoea whatever I eat.

Week before I get v tender breasts, normally well fitting bra feels like a torture device (I take borage oil to help with this). Incredibly sensitive nipples, if the shower gets them directly it feels like they've been got at with a cheese grater.
4 days before I get antsy and intollerant, of everyone. Emotional too.
3 days before I begin bloating - I can gain half a stone in water, it disappears as soon as my period ends!
2 days before I hate everyone. Very black mood and full of despair.
1 day before, horny as hell and very frustrated and annoyed if dh isn't willing. Rationally I can't say I blame him for not wanting to shag me in this mood, but dammit just go with it!
Often get migraines now too, as well as when I ovulate.
Period - dear god I am being split in two from my ribs to my knees. Have to breath through the pains of passing clots, similar to contractions. My vulva feels swollen and bruised. Day 2 and 3 of period I have to set hourly alarms overnight on my phone to get up to change my tampon and possibly towel as otherwise it's horrific.
I'm boiling hot and my sense of smell is ridiculous. No eating anything smelly that is non-spicy in the house. Strangely, spicy things are fine.
I've had an allergic reaction to the meds they gave me to slow it down and reduce the flow so now get by on extra strength ibuprofen and cocodamol.

My spatial awareness goes to pot BP - walk into things, drop stuff..... I also need a bigger personal space and crowds make me feel very on-edge because people are just too near

I don't get much in the way of PMT, but throughout the month I have major changes in my outlook eg two weeks I'll feel soooo positive and happy and I'll sign up for things and stuff, and then 2 other weeks I'll just totally lose my mojo and not fancy doing anything and feel unhappy with my life. I'm sure it's hormonal!
Other than that my main symptom is thrush. Brill! Every month before my period for 7 years. Led to other issues. Kind of got a handle on it now though fingers crossed
Actual period lasts 4 days max :) and I use cloth pads, tried a mooncup about 10 years ago but couldn't get it out without scratchin around up there which made me feel so squeamish!

Since I had my iud inserted, I don't get periods. I just get one little blob of pinkish blood every month, not even enough to soak a panty liner. I still get the horrific cramps I've been experiencing since I was 13 though.

I'm a complete raving bitch two days before it arrives.

Does that count?

I get thrush almost every month about 7 days before my period is due (only since having children). I'm also an irritable bitch 7-10 days before my period is due and everything annoys the hell out of me.

Mine is different every month. God I long for the days when was on the pill & didn't have a period at all.

Anyone getting thrush every month should get tested for diabetes.

I have been tested extra hot - twice. No signs of diabetes.

Extra good point :) in my case it's been 7 years so of course I've tried everything, been tested for everything and seen numerous consultants. I personally am absolutely healthy and have just been told it's entirely normal and common.

Can I ask a question? When people talk about their periods I'm never sure if mine count as 'proper' periods due to being on the pill. Daft question but are all the same hormones running around, given that it's just a 'break' rather than a proper cycle? I was on the pill aged 18 - 20 and then implant until I was 24. Been back on the pill for 4 years now so haven't been totally 'natural' for 9 years.

God, it's a depressing read isn't it.

I've just realised how much I've missed from my diary too :( the rock hard breasts. The diarrhoea.

Urggggghhhhhhh

I'm absolutely evil for a week before my period. I get obsessive about tidying because it helps me feel in control and everyone gets on my nerves.

I get the clumsiness too, and generally a bit dim.

I also just want a hysterectomy. i don't have kids, don't want them and no longer want to support the shareholders of tampax/mooncup et al. I have put up with this shit since i was 9 years old. I am 43 now. It needs to end.

Cerazette - the saviour of my sanity and end of my evil pmt and crippling periods.

My hormonal fluctuations make me feel totally out of control a lot of the time. Horrendous painful periods. Spots and swellings. Breasts so sore and tender that I struggle to wear bras. Bloating and up to 8lb of water retention. Crippling cramps, vomiting, flooding. Pmt where I am murderous. Utter, utter exhaustion. Migraines, blurry vision.

I'm on a shit ton of tablets, but I can't go on like this for another 25 years or so. I want a hysterectomy in the next five to ten years.