To think my menstrual cycle ruins half of my life?

[Karlafarla]

Does anyone else feel like this?

These are a list of the symptoms I get. They can begin up to 10 days before my period starts and usually end within 2-3 days of it starting.

Physical symptoms are; headaches, nausea, diarrhoea (IBS) often severe, bloating, trapped wind, aching legs, aching arms, very greasy hair and skin, acne, frequent urination, general weakness, shooting pains in my arse (strange one).

Non physical are; extreme clumsiness (affects my life and work), anxiety, extreme sensitivity to noise, extreme irritability, lack of coordination, tiredness even exhaustion, bad dreams, tearfulness, being 'jumpy', very sensitive to smells, food cravings or loss of appetite. Lack of motivation to do anything. Feeling low and bad about myself for example not wanting to go out because I'm 'ugly' even though I'm not usually like that.

These are only the ones I can think of. I get most of them, most months, I'm on today and I look absolutely terrible, I'm white as a sheet and look ill.

I have been to the doctors over the years but have never really had any help. My pregnancies have been the best times and I've felt amazing with no menstrual cycle to contend with.

The pill did help some of some of the symptoms a bit, but as I've taken it for many years I'd decided to stop two years ago. I'm not sure whether I should start taking it again.

Does anyone else suffer this badly or has anyone found a solution?

I've started taking some really good expensive multivitamins, omega 3s and magnesium. For me it's oestrogen sensitivity that does for me, so I have a surge mid cycle then a second burst in the run up to my period.
It's only the second month but I feel so much better. I'm switching from the combined pill to Mirena next month too, so will see how it goes when I take the extra oestrogen out of the mix.
But look into vitamins. Definitely. I swear PMS/DD has almost cost me my marriage.

Try buscopan for the stabbing pains and gut disturbances. It's an antispasmodic so it helps. I have endometriosis and adenomyosis which the Mirena coil keeps under control. Before that I was on cerazette (progesterone only pill) which worked well for quite a few years but didn't seem to help the worsening adenomyosis.
My hormones have always been all over the place and I used to feel like I had the flu before my period started.
Do push for a gynae referral as this is seriously affecting your life.

I'm feeling this, OP. To make matters worse, I have a 21 day cycle (lucky me) AND since having the sprogs I've started getting ovulation sickness (plus migraines, mood swings, spots and dizziness!) halfway between periods. All in all that leaves me with, say, a day (two at most) of feeling like myself (positive, resilient, upbeat, energetic). I wish I could bottle it. If I felt like that all through the month I'd have conquered the world by now/would be running a global business empire. As it is I'm crushed by self-doubt, exhaustion and nausea for what is almost most of the time (or so it can feel)!

I feel the same. I get migraines too. It's awful

I get the shooting pains in the bum too, makes me jump and my back arches and i go rigid like an electrical shock, ive actually noticed that they always occur just before (about 15-40 mins) i need to go for a number 2 in the loo so my theory is that i have a patch of endometriosis in the lower bowel that triggers an attack each time the bowel moves there. Idk if im right, never had the chance to get that explored- It got a lot better on the pill though

I got the mefeanic acid too but all it did was delay my period until 2 weeks after i stopped taking it when you were supposed to stop taking it 5 days before you were due all it did was mess up my previously regular 28.5 day cycle

Would anyone be interested in taking this further? I have no idea how, lobbying or an awareness campaign or something? It seems everything takes so long, particularly around diagnosis and treatment. I've been made to feel like a fucking idiot for going to the GP with PMS and I'm getting close to the end of my tether. I want it all cut out frankly. Why is treatment so unreliable still?

I'd like to send a big big massive virtual hug to all ladies that have posted and all ladies reading & lurking, not brave enough to post.

sorry for the long post but I hope somebody will benefit from my information sharing.

I also experienced all the symptoms described by OP plus diarrhoea and heavy painful periods. Similar to PP I only used to feel "free and sane" for 1 week every month. And that shooting pain in bum wtaf? When I tell people they say I'm being drama and exaggerating.

Short version - Was diagnosed with endmitriosis and Fibroids. I initially manage via diet and exercise. Eliminated meat & dairy, switched to soya which is a trigger so eliminated also. Symptoms got worse & unmanageable, very anemic, walking around like a zombie permanently in pain, unable to eat, sleep, lost 4 stone in 2months. I ended up having hysterectomy.

Even if you've finished having babies, hysterectomy isn't the miracle that we hope for . Fast forward 8 years symptoms are slowly returning and I'm having a monthly bleed. I suspect it's the endmitriosis. I met a lady my age, exact same story as mine had hysterectomy similar time frame, also now having periods ffs. I felt marginally better hearing her story, felt less alone.

Pain meds - when I was at my worse, the only thing that worked effectively for me was 500mg of mefanemic acid and 500mg of paracetamol administered together via suppository. This combo didn't work orally. And this lasted for days so your taking in less drugs and your body is less toxic.

Gynaecologist - please please do your research before you go to your gp, find the best gynae at your local hospital and insist on a referral to that named gynae. Try and find the one who is doing/recently done research into your specific issue (they all publish their research and include this in their biographies). The current recommendation is less invasive procedures = faster recovery. Don't let them fob you off and leaving you still feeling rubbish.

@lampshady yup I agree something needs to be done because what we're sharing in this thread isn't new.

Thanks for that post nurse