Or is period diarrhoea fucking awful?

[toysoldier]

Just that really. Every time I have my period the first few days are so heavy I'm passing clots and my bowels go totally nuts... the worst room clearing farts ever and diarrhoea. I often don't know if the cramps are menstrual or diarrhoea. Today and yesterday have been horrific. Please tell me it's not just me!!

I used to get that too it was horrendous. I also felt nausous and spent time running to the bathroom retching. Glad I am past all that

I wonder if anyone has done any research into why it happens and if there is anything that can be developed to help.
Dont be daft! Its just one of those things women get that we obviously exaggerate and should just shut up and put up. Just like horrendous dysmenorrhoea.

It's horrendous, and I dealt with it for years. And then after giving birth, when my periods AND that nonsense came back, AND I could no longer use a tampon, I went on the mini pill and haven't had a period in nearly two years 🙌🏻

Before then, I basically got by with Imodium

I'm well past menopause but have just come on to sympathize about period crap, which I've just realised I used to get on top of such excruciating menstrual cramps that mt husband didn't understand when I went into labour asmy contractions weren't much worse than my usual period pains. Ugh!

I haven’t had a period since I was 38. It rocks.

Oh, and in relation to the question above, I think I remember it being to do with excessive amounts of prostaglandin? Which is an irritant and hormone related.

Yes, for years I thought it an odd and annoying coincidence that I got loose bowels during period. I've realised since being on mumsnet that it's probably the cramping in that area triggering it.

I get javelin arse too. Nor pleasant but arty least I know I'm not alone

The only positive was the Farts of Death on the first couple of days that meant everyone around me was suffering too

I get this a day or two before my periods I often wonder where it all comes from

There was a thread on here maybe last year about odd symptoms that come along with periods so many of us were replying oh yes I have that too just little changes in our body

Was really interesting we don’t just get a little moody/teary cramps and period blood loss there is a so many changes that happen at this time to many of us

Not just you. It's horrendous. I've been farting on DP in bed all week then squits by day. Lovely.

I always thought it was IBS related or the bowel being irritated by the increased activity in the area, cramps and what not.

Whatever it is, it’s rubbish!

Yes I get this but I just go about as normal so long as I am never more the 15 seconds away from a toilet! It made me laugh so hard when a man worked out how many tampons a woman should go through in an average period. He obviously didn’t know about all the extra ones that fall out half used due to period poo and peeing and all the times you have to put new ones in when you don’t need a new one yet due to not knowing when you will next get to the toilet.

I take immodium Plus on the first day. Total lifesaver!!! I've been doing this for 10 years. It also helps with the stomach cramps / aches too.

Yes! I don't have periods now I'm on the mini pill, but it was horrible, especially the clean up- shudder.

I have them and the older I get the worse I get, and this month I had a whole 10 days between periods and then a 10 day period with the shits, trumps and javelin arse for the entire time, I cannot wait for the day my periods stop, I really hope it is soon.

It’s definitely a thing. I have a theory on it, that the contractions in your uterus for the lining to shed causes the same in your bowl and it’s why you get the period shits.

I could be totally wrong, but it’s my theory and I’m sticking with it. I have ibs and it’s like a flare every damn month. It’s seriously shit

I get the opposite and spend those few days constipated . Hard to tell what's period pain and what's bowel pain from not being able to go!

Bowel! Ffs 🤦🏻‍♀️

Oh god, period shits are the absolute worst! IMO worse than the period pains, the bleeding, the headaches. So bloody inconvenient and it's not like you can take time off work every month like you would if you had a bug or food poisoning. I get the runs at the start of my period and then I'm constipated for the last few days.

I've always said if Men were the ones doing the menstruating, paid menstruation leave would definitely be a thing and they'd all probably recieve a monthly supply of painkillers, sanpro, immodium and chocolate on fucking prescription.

There’s something about this in (the amazing) Period Power by Maisie Hill. Something to do with the message to make your uterus contract also making your bowels contract....?

It's actually worse than the period!!!!! Had to get off a train recently to use station toilets which was grim.

Wish I could stay home from work for period!!!

I get this too. I however have endometriosis. Buscopan helps with this and the painful period cramps.

I don't mind the loose period poo

It's the 48 hour migraine I get before the period that kills me

Oh and pulling out the tampon in the work loos with someone waiting outside and a clot flying out and landing in my trousers so frantically trying to do a mop up job in a hurry

Sorry for tmi

I get this too OP! I’m nearly 48 and hadn’t had a period for five months so just (wrongly!) assumed I was starting to go through the change.

This month my period is back with a vengeance, horrid, heavy, horrendous diarrhoea, horrible smelly trumps and evil javelin arse that’s been so bad it’s made me cry!

It’s bloody rubbish

Fist bump back, @Floribundance

I am laughing at some of these posts, but I can only laugh from the safe perspective of the peri-menopause.

I had forgotten about the toxic trumps as well as the quasi gastric flu.

I wish I'd known about Immodium some years ago, though. It used to feel as if my entire insides were falling through my anus. Labour pain was just more of the same, but without the diarrhoea.

Every cloud, etc.

I actually quite like the period shits I get two days before a period. I feel all cleaned out, if that makes sense. Like nature's colonic.