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 had to see a psychologist before I was allowed an elective section (longer story not relevant). I said my back to back labour pains in previous pregnancy were unbearable and I do suffer really terrible period pain including vomiting and diarrhoea. She did a head tilt and asked if I thought it was my body's physical reaction to my psychological belief that periods are bad? Errrr what now??! This was someone who I saw for less than an hour of her life. I never said anything about periods being bad/disgusting/shameful. I said I experienced horrendous pain and other symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea (all experienced these in labour).

I had no idea SO MANY women experience the same period shits as me! What a complete twat she is to project some weird nonsense on me rather than see the truth. I am also unfortunately sensitive to immodium so can't even medicate. I just have to work from home on day 1.

Almost 9 months pregnant and I’d forgotten about the lovely diarrhoea/period combo. Ugh. You’re not alone!

'two whole weeks' between bleeding cycle - after being regular to the day for years

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that that's the payoff for no period poo, and no javelin arse.

Two whole weeks if I'm lucky. Could be two whole sodding days.

Ugh.

I used to get this when I was a teenager, I used to kneel on the floor, doubled over in pain with both menstrual and bowel cramps.
My mum had warned me, she said my bowels might be a 'little loose', but of an understatement there, Mum!

whattheduck I have IBS thanks to PTSD (I almost shit myself when I feel panic or ‘trapped’, which is a pathetic evolutionary trait. Wish I got the urge to go for a 5 mile run instead, I can guarantee you that there is, in fact, limitless amounts of shit. ‘How can there still be shite cramping through my intestines?!’ we wonder. There is no end, no limit.

Fucking prostaglandins. Bastards.

(On the plus side, I take the pill without the hormone withdrawal bleed, no breeding, no bleeding. I can’t cope with the clots, cramps, shite, feeling like a medieval peasant mopping up blood in agony for a week. Nah. Medicate that nonsense into irrelevance)

Thanks all for the messages - I'm so glad I'm not the only one! No such thing as TMI when we're staring in solidarity together talking about javelin arse / fanny, explosive shits and peanut butter and jelly wipes (my favourite pet of this thread by the way)!!!! Lots of love to you all x

*standing not staring

Haven’t read full thread but this can be caused by endometriosis. Affects 1/10 so not that rare. Xx

My partner has observed that I seem to spend a day feeling nauseated and actually being sick a couple of days before my period arrives (he's right). Makes a change from the diarrhoea/constipation, I suppose .

I used to have this when I was a teenager - and awful period sweats too where I basically would have to sit on the floor, bleeding heavily with my head between my knees so as not to pass out. Good times.

Went on pill at 16 until I came off at 32 to have children, had such light periods between child 1 and 2 that I assumed I had damaged myself but actually fell pregnant 1st try with number 2. Then went straight on implanon 6 months post partum and that was 6 year’s ago so I haven’t had any sign of a period in 7 years. Brilliant.

Lol on the opposite side of the coin, is anyone else experiencing this in pregnancy? I have hit my third trimester and have started feeling the same way.

Then let me tell you my horror story. Came on last Bank Holiday Monday. A friend of mine rang to suggest that we go for a walk. So I rather smugly prepared my bag with a change of underwear and so on. Went to the start of our walk and needed to go. There was a loo there, but I didn't make it in time. Ha! I am ready for this shit (literal shit) and got changed. Let us proceed with our walk.

Walking through the woods, beautiful. Then I tripped over a tree root. As I hit the ground, I crapped like an elephant on Ex-Lax. The only thing that saved the day was that I was wearing a long black dress. It was another mile uphill to the nearest toilet. When I got there, all there was was 3 half rolls of toilet paper. I used most of it.

I refuse to go out on the first day now. There's nothing left for day 2.

Yep, it’s not pretty. Feels like trying to wipe clean a Black Forest gateaux at this time of the month.

Same here, it only started after I had my DS but yes I get it a couple of days before my period.

wipe clean a Black Forest gateaux

Omg that’s so funny!!!!!

It's the drop in progesterone and general hormonal changes that occur.

Anyone who has had either a series of miscarriages or had maternity care in other countries will be familiar with a progesterone suppository they give you to try and inhibit smooth muscle contraction and prevent spontaneous abortion of the fetus.

Around the time of menstruation, your progesterone levels fall which encourages the lining of the womb to shed through the uterus and vaginal canal. Those cramps you feel are essentially contractions. Your whole gut is essentially pushing food through at a faster rate and your rectum is sensitive to pressure so you empty it more frequently and more explosively with looser motions.

I haven't read the whole thread so someone might have put this already.

I actually once spoke to my doctor about this. I'd been recently diagnosed with some other issues which had been causing me a whole host of digestive problems and had clearly concealed this element from me. The doctor told me that it's actually not just hormonal it's down to a few things;

1. Increased gas in the run up to your period is down to hormones, mainly progesterone.
2. The constipation is in part due the retention of water leading to the stool in your intestine being drier and more solid than usual.
3. Additionally when the lining of your womb is complete in expectation of a pregnancy the womb itself is larger and both it and the muscles around it are swollen which puts addition pressure on the digestive system and 'pinches' off the tubes a bit adding to the 'blockage'
4. the diarrhoea at the start of or during the period result in part due to the release of the pressure as the lining is expelled and things shrink back to 'normal', and in part due to the fluid not being rtained and hormones, (obvs)

Knowing all of this doesn't make any of it any less shit (pardon the pun) but for some reason it brings me some peace to know that there are reasons for this.

I get constipated during my period an then the explosion a day or two after. Fucking sucks, I hate periods.

I take ibuprofen every two hours when I'm on my period at work

If I don't I'd be all day in the loo changing fucking tampons

Feels like trying to wipe clean a Black Forest gateaux at this time of the month.

Crying

I get terrible period poos for a day before my period arrives, then I can't go at all for five or so days. What larks.

Bloody hate them

amusedbush god I thought I was alone, same here, horrible bowel movements for 1-2 days before the period and then bam, seals up tighter than the cave of wonders after Abu grabbed the ruby D:

Then comes the dreaded post period poop... ye gods it’s diabolical!

Oh no, Nimello - Two whole weeks if I'm lucky. Could be two whole sodding days

Perimenopause is even more hidden and not talked about than menopause, imo - although might just be me being naive and ill informed.