AIBU to never have heard of 'period flu' (I am in my 50s)

[Cottagepieandpeas]

Is this really a thing?

It's the first day of my period today and I have been convinced I've got Covid (sore throat, runny nose, bit of coughing).
I mean obviously I could have, but I have been very careful and barely been out for weeks, but of course, you never know.
Anyway, I've been Googling stuff and have discoverd that 'period flu' is a thing.
Anyone else had this?

I started my period yesterday and had a sore throat and a cough which has gone today, on
top of cramp that was fun 🙄. I’m going to keep an eye on this.

@DamnYankee I'm not aware of allergies, but I have had a blocked nose at night a lot for the last few weeks (no other cold symptoms until yesterday though).

Thank you all. Interesting that it rings bells with lots of people, although seems to happen at different stages of the cycle. I am 51, get a period every 28 days, on the dot, but also get boiling hot at night which I assume is the perimenopause....sigh.

When I was younger I used to get a mild sore throat with my period - I thought I was imagining it at first but it was every month. This was before I had used any contraception method. It didn’t happen after I started the pill and now I have the coil (I don’t have periods anyway). I also used to get diarrhoea. Mad!

I always feel dreadful just before my period. Fluey and knackered. Everything is sore.

‘Validate and inflate the discomfort of menstruation’?

Why would anyone want to do that?

Yes I get flu type symptoms during the time leading up to my period but at your age, and with this being a new symptom, I would push for further tests.

I get flu like symptoms for 24 hrs every single month, I only noticed when I started logging my period and symptoms and saw when it was happening

validate and inflate : someone needs to read Caroline Criado Perez!

I didn’t know it had a name but I do get a bit under the weather right before/in early days of my period. Usually it’s feeling a bit queasy and need to have a very early night.

Wait, fatigue and aches I could understand but proper sore throat/nose symptoms? How would that be possible? So interesting.

@Pukkatea yes I agree. I don't understand it either. I guess the weaker immune system might be relevant if that's correct.
But unlike Trump, I am not a medical expert

Wait, fatigue and aches I could understand but proper sore throat/nose symptoms? How would that be possible? So interesting.

No idea how it's possible, but it's happened for me since I started my periods 18 years ago!

In the day or two before my period, like clockwork, I get a blocked nose and sore throat. It lasts about 24-48 hours and then I get my period a day or two later. I track my period and symptoms as I have dysmenorrhea (severe PMT) and it's always on the same days of my cycle each month.

No idea why, but it makes a shit time even worse

I get it - more and more so as I get older and (shhh) closer to the menopause.

It's not flu and I don't call it flu but I instantly recognised it from that term. The chills, muscle aches, headaches, sore throat, slight fever and body fragility that feels exactly like I am coming down with a cold.

Never heard of it, but then I’ve never experienced period pains, had no idea when I ovulated (didn’t know women ‘felt differently’) & sailed through the menopause with no symptoms or discomfort.

Yes I get this! I’m useless at keeping track of my period and I’m often thinking ‘oh no I’m coming down with something’ only for my period to start the next day. Period flu is a perfect way to describe it - I usually get mild cold/flu symptoms (sore throat, sniffly etc). Would love to know the medical reason.

This last month I thought I had period flu and was actually covid-19 though so do be vigilant especially if it’s not normal for you.

I get this! I wouldnt call it flu but I get achey, freezing, tired, foggy brain, dreadful painful joints, headache.

I was going to start a thread wondering if it is linked to my fibro as it makes my hypermobility/arthritis feel fucking awful.

Definitely a thing. Started for me after having DC1 - although luckily would only happen every three months or so. It really, really sucks. Hormones play a bigger role in our general health and well-being than most of us think.

I tend to find pre menstrual symptoms are either mental or physical. I either have all the body symptoms, like fluey feelings - or I have all the mental ones and cannot stop crying etc.

I much 'prefer' the flu

I didnt know it was a thing but I definitely feel like this every time I come on.

My left knees really sore when I’m on. Luckily it’s all over in 36hrs and my knees ok then but it really hurts.

I've never heard of any of these things!

I wake up and think shit, I've come on and start the day. Didn't realise how lucky I was!

This is so interesting!

I am nearly fifty and for the last seven years or so, my periods are predictable to practically the minute! It's like my ovaries are getting that one last shot in there.
However, I do have to say the cramping and water retention have ramped up considerably!

I’ve not heard of it. But I have all those symptoms and it’s because the pollen count is really high.

I think it's definitely possible to get heat flush symptoms just before (PMS) and during day 1 of the period, which could feel like a "flu/high temp" situation. This can trigger runny nose, etc. I guess.

Also, pre-existing allergies can flare up more during the period as the body is more sensitive (e.g. hayfever) but a genuine "period flu" is definitely something I'd not heard of before.

I'm 57 post menopausal and have never ever heard of such a thing.
Just goes you show you learn something new every day 😅