To say that I have finally experienced the dreaded arse daggers?!

[Confrontayshunme]

You tried to warn me, MN, but in all my nearly 40 years, I have never felt anything like it. To quote Supt. Hastings "Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey!"

Was trying to supervise 20 children and thought I would scream or fall down and actually writhe on the floor. I did feel like I was being stabbed, so at least the name is right.

Honestly, I almost asked a coworker to cover for me, but I thought she would laugh if I said I was dying and my bum hurt.

Then, 10 of the longest minutes of my life later and they just stopped. What the hell?! Will they come back every time I have a period? Why now at almost 40?

I have so many questions and the internet is not helping.

Give me your worst arse dagger stories...

Hang on, not at all trying to alarm but thought I'd mention. I used to have this stop-in-your-tracks shooty bum pain with my periods quite regularly.

I've not had it since having surgery for my endometrosis. My diseased ovary decided to adhere itself to my bowels.

I appreciate things aren't always serious and I am in no way a doctor! but there seems to be casual dismissal in society surrounding bad pain around women's periods and a brush off of it being normal and there's nothing you can do about it which is just not true in the slightest.

Anyway, I hope it was a one off for you!

It's that moment it strikes when you try to move upwards to get away from it as a reflex and then you realise it's moved with you and all you can do is fold.

Yep, another one for proctalgia fugax. Many, many times over my lifetime - started when I was a child, and still with me post-menopause. Often wakes me up in the middle of the night; often cyclical, several episodes in quick succession over some weeks, then none for several years. Usually takes about 20 minutes to reach maximum pitch, then it subsides. The pain is so intense it fills every corner of my brain and renders me incapable of thought.

I particularly recall one episode in the university library as a postgrad. I thought ‘This is what it feels like to die.’

It’s almost like having a migraine in your bottom. It’s excruciating.

Funnily enough I get ocular migraines that last about 20m too, with the classical ‘star fort’ presentation. Not painful but equally scary!

I have a Mirena and while I don’t get periods, I still get javelin arse. I’ve had it on and off since late teens.

Once got this in front of a patient.

Had to sit and take a case history for an hour.

I only get this at night, (had an attack last week!) always wakes me up as it fucking agony and can last up to 30 mins.
The only thing that helps is to get up take paracetamol straight away and alternating between pacing the kitchen floor and sitting on a hard chair with a cushion, keeping a poker straight back so I’m pushing my backside into the chair slightly.

Tried the toilet thing it doesn’t work for me. Also there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason for it. Doesn’t coincide with my periods (am in peri) and don’t have endo.

But I believe I may have mild IBS. I Always have Buscopan in the cupboard so will definitely try that!

Dagger arse I call it!
I also get slicey fanny, which feels like someone running a razor blade down one side of my vagina (left particularly)
I actually got referred for it as it got very bad in my early 20s. They told me it was in my head.

Yes, usually when I have my period and 90% of the time when I’m in bed. The pain would take your breath away & drive you demented.

Then it just fucks off.

I've suffered this 3 times in my life, always at times of stress, and lasting for less than 15 minutes. I am certain my agony is nothing to do with my menstrual cycle.

I get these when I ovulate and when I am about to have my period. Sometimes lasts ten minutes other times I can be in agony for an hour. I have always assumed that that it is to do with muscles in the area contracting and trapping wind in a really uncomfortable place.
My sister and I have it but my other two sisters don't.
My sister lies on her bed with her feet up in the air and that relieves it. I usually head to the toilet and try to fart of get a hot water bottle/ heat patch/ wheaty bag on my lower stomach to try and make me relax. Neither of which are easy in a classroom full of kids.
My sister has been known to go to the prayer room in her office to lie down and put her legs up.

What? What fresh hell is this I have to look forward to?

Oh. Right. This is really helpful.

For me it's dagger minge. The worst pain. Grows and grows. Can't speak. Can only howl. Can't sit down properly - lie down as sitting intensifies the dagger minge. I've learned that as soon as there is a twinge I take X2 ibuprofen (despite mildly allergic) PLUS X2 paracetamol. And after half an hour I can function.
It's awful.

Wow. It's not something I've ever experienced thank god but it sounds horrendous.

I get this sometimes, the first time ever was in labour with my first DC. I was all for trying a completely natural hypnobirth, had prepared for months, but I had NOT prepared for arsedaggers. It completely blindsided me. Within seconds of seeing the midwife when I arrived at the hospital I was begging for an epidural. Ain’t no hypnobirthing breathing technique to get through arsedaggers!

Can't believe some people haven't heard of this. Literally feels like you're being stabbed up the bum. Does anyone know what causes it? I thought it was a menstrual thing but OH also says he gets it

Both me & DP suffer from PF… I cope with deep breathing & easing into the pain to relax, which makes the pain pass more quickly. This is far easier at home, I once had it out shopping and the anxiety of being out made it so much worse, I nearly fainted & vomited with the pain. My DP has to get in a hot bath to ease his pain, which is a bit weird in the middle of the night, but it’s what works for him.

Can’t believe this happens to other people too! I’ve suffered since my late teens but only once a year or so. It’s so random and strikes out of the blue. In my case, it lasts up to 30 mins and it’s blooming horrible. At least I know it goes away now - the first time it happened I was terrified.

It actually happened the other day and I tried to describe it to my husband. I came across as slightly unstable. I’m so glad there’s actually a name for it!

OMG I get this!! 😩 it's vile! I call them "shooty arse pains" and I only call them this since hearing Keith Lemon say it on Celebrity Juice a few years ago so I know he gets it too 🤣

I usually get them when I am due or on a period. I also had them whilst I was in labour but the worst I've ever had it was during the first period after having a baby. OMG I was on the brink of calling 111 to say I was having contractions up my arse!!! That's exactly how it felt, it was taking my breath and sending me to my tip toes I was digging my nails into the kitchen worktops.
Luckily my cousin is an ex nurse, I contacted him who advised I took paracetamol and ibuprofen and finally that worked once they kicked in. It was awful!! 😳 I've only had that 1 period since having my 12 week DS so I hope I don't get it that bad again. God knows what I would have done if I was out and about. I couldn't sit down it made it worse and my husband was really worried.

I think it's to do with inflammation around the womb and bowel area hence why it's common when on period

Good talk.

Commiserations. It's awful- I've had them in class in front of kids and trying to hide it (and not scream) is a nightmare.
One thing I've found useful is to make sure I don't "hold on" for too long if I need a poo - this is particularly true just before my period. Also, if alone and in private, I find bending double with my head between my knees and "bearing down" helps...

Oh glad it's not just me! I've been getting these since I was a child (pre-puberty so not period related). I describe them as bum contractions, they're worse than cramps. Rarely have them in public thankfully as cannot hide the pain.

Note of caution for those going to sit on the loo. I have fainted whilst on the loo with this twice (in 20 years). First time ended up with black eyes and bruised face which took some explaining. Dr said it was the body's reaction to the extreme pain. Mid 50s now still get it a few times a year and although not always possible try to lie down.

What the heck - worked in the NHS for 40 years and never heard of it never had it either thank goodness.

I have no idea what you are talking about