Would you stop work early for excruciating period pain?

[popgoesthepup]

As in, the worst you have had in your life?

I am lucky to wfh so usually I can get through it, but now I can't sit up. I want to curl in bed with a hot water bottle. I've taken painkillers. I don't think I've ever had it this bad. It's agony.

I work until 5.30 officially. I never take sick days so I'm tempted to just log on later when it passes but I have completed my work for the week so there would only be last minute emails at this point.

People will say I'm weak and women have carried on with periods in the war, 16 hour days etc but I've never felt pain like this.

never feel guilty to stop working when you have a bad period. I came off the pill a year ago as TTC and every month its absolutely horrendous. Luckily my manager goes through the same thing and knows how horrid it is. Have you thought about having an ultrasound incase you have any cysts / polyps? I've got an endometrial polyp and that's the reason mine are so bad. I bleed through tampons with a pad on within an hour for at least one of the days of my period so i always end up finishing work a few hours early if it gets too much. just awful so I really feel for you. its horrible being in pain xx

@popgoesthepup oh you poor thing you have my sympathy
I have my period today and I'm in agony too
I have endometriosis so it's not just a little pain
I hope you finished early and snuggled up in bed

If pain/illness/feeling unwell means you can't do your job properly, then .. yeah, stop doing it for that day/whatever you need.

I don't see how it matters what is causing it (well unless you have a series of hangovers every day from excessive drinking the night before...). If you can't work, you can't work.

I had the most awful pain every month and had no choice but to go home. Sometimes I could barely make it home without collapsing. I don't know why anyone thinks it is reasonable to keep going when you feel like that.

You're definitely NOT Bu. I've had to leave work early several times due to bad period pains, almost couldn't stand up.
In my teens I'd regularly throw up and almost pass out from the pain.

Yes absolutely I would.

I've had to have multiple sick days/early finishes due to heavy periods.

If you're sick, you're sick.

Genuinely, it was only when I had children I realised the period pain I experienced as a teenager was at least as bad as labour pains. I'm lucky I don't get it nearly as bad now, but now I get ovulation pain that can be crippling.

I don't blame you at all.

I used to get awful period pain when I was younger, threw up from it a couple of times. A prescription for mefenamic acid helped loads, as long as I took it in time... Once I failed to do this, was working as a primary teacher and had to call the headteacher to come and take over my class, I could barely speak (was trying to read out words for a spelling test!) and the head told me to go and sit in the staffroom... I don't think she could understand that I physically couldn't walk without someone helping me, I could see stars and was sweating buckets by the time I got there, and had to take the rest of the day off. It really is the most awful pain. Mine improved after I'd been on the pill, and now I have the implant I don't really get periods, but I can remember how bad it was and would definitely sympathise with someone needing to take time off! If it persists do talk to the GP, hopefully they can help - as I said for me, mefenamic acid was a game changer.

My periods in perimenopause used to only last 3 days but I had flooding, I needed the largest tampon, maternity night time pad and I was changing these every half an hour. I was a teacher so it was embarrassing. I decided to retire early as it was too stressful and too painful. Strangely after I'd been home about 5 months periods stopped completely.

Pre children if I didn't take paracetamol early enough I would pass out with the pain so wouldn't be capable of working so yes there are times I would stop work early.

Definitely I would.

I was told by doctors that I had a low pain threshold for my periods.
Yet after the total abdominal hysterectomy I had for my endometriosis (and also after breast reduction surgery a couple of years later), the only pain relief I needed was a couple of doses paracetamol on the day following the surgeries. In all honesty I probably could’ve managed without because the post op discomfort was NOTHING compared to the pre op pain.

I used to think I must have a low pain threshold but after having kids I realised I must have a high threshold but period pains were hell.

As others mentioned i have endometriosis, due to numerous operations my work knew why I was having them. The pain and risk of flooding i often would wfh or split my day. I also had a standing desk installed as I needed to stand as sitting would be more painful.

After my last operation due to the scar damage I was told the next step would be likely a hysterectomy. I didn’t want any more children but also felt to young (36) I had the mirena coil. Which has changed my life, has it now for nearly 9 years. (On my second one)

i spent far far to many years in pain. Though I was lucky diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 19. This was after a couple of years of going to the doctors with heavy painful periods. And not really ever being treated. I then had a ovarian cyst which during the operation they then found the endo (no scans had shown it)

Aye, I’d call it a day. I’d also seek medical advice, tbh.

Mine were terrible, I used to take Nurofen plus & Feminax together to be able to cope. Thank God for my hysterectomy

I don't think you should think of it as an achievement never having sick days off. obviously there's a balance but if you are in pain why soldier on?

Have a brandy, it's brilliant for cramping.

I wish I'd discovered this twenty years earlier than I did. 💐