AIBU to ask whether this level of period pain is normal?

[Romandaisy]

This is a bit embarrassing I guess, but I need to see whether my experience is standard, or not.

We are told periods are painful so I have always assumed mine are standard. But I am struggling today and wanted to ask.

Day 1-2: particularly painful. Often have to double over (usually at night), urge to sit on the loo, feel very upset because of the pain. However paracetamol and hot water bottles help. I find myself feeling spaced out.

Day 3-4
Varies, can be on the more painful end or can actually be fine. Less painful than the first couple of days though, usually manageable.

Day 5-7
Almost always no pain.

My periods can be around 4 weeks, 5 weeks or just disappear for some time. I cannot plan my life around them and I dread having a day 1-2 experience when I need to do something fun. I have never missed work, but I have been a lot of pain too many times to remember.

Is this a normal level of pain? How painful should a period or "cramps" (I've never really understood this as cramps implies not constant) be?

Try something like naproxen for the pain but I would see a dr.

Sounds excessive to me.

women too often are fobbed off that pain is normal. Debilitating pain is not normal.

make an appointment.

I think it's normal for period pain to be worse the first day or two but it's hard to know if your level of pain is normal or not.
Ibuprofen works better for me than paracetamol.
Mirena coil has been life changing.

your day 1-2 sounds high pain, especially having to double over.

do you use a tracker app?

Periods should not stop you from doing your day to day activities such as exercise or work If they do see your GP and don't be fobbed off

Have you tried the Pill? That regulates things and often makes them lighter and more manageable.

Thanks for the replies. I unfortunately can't take ibuprofen because I also have IBS. I haven't tried the pill, I've never spoken to a doctor about it. When I was younger, I asked my mum about it but she said she'd never had any pain, so it makes it hard to gauge a baseline. I didn't talk to any of my friends about it until really recently, I just assumed it was normal because periods are painful and if they're not the same sort of painful I'm experiencing, what should they be? If you know what I mean. I also get leg pain, but this has been something that's only happened the last few years.

I had to make sure that I took a couple of paracetamol as soon as I thought the pain was about to start. If I left it then I would be in a lot of pain and be sick but it would only last for a few hours not days.

If you have IBS have you ever taken buscopan for it?

When I had adenomyosis (had hysterectomy) I was prescribed buscopan because it helps with cramps.

you can buy it OTC.

Also agree to try a painkiller specifically for period pain.

If your periods are also extremely heavy and as they are erratic I would be making an appointment with the GP.

Paracetamol is generally not enough for severe period pain. Have you tried ibuprofen or anything else?

One important thing to remember is to keep to a pain relief schedule for the days that you definitely have pain regularly - don’t skip a dose because you feel pain-free at that particular time, but you know that the pain will usually start again in a few hours. A GP once told me this as she said it is common for women to not take a dose and then when the pain breaks through it is harder to stop it again.

You can also go to the GP and ask for tests to rule out anything like endometriosis, fibroids etc, but some women do just have more painful periods (caused by prostaglandins which help the womb contract to push out the lining).

Cross-post - I see you can’t take ibuprofen. Speak to a pharmacist for something else to take that is more powerful than paracetamol. Years ago I was on the pill for PCOS and another positive was that my periods were mostly pain free.

I also use to get leg, hip and back pain, felt clammy, headaches etc.

I had leg pain, back pain, tummy pain, bloating and diarrhoea for days 1-2 - just a write-off for two days, couldn’t exercise and would have to struggle through work. Blood flow was very high - emptying my mooncup hourly on day 1. After two children, I had endometrial ablation and after a 6 month adjustment period, my 5 day periods now last 2 days and the blood flow is so much lighter - I can use a panty liner alone for the day. I’ll still have diarrhoea and bloating but pain is lower and just tummy, no more radiating leg pain or back contractions.

i thought it was normal to have pain…until i got acupuncture for it. then i realised it doesnt have to be sore or heavy. for me it was worth the expense (about £60 a session, i chose monthly) as it helped wirh a number of little things that needed rebalanced.

acupuncture is now available on the nhs in some areas for certain things. i doubt this is one though, as the nhs traditionally considers women to be like “small men” and since they dont have this issue…and since no big pharma meds are required….its not something that we get the chance to use much.

No, your Day 1-2 pain does not sound normal. You’ve had a lot if good advice up thread. I used to have Day1-2 like you describe 2 or 3 times a year. I took Feminax Ultra (which contains naproxen) and lucozade, and would have a sleep if I could. But yeh, I used to have to leave college or work on those days.

Yes this is my experience too, day 1-3 were excruciating and I would also be in a lot of pain and while a hot water bottle helped a bit, I couldn't have left the house (thank goodness I work from home) due to pain and such heavy bleeding I would leak frequently.

I ended up speaking to the GP who recommended I try the pill. I was a bit reluctant but I couldn't keep dealing that every month so I started the Levest pill about 6 months ago and I hate the be dramatic, but it changed my life! I now run two packs together and then have the break and its so light now! I still get a bit of cramping but it's manageable without painkillers or hot water bottles so I would recommend speaking to your GP to see what they suggest!

Thanks again everyone! It's tricky because my IBS is manageable due to medication (it was absolutely awful for years) so thinking of adding something else into the mix is scary. But I can't use that as an excuse because I've always had bad pain, but I only developed IBS in my mid 20s. I also didn't start my periods until late, 16, not sure if that's relevant. It's really helpful to get feedback, thank you.

Please see your GP-and don’t let them fob you off. What you describe is not normal (I work in women’s health).
Try and keep a diary (or use an App) so that you can show the GP what is happening. Make a note of all symptoms, even if you think they aren’t related, for all weeks-add your IBS flare ups to this, they may be hormone driven.
GP may suggest the pill but this may not be the right thing for you and may mask symptoms if something else is going on (you say your periods are irregular)good
luck, and I hope things get better for you.

I've had an ok morning and then the paracetamol wore off and it's awful again 😔

Have you got a GP appointment yet?

Sounds more than what I experience. Sometimes cramp or a headache for a few hours, sometimes no pain at all, but not doubled over in pain or struggling to sleep.

I got a mirena ius for period pain, then I had five blissful years of no periods !

I used to regularly be up pacing the room in the night while waiting for the paracetamol to kick in, but paracetamol did manage it. Ideally take it before your period arrives and regularly for the first few days so the pain never gets the chance to get a grip.

Fwiw, after I had DC1, I never had any more period pain.

This sounds like endometriosis op. Make a GP appointment.

Don’t accept this level of pain. It needs to be investigated. I had horrendous pain, “uncontrollable pain, puking, hospital visit all my time menstruating” that is 30 years of suffering every month… and was ignored… where everyone complains about menopause “ sweats, fog head, emotional swings” I thought I was in heaven and welcome every day of menopause. So whilst your symptoms may not be as bad as mine, they need to be investigated and treated.., or do u want another 30 yrs of this.

Not saying this is you, but it was me. Started periods 16, always heavy, but minimal pain. Lste 20s, IBS, tested but symptoms down to IBS. Turned out fibroid pressing on bladder and bowels, so the IBS varied alongside my cycle, very heavy periods and pain. Maybe worth a check.

I had horrific painful and heavy periods when young and I started at 10-11 so it was really horrible and at that age embarrassing. I would definitely recommend at least trying the pill, they made my life worth living.

I had very painful periods as a teenager and younger adult. Not always debilitating but some days I’d be lying in bed curled into a foetal position moaning and willing the painkillers to take effect. At my very worst I felt terribly sick and had to postpone leaving a visit to my parents as I just wanted to lie down and couldn’t cope with a coach journey home. I found Anadin Extra was the best painkiller for me. Mine gradully improved pain wise in my early thirties and now I tend to feel tired and like I can’t be bothered to do anything a day before they start but then I don’t usually have any pain. What really sorted mine pain wise was getting pregnant and them stopping for 9 months pre birth plus 6 months after. When they came back they were not painful at all. They are still heavy though but only for about three days now.