flu-like symptoms EVERY MONTH with period. anyone else? any help?

[monthlymalaise]

So I have a splitting headache, stuffy nose, nausea, body aches . . . like a bad case of flu, only it's not. It's the first two-three days of EVERY period, EVERY bloody month (pun intended). I am 44 and this has been going on for two or three years now, though with increasing severity this year, to the point where it's every month instead of being every few months or every other month. Am completely fed up with missing out on life, having people imply that I'm "sickly" or just making excuses to get out of doing things, having GP make vague suggestion that if I work out the symptoms may ease . . . . This is not "just cramps" or PMT. I have had those and I got on with life. This, by contrast, has me bedridden and miserable.

Who else here suffers with this, and have you gotten any help from your doctor? Any alternative medicine-type treatment work for you? I have been trying acupuncture and have now started on some Chinese herbs. I can't go on like this -- it's interfering with my life too much and I'm really angry that apparently I'm supposed to just accept this diminished quality of life. I am unemployed right now and can't see how any employer would put up with me having to book off sick two-three days a month, either.

Omg so I just turned 42 last month and this period is the strangest and worst ever! I feel like I have the flu..kinda..but not really but im experiencing all these symptoms y'all have named..chills..body aches..bad cramps, monstor headache for 2 days now.. runny nose etc.. i could just have a cold as well as my 'things' but ive never had like this before ive been bedridden for 2 days so far..no work..no school run..i cant fkn do anything so depressing. On top of that i also have hashimotos disease (thyroid) wondering if this also has something to do with this 'period-flu'. Anyway will see wtf happens next month!

Kgpro, just came out of the 7th month of 3 days bedridden and 4 days 'ropey'. I always feel great when it passes more like myself. I'm convinced it's a progesterone drop. I've never had anything like this in my life and I'm not a sickly person ordinarily. Pretty sure as others have posted birth control with progesterone is the answer. At least until our bodies have balanced hormonally themselves. I'm seeing the doctor to ask for a merina coil. I think this may be my best hope. Seriously dreading next month! Trying to enjoy the time I have whilst I feel alive.

Sorry KGBro 😊

Dear ladies,
I get all these “flu-cold-like symptoms” just after ovulation passes, which last just untill menstruation arrives..
I feel terrible, I feel flu-ish, so so tired, having hot flushes mixed with chills, headache which can turn into migrane, feeling nausea, also sore troat and sinusitis.. In one word - “flu-like”!
Is there anyone with the same “pre period flu” that starts right after 14th day (ovulation) and then vanishes when menstruation day 1 arrives?
Any advices how to deal with this flu thing?
Any advices on supplements, vitamins or minerals that could help?

Thank you ladies

Troian

I'm not sure if anyone is still looking at this thread, but I'm glad I found it.
I'm 45 and have always had painful, heavy periods. I've also had a few cysts, but I rarely have them now.
In the last 6-8 months, I have had very achy hips up to 2 weeks before my period, and during. The doctor said I could have HRT as he thought I was peri-menopausal, but the pill made me ill, so I'm reluctant to try this yet.

In the last 2 months, 1 week after my period ended, I've had flu-like symptoms lasting 3-4 days. I thought I might be run-down as I'm constantly on the go and do a lot of exercise. This time, my partner said I was burning up on Saturday, and have had no appetite until today, which is very unusual. Eating makes me nauseous though, and I've had to miss another day of work.
Unfortunately, we rarely get to see a gynaecologist in the UK, and it's hard to get an appointment with a female doctor at my surgery. The male doctors just act like I'm making it up, placating me with an x-ray and ultrasound to show nothing is wrong.
I can't keep missing work as I love my job, and I hate having no energy. Has anyone been given any help with this?

I had severe period pains with one day a month bed ridden until I had the children (4).
Flew through change of life no hot flushes or mood swings BUT got flu like symptoms before every period.
I am nearly 72 the flu like symptoms now occur two weekly. Enjoy

I’ve had this problem since I was 23. I’m 41 now and can’t live with it anymore. My symptoms start a week before my period starts - a headache that doesn’t shift with painkillers, runny nose, blocked nose at night, sore eyes, aching bones, foggy thinking (struggle to string a sentence together), anxious and jumpy, sour taste in mouth (like I’ve been sucking on pennies), dry tongue, difficulty swallowing food, insomnia, incredibly lethargic, and the worst symptom is my stomach that gurgles/pops and groans and feels like it’s empty of food (even if I’ve eaten) and like it’s twisted in a vice. The very day my period starts the symptoms disappear and I feel on top of the world only for them to reappear about 7 days later for another week! So I’m only getting about 2 weeks a month where I feel normal. It ruined my last relationship as he was fed up with me always being ill (and the fact I couldn’t explain what was wrong). I’ve had endless tests (camera down the throat, colonoscopy, bloods, hormone check etc) and they all come back negative. One doctor tried to prescribe anti depressants as he thought I was anxious but I refused as I had 2 weeks every month feeling normal. Then I conceived, and the whole 9 months of pregnancy I had not one episode of the symptoms. I can only put that down to not having a menstral cycle the whole time. It felt amazing to be free of the symptoms. The minute I started my periods again it all returned, so I can only conclude that it’s my menstral cycle making me feel so awful every month and I’m thinking about having a hysterectomy. Any thoughts greatly received!! I hope you’ve all had some resolve as I know exactly how depressing it is knowing every month you’ll be feeling like you just want to curl up into a ball and hide from the world. Thanks for reading xxx

I get the flu like symptoms (sore throat, achey muscles, fatigue) for a few days after ovulation and again a few days after my period begins, Im nearly 42 and this started when I was 38. Ive recently stumbled across an ebook called 'The Period Repair Manual' which believes this could be due to progesterone dropping - progesterone is anti inflammatory. Im going to take zinc, magnesium and b6 to see if that helps. I havent read the book in full but Ive seen great reviews. Im also taking 'Happy Hormones' (natural herbal supplement to balance hormones). They have a facebook group which is really helpful. This has helped with the usual pms symptoms.

Oh my God ,I can’t believe there are others like me.Its been over eight years of this and it’s getting worse. My family think I’m sickly and I just put it do to a hormone imbalance.My doctor has done blood test, and apparently I health.Thats why I’m lying in bed unable to do anything.😤
I am so looking into PMDD .this has to stop I want my life back.

Meee too I’ve just taken tomorrow off as annual leave as I’ve felt so bad today. I’m sick of losing half my month to hormones and fatigue then illness.

I’m going to book a go appointment now I know others experience it and it’s not in my head

It is so infuriating that there is so little medical research into women’s health in this area. Medicine is still very much a patriarchy. Women are expected to put up and shut up. I also think that because the symptoms are temporary they are dismissed; similar to other debilitating conditions experienced during pregnancy. We are left to research ourselves and find solace in chat threads that we are not suffering alone.

I believe I suffer from PMDD. My pregnancy and subsequent period-free months have been such a time of mental clarity for me. However, I am now laid in bed with flu like symptoms, comforted by these messages, but hoping this isn’t a new monthly occurrence.

Yet again this month, 2 weeks before my period, I feel like shit.

Im in bed already, aching, sore throat, headache & completely exhausted.

Every bloody month.

I had the mirena coil removed as we're TTC. This was early September and I've had bad colds/flu-like symptoms twice already.

I have PCOS so I dont always have a period - haven't had one since coil removed - but I thought it might be related so I googled it. Lo and behold, here you all are!

It's sad to think progesterone is the best supplement (as again, TTC) but I'm interested in the Vit D and Vit K theories so I might look into that.

Ugh. After more sleep. Another day off work - too many this year already.

ArienAnwamane

Make a note of the dates, I do. It doesnt help but in a way you can prepare a bit. Rest & pain relief.

Thanks. It's a plan at least!

I found this article: www.ubykotex.com/en-us/periods/pms/why-do-i-get-flu-like-symptoms-before-my-period
Which suggests the symptoms may be caused by a prostaglandin imbalance. It says taking ibuprofen before the symptoms appear may help to address the imbalance. I’ve not tried taking them in advance yet, but I know it does nothing once the symptoms have already kicked in!
Does anyone else have any experience of this?

Oh my god, I am 50 years old with Hashimoto's and I am sitting in a pool of sweat with a horrible hot flush that has been going on for 2 hours when I found this post. I have been bedridden for 3 days with a fever of 38.8, horrific headache, aches and pains in every joint and waking for 1/2 hour, sleeping for 3 hours then repeating the cycle. Very light headed and no energy. Then yesterday my period arrived. I have had to call in sick for work which is not ideal when I am the relief staff. I had a fever, got up and ate a small amount of chicken and went back to bed only to wake 45 minutes later covered in sweat. Only then did I wonder if this could be all related to the menopause!

Mine has been worse since Ive got older with an added dose of pain/stomach cramps when ovulating.

Twice a month of feeling shit.

I really want to follow this thread because I’d like to know what’s going on. I’m 22 and was born with more testosterone than I was supposed to have, so I was put on birth control to start my period a while back. I had it for about a year before they took me off the birth control since the Estrogen was very dangerous for me with my specific migraines that I get. Now it happens on its own, but not monthly, it’s every 2 weeks. Now I’ve got one full week of bleeding and one full week of irritability, cramps, nausea to the point of vomiting, fatigue, headaches, and I’m just so fed up with the cycle now I’ve gone through 4 or so months of this now. I’ve seen so many doctors for this and they have no clue what’s wrong. I just want to find this out.

This is me.
Off work today with bad sore throat, exhaustion, hot/cold and everything aching. It feels just like tonsillitis, it lasts about 3 days and it always coincides with my period starting. Every three months I reckon. It’s not mild either, I feel wretched. It hurts to swallow, to talk, to move.

I have still not got round to seeing my Dr regarding birth control request. I've just been too sick. I still firmly believe progesterone will be the answer to my prayers. I foolishly fell pregnant during my quest to be free from this constant sickness. After suffering for nearly a year and losing 3 and a half stone due to nausea and sickness I felt absolutely fabulous during my 6 week pregnancy that ended with miscarriage. A week later i was unbearably sick again! Then I spent 2 days in hospital with pelvic inflammatory and became riddled with thrush from top to bottom after taking 2 different antibiotics for 2 weeks. I took a thrush tablet and am cured now of both pelvic inflammatory and thrush but I'm still so sick with the pre/during/after period sickness. Im laying here now with nausea and fatigue I haven't eaten for days because it won't stay down and believe I'm starting to have panic attacks because I want my life back and can't bear feeling like this anymore. I know I need to get to the doctor and should have mentioned the birth control at hospital but I'm feeling confused and can't think straight. Not sure where I begin and end anymore. Feeling very overwhelmed and desperate. I know that in a day or 2 I will be myself for a few days so need to get down to my dissmissive doctor and chase my gynecology appointment the hospital promised. If anyone has been helped with birth control please let us know how it's going. I'm seriously thinking hysterectomy if it doesn't work.

Hi I’m not sure if anyone comes on here anymore but I just wanted to see if anyone feels the same symptoms as me.i an 30 nearly 31 and over the last few years my periods have got worse but I always knew when I was going to come on as I would get a headaches, sore / dry throat and mouth, fever , my belly would make strange bubbling noises and I would crave chocolate I know some of them symptoms of a period due is common but a sore throat etc never seemed to be common with my friends. In July last year I found out I have got polycystic ovaries which explained the heavier periods over the last few years. The periods may have got heavier but the pre period signs have always been the same mainly a sore throat and cold like symptoms either being too cold or too warm and pretty irritable in bed and once I’ve started my period the sore throat goes. Does anyone else feel the same because I used to worry about it but having read some of the messages on here it seems pretty common but I just need some clarification to make myself feel better I think haha hopefully someone will reply 😁

Yonijust- just relying to what you have wrote I feel exactly the same about 5 days before my period comes I get a sore throat, slight temperature or I go really cold, head ache a bit chesty basically the cold like symptoms. Then once I start my period they go! My mouth always seems really dry aswell like nothing is quenching my thirst do you get that? I think this site is really good for women to share these things because it settles our minds a little knowing we’re not the only ones who feels like this

I’m 43 and i am on my knees with all the symptoms that are listed above. Every single month. Im exhausted and my husband is really as fed up as i am.

We were talking today about whether a hysterectomy would cure the problem.

I dont want anymore children, my ovaries dont work properly, i dont have endometriosis, i dont have regular periods as such. I started my period yesterday, but its nothing more than a show. Every 6-7 mths i’ll have a regular period.

Ive had enough. Ive got BUPA insurance and im not afraid to use it!

JW1975 feel exactly the same! Also don't have private health insurance but have been googling like anything to get something up and running. Let us know how you get on.