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.

Have a look at a book called the period manual

Oh my God
I am reading this and bowling my eyes out. I’m not crazy !! My son is 10 months old and my period returned 7 months ago. I had PMS before pregnancy but it was mainly mental anguish. Anxiety depressed irritable . Awful. When I got pregnant it stopped. When my periods returned ... OMG I thought I was dying because every few weeks I felt sick like flu. Every joint every muscle sensitivity to touch headache throwing up stomach pains... diarrhoea .... I thought it was stress because of new baby and covid . But on my good days I’m literally flying it feels like something is ‘poisoning’ from the inside. On good days I’m strony I run I work out I walk 20km a day look after my son no help, walk dogs look after the house. I have been bedbound today. Shivering teeth chattering low grade fever cold feet cold hands .. it’s every month starts after ovulation and continues on and off until period

Please God help us
I’m 40 and I don’t want a menopause yet

This sounds like endometriosis possibly. I had these symptoms when I had a cycle (now on pop to prevent a cycle). Had this plus pain for years and years. I had stage 4 endo everywhere including outside pelvis.
Do you have significant pain too?
Any bowel or bladder symptoms?
Endo causes pain but also fatigue and nausea. That shivery feeling too- at my worst before my surgery I sat in blazing sun with jumper and hot water bottle. It won’t show on a scan but maybe on MRI if it is severe. Best of luck - sounds like it is really impacting your life x

@Brownie85 how are you now ? Xx

Just resurrecting this thread in the hopes that any of the PP's have an update, and to get the attention of anybody else in the same boat who hasn't come across the thread in the past.

This began for me after the birth of DD (second baby) and happened every month on the dot for a week and id feel like i had literal flu, it would also cause my chronic pain condition (TMD) to flare up so I'd be laid up with 'flu' and in alot of pain to boot.

Eventually I made the connection to my menstrual cycle. I'd also feel the 'flu' type illness for a day or two during ovulation.

After two years of this I fell pregnant with DS (third baby) and the monthly flu went away for the duration of my pregnancy only to return again once my periods restarted.

However it's returned with a slight difference, instead of getting it for the week leading up to my period (PMS week) I'm now getting it for the week after my period, as soon as the bleeding stops I get the 'flu'

Exactly the same symptoms as the monthly premenstrual 'flu' - just 2 weeks later than it used to be.

It's most definitely hormone related, I just need to know why and what will help me.

I've tried agnus castus but had a bad reaction to it. GP was quite dismissive and suggested a good diet and exercise (I'm not overweight, have good nutrition and get enough exercise)

Any updates and/or suggestions welcome.

me.... it’s so annoying. I swear my co workers think I’m sick every month. It’s got worse over the last 3 years. It sometimes feel like I’m getting full blown cold and then bam, period comes and they disappear. As if we don’t have to deal with enough every month..

I know what you mean about your co-workers, I'm concerned about the prospect of being labeled a hypochondriac or a malingerer.

I tell my DH 'I'm not well' atleast once a month and as understanding as he tries to be, he just doesn't get it.

Finding this thread was such a relief and so validating.

Hello everyone I'm here with a cure!! I thought I'd come back to this before to reply but I can't find my comment!

The fix is Agnus Castas, it's a hormone regulator used since the Greek times, take it for a course of up to 3 months at a time and it should at least alleviate if not get rid of your symptoms completely. My friend who is a herbal doctor told me this in a very casual way after all other roads had failed, cleared my flu up after 1 month of taking it.

Herbs are the best, big pharma sucks! Big love hope you all see this xxxx