Period symptoms no one talks about

[TammySwansonTwo]

Day 1 of my period today which is always horrific (double whammy of endometriosis and adenomyosis) and was just thinking about how many weird symptoms I think of as normal, because no one ever talks about them.

The main ones for me are javelin arse and the feeling that my vulva has run a marathon. Oh, and the fact that I had no idea periods were supposed to be red until after my first surgery - I thought I was bleeding to death.

So much isn’t talked about that many women put up with awful stuff for years, and illnesses like endometriosis take years to diagnose. I think we should talk about it more!

What are other people’s weird period symptoms that they believe(d) are normal / universal?

Week before I’m really emotional, crying,shouting and tired, start with the headaches over the eye and back of the head also get snotty like a cold starting and overheating in bed, then period poo and period and javelin arse with the side of lower back ache and the feeling of heaviness and swollen vulva and the spots on my chin and the one on the end of my nose every month! The only positive is since I had an abalation my bleeding has lessened.

Reading through, I'm glad other people have mentioned clumsiness as everyone I've mentioned it to IRL has looked at me as if I was mad.

But, yes, clumsiness. I swear things actually jump away from me when I reach for them and I should probably be banned from the kitchen.

I always assumed the clumsiness and getting wrong words were linked to my dyspraxia which I know is worse when I'm tried - thus assumed it was caused by my cycle making me much more tired and having a knock on effect. But maybe it’s something else entirely.

I don't know if it's just me but I have noticed months I do a lot of extra walking before period - often happens when we have IL visiting we'll spend 10 hours plus on our feet walking for miles - are the months I don't get constipation and have less diarrhoea issues as well.

I have PCOS and swollen ovaries, so lots of aches and heaviness in that region in the week prior. Javelin arse (never heard this term for it before, it definitely fits!) and stabbing pain and/or ache in my thighs.

Otherwise blessed with light periods. When I was younger they were heavy, and accompanied by fainting and vomiting.

Worst symptom for me is the random day or two of serious suicidal thoughts a day or two before periods. I'm on ADs and can be depressed anyway, but these come out of nowhere, suddenly, no matter how well I'm otherwise feeling. It's easier to deal with now that I realise what they're related to, and know they'll pass in a few days.

I agree that whilst many of these symptoms are common, we shouldn’t consider them normal. For example, I assumed for years that my fatigue, migraines that became more frequent and debilitating, exceptionally heavy periods and general aches and pains were a normal period thing.

Finally, after several increasingly desperate GP visits where I tried not to cry when my blood test results kept coming back normal, I lucked out and got a locum. He listened to me and sent me for a blood test with a much more thorough thyroid focus than previously. I’ve forgotten the exact results but basically my thyroid was fucked.

Since I’ve been on thyroxine I’ve not just had more energy but I feel like my body is functioning again after years of slowly crumbling. OK so I still have migraines but they’re not as bad as they were. My period is only one very heavy flow day instead of 4-5. I’m running again and walking everywhere as my joints don’t ache, which seems to be helping ease period symptoms too.

The funny thing is that my GP is female but the locum who listened and took me seriously was male. I’m so grateful he was covering that day.

Totally agree - I mentioned thyroid issues earlier. I’ve had all the symptoms of hypothyroidism for years now and still battling for a diagnosis. Getting private blood tests every couple of months to try and monitor it.

Oh the period pain in the upper thighs I’m clotty too it’s vile and of course period poo and sugar cravings! not envy!

My cervix also drops so my coil strings poke out.

Throbbing fanny.

Constipation usually followed by a massive and painful poo.

Clumsiness.

I'll find myself replaying various situations in my head that have recently annoyed me, until I am in a horrible mood.

Extreme emotional turmoil the day before I come on (everything is terrible/can't cope/should get a divorce)

Terrible insomnia the whole week prior. Disappears the minute my period arrives.

Sorry you’re struggling to get a diagnosis, Tammy. It’s shit when you know something’s wrong but don’t have a diagnosis, it sometimes feels like everyone thinks you’re faking it. I hope you get some answers, and treatment, soon

Pretty much most things others have mentioned. Plus I had to plan lessons very carefully - secondary Maths but for 4 or 5 days prior to period couldn’t do mental arithmetic (well, not quickly or accurately enough). Once I regained my faculties, my period would start.

Thank you for this thread . I also get a lot of these things . Does anyone else find their calves get bigger the week before their period ?

Blobby10 did that thorough check out inc laparoscopy? Because endo won't show on a scan.

Op I can kinda get why that might be the case for one of my threads (not yet having a dx themselves), but the one about taking a long time to be diagnosed with physical ailments related to all ailments not just "women's troubles" it's shocking that women are still repeatedly fobbed off!

I too have been told I'm just 'unlucky' that some women have heavier periods than others, more pain than others etc etc - total crap and unacceptable, makes me so angry. Even from a pragmatic perspective it MUST be cheaper for the country to have women diagnosed and TREATED rather than having to take time off work, have the symptoms treated with several different meds for many years, struggle ttc, struggle to maintain pregnancies (SURELY it's cheaper to dx & treat the underlying cause than treat both the physical and mh issues around mc/or still birth caused by undiagnosed gynae conditions).

PMT is the worst bit for me, rather than my actual period. Once my period comes, I usually feel much better bar a day or two of the shits and the flooding and clotting that has come with hitting 40.

I get slightly manic in the day or two before my period is due. If I drink, I get really drunk, really quickly.
I get boiling hot at night, twitchy legs, insomnia. Often a sign my peI get paranoid and lose my confidence for things like presentations or leading in meetings at work, which fucking pisses me off, as I'm usually confident.
Body dysmorphia - I think I have gained a stone and aged 10 years overnight. Im fine about how I look a few days later .

OH BOLLOCKS I fluffed my typing. I meant to say:

PMT is the worst bit for me, rather than my actual period. Once my period comes, I usually feel much better bar a day or two of the shits and the flooding and clotting that has come with hitting 40. angry

I get slightly manic in the day or two before my period is due. If I drink, I get really drunk, really quickly.
I get boiling hot at night, twitchy legs, insomnia. Often a sign my period is coming in the morning.
I get paranoid and lose my confidence for things like presentations or leading in meetings at work, which fucking pisses me off, as I'm usually confident.
Body dysmorphia - I think I have gained a stone and aged 10 years overnight. Im fine about how I look a few days later hmm.

The aching restless legs, i thought it was just me as well! It really hurts to change gear.
I get my javelin arse around ovulation time, why save all those great period symptoms to just once a month ay?!
Migraines for the few days before, I've also just re-joined the fainting club so thats also a treat.
I also clot and flood too. Last week was bad as it was half term so i was out and about, i try to work from home on those bad days and just sit on the loo for most of it.

I am meant to be going glamping without a proper toilet and I'm due on around that time, i literally don't know what to do about it.

Yes i get the suicidal thoughts as well, i am a bit that way inclined anyway, but the lower mood of that time as well as taking everything personally just makes it that bit worse

This thread has been really useful, not least because I have learnt that I have something called a Pouch of Douglas?!

This thread has made me angry all over again. I've had all these symptoms and had a female GP tell me it was 'psychosomatic,.

If it was - a) how come so many women have the same symptoms and b) that every month I thought I was going mad and my bowels exploding, then my period would start and I'd think 'oh of course!' ?

Javelin arse???? Finally a name for that stabbing pain up my bum??!! (Anyone else also get it when their DC are hurt or upset? )Also get the shits and honestly don't know where to start the paperwork some days. Also the need to eat: one sharing bag of Maltesers, one of Giant Buttons plus 2 slices of toast with butter and peanut butter. Period faithfully arrives next morning. Pains in my thighs and a very full and swollen vulva.

Lovely!

I feel like my insides are being scooped out with a giant melonballer.

Back to comments about period symptoms begin something else. I have been to doctors for years and been tested when I’ve said something isn’t right - maybe thyroid, hormones. etc and all I get is a blood test and then told everything is normal. So frustrating

Back to comments about period symptoms begin something else
I have been to doctors for years and been tested when I’ve said something isn’t right - maybe thyroid, hormones. etc and all I get
is a blood test and then told everything is normal. So frustrating

Yup, ages ago I went to the Dr with terrible back pain, in general I luckily don't get back pain often or for long, I knew something was really wrong with me.
I was told its a pulled muscle, here take these tablets, 6 weeks later still in agony and now breathing is hard work too, plus stabbing pains down my legs, he offered physio?
I had pneumonia, I was in hospital a week.
If he had just listened and not written me off as being a woman, sigh, just bloody get on with it eh.

Can this thread go into classics please? It's such an important one as this isn't talked about nearly enough.

Yes to all the above symptoms. I suffer from endo and low iron and 2/4 weeks have symptoms. I find the crushing fatigue, cramps and back pain, bowel issues and migraines to be so dibilitating. I used to get migraines once, maybe twice a month but they've tripled in the last year- one two days beforebleeding, then on day 1, 2, last day and then 2&3 days after bleeding finishes. Then again on day of ovulation where I again get cramps and back pain also.