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?

My periods were always terrible, since I started at 12yo. At 22 I was finally referred to a gynaecologist. At my first laparoscopic surgery, he had a quick look then came out and referred me on. The damage was so extensive he did not feel it was within his skills to operate. My second consultant cleared the scarring but it then transpired I probably had adenomyosis. I'd been married a month and was being told to have kids asap (fertility usually best straight after surgery) or consider hysterectomy.

I had two kids in under 2 years, and have just seen a new gynaecologist to figure out next steps.

I'm in my early 30s, so my ovaries are an issue. I've about 20 years before menopause and both ovaries and HRT will stimulate the endometrial tissue.

We've decided on mirena and cerazette, with the aim of stopping both ovulation and periods all together. If it works, we can postpone surgery.

Sucks though. How different my life would have been if I didn't have it.

Weirdly my tailbone pain isn’t as bad since pregnancy - but my health is so messed up I don’t know whether it’s endo related or something else (and I’m still convinced that almost all the something elses are thyroid related)

achy feet - huge fat yes. My right foot feels like the long bone on the side is broken. If I’ve been sitting or lying down for more than 10 mins, I can barely walk the pain is so bad. I also get burning pain in both legs, and the sensation of spiders crawling on my feet when there’s nothing there.

I have a vitamin D deficiency which could explain the foot pain so worth looking into that. I’d also check your thyroid if you have other symptoms as it seems to be a common complaint.

I saw a physio who found I had scar tissue on one of the tendons on the outside of my foot - she broke that down and it improved massively for about four hours and then went right back to the same, despite doing the stretches she gave me religiously. She pointed out I couldn’t balance on that foot as it wasn’t locking properly, so may be worth looking into it a bit more.

Hope it works for you honey - Mirena was hideous for me but I know lots of people it works well for.

At 25 I was told I would struggle to have children ever - one mangled tube and things generally a mess. When I tried at 33, we got pregnant right away - as my specialist pointed out, they really can’t tell how much your fertility will be affected until you try. Fingers crossed for you.

Piles,
Thrush like itch,
Migraine,
Sweating,
Back pain,
Sensitive teeth

I thought of another!

Sometimes, my clots look like, pale. And weird. Like chewed old bits of juicy fruit gum.

Fuck knows what that's about.

Actually I take that back. They look like brains. Tiny, weird little brains.

I get clumsiness and a stammer too. And, also speech-related, I become overly loquacious (or, less kindly, get verbal diarrhoea) while pre-menstrual.

Last one, I had a stabbing pain in my left lower abdomen. Was quite sure it was a UTI (had one before that was pretty similar) but it lasted one day and then vanished.

I get black moods and vicious feelings towards people I normally like, too

PMT is horrendous, javelin fanny being currently experienced. Spots, dry skin, hunger and craving chocolate or salty/ fatty comfort foods. Constipation before the period poo. Very achy and sore legs, thighs and back combined with huge amount of water retention and swelling. 5-7 days of bleeding. Oh and don't forget the horrendously sore, swollen and achy boobs before and for the 1st few day. Also get various symptoms around ovulations. All used to be much less when took hormonal contraceptives but can't have them now as they don't work with my other medication. Being a woman sucks sometimes!!!

Clumsiness fo sho, I'm due on on Monday, just made a sandwich. Put the mayo back in the fridge....just the lid...not the jar of mayo...

Extra hungry. I’ll devour everything in sight. I get baby brain - full blown like I’ve recently given birth (people always think I’m pregnant during this time.)

Well mine are that heavy, last 2 weeks.

last year I had to have a iron transfusion. My iron levels were so low, I lost my sense of taste and developed psoriasis all over my body.

And the best thing is I can't take anything to stop or ease them.

Currently waiting to have the ablation, I just can't understand in this day and age there's not much help when it comes to helping us ease our symptoms.

IHateYourCarpet I think that may be when there is a lot of fibrin in the clot - the stuff that causes blood to coagulate.

Today I feel like there's a pin stuck in my left labia.
It's just wonderful

Eugh poo!

The aching thighs! I thought it was just me!

Honeysuckle has nobody suggested prostap for you?

Glad that others have also experienced the fanjo falling out/gaping feeling!!

graphista I had that before. It was ok. It reduced pain but increased the bleeding.

I actually developed The Period Spot on my chin while reading this thread.

I am awaiting the start of The Hunger now.

I hate having periods. I have tried the hippy embrace your femaleness but no they are just horrid.
The shits are similar to food poisoning/stomach bug and leave me feeling so poorly and faint.
I can actually feel my cervix pain 🤢.
Stomach cramps like labour that every month leaves me thinking am I one of those people that goes into labour without knowing they are pregnant 😂.
Then the bleeding/tsunami that floods everywhere and the grimness of every time you stand up feeling the tidal flow.
I am currently sat with a blanket and cat as going through the shits phase.
Am dreading getting a job as have been a student for 5 years

So glad this has been moved to Classics.

Javelin Arse. Period Poo. Period Flu (every time I have a period, I spend a day wondering whether I'm coming down with hellish flu). Breasts so sore I could cry for 2 weeks every month (and I'm a 30 AA on a good day, to add insult to injury). Labia that feel as if they have been kicked by a donkey. Feeling that my entire womb is falling through my vag. What fun it is being a woman. Can't use tampons due to cervical prolapse after the Birth From Hell. When I try, the sodding things just fall out.

BTW, mine are also now completely erratic (previously 28 days to the hour). So I can't even predict when I'm going to be flooded by them. The joys.

Another javelin arse and period poo sufferer. Giving birth was easier than trying to have a number 2 while being on my period. I also really dislike my dh when af is due, like he really properly winds me up whatever he does. Poor man. The rest of the month I think he's great, it's just cycle days 21-24. My cycles are short too which adds to the enjoyment so much.

Yes to achey feet and breathlessness although I think it's low iron and Vit D though. You reminded me to start them again as I've been very slack.

My first javelin arse/vagina pain appeared when I was 16, on a train, and obviously thought there was something hugely wrong. I remember not being able to move. Still a regular visitor 20 years later, and the only way to ride it out is to be completely still and not move a muscle until it passes.

I've actually talked about it with a doctor. It's been put down as a psychosomatic symptom from previous sexual abuse, and I've believed that for years and years, until reading this thread, so thanks folks!