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?

Christ. I am in my thirties and cannot tell you all how much this thread has helped put my mind at rest on so many issues in the last ten minutes. You're absolutely right OP. Not talked about nearly enough.

I am normally a reverse parking ninja but it all goes to pot when I am due on.

Fellow endometriosis sufferer!

Ugh, where to begin. Vomiting, difficulty urinating (when I do I let out a little squeak like someone trod on a mouse), physically can't take a crap because my cramps are so bad I can't actually push, hot flushes one minute, chills the next, migraines, hairs start to grow in unnatural places, numbness down to my knees...

And then I had a coil fitted, and expect to get at least six months of all these delights in addition to crippling stomach pain

So glad to see positive responses - was worried people would think I was some kind of period weirdo 😂

Your ovaries sit on top of nerves that serve your legs, so if you get leg pain during periods or ovulation that may be an issue relating to your ovaries (or so my highly qualified specialist told me when I complained of leg pain).

Do any of you have diagnoses? Sounds like lots of you are having symptoms that should be checked out. Gastric issues especially during periods are a strong indicator of endometriosis.

Daisy clots that smell could be old blood, can’t say I’ve noticed them smelling, what do they smell off, just strongly of blood / iron?

Every single period I had until 23 was black and full of clots. I had no idea that wasn’t normal!

Craving for sugar in my tea

Leg pain. Horrible tender, aching. why is that?
Upset stomach.

Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea on day one. Intense pain in waves, going down my right leg. And, oddly, sneezing.

Mouth ulcers! Particularly one big horrible one all down the side of my tongue in the same place every month.

I was checked for fibroids in my 30s but all clear.

Migraine a couple of days before. Feeling like I'm about to have a prolapse (I'm not, had that checked). Hideous diarrhoea followed by constipation for a couple of days. And the most incredibly noxious farts.

Luckily mine only last a couple of days now, although day one is so heavy it makes that scene in the Amityville Horror with blood flooding down the stairs look tame.

The shits

Javelin arse

Sweaty gusset

Can't park my car (normally am a v good parker)

So glad this is helping people! That’s awesome. I wish period education at school covered what is normal and what needs medical attention. I spent my teens being told “periods hurt, get used to it” but I never thought to tell the doctors about the pain when I pooed or the weird colour or the javelin arse as I just thought it was normal. I honestly believe if we spoke openly about these things, endo diagnosis times could be slashed, amongst other things.

There are so many red flags for endometriosis in these comments, i would really urge you to see a doctor and insist on a referral if your periods are debilitating.

I feel very anxious and miserable the day before my period starts.

PMT I could quite easily murder my dh if he does something wrong.

Massive clots that form in the toilet bowl when you’ve been for a wee.

A feeling like a small homunculus is using a squeegee to scrape the lining from inside my uterus.
Spending a day before the whole show kicks off feeling like I want to thump everyone around me.
The difficulty of cleaning up the Carrie levels of gore on the first day.
Realising the hideous itching is actually down to scented towels.

I absolutely thought that a period meant a period of time of about a week when all the blood would spurt out in one go

Shirley is that not what yours are like? That’s basically what mine are like - unless you mean you only thought it happened once ever? Because that would be awesome!

I have a question for you all. Every month a day or two before my period I have a poo and then the afterpains are indescribable. It’s like someone has rammed a stick up there. It lasts for about ten minutes where I have to pace around to stop myself passing out. Is this javelin arse?

I do stupid things like pick up hot oven trays with my bare hands.

Everything smells extra strong, just like when pregnant.

Extreme fatigue. Sometimes wondered if I'd make it home from school with the boys, then my period would start just as I was making dinner.

As I'm nearing the end of my fertile life, immense hot flushes. You can bet your supportive, sensible boots that I'll come on for the first time in months in the middle of a heatwave.

Ugh yes - after three days all the skin on my undercarriage is gone basically. It’s horrendous. Scented towels make it much worse.

Oh I always say that I feel like I've been kicked in the clunge when I'm on, looks like I'm not alone except other people call it ache.

I get weak legs too, my whole body just feels exhausted.

Yes, Funcle. It's hideous.

Oh yes period poo!
A heavy, aching feeling like my uterus is trying to fall out
Clumsy
And really hot feet!

A tendency to burst into tears the day before. Also increased anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

Diarrhoea and sore poo also. I notice the night before I start I have to get up to pee alot !

Yes Funcles although I usually get it randomly at some point in the day, just out of nowhere. For me it’s caused by endometriosis in the pouch of Douglas (space between the vagina and rectum)