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?

There is a very good reason that I have been on the pill most of my adult life. Hideous pain, period poo, javelin arse, totally clouded thinking, tiredness, depression not to mention the actual blood.

I really really loathe periods, they are debilitating.

Once DH was looking at having a vasectomy and the doctor said how wonderful that I would be able to come of the pill. He genuinely couldn't believe that I fully intended to carry on with my hormone therapy regardless

Yep....
Most of them are more 50p size to be fair but I get the odd monster...
Going back to Drs next week for what will prob be yet another gynae referral...

I am another one who thought period poo was just me. I only found from MN a few months ago that other people have it.

Until about 15 minutes ago I didn't understand what javelin arse was. I've been peri menopausal for the past couple of years, and have only been reading MN since last year so not had many periods in that time and most were either very light or not very painful. I am currently having a period a bit more like the ones I used to have, and just had sudden onset of javelin arse while standing on the kitchen. The pain actually made me exclaim out loud.
I now realise I have had it sometimes in the past but must have forgotten exactly how it feels hence didn't understand the descriptions I had read on MN.

Really loud trumps. Often horrible smelling too, but always loud and frequent.

Until I was in my late teens, my periods went like this: three days of heavy flow and flooding, stop for a day, hot flush, vomiting, then 4 more days of heavy bleeding and flooding. Even when I went on the pill.

Had a hysterectomy last year, so no more horrific periods. Before that, I’d not have a period for 12-18 months then have a 6 month period of flooding and clots.

Oh the joys of being a woman.

The weirdest thing that my periods affected was my ability to parallel park. Can park perfectly when not on my period, cannot (or could not) do it at all when on.

oh and I have only just heard the term javelin arse and period poo from this thread, but I know exactly what they are. The joy of blood and poo of a morning is a sight to behold when wiping ones arse.

Also I think the arse pain is actually ovulation pain

My alcohol tolerance plummets for a few days around the start of my period.

And of course period poo...

I am loving this thread for the names now given to my symptoms!

For a couple of days before, I get constipated and the pain on pooing is unbelievable - I've been doubled-over on the floor of the bathroom, light headed and seeing stars!

And then once the bleeding starts, the poo turns to diarrhoea.

The periods themselves are fine, but these symptoms beforehand (and the raging pmt where everything annoys me and I do an awful lot of 'walking away') are horrific.

I thought at 52 this would all be behind me but as my dm informed me her and my dgm didn’t go through the menopause till 60.
Mine r tiredness and I can sleep for 16 hours
Craving for chocolate that if I don’t have any in the house I will wake my dh up to get me some
Period poo

I've got 6 days to go until I'm due on my period. The following things will happen before then:

I will eat EVERYTHING. For 24 hours I just need to eat.

I will get so tired that I will crawl into bed at 7.00 and sleep for a minimum of 12 hours.

I will ache from my belly button to my knees. Particularly achy will be my thighs and vulva.

Farts that I am fairly certain could be used as chemical weapons.

Then....All Hail the Arrival of Aunt Flo!

Period poo. I cannot hold on. I have to go instantly. I've had to abandon my trolley in Tesco and run before now.

Sore boobs.

DH will smell.

I lose my appetite.

I throw up if I eat more than a couple of spoonfuls.

This is 10 days of annoying shit every 27 days. It's a wonder I haven't stabbed anyone yet!

Period poo, clumsiness and my synesthesia is worse.

I crave a red tent, peace and quiet.

Oh yay found my people
Not had javelin arse for years thank God
Period poo though is vile. Spot on my bum same place each time, am now menopausal so random periods, still spot on bum when due on.the dull ache and feeling like womb about to fall out yep still have that. I reckon I look about 90 when on, rest of time I look ok. Recent thing is clots yuck. Swollen belly, I feel it but OH insists I look same
Everything too bright and hard, shatteringly hard like cold winters day.
I wonder if any research will ever get underway about women's periods?

I'm glad period poo isn't just me! I get super hungry...like eat anything that i can lay my hands on 2days before i start...nom...nom...nom

I mix up my words for the two days prior.

Inexplicable, borderline suicidal sadness a few days before.

Headaches, sore breasts, diarrhoea, nose bleeds, ridiculous sense of smell the week of.

And yes to a pp, I look different in the mirror too, it's hard to put your finger on it but almost like a different person sometimes. And yes to not getting how other women at work just don't show it ever.

Afterwards I'm not hungry or anything for a few weeks, then I ovulate and am ragingly furious for a few days, then hungry.

Question - did anyone else see their periods change after multiple miscarriages? Mine have apparently permanently changed from 5 full heavy days to 3 slow medium days and a lot of spotting?

Major anxiety the few days before

Serious pains when ovulating mid cycle

One massive spot that won't go for half the month

Sweaty, shiny forehead and nose

Exhaustion

Nightmares

Randiness

Periods Affected My Ability to Parallel Park!

There’s a Daily Mail feature right there, ALemoneyPea

Stinky farts the day before
Killer headache also the day before
So bloated I look pregnant
Ragey mood for one whole day

Scratchy throat

Dry throat / extreme thirst

Croaky voice - like a smoker's (I don't smoke)

Bonkers mad vivid dreams

Aching legs

General weakness and tiredness

Headache

Nausea

*what on earth causes the throat/thirstiness symptoms?? I told my doctor once and she looked at me like I'm mad.

javelin arse I get at ovulation for three days

then ten days of tits really painful

a week of eating enough to feed a small country

one day of blind rage and pissed off with everything and everyone

more javelin arse, spots, cramps, clumsiness

Then about a week of feeling lovely and normal before ovulation starts to kick in and it all starts again, Fucks sake.

MillieandObi

omg - I get that too. I call it stress throat because it's always when I'm feeling stressed (more common on pmt rage days)

THIRSTY like marathon runner for 2 days before.
Javelin bum.
The feeling like my vagina is going to fall out.
Loss of spacial awareness.
Talking to everyone like they're children.
Smelling things that aren't there, never nice smells.

Leg pain. I thought I was the only one.

Did anyone else labour in their legs too?

I would also love to know what causes the extreme thirst!