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?

Constipation
Aching vulva
Night sweats.
Arse acne. Actual real life acne. I'm in my 30's ffs

Probably the worst though is a massive increase in my chronic pain/fatigue symptoms. It's so faaaaaaaaaaabulous sleeping 20 hours a day thanks to the chronic fatigue and chemical cosh.

Unfortunately any hormonal contraception either gives me hemi migraines or makes me actively suicidal.

Mother nature has fucked up.

I feel like this could be a really helpful thread for any girl or woman searching Google about periods for advice. Could we move it to somewhere before it gets lost so it is searchable in the future?

Putting in a fresh tampon then instantly needing a shit....what to do?

Since having OC / ICP in my last pregnancy, I now get itchy all over a couple of days before my period starts. Not desperately so, just a kind of strong irritation. Annoys me that my body is a slave to hormones in yet another way.

Can't believe no one has mentioned the bleeding gums...

Literally thought I was the only person in the world getting achey legs
Sometimes it’s like shocks of pain going down my legs.

Desperate need to clean, then total exhaustion (and not caring if things are clean). Constipation followed by period poo. Insomnia, anxiety and the ability to eat A LOT of chocolate.

Oh and hating everyone and everything...

I have pcos so irregular periods, luckily I have extreme thirst the few days before I come on as a warning. Then there's the aches, from my ribs down it feels like my insides have turned to mush and are going to just drop out any second. Of course there's the period poo, javelin arse, night sweats and sheer bloody exhaustion. I'm even more clumsy than usual and can't string a sentence together sometimes

Another vote for the delightful Period Poo. FML.

And I'm so glad there's a name for Javelin Arse.

What’s ‘javelin Arse “? I don’t think I’ve had it!
Yes to achey legs, headaches day before and forgetfulness/ lack of concentration though

Irrational thoughts
Zits
Wind
Wanting to kill everyone
Tiredness
Clumsiness
Crying at feck all
Eating everything but the furniture.

The sudden horrific cramps whilst shopping so having to pretend I'm looking at something in the bottom shelf.

Periods have stopped now its bliss

My outer lips ache. Never seen that mentioned anywhere. Anyone else?

Javelin arse is pretty much what it says on the tin....

I usually find I alternate from being totally wiped out/lethargic just before my period to having a crazy frenzy of blitzing the house. So weird!
I also find my face looks washed out just before too - does anyone else get that? It doesn’t matter how much makeup I apply I just look pale/drained!
I too find myself incoherent and often have a brain fog/stammer. I remember once doing a school quiz the day I came on and my brain just melted basically, I was embarrassingly awful!
Also clumsiness and I swear it affects my driving...
Other symptoms include bad dreams or insomnia right before I’m due. Then afterwards I feel so tired I could sleep like a hibernating bear!
Going into my own little world beforehand and being highly irritated at DH just for breathing!
Sometimes I get a migraine the night before.
Having to pee loads. Rumbly stomach. Wind. Needing no.2 more often.
Craving bananas, Diet Coke and chocolate right before but then not hungry once I come on - sometimes I even feel sick.
Every few months I have terrible sore boobs from ovulation to menstruation.

Urgghhh, there’s prob loads more. I can’t believe how tough it is being female sometimes!

About a week before I get severe pain across the top of my breasts, which extends into my armpits on both sides. I could scream when I take my bra off.

I also eat like Pac-Man the day before my period comes. Man versus Food has nothing on me that day.

Javelin arse and cramps across the top of my public bone which make me stop and catch my breath are making me look forward to the menopause now.

Septic chin. The whole thing goes red, fills with pus lumps which never come to a head, after 7 days it miraculously returns to normal.

I smell like iron a few days before as well. DP can smell it.

Nipples itch.

As well as the javelin bum, period poo, weird achey left hip

Oh yes I sometimes get bleeding gums just before too.
Hate the bloatedness and the illogical rage at the start. I can hear myself ranting and raving like a fisherman’s wife but incapable of holding the raging beast inside back!
I sometimes also get the achiness and shooting pains running up down arms/legs, and every so often feel like I’m coming down with a cold beforehand and have a sore throat.
I’ve even had my hormone levels checked several times over the years as I was convinced I suffer from far too many PMT/PMS symptoms!

Like my actual thigh bones hurt.
Sensitivity to touch. Skin actually hurts like it's been carpet burned sometimes, upper arms.

Generally having a terrible day where I am horrible to everyone and want to jack everything in, right before it starts and I never remember that that's why I feel like that.

@mooncuplanding

Putting in a fresh tampon then instantly needing a shit....what to do?

Oh God yeah THIS! When you have a shit, it often pushes the tampon out.

FUUUUUK!

Irrational paranoia and kind of angry anxiety the week before. I’m a wreck of a person for three full days a month.
Loose erm movements.
An unusual itch down there just on the one side. Lovely.
Heavy painful swollen boobs
Swollen tummy
Pus-filled chin spots
Lower back pain
Stuffing my face the week before.

I feel so attractive listing all these.

Don’t suffer with them anymore thank goodness but used to be awful. I always felt very awkward, sometimes paranoid, and super sensitive ( still get like that with the menopause, especially if I forget to change my HRT patch).

I used to get:
7 days before period - swollen, sensitive boobs and javelin arse
3 days before - constipation, burning feet and insomnia
1st day - diarhorrea

Major fatigue for a day or two before and after the start.
Cramps, headaches, spots, mood swings.
And so. Much. Farting

Accidental post..
1st day - diarhorrea, weeing a lot and heavy bleeding
2nd & 3rd day - palm sized clots plus going through a Lillets Ultra and a maternity towel in 20 minutes. Mostly housebound
4th & 5th day - manageable period and able to go to work.

My god, these are all awful. I had it easy, and I didn't know.

I wonder what proportion of women suffer like this?