"Period Flu" - anyone else?

[milkmilkeverywhere]

So I've been feeling really unwell the last week, tired in my body, aching legs, stomach aches, nausea, general sense of malaise, not sleeping well.

Can't for the life of me work out what it is, I don't feel like I have a virus, it's not like that. No cold symptoms or anything. Just feel "wrong". I've also fairly recently had blood tests done for something else and no problems found there.

Struck me that im about a week off my period coming, and that I remember feeling like this a couple of months ago.

Googled it and apparently period flu is a thing. Does anyone else get it? Can it really make you feel this bad?

Hi @milkmilkeverywhere Yes I get the same. Some months aren't as bad but when I do get it I feel horrendous for about a week. It's literally like mild flu symptoms and it's hard to function with it. Some days are worse than others though such as finding it hard to get up in the morning. Awful! Sorry you're experiencing this. In a nutshell it's severe PMS and there isn't enough awareness about it.

Yep, it's a thing. Never had any kind of PMS before, but started getting coldy flu-like symptoms a day or so before my period a couple of years ago. Really full on, yet disappears as soon as I start bleeding.

Yes, I get it. I'm at achy and my skin burns.

Yes I get this most months, for a few days. It really sucks.

I find it's worse when I'm really stressed and tired, otherwise nothing seems to help

Wow I had no idea it was so common. Sure enough, AF has turned up early today.

I'm thinking back to not feeling well lots of other times. What's the answer? Combined pill?

Yes, I get this sometimes. Feel like I'm coming down with something, goosebumpy skin, feel achey and yuck. It's only for a couple of days though, not a week.

Yes, I get this. Only a day so I am lucky with that but it is definitely a thing. I wonder if it comes with middle age.

I’ve started getting this op, but around ovulation. Had no idea it was a thing I til I googled it. FUN TIMES!

Yes, I’m 54 and still get it. Roll on bloody menopause. Not every month and usually only the day before.

Get it to. A sore throat every month. Fevery. Exhaustion.

I get it too, only for a couple of days but I get hot and achy, the glands in my throat are swollen and sore and I'm convinced I'm coming down with something. It didn't click until covid when I realised I was getting myself tested before every period!

@milkmilkeverywhere There's some changes I've made due to severe PMS and I also get mild flu symptoms a week before period(not every month but enough that it effects my life) On top of this the mood swings can be awful but have improved. I have no caffeine or alcohol whatsoever. I went cold turkey off coffee and it was awful but worth it. I just have decaffeinated. No crappy foods 10 days before my period is due but generally I've really cut back on sweet treats etc. Loads of water and exercise. I basically have to try and eat completely clean from 10 days before I'm due which is hard but does help me massively.

I'm 32 for reference

If e been getting this for the last six months. A whole week of feeling rubbish, plus extremely bloated, and then my period comes but 4/5days later than it should every time.
I assume it's some bloody peri symptom.

Hmm yeah I wonder if it's peri coming on. I've not really noticed it before the past year but to be fair I took the pill my entire twenties, then got on the fertility treatment/pregnancy/breast feeding train and now here we are finally with a natural cycle but probably heading into menopause. Not loving it.

I do need to cut down on alcohol, but otherwise I don't think I eat badly. More exercise probably but that's very hard when you feel so ill.

Yes I get this too
Not every month but when I do it's horrible

Covid messed up my periods, which was concerning me, except this month I’m back to normal which means period flu. Should have enjoyed it while it lasted.

Sounds like the body taking the opportunity to detox while womb lining is shedding.

I’m currently suffering now. Some months are worse than others and this ones particularly bad! I’ve dropped Dd at school and come back to bed. I’m usually out walking miles but today I’m just floored.

I’ve been having periods since I was 9 and I have them every 21-28 days without fail and I’m now 33. They’ve always been terrible and I suffer horrendous period pains and also have PMDD. I’ve tried everything and nothings helped any of my symptoms. Doctors really don’t care about women’s reproductive health, especially if you’re also fat! You just have to put up with it. I know menopause isn’t a walk in the park but some days I wish I would just go through it early.

That sounds hard @Wobblysausage . Did the pill not help you at all? Do you think menopause will help? Because I feel like menopause might just be like feeling like this every day with no let up. I definitely feel better when the estrogen rises again but in menopause you lose that! All the post menopausal women I know have all manner of aches and pains and none of them can sleep 😭

Yes! Period flu is a thing. Scary, but normal. I'm 4 days from my period, and I'm achy, feel like I have a cold, headaches, posy nasal drip, and my boobs are sore (tested negative for covid yesterday)

What is AF?

Not really flu symptoms, but I often get achy joints, mild nausea, diarrhoea, insomnia and skin that hurts if you touch it for five days or so before my period alongside the more common migraines/depression/sore breasts. Like a pp said, super healthy eating and exercise helps a lot.

Yes I get this too