Menstrual Side Effects
 

Am I the only one who experiences some weird (and obnoxious) side effects of being on my period?

I tend to get digestive issues when I'm menstruating. I have to poop every time I go to the restroom, and it's not generally a pleasant experience - it's softer, and smells worse. I also get gassy when I'm on my period, and god it smells horrible. Yuck! No, my eating habits don't change when I'm menstruating, so I don't believe it's lack of fiber. It's a regular effect of my period, and it drives me nuts.

I don't get the breast soreness, and I only get cramps and back soreness for the first day or so. I get mildly bloated, but the digestive thing is what bothers me the most about being on my period, other than the emotional effects of hormone fluctuations.

So.. am I the only one who gets stinky and yucky feeling when I'm on my period?

nope you're not....I always feel like I have alien stomach during that time and I dont seem to ever really fully digest anything I eat

Thanks for the confirmation, Shani!

This seems to be beyond the range of normal complaints my lady friends make about their periods, so I was starting to wonder if I was alone in feeling that crappy (pun intended) during my period.

I know how you feel, its like when I posted about those really weird cramps I get and was amazed at how many of the girls here had the very same excruciating pain in the same place

I put mine down partially to my hemochromatosis, my period is the only time my body naturally gets rid of the overload of iron I've stored up, but I do know people that this happens to that DONT have my iron problem

Woo, prostaglandins. They're what give you the shits and the cramps.

Try ibuprofen--it reduces the production of prostaglandins. Sounds odd to take ibuprofen for bowel trouble, but it works. I have the same problem, plus horrible menstrual cramps for the first three days. I alternate between using Midol and ibuprofen. I also get cramps at the tops and insides of my thighs. Ugh. I'm thankful for birth control--my periods are bad, but they would be far worse without it!

I get awful breast tenderness for about 2 days. Don't touch them or look at them because they hurt.

Other than that though, I get no other symptoms.

Interestingly, my husband says I eat more salads and eat less when I'm having my period than other times. He says I also eat more fruit and less meat just before and during my period.

I don't know if that is true or not. Never done a personal survey.

He also says I eat more chocolate the week before, which is true. This I know.

After almost 2 decades, I guess he has my number. :eek:

I just started mine today. :(

I get horrendously emotional. For the past 2 days, I've been crying almost nonstop. You may even be able to tell by my posts. I also get cramps that I swear, make me poo. But that part usually passes after the first 2 days. Midol's fantastic, but I tend to overdo it sometimes, as it does have that tranquilizing effect on me. I'll take 3-4 and find myself drooling in front of the tv. And I'm down with that when I'm on my period.

bah

I'm coming off the pill as soon as the tubal is completed.
Mine have gotten progressively worse as I've gotten older no matter what pill I take.
I'm done. All of the above symptoms, alternating the not wanting to eat with eating large amounts of weird stuff, stomach issues, intermittent rages and desire to kill people, 5 - 6 lbs of weight gain two days before I start... and only lose 4 -5 by the end of each cycle, acne/backne, hair on my chin (talk about a freakout, hello, depo... goodbye depo), sleepiness and insomnia....
I'm getting the tubal because I don't want kids.
I'm coming off the pill because I'd rather treat the symptoms separately and see how my body reacts to my natural cycle. Mine is a miserable cycle on the pill and I'm sick of it. :)

Diarrhea is common-place in my monthly regime. Leaves me dehydrated and feeling crummy. I try to drink large quantities of water and think positively, treating it as a sort of monthly detox.

Thanks, Snowy for the IBuprofin tip. This will hopefully make me more functional.

I didn't stop the pill after my tubal until my husband had his vasectomy.

My unfortunate friend was 47, tubes tied and thought she was in menopause.

Pregnant.

It was horrible.

I've had a tubal, he's had a vasectomy.

We just hope it won't happen to us.

Yup, its rather common. As snowy said, all thanks to prostaglandins. Whoo.

I also take Midol to help with that, and anything else my period regularly throws my way for 5 days. The evil curse that it is.

This thread reminds me how lucky guys have it. The bastards. :grumpy:

Yep, happens here too. The same hormones at work when you give birth (and the same thing happens). I do find that taking prostoglandin inhibitors like ibuprofen help. Wearing a Diva Cup also helps, as it seems to cause less cramping.

I haven't noticed this, but ya know next time I have my period I am going to take note. I usually don't have many side effects from my period except for breast tenderness the week before I start. I haven't ever really had cramps, but I do get pretty bloated sometimes.

My breasts get to be more sensitive for a few days, and sometimes I get mild cramping in my lower right abdomen, but rarely more than mild. I'll probably gain a pound or so from retaining water.
My periods are not usually very profuse.:) I donate blood every three months or so on the advice of the PA that I usually see. I tend to have high blood iron levels at least partly because of my low carb eating regime where I eat a lot of red meat. I have type A negative blood, which they always seem glad to get.:)

Lindy

I get similar symptoms, bloated, gassy, etc. It's clearly related to the period. I have found that being on the Nuva Ring reduces those symptoms somewhat for me.

I definitely get gastrointestinal issues, as well as pubescent-style acne and occasionally REALLY bad breast tenderness. Ah, the joys of being a woman.

It seems my boobs are more sore than they have ever been. They feel like 1/2 cup size bigger too.

I absolutely detest sore breasts. Luckily, I don't get it too often. Everything hurts, and putting those babies into a bra? forget about that! Heh.
I sympathize. really. *hugs*

...ever notice how menstrual pain, menopause, meningitis, man-o-war-jellyfish (lol), etc, all start with men?
Yeah, i think it all goes back to the Garden of Eden...it's all Adam's fault :lol:.
I mean, why didn't he protect Eve from being tempted by the devil to taste the apple?
Adam's purpose was to take care of Eve and the earth.
Then we get cursed with menstrual and labor pains for life because he wasn't paying attention to her...men! :shakehead:

:rolleyes:

`

I don't get cramps but my tummy experiences the same stuff OP mentioned.