Period pains

[ailbhe]

I don't get period pain. Right now, that's because I'm not having a period, but in general, it's because I don't get period pain. I get mild cramping, and sort it out with paracetamol and hot baths.

But I used to get pain. I used to get pain that made me fall over in public places, curl up and scream at home. I used to get waves of nausea and agonising cramps. I spent afternoons in school sitting in the secretary's office in tears, trying to keep a straight face while teachers came in and asked what I was doing there on their way to the photocopier (the only teacher who was totally unsympathetic about both this and my depression has since committed suicide - she claimed depression was always fake and I should learn to live with it, like she had. Hmm). I can remember my mother anxiously following me around the flat as I crawled around the floor trying to crawl away from the pain. We couldn't afford a doctor at the time and non-prescription painkillers, hot water bottles and massage didn't help at all. My mother was pretty worried because she'd never had period pain herself and didn't take it for granted like I and my sisters did.

I don't get period pain now. I am deeply, deeply grateful. And with the NHS, I will never be in my mother's position, watching my daughters in unbearable pain and powerless to help.

Sometimes, I am struck by how lucky I am. I am wallowing in privilege.

Comments

[rmc28]

I felt like this about antibiotics for UTIs a few weeks ago. At first I was thinking generationally, about how antibiotics only became available as my grandmothers reached my age. But then I thought geographically, about how many women are without access to such a simple treatment to such a widespread problem.

We are so lucky, to be living when and where we do.

[the0lady.livejournal.com]

This one time when I was a teenager and my mom was away, dad ended up bundling me into the car and rushing me to hospital. I was past screaming or even groaning much, and was too speechless with agony to tell him that it's "just" period pains.

These days, I don't get it nearly as bad - though it's plenty bad enough and I do have some perscription painkillers - but to make up for the during-period reduction in pain, I get a pre-period migraine.

Joys of womanhood, ho hum.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

I used to get really bad period pain when I was a teenager. My mother never got period pain or PMS (although to be fair this was the '80s and PMS was just being figured out), and she really did think I was faking it. And that I should "just stop being so moody".

She did apologise later, but it really did some damage at the time.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Adventures with uteri... *sigh*

I hope I never have to see any of the little girls I know now deal with this when they get older. Considering the attack on reproductive health and rights going on in the US... *sigh*

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

I get that type of pain & have done since a teenager when my periods started. I counted myself lucky if I started my period at school, as I could go & lie down in the sick room & have an ibruprofen.

My mum doesn't believe in painkillers & there was nothing in the house & I was told off ecvery month for being weak & not being able to cope with a bit of discomfort. I assume that my mother has never had bad period pain. I do know that she gave birth twice with no pain relief as it didn't apparently hurt.

My daughters will be offered drugs & sympathy.

[richtermom.livejournal.com]

My first period gave me such weird PMS I was an emotional freak for the 24 hours before the blood started. Roughly my second period knocked me so imbalanced I clearly remember diarhea and vomiting *at the same time* in the church bride's room bathrom, after I almost passed out during the opening hymn and barely made it to the ladies' room at all.

And it went on like that for almost 25 years, and I finally started trying specialists. One thought she saw an inconsistency in my endometrium at one point, and she offered a D&C to see if that would lessen the symptoms. I was let go from my job shortly before that appointment, and on that day, I overslept so completely I had to reschedule for another couple weeks later. And when I finally showed up, I was like hey, maybe I'm finally, I dunno, growing out of it -- last month I barely had any cramps, and it was only a week of bleeding.
The doc was like, well, let's take a test, and once we get the results we'll figure out what's the next step.

A test?

Yes. A pregnancy test. Give blood over there.

So yeah, the next day I found out K was on the way.

She was over a year old when I got it back, and the cramping is a bit less crazy, but the volume seems to have been turned up. Toss in a healthy tablespoon of perimenopause and you've got me.

I can only hope we figure out something more than just "managing" the pain. I know some women have luck with oral BC pills... If guys had PMS and cramps, this would be solved by now.