Period talk: Questions and advice

Hey there, ladies 🙂 I’m new to this group and honestly, I just really need to vent about something that’s been driving me absolutely crazy lately. So, right before my period starts, I get this brownish discharge for about two days—it’s just gross, I can't even deal. And then, once my period is actually over, I’ll go to wipe and see this blackish mucus instead. It’s driving me insane, seriously. My medical history is... well, let's just say it's a bit of a mess and there's a lot going on there. I wanted to keep things brief for now and just get some thoughts on this specific thing before I dive into all my other issues. Anyway, I'm a mom to a three-and-a-half-year-old boy, who, after seven years of marriage, finally arrived

Austin Ross2 said:Okay, so I've got this weird issue with my period.
It’s been going on for, like, ten days now and I'm starting to freak out a bit.
Normally, things wrap up in about 5 or 6 days. So, thinking I was totally done with it, I headed down to the beach for a couple of days. Then, on the third day, everything just... ramped up again. Now I've been dealing with this extra 3 or 4 days on top of everything. I'm wondering if hitting the ocean actually triggered this extension, or if there might be something else going on here.
If anyone has any ideas, I'd really appreciate it. 🙂

Man, I've definitely been there. Honestly, I don't even want to think about spending too much time swimming while on my cycle, otherwise it'll probably drag on for at least another three days... Like, sure, a quick rinse in the shower is fine, but staying in the water for a long time? Yeah, no way. 🙂🙂🙂

gentlebadger73 said:Anyone else feel like if they even think about going for a swim while on their period, it'll just drag the whole thing out by another three days? I can handle a quick shower, but staying in the water for any length of time is a hard pass for me.🙂🙂🙂

I'm still dealing with mine today, too. It's already gone past the point where it should have wrapped up. It feels like it just refuses to end.😢

My period was like 10 days late this month and I finally got it this morning... and honestly, everything just hurts... my lower back, my stomach... even my leg muscles are acting up... I feel pretty crappy right now... any advice?

Is it actually normal to have my period for just one day? For the last couple of months, it’s been basically a one-day thing—barely even lasting forty-eight hours...
Usually, I get it for like 3 or 4 days... This is honestly starting to freak me out a bit.

Having a single day of bleeding is perfectly normal if your cycle is irregular. Honestly, you should be grateful it doesn't last any longer than that...
As for me, I'm looking for ways to wrap this up early. I have some major events coming up in three days, so I’m wondering if there's anything I can do today to speed things along. Does anyone have any advice? URGENT

Nothing special here, just checking in—to complain, really—about having dealt with my period since I was ten years old. It hits me every 25 to 26 days, lasts about a week, and is usually pretty heavy. The first day is almost always a struggle with stomach cramps, though it settles down after that. When you actually sit down and do the math on how many bloody days I've spent dealing with this over my lifetime... haha... it’s just TOO MUCH. 😁

So, up until month 7, my cycle was super steady at every 26 days. But right after that month ended, I got another one just a week later. Then, once that bleeding stopped after about 12 days, it started all over again. I basically had three periods in a month and a half, which feels totally off. I guess help me out with some solid advice or let me know what's going on? ://

You really should go see a gynecologist as soon as you can.
Have all of your periods been staying the same length and having the same level of flow as they usually do?

And I'm telling you, I mean it. They usually lasted about six days and were just as heavy. I guess, maybe, any idea what could be going on?

I’ve got a bit of a situation going on... My period finally showed up today after being six days late, and my lower abdomen is absolutely killing me—honestly, it feels way worse than usual, especially on both sides. I have zero energy to do anything at all, so I'm just lying here waiting for the storm to pass... Does anyone have any tips on how I can actually get some relief?

driftingheron97 said:I am struggling quite a bit. My period arrived today after being six days late, and I am experiencing significant pain in my lower abdomen—it feels more intense than usual, particularly on both sides. I feel completely drained of energy and have just been lying down, waiting for the discomfort to subside. Does anyone have advice on how I might find some relief?

Perhaps taking an over-the-counter pain reliever would provide some much-needed comfort; it should help ease the tension you are feeling.😉

Hey there... so this is my first time posting here and I’m honestly looking for some advice because I went through some really painful stress-induced bleeding last year, and now, every little spot of blood just sends me into a total panic...
My period isn't due for another six days, and while things are usually pretty regular, I am sexually active without protection, though nothing actually goes inside me...
Yesterday, I started getting this intense pain in my ovaries that seemed to radiate all the way to my kidneys and my lower back. Then, this dark blood showed up along with some discharge—it felt just like my period starting, but then by yesterday evening, it stopped. It wasn't much, just turned into this dark discharge, and then this morning there was absolutely nothing, just a tiny bit of bright red spotting on the tissue... but I still have all those typical PMS symptoms, you know? Sore breasts, bloating, and that sharp little twinge in my stomach and back...
Now I’m scrolling online and reading that it could be pregnancy, which feels weird since it took us forever to conceive our first child, but then I see stuff about tumors and bleeding and now I'm just terrified... please, if anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it...

It could be implantation bleeding, or it might just be the start of your period—you should probably take a pregnancy test, though you might need to wait a few more days for it to be accurate.
And honestly, I’d suggest scheduling an appointment with your OB-GYN just to get a professional opinion on what's actually going on.

Hi there... A friend's daughter just started 7th grade. She had her first period on August 10, 2014, but she hasn't had her second one yet, even though it's already October 2nd. What should they do? The little one is really resistant to seeing a gynecologist or even a regular doctor. Any advice? HELP!

It takes some time for your cycle to find its rhythm and stabilize. Unless you're dealing with other concerning symptoms or had unprotected intercourse, there really isn't any reason to panic. 🙂

edit: Actually, here you can read up on more details.

Are you seriously expecting her cycle to just become regular overnight?😁 I mean, that’s more of an exception than the rule at this stage.
If there aren't any other issues popping up, there really isn't any reason to drag her to the doctors. Honestly, just let the kid be. I actually kept my own period a total secret for an entire year, just so nobody would get any bright ideas about dragging me to a gynecologist or something.

Of course her cycle won't become regular overnight.
If she isn't ready to talk and still has that fear of doctors, it might be more effective to give her a book on sexual maturity that covers menstruation in detail. It's a way to kill two birds with one stone, allowing you to sidestep the awkward conversations for a while 🙂
Something like 'Teen Sexuality' by Oprah Winfrey (Facebook) could be appropriate, or perhaps 'The Ultimate Health Guide for Girls' by Anne Hathaway—something along those lines. She might dismiss it as 'stupid and boring,' but curiosity will eventually drive her to read it.

Even though it’s totally normal for things to be a bit unpredictable at first, I really think we need to help kids understand that seeing a doctor—even a gynecologist—isn't some big scary deal. Most of the time, there isn't even an exam involved, just a quick chat to get information. It's definitely not ideal if a kid feels uneasy or anxious about it...
Sure, it's standard for that age, but you've gotta guide them... so they stay on the right track. That's the only way they'll actually learn about their own bodies and spot any potential issues early enough to tell Mom, and then the doctor... if necessary.