Period talk: Questions and advice

Thomas Hernandez86 · 2006-06-07T14:16:20+00:00

So, my cycle is being a total pain this weekend and won't cooperate with my plans, though I’d rather not get into the specifics of why 😁 I know you can technic…

casualmoose9 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jan 2010

#1381 · Jan 28, 2010

Go see a gynecologist; you don't have to be 17 to make that appointment. It’s really not a big deal, and nothing bad is going to happen. There is absolutely no reason to feel awkward about it when you're just taking charge of your own health. 🙂

Amy Kelly Member

18 messages
joined Apr 2021

#1382 · Jan 28, 2010

It could also mean that ovulation didn't actually happen.

You should definitely go see a gynecologist now—there's really no reason to wait until the 17th, right?

copperhawk37 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Mar 2012

#1383 · Jan 29, 2010

Since the start of the year, I've tried two different diets that required cutting out specific foods. First, I went zero carb—no sugar, no fruit, certain veggies, or juice. The second one was basically just oranges, rusks, and green tea.

My period was supposed to show up on the 25th, but nothing yet.😢

Could be related, could not.

Robert Miller3 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Sep 2008

#1384 · Jan 29, 2010

It’s definitely connected. Last year, back in February, I cut out a ton of stuff from my diet because of PCOS issues. My cycle jumped from a 27-day rhythm to 37 days, and that happened a few times. Lately, though, it’s settled around 30.
Especially if you lose weight—your period can shift quite a bit. It might be late by several days because, as my doctor told me, menstruation is basically an energy drain on the body. When you drop significant weight (which was my situation), the body just goes into survival mode and tries to conserve resources, so the cycle gets delayed. 😁

Alex Patel96 Active Member

139 messages
joined Apr 2009

#1385 · Jan 29, 2010

It’s the exact opposite for me!🙏
The second I start a diet and my body realizes what's happening, my period shows up immediately.🤷

It happens every single time. 😁

Plus, whenever I was at my thinnest, my periods were way heavier. I noticed a direct pattern—if I don't eat enough, it triggers right away.🤷

Alex Chavez4 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Feb 2010

#1386 · Jan 30, 2010

Honestly, you can just use supplements to get everything balanced out so your periods aren't such a nightmare, and if you ever have even a tiny suspicion that you might be pregnant, you just head straight to the doctor to get a definitive answer and clear up any doubt...
And another thing, if you don't actually understand how getting pregnant works in the first place, you really ought to do some actual research before you start trying things...
Sometimes the women I deal with just drive me absolutely insane with how little they know, it’s like they have zero grasp on basic biology, and honestly, in this day and age, that kind of ignorance is just plain ridiculous...

mellowsurfer34 Member

15 messages
joined Jul 2011

#1387 · Jan 30, 2010

Sophia Thompson93 said:Does anyone else deal with something similar? I’m honestly not quite sure how to put this into words, but lately, every time I go to use the restroom, I look down and it’s like... there’s this reddish ring or swirl in the toilet bowl. It isn't just, you know, blood in the water. Has this happened to any of you? And could it possibly be linked to having a wound or some kind of injury?

Yeah, it's happened to me quite a few times too, though I never really paid much attention to it before. I'm assuming it's probably nothing major, but still.🤷

Kenneth Garcia9 Member

24 messages
joined Apr 2023

#1388 · Jan 30, 2010

So, I just found out my iron levels are bottoming out—first time ever. My doctor suggested my heavy periods might be the culprit. I’m calling my OB-GYN on Monday to get an appointment, but I’m stuck on one thing: how does a doctor actually determine if bleeding is "too much"? To me, it feels excessive, but it's not like I'm stacking pads like a tower or changing them every thirty minutes. I always figured this was just part of being a woman... sometimes painful, sure, but not exactly fainting-spell territory. Now I want to know if there's a concrete way to prove it. I don't want to just walk in there, shrug, and say, "I don't know, maybe? It's heavier than my sister's," only for him to just toss some pills at me and call it a day.

Alex Patel96 Active Member

139 messages
joined Apr 2009

#1389 · Jan 30, 2010

Man, that's rough. My friend was swapping hers out every thirty minutes. You definitely had it on the heavier side!😁
I’d even say it was heavy every single hour.🤷

During my heaviest days, I usually go through 4 or 5 pads.🤣🤣

copperhawk37 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Mar 2012

#1390 · Jan 30, 2010

copperhawk37 said:Since the start of the year, I've tried two different diets where I had to cut out specific stuff. For the first one, I went zero carbs—no sugar, no fruit, certain veggies, juices, nothing. The second one was basically just oranges, toast, and green tea.

My period was due on the 25th but it hasn't shown up yet.😢

Could be related?

Update:

Took a test yesterday and it was negative, but today my breasts are sore all day and it feels like my ovaries are working overtime.

Still hoping it's just the diet and I'm overthinking things...

Raymond Robinson2 Newcomer

8 messages
joined Feb 2010

#1391 · Feb 1, 2010

restlesscobra132 said:Does anyone know how to AT LEAST lessen PMS symptoms? 🙂

Just a little bit? I noticed nobody’s posted about this in a while, but I really need some advice—I'm honestly feeling pretty desperate. I went to my OBGYN and everything came back normal, but she prescribed me Norgeston and it turns out I'm allergic to it. I've tried all sorts of supplements and pills, but nothing seems to touch the pain. Her last suggestion was to go on birth control, but honestly, I'm not interested in messing with hormones like that—we have breast cancer in my family, and my doctor actually advised me to avoid them as much as possible since they could increase my own risk. Right now, I'm literally shaking from the pain; I just took something, but it isn't helping at all. To make matters worse, I'm stuck at work and can't concentrate for anything. It's awkward because I don't want to ask for a sick day—my paycheck is already too small to lose any more hours. If I were home, I'd just curl up in bed and stay there all day, but I can't do that right now (only two hours left!), and I don't know if I'll even make it to the end of my shift. There's a CVS nearby, so if you have any suggestions, please help.

rustybison87 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Jul 2008

#1392 · Feb 3, 2010

Susan Nguyen71 said:I’m literally shaking from the pain right now; I took a pill, but honestly, it isn't doing a damn thing.

Could you please tell me which pads you use?

I can't say much without getting "accused" of being a walking advertisement, but let's be real—most brands (and by most, I mean basically all of them) use a plastic-based backing. It’s a death sentence for women’s health, really. A total breeding ground for bacteria and inflammation.

Then there are those specific pads with a breathable, Gore-Tex style layer. Once I switched to those, after a month or two of use, those agonizing cramps just... vanished. Is it too much to ask for basic comfort?

edit: It truly pains me to hear someone going through this kind of misery.

George Fox60 Newcomer

1 message
joined Nov 2009

#1393 · Feb 3, 2010

mistydrifter55 said:Maybe. Why don't you just take a test? 😁

I was actually at the OB-GYN back in December because I had cysts, and that's why my period skipped.
The cysts cleared up and my period finally came back around January 15th.

Hey there.

Alex Chavez4 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Feb 2010

#1394 · Feb 3, 2010

Ashley Rodriguez92 said:I actually saw my OB-GYN back in December because I was dealing with some cysts, which is why my period skipped entirely.
The cysts cleared up eventually, and my cycle finally came back around on January 15th.

Hey there...

So, if you don't mind me asking, how did you actually get rid of those cysts? Like, what was the actual process, or did you even have to do anything specific at all to make them go away...

Rachel Cook22 Newcomer

1 message
joined Feb 2010

#1395 · Feb 3, 2010

I’ve been dealing with these absolutely brutal pains for a year now, every single month without fail... Since this all started when I was 14, I honestly never felt anything at all, 😕but now, all these years later, I’m suddenly facing this pure AGONY. I try taking Ibuprofen or Voltaren Rapid depending on what’s on hand, but either way, the pain just lingers for an hour or two before it finally subsides. It is hands down the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. Honestly, I’ve reached a point where I’m actually terrified of the day it hits because it completely paralyzes me—I can’t do a single thing. On top of the physical pain, I get these weird tremors, almost like my body temperature is dropping, and my face gets flushed. I’m not sure if it’s a reaction to the medication or something else, but as soon as the pain lets up, the tremors stop too. 🤷 Has anyone else gone through something similar?? I’ve finally scheduled a doctor's appointment, so we'll see what they say.

stormymaker24 Active Member

98 messages
joined Sep 2008

#1396 · Feb 4, 2010

I won't waste any more of my breath here, so just take a look at this. This entire thread is dedicated specifically to chronic pain, so I suggest you actually bother to read it.

I am requesting that users refrain from using bold text for their entire posts.

Ronald Chase2 Member

13 messages
joined Mar 2010

#1397 · Feb 4, 2010

Rachel Cook22 said:I've been dealing with terrible pain for a year now, every single month. It started when I was 14, and since then, I haven't felt anything at all—just total numbness.😕 It’s hard to believe this agony is starting up again after all these years. I try managing the pain with Ibuprofen or Voltaren Rapid, depending on what's on hand, but it doesn't really matter—the pain lingers for an hour or two before finally subsiding. It is honestly the worst pain I have ever experienced. I dread the days when it hits because it completely paralyzes me; I can't get anything done. On top of the pain, I get these tremors, like my body temperature is dropping suddenly, and my face flushes deep red. I'm not sure if it's a reaction to the medication, but once the pain stops, the tremors stop too.🤷 Anyone else dealt with this? I just scheduled an appointment, so we'll see how it goes.

I’ve been dealing with menstrual cramps since middle school—it was always just a "show up, get it over with, and leave" kind of situation. But toward the end of high school, things shifted. It started feeling like my left ovary was cramping exclusively every other month during those first few days. Now that I'm in college, it’s become a monthly nightmare. The pain is so intense I usually have to stay home the next day, or if I absolutely have to go somewhere, I'm dragging myself along with painkillers and praying to God it passes. Honestly, it sucks. Aside from this, everything else is fine; my checkups are normal and there aren't any other gynecological issues.
Let's hope you aren't dealing with anything out of the ordinary. Hopefully, those twitches are just your body reacting to pain and muscle spasms. Either way, go talk to your OB-GYN. Mention these specific symptoms to them, and if they suggest it, get tested to see if it's a side effect of the medication you're taking.
Fingers crossed! 😉

I have a question for everyone. I could really use some advice. 🙂
I hope you’ve had a chance to read my intro and the initial post before getting to this. Here’s my question: For the longest time, my cycle was incredibly predictable—it would arrive exactly on time or maybe a day or two early, every single month. But over the last four months, things have shifted. Around New Year's, it was late by a couple of days twice, and then for the last two months, it’s been arriving seven days early. I realize how weird this might sound, and I know stress can mess with your body, but I’m asking because I’m actually feeling very calm right now. I don't have any major stressors; honestly, life is pretty great at the moment. 🙂
Does anyone know if this could be a sign of an underlying issue? My recent lab results from my doctor came back perfect, so everything looks fine on paper. Or is this just totally normal? Thanks, everyone. 😉

Mark Bishop10 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Nov 2009

#1398 · Feb 5, 2010

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:I’ve had my period since 6th grade, and back then it was just a "fine, you're here, now you're gone" kind of thing :P But toward the end of high school, I started getting this intense pain in specifically my left ovary every other month during those first couple of days (since, as we all know, one ovary supposedly takes turns each month..), and once I hit college, it turned into monthly torture. I’m stuck at home the second day, or if I absolutely have to go somewhere, I’m hobbling around clutching a Tylenol and praying to God... It’s honestly miserable... Other than that, I don't have any gynecological issues; all my tests come back perfectly fine...
so let's hope you aren't dealing with anything weird, and that the twitching is just your body reacting to the cramping and stuff... either way, definitely check in with your OBGYN, mention those specific symptoms, and if necessary, make sure you aren't reacting poorly to whatever medication you're taking
fingers crossed! 😉

I have a question for everyone, please help me out with some advice 🙂
I hope you guys read the beginning of my post and the background info I provided regarding this topic.. My question is this: up until about 4 months ago, my period always arrived on the exact same day or maybe 1 or 2 days early, but it was consistent! Over the last 4 months, things have shifted: around New Year's, it was late twice by a little bit (maybe 2 or 3 days), and for the last 2 months, it's been arriving 7 days early.. I realize the question might sound bizarre and I know stress and everything else can mess with your system, but I'm asking because I'm actually really calm right now—no major stressors, life is pretty much great at the moment... 🙂
Does anyone know if this could be a sign of an underlying issue (I just had a Pap smear and everything looks perfect) or is this totally normal...? Thanks, everyone 😉

I'm dealing with something similar. I went to my doctor back in November, and all my results were great, but ever since then, my PMS has gotten way worse. My breasts start hurting so bad it drives me crazy about 7 days before my period starts. And when the period actually hits, it only lasts 4-5 days, whereas it used to last 6-7 days.

restlessheron42 Member

11 messages
joined Feb 2010

#1399 · Feb 5, 2010

Has anyone ever dealt with something like this?

About three weeks ago, I had my period like usual. It lasted 7 days, though the flow was lighter than what I normally get. Then, two weeks later, I had some light spotting again—mostly brownish instead of red—and it went on for about five days.

I’m not trying to freak out or rush straight to the doctor, but I guess I'm just a little confused.

Roger Sullivan63 Member

29 messages
joined Jan 2010

#1400 · Feb 5, 2010

It’s likely just a little hormonal glitch this month.
It actually happens to the best of us from time to time. If you notice this becoming a pattern or if you start bleeding every two weeks, definitely go see your OB-GYN!

Period talk: Questions and advice

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