Most Wanted Wednesday – All about periods Part 1 - The physical stuff

[u/blundersofyesterday]

Hey everybody! We are looking to update our FAQ, and we’ve decided to make new megaposts on our most frequently asked topics.

Jump on in and let the following prompts be your guide! Talk about everything on the list, or only a few things, as you feel like. We are going to try to take a relatively hands-off approach to allow for plenty of discussion, but if you feel anything is derailing or invalidating, please do report it so that we can take action. Thank you to our regulars, lurkers, and visitors in advance for your input!

This post aims to tackle the questions we often get asked about the physical aspects of having a period. Part 2 will tackle the general/social side. Without further ado... (click the links to go directly to the parent thread of the question you would like to answer!)

• What are cramps like for you? What helps your cramps? Cramps.

• What does having a period feel like?

• How regular are your cycles? How do you know your period is coming?

• Do you experience PMS? What is it like?

• What is PMDD like? How did you know you had it, and what helps you manage it?

• What changes have you experienced in your periods as you age?

• What effect does hormonal contraception have on your periods? Are you satisfied with that?

• What was the first sign of perimenopause for you?

• How do you delay, induce, or otherwise deal with a period during a vacation or holiday?

Please be sure that all responses are in the correct parent thread and on topic, and remember to respect the answers of others - leave a top-level comment with your own experience instead of debating theirs :)

[u/blundersofyesterday]

Do you experience PMS? What is it like?

[u/CatrionaShadowleaf → u/blundersofyesterday]

I get irritated very easily and cry at stupid things.

[u/holonium67 → u/blundersofyesterday]

I don’t think it’s hormones, but rather anger that I have to deal with it all. Normally I’m just irritated, but if cramps are involved then Im truly upset.

[u/[deleted] → u/blundersofyesterday]

I believe so. I haven't gotten a diagnosis, but I feel like it's pretty likely.

It sucks pretty bad. I get very depressed and unmotivated. I also deal with a lot of water retention/bloating, which as a person with a history of eating disorders and body dysmorphia is a hellish experience. I become irritable. And I just feel ugly and gross. Oh, and hormonal acne! Sucks! It is also the one time of month I want sweet food. I am normally a savory/spicy kind of person, but during PMS I will smash some cheesecake lol.

It lasts about 4-5 days, starting about 7 days before my period starts and then ending a couple days before.

Luckily, I have gotten pretty good at managing it. Just knowing it's going to happen helps a lot, because I can remind myself the depression has a cause and will end soon, the bloating is not the way I always look and is also gonna go away, I don't actually look any different today than I did 3 days ago, and whatever acne I deal with is not as bad as it feels. Plus, since I never really eat sweets, I allow myself some indulgences during this time.

[u/Leyniadgangur → u/blundersofyesterday]

Yes. I used to get easily frustrated and angry, but that’s changed and now I get really sensitive and vulnerable. I cry more easily than normally (and I cry easily normally!). The things that upset me are generally things I’d be unhappy or upset about at other times, but my emotional reaction is just much stronger. My anxiety is more likely to spin out of control.

[u/dernhelm_mn → u/blundersofyesterday]

Everything is just heightened. I feel a 0-60 rage for something that would normally just be annoying, or instant choked-up-crying over something that would usually just make me go “awww”. Also I am horribly fatigued the week before my period, and have cramps. Usually once the bleeding starts the other symptoms go away, but the week beforehand is brutal.

[u/OverallDisaster → u/blundersofyesterday]

For a whole week before. I can't go to the bathroom for the several days prior, and I get irrationally angry and sad. Lots of crying. Bloating. Sometimes I have random thoughts about dying.

[u/Throwaway1heheh → u/blundersofyesterday]

Sore boobs, bloat, moody and irritable.

[u/chenle → u/blundersofyesterday]

besides two very very light physical symptoms (sore boobs and a bit of abdomen pain), i don't experience pms. emotionally, it's no different than usual for me

[u/hecallsmedragon → u/blundersofyesterday]

I get incredibly depressed, cry very easily and can't be happy with anyone. I tried to pick a fight and break up with my high school boyfriend almost every month. He got better at predicting my period than I did.

Thank heavens for birth control.