Thread: Not sure if my periods are 'normal'?

Hi,

I joined this forum because I've been researching my menstrual cycle because I'm a little concerned about my periods. There is so much info. out there on the internet, I felt a forum would be a good place to come because everyone here is a normal, real woman so I know I'm getting some honest advice and opinions.

I'm 18 years old and started my periods when I was 13. I've always had fairly heavy periods, but they seem to be getting worse as I get older. They are so heavy that I feel like I'm constantly in the bathroom sorting myself out. I'm always in pain, from the minute I wake up until the minute I go to bed. I cannot phyiscally get out of bed in the morning until my Mum brings me some pain killers, food and water and I have to wait an hour or so until the pain killers kick in until I can pull myself out of bed. I can't fall asleep at night because the pain is so intense. It hurts to get up after sitting down, and it hurts to walk around aswell. If I press my stomach it feels bruised. I always feel faint, tired and my legs feel weak when I'm on my period.

This sounds gross, but on too many occassions have I woke up to 'mess' in my bed because of my period. I have to sleep with towels laid down on my bed, multiple pairs of underwear and two very thick sanitary towels. For some reason, I can't use tampons. I just don't get on with them. That doesn't help either, because I know my period would be more manageable and less messy with tampons. I also get what looks like blood clots very frequently when I'm on my period. My period usually lasts 8-9 days. They are regular and come every 4 weeks exactly.

I'm considering going on the pill just to try and minimise my periods. Apparently the pill makes periods much lighter, shorter and less painful. Do you think this is a good idea? And is it true? Also, are my symptoms 'normal' or are they a little extreme?

Any advice much appreciated, and thank you for taking the time for reading my not particularly pleasant forum thread!

Your symptoms remind me of when I was about 15-16 years old. Although my flow wasn't as heavy as yours is I had all the same problems, along with sever bowel issues during my menstrual cycle. The doctor I saw back then told me that there is a possibility that I might have endometreosis (if you are interested I would research this) Now I have never actually been diagnosed with it since the only way to do so is have an invasive test done but I was put on birth control pill as well a stricter diet, which while I abided by it, helped relieve most of my symptoms. It is a reoccurring problem that starts up for me now and again (In the presence of high stress, poor diet, or lack of birth control) so the sooner you get a handle on things the better it will be for you. I feel for ya Sistah.