[Silvan]

Hi!
Thanks for reaching out
I'm sorry to hear about what you experience during your period. However, I can assure you that there is nothing wrong with you, and many of us experience symptoms similar to what you have described. What's more, what we feel during period can vastly differ between individuals! It can be related to hormonal changes that your body goes through during different phases of the cycle.

I suggest that you start taking notes of any physical and mental symptoms you have around your period. Make sure to note the date and day of the cycle. This way you will be able to have a general view on your health. If your cycles turn out to be irregular, it might be a good idea to consult a doctor; same goes for persistent or severe (making it hard to function daily) health problems. If you suffer from depression, the symptoms might worsen during your period. In this case, it would be worth it to note down your mood and physical condition every day - this way you could see the correlation between your period and other cycle phases.

Some methods of birth control might alleviate your symptoms and make it easier. I don't know your views on this topic or whether it would be a good choice for you, but if you feel like it could help, I encourage you to visit a doctor and ask for more information. If you decide to try birth control, you should be prepared to try some different methods/products, as not every type suits every body.

What's more, your lifestyle can affect the symptoms (unhealthy lifestyle may worsen them). Notice how much time you spend on exercise and sleep, what is your stress level, do you eat nutritious meals? You might experience food cravings before/during your period - if you do, try to limit salty, fatty and sugary foods you consume. You don't have to eliminate them completely, but try to find balance between those and veggies, whole grains, fruits. Limiting salty/sugary foods could also help with the feeling that you're fat which you described.

I hope that I helped a bit. Keep us updated on how you're doing. Sending hugs!
xx Sue


(cute puppy for you)