My Period Pain is going to cost me my job

LegacyUser

I get awful period pain and I miss days from work every month....I also have a short cycle so I often have two periods in one month...
I have been called in to the office about my sick days and told I have the most sick days out of the whole office and if I miss any more day the entire office will be cut off from sick pay

I just can't go to work when my period is bad I can barely stand

bubbaloo

You have my utmost sympathy. I have severe endometriosis and used to suffer every month in exactly the same way. I ended up crying to my doctor about it and he prescribed pills for me;
Cyclokapron - for the heavy bleeding
Ponstan Forte - stronger than the average Ponstan

Honestly, these pills changed my life. I have been taking them during my period every month for three years (apart from when I was pregnant with my little boy! ) and since then I have never missed a day of work due to period pain!

I'm sure if you talk to your GP about them he/she wouldn't have a problem prescribing them for you.

Good luck - you can pm me if you have any questions.

star-pants

Trip to your GP is the answer.
I was in horrible pain before, would end up missing at least two days of work, after the third month even my dad said 'would you not go up to the doctor?'.
That's when and why I went on the pill, now I have had to change my pill for different reasons, some suit some people some don't. But it meant I wasn't literally doubled over in pain / ready to vomit for two days every month. I get bad months still, but not that bad.

Definitely go to your GP and see what they can recommend to suit you.

CuppaCocoa

Suffered for over 20 years myself and know exactly what you're going through! Tried everything and nothing worked. My mother was suffering from sciatica and had tried numerous tablets to no effect. Her GP prescribed her 'Aulin' as a last resort and after one tablet she was able to get out of her bed and walk! In despair one day I took one and the pain vanished! I never looked back!

Three years ago I had an op for fibroids and on release from hospital I got pain killers that might have well have been smarties! One 'aulin' and I was back to normal after hours of being doubled up with pain. Trouble is they're now off the market but I'm sure there must be a similar drug available. Ask your doctor. They changed my life!

tinkerbell

OP, you have my sympathies - this must be awful to go through such horrible period pain every month.

Have you spoken to your GP about this? I used to get bad period pain when I was in school and would have to go home at least a day a month, I used to be very sick with them. My friend used to get even worse pains. I went on the pill then to regulate my periods and the pain isn't really there anymore, I do get cramps of course still but nothing that would make me want to just stay in bed all day with a hot water bottle.

Goldenlady

There is nothing worse, hopefully some tablets will sort out the pain.
With regard to work, my suggestion would be just try and go in and if they have to send you home so be it. Its the way I always work it in my job, its a place where no one takes sick days every ( one girl here 10 years, 1 day out sick!) I was out sick for a month last year, but it was genuine and was in hospital etc.
I hope it all works out for you, but def try and go in and if your sent home then there is nothing they can do. Good luck:)

Sardonicat

OP, gEt to your GP. Aside from prescribing something for the pain/regulate your cycle, it might be worth finding out if there is a problem. Pain so severe that you cannot work does not sound like "normal" menstrual discomfort IMO. If your GP is unsympathetic, find another one.

Good Luck

Go to a doctor.
I used to have terrible period pains, nausea, vomiting, collapsed in school once, I would be bed ridden for the first two days, the first day I would feel like my body was being torn apart. They used to be really irregular too, I'd never know when I was going to get it. I just never went to the doctor, my whole family kind of just has a "deal with it" attitude to getting sick or having pain.
When I started going to college I found out that the college had free GPs. My boyfriend convinced me to go, I figured it couldn't hurt. Doctor put me on the pill and ever since it's been plain sailing. If I had known how much it would help I would have done it when I was 11. I get what I would consider "normal" pain now, totally handleable. My periods are completely predictable too, and if I ever need to I can even adjust when I take it to allow me to change when I'll get it (great for making sure I wouldn't get it at electric picnic ). I know it's a cliche but it completely changed my life.

amdublin

inpain wrote: »

I get awful period pain and I miss days from work every month....I also have a short cycle so I often have two periods in one month...
I have been called in to the office about my sick days and told I have the most sick days out of the whole office and if I miss any more day the entire office will be cut off from sick pay

I just can't go to work when my period is bad I can barely stand

OMG yes. This is going to cost you your job.

You need to go to your doctor.

Have you ever had any investigations???? Treatment???
Have you ever considered contraception which would alleviate periods altogether (eg Implanon).

Please talk to your doctor asap. She/he can help!!!!

Callan57

Go to your GP ... ridiculous to suffer like that in this day & age.
Alternatively pay a visit to a Well Woman Clinic

up for anything

My sister suffered like this with her periods since the age of ten. Two days every month in bed and in agony. She used to worry about losing her job too. She eventually went to work in Singapore when she was 38 and when she went to the doctor to refill her prescription for whatever painkillers were flavour of the month with her, he sent her to a gynaecologist. The gynaecologist was horrified to hear that she had never been to one before in her entire life and muttered backward countries about Ireland and the UK.

Within a couple of months with what he gave her she was able to work through her period most months plus she had minor surgery (can't remember what it was) as well. He said if she'd been taken to one when she was a young teen and it was obvious that her periods were going to be an ongoing nightmare she wouldn't have had to put up with the pain and avoided all that stress and anxiety. (Our mother is the one who is suffering now, from guilt. )

Maybe you should ask your doctor to refer you to a gynae and get to the source of the problem rather than being dosed up on painkillers, symptom hiders and contraceptives that you might rather not take.

sarah achill

Hiya, I am so sorry to hear of your terrible period pains. I suffered horrendous period pains until I was 27, and like you I had to miss a lot of work days and many other things. It really was a terrible handicap, and I went to many doctors but it didn't help. Finally, I was pushed against my will to see a herbal doctor, which at the time I thought was a load of nonsense. Anyway, he gave me capsules to take and did a allergy test. When I swallowed the capsules I could taste chili powder, the funny thing is that every time I was due my period I would have a terrible craving for a really hot curry. Anyway, after a month of taking these capsules I got my first completely painless period. From that moment on, I eat curry's as much as I want and always for a few days before my periods. If you don't like curry's you can always eat a bowl of bran or salads, not as a diet mind you, have your normal meals but just add a few salads to your meals as well. I really hope this helps, I know what you are going through and its just so awful.

livemusic4life

Sounds like endometriosis to me. Get it checked out. There is no need to suffer like that and i don't think a job can fire you if you are getting investigations done. Good luck

Kettleson

What do they mean the whole office will be cut off from sick pay if you miss one more day? They cant do that. That is intimidation and bullying.

Your sickness record has nothing to do with anyone else whatsoever.

The worst they can do is stop you pay if you have taken more sick days than you are legally entitled to be paid for. Are you in a union? Even if you are not, ring a Union or Citizens Advice.

Don't take any BS from them. Ask them for what they have said to be put in writing. Hope you feel better soon and get things sorted soon.

tatli_lokma

Kettleson wrote: »

The worst they can do is stop you pay if you have taken more sick days than you are legally entitled to be paid for. Are you in a union? Even if you are not, ring a Union or Citizens Advice.

Well firstly since OP posted three years ago I assume the issue has been resolved in some manner by now. But just for the record stopping sick pay isn't the worst they can do. The worst is that they can dismiss you on the grounds that you are not fit to do the job you were hired to do. Excessive sick leave is grounds for dismissal I'm afraid. So to anyone in a similar situation I would encourage you to seek medical advice and to communicate with your employer and hopefully they will be sympathetic and cut you some slack.

Kettleson

3 years! Zombie thread...thanks for the added info anyways.