I hate my period. :(

[artifactos]

Tonight was the weekday group ride with the triathlon club my boyfriend and I are training with. The boyfriend had to work late about an hour from home, so I was on my own. Planned ride was 15.5 miles, hill repeats optional after the main ride.

I ride with the front group. I am the fastest woman (whoo hoo!) attending these rides so far, and I am a stronger climber than most of the men (my boyfriend excluded.. he's crazy, though!). Usually, these rides make me feel pretty good about my fitness level.

Today, though, I totally bonked. For the first 8-9 miles, I was hanging VERY well with the men in front, averaging probably 20 mph, usually 20-24 when we weren't waiting for lights or cars. I had eaten a shot blok before we got started, since I had eaten a late lunch and was starting to get a little hungry. About 9-10 miles in, I lost all of my oomph. My blood sugar crashed, I had gotten too hot wearing my arm warmers, and I just felt like my legs wouldn't work anymore. No back pain like what usually makes me feel immobile, just a wah-wah-wah feeling. I had to stop and eat another shot blok before the primary hill on the ride, and totally got dropped by the group because I got stuck at the red light, too. On the downhill, where I could have gained some ground, I dropped my effing water bottle! Had to turn around, get off the bike, and retrieve it. One of the guys had actually started riding back up the hill to look for me because I was taking so long.

About 13 miles into the ride, I remembered (thanks to some cramps making themselves known) that today was the first full-blown day of my period.

I guess that explains a lot.

[kacie tri-ing]

I feel you.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I'm with you! I would rather do without it especially since I don't want kids... THERE IS NO PURPOSE! But alas, there it is....every month, interrupting my life!!!

[Aquila]

My sympathies are with you, too.

I went on a "no period" regimen with the BC pill, and it's changed my life for the better. I wish I hadn't waited 30 years of feeling crappy 3 days a month, though.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I tried one of the pills that you only have a period every 3 months and it messed my system up bad! I would still feel like I would have cramps occasionally even though I wasn't having a period, everything on me became swollen, including my boobs - which I wasn't really interested in being bigger in that department, but I would have accepted it, if it wasn't that they hurt so much! And... then I developed cysts on my breast and had to have an ultrasound done to make sure I didn't have breast cancer (at 25!!!). Needless to say, I found out I can only do a low hormone pill, haha.

[malaholic]

I hear ya on this. I've also tried various b/c that either lighten or eliminate it, but my body just cannot tolerate the hormones; I end up having almost constant headaches. But I know (and envy!) several women who do just fine that way.

[colby]

Ugh on both counts (discomfort of periods, discomfort of pills). I have been through several types of pills just to find one that doesn't cause the most discomfort, cramps, breakthrough bleeding, you name it. I, too, ended up on a "low" version and have been for a couple of years now. Which honestly makes me wonder - if it's effective in a "low" version, why is there a not-low version? On the other hand, when I did switch pills every year 3 years in a row, the NP told me there are so many different combinations of hormones in different pills that it's a difficult puzzle to solve for each individual person. If you mix in depo, the nuvaring, etc, it gets even more complicated.

I have to say one of the feelings I find the most annoying (other than being tired) is the cramps that you get only when your bladder is empty. So you end up not emptying your bladder because the discomfort after you do empty it is stronger, but having a full bladder is pretty uncomfortable too, so it just becomes a game of which feeling is worse.

The body, she is full of mysteries.

[XMcShiftersonX]

The doctor explained to me that the reason I was having symptoms with the regular dose pills was because they were created for an average sized woman of like 140 pounds.... At 110 pounds (I think I may have even been around 100 at the time), I was being overdosed on hormones, and my body was reacting. Of course, everyone is different. It makes you wonder though how low dose hormone pills are effective for larger women. Maybe they aren't recommended. I don't know. As a nurse, I've never heard that restriction though.

[WindingRoad]

Artifactos - That has happened to me on several occasions, I think it is just the extra energy our bodies consume at that time throws us off on how much to eat and prepare for a ride. I have blood sugar that drops easily as it is and if it is the days leading up to my period I REALLY have to watch out and always carry snacks. Yes it's annoying I agree but it sounds like you were whompin' on the boys regardless, kudos to you! You'll finish kickin' their butts next time, no worries.

[artifactos]

I look forward to kicking their butts next Wednesday.

I had to quit birth control altogether because of the emotional effects hormones have on me. Being off of birth control might give me a bit more cramping and a little more "uhh, am I going to start today or next week?" uncertainty, but at least I feel sane!! When I'm on hormones, I get depressed, anger easily, and have anxiety out the wazoo. Off of them, my default is "happy" and I love it. I don't intend to ever go back to hormonal birth control.

Even if it means avoiding group rides when I'm on my first day or two of my period. I really hope it doesn't fall on a race day anytime soon! EEK!

[shootingstar]

Sorry to hear the period difficulties on riding performance.
However I dislike it when men assume that a behaviour of a woman not feeling well, etc. due to her..period.

Not all women have these difficulties. At most some just worry about gushing /leakage at peak times, etc. during their lifetime.

I rarely experienced cramps and when I did, minor. I never took BC pills. (After reading colby's dr. explanation on the strength of the hormone, am glad didn't take BC pills.) At this stage in life, never will since am perimenopausal.

In fact, I'm just wondering if I'm normal.. not to experience a lifetime of cramps for nearly every period.

[Susan126]

I remember those days all too well and do not miss them at all! I went through menopause a few years back and the freedom to make plans and not have to worry about whether or not it's the week of my period is wonderful. Yea, kick butt on Wednesday artifactos!

[mekira]

I hate it too I'm 44 years old, I've had my kids, enough already! I wish there was an off switch when you're done with it. And of course, it gets worse as I get older.

[arielmoon]

Everyone has bad rides. At least you know the reason for it!

[Zen]

I hate it too I'm 44 years old, I've had my kids, enough already! I wish there was an off switch when you're done with it. And of course, it gets worse as I get older.

I was 45 when I had the NovaSure procedure. What a relief