The Student Room Group

Menstrual cramps from stress not on period?

Ever get menstrual cramps from stress even when not due or on your period?
I don’t think that’s happened to me but I have no idea.

Reply 2

Original post by Anonymous
Ever get menstrual cramps from stress even when not due or on your period?
I'm thinking maybe it could be IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)? Do you get diarrhea/constipation from these cramps, or is it just pain?

Reply 3

Original post by Anonymous
I'm thinking maybe it could be IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)? Do you get diarrhea/constipation from these cramps, or is it just pain?

Yeah, and often irregular BMs. Sometimes 3-4 times within like 3 hours and sometimes regular BMs. Switches between the two types of 💩. 😅 Sometimes when done with 🚽 still doesn't feel like I'm completely empty/done, and often get bloating.

Reply 4

Original post by Anonymous
Yeah, and often irregular BMs. Sometimes 3-4 times within like 3 hours and sometimes regular BMs. Switches between the two types of 💩. 😅 Sometimes when done with 🚽 still doesn't feel like I'm completely empty/done, and often get bloating.

I feel you. I missed the first 30 minutes of a 75 minute biology exam because of IBS ._.

You probably have IBS-M (so both diarrhea and constipation)! Try avoiding foods that potentially trigger IBS (link below) but frankly I don't know how to help for the stress induced part.

https://www.webmd.com/ibs/ibs-triggers-prevention-strategies






Reply 5

Original post by Anonymous
I feel you. I missed the first 30 minutes of a 75 minute biology exam because of IBS ._.
You probably have IBS-M (so both diarrhea and constipation)! Try avoiding foods that potentially trigger IBS (link below) but frankly I don't know how to help for the stress induced part.
https://www.webmd.com/ibs/ibs-triggers-prevention-strategies




You♀️? It doesn't seem to be worse immediately after eating, but does get a bit better after 🚽. Usually after a few hours gets bad again. Maybe there a couple things that kind trigger, but there are a lot of times I haven't even eaten anything and still. But before I was thinking it was just cramps, but now it has been almost 6 months and same symptoms and radiates up, to the left, to the right, to the upper left, to the upper right taking over literally my whole torso. Plus like I said I get bloating, nausea, sharp pains or cramping. I also get lower back aches and migraines but those are probably due to my period, but my period has been super irregular as well. Every two weeks (along with migraines and lower back pain) for the past 3 months. I'm not allowed to go into the doctor without parental consent and I've heard it takes at least a year or so or more to get diagnosed since IBS doesn't have an actual test, they just rule out other stuff. My ex has IBS-D and said they did blood tests and monitored his stomach aches and stool for a year and did a colonoscopy.

Reply 6

Original post by Anonymous
You♀️? It doesn't seem to be worse immediately after eating, but does get a bit better after 🚽. Usually after a few hours gets bad again. Maybe there a couple things that kind trigger, but there are a lot of times I haven't even eaten anything and still. But before I was thinking it was just cramps, but now it has been almost 6 months and same symptoms and radiates up, to the left, to the right, to the upper left, to the upper right taking over literally my whole torso. Plus like I said I get bloating, nausea, sharp pains or cramping. I also get lower back aches and migraines but those are probably due to my period, but my period has been super irregular as well. Every two weeks (along with migraines and lower back pain) for the past 3 months. I'm not allowed to go into the doctor without parental consent and I've heard it takes at least a year or so or more to get diagnosed since IBS doesn't have an actual test, they just rule out other stuff. My ex has IBS-D and said they did blood tests and monitored his stomach aches and stool for a year and did a colonoscopy.

Yep am a girl

Have you tried talking to your parent(s)? I'm worried this might not be just IBS, and I'm just another student so it would probably be best to seek professional medical advice.

Also how old are you? I'm 15 and have gone to the OBGYN because my periods were irregular as well. There wasn't a problem, but I've been told you can take medication to make your period come out to "reset" the cycle. Apparently it's quite normal for teens to have irregular periods, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Reply 7

Original post by Anonymous
Yep am a girl
Have you tried talking to your parent(s)? I'm worried this might not be just IBS, and I'm just another student so it would probably be best to seek professional medical advice.
Also how old are you? I'm 15 and have gone to the OBGYN because my periods were irregular as well. There wasn't a problem, but I've been told you can take medication to make your period come out to "reset" the cycle. Apparently it's quite normal for teens to have irregular periods, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

I'm an adult under guardianship. I'm on meds for my period to be normal. Yet I still get: nausea, vomiting, headache, fainting, lower back ache, loss of appetite, sharp abdominal pain, constipation & diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, excessive flatulence, bloody stool, mucus leakage from sores on 🍑, sores after bowel movements, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, genital stinging, irregular periods, menstrual cramps, heavy menstrual bleeding.

Reply 8

Original post by Anonymous
I'm an adult under guardianship. I'm on meds for my period to be normal. Yet I still get: nausea, vomiting, headache, fainting, lower back ache, loss of appetite, sharp abdominal pain, constipation & diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, excessive flatulence, bloody stool, mucus leakage from sores on 🍑, sores after bowel movements, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, genital stinging, irregular periods, menstrual cramps, heavy menstrual bleeding.

I'd definitely suggest going to a doctor. I'm not sure some of these are normal for people with IBS.

Reply 9

Original post by Anonymous
Yep am a girl
Have you tried talking to your parent(s)? I'm worried this might not be just IBS, and I'm just another student so it would probably be best to seek professional medical advice.
Also how old are you? I'm 15 and have gone to the OBGYN because my periods were irregular as well. There wasn't a problem, but I've been told you can take medication to make your period come out to "reset" the cycle. Apparently it's quite normal for teens to have irregular periods, but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Do you get flare ups often? If so to what extent? Is it symptoms or pain that effects you the most during flare ups? Do you know of your triggers?

Reply 10

Original post by Anonymous
Do you get flare ups often? If so to what extent? Is it symptoms or pain that effects you the most during flare ups? Do you know of your triggers?

I have IBS-D, and get flare ups around a couple days every month.

Some of my symptoms during flare ups are

Intense dull ache

Stabbing pain

Nausea

Sweating

Diarrhea

Some other symptoms in general are

Bloating

Gas (in both ways)

I also have decreased appetite, but I would assume that's caused by my ADHD medication.

I'm usually stuck in the bathroom for 30-60 minutes, but when it's really bad (which is when I get stabbing pain), I curl up and go to the bathroom often for a couple of hours. The pain and sweating affects me mostly during flare ups.

My triggers are

Stress

Fried food in the morning

Excessive carbs

Reply 11

Original post by Anonymous
Ever get menstrual cramps from stress even when not due or on your period?


i get cramps all the time if i’ve been super stressed for a few days

Reply 12

Original post by Anonymous
I have IBS-D, and get flare ups around a couple days every month.
Some of my symptoms during flare ups are

Intense dull ache

Stabbing pain

Nausea

Sweating

Diarrhea

Some other symptoms in general are

Bloating

Gas (in both ways)

I also have decreased appetite, but I would assume that's caused by my ADHD medication.
I'm usually stuck in the bathroom for 30-60 minutes, but when it's really bad (which is when I get stabbing pain), I curl up and go to the bathroom often for a couple of hours. The pain and sweating affects me mostly during flare ups.
My triggers are

Stress

Fried food in the morning

Excessive carbs

Sorry for so many questions:
If I may ask, stuck in the bathroom 30-60 minutes just cause otherwise you'd be in and out very few minutes and you just stay inside until your GI track is empty? What would you rate flare ups on a scale 1-10? Are they usually severe , random, or mild? Where do you feel stabbing pain most? Sweating for sure, I forgot that one!😆 Lean over you mean instead of curl up unless you are in bed? How long do your flare ups last? Do you take meds for them, follow, FODMAPS, have and/or take anxiety and/or depression meds, probiotics and fiber, use a TENS unit, use a heating pad? How old were you when symptoms started? What did they think it was at first, (cause I know IBS doesn't have an official test)? Were you able to go to the doctor shortly after symptoms started and how long after did you get the diagnosis? What tests did they do?

Reply 13

Original post by Anonymous
Sorry for so many questions:
If I may ask, stuck in the bathroom 30-60 minutes just cause otherwise you'd be in and out very few minutes and you just stay inside until your GI track is empty? What would you rate flare ups on a scale 1-10? Are they usually severe , random, or mild? Where do you feel stabbing pain most? Sweating for sure, I forgot that one!😆 Lean over you mean instead of curl up unless you are in bed? How long do your flare ups last? Do you take meds for them, follow, FODMAPS, have and/or take anxiety and/or depression meds, probiotics and fiber, use a TENS unit, use a heating pad? How old were you when symptoms started? What did they think it was at first, (cause I know IBS doesn't have an official test)? Were you able to go to the doctor shortly after symptoms started and how long after did you get the diagnosis? What tests did they do?

No need to be sorry!

I'm stuck because otherwise I'd be in and out, and also because it helps me psychologically(?) to be sitting on the toilet when I feel like I'm going to explode with 💩

My flare ups are really random but I haven't gotten any super severe ones recently. The worst one I've gotten that I remember is when I had fried chicken with my friends.

I feel stabbing pain mostly below my belly button.

I curl up in bed!

Flare ups last around an hour, but sometimes longer.

I don't take meds any meds, or follow FODMAPS, but I try to restrict my diet as much as possible (not eating carbs or fried food). This doesn't require much work for me because of loss of appetite. I've tried heating pads, but they didn't help me very much.

The symptoms started when I was around 12 years old, and I found out pretty quickly it was IBS because I have a doctor in my family. She was able to figure out it was IBS because I would usually get flare ups when I was stressed, or ate specific types of food.

I went to a specialist doctor when my symptoms weren't getting any better (this was when my IBS was somewhat more mild) and they just told me to stop eating carbs 😭

Honestly, I don't remember what tests they did, sorry about that!

Reply 14

Original post by Anonymous
No need to be sorry!
I'm stuck because otherwise I'd be in and out, and also because it helps me psychologically(?) to be sitting on the toilet when I feel like I'm going to explode with 💩
My flare ups are really random but I haven't gotten any super severe ones recently. The worst one I've gotten that I remember is when I had fried chicken with my friends.
I feel stabbing pain mostly below my belly button.
I curl up in bed!
Flare ups last around an hour, but sometimes longer.
I don't take meds any meds, or follow FODMAPS, but I try to restrict my diet as much as possible (not eating carbs or fried food). This doesn't require much work for me because of loss of appetite. I've tried heating pads, but they didn't help me very much.
The symptoms started when I was around 12 years old, and I found out pretty quickly it was IBS because I have a doctor in my family. She was able to figure out it was IBS because I would usually get flare ups when I was stressed, or ate specific types of food.
I went to a specialist doctor when my symptoms weren't getting any better (this was when my IBS was somewhat more mild) and they just told me to stop eating carbs 😭
Honestly, I don't remember what tests they did, sorry about that!
If I may ask, why don't you take meds for it? Just cause flare ups aren't everyday?

Reply 15

Original post by Anonymous
If I may ask, why don't you take meds for it? Just cause flare ups aren't everyday?
I've never been recommended meds, and controlling my diet works well

Reply 16

Original post by Anonymous
I've never been recommended meds, and controlling my diet works well
I've heard for IBS: Xifaxan Bentyl, Buscopan, Levsin, Enterosgel. But if flare ups aren't that often and aren't too severe and stabbing pain doesn't last long.

Reply 17

Original post by Anonymous
I've heard for IBS: Xifaxan Bentyl, Buscopan, Levsin, Enterosgel. But if flare ups aren't that often and aren't too severe and stabbing pain doesn't last long.

I don't know much about the meds sadly

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