menstrual musings ;)

[floatingleaf]

It's that time of the month, again. *painful groan* I guess I should be glad that my periods are so mathematically regular right now - but the bad side to it is that they actually happen more often (they were frequently late before), and, what's even worse, they always come on a weekday.:/ And I only get 10 sick days per year at my workplace. While, in this kind of situation, I need 12 (or 13, considering the fact that I took two in April - one at the very beginning of the month, another one at the end). Besides, it's kind of embarrassing and difficult to try to come up with a different excuse for a sick day every month (yes, my boss is a woman, but I still don't feel comfortable telling her the real reason I need to stay in bed for most of the day - especially since I don't think I know anyone else who does; not at my workplace anyway). So this time I told a blatant lie about car trouble on the way to my parents' house, which supposedly forced me to stay there overnight and then wait for the car to get fixed before I could go back. I feel stupid and bad about it - I hate to lie and invent stories like that - but at least it saves me one sickie for later, because in this case I will be able to put it down as 'personal day' (of which I can have 3 per year). By the way, here is a question to the women on my flist who still suffer from this disgusting 'natural disaster' every month: do you need to take a sickie for it, or do you just grit your teeth and go to work/school/wherever else you're supposed to go that day?... And if you stay home because of it, do you tell your boss - or whoever else was expecting you somewhere - the real reason for your absence, or do you invent some other (less embarrassing?...) ailment or excuse?... I'm just curious. I also can't help thinking that in a matriarchal society, we would all get an official day off once a month, specifically for that purpose, and no one would be questioning its necessity. Or am I just a pathetic wimp, because some other women I know don't seem to care or suffer much during that time at all?... Opinions, anyone?

I suppose I had more to say, but I think I need to go lay down for a bit, again. *sigh*

Comments

[eliriel1.livejournal.com]

I never had pain or headaches, or anything like that.Just a big flow of blood for an entire week.So I never had a sick day at work,but I was very embarrassed every time someone told me i have blood all around my legs.I never wore skirt to work .But, I had a friend ,she had so painful menstruations ,that she needed more than one day, every month.Sometimes ,she needed medical care.She always told the truth,no matter how embarrassing,it was...
Big hug,sweetie.
Liri

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

Thanks for replying. Seems like it's different for each woman... I don't bleed a lot, and the pain is tolerable (at least after I take some pills, lol) - but I am just so woozy, like my head and legs are made of cotton wool, and my hips feel like they weigh about a ton, and simply refuse to be dragged off the bed... *sigh*

[helynhighwater.livejournal.com]

We all suffer in different ways and some of us get off much easier than others. My mother didn't get cramps, but was always tired and slept a lot extra during that time. I'm not excessively tired, but I do get cramps to varied degrees {some months it's really bad and some months it's more of an annoyance}, and a lower back ache that Midol barely touches {if at all}, though I do admit that it's usually more of a constant discomfort rather than OMG OW! The worst of it lasts at least the full first day and sometimes spills into the second before it starts to ease off. Not fun, but I know I have it easy compared to some, so I usually don't complain and just hate my uterus silently.

I generally tough it out if I have to work that day or two because I need a doctor's note to keep my butt covered for absences. Since there's nothing abnormal or especially severe going on and I don't have medical insurance, it's not really worth it to see a doctor. As much as work sucks, it's preferable to a pelvic exam. Most days. It's not a matter of toughness vs wimping out, though. It's just different symptoms, severity and situations.

You might consider telling your boss, though, if only for the fact that the cause is fairly obvious if she ever sits down and looks at the dates of your sick days.

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

My mother (...) was always tired and slept a lot extra during that time.

Same thing here. I could easily sleep fifteen hours or so (with occasional bathroom breaks) through the worst of it - and sometimes I do.

As much as work sucks, it's preferable to a pelvic exam.

So true... LOL.

the cause is fairly obvious if she ever sits down and looks at the dates of your sick days

I know. She's not an idiot, and she probably figured it out by now - or would have, if she weren't too busy to even think about it. The thing is, my periods were never that regular before, and occasionally the worst day would happen during the weekend - so it wasn't THAT obvious last year, I guess. Still, today she seems to have bought my 'car trouble' story with no suspicion whatsoever (which made me feel even worse about lying, somehow). Not that she cares much for the reason anyway - as long as I call in and say I'm not coming to work, I suppose...

[stormatdusk.livejournal.com]

i'm one of those that doesn't have much to complain about. not helpful, i know. i send my sympathies. it's really a seriously not fun issue for so many women.

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

Well... lucky you.:)