I’m constantly either bleeding or bloating

I  just wish there was a magic pill that could stop my periods being agony. I’ve tried everything except antidepressants that my doctor offered and I don’t want to take them because my mum had them for years and got hooked on them and then got more depressed because that’s a side effect of them.

I feel like I’m constantly either bleeding or bloating and my moods are all over the place. Sometimes it’s so bad that I just want to stay in bed and not go to work. When I go to work I’m miserable but at least at home I can have a hot water bottle on my belly and stay in my pyjamas. I get so tired and feel sick too.

I bleed so much that I need to take iron supplements and paracetamol doesn’t stop the pain at all. Half the month I can’t wear trousers because I’m so bloated that basically nothing is comfortable except trackies but I can’t go to work like that so I wear baggy dresses and that makes me feel fat and ugly.

I’ve tried everything anyone has ever told me, you name it, yoga, aromatherapy, no alcohol, no white bread or white rice, I don’t smoke anyway, less salt, no fizzy drinks, evening primrose oil, st john’s wort, going on the pill, strong painkillers that make me sleepy or sick, lots of green veg, vitamin B, magnesium.

Basically the only things left are antidepressants or hysterectomy and I don’t want to do either of them.

My friends don’t have pain and bloating as bad as me but they are my besties and I love them for making me laugh and smile when I’m really down about it and for making me come out with them when I don’t feel like it. They’ll even put makeup on for me and pick an outfit, I can’t say no to them when they are so fab and then when I look in the mirror when they are finished with me I feel so much better. A couple of times it made me happy and I cried but they don’t let me do that either now because it spoils the makeup!!!

Every girl needs her besties and I don’t know what I’d do without mine.