Ugh. Periods. Am I right? The weirdest thing happened to me yesterday and I suspect my uterus is to blame, although this hasn’t been confirmed. If me talking about my period grosses you out, feel free to skip this post 
I was called in to work yesterday but I called back too late (I’m a substitute at my second job and am on call every day) so I had the whole afternoon off. I walked to the library to sit outside, read for a while, and return my library books.
I started getting cramps despite having taking medication a few hours before, so I stayed outside and decided to wait them out before I went inside to return my books and walk home. I get wicked cramps and I’ve learned to take medication before they hit too hard, so I was surprised I was feeling them so strongly.
They started getting really bad and I started feeling really dizzy- worse than I normally do. My cramps usually last for a long time and I didn’t feel like walking home, so I debated whether to call my dad and ask him for a ride home since I knew he was on his way to the gym.
I tried to wait it out, but they kept getting worse and worse and I was starting to feel really nauseous, so I called my dad and asked him to give me a ride. As soon as I hung up the phone, my vision started getting black and my head was spinning. I was pretty positive I was going to pass out (I’ve never passed out before, but I imagine that’s what it felt like) so I was gripping on to the table as hard as I could so I wouldn’t fall backwards. I suddenly broke out in a sweat- I was literally pouring sweat for a full minute. My heart was beating really fast and I could hardly see anything. My face and my hands started tingling, and then went numb. I tried to slide off the bench but I could hardly move, so I laid my head on the table and tried to call my dad again to tell him what was happening. This went on for a few minutes. When my vision stopped swimming, I pulled myself up and walked over to the parking lot and laid down in the grass.
My dad came and picked me up and took me to the walk-in clinic. I had stopped sweating but I was now freezing cold and my teeth wouldn’t stop chattering. He gave me ibuprofen and water, and my cramps were gone by the time we got to the doctor. My hands and face were still tingling though- it was such a weird feeling.
I had to wait a really long time to see a doctor, but everything appeared normal. I would normally chalk up whatever happened to my period- I do think it had something to do with it- but I’ve been seeing black spots in my right eye for the past few days and I had a night sweat last night, so I wanted to rule out something more serious.
Anyhow, the doctor assured me that I wasn’t going to die and that he wanted me to see an opthamologist. He thinks I was having a migraine (although I didn’t have a headache at the time, but I did for a few hours after) based on the fact that I was blacking out, getting dizzy, and have been seeing spots. I still think it has something to do with my period, and since I already have to go to the doctor, I’m going to ask about my cramps as well. Couldn’t hurt, right?
I think not being able to go to work was a blessing in disguise- I think my little episode would have been really weird for the students to witness! It sounds way more dramatic than it was (although, at the time, it did seem quite dramatic!)
The real kicker? I didn’t even get to return my library books! They’re now overdue. There goes one of my New Year’s resolutions
Have you ever had a health scare?
That would’ve freaked me the heck out! Glad you’re doing ok now. I passed out once, on a bike trail walking my dog almost at dusk with no one around. It was VERY freaky. Thankfully, the dog stayed near me and I woke up to her sniffing my face. I had tripped on gravel and literally fallen down a few minutes before it happened and I think it was a combination of getting up too quickly and low blood sugar.
Gah, that would have had me freaked out! I’ve fainted twice now (once was from low blood sugar + fever + dehydration, the other from a concussion) and almost passed out a few more times. Before I faint I’m either really out of it and dizzy or panicky because I can feel it coming on. Afterwards I always end up really chilled out. I’m aware of my surroundings and that things should be unsettling (for example, I’ve never been able to move right away after I regain consciousness), but I just don’t care at all. I also have REALLY trippy dreams when I’m unconscious… Anyways, the dizziness and blacked out vision reminds me of when my blood sugar dips really low- could that have maybe had anything to do with it? Hopefully everything is okay!
You just had a fainting spell for sure. All the classic symptoms. I actually have a fainting disorder that I have to live with (its called a vagal nerve induced syncope) but hopefully you can squash whatever it is thats causing you to feel faint.
Well right now I’m just hoping for my period to make a reappearance but I hope not like that! I’ve actually just spent the last 24 hours feeling really ill, shivering, feeling sick and with a horrible headache. I couldn’t even get out of bed! I hate being ill!
Okay, that is EXACTLY what happens to me when I get bad cramps—vision going black, pouring sweat, loads of pain. I’m so glad the ibuprofen knocked it out quickly for you. It usually takes over an hour for me. Your title—haha that’s about right.
Oh my gosh, that is so scary! Hope you find out what the cause of it was soon.
I used to get really bad cramps before I started BC. One fourth of July, I felt like I was going to throw up. I was convinced I was. My mom told me it was my period… and she was right.
My old roommate had a very similar experience, also around her period, and she was told by the ER physicians that it was due to a migraine as well. She kept migraine meds around for when symptoms come on and has been able to manage it well. Good luck, hon!!
This happened to me last time I had my period!!! Oh my gosh, I know EXACTLY what you were going through. It was absolutely awful. Sometimes being a girl sucks.
That’s not good at all, glad you’re feeling a bit better now… I feel your pain, literally, as mine are a nightmare too and really painful. I can’t go on the Pill any more but I did for a few years and it made them so, so much better. Definitely ask about the cramps when you’re at the doctor and hope it gets sorted out
Oh my god, you poor thing! I hope this never happens again
I’ve had four mystery injuries/illnesses in my life; never fun. Quite scary, really!
I’m so sorry you went through that! That’s so scary! When I was home I had a little health scare when I thought I had pneumonia and had to get all of these different tests done..lets just say hospitals are not the place anyone wants to be! i hope you feel better!
How scary! I’m so glad that your dad was able to come and pick you up and take you to the doctor! I hope that you can get it figured out!