My Period Story- Tamara Nerima

Tamara's Period Journey: So you’re telling me the pain isn’t normal?

The thing about menstruation is that the more you talk about what your period experience is, the more you realise how sometimes what you think is normal, just might not be right. And this could lead to an epiphany. For Tamara, this was the case.  Here’s her story:

At what age did you get your period?
I started my period when I was around 11.

Has menstruating gotten easier, harder, or is it the same as it always has been, with each passing year?
It seems the older I get, the harder it becomes.

Tell us your period story.

A memory. My whole life I have had heavy periods and have taken very strong medication for the pain. 

About 10 years ago, I was with a group of friends and the conversation was around period pain and uterine conditions, specifically fibroids. Having been one of the only people in the group that had fibroids removed quite early (at 26yrs) I was a reference point for people experiencing heavy periods and wanting to know more about fibroids. As I was going through my period history, I mentioned how from the age of 12, I would take Betapyn to manage my period pain because nothing else worked. One lady in the group, a doctor, nearly fell off her chair because she was shocked that at such a young age, I was taking such strong painkillers to manage my period pain. For context, Betapyn is a pain and fever combination of paracetamol with codeine phosphate. Codeine is an opioid pain reliever used to treat mild to moderately severe pain. On speaking to the said doctor, I was shocked to find that taking such strong painkillers isn't a norm. 

It was the first time I was being educated on the fact that painful periods are not normal. All my period life, all I have ever known is strong painkillers and heavy flows. I have always assumed my periods were normal and anyone that didn't experience ghastly periods as I did was a unicorn, God's chosen favorite. 

It was after this encounter that I started unlearning what I previously knew to be truth when having my period. Unlearning that pain is normal, unlearning that heavy bleeding is normal, unlearning that it's just the way it. It prompted me to question a lot more about my period health. To be inquisitive and to keep prodding my doctors when I wasn't comfortable and to learn more about my body.

I then also remembered a story of someone very dear to me, who told me about how in the early 90's they too were suffering from fibroids. She initially had no idea what was happening beyond the presented symptoms of an extremely heavy flow and excruciating pain and when she sought treatment from an esteemed doctor at Aga Khan, she was told she could have AIDS....imagine that. A whole DOCTOR!!! She went for a second and third opinion and that's when she finally met a good doctor who gave her a proper diagnosis and treated her fibroids

Girls and women need to understand that they alone have agency over their own bodies and they need to speak up, ask questions and seek second, third and fourth opinions if they are not happy with their doctors’ diagnosis and opinions. 

What is one piece of advice that lives with you while you are on your period?
If it's painful it's not normal.

Share with us one affirmation you use to stay positive and empowered during your period.
Periods are normal (though in reality when I got older I'd say 'Thank God I'm not pregnant' lol)