I called in this morning and said I was going to be a bit late. I was up most of the night in the fetal position with cramps. Without getting into detail, I just simply said I wasn't feeling well and I was taking it slow this morning and would be in mid-morning.
I get to work and in the first 20 minutes I've been here all 3 of my male bosses have asked how I am. Nice guesture. But, one kept asking what I was sick with "did you eat something bad?" and "You don't sound sick" types of questions.
It took everything I had not to scream I'm bleeding like a stuck pig and I feel like I have knives in my ovaries. Seriously, you're a grown man with a wife and daughters, take my subtle I don't feel well and leave it at that.
Re: Male Bosses & Periods
Baby #2: Surprise BFP 9.19.12, EDD 5.24.13, natural m/c 10.19.13 at 9w
I generally take this approach as well.
Me too. And, worse than that, I'm a real jerk to my students who pull cramps as an excuse for missing days of school.
Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
Dates & Quinces Blog
Oy I work with two guys and I don't ever really say anything besides I don't feel good.
Horrible girl side story.. A few weeks ago we had a client come in and she got her period during our meeting. On our white conference chairs. She was so embarrassed. Luckily I had supplies to help her out and then we spent a few minutes bleaching the chair.
My boss made himself scarce to save her some embarrassment. After he left. much to my awkwardness he goes don't you know when it's going to happen? Not always.
Whoa, I'd die! That was really nice of your boss to make himself scarce. But really? Do guys really think this?
Baby #2: Surprise BFP 9.19.12, EDD 5.24.13, natural m/c 10.19.13 at 9w
I had to get a note from a doctor in elementry/jr. high, because my teachers didn't believe the amount of pain I was in when my period hit and I would miss school. No 9 year old should have to be subjected to that pain. I actually started BC at 14 to try to regulate and help.
How mortifying. I was so irregular before BCP, I would get caught by surprise all the time in middle school.
The Daily Nugget
Cycle 12, IUI #1 - 33m post wash 10/15/10 = BFN
Cycle 13, IUI #2 - 15m post wash 11/16/10 = BFP, missed m/c, D&C 1/3/11
Cycle 15 - 18, IUI #3-6 = BFN
Cycle 20, IUI #7 = BFP!, missed m/c 9/14, D&C
DE-IVF Aug. 2012: ER 8/30 11R, 7M, 4F; ET 9/4 returned 2
Beta 9/18 #1-820, #2-1699, #3-7124
10/1 1st u/s measuring right on track, 125 bpm
Nine? Oh that's awful. =(
I guess, for me, it just comes down to the fact because you're going to have to suck it up in the real world, right? If you're in a position of power, you can't miss a big meeting or avoid negotiating world peace because you've got cramps. There are people in the world who power through all sorts of debilitating illnesses. I feel guilty for calling it quits for something that's so small compared to the bigger picture of debilitations I could have - like cancer or MS or whatever).
I just hate giving guys any reason to think I can't do something, you know?
Just my two cents on the matter; I'm not trying to dismiss your pain at all!
Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
Dates & Quinces Blog
I'm lucky that cramps aren't are a serious problem for me at all, but there are plenty of people for whom they ARE completely debiliitating. I know women who are bed-ridden with pain every month, and who need serious medical intervention to try to deal with it. While those women are no doubt outliers, it's not fair to assume cramps are merely a painful annoyance for everyone.