Diary Entry – June 5, 2023
(Warning for the squeamish – This entry is about menstruation)
I’ve had my period (fondly known as Ms. Flow) for over 2 decades now. And even though it’s been so long, I still remember as clear as day the first time I had my first period. It was melodramatic! You can read my menarche story in my post – Menstruation…A Cross to Bear or A Unique Gift.
Anyways, fast forward to 20+ years later, my flow is routinely monthly. Maybe a few days late here and there but it’s largely predictable. I checked my period tracker app which informed me that it was coming on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. I set a calendar reminder on the eve of Monday, May 29, 2023, to take my menstrual pain (MP) meds.
After dinner on Monday evening, I took my pain meds in anticipation of my period showing up Tuesday. I wore a panty liner the next day just in case it showed up, but it didn’t. It was a no-show as well on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. It seemed like my menses was playing hide and seek.
I was more exasperated than concerned as I had this strong feeling each day that it would turn up. But alas! the sensation was incorrect because Ms. Flow didn’t appear.
Meanwhile, I had places to be and looking for a washroom at the venues to change from a panty liner to a sanitary pad would be challenging. So, I opted to wear a pad which is an absolute nuisance when I’m not menstruating.
At this point, I attributed the few days’ tardinesses to work stress. However, by Sunday, June 4, I had had it with my period delay as it was making me waste pads since I wore pads from Friday to Sunday for my outings and this sucked Big Time!
In case you’re wondering, “Well, maybe it’s late because you’re pregnant”. It couldn’t have been because I was 100% certain that the delay couldn’t be attributed to pregnancy. Why the certainty you might ask? It’s simple really, I’m not sexually active. So, pregnancy was definitely out of the picture.
By Monday morning, June 5, the sixth no-show day, I wondered if menopause, like my streaks of gray hair, was making an early call. Anyhow, since I was working from the office that day, I wore a panty-liner.
Curiously, at work that same morning, some feminine hygiene products were sitting pretty on a stool in the ladies’ washroom, courtesy of the office. It was the first time the washroom was stocked with these products.
I carried on with my day. I had a presentation to facilitate at 1:30pm and the prep for it was nerve-wracking. My colleague and I were setting up the tech at about 1:15pm. During this time, I had a strong urge to pee and I considered it prudent to do so before the hour-long meeting commenced.
So, at about 1:23pm when everything looked to be in good shape, I rushed to the closest washroom at the office to micturate and when cleaning up I saw blood! My sulky period finally chose to end its silent treatment and speak, I mean, flow. What awful timing! Who can relate?
I rushed back to the meeting room and informed my colleague of the situation and asked him to cover for me as I would have to leave to put on a pad. Because the one thing I dread is getting stained. I definitely wasn’t ready to relive my days of getting stained at the all-girls secondary school I attended.
However, I couldn’t leave the meeting because the presentation which was supposed to be in-person, was at the last minute changed to a hybrid meeting. This was at the behest of the person who was to vet the presentation as he couldn’t make it to the office.
With the change to hybrid, the tech developed issues as the persons joining virtually could see the presentation but not the persons in the meeting room. Mercifully, a wonderful lady in the room was able to resolve the issue. Talk about a lifesaver! (Thanks Beth!).
When the situation appeared to be in hand, I notified my team lead (who was in the meeting room) via Microsoft Teams that I was heading to the washroom to pad up. I quietly slipped away from the meeting room and dashed to my desk to retrieve my stash of emergency pads and hurried to the washroom to wear one.
Once the task was accomplished, I returned to my desk to gulp down my menstrual pain meds with the small quantity of mint tea I had left, before heading to the meeting room.
Fortunately, I didn’t miss much and was able to take over from my colleague. The presentation went well. What is more, I didn’t have any cramps or pain all through that day. Yay!!!
I am grateful that Ms. Flow finally showed up. 6 days late, which is a first, nevertheless, it came through! This, without question, is an excellent example of the phrase, Better Late than Never! Hopefully, my system will behave next month.
Have you had a similar experience? What was your first thought when your menses was delayed for much longer than usual? Please share in the comments.
