Symptoms worse the day before and the day of starting my period...

Every month without fail my symptoms get worse the day before and the day of starting my period. This is in addition to the PMS symptoms a week prior (hormonal acne, depression, anger, anxiety, intense hunger/never satisfied no matter how much I eat). Yesterday I was having problems - diarrhea, rectal/anal swelling. Today the rectal/anal swelling seems to have gone down but I still have the diarrhea and increased urgency (which seems worse whenever I get a bad wave of cramps).

I swear I just can't catch a break with this sometimes. What I wouldn't give to feel great for more than a day or two each month.

I deal with it too. I thought I was going to end up in a full on flare my last cycle. If you're on birth control, you may be able to get your obgyn to write the script for you to take it continuously so you don't get your period as often.

May I join the club? :-D
For me it started after my last flare, when I tapered prednisone. My period has started just a few days after I took the last pill of predn and I was terrified I would go into full swing flare once again. Ugh, one really strong pain killer and I was up and running. Since then, either day before my period or the first day of it, is just an awful, always scaring experience

Strange, but I have been on contraceptive pills like forever. And this started after I took the round of prednisone (my first and olny one so far) and had had the break form pills the same time. Since then, I'm back on pills, different - yes, but the symptoms persist.... What a wonderful world

I too seem to suffer worse with a flare right before my period, sometimes a week to 2 weeks and while im on it and may die down some afterwards. :( As f us women dont have it bad enough already with periods, having babies, pms, and UC.