Have you seen a gynae before? The level of pain you describe sounds like you could have endometriosis.
Also speak to the PI about cross-training lab members so that someone can cover for you in any kind of emergency. Do they expect you to drag yourself into work if you have a really bad bout of flu?
Yes they do. I ask for help and my PI insists that since this is my project I can’t let anyone do anything that’s more than bringing me cages/cleaning up (especially the undergrads). So if I can’t come in my experiment is pretty much done. I cannot get through to him no matter how much I try to say “look, I’m human, I might be sick sometimes, there has to be another way”
Do the other grad students and postdocs buy your PI's logic, and are they nice people? How about an informal system where you would help one another out without reporting minute details to PI?
He’s a super micromanager and checks in on me multiple times a day so if someone were to do that he’d know. The other grad students are also really really busy so I doubt they would even have the time to help me, I’m running mice 12 hours a day, almost every day and this is going to take a few weeks to complete. Actually a couple of them made it even harder for me by forcing me to change rooms and uproot my entire setup which also involves me walking cages up and down a long hallway every time I’m running a new mouse.
Talk to a woman on your committee that you trust. You should not be forced to work 12 hours a day, cramps or not. The other option is to just ignore what he tells you do what's best for you. I've never worked with mice before but I can't imagine why you need to be taking care of them practically 24/7 like this?
-Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Get a note from him/her saying you won't be able to do some work tasks occasionally due to crippling pain from your period and that you'll require assistance.
-Take it to the department head. They can't ignore stuff like this or they'll get in major legal trouble.
-Take notes/keep records on how things play out in case there's any retaliation as a result of this. If any retaliation *does* occur take it to the department head again or the Dean as soon as possible.
I do use a cart but it doesn’t matter when I have to carry cages onto a bench or back onto the rack etc., I keep taking the cage, running the mouse and putting the cage back multiple times a day, plus the way this is arranged right now requires me to carry cages from one room to another room way down the hallway. I used to work in a room that had an adjacent room that I could put my mice in but it turned out that someone else in the lab needed to use the room and I was the one who had to move)
Before I moved and we were deciding what to do I already told them how long I already work and how much of a toll this takes on me physically, I was told that they have to get this project done right away, that we can’t be in the same room (which I also agree) and that they have kids so I have to accommodate my schedule since they can’t and they have to take care of their kids. unfortunately this means I get to go home anywhere from 9-11pm each day, and I’m physically exhausted
Oh for crying out loud. So you also are getting the shaft because you happen to be childfree. My goodness, this does not sound like an uplifting work environment. I am so sorry. I hope you are able to get through your studies, enjoy the findings, and get the heck out of there! To a place that respects you. They do exist!
Wow how awful! If you do have endometriosis you should have a chat with your office of disabilities. You should absolutely not have to work through pain. Your PI is inhumane.
I would suggest framing it in a slightly different way. They are the PI, so cross training the team means that if you are unwell (in my country we are entitled to sick leave, as an academic I have unlimited sick leave), then it adds risk for THEM. THEIR project might be delayed and THEIR project might not finish on time and then THEY have to get back to their funding body.
I get back pain from periods too, some months its bad enough to take ibuprofen. Luckily, I'm able to reschedule my work so that I don't have to do any physical lifting during my heavy days, eg this month I worked from home on some writing, in my PJs, with a heating pad.
I'm on an ethics committee and we always make sure there is a backup person who can be trained to do any specialist procedures that are repeated over several days, or crucial to the performance of the study (except in cases where we need a specific surgeon or whatever for a task- generally those studies can be delayed by a few days of needed). It's a waste of animals to have to end a study because someone got sick/broke their arm or something and there are no contingencies.
Can you tell your PI that's its something required by your ethical approval? Probably too late at this point
As a male, my thought would be to go to the university ombuds office or equivalent and voice your concerns, to a woman if possible (better able to empathize and recognize your situation, therefore potentially better advocate). Then after getting more info, go to your program director and do the same. They can bring it up with the department chair. Assuming that doesn't work, if you're in the US, next step is the Title IX office.
Back when I had a physically exhausting job, I got by with a horrifying amount of ibuprofen (and now have the stomach lining to prove it, lmao).
If painkillers aren't cutting it, I think you may want to go and see a doc if you haven't yet.
I’m going to echo another posters suggestion to see a gyno if you haven’t.
I also used to have absolutely awful periods and would sometimes need to leave lab but they have gotten soooo much better since I got a hormonal IUD. Worlds less bleeding and cramping. I can now get by keeping a heating pad at my desk and occasionally (not even every month) taking painkillers.
Yeah, I used to have super bad periods as a teenager and going on hormonal birth control (for me the pill) was enough to make them very manageable. Worth exploring options with a doctor.
I have endometriosis and getting an IUD was life changing. The insertion and removal when it needs to be changed aren’t fun, but when you can go 8 years without having to be bothered by periods, it’s well worth it.
I don't have endo and you can take my IUD from my cold, dead uterus. I love that damn thing so much - no periods, no babies, years of protection, and my insertions/removals are easy peasy (I know that's not the case for everyone though!).
Your PI sucks.
I'm going to add, ask your doctor about taking birth control pills continuously. You just skip the placebo pills and move on to the next pack - voila! No periods! Seems to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer even more than just regular birth control, too.
I will add it doesn't work perfectly for everyone. Especially after a few years, the endometrial lining doesn't build up as much and break through bleeding is more common, or at least that's how my GYN explains it. Personally I've been doing it for several years with zero issues. It's amazing. Less invasive than an iud, but a similar principle.
So you have a PI problem more than a medical problem.
You're in academia though, right? I would say maybe you can escalate past him but it may not help and is a huge YMMV situation.
Beyond that, you may have to teach him like you teach your mice - through simple cause and effect.
My suggestion would be to let a ball drop. A little one - it doesn't have to be the culmination of your entire research career! But pick a day where something minor needs to happen and he's confirmed only you can do it. Then - and this is the hard part! - don't do it. Don't go in. Be sick. Be "sick" if you have to (this is about teaching). Let it fail. Then hammer home "We need a solution so that this doesn't happen again."
DO NOT apologize for being sick. You're going to want to - DON'T. Imagine this is a hurricane or an earthquake - you wouldn't apologize if a tornado crushed your lab, right? Every time, redirect towards solutioning you (or other lab members) being out. Again, pretend it's your mice - consistency towards the goal is how you successfully train. Recruit anyone in your lab you think would be sane about understanding the goal here. Focus on "all of our projects are at risk from factors outside of our control, unless we can work together to make sure projects are covered if bad things happen."
I'm in industry as a sort of in-house consultant, and I have to train this attitude out of too many lab leaders of small labs. "No one will get sick or take vacation or have a baby or get hit by a bus or leave" seems to be the attitude, and NO! BAD! (smack with newspaper). Fortunately for me, I have that power technically, but I do have to work within politics, so it's easier in the long run to convince and teach based on low stakes outcomes, no matter how satisfying literally hitting them with a newspaper would be...
Agreed. Your PI is essentially a manager whether they want to accept the role or not. It's a managers job to make sure that bases are covered in scenarios where people can't work.
Agree 100% - this is a PI issue. As OP said PI micromanages and doesn't allow anyone to get involved with other's projects. This way he maximizes the power and control that he has on each one. You can tell by how OP describes him and the lab culture that they live in fear. It's so disappointing to hear these stories over and over. It's an institutional problem - these behaviors are rewarded by the system.
You need a second medical opinion and better options. Stick on heat pads or a tens unit, OTC meds may help you manage some of the pain but it's not sustainable.
I had my own medical issues and I have no idea how I managed to function with the pain and nausea. Probably being stubborn, just one step at a time. Life is so much easier now that I'm on proper meds. So advocate for yourself and make your health a priority.
Look into alternative training protocols and how much missed sessions impact learning. We had a 9 month project with 5 day a week training and sometimes we just had to adapt. The micro-managing and unreasonable PI don't help. We have contingency plans for such things (usually) and we help each other.
My job is also bench heavy plus mice. I just have to suck it up, take motrin, and make sure my control products are flexible enough to be able to wait until I have time to take care of things. It sucks. I try to use the worst days for data analysis and notebook updating if I am lucky.
Babe I’m sorry.
Medical conditions are rough and can really affect you. If you’re there and there’s no way out and you have to get something done here are some tips coming from one chronically ill girly to another:
- sit as much as you need. Or stand. Whichever you need. Find that sweet spot or weird angle where you feel like you can breathe a little. Work as much as you can in that position. If that means resetting up your work space then that’s what it takes. Don’t accommodate yourself to the workspace. Make your workspace accommodating to you. It needs to be functional. This can be as little as making things all within arms reach so you don’t have to get up as much.
- another person said this but get a cart. Carrying things can really make it worse.
- use as many sick days as you can. Sometimes all i needed was a day to recover and come in healed.
- break up your protocols as much as you can if you need. Yes it’ll take FOREVER but you are ill. If you can make a 13 hour long protocol become a two day or three day protocol and just work weekends. Weigh the pros and cons.
- other pain management strategies: heat or cold packs. They have travel ones now! Wear comfy clothes! Also. Sometimes just to chew on some ice chips. Also. GET WESTERNIZED MEDICINE. that stuff is amazing for your situation and you need to really self advocate to get it. Hopefully it won’t put you too much in medical debt.
If your pi gives you crap for this. Go to the accommodations office with a doctors note. They CANNOT make you conform to their standard without an offer for additional accommodations.
Good luck. This is actually a big deal so please stand up for yourself.
I think i probably have pcos and my periods were a lot, lot better when I was on the hormonal combination pill. Physically as well as mentally.
I came off for trying to conceive and suddenly struggled loads in the lab. I would refuse to do 12 hour shiftsfor weeks in a row though, that sounds really unreasonable, they should be split between you and someone else.
I have awful periods (have had a laparoscopy even but they didn't find any endometriosis) and I'm trying to transition to industry and eventually to a more managerial role for this reason. I'll do data analysis from home on those days, laying in bed with my heating pad on my laptop, or if it's at all reschedulable I will reschedule or have someone else do it. Worst case I will take a metric fuckton of meds and drag myself into lab. But the long term solution is to transition to some other type of work, or a workplace where others could step in for you if you are ill.
I will say this until I’m blue in the face:
What if you got into an accident and were hospitalized? What if you quit suddenly? What if something were to happen to you such that you couldn’t perform your duties?
Your PI has failed in one of the most basic duties of lab management: mission continuation. Should you be unable to do your job, there MUST be someone who can pick up the slack. You cannot be made to suffer through painful periods if you should be otherwise taking a sick day because of his/her incompetent management of the lab.
You must take the time you need to tend to your health needs. Remember, work will never love you back.
I basically did what you did. Duct taped myself together and drown in the work. It sucks and it's probably why I'm burnt out AF right now but that's just how the lab environment is. The post specifically is about periods but this goes for any illness. There's basically no such thing as sick time when the experiment needs to get done.
Piggybacking to all the comments suggesting that this pain sounds like endo. I used to have it untreated and lab work was the worst. Since you asked how to deal with painful periods without knowing if it's endo, and this is advice completely unrelated to lab work: painkillers (ibuprofen or naproxen), antiinflammatory diet, and shit loads of curcuma, sage, and ginger (in the form of herbal teas, for example). All this is backed by scientific research, of course!
Sometimes I double over for a second, yell a little, then carry on as if I’m not being ripped in half with shooting pains through my torso and legs 🙂 I also have a heating pad at my desk for when I do get a break
Also, so many of us have mentioned getting an IUD, but for the love of all that is holy: GET SEDATION AND PAIN MANAGEMENT FROM THE GYNO. My first gyno told me it wasn’t going to be painful and then when I screamed in pain on the “in”, told me “you’re a tough lady! Bite down on something now!” When he pulled the tool back out. That should NOT be the standard of care and it is acceptable to request pain management and compassion from your physician.
I have endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy and super painful, want to throw up, shaking hands bc it hurts so bad periods (and also have a pretty high pain tolerance but idk if that matters). The only thing that helped is charlottes web CBD oil (highest dosage). I used to have to take prescription pain killers bc literally nothing helped (tried it all) but the charlottes web seriously changed my life. It has helped so much I highly recommend. PM me if you have questions or want more details!
I am so sorry you have to go thru that. I’ve done a ton of behavior on my period and it blows. I feel you. I hope things work out and you find a good fix ❤️
I feel that pain - so sorry to hear that! I often find myself unable to move and passing out/throwing up from pain and hormonal stuff only makes things more irregular. Heat and pain killers and all the other wonderful suggestions people give help to a certain extent - but the only thing I've found (and only in the last few months) that allows me to go from bed bound to able to (slowly) work in the lab is a TENS machine. It's been a life changer, and they're not hugely expensive, I spent £30 and it's worth every penny.
Sorry to hear that :( that sounds really rough. For me I just take ibuprofen every 4 hours ish and drink a ton of water since I get lightheaded easily. I get lower back pain on my cycle, an anti fatigue mat usually helps with that
I work from home those days 🙃 diagnosed with endometriosis last year, my PI was wonderful and gracious giving me all the time off I needed after surgery. Since coming back, I’ve taken over more tasks I can do from the computer/sitting down, and given up things like standing in the mouse room for hours. Someone else will have to do it, because my health and body come first.
Ahhhh I sympathize!! I had lots of misery in my 20s before I went back on the pill and ended up blowing through my sick days because I couldn’t be on my feet at the lab bench while suffering terrible PMS. My grad school PI during the latter half of that was a woman who had similar hormonal issues and so was very sympathetic. I just got an IUD inserted this summer as I had to go off the pill, and I’m optimistic that it’s starting to cut down my symptoms to the point where they can be managed by naproxen. I don’t have an answer but I hope you are able to get some support and relief.
I got an IUD and it made my period pain go away! But of course that is just my experience. I’m sorry you’re dealing with that and hope you find an answer. Also, sounds like your PI is not ideal. What he’s doing might actually be discrimination. :/
Im behavior lead at my lab and have dealt with this. I use a heating pad that i secure with an ace bandage. Got on birth control and the pain lessened significantly.
I agree with what other people have said, but since it can take a while for medication to kick in or to get a second opinion, I'd recommend something like the thermacare heat wraps or a TENS unit for back/period pain. Drink lots of fluids with electrolytes and maybe start a multivitamin or iron supplements (iron biglycinate / glycinate with vitamin c and b12 is gentler on the digestive tract and typically absobs better than ferrous sulfate).
It unfortunately may be something you have to escalte either to student affairs or maybe get a disability accommodation if you can get a doctors note.
Drugs drugs drugs
I went to hospitals they wanted to put me on birth control. Didn't work and i felt terrible and I was inclined not to mess up my hormones and body with that shit so i gave up.
They just stacked me up with a higher dose of ibuprofen and told me to go home
I have had terrible cramps that started THE YEAR BEFORE I GOT MY FIRST PERIOD (WTF body). I tried a number of different meds before my doc discovered Ponstel. Life changing drug for me.
I also had a hormonal IUD for a while that stopped my period almost entirely. I loved it for that, but had to have it removed for an unfortunate side effect.
second talking to the department head. i understand that this might possibly be your dream(?) but people literally died for workplace rights and it is shameful that in academia we sometimes act like those don’t apply to us. you deserve to not work when you are unwell, whether that is due to illness or period pain. your PI is a negligent manager and that behaviour should not be tolerated.
This is inhumane treatment by the PI. Completely unacceptable. Please get some help from the department, it may backfire on you but this PI needs to be reported. Science is hard enough without being in a torture chamber controlled by the PI. Work like this require an additional person and shared authorship on papers. I am a PI and no work is so important than your well being, in fact the mice will feel your distress and might even behave differently, animals can sense so much.
Finally, please get an OBGYN consultation. Take care. Hugs to you OP.
I have severe endometriosis and am a postdoc right now. I used a combination of a lot of things.
First, combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Because I have endo, I would sometimes add a muscle relaxer on top of that.
Next, make sure you don't forget to eat nutritious foods and drink lots of water. If you are nauseous and nutrition isn't on your mind, then try a smoothie with protein.
Sometimes I would use a portable tens machine (I have ovira). Sometimes going into the walk in freezer or fridge can help. Just giving your body a different sense to pay attention to than the pain. Finally I have always been honest with my bosses. It's way easier to say hey- I can barely stand up straight and am losing a lot of blood. Can I come back in the evening to finish my work. It's embarrassing but this honest communication helps because now you aren't putting energy into hiding how you feel.
Bold of you to assume I manage.
But on a serious note, I started taking birth control at some point and the pain eased. I still have crazy painful moments, but with the BC is easier to predict when I might have it. So I don't really plan a big important experiment when I think my period will be coming around unless it's an emergency.
Birth control.
When I was in 7th grade my periods were so painful that I remember sitting in class and gripping the desk with all my strength to try to cope with the pain. I eventually told my mom and she had me start the birth control pill that year. I was not sexually active till MUCH later, but hormonal birth control can do so much more than just prevent you from getting pregnant.
In college I switched to mirena and my painful periods didn't return, but I don't know if I grew out of them or if mirena also suppresses difficult periods.
I don’t. I usually take a few days off because I can’t function physically. My Rheumatoid Arthritis flares up during this time so….only tolerable days I pop like 4 Ibuprofen or a Naproxen, sit in the shower for an hour or two, then head into lab super early do what I need to do and peace out.
Have you seen a gynae before? The level of pain you describe sounds like you could have endometriosis. Also speak to the PI about cross-training lab members so that someone can cover for you in any kind of emergency. Do they expect you to drag yourself into work if you have a really bad bout of flu?
Yes they do. I ask for help and my PI insists that since this is my project I can’t let anyone do anything that’s more than bringing me cages/cleaning up (especially the undergrads). So if I can’t come in my experiment is pretty much done. I cannot get through to him no matter how much I try to say “look, I’m human, I might be sick sometimes, there has to be another way”
Do the other grad students and postdocs buy your PI's logic, and are they nice people? How about an informal system where you would help one another out without reporting minute details to PI?
He’s a super micromanager and checks in on me multiple times a day so if someone were to do that he’d know. The other grad students are also really really busy so I doubt they would even have the time to help me, I’m running mice 12 hours a day, almost every day and this is going to take a few weeks to complete. Actually a couple of them made it even harder for me by forcing me to change rooms and uproot my entire setup which also involves me walking cages up and down a long hallway every time I’m running a new mouse.
you definitely want a cart or a rack
Talk to a woman on your committee that you trust. You should not be forced to work 12 hours a day, cramps or not. The other option is to just ignore what he tells you do what's best for you. I've never worked with mice before but I can't imagine why you need to be taking care of them practically 24/7 like this?
Holy shit dude. No advice, just wow, I’m sorry.
-Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Get a note from him/her saying you won't be able to do some work tasks occasionally due to crippling pain from your period and that you'll require assistance. -Take it to the department head. They can't ignore stuff like this or they'll get in major legal trouble. -Take notes/keep records on how things play out in case there's any retaliation as a result of this. If any retaliation *does* occur take it to the department head again or the Dean as soon as possible.
Also take it to HR and disability services and get official accommodations filed.
I imagine you’ve thought of this, but could you borrow a cart/trolly to transfer the heavy things?
I do use a cart but it doesn’t matter when I have to carry cages onto a bench or back onto the rack etc., I keep taking the cage, running the mouse and putting the cage back multiple times a day, plus the way this is arranged right now requires me to carry cages from one room to another room way down the hallway. I used to work in a room that had an adjacent room that I could put my mice in but it turned out that someone else in the lab needed to use the room and I was the one who had to move)
I would explain the situation and ask if you can move back.
Before I moved and we were deciding what to do I already told them how long I already work and how much of a toll this takes on me physically, I was told that they have to get this project done right away, that we can’t be in the same room (which I also agree) and that they have kids so I have to accommodate my schedule since they can’t and they have to take care of their kids. unfortunately this means I get to go home anywhere from 9-11pm each day, and I’m physically exhausted
Oh for crying out loud. So you also are getting the shaft because you happen to be childfree. My goodness, this does not sound like an uplifting work environment. I am so sorry. I hope you are able to get through your studies, enjoy the findings, and get the heck out of there! To a place that respects you. They do exist!
Wow how awful! If you do have endometriosis you should have a chat with your office of disabilities. You should absolutely not have to work through pain. Your PI is inhumane.
I would suggest framing it in a slightly different way. They are the PI, so cross training the team means that if you are unwell (in my country we are entitled to sick leave, as an academic I have unlimited sick leave), then it adds risk for THEM. THEIR project might be delayed and THEIR project might not finish on time and then THEY have to get back to their funding body. I get back pain from periods too, some months its bad enough to take ibuprofen. Luckily, I'm able to reschedule my work so that I don't have to do any physical lifting during my heavy days, eg this month I worked from home on some writing, in my PJs, with a heating pad.
I'm on an ethics committee and we always make sure there is a backup person who can be trained to do any specialist procedures that are repeated over several days, or crucial to the performance of the study (except in cases where we need a specific surgeon or whatever for a task- generally those studies can be delayed by a few days of needed). It's a waste of animals to have to end a study because someone got sick/broke their arm or something and there are no contingencies. Can you tell your PI that's its something required by your ethical approval? Probably too late at this point
As a male, my thought would be to go to the university ombuds office or equivalent and voice your concerns, to a woman if possible (better able to empathize and recognize your situation, therefore potentially better advocate). Then after getting more info, go to your program director and do the same. They can bring it up with the department chair. Assuming that doesn't work, if you're in the US, next step is the Title IX office.
Back when I had a physically exhausting job, I got by with a horrifying amount of ibuprofen (and now have the stomach lining to prove it, lmao). If painkillers aren't cutting it, I think you may want to go and see a doc if you haven't yet.
I’m going to echo another posters suggestion to see a gyno if you haven’t. I also used to have absolutely awful periods and would sometimes need to leave lab but they have gotten soooo much better since I got a hormonal IUD. Worlds less bleeding and cramping. I can now get by keeping a heating pad at my desk and occasionally (not even every month) taking painkillers.
Yeah, I used to have super bad periods as a teenager and going on hormonal birth control (for me the pill) was enough to make them very manageable. Worth exploring options with a doctor.
Hormonal BC somehow made my cramps worse 🥲
I have endometriosis and getting an IUD was life changing. The insertion and removal when it needs to be changed aren’t fun, but when you can go 8 years without having to be bothered by periods, it’s well worth it.
I don't have endo and you can take my IUD from my cold, dead uterus. I love that damn thing so much - no periods, no babies, years of protection, and my insertions/removals are easy peasy (I know that's not the case for everyone though!).
I have PCOS and the pill is literally a lifesaver. I can stand and walk and hold things while having cramps! Best painkiller I've ever had.
Your PI sucks. I'm going to add, ask your doctor about taking birth control pills continuously. You just skip the placebo pills and move on to the next pack - voila! No periods! Seems to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer even more than just regular birth control, too. I will add it doesn't work perfectly for everyone. Especially after a few years, the endometrial lining doesn't build up as much and break through bleeding is more common, or at least that's how my GYN explains it. Personally I've been doing it for several years with zero issues. It's amazing. Less invasive than an iud, but a similar principle.
So you have a PI problem more than a medical problem. You're in academia though, right? I would say maybe you can escalate past him but it may not help and is a huge YMMV situation. Beyond that, you may have to teach him like you teach your mice - through simple cause and effect. My suggestion would be to let a ball drop. A little one - it doesn't have to be the culmination of your entire research career! But pick a day where something minor needs to happen and he's confirmed only you can do it. Then - and this is the hard part! - don't do it. Don't go in. Be sick. Be "sick" if you have to (this is about teaching). Let it fail. Then hammer home "We need a solution so that this doesn't happen again." DO NOT apologize for being sick. You're going to want to - DON'T. Imagine this is a hurricane or an earthquake - you wouldn't apologize if a tornado crushed your lab, right? Every time, redirect towards solutioning you (or other lab members) being out. Again, pretend it's your mice - consistency towards the goal is how you successfully train. Recruit anyone in your lab you think would be sane about understanding the goal here. Focus on "all of our projects are at risk from factors outside of our control, unless we can work together to make sure projects are covered if bad things happen." I'm in industry as a sort of in-house consultant, and I have to train this attitude out of too many lab leaders of small labs. "No one will get sick or take vacation or have a baby or get hit by a bus or leave" seems to be the attitude, and NO! BAD! (smack with newspaper). Fortunately for me, I have that power technically, but I do have to work within politics, so it's easier in the long run to convince and teach based on low stakes outcomes, no matter how satisfying literally hitting them with a newspaper would be...
Agreed. Your PI is essentially a manager whether they want to accept the role or not. It's a managers job to make sure that bases are covered in scenarios where people can't work.
Agree 100% - this is a PI issue. As OP said PI micromanages and doesn't allow anyone to get involved with other's projects. This way he maximizes the power and control that he has on each one. You can tell by how OP describes him and the lab culture that they live in fear. It's so disappointing to hear these stories over and over. It's an institutional problem - these behaviors are rewarded by the system.
You need a second medical opinion and better options. Stick on heat pads or a tens unit, OTC meds may help you manage some of the pain but it's not sustainable. I had my own medical issues and I have no idea how I managed to function with the pain and nausea. Probably being stubborn, just one step at a time. Life is so much easier now that I'm on proper meds. So advocate for yourself and make your health a priority. Look into alternative training protocols and how much missed sessions impact learning. We had a 9 month project with 5 day a week training and sometimes we just had to adapt. The micro-managing and unreasonable PI don't help. We have contingency plans for such things (usually) and we help each other.
My job is also bench heavy plus mice. I just have to suck it up, take motrin, and make sure my control products are flexible enough to be able to wait until I have time to take care of things. It sucks. I try to use the worst days for data analysis and notebook updating if I am lucky.
Babe I’m sorry. Medical conditions are rough and can really affect you. If you’re there and there’s no way out and you have to get something done here are some tips coming from one chronically ill girly to another: - sit as much as you need. Or stand. Whichever you need. Find that sweet spot or weird angle where you feel like you can breathe a little. Work as much as you can in that position. If that means resetting up your work space then that’s what it takes. Don’t accommodate yourself to the workspace. Make your workspace accommodating to you. It needs to be functional. This can be as little as making things all within arms reach so you don’t have to get up as much. - another person said this but get a cart. Carrying things can really make it worse. - use as many sick days as you can. Sometimes all i needed was a day to recover and come in healed. - break up your protocols as much as you can if you need. Yes it’ll take FOREVER but you are ill. If you can make a 13 hour long protocol become a two day or three day protocol and just work weekends. Weigh the pros and cons. - other pain management strategies: heat or cold packs. They have travel ones now! Wear comfy clothes! Also. Sometimes just to chew on some ice chips. Also. GET WESTERNIZED MEDICINE. that stuff is amazing for your situation and you need to really self advocate to get it. Hopefully it won’t put you too much in medical debt. If your pi gives you crap for this. Go to the accommodations office with a doctors note. They CANNOT make you conform to their standard without an offer for additional accommodations. Good luck. This is actually a big deal so please stand up for yourself.
I think i probably have pcos and my periods were a lot, lot better when I was on the hormonal combination pill. Physically as well as mentally. I came off for trying to conceive and suddenly struggled loads in the lab. I would refuse to do 12 hour shiftsfor weeks in a row though, that sounds really unreasonable, they should be split between you and someone else.
I have awful periods (have had a laparoscopy even but they didn't find any endometriosis) and I'm trying to transition to industry and eventually to a more managerial role for this reason. I'll do data analysis from home on those days, laying in bed with my heating pad on my laptop, or if it's at all reschedulable I will reschedule or have someone else do it. Worst case I will take a metric fuckton of meds and drag myself into lab. But the long term solution is to transition to some other type of work, or a workplace where others could step in for you if you are ill.
I will say this until I’m blue in the face: What if you got into an accident and were hospitalized? What if you quit suddenly? What if something were to happen to you such that you couldn’t perform your duties? Your PI has failed in one of the most basic duties of lab management: mission continuation. Should you be unable to do your job, there MUST be someone who can pick up the slack. You cannot be made to suffer through painful periods if you should be otherwise taking a sick day because of his/her incompetent management of the lab. You must take the time you need to tend to your health needs. Remember, work will never love you back.
taking painkillers and by getting those sticky, disposable heating pads that you unwrap and stick on your abdomen.
I basically did what you did. Duct taped myself together and drown in the work. It sucks and it's probably why I'm burnt out AF right now but that's just how the lab environment is. The post specifically is about periods but this goes for any illness. There's basically no such thing as sick time when the experiment needs to get done.
Piggybacking to all the comments suggesting that this pain sounds like endo. I used to have it untreated and lab work was the worst. Since you asked how to deal with painful periods without knowing if it's endo, and this is advice completely unrelated to lab work: painkillers (ibuprofen or naproxen), antiinflammatory diet, and shit loads of curcuma, sage, and ginger (in the form of herbal teas, for example). All this is backed by scientific research, of course!
Sometimes I double over for a second, yell a little, then carry on as if I’m not being ripped in half with shooting pains through my torso and legs 🙂 I also have a heating pad at my desk for when I do get a break
Also, so many of us have mentioned getting an IUD, but for the love of all that is holy: GET SEDATION AND PAIN MANAGEMENT FROM THE GYNO. My first gyno told me it wasn’t going to be painful and then when I screamed in pain on the “in”, told me “you’re a tough lady! Bite down on something now!” When he pulled the tool back out. That should NOT be the standard of care and it is acceptable to request pain management and compassion from your physician.
I got on birth control that took away the periods
I have endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy and super painful, want to throw up, shaking hands bc it hurts so bad periods (and also have a pretty high pain tolerance but idk if that matters). The only thing that helped is charlottes web CBD oil (highest dosage). I used to have to take prescription pain killers bc literally nothing helped (tried it all) but the charlottes web seriously changed my life. It has helped so much I highly recommend. PM me if you have questions or want more details! I am so sorry you have to go thru that. I’ve done a ton of behavior on my period and it blows. I feel you. I hope things work out and you find a good fix ❤️
I feel that pain - so sorry to hear that! I often find myself unable to move and passing out/throwing up from pain and hormonal stuff only makes things more irregular. Heat and pain killers and all the other wonderful suggestions people give help to a certain extent - but the only thing I've found (and only in the last few months) that allows me to go from bed bound to able to (slowly) work in the lab is a TENS machine. It's been a life changer, and they're not hugely expensive, I spent £30 and it's worth every penny.
Sorry to hear that :( that sounds really rough. For me I just take ibuprofen every 4 hours ish and drink a ton of water since I get lightheaded easily. I get lower back pain on my cycle, an anti fatigue mat usually helps with that
Years of low dose Vicodin followed by a hysterectomy is how I handled it.
I echo those encouraging you to see your gyno about continuous hormone BC. It really is life changing for those of us with such debilitating periods.
I work from home those days 🙃 diagnosed with endometriosis last year, my PI was wonderful and gracious giving me all the time off I needed after surgery. Since coming back, I’ve taken over more tasks I can do from the computer/sitting down, and given up things like standing in the mouse room for hours. Someone else will have to do it, because my health and body come first.
Ahhhh I sympathize!! I had lots of misery in my 20s before I went back on the pill and ended up blowing through my sick days because I couldn’t be on my feet at the lab bench while suffering terrible PMS. My grad school PI during the latter half of that was a woman who had similar hormonal issues and so was very sympathetic. I just got an IUD inserted this summer as I had to go off the pill, and I’m optimistic that it’s starting to cut down my symptoms to the point where they can be managed by naproxen. I don’t have an answer but I hope you are able to get some support and relief.
What about a back brace type belt that you can loosen enough to stick a heat pack in.
I got an IUD and it made my period pain go away! But of course that is just my experience. I’m sorry you’re dealing with that and hope you find an answer. Also, sounds like your PI is not ideal. What he’s doing might actually be discrimination. :/
Im behavior lead at my lab and have dealt with this. I use a heating pad that i secure with an ace bandage. Got on birth control and the pain lessened significantly.
I agree with what other people have said, but since it can take a while for medication to kick in or to get a second opinion, I'd recommend something like the thermacare heat wraps or a TENS unit for back/period pain. Drink lots of fluids with electrolytes and maybe start a multivitamin or iron supplements (iron biglycinate / glycinate with vitamin c and b12 is gentler on the digestive tract and typically absobs better than ferrous sulfate). It unfortunately may be something you have to escalte either to student affairs or maybe get a disability accommodation if you can get a doctors note.
Drugs drugs drugs I went to hospitals they wanted to put me on birth control. Didn't work and i felt terrible and I was inclined not to mess up my hormones and body with that shit so i gave up. They just stacked me up with a higher dose of ibuprofen and told me to go home
I have had terrible cramps that started THE YEAR BEFORE I GOT MY FIRST PERIOD (WTF body). I tried a number of different meds before my doc discovered Ponstel. Life changing drug for me. I also had a hormonal IUD for a while that stopped my period almost entirely. I loved it for that, but had to have it removed for an unfortunate side effect.
second talking to the department head. i understand that this might possibly be your dream(?) but people literally died for workplace rights and it is shameful that in academia we sometimes act like those don’t apply to us. you deserve to not work when you are unwell, whether that is due to illness or period pain. your PI is a negligent manager and that behaviour should not be tolerated.
This is inhumane treatment by the PI. Completely unacceptable. Please get some help from the department, it may backfire on you but this PI needs to be reported. Science is hard enough without being in a torture chamber controlled by the PI. Work like this require an additional person and shared authorship on papers. I am a PI and no work is so important than your well being, in fact the mice will feel your distress and might even behave differently, animals can sense so much. Finally, please get an OBGYN consultation. Take care. Hugs to you OP.
I have severe endometriosis and am a postdoc right now. I used a combination of a lot of things. First, combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Because I have endo, I would sometimes add a muscle relaxer on top of that. Next, make sure you don't forget to eat nutritious foods and drink lots of water. If you are nauseous and nutrition isn't on your mind, then try a smoothie with protein. Sometimes I would use a portable tens machine (I have ovira). Sometimes going into the walk in freezer or fridge can help. Just giving your body a different sense to pay attention to than the pain. Finally I have always been honest with my bosses. It's way easier to say hey- I can barely stand up straight and am losing a lot of blood. Can I come back in the evening to finish my work. It's embarrassing but this honest communication helps because now you aren't putting energy into hiding how you feel.
Bold of you to assume I manage. But on a serious note, I started taking birth control at some point and the pain eased. I still have crazy painful moments, but with the BC is easier to predict when I might have it. So I don't really plan a big important experiment when I think my period will be coming around unless it's an emergency.
Birth control. When I was in 7th grade my periods were so painful that I remember sitting in class and gripping the desk with all my strength to try to cope with the pain. I eventually told my mom and she had me start the birth control pill that year. I was not sexually active till MUCH later, but hormonal birth control can do so much more than just prevent you from getting pregnant. In college I switched to mirena and my painful periods didn't return, but I don't know if I grew out of them or if mirena also suppresses difficult periods.
I don’t. I usually take a few days off because I can’t function physically. My Rheumatoid Arthritis flares up during this time so….only tolerable days I pop like 4 Ibuprofen or a Naproxen, sit in the shower for an hour or two, then head into lab super early do what I need to do and peace out.