Okay, well I've always suffered terrible period pain. I remember in year 12 I almost missed an exam because of my period pain and even last year before falling pregnant I was still have 'don't want to get out of bed' issues.

The dreaded AF arrived yesterday (this is the the fourth time now) and I feel like I am in pre-labour . I don't have the low and dull cramping as per normal it feels like everything is being twisted really tight. It's like a stabbing sensation.

In one sense it's better than my usual period cramps because I don't feel like I can't do anything, (bending over especially) which is usual, but it's so different and it really hurts; especially to breastfeed.

Is this normal?

ETA: for three days beforehand (and still now), I had really bad vertigo, nausea and dizziness (which I was hoping was m/s, but alas no luck). Is this likely to be cause by low blood pressure or possibly low haemoglobin (I am possibly still slightly anaemic) or both?