Period or spotting? Tmi but no pic!

Ok guys I need some help. I was supposed to start my period yes day according to Glow but I can't really tell if this is my period or spotting or what. I have been have brown spotting since late Monday night but I still haven't had any more blood that could even fill up a panty liner. I woke up with some cramping this morning so of course I was thinking it was AF about to show up so I put in a tampon ( and I use the tamppax pearl they make) and I had it in for about 9 hours and when I just took it out there's almost NOTHING in it. No more than I have been having since Monday night.