Post # 1
Member
172 posts
Blushing bee
Hello lovely bees,
I have struggled with painful cramps for all of my adolescent/adult life. At one point I was put on BC to help with the pain and it was quite effective. However, I had to go back off of the BC because my doctors struggled to find one that didn’t alter my hormones/mood in a big way (think: crying at the sight of puppies). So, for the past 5 years or so, I’ve had to tackle cramps each month myself. After much experimenting, the only things I have found to consistently work are the traditional midol and heating pads. Have any of you ladies found other (non-hormonal) solutions? I would love any advice/thoughts!
Sincerly,
A Woman in Pain!!!
Post # 3
Hostess
18637 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Have you been checked for endometriosis? That might be the cause of your painful periods. I can’t be off BC, but I switched to Mirena since it is the lowest dose I could find and it really helps.
I also use heating pads and was taking Evening Primrose oil when it was worse. It is supposed to balance your hormones a bit.
Post # 4
Member
172 posts
Blushing bee
@MrsSaltWaterTaffy: My gyn believes based on family history, exams, etc. that I just have bad luck (for lack of a better explanation). The cramps last almost exactly 24 hours (the first 24 of my period) and then they vanish entirely. It’s been that way ever since I was 12 and got my period for the first time. Thanks for the tips. I should probably be more forceful with my doctors, given the fact that I am pretty miserable for an entire day each month. I guess in many ways though, I am pretty used to the pain and view it as normal.
Post # 5
Member
808 posts
Busy bee
those heating pad things that you can put in your underwear and wear around (they are disposable) help, as does a lot of advil
I’m the same way as you, I’m looking forward to menopause after 33 years of this!!
Post # 6
Member
993 posts
Busy bee
have you tried yoga? there are some specific poses that can help ease cramping, i find being active helps alot, and laying with my feet up against the wall for hours at a time lol…
orgasm helps relax things on the inside too, sorry if thats blunt
Post # 7
Member
9117 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Birth control was my only cure.
Before then, I’d take OTC pain medication (Excedrine, Aleve, Advil, Tylenol, whatever I had) and I’d drink lots of coke to get the caffeine going. Then, I’d lie in the fetal position with a heating pad. Sleep definitely helps, and I’d always wake up pain free, but the cramps would come back.
I know you said you’ve had trouble with BC in the past, but maybe it’s something to look into again. I had huge troubles with OrthoTricyclin and I am on Lo’Ovral which I ADORE. 0 moodswings, 0 cramps. 3 day periods so light I can use a liner.
Best wishes to you… I send my deepest sympathies, I had the worst periods (cramps that would make me vomit & unable to stand) and periods so heavy I’d have to stay home from school. Hopefully you find something that works for you.
Edit: Working out helps. I don’t mean hit the gym, but walking WILL help. Cramps are caused by lack of oxygen to the muscles. Walking encourages fresh bloodflow and resupplies the oxygen. It is a pain in the ass to get the encouragement to do it, I know! BUT, it will work. I used to walk on a treadmill on the absolute slowest speed.
Post # 8
Member
172 posts
Blushing bee
@dlbaqua: I love the disposable heating pads! They are probably the only reason I can even make it to work on “cramp days.” I hear you on the menopause thing! I always joke with Darling Husband that we are going to end up on TV for our number of children because I feel like once I am pregnant for the first time, I’ll want to be pregnant forever. No periods – dream come true!
@bella128: I hadn’t even heard of yoga helping, I’ll have to look into that! I’m pretty much open to anything – so long as it eases the pain!
@Hyperventilate: Thanks for all of the great ideas! I suppose I should probably look into BC again. It would certainly be worth a try. The pain is unbearable and make it hard to accomplish anything and it doesn’t help that I get totally sick from the cramps and can’t eat anything at all! At least on a bright note I know that I only have to go through 24 hours of it and then I feel amazingly better. 18 hours to go!!
Thank goodness for my saint of a Darling Husband. He is at work right now, but as soon as he’s home he’ll be rubbing my back and taking care of me – for a guy, he sure does sympathize well with the cramp thing!
Post # 9
Member
9117 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@Miss Country Chick: Back rubs are pretty amazing. If you can, I used to lie at the bottom of our shower (It was a bathtub/shower) and direct the stream directly onto my abdomen. The heat helped with the cramps, and the feeling of the individual droplets on my skin tricked my brain into concentrating on a different sensation and not the pain.
Post # 10
Member
2226 posts
Buzzing bee
I take neproxin or a robax when I get cramps and cuddle in the warmest sweats I own. They go away pretty quick after that.
Post # 11
Member
3357 posts
Sugar bee
Ginger soup, and don’t drink so many cold drinks.
Post # 12
Member
95 posts
Worker bee
Very long and hot showers. Naproxin. Heating pad or water bottle.
Oh, and chocolate!
Post # 13
Member
172 posts
Blushing bee
@Hyperventilate: I think that I may just try that! Anything for some relief!
@MrsRugbee: & @ButtercupBetty: Am I strange for not knowing what Neproxin is? Is that like midol? Or stronger?
@strawbs: Ginger soup from fresh ginger roots? I do believe I’ve heard of that before. Darling Husband loves to cook so maybe I can coax him into making me some tonight.
You ladies are all so sweet and helpful! Internet hugs to you all!
Post # 14
Member
424 posts
Helper bee
@Miss Country Chick: Naproxen is prescription-strength Aleve. It is amazing. I take it for my cramps (I have endometriosis). If you can’t get Naproxen, take Aleve instead. Midol does absolutely nothing for me. Ibuprofin also can work if you take like 600 mg.
Anyway: heating pad, hot tea (chamomile is my favorite), blanket on the tummy.
Walking around helps too if you can bring yourself to do it.
Post # 15
Member
8041 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@Miss Country Chick: I take a lot of Advil (ibuprofen)… I find that it works better than other brands and generic formulas.
Post # 16
Member
58 posts
Worker bee
@Miss Country Chick: I used to have those double-over type cramps, but I’ve found taking calcium-magnesium tablets with zinc really help. I should take them daily, but 3-4 at the beginning of my cycle knocks out cramps for the rest of the week! I hope this helps.
