LADIES: How to Survive that T.O.T.M?!

NekoneMeowMixx

So it's that time, every lady's favorite time, and as I so often am right about now, I'm thoroughly convinced my body is trying to kill me...

I got off track at the gym this week due to some scheduling issues, and planned on going yesterday. Unfortunately mid-work day I was greeted with a very unfriendly surprise as the wrath of a million angry kittens brewed in my lower abdomen area. Determined to push through it, I alternated between standing and sitting at my desk throughout my 10 hour shift, hoping that the pain in my back would subside. Alas, come 6pm I was pulling into my driveway at home, and immediately found myself writhing in pain on the couch, slathering my body with muscle rub after an unsuccessful heating pad attempt...

If there's one thing I hate more than being pissy, emotional, and in ridiculous amounts of pain; it's being pissy, emotional, in ridiculous amounts of pain, and missing my gym day. I kept insisting to my boyfriend that I wanted to go, but the fact that I was doubled over, tears in my eyes, told him I wasn't ready to skip on over to Planet Fitness to try and break my 115 PR on squats that evening. I couldn't even bring myself to go walk on the treadmill.

tl;dr-- I'm miserable.

We all go through it, some worse than others. But I'm hoping that one of you wonderful, lovely ladies may have stumbled across the golden ticket of womanly pain relief-- or at least have a remedy that isn't already plastered across the internet (been there, tried that). I'm working 10 hours a day today through Sunday; plan on (hopefully) making it to the gym tonight, then my boyfriend's taking me to see Phantom of the Opera at the Wharton tomorrow (bought tickets for my birthday back in December-- not missing this!!) and then a grueling 90 minutes of hot yoga on Sunday (which will likely help-- a lot!) so unfortunately sleeping for days on end until my body decides to stop destroying itself isn't an option... :c

mariannehgv

Hmmm... chocolate, lots of chocolate.

Oh, damn, not allowed to do that anymore

Well, warm things seems to soothe the pain, so perhaps make sure you carry a thermos with relaxing tea (camomile or something) with you all the time. You can also fill a water bottle with warm water and use it as a warm compress.

Also, if your period is bad, make sure you don't have iron deficiency.

Best of luck!

NekoneMeowMixx

I do have an iron deficiency-- a fairly bad one at that, too (I get turned away 4 out of 5 times I try to donate blood because my iron is too low) and of course I just reordered my iron supplements, and forgot them at home... v.v

ShellF415

http://www.webmd.com/women/features/exercise-eases-menstrual-cramps

I have found it's hard to drag myself to the gym but once I am there, running helps the pain quite a bit.

wizzybeth

I have experienced nasty headaches on the first day or two of Auntie Flo's visit, but since I've been going to the gym and exercising on a regular basis, the only thing I've been dreading about her next visit is the water weight on the scale. :P

I'm sorry that T.O.M. puts you down for the count. My 15 year old daughter is in agony as well (as are the rest of us who have to live with her). Sucks being a woman.

bri170lb

Interesting that you mentioned iron deficiency. I have always had normal periods (I'm 52)...a little bloating, a little pain and then it was gone. But 3 years ago I started having crazy pain, crazy heavy bleeding lasting twice as long as it should, crazy mood swings and zero energy.

I went to the doctor and found 2 things. Low thyroid and low iron.

I got those things under control and lost 30 pounds without really trying. Then I felt so awesome that I started really exercising for the first time in my life. Now my periods are back to normal or even better than normal because I don't have much pain at all.

My point is maybe if you are very careful about your iron level it will help.

MommysLittleMeatball

^No brainer. It's made for this type of thing. It's a life saver for me (I also use it when I have really bad neck/back pain, I give it to my husband for back pain).

I second running (or any activity). It strangely helps. Laying around and being miserable doesn't help anything - I think it makes it worse because all you can focus on is the pain.

ActiveApril

Running helps any pain I get, too, even when my initial desire is to do NOTHING. Limiting sodium helps with water weight gain, but I've learned that trying to battle the cravings for chocolate takes up so much energy that it's not even worth it. I just make sure that the majority of my intake comes in the form of fruits, veggies and protein and 'allow' myself more chocolate than I usually do... It all ends up evening out within a week or so.