Sever period pain - exercise NOT helping!

sazroy

I can hardly walk I'm on the pill but skipped my period recently (which have been told by doctors is safe to do so don't give me crap about it - it's a controversial topic and both sides have fair points but this post isn't about that) Just going to the shops last night felt impossible, tried to push through the pain but really I had to do my shop in under ten minutes just so I could get back home. Have taken two Ibuprofen and one Paracetamol.. no help. Using a heat/wheat bag, no help. I start work in 2 hours and don't know if I can last the 7 hour shift. But my main concern is.. I can hardly move and exercise and trying to push through it is not helping. I lost 1.1kgs (2.4lbs) last week and this week so far have lost nothing (no gain though) and it just brings me down not being able to exercise to keep losing the weight. Any women out there who can offer advice? I know alot of you will say that exercise will help, but every person is different and if you haven't suffered crippling period pain before than please don't judge.

lwagnitz

I get really bad period pains too. It feels like someone is crushing my ovaries. I'm actually supposed to get it checked out to make sure it's not cysts... but anyway.. I've found that heating pads work a lot. You can get little portable belt type ones at a pharmacy. They'd be in the same area as icy hot (but DONT get icy hot). Also take a potassium pill - that helps a lot too. And drinking a lot of water helps.

jeme3

Sometimes you just have to take it easy for a day or two.

This too shall pass.

But if it's unusual, you should probably let your doctor know.

NCchar130

If you're hurting that bad, I would totally skip the exercise. Missing it for a day or two isn't going to hurt a thing. Take a hot shower, use the heating pad, painkillers, etc. Like another poster said, potassium seems to help (making sure I get enough) as well as magnesium.

If commiseration would make you feel ANY better, I'm skipping my workout tonight for the exact same reason. I'm not in near as much pain as you, from how you describe it, but I am crampy, have spent two exhausting days in court on jury service (which is like watching paint dry) sitting on a bench that seems designed to crush one's tailbone, have not eaten enough or had much water during these two days, and I just want to go to bed with my heating pad! :sad:

If you stay within your allotted nutrition goals, skipping a workout or two isn't going to stop your progress I don't think. Hang in there, it will be over soon! :flowerforyou:

ChaosBomb

One thing I've found helps me with cramps, is eating lots of green veg. I saw it recommended on one of those late night health shows and thought why not... and it really did help a lot.

And my sympathy. I don't think there are many pains that are worse.

trizzell79

Are you getting enough calcium?

Maybe you have endometriosis, one of the symptoms are very painfull periods. it's actually fairly common.

Why not call in sick and take it easy if you don't think you can work.

Maybe try another type of birth control that you don't get a period. Such as depo or mirena. Or try seasonele where you go 3 months between periods.

Sorry I don't have much advice on what to do right now. I usually pop an ibuprofen and an acetaminophen.
Can you get buscopan over the counter where you are? In Canada we need a prescription, but it often helps with cramps.

lwagnitz

I used to be on seasonel or seasonique whatever it's called... I wouldn't recommend it. I know everyone is different, but it made my cramps WORSE, in addition to giving me ovulation pain. Now I have it even now that I'm not any birth control. It also made me EXTREMELY moody and gained 30+lbs when I was on it, for only 4 months.

klethal

Is this much pain something that happens normally for you? If not, you might want to get that checked out. Severe pain that's unusual might not be caused by cramps, but could be something like a cyst or even an ectopic pregnancy.

If your birth control isn't helping regulate your periods and pain, and you're unhappy with it, it might be time to try something new. Lots of women have to try several different kinds of contraception before they find something that works with their unique physiology. I was on the pill for awhile but was crap at remembering to take it. I eventually got an IUD (the Mirena) and oh man, best decision I ever made. Consider dropping in to somewhere like Planned Parenthood, or a women's clinic, to talk about your options? Many GPs don't have specific enough training to be able to thoughtfully recommend one method or another based on your info.

Birdie

The only thing that worked for me was uterine ablition, but you have to be done having kids. And you look pretty young.

Owsla135

Try putting the heating pad on your lower back rather than on your stomach, also if someone is around who can rub your lower back it might help. Hope you feel better... I really do know how it is. I used to be in a ball crying with cramps. The only other thing that helped me, which I don't recommend for you since you are on medication and have to go to work, is a few drinks.

kimosabe1

I take Excedrin migraine for serious cramps and it really helps...

Kickinkim418

I had sever pain and bleeding. My doctor suspected it was adenomyosis. THe only problem was that we couldnt tell until he actually removed my uterus. I had my uterus taken out a year ago and sure enough I had adenomyosis. I feel so much better now....I never have any of that pain!!! Please go get checked out! Its not normal if it interferes with your daily activities.

Take Care!

stellarcanicula

That was the biggest crock of shiitake mushrooms anybody ever told me! I will NEVER exercise to relieve cramps EVER again!!! It made them 30 times worse than before! Worst advice EVER!

See your doctor to prescribe a prescription med to help with the pain. God bless the pharmaceutical companies for creating muscle relaxers. (not sure if that is already the med your taking).

I usually just have to take a day to lay in bed and wallow like an injured lamb.

sazroy

Wow so many comments (I had a shower and got ready for the day straight after posting this, now to catch up!)

laybabe821 - I've had cysts in the past and had to have surgery to have one removed completely, my last two periods have been quite painful so I'm going to book an appointment to discuss it all with my doctor, I've been on the same pill since I was 16 (now 23) and never had a problem, but hormones change as you get older so maybe it's time to try something different. I'll see if my chemist has the portable heat things you're talking about, I have seen the stick on ones at the chemist before, worth a shot!

Jeme3 - Yep, thinking a doctors appointment is in order.

NCchar130 - Wow, you sound like you've had a sucky past few days. I take a multivitamin daily that has potassium and magnesium in it but this is my first period since starting that multivitamin so maybe it's not enough, I'm not sure. Well at least I can say I'm not gaining! Which is very good considering most of the times I have my period I gain weight lol thank you

ChaosBomb - Thanks, I'm not a huge fan of veggies but if I have them mixed in with say chicken stirfry I absolutely love them, sounds like stirfry for dinner this week lol

trizzell79 - Yeah definitely enough calcium, whenever I have bloodwork done my calcium levels are always above average lol, I've been tested for endometriosis in the past but that was all clear. I did have surgery 4.5 years ago to remove a cyst on my ovary so I think I'll speak to my doctor about that just incase anything else has popped back up. Would love to take a day off but I'm out of sick leave because I had bronchitis a couple months ago So can't afford to have the day off but if it really gets bad I may ask to leave.. just see how I go I suppose. Pretty certain I can get buscopan over the counter here (in Australia) will see

trizzell79 & laybabe821 - Have not heard of this seasonele thing but with the pill I'm on you can skip your period for 3 months anyway.

klethal - Yeah this pain is not normal but I've been on the same pill for 7 years now, I'm definitely going to discuss this with my doctor, maybe it's time to switch or have further investigation.

Birdie - I'm 23 and have no children but definitely want them one day so that's a no for me on that one haha

Owsla135 - Haha a few drinks would be lovely right now but I also suffer IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrom) so those few drinks will have me in a different sort of pain lol have tried the heatbag on my back but is only helping slightly. Just hoping I can stand up all day for my shift, 7 hours on checkout is not good for cramps lol but I'll just dose myself up on everything I've got and see how I go

kimosabe1 - Haven't heard of that medication, something else to discuss with my doctor when I go to discuss the pain then.

Kickinkim418 - No way I'll have my uterus removed (sorry) I'm 23 and I want children desperately. That's something I'd never consider unless my life was at risk which I don't think it is. I've been tested for all sorts of things in the past but the end result was a cyst so as I've said to previous posters I think it's time to talk to my doctor about the possibility I could have another one

sazroy

That was the biggest crock of shiitake mushrooms anybody ever told me! I will NEVER exercise to relieve cramps EVER again!!! It made them 30 times worse than before! Worst advice EVER!

See your doctor to prescribe a prescription med to help with the pain. God bless the pharmaceutical companies for creating muscle relaxers. (not sure if that is already the med your taking).

I usually just have to take a day to lay in bed and wallow like an injured lamb.

Lol!!
Nah the tablets I'm taking are just standard pain killers but I combine paracetemol and ibuprofen together because alone they don't work (safe to combine them aswell because they contain different ingredients) but this time around the two aren't working for me

jazzalea

when heat isn't working... try something cold.... I used to get severe pains till to the point where I was nauseous and had a hard time focusing mentally on anything around me .... frozen bags of peas on my back and stomach were the only things that helped..... I will tell you that exercising your abs when you are NOT on your period may help for the next go round.... gradually over time my periods have gotten better and better the stronger my abs got..... now there is nothing more than mild discomfort and even that is minor....

good luck and you have every girls sympathy for you at the moment... :flowerforyou:

sazroy

when heat isn't working... try something cold.... I used to get severe pains till to the point where I was nauseous and had a hard time focusing mentally on anything around me .... frozen bags of peas on my back and stomach were the only things that helped..... I will tell you that exercising your abs when you are NOT on your period may help for the next go round.... gradually over time my periods have gotten better and better the stronger my abs got..... now there is nothing more than mild discomfort and even that is minor....

good luck and you have every girls sympathy for you at the moment... :flowerforyou:

Have gone to the chemist and gotten Naprogesiac which is designed especially for period pain, my sister in law swears by it. Other than that i have a doctors appointment in 2 days to discuss trying a different pill, something lower in milligrams or something. Thank you all for your advice, I was meant to finish work at 7 but spoke to my manager before my shift and she allowed me to leave work at 5 when the next staff member started

borichfan

I used to have severe pain during periods, it was so bad that i would lay on a heating pad so long that i would get burns on my abdomen. I could not exercise at all at this time, it was all i could do to get up and go to work. My doctor told me about the "Her Option" procedure and i had ti done. I had it done at the womens clinic, they put me on the table like for a pap smear exam, they put this metal rod connected to a machine up in me and froze my uterus walls the procedure took about 30 minutes. The best thing i ever done. Now i have less bleeding and less pain. No more laying on heating pad, and most of the time, i don't even have to take any pain medication.

BerryH

Try period-pain specific painkillers which include an antispasmodic.

You also may want to consider changing Pills. I went from the combined Pill (Microgynon) to progestogen-only (Cerazette) as I was feeling really ill during my Pill-free weeks, as well as having a painful bleed. Now no period at all. Bliss!

BerryH

By the way, there's no reason not to run a couple of packs together and miss a bleed - in fact doctors say the only reason to have a break at all is because women like the reassurance of a regular period.

polishmehappy

I sympathize with you. I have horrific pains on my hips. legs, and ovaries during my period. My Dr had to prescribe narcotic pain pills to be used once or twice a month. Rx Ibuprofen helps a little but not for long. I cant really exercise when I hurt that bad. Not even Ablation surgery helped me. Hang in there kiddo

millyvanilli321

Don't feel too bad about missing workouts - I've just spent the last 4 days in my pjs feeling very sorry for myself having skipped the last break in my pill and my period came back with a vengeance!! exercise just wasn't on my agenda at all!

I hope I don't offend anyone saying this, I know people have different stances on these issues, but I've always found smoking a bit of cannabis can help. Relaxes the muscles and helps with PMS moods.

Either way, it'll be over soon and I think seeing the dr if this is unusual is probably best

sazroy

By the way, there's no reason not to run a couple of packs together and miss a bleed - in fact doctors say the only reason to have a break at all is because women like the reassurance of a regular period.

I agree completely, I threw in the comment about it because I've found many articles online where women are completely against the pill and using it to skips periods.

sazroy

Don't feel too bad about missing workouts - I've just spent the last 4 days in my pjs feeling very sorry for myself having skipped the last break in my pill and my period came back with a vengeance!! exercise just wasn't on my agenda at all!

I hope I don't offend anyone saying this, I know people have different stances on these issues, but I've always found smoking a bit of cannabis can help. Relaxes the muscles and helps with PMS moods.

Either way, it'll be over soon and I think seeing the dr if this is unusual is probably best

You haven't offended me but I will say that I've never ever touched the stuff and never will, I don't even know what it smells like and people have called me "sheltered" because of that.. Which annoys the hell out of me. But sorry, would never even considered touching something like that.

sazroy

I just forced myself to burn 200 calories on the stationary bike because I ate chocolate (I wanted it so badly lol cravings) which sent me over my cal limit by 166 calories so it hurt, but I persevered and did 32 minutes (slowly) to get to 200 lol. That'll satisfy me, as long as I make sure I stay under my calorie goal which I always do any other time, just harder with wanting to eat everything during this time lol but I'll be happy tonight knowing I'm still under

WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr

By the way, there's no reason not to run a couple of packs together and miss a bleed - in fact doctors say the only reason to have a break at all is because women like the reassurance of a regular period.

I agree completely, I threw in the comment about it because I've found many articles online where women are completely against the pill and using it to skips periods.

You may want to talk to your doc about continually skipping. I had severe cramps (four days and couldn't move out of the fetal position, which was probably good because if I moved it was like the flood gates opened) and was put on BCP which lightened the cramps and they cycle. Last year I started getting migraine headaches for the first 2-3 days so my OB/GYN changed my script from a tri level pill to a constant level and told me to always skip the sugar pill week and not have a cycle at all (so far about every other month I have spotting and mild headaches) her position is that I don't need the cycle unless/until I'm ready to get pregnant and because I am on a low dose anyway, it will not affect my fertility. So check it out

xjmcx

I find sometimes that a gentle walk helps... Nothing too strenuous. But mostly I'll just relax in a comfy lounge with a heat pack and cup of tea... I try to avoid painkillers for no reason other than I just don't like taking them! I don't think there's any point exercising if you're going to feel horrible after it! But that's just me

sazroy

I went to the doctors, she said the pill isn't the problem and therefore hasn't change the one I'm on, she said that skipping it could create a little extra pain but not really.. Her description of it all was basically, I'm getting older and I haven't had children so my periods will progressively get worse until I do have kids, but then she was like "I'm not telling you to rush out and have a child though" lol but she said with most women that is the case, something to do with the cervix.. but she gave me a prescription to start just before I get my next one, I only take it while I'm getting my monthly and it's to stop the production of prostagladins (spelling?) which reduces cramps etc.

kimiel51

I had sever pain and bleeding. My doctor suspected it was adenomyosis. THe only problem was that we couldnt tell until he actually removed my uterus. I had my uterus taken out a year ago and sure enough I had adenomyosis. I feel so much better now....I never have any of that pain!!! Please go get checked out! Its not normal if it interferes with your daily activities.

Take Care!

This is what I had for years. I always had excrutiating pain and didn't find out until I was around 50 that this was the cause. A lot of information a little too late. Ask your doctor about this!

tarapiglet

Read The Anti-Estrogenic Diet.

quirkytizzy

That was the biggest crock of shiitake mushrooms anybody ever told me! I will NEVER exercise to relieve cramps EVER again!!! It made them 30 times worse than before! Worst advice EVER!

See your doctor to prescribe a prescription med to help with the pain. God bless the pharmaceutical companies for creating muscle relaxers. (not sure if that is already the med your taking).

I usually just have to take a day to lay in bed and wallow like an injured lamb.

This. Walking usually leaves me gasping and doubled over. Exercise? ****. No.