WOMEN ONLY.... Please....

SuffolkSally

Evening Primose Oil helps. So does the pill, or implant (you have to experiment to find the right one). I have much less trouble than I used to, but I found taking pain relief (ibuprofen) BEFORE the pain started very helpful - it's easier to prevent than to manage once it's really kicked in; and if you have bad cramping than Buscupan can be very helpful.

Hmmcglothl

I have endometriosis which was aggravated by my c-section last year. I feel for what you're going through. The only thing that helps me (because I want to avoid surgery at this stage in my life) is to lose weight and exercise. I feel like it decreases certain hormones circulating in my blood which relieves some of my symptoms. This is highly genetic in my family as generations upon generations have suffered with the same issues.

familyof9

My mother, my sister and my two doaughters have very painful periods and painful ovulution. With both there are cravings, pain, irritability, bloating. Periods are 7days and lots of pads needed as our 'Tom' is a serial slasher. We have gone through mattesses, pills, herbs, etc. The best has been 8oz of red wine with dinner or large lunch if you have the time to relax afterwards.Don't do birth control, it has too many side effects. You are not alone. Feel better and if you can go for a short walk because exercise also does help. :flowerforyou:

SopranogirlCa

Could be fibroids, I would check it out with your MD.

thelaurameister

I didn't have any TOM symptoms at all from the time I was 16 to 21. I thought I was weird and abnormal for it because all these girls in high school would blab on and on about how awful it was, while I was just sitting there saying "well yeah, the bleeding is a major burden, but other than that I feel 100% normal". I never WISHED for the symptoms, but it made me worried that something was wrong since I didn't have them. Well, come 22/end of being 21 years old and out of nowhere I just got sick as can be...cramps that made me feel like I was going to throw up, sore back to where I could barely move, sore boobs that hurt even when I'd just give someone a hug...I could keep going with symptoms, but I'm sure ya'll know what I mean. I've had these issues every month when Aunt Flow visits ever since. I wish I could go back lol! I also get SO grumpy. I'm not the clingy type, I like my space, but just last TOM I started bawling my eyes out and throwing a temper tantrum all because my boyfriend was going to go see his family for a few hours. He invited me to go with, and I love his family so much, but I FREAKED out. I've never had that happen before, I couldn't explain what was going on. Sure enough, 2 hours later TOM came around lol. For me, Midol is a SAVIOR. I pop two in the mornings and my symptoms are essentially gone. It even helps me with bloating. Also, green tea helps me a lot. I've never read anything saying that it is proven to help with menstrual discomfort, but it makes a big difference for me for some reason. It eases the cramps a lot and helps with bloating. Maybe it's a comfort thing, green tea is what I go for whenever I'm upset, but it's worth a shot! Maybe it will help you too!

abbielea25

Have you tried a heating pad? The heat will help to relax your uterine muscles. I get really bad cramps to where I feel like I can't move sometimes. So I'll take 4 ibuprofen and turn my heating pad on high and the cramps usually go away after about 10 minutes. You can also buy Thermacare Heat Wraps at the drug store that you can wear around during the day. I used to wear those in college and they worked pretty well.

Alex_is_Hawks

First of all... sorry for this topic, but I'm just curious. I know there are women out there, besides me, that have it rough when TOM visits. By rough, I mean almost debilitating cycles. Cramps that feel like they are ripping you apart... etc. My question is... Is there anything that any of you can do to decrease this pain? Right now, it feels as if I am almost hemorrhaging. I can barely walk. It hurts to sit. And, at the moment, I just want to cry. However... I am having to work. I don't have any extra time to ask off.

Unfortunately, my mother has told me that she also had it this rough when she was younger. As did my grandmother. My grandmother would have to be sedated. My mom would have to miss work and/ or school every time for a week at a time. I force myself to work... but, it's absolute torture. Again, is there anything to reduce the symptoms.

i have these....it feels like someone is eviscerating me with a dull spoon while someone else is opening up my spine like a zipper and splitting my back in half....VERY SLOWLY.....it IS debilitating. Last TOM my mom took me into the ER for IV pain meds because OTC's were not working....It's horrible.

You can have a uterine ablation done...that should help. I don't know if you need to be done with having kids to have that....as I am done with having kids, so I know it's an option for me. Talk to your doctor about it.

HMToomey

Have you been checked for PCOS? This is how I did feel when I was heavier but as I have lost weight it has gotten better. I, in fact, WAS hemorrhaging every three months or so month for nearly 2 1/2 weeks! Go to your doctor and talk this through!!

BetterCrazyThanLazy

grrrreeeaaaat.....I just had to be nosey and see what the topic was. (slaps self upside the head)....and Uncle TOM? I thought it was Aunt Flo

Poor girl is in pain, so for her it's the aunt and uncle and grand father and secon cousins!


Some yoga positions can help relieve the pain.
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-and-health/yoga-for-dysmenorrhea-and-pms.asp

squirmmonster

Why are you asking an internet forum instead of your OBGYN?

Go
to
the
Gynecologist.

He may have to defer you to an endocrinologist if it's really bad, because it is more than likely hormonal. But don't flip out. Just get the visits done and stop thinking that anything the internet can tell you will trump your doctor's advice. Why have you spent months or years in debilitating pain? If you've already told a doctor about this, and they aren't helping, GET A NEW DOCTOR.

mgoetsch1982

I know that it can be quite painful when TOM comes around. Mine aren't close to as bad as yours. A couple of things help. Exercise will help reduce the overall length of the TOM as well as reduce some of the discomfort. One thing I found out that helped was Yaz. It got rid of all of my cramps. fatigue and headaches! However, if it is that bad, I would recommend speaking with your doctor about it!

jonnyman41

evening primrose oil designed in tablet form for this reason (in uk we have the well woman brand) taken all month, not just when near. Puka women's tea and feminax tablets or what ever your countries equivalent is.

sarah1334

I had similar problems when I was younger. My gynecologist prescribed me a painkiller pill that I took at my TOM. It was stronger than any over the counters. It made life so much easier. When I started taking birth control, my cramps became tolerable, so I stopped taking the pain killer.

However, if you want an option that is not birth control (and doesn't come with birth control side effects), then maybe ask your doc about some stronger medication?

gingerjen7

I remember a few months ago I was posting the same sort of thing on facebook--TERRIBLE cramps and also my boobs would be KILLING me for the week leading up.

After I started paying attention to my diet and exercise, things got A LOT better. I had no PMS in July or August. The breast tenderness returned in September, but it wasn't as bad, and the cramps were minimal and bearable without any OTC pain relievers.

EvgeniZyntx

Ok, I'm a guy and I obviously have not experienced this but this is solid advice on top of what you are hearing here (contraception, fibroids, etc).

Overall, here are the current best guidelines on the subject ...

http://guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=16323

AND while this does not treat or help the primary dysmenorrhea it can be an additional relief.
Lie down on a bed or on the floor and have someone do the following:

1) place a hand on the small of the back (or the heal of a foot)
2) press with constant and slow pressure towards your feet but not down into the bed or floor as if they were trying to stretch your back down
3) slowly increase or move the pressure are to get some relief and a sort of massaging sense for the muscles in the back

This is a pressure/massage area that seems to provide some relief of the tension/pain around TOM cramps for many women. Again, it does not treat or really help on the dysmenorrhea but it does give additional relief for the tension it creates. Hope it works for you.

supriya_62

Just 5 days before your period start taking B-complex with C- vitamin tablets one per day and reduce spicy food and During the cycle 1tbs of sugar, indian ghee in 1/2 glass of luke warm water will give relief quickly .

sherim71

I'm so sorry for anyone going through this because I've been there/done that. The only thing that ever worked for me was birth control pills. If I was not on them, I hurt to an unbelievable degree. I was on Vicodin and that was not working at the end. I almost have to laugh at women who suggest "try a heating pad" because there is no way a heating pad is going to touch pain at that level. Finally had a hysterectomy at 39 because there was no "cause" for the pain - no PCOS, no endometriosis, no cysts. BEST thing I have ever done!!!!!

Make sure your gyno gives a thorough work up for any causes. Then you just have to decide how much you are willing to live with the pain vs the side effects of birth control pills or other meds. There are things that will "get you through" and there are things that will probably take it away (the pill). If you have pain for no medically discernible reason like I did, they say the uterine ablation is not meant to address pain, it is meant to address heavy flow. That's why I opted for the hysterectomy (uterine only). Good luck!!

Haley_Diane

You've gotten some great advice here! I'll add my couple of cents worth. I haven't ever experienced symptoms to the point that you have, and I'm so sorry for your pain. I used to have a lot of cramping and back pain. I did some research on it and some friends told me that there could be a link between the bleach used in commercial feminine hygiene products and excessive bleeding, cramping, etc. I decided to do some informal research on my own. I've switched away from them almost completely. I use a Diva Cup, sometimes Instead Cups. I prefer the Diva because it's reusable, so I'm not generating any trash. However, even before I switched to the Diva, I tried cloth pads.

I will say that I am honestly shocked at the difference. My TOMs are shorter, less painful and less like a bloodbath. I really didn't expect to see that kind of big difference. I switched back briefly to see if I'd get crampy again and I did. This isn't to say that I don't cramp, it's just not even bad enough to bother opening the bottle of ibuprofen.

I hope you get some answers soon. I'm sorry you're in so much pain.

Gurlyknockout

I am dealing with this as we speak. I too have Endometriosis and it causes extreme pain and bleeding at that TOM. A friend told me about peppermint tea and ground ginger for the cramps. I swear it works wonders! I just make a normal cup of tea put in my peppermint tea bag add a little sugar and cream and a few dashes of ground ginger. The ground ginger is what helps with the cramps and back ache the tea helps with the tummy.

Vini9

I had these same problems. I had cyscts on my overies. My doctor put me on the pill and they rupured. Once this happened I was alot better. Then I had my children and the same things started again, I was told/saw I had a very large cycst that could twist and be surgery. This I did not want and started to look for things naturally. A friend and her sister said that she did a detox and it made her monthly like a dream. This I had to try! It's a product by Qivana called Detoxe. You do it for 30 days, Then whenever you want to or take it everyday. It's a urine detoxe so you don't go the the bathroom all the time like other detoxe's. Let me just say WOW my tom IS a dream. (If that is possable I'd rather not have it at all) Really! I can't believe it. I also got my cycst checked and it's gone, the detoxe flushed it. My mom has fibermangia and I got her to take it and that's gone for her too! I would look into it, you can friend me to find out more ( it has other benifits too). If you don't want to do this, that's ok it just worked for everyone I mentioned. I would also get checked by your doctor and if your not happy with the awswers check another doctor. There is always something that can be done. One other thing I would note is my doctor told me to help with cramps, take calcium. I took tums for fast releif and drank milk ,as someone else mentioned in another post. Hope this helps and good luck.

AmberJo1984

I am finally feeling better. At least for now. I've had plenty of water... which surprisingly has helped. I've also had Advil and 3 bananas. Apparently, bananas have high iron, and it seemed to help me today.

Vini9

Well that is great, I hope that you feel much better all the time soon!

sgoetz76

You should talk to your doctor and get checked for uterine fibroids. They can cause a lot of pain and heavy bleeding. There are also holisitc therapies through supplements to help with this if you don't want to go the medical route.

quietasariot

I know people have suggested "exercise" but even when I was exercising 5+ days a week my period did not get any better, the pain did not get better, and I was still left with excruciating cramps every month. I get nauseated, I bleed excessively, and have to keep taking Aleve pretty much all day to get rid of the pain. Feels like I got hit down there with a bag of bricks (for lack of a better description). Worse yet, my cycle is shorter than it used to be. Right around that TOM my running times are extremely long and I can only make it to mile 2 before I have to turn around and go home (or, step off the treadmill...) because of the pain and nausea.

Personally, I'm done having kids and I would be THRILLED to have a hysterectomy if it meant I didn't have to deal with the pain and numerous tampons and pads every month. However, I only have state health insurance so until I have "real" health insurance I will suffer.

I HAVE read that fish oil/Omega-3s will help with it, but ... I took fish oil and wound up with an extremely upset stomach several days in a row, no matter if I ate or not.

All I can say is to go to the doctor. That's what I'll be doing soon, too - just can't take it for another 20 years .

myfitnessval

i used to have the same kind of debilitating cramps like you. my doctor put me on birth control that is safe to take continually so i only have 4 periods a year which totally reduces the amount of pain i'm in and actually made my scheduled periods WAY better. talk to your doc about doing something similar because you shouldnt have to lose parts of your life from the pain, trust me i know. other than that in the meantime pop some really strong ibuprofin and take a nap. feel better!

Sammibullellu

grrrreeeaaaat.....I just had to be nosey and see what the topic was. (slaps self upside the head)....and Uncle TOM? I thought it was Aunt Flo

Well at least you may sympathise NOW.......... lol

Sammibullellu

I used to use Evening Primrose oil capsules, and Fish oil capsules.. Have a browse through the Health shops.. Some things work different for other people. But I found this most helpful. My mother had to go to hospital too and suffered for years and I have daughters who suffer. WHY.........???? I wish we could just touch a button and stop TOM when we've finished having our children.

RubyRubixcube

I've heard black molasses is good I havent tried it personally though

what I have tried is HydroCal... Its a calcium magnesium complex powder you add the a glass of water each night. Tasted good and totally helped ease my cramping so I could keep working (at the time I ran a warehouse)

check out this group if your looking for advice or need to vent

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8450-totm

Angie_1991

I have no period. I get the depo shot

ktmmom189

The pill definitely can help. Also that happened to me after I went off the pill. My OB/GYN went in and scraped my uterus 3000 x's better now. I would go talk to an OB/GYN.