WOMEN ONLY.... Please....

Talk to your doctor and find a different birth control pill. There are tons on the market. My periods used to be excruciating and now they last 1-2 days (maybe) with hardly any cramping. In the meantime, take ibuprofen (my doctor said it was okay for me to take 800 mg at a time) and do what feels right for you.

Best of luck!

Midol is my best friend. I don't get TOM every month I can go 2-3 months of longer and then out of the blue TOM comes for a visit. And when he does OMG I get the worst cramps known to man. I mean I am screaming and crying and in terrible pain. Well last month they were so bad that I ended up going to Wal-Mart and getting some Midol and the last time TOM came I took 2 and they were gone. So Midol works for me. Try it I hope it gets better for you.

I have similar experiences every month. It got severe last year around this time and I found that I had a large cyst on my right ovary. I also suffer from PCOS and Endometriosis (confirmed with surgery). In January I had another surgery to remove the offending cyst along with the ovary and tube as well as endometriosis which was found almost everywhere even on my colon. I thought that would solve the problem but it hasn't.

If anything my periods are worse now. I am on the pill to control my symptoms but my cycle is anything but regular and when I have it (sometimes every two weeks) it's extremely heavy and excruciating. I've had to have narcotic pain medicine prescribed to me which I HATE taking, but sometimes I must in order to continue to work.

Things that I've found that help though are:

1. LOTS of water. I know this sounds funny since we all retain water during our TOM but it really does help me.
2. A heating pad or a sock filled with rice and microwaved for five minutes. The heat helps loosen the muscles.
3. Stretching as much as I'm able. I can't do much but it does help.

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this. I truly sympathize and I agree that you should see your doctor to ensure that there's not a bigger issue.

Best of luck to you.

Exercise helps - even just going for walk. Drinks lots of water and eat frequent healthy snacks (every 1.5 hours).

The snacks keep your sugar levels constant. You might want to try eat foods rich in iron. Obviously during TOM, women's iron lowers a lot - I've read that there is a link to cramps and the amount of iron you are losing (IE heavy TOM).

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6924804_iron-can-affect-menstrual-cycle.html

When you exercise a lot like one writer suggested - you can reduce and sometimes eliminate your cycle.

Definitely see your GP ask about more BC pills and get your iron levels checked (maybe 2 times), during TOM and after.

I had horrible problems when I was younger with TOM and went on birth control. The problems went away, but the weight gain came. After I was done having kids I got an IUD and loved it, except for the weight gain. I finally stopped all medications and had the IUD removed. The weight went away slowly and then I started eating better (fresh foods, low pre-packages stuff) and realized I felt better during TOM.

No longer was I calling out sick one day a month thinking I was getting a stomach flu. It's still a little rough emotionally during that week, but nowhere near what it was before. I no longer need to call out sick or snack on Tylenol/Advil like candy. Plus it lasts 3 days now, not the 7-10 like it was before. I feel that getting rid of all the sodium laden foods, prepackaged crap, etc and exercising worked for me. I already don't eat much red meat or cow's milk dairy. I just have to fight the cravings a little more for sweets and salt when TOM comes knocking.

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.

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:

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!

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.

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