WOMEN ONLY.... Please....

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

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!

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?

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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!

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.

I have no period. I get the depo shot