Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Chit Chat
Chit Chat
New Discussion

Cramps: help me

InkdancerInkdancer member
2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
in Chit Chat
I have PCOS, and I take BC to manage it. Happy side effect: I don't have many periods.

But when I do, it is an eldritch horror. OTC painkillers don't do the trick for calming the cramps--they're like intense, long-lasting muscle spasms.

What do you guys do to stop them? I'm dying here.
Daisypath Anniversary tickers
eyeroll
Report Reply to Post

Re: Cramps: help me

  • AzAnnieAzAnnie member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Comments 100 Love Its
    I know this sounds weird but if you can take a walk. Exercise will help. My periods are terrible and both my dr and personal trainer recommended light exercise. Sorry you feel crappy!
    Report Reply
  • mrscatymrscaty member
    Fifth Anniversary 250 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    I agree that exercise helps - but for me that's only when they're more mild. 

    Invest in a good heating pad and put that sucker right on your abdomen. It's amazing and helps so much!
    image
    Report Reply
  • LabLove86LabLove86 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    I've been blessed with debilitating cramps my whole life. I've tried OTC, prescription, homeopathic - whatever you can think of.

    I personally don't like to take any medications unless I NEED to - and sometimes with my cramps I NEED to. 

    Things I've found to help:
    * staying on a regular work-out routine REALLY helps me. (I'm not on one now - so . . . my crams suck.)  
    * heating pads - abdomen and lower back - I have found that this tends to (TMI - sorry) - make my flow a lot heavier - don't' know if thats a personal thing or natural body-reaction due to the heat
    * Magnesium. I know it sounds weird - but eating magnesium rich foods a day or 2 before (or during) my period really helps to reduce the cramps - good sources of magnesium are Halibut, spinach, almonds, cashews, and cocoa (yay! - but the real cocoa. . . )

    I didn't like the prescription pain killers because of other side effects - dizziness, confusion, ect. 

    Anyway - cramps suck - I hope you find something that works for you! Good luck!!!
                                    Daisypath Wedding tickers


    image
    Report Reply
  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    exercise and 800 mg of Tylenol every 4 hours helps me.  Lots of water too.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
    Report Reply
  • InkdancerInkdancer member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    FI just brought me my big yellow cup full of water. (I mean BIG, it holds 32 oz.) I am chugging it. The heating pad is my best friend in bed. It's the part of the day when I have to get out of bed and be a responsible adult that I hate.
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers
    eyeroll
    Report Reply
  • larrygagalarrygaga member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    Probably you don't feel like it, but an orgasam is like the only thing that cures my cramps. 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
    image

    Report Reply
  • loveislouderloveislouder member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    Honestly: orgasms. I know it's probably the last thing you're thinking about right now but it helps
    Report Reply
  • theartistformerlyknownastheartistformerlyknownas member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    Sis swears by hot packs. I think she sits on them. I've heard soy milk helps as well, but I don't know personally (never had cramps, I'm really sorry please don't throw things at me).
    image
    image
    Report Reply
  • InkdancerInkdancer member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    lolo883 said:
    Sis swears by hot packs. I think she sits on them. I've heard soy milk helps as well, but I don't know personally (never had cramps, I'm really sorry please don't throw things at me).
    I won't throw things at you. Nobody needs to share my pain.
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers
    eyeroll
    Report Reply
  • tigersgirlgvtigersgirlgv member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper
    I used to have cramps in high school that were so bad I would throw up, so I have found a few things that work for me.
    -Heating pads, or those rice bags you heat up in the microwave

    -I've also found that drinking hot apple cider really helps mine, the hot liquid is like an internal heating pad :) Not sure if it works with other hot beverages. 

    -I've also found that pressure works well. If I sleep on my stomach it really helps...

    -OTC pain meds if nothing else works (or while I'm teaching, can't use a hot pad at school...)

    Cramps suck, feel better!
    Report Reply
  • Peaseblossom55Peaseblossom55 mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Heating pads and orgasms

    Anniversary

    Report Reply
  • JaniV123JaniV123 member
    Sixth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    I dont have PCOS but I have had cysts and I have horrible menstrual and ovulation pains. Only thing that works for me is Naproxen (550) or Anaprox (750) and a heating pad. Lots of ice cream and chocolate also help 


    Report Reply
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    10 Comments First Anniversary
    I've tried the laundry list of things for my cramps, heat pads, exercise, different positions, OTC meds; when they are mild Ponstel works (it's prescription) and when they're bad unfortunately it takes Flexeril and Toradol to work :/ And lots of junk food lol 
    Report Reply
  • KytchynWitcheKytchynWitche member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I also have really bad cramps. I usually spend at least one day out of the 7 puking from the pain. My last job was work-from-home, so I could work from my bed and not have to call in, but my previous jobs I have always had to miss at least one day, usually two, every month because I couldn't stand up. I often spend full days crying uncontrollably.

    My doctors have tried everything, they say they don't see any reason why my periods should be so painful. I don't have cysts or endometriosis(?) or anything abnormal going on at all. BC does nothing to help. They've tested everything they can think of, including my thyroid, and there is no reason at all for the pain. My new doctor tried to blame it on me being fat, but it's always been this way - even when I was lighter and more athletic.

    The foods I've found to be helpful: bananas, ginger ale (has the added benefit of calming an upset stomach), dark chocolate, salty foods (like chips, pretzels, crackers etc), milky tea. I also usually eat a lot of pizza, mac and cheese, and fried chicken, but that's more because they're my comfort foods than because they do anything for pain relief.

    I take OTC ibuprofen at twice the recommended dosage (with my doctor's blessing, obviously) but only for the first three days, when the pain is worst, not for the full period, and not if I still have to work. I have three of those microwavable "super bottles" that I alternate (because you can't warm them more than once in 12 hours) and I keep them on my abdomen and lower back, and sometimes on my thighs because they get very painful too.
    imageDaisypath Friendship tickers
    Report Reply
  • themuffinman16themuffinman16 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    edited June 2014
    I know this sounds terrible but naproxen early on in the day and a half of a glass of red wine, later in the day. I have been diagnosed at 17 with an aggressive form of endometriosis... she's quite the little bitch.  On top of that, I have had uterine cysts, one that ruptured, ovarian cysts, scar tissue wrapped around my intestine form the endometriosis, four d and c procedures, one resulted in perforating my uterus. And if anything works, it is naproxen early in the day and a half glass of wine later in the day.  And because of the War of 1812 going on in my uterus, putting pressure on my stomach hurts, so I don't use a heating pad.  I lay in the bathtub and turn on the shower and rest under the hot water... even taking a bath puts to much pressure on the area, Avoid fennel and rosemary.  These common ingredients cause uterine contractions leading to more painful periods.
    Report Reply
  • SmileDamnitSmileDamnit member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    My mom gave me an essential oil last summer that seems to help take some of the edge off. It's called Dragon Time (you can read about it here: http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/dragon-time-essential-oil.html). 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Report Reply
  • GuitarSlayerGuitarSlayer member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    lyndausvi said:
    exercise and 800 mg of Tylenol every 4 hours helps me.  Lots of water too.
    I think you mean Ibuprofen/Advil. That much Tylenol is an overdose.  You can safely take 800 mg of Ibuprofen (four 200 mg pills) every 4-6 hours, for a max of 3200 mg per day.  Tylenol can be taken 500 mg (one 500 mg pill) once per 4-6 hours, for a max of 2000 mg a day.  I was an office manager for a root canal office, and we would tell the patient to take the 800 mg of ibuprofen, wait 3 hours, take the Tylenol, wait 3 hours, Ibuprofen, wait 3 hours, etc.  That way, you have max pain coverage without kidney or liver toxicity. 

    I'm going through the same agonies -- I back-to-backed my pill packs 3 months in a row due to deadlines, dress fittings, and FI visit.  Now, I've not been sleeping due to cramps and have a menstrual migraine.  x_x
    Report Reply
  • emmaaaemmaaa mod
    Moderator 2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    I have awful cramps. I don't take BC for personal reasons so I have to deal with them. I take Aleve and Advil to help. Excedrin used to have one specifically for cramps but I haven't seen it in a while. It was a life saver. Heating pads. Regular exercise. My doctor had prescribed a pain killer once and it was amazing. 

    Report Reply
  • ladyamanuetladyamanuet member
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    When I do get cramps, I get them in my legs - which makes for having to get up from my desk NOOOO fun.  I have found that a space heater under my desk helps a lot.  And when I get up to go to the bathroom, I put Mineral Ice on my legs. The combo of cool and hot seems to work to keep my muscles from constantly contracting. 

    I also take Advil for Migraines because the higher strength helps all my muscles - not just my head, neck, and shoulders.
    My reaction to most everything on the internet today:
    image
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards