Cramps of Doom...

[Kaylara]

HHHHHHHHEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!

I get cramps so bad, that I can barely move... Asprin doesn't work, and the prescription of naproxen that I had ran out... (and made me so high it wasn't even funny) Any advice, please?

Kaylara

[idusty88]

Me too. I always just took myself out of commission the day or so the pain was worst. I don't take aspirin because it thins the blood and makes you bleed more. No pain killer seems to make a dent in the pain for me.
A few years back I began taking a daily tablespoon of flaxseed oil (vegetarian scource of gamma linoleic acid) and increased the amount of soy in my diet and that cut the days of pain from 3 to 1 or 2 (and reduced my heavy flow days from 7 to 5).
In the past year, I have taken to drinking a cup of 'Female Toner' herbal tea from Traditional Medicinals (yeah, I could make it from scratch - too lazy) each morning during the week before my period (and sometimes more often). Now I only have 12 to 18 hours of intense pain (and the heavy flow went down to 4 days). The tea contains: spearmint leaf, rose hip, raspberry leaf, licorice root, strawberry leaf, lemongrass leaf, lemon verbena leaf, nettle leaf, ginger rhizome, angelica root, blessed thistle herb, chamomile flower and cramp bark. Tastes good too.

According to "Women' Bodies, Women's Wisdom" by Christiane Northrup:
"A high-fat, high protein diet favors the synthesis of prostaglandin F2 alpha, the hormone associated with menstual cramps. In order to steer the body away from excess production of prostaglandin F2 alpha and into the prostagandin E series (the ones that don't produce cramps), a woman must have enough of the essential fatty acid known as gamma linoleic acid available in her system. She also requires high levels of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and magnesium. Metabolically, women who have high stress levels and a poor diet are a setup for excess production of prostagandin F2 alpha and subsequent menstrual cramps."
Her other recommendations are:
Stop dairy food
Cut down on meat and excess protein
Take a multivitamin/mineral supplement
Take essential fatty acids in the form of flaxseed, borage, black currant or evening primrose oil; 4 to 6 500 mg doses per day.
"Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil can block production of prostagalndin F2 alpha when taken just at the onset of a period, before the pain starts, or as soon after as possible. Once the endometrial lining begins to shed and prostaglandin F2 alpha gets released into the bloodstream, it is much harder to interrupt the resulting uterine spasms that cause pain."

She also says a castor oil pack on the abdomen can help alleviate cramps. I bought the cold-pressed oil and cotton flannel to make a pack, but still haven't tried it. So, no idea if it works. It says apply to the lower abdomen, at least three times per week for 1 hour each time. Do so for three months and then taper to once per week. Do not use during heavy bleeding. Fold the cotton wool or flannel 4 ply and soak with the oil, apply directly to the skin and place a layer of plastic wrap on top. Store the saturated cloth in a plastic bag or container and reuse.

By the way, I highly recommend the book. See it at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553379534/qid=993838150/sr=1-1/ref=sc_b_1/104-0501797-7881556

[Mairwen]

Go to WalMart and get you a bottle of Aleve ~ that's over the counter naproxen; I call it a "miracle drug". It's the only thing I have ever taken that dulls my backpain. It's fantastic for headaches and cramps. :D Another thing you might want to try is going somewhere that sells bulk herbs and looking for a thing called "FeminiTea" ~ and mixing it with just a bit of cramp bark (someone at the store should be able to help you with what parts to how much); I've done this before when I've been in so much pain I can't see, and it helps! :D

[Rævyn Cigány]

Actually I can totally sympathize with you sweetie...I suffer from debilitating (sp?) cramps every month. I've tried alleviating the pain with natural herb remedies, but the only thing I found that really works is a prescription I started getting about 7 or 8 years ago (after the birth of my first child, when it started to get even worse than when I was a teenager). It's called Ponstan. It is essentially a muscle relaxant, but, as susceptible as I am to drugs that cause drowsiness, this stuff never makes me sleepy!!! It gets rid of the pain without making my head feel three feet thick. It is a prescription though, so ask your doctor about it...I hope this helps if you decide to try it! It has saved me on more than one occasion!!!

BB

Rae )0(

[EasternPriest]

Ponstan is available in the US..The generic name is mefanemic acid. It is in the non-steroidal family, along with aleve, etc....

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
examine your attitudes towards your body and its reproductive functions. Meditate on any possible messages you may have grown up with about the female body function, and use affirmations regularly to begin to reverse these messages, if they had information, or messages about pain and suffering. It takes a repition of at least 21 times to begin a new habit, or thought, so if you wish to begin a new
thought message, you need torepeat it 21 times :>.
Wholistic medicine has for many years now treated the entire self,not just the physical self, and the spiritual, mental and emotional parts of pain are as important as the physical.
Ginger and raspberry tea is excellent for cramps , using fresh ingredients.
Love and light
Swannie

[Mairwen]

Heh. THanks for the advice, Swan, I'm sure Kaylara appreciates it, too. I have to chuckle, however, when someone suggests this ~ because I have been there done that, over and over and over. I've come to terms with my womb, with my sexuality, but that sure hasn't lessened my pain any. Some women just hurt more than others ~ some women just don't seem to understand that, but it's the truth. There's something in some women's genetic and hormonal makeup which causes us to have tremendous pain at this time. Not much you can do about it, but take what pain relievers you're able and go on with your life.

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
Isnt by any means the end of the journey,
It continues as long as you are alive,,,,
and perhaps there is more that can be done, than simply coming to terms. I am one of those women
that went to bed two to three days a month
with my moontime,and continue to cycle strongly even now , at the onset of cronehood.
There is always love and blessings that I can send on a daily basis to honor my physical self and the connection and reflection of the ever fertile goddess, that is reflected in the sacred bleeding and cycling of every woman, and there is celebration ; that goes beyond coming to terms.
The star fire that exists in our wombs is the stuff of legend , and well beyond coming to terms, we can honor, bless and revere it , for without this cycle of life that turns as the great wheel does, we would not be here :>
And in honoring and blessing, there is a lessening of pain, that goes beyond the molecules of hormones. We are spiritual beings here united with and infused into the physical, not to denigrate and lessen the experience of physical, as is done in other paths that exalt spirit above the physical, but to experience it,and honor it.
The myth that pain comes with being a woman is simply that.... a myth ,and there is a school of thought that what you believe you will experience. And there is much magic as well as healing that can be done .....
Love and Light and lessening of pain
Swannie

[Mairwen]

I don't want to argue with you, but I think you need to look at reality here. For some women, the pain is REAL and not a MYTH.

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
I NEVER SAID pain wasnt real, what I am saying is there are other ways to look at pain, and that acceptance of pain as a reality will result in just that.
I have been an RN for over 20 years, and I would NEVER tell anyone their pain wasnt real.
Even totally psychogenic (totally originating in the mind ) pain is REAL and felt by the person.
The myth is that women MUST suffer pain, because of hormones ,cycles etc. I wouldnt even trust a doctor who told me that,and doctors have been telling women that pain is part of the package for a LONG time, and it has become an accepted part of our reality .
This may be a different approach and train of thought than that to which you are accustomed.
I strongly sugggest reading some books like "THE MIND BODY CONNECTION" ( cant think of the author right now, or anything by Louise Hay, especially YOU CAN HEAL YOUR BODY. Or even
The MAGICAL CHILD, by Joseph Chilton Pearce, who also wrote the CRACK IN THE COSMIC EGG.
Love and light
Swannie

[Kaylara]

Unfortunately, my cramps do stem from genetics on both sides. My aunts used to get put in the hospital because of the pain that they went through. (Atavan stopped this, but I can't take it because it makes me high) I also cannot have anything with Ginger in it as I am allergic to it.

I only get these cramps on my first, and sometimes second day of my period, but they make it so bad that I can barely walk or move. I know that I don't have to have cramps to have my period, as I started getting them when I was 15, but no amount of affirmations to myself, no energy exercises, nothing changes the cramps. I was on the birth control pill Ortho-Tricylcline for a while, and it got rid of the cramps, but I was bleeding for a week or a week and a half, getting one or two days with out my period, and then bleeding again for another week +. So I decided that I couldn't handle that. (And those pills made me into a manic depressive for a while... It was scary... PMS 24-7...)

So, now I am trying good ole' fashioned heating pad, raspberry, and lots of asprin, although I may try some of the pain killers that you've mentioned...

Thank you for all of your help!

Kaylara

[Amethyst Rose]

Originally posted by Kaylara
I was on the birth control pill Ortho-Tricylcline for a while, and it got rid of the cramps, but I was bleeding for a week or a week and a half, getting one or two days with out my period, and then bleeding again for another week +. So I decided that I couldn't handle that. (And those pills made me into a manic depressive for a while... It was scary... PMS 24-7...)


Speaking from experience.....

I used to have really bad cramps.... I remember taking 6 tylenol at one time and just laying down in a ball rocking back and forth until the tylenol (mini overdose) kicked in and put me to sleep.

I started on a birth control called Triquilar (sp?) and that stopped my cramps. But like you, it made bleading a problem and made me extremly moody... I cried over everything.

So I switched to the birth control that has the lowest dose of hormones. It's called Alesse. My cramps are gone, I only bleed for 3 days and I'm no longer moody.

The problem with other birth controls is the hormones are so high that your body reacts by making you moody and such. Alesse, however, has the lowest amount of hormoes possible while still working.... and it made my life 110% better.

You might want to give it a try....

[Mairwen]

I think anybody who can take any form/dose/etc of chemical birth control is extremely lucky. There are a number of us who can't.

[Yvonne Belisle]

Vicodine is my friend. 1 day per month I need it. I don't always take it because I do have the option of staying in bed and hoping for a quick merciful death to the pain. Naproxen no longer works for me I have been using it for my back for a few years. They can't increase the dose anymore. I'm in trouble though the vicodine now takes 2 pills then another 2 pills 4 hours later to do any good. Pluss I hate pills so I don't take it as often as I'm supossed to. I take it when I can't take it anymore usually when my back knees and hips have been on fire for 3 or 4 days or if my cramps hit after a day of the other pain. Thankfully my cramps only last a day at that intensity. A bottle of 60 vicodine usually lasts me about 15 months, but sometimes closer to 10. The natural remedies just aren't strong enough and I'm allergic to pot so no sneaking that one either.:) It could be worse. There are people in much worse shape than me and I like to think about them when I hurt then it doesn't seem to be so bad.

[Myst]

I haven't had cramps since I started taking Ortho TriCyclen.

Otherwise, as per my loving mother's suggestion, I would drink peppermint tea, and lay down with a warm water bottle on my belly.

I've also attempted mentally blocking the pain but it seems inefficient - I have to concentrate very hard and as soon as I lose concentration I'm knackered again.

[Kaylara]

I didn't have cramps on Ortho, but I bled very very irregularly, and very often.

Kaylara

[Lilu]

Heating pads are wonderful!!! I love them and they seem to help with my cramps, if I can get to them in time *grin* I also tried the raspberry tea which was recommended to me once, but I can't stand the taste, it's ICKY! hehe I switched to green tea, and that seems soothing.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) that caffeine can effect cramps and make them worse, it's recommended that you abstain from caffeine three days before your period and all during to lessen pain, this seems to work a little for me, but I also get caffiene headaches then! ha! I love my pepsi *grin* I just try and cut down during my period. :)

My cramps tend to be a little weird, at least compared to people I've spoken with. Mine tend to come and go, they aren't a continual pain throughout, though I've had a few "hour-long sessions" in the past. Now days, I tend get them for about 2 mins with stabbing pain that's incapacitating and then they subside, come back again in ten minutes...then go away... come back in half an hour... go away... come back in 15 mins ... so on and so forth. it's annoying, but for the time in between sessions I can do something **L**

I've found that MIDOL helps with my cramps, I just have to remember to take it! Because I can go for a while without getting these stabbing pains I usually find myself out doing stuff without it on hand. But when I do take it, it seems to lessen the symptoms - it's also good for bloating and backache!

Lilu

[Spirahl]

I find that I my cramps are not as severe if I address the bloat. I don't know if you have this associated with it or not. Low salt diet and lots of water help. When I feel that I am starting to bloat I drink PMS TEA made by "Traditional Medicinals". It's active ingredients are: dandelion root, chicory root, uva ursi leaf, and cornsilk. I've heard muscle relaxers help, though I've not tried this it sounds like they may work...

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Lilu
I read somewhere (can't remember where) that caffeine can effect cramps and make them worse,

I'd always dismissed the caffeine-pain connection until this Spring. I did an experiment, and as an end result have managed to cut back to 2 cups of coffee per day ~ and if I start feeling sluggish around 6 or 7pm, then I make a cup of tea. My body, as a whole, doesn't hurt near as much. This didn't affect my monthly cramps, though. :mad:


I tend get them for about 2 mins with stabbing pain that's incapacitating and then they subside, come back again in ten minutes

That is strange. I had an OB-GYN tell me that my pain was caused because my cramps were severe enough to be akin to being in mild labor. And yes, as I've gotten closer to menopause, they've gotten worse. *sigh*


I've found that MIDOL helps with my cramps,

You know, I envy anyone who can take ibuprophen. I'm in the 1% of the 1% of the folks it causes their bronchial tubes to constrict. Found that out the hard way! :(

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Spirahl
Low salt diet and lots of water help.

Not me. I've been on a low-salt diet since the age of five. LOL!

[Aurora]

I know how bad cramps can be once a month. So I finally learned that if I do exercising the week befor and during I tend not to have them as a bad. It makes the workable. My exercises usually focus on sit up, crunches, leg lifts, etc... But there are the days where a tylenol goes a long ways.

[Lilu]

Originally posted by Mairwen


That is strange. I had an OB-GYN tell me that my pain was caused because my cramps were severe enough to be akin to being in mild labor. And yes, as I've gotten closer to menopause, they've gotten worse. *sigh*


**L** I often tell my husband "I'm in labour!" hehe It is certainly what I imagine it to be like!!! I figure if I can live through the cramps I can probably live through giving birth ;) Of course I'm probably deluding myself, but I can live in hope. LOL





You know, I envy anyone who can take ibuprophen. I'm in the 1% of the 1% of the folks it causes their bronchial tubes to constrict. Found that out the hard way! :(

Eeew! That sucks!!! I've never heard of people reacting to it that way.

Lilu

[Lilu]

Originally posted by Aurora
I know how bad cramps can be once a month. So I finally learned that if I do exercising the week befor and during I tend not to have them as a bad. It makes the workable. My exercises usually focus on sit up, crunches, leg lifts, etc... But there are the days where a tylenol goes a long ways.

Hi! Yes I've found walking helps with my cramps, a little light exercise. Swimming is also good (for me anyway), but not in deep areas ... don't want to cramp up and drown!!!

Lilu

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Lilu
I figure if I can live through the cramps I can probably live through giving birth ;)

Well, let me tell you, as someone who's been there twice ~ and this is just IME, of course ~ my cramps got increasingly worse after each child. BAH!


Eeew! That sucks!!! I've never heard of people reacting to it that way.

As you can tell by the numbers, it's very rare. We'd found out because I'd majorly sprained my ankle, and of course the ER dr gave me a script for Ibuprophen. I was sitting at the dining table later when we got home and started feeling very tired ~ and my mom rushed me back to ER; my lips were blue by then. :( It was scary! :bad:

[idusty88]

Originally posted by Lilu
I read somewhere (can't remember where) that caffeine can effect cramps and make them worse, it's recommended that you abstain from caffeine three days before your period and all during to lessen pain...I've found that MIDOL helps with my cramps.
If I'm not mistaken, Midol contains caffeine. The caffeine serves to reduce bloat and swelling (it's a mild diuretic and anti-inflammatory), and because it constricts blood vessels, it can reduce blood loss slightly.
Within medicine there are various schools of thought as to the causes for cramps (little actual research has been done, it is all mainly supposition). A couple decades back, the ascendent theory was that cramps resulted from the seperation of the lining from the uterus walls (many doctors extrapolated this to mean that cramps were psychological in origin, since there are no nerves inside the uterine walls to detect pain). The idea that caffeine exacerbated the pain grew from this, since slowed bleeding would result in slower tearing. More recent medical thinking embraces the idea that there may be several causes for cramps: muscle contractions of the uterus, intermittant cervical dilation...

[Mairwen]

Sounds really dumb to me. The uterus contracts in order to expell whatever is contained inside ~ it's a muscle for crying out loud. Doesn't it follow that that is the reason we'd have pain? DUH.

They try to say the cervix and vagina don't have nerves in them either ~ what a load of ... horsepucky!

[Yvonne Belisle]

Here here!!! Clapping happily.

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
Seems to me to be an oxymoron , like military inteligence , LOL. Having been a nurse for so many years, I can say that sometimes indeed medical thinking can even be dangerous. There are several schools of thought on the origin of pain with cramps.
The "psychological approach" vis a vis "its ALL in your mind" can be a dangerous route, because many times women who have extreme cramping and pain have other conditions contributing to the pain; such as fibroids; endometriosis, or even a retroverted uterus ( I have one and my cramps were terrible, but was able to have children without problem ), or other conditions many too numerous to mention. The word hysterics comes from the greek word, hystera, for womb,and hysterikos meaing "of the womb",and even in an archaic sense "mother " in english, was once a standard term for the womb. Women have been denigrated for having symptoms relating to their productive systems for many centuries now. Hysteria was considered to be a disease, brought on from the womb, or fits of the womb.
The paradox now is,that having suffered
so many years of lack of investigation and real research , we have little of the real mothering nurturing Menstrual Hut wisdom and care being passed on to us, and we are once again discovering how to care for our bodies, and we still have the very real negative paradigm that exists in our current society .It is getting better, but the "shame and blame attached to bleeding and not dying has really not come full circle back to the celebration of life that it truly is.
The difficulty with pain is that it truly is subjective, and cant always be objectively dealt with, even when the source can be identified.
The uterus is a muscular organ, but with a
very specialised function, and also is attached via uterosacral ligaments, and there are the fallopian tubes and ovaries as well. Some women experience sharp pains when they ovulate. If there is generalised swelling, along with cramping, pain can vary along with the intensity of the cramps.
But we DO attach a greater significance to this pain, other wise we would be talking about "muscle cramps " in your legs from bicycling or some other activity ,with out the emotional weight , and psychological importance and extra consideration we give to the cramps that accompany our periods. And even this is not a BAD thing , in that our bodies tell us what we need to hear. It is not unheard of that women with sexual abuse issues manifest increased pain,and with resolution of these issues , the experience of pain decreases.But to take ONE approach either all psychological, or ALL medical, I think, is limiting our options.
Also the medical "one size[pill] fits all" model is totally inappropriate in this context as well.
So working out a solution comes down to a very individual thing,and the combination of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual solutions will vary :>, according to each womans very real and individual needs.
Love and light
Swannie

[Kaylara]

Well, personally I am a salt addict. My doctor told me to eat more as it can help speed up the heart rate, and as he put it I "have the heart rate of a seven year old." I know that it contributes to bloating, but oh, well... I get very sluggish when I don't have enough salt in my diet. So, for now I will search for a willow tree to chew on during my period. (LMAO)

Kaylara

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
Heart rates of children are higher than that of adults......infants range from 120 to 140,
and then as we age it slows down....
I never heard of a doctor telling someone to eat salt to speed up the heart. Iknow what itis to be addicted to salt tho, I was when I was very much younger, but then I was very thin too so I wonder now what my body was trying to tell me :>??:confused:

[Kaylara]

I am very thin... About 20 Lbs. under weight. I have the same heart rate now, as I did when I was 7. (I had a very slow heart rate then.) The doctor told me that I should eat more salt because salt speeds up the heart, and my pressure was dangerously low...

Kaylara

[Swanspirit]

Lo blood pressure too ,
the docs would take my pressure and ask me if I was shocky LOL
Goddess I tried so hard to gain weight ,
and a slow heart rate is unusualwas there a reason ??PM me if its too private
Love and HUGS
Swannie

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
no on has mentioned sexual"exercise" ...........and having orgasms
is wonderful for crasmps, is a piece of the knowledge that women handed down to each other in the "menstrual hut"and has been lost to women that dont have access to nurturing open women that pass this on.
CAN you imagine your gynecologist prescribing a loving evening with your husband for menstrual cramps??
My boyfriend used to massage my abdomen and back in a non sexual and or sexual context and it was wonderful for cramps.
:>
Love and HUGS
Swannie

[Kaylara]

No... It's not too private... I have a Genetic health problem (I believe since I have the same symptoms as every other woman in my family) I believe that I am anemic.

Kaylara

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Swanspirit
no on has mentioned sexual"exercise" ...........and having orgasms is wonderful for crasmps

Maybe for some people. Not me. Sex during my time causes me to hurt even more.

[Yvonne Belisle]

My husband would be risking life and limb to attempt sex when my cramps are that bad. There is no way to make me in the mood while there is that much pain occuring in my body and if he were to attemp that without me being ready willing and able I would personally see to it he was incapable of ever attempting to try that again.

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
There is no way to make me in the mood while there is that much pain occuring in my body

That's what I'm saying. Come near me with that look in your eyes, and you're likely to get something broken. 8O

Just thinking about sex during that time makes me feel like I'm going to puke

[Swanspirit]

tooo bad......
not even a nice back or belly rub with no hidden agenda?? My last boyfriend was great at a belly rub :> hehehe.........and heloved to brush my hair too..... any soothing touch is comforting, but then different strokes for different folks
:>


Love and a healing massage

Swannie

[Mairwen]

Not even. If someone touches me and I get jostled wrong, or touched too "hard", it goes all through me. *puke!* :(

[Swanspirit]

My breasts used to hurt sooooo bad........
that if anyone even brushed against me it made me cry....... and looking back I can see the hurt and puzzled look on my mates face after doing something ordinarily welcome:> and having me scream and turn my face to the wall in tears,
I would say poor guy, but I was the one in blinding pain.
Love and Healing
Swannie
This is a beautiful work by Josephine WALL

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
My husband would be risking life and limb to attempt sex when my cramps are that bad. There is no way to make me in the mood while there is that much pain occuring in my body and if he were to attemp that without me being ready willing and able I would personally see to it he was incapable of ever attempting to try that again.

Thta isn't the only time he risks life and limb...lol *wink*

[EasternPriest]

My second wife was a bit younger than me...(shut up C_A..lol)...and she had increasingly painful cramps...In her case, from the symptoms, it seemed to be early endometriosis...but I could never get her to get it checked....

[Mairwen]

Glad to see your font in here EP!! {{hug!}} <~~~ gently of course!

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Mairwen
Glad to see your font in here EP!! {{hug!}} <~~~ gently of course!

Thank you sweet lady:)
*gentle hugz returned.....*

[idusty88]

Originally posted by Swanspirit
no on has mentioned sexual"exercise" ...and having orgasms is wonderful for crasmps...
Not during the cramping and bleeding (makes it worse for me too), but during the week before it does help. It definitely reduces the irritability and the later pain.

[Wyrdsister]

I am soooo happy I came upon this thread today! Very timely for me. Also, I am always glad to hear women (and the occational man!) talking about their experiences of their moon times, good or bad. We as women talk about this so rarely and it is so easy to think "I'm the only one" when it comes to our pain, difficulty, bleeding patterns, etc. It is very healthy for us to turn to each other and learn more about ourselves and our fellow sisters. :) :)

Note: this might be a long post as I have a lot to say on this subject! I'll do my best to be brief. :)

First: My experiences with my cycle.
I started my period at a typical age - 2 months before my 13th birthday. My periods were always quite regular even when a teenager (lucky me!). The first few years I didn't have any out of the ordinary problems with pain, just the typical cramps and occational bloating.

Then after a couple of years the pain of my cramps started to increase, and after about 6 -7 months of this increase I found myself at school vomitting and passing out from the pain. I had called my mom earlier in the morning to come and pick me up. I was unable to walk to meet her so I had to ask someone in the bathroom to go meet her for me so she could come and pick me up off the floor! 8O

Going to the doctor yielded the usual suggestions: anti-inflamatory drugs and the birth control pill. Seeing as I was rather hung up about being on the pill while not sexually active, I opted for the other drugs. Using them for awhile did help (e.g. Anaprox, Naproxen, Ponstan), but after awhile they lost their effectiveness.

So in late high school I gave in and decided to go on the pill. Now, it was a miracle for me!! There were no cramps at all and my bleeding only lasted 2-3 days instead of a full 7!! Wow, I thought, I've found the "cure"!!!

After 3 or so years of being on the pill, I decided to try going off of it to see if my periods had improved on their own. (all under doctor's supervision, btw.) Unfortunately, the pain gradually returned, and 6 months later I found myself in the hospital after much passing out, vomitting and having a seizure due to the pain. When the ER doc asked me "hey, about going back on the pill?" I said, "hey, that's NOOOOO problem!!" :p

Unfortunately for me, the pill helps to aggravate something else I suffer from: depression. While I have tried several different kinds of birth control pills with varying levels of synthetic progesterone, I have been unable to find one that both controls my pain and does not trigger a debilitating depression.

So, after a particularly serious period of depression, I am now off the pill again and trying to find other ways of dealing with my pain. I have only had two "natural" periods yet, and I know that they pain will be getting worse very soon. My plan right now is: go to a gynocologist and work with them to see if I have any other conditions that have not yet been discovered; change my diet to cut out chemical nasties and include more organic foods; work with a naturopathic doctor (and my GP) to see if herbal suppliments and vitamins can and should be added to my diet; and try to find an effective form of birth control now that I don't have the pill to help me! :eek: :bigredgri

Second: Things that may help with cramps.
Here are a few things that I've collected from different women and personal experience. Not everything will work for everyone, and usually things work best in combination with other things. Also, I fully realize that none of these things will work for some women, or even doing the opposite is probably beneficial!


herbal suppliments or teas: e.g. red raspberry leaves, ginger, Don Quai, chamomille
anti-inflamatories: Anaprox, Ponstan, Aleve
regular exercise: doesn't just help your cycle, helps you overall :)
having a child: (okay, women have told me this, I have not yet had one. Also, doctors tell me this all the time, whether or not I tell them I'm not currently not interested in procreating!! grrr)
menopause: not necessarily the process, but once you have no more periods... ;) I started wishing for menopause at 14...
really good sex: I can actually say this seems to work for me! ;) On the first day of my period (just before the bleeding and severe pain began) my significant other and I had a wonderful time :D :bigredgri :sunny:, and I have never felt better! Of course, this will require many more months of intensive testing to be sure. Note: intercourse is not mandatory ;)
fasting: a former professor of mine has a lot of trouble with her periods, and the only thing that she has found that is effective for her is to not eat solid foods for the first 3 days of her cycle. She only drinks clear liquids (e.g. water, cranberry juice) i.e. beverages like mild and orange juice are out because you can't see through them :). On the third day she occationally has 3-4 soda crackers, but that's it. No food for that period of time.


This list is really a summary of everyone else's points in this thread. I'm really interested if anyone has anything else to add to this!

Keep up the talking! The more we learn the better off we are.

Blessed Be, all!

Wyrdsister

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Wyrdsister
having a child: (okay, women have told me this, I have not yet had one. Also, doctors tell me this all the time, whether or not I tell them I'm not currently not interested in procreating!! grrr).

Having a child? That's the first I've ever heard that! I'm a mother of two, and every mother I've ever talked to said children increased her pain. Go figure.



menopause: not necessarily the process, but once you have no more periods... ;) I started wishing for menopause at 14....

Friend of mine had a hysterectomy back in March. She still has cramps. I hate it for her. :(

[Wyrdsister]

Originally posted by Mairwen
Having a child? That's the first I've ever heard that! I'm a mother of two, and every mother I've ever talked to said children increased her pain. Go figure.
Really? I certainly don't doubt that childbirth can increase pain for women. But I'm not kidding you when I say every doctor I have ever seen about my periods has mentioned getting pregnant and giving birth "has been shown" to help with severe menstral pain. They've been telling me this since I was 13!! (not recommending it to me since then, but telling me ;)) It made me think they were just telling me "there there, dear, just go on and be a proper woman and everything will be fine." When I started considering not having children I wondered if the medical profession would just give up on me.


Originally posted by Mairwen
Friend of mine had a hysterectomy back in March. She still has cramps. I hate it for her. :(
Oh, that is just SO cruel!! :mad: Did they feel like regular menstral cramps, or might there be something else going wrong? Is she under any sort of treatment post-hysterectomy (e.g. hormones, different diet, different types of exercise (including spiritual), etc.)? Wow, I really feel for her, Mairwen. :(

Wyrdsister

[Yvonne Belisle]

I was on the shots for a while. I had 4 months of no period (heaven) then 2 months of non stop bleeding with a few days light trickles. I know that by the time I was done with the 2 months I was nearly incoherent could not stir myself out of bed except to bathe and use the bathroom. I even ate in bed and my ex was terrified but not to the point to take me to the hospital and I didn't have the energy or disire for anything including going to the hospital. It took me quite sometime to recover from it and I have been forbidden by the doctor to try that again. I don't know if it would be an option for others though I have been told that many women don't get a period on it at all.

[Lavender]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Wyrdsister
having a child: (okay, women have told me this, I have not yet had one. Also, doctors tell me this all the time, whether or not I tell them I'm not currently not interested in procreating!! grrr).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Mairwen


Having a child? That's the first I've ever heard that! I'm a mother of two, and every mother I've ever talked to said children increased her pain. Go figure.

I used to get really severe cramps. I have passed out in stores & at school. When I went on birth control pills, the pain reduced to the first day only. But after I had my son, all the pain went away...it has never returned in the 11 plus years now. I know I'm one of the more fortunate ones. Now, it doesn't bother me at all.

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Wyrdsister
It made me think they were just telling me "there there, dear, just go on and be a proper woman and everything will be fine."

That's exactly what it sounds like to me.


Oh, that is just SO cruel!! :mad: Did they feel like regular menstral cramps, or might there be something else going wrong?

It's nothing wrong. Her system just hasn't figured out that it's not supposed to do that anymore. "Phantom pain" her surgeon says.


Is she under any sort of treatment post-hysterectomy (e.g. hormones, different diet, different types of exercise (including spiritual), etc.)? Wow, I really feel for her, Mairwen. :(

Nope, no hormones. She doesn't want to go there. Don't blame her for that! :D One thing really cool that she did before the surgery, she had three months, so it was perfect! She did these really neat "letting go" rituals and "welcoming the Crone" rituals. It was beautiful just to hear her talk about them. She's big into the tribal Goddess dancing (spiritual belly dance), and while her body isn't cooperative much yet, she's moving back into that and that's made a big difference in how she does feel.

Tahkns for your concern

[EasternPriest]

Originally posted by Kaylara
I am very thin... About 20 Lbs. under weight. I have the same heart rate now, as I did when I was 7. (I had a very slow heart rate then.) The doctor told me that I should eat more salt because salt speeds up the heart, and my pressure was dangerously low...

Kaylara

Actually, salt only helps if you are "salt sensitive" Not everyone is.

[idusty88]

I had almost no cramping before having children, but cramps became much worse after pregnancy.

I started having a cycle at sixteen; probably due to malnutrition. I was 5 1/2 ft tall and less than 100 lbs. The first few were normal then became progressively worse - flow wise, no cramps. I was lucky if I stopped bleeding for as much as a week from time to time and the flow was heavy. The doctor recommended the pill. It worked and I took it for eleven years before stopping to have children. I took one of the very strongest pills available. Several times the doctor tried to ease me down to a lower dose, but I always had to go back to the stronger pill to prevent breakthrough bleeding. I loved it. I only bled 3 to 4 days and lightly, plus I didn't get dizzy when I moved my head or pass out when I stood quickly, also I had a better appetite and gained weight, plus my blood pressure went up to a more normal range (it had been so low before that the nurses always joked that I was actually dead or a zombie). I didn't smoke so I had no qualms about taking the pill.
Once I was in my thirties, I didn't want to take the pill anymore, so I had my tubes tied after my second child. For four years while I was either pregnant or breast feeding I had not had a cycle and had forgotten how bad it could be. Silly me. A couple years later the doctor put me back on the pill, but gave me a weaker pill. I had a host of problems with it, breakthrough bleeding, severe headaches... He wouldn't give me a stronger pill because of my age, so I just gave up on it. Now I just cope as I can and look forward to my fifties, when hopefully I can put the headache of cycles behind me.

[BrigitCayenne]

catnip tea

[Laiste]

Originally posted by Mairwen
I think anybody who can take any form/dose/etc of chemical birth control is extremely lucky. There are a number of us who can't.

I know that feeling! I can't take any type of birth control and my period is a mess. My current cycle is so messed up I'm 9 days late and there is no sign of it coming and feel like CRAP! I'm so sick and I don't want to get out of bed. I'm tired and have been napping on and off for the past two weeks. I am not a nap person. The really frustrating thing is when my period does come it never really comes and I have spotting for 8 to 12 days. Then it starts all over again. I'm also trying to concieve and when my period is late it gets my hopes up and then back down again. Oh well!

Blessed Be,

Laiste

[Yvonne Belisle]

BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OWIE!!!!!!!!!

[Yvonne Belisle]

I'll just give this a little nudge......badda bing badda boom and back to the top it goes!

[Nyx]

well, everyone already said everything I have to say but...
naproxen works the best for me. My cramps used to be some bad, I nearly passed out a few times. It literally felt like my insides were about ready to explode. (graphic but true)
I take the pill now, and that has worked wonders. Now I only get cramps when stressed, and even then, they aren't bad.
If you can't take the pill, naproxen is the next best choice, in my opinion. And since you have taken it before with success, I suggest you stick with it. You can buy it over the counter, as Aleve, or naproxen sodium. (which is a bit cheaper)
Someone also mentioned heat pads, which also work really well.

I hope you find a way to get rid of the pain!


~~Nyx~~

[Branwen]

I started to go a chiroprator about a year ago for migranies (one of my neck vertebea was in my scull at an angel) as a side efect for the treatment (which also included work on my lower back) my cramps left me. I go to the chripractor once a month and don't have very strong cramps anymore.

[Lavender]

*Bump for GreenDawn*

[kblackthorne]

In the course of taking martial arts, I learned some stuff that can help with cramps, but you need another willing body.

Lie flat on your stomach on a firm surface. (Yes, I know, do it anyway. Trust me.)

Have you "helper" kneel next to your body and place the heel of his hand to the side of your spine, just above your hip-bone. Then massage with a "down & out" motion, pushing down on you and "rocking" so that his hand slides off your side. (Did that make sense?) You'll know if he's getting it right.

Repeat on the other side.

This, all by itself & instantly, will often knock down the pain as much as a dose of drugs. Even when you're talking a stranger through it for their first time.

Then, if he's generally good at massage/backrubs/etc., have him work around your low back/sacrum, triggering the pressure-points.

Sometimes, if they're good, you can chase the last vestiges away this way.

And if I can say that, it's not just

[kblackthorne]

Because I complained of nausea, vomiting, cold-sweats, etc. And took Advil to get rid of them. ("Let me get this straight -- you take Advil -- which causes nausea -- for nausea?" ~look of Official Medical Disbelief~ "No. I take Advil to control pain which is so bad it causes nausea!" ~another Look~ "That's not possible." )

(And this was in the '80's, mind you, not the stone age!)

So imagine my shock when I found out that The Medical Community had known for years not only what causes cramps, but all those nasty "secondary symptoms", too?

It's a nasty little thing called "Prostaglandin F2alpha" that is manufactured in the uterus. It causes contractions of smooth muscles. You know, like those in you uterus, your disgestive track, and your blood-vessles.

In women with severe cramps, we make something like 20X the normal amount. Sometimes the uterus contracts so hard it cuts off its own blood supply -- just like the heart does in a heart-attack. Sometimes some of this prostaglandin leaks out into the bloodstream, affecting the smooth muscle it encoutners. (Hence the hot & cold flashes from constricing & relaxing blood-vessles, and the nausea/constipation/diarhea/vomiting from contracting & relaxing smooth muscle along the digestive track).

Just knowing all this went a long way towards preserving my sanity. Now I knew WHY!

So the problem becomes, how do we prevent all that nasty Prostaglandin?

Well, the Pill works, because it decreases the blood-flow. (Less menstrual blood = less prostaglandin sitting there.) But that means taking a pill 21 days a month to treat a problem 3 days a month. And some people can't take it.

NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflamatory Drugs) block the production of Prostaglandin, AND block the receptor-sites on cells (so they don't "use" the prostaglandin that's there.)

Asprin is a mild NSAID. Tylenol is not. This is why the "old" remedies tended to be asprin-based: They worked better than the alternative.

Ibuprophen (Advil) and Naproxene (Aleve) are also NSAIDS. They belong to the same "family" of NSAIDS. There are others, but you'll probably need a perscription.

There's one other OTC one -- starts with a K... I can never remembr the name, but they had it OTC about 3 years ago & I haven't seen it since. It's an NSAID from a different family & excellent.

A note about Aleve.

It's not actually Naproxene. It's Naproxene Sodium. What's the difference? Well, Naproxene, Alleve, Asprin, etc. take 2 hours to reach full concentration in your bloodstream. (That's why they can seem to take forever to kick in.) Naproxene Sodium comes in chemically smaller "chunks", so it reaches full concentration in 10-20 minutes. So does the "K" stuff whose name I am forgetting.


BTW, PMS is caused by a LACK of a different prostaglandin -- E6 if I remember right -- that is found in huge, bio-available quantity in Evening Primrose Oil. :)

[kblackthorne]

The same medical reports I read for my last post (about 300 Medical abstracts, and in several cases the full article -- all at the Med School Library) offer some other insights:

According to scientific studies, dieteary changes ("cut out sugar, cut out alcohol, cut out fat, it's all your fault for how you eat") don't decrease the strength of the muscular contractions.

The correct sorts of physical manipulation do. (They had a specific name, which I forget. But if someone's working your low-back for you that time of month, chances are you'll feel better.)

And at the time I was going through all of this, I had a friend who was a 3rd year med-student. He'd just aced Gynecology. (He wanted to be a GP.) And so I asked him, "What did they teach you about dysmennorhea?" And his reply was "Nothing. It was never mentioned."

There's actually a good body of medical research out there... I did my library-research in 1994, and more progress has been made since then.

The doctors who treat us just don't know about it. :(

[Angel's Dreams]

A tea of raspberry leaves always works for me as well as the scent of laveneder essential oil. You pick some leaves off of the cane and steep them on the stove for usually 20 minutes then drink (you can add some honey if you like). It usually kicks in within half an hour.
Very sympathetic,
Angel

[kblackthorne]

Bump

[Emaleth]

Originally posted by Rævyn Cigány
(after the birth of my first child, when it started to get even worse than when I was a teenager
BB

Rae )0(

That's strange... I was always told that after childbirth the pain lessers. :confused:

Blessed Be

[kblackthorne]

For some.

Of course, the only ones I've heard that from are male doctors.

According to my mother, labor is nothing compared to cramps. And hers got worse after I was born, not better.

Those same doctors told her it would get better as she got older. Well they were right -- she hardly has to take anything for cramps, now that she's going through menopause!

[Eeluna]

I never had cramps or pms as a young woman. In fact I didn't have much sympathy for those who complained. I thought they were over-exaggerating. After the birth of my children, I was rudely awakened.

I had *weeks* of pain in my lower back and hips. If I was lucky, I got one pain-free week during a cycle. I have an aversion to drugs, so I'd rather avoid them. I had tried birth-control pills years earlier and wasn't able to take them.

The one thing I've discovered that works is Yoga, and that was by accident. I took it up as an excercise. I began to have pain-free months. It was great. After a while I gave up the Yoga. The pain came back. I wondered if there was a connection and began doing the excercises again. Again I became almost pain-free.

Now things have gotten worse because I'm older, but I can still keep the pain under control with Yoga. Sometimes I get lazy and quit for a while, but it isn't long before I have to start up again or else live in misery. I don't know what the excercises do to alleviate the pain, but it definitely works for me, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

[kblackthorne]

Hmmm.

Well, from what I remember of my Yoga exercises, I can see that it would be helpful... similar to the way the "low back massage" helps. (And the "low back massage" has kept me from losing my breakfast from cramps more than once.)

Glad you've found your answer! :D One less woman in pain -- let's hear it, Ladies! ~leads 3 cheers for Eeluna~

My own pain seems to have diminished somewhat over the years... though I think that's much more related to me knowing better how to "manage" it than the whole, mythical "getting better as you get older" business. If I am alone and without "drugs" (say, stuck on a bus with the wrong purse), I still get delerious with pain. It's having a much larger back of tricks than I did at 19 that makes it so much more bearable!

[SimplyStrange]

I get REALLY bad cramps, and nothing ever works for me... except Extra Strength Midol (Hell, that stuff was so good to me, I started using it for regular migraines any time of the month!)

Something else that always helps me if I don't have any medication is to take a really really steaming hot bath, like jakuzi (sp?!) tempurature hot. And that always helps... maybe because it's like a massage, because my body's not used to it, because I HATE hot water, and my skin is really sensitive... I don't even wash my dishes in hot water. And my showers are cold to some people. All in all, it helps me.

[kcrys]

Have read through this thread as I found it interesting as I have dealt with debilitating pain during my moon cycle each month since my second or third year of having it.

I noticed only one person, and that being a man, mentioning endometriosis. I was diagnosed with this in 1998. And have learned alot on it, as it's the only way to really get a good doctor who knows what they're talking about. And actually take you seriously too. I just want to say that I am not a nurse or doctor. I have been dealing with this for a very long time and have learned a lot in my own researches.

The one thing I learned right off bat, and I really have to stress this...Debiltating pain that causes you to miss work, has you stuck in bed not being able to move, or interrupts your everyday activities is not normal. Let me repeat this. PAIN IS NOT NORMAL. Cramping yes, pain no. I know a nurse had posted a few times, and I am surprised she never mentioned endometriosis at all. Personally I would talk to your gyno and get this checked out immediately. Though endometriosis is not life threating it can do some nasty stuff to your organs in your body. It definately is life-altering in so many ways. I know thousands of women who have this disease; some in their teens, some after having kids, some after having a total hysterectomy/or partical one, and even some after menopause.

For those wondering what endometriosis is...it is the same tissue that lines the uterus, but it is found outside the uterus usually in the lower abdomen. It reacts as it would inside the uterus, bleeding each month. With no place for the blood to go, more lesions are grown from other lesions. There have been rare cases where it was found on the heart, brain and lungs. There is no known cause or cure, though there are many treatments that do help various women. The only way for a diagnosis at this time, is having a diagnotis laparoscopy.

I believe someone also mentioned heaving bleeding too...this can also be caused by something called Adenomyosis, which is similiar to endometriosis but is found in the lining of the uterus and not easily detected.

I've included a link to the Endometriosis Association (http://www.endometriosisass.org/) in the states for those interested in learning more about this disease.

I don't mention these two diseases to cause worry. I mention it to inform you, and I care about others. I have known way too many women suffer from pain being told that it's normal by their doctors to find out many many years later that it's endometriosis or something else.

Layde Kcrys

[Yvonne Belisle]

Thank you it is something many of us should be looking into.

[kblackthorne]

You're right to bring up endometriosis. My mother suffers from it, though thankfully I don't (yet).

Another ailment that can cause excessive cramping (though not necessarily coinciding with the start of your period) is ovarian cysts. (I recently had my husband send me to ER because I was doubling up in pain. They found a 6cm cyst. An ultrasound several weeks later showed it had grown. They want to do a biopsy... I'm assuming that means I'm going to lose my left ovary.)

I was working under the assumption that everyone had had these things ruled out.

BTW, who's the nurse? (Did I just not read carefully enough?)

~always like to know who the medical professionals are in a forum such as this~

[Élistariel]

on average, my cramps can be subdued with a double dose of advil or ibprofen (sp?). When it finally decides to kick in that is. I've been told I'm anemic... Anyhoo. The stomach cramps are bad, but I can deal with them enough to go about. It's just that my legs cramp up too, and I get a case of cold feet. Also I don't get PMS, as in PRE-MS. I get it during. Yay double-whamy!(sarcasm there). There have been a few times where all I could do was lie down with a heating pad and groan. The "worse" is when I have a cold and have to take cold meds and cramp meds. That results in one of two things, falling asleep every two seconds, or being high as a kite. Once, back in high school, I zoned out, and honestly thought there was a turtle in the room. Lucky for me the worst only lasts the first/second day(s).

[kblackthorne]

Maren,

Try Aleve instead of Advil.

Advil takes 2 hours to reach full concentration in your blood-stream.

Aleve takes 10 minutes.

Give it a shot, see if it's worth the difference. :)

[Élistariel]

actually, 2 aleve, 2 advil... It's all the same to me. I actually prefer pamprin, but I'm usually out of it. And I don't want to go to the store (just) to buy it. I don't even buy my own pads yet. I love bein' a 'kid'. (hence the '').

[Elefarea]

Looked up "menstrual" in this forum so that I wouldn't start an unnecessary new forum if my answer was already here. I am indeed amazed by the amount of information in this post. Especially liked the stuff on what really does cause cramping, etc...considering the symptoms I generally have about that time, it makes perfect sense.

My only issue, is, I'm 18 years old, and I have milder cramps, along with muscle pain in my thighs, and plenty of abdominal trouble. Usually Aleve melts the pain for me. This cycle, it hasn't been very effective...I wonder if it's not working anymore. Any advice?

[Yvonne Belisle]

First off welcome to Mystic Wicks :)

As to your question have you done anything different this month? More walking ect things that may have made those muscles a bit sore to begin with?

[Scarlettvixen]

BTW, who's the nurse?
Im one of the nurses who frequents MW, but cant say that gynaecology is my specialty!

i dont have endometriosis, but i do have poly cystic ovaries - but i dont have cysts on my ovaries if that makes sense! lol

they have no idea why i have so much pain with my periods, i use a variety of things to treat it

when i need immediate relief i use panadeine ( i think that acetophacin(sp) and codeine, or neurofen (like ibobrufen).

long term i use either evening primrose oil or star flower oil each day which helps heaps - i really know when i have missed taking it cause i have been to lazy to go buy it lol

for the PCOS i use chaste tree which is just brilliant. for both PMS, regularity and flow problems! i also feel that it has made the period pain much less

[kblackthorne]

Elefarea,

Glad you've found useful information. :)

As for this month being worse... could be lots of things.

I used to treat with ibuprophen (Advil, Motrin), but eventually found that that particular drug just stopped working for me -- at all. So eventually I switched to Naproxene Sodium (Aleve) and Ketoprofen (which was then available OTC, though I haven't been able to find it recently).

I try to get by with the lowest dose I can, and try to skip the drugs when possible, so that I don't have the same thing happen again. (I know I can do that with Aleve, because it still works well, and will kick in quickly.)

Scarlet Vixen,

Good to know who the ladies in white are. :)

[Elefarea]

Futz. I think I may be developing a tolerance to Aleve. It is my automatic painkiller of choice, since I'm bad at remembering to take my pills. Fortunately, I know it can't be all useless, since I have been knocked out of commission the first or second day of my cycle before...with the tummy troubles, not the cramps! This time, it was just uncomfortable. Next cycle, if I'm not in school, I'll go pain free. Otherwise, I drug myself up to the hilt.

Heard evening primrose oil more than once, makes me want to poke around and see what I find on it. If it could even me out a bit in that area, that would be nice.

As for anything different, my period came the weekend after my first week in the Culinary Program at Lane Community College. Actually, I was glad when it came, it gave me something else to focus on besides that intense worry and stress I'd been feeling, and a good excuse to baby myself a little...just do what I wanted. Yeah, if stress is related to menstrual pain at all (ha, IMO it's related to ALL pain, in your ability to cope if nothing else), I'd probably say that was a factor. See, I'd been wondering if I'd chosen the right path for myself, and if I could accomplish all that was being set before me. *smacks forehead* I think I just solved my own problem by answering that question...thank you. Baa. *is sheepish*

[Elefarea]

Sorry. Pain free=drug free. Actually, that was a nifty Freudian slip, subconcious affirmation, or something...

[kblackthorne]

I do not know how Evening Primrose Oil is for cramps.

However, PMS is caused by a deficiency of a particular prostaglandin (E6, if I remember right). Evening Primrose Oil happens to be very rich in this particular prostaglandin. :)

I used to have some luck with an herbal preperation from Traditional Medicinals that contained Dong Quai & ginger... I forget the name of the blend. I would use it with a combination of other remedies. It didn't work <i>great</i>, but it helped. (Remember, I'm one of those women who loses her breakfast at this time of month... to work "great" for me, something has to be pretty darn potent!)

[kblackthorne]

Next cycle,... I'll go pain free.

So mote it be.

[fallingsnow]

Merry Meet Everyone!

I've just discovered this year that cranberry powder (in pill form - I detest the taste of cranberries) knocks cramps out right away. I've begun taking two pills per day three days before my cycle and haven't had cramps for 5 months now!!

Prior to this discovery, I had cramps so badly I'd take myself out of commission for the day. It got to be a bad thing where work was concerned. I was taking a vacation day for the whole first day - after that, they let up a bit and I'd be able to function.

Give the cranberry a shot - it took care of my cramps the first time I took them within an hour! I'd not be without those little red pills ever again, if I can help it.

Hope it helps!

Love, Light, and Laughter,

~Falling Snow

[Elefarea]

I heard about cranberry, but since the *juice* itself seemed to make it worse...maybe the powder would be better, I don't know.

As for this cycle, I tried to go without drugs, but it ended up being that I could either be sick and stand it or I could cramp and stand it, but I couldn't do both. I took a total of six ibuprofen on day one. However, small victory! I have not had to take anymore painkillers today, and I normally would be very uncomfortable right now. Of course I still am very uncomfortable, but that's unrelated...

[Élistariel]

I'm alleve/ibprofen/pamprin dependent. Not all at once. LOL. First day is worse, I can take 3 pamprin and still feel like I have a sword stuck in my gut. The meds do pretty good at subduing tummy cramps, and making me 2 degree from unconscious. :zzz: Does anyone know any good remedies for the leg cramps I get? My legs cramp up so bad I have to move them, constantly for anywhere between 1 to 3 hours solid. Very tiring when you're trying to sleep. Oh and I can't stand the taste of cranberries.

[Faery-Wings]

Bumping up

[WitchJezebel]

I don't get the severe cramps every month, only 3 or 4 times a year. I don't like taking pills; I usually suffer through it and it makes everyone around me so miserable they want to hurt me. I will make a batch of this tea and keep it in the cupboard in a tin for those days that the pain has me laying on the couch crying and I need a quick brew. It's high in calcium which is also good for osteoporosis and it does help relieve cramps; not to mention it's warming so it'll relax you.

2 parts red raspberry leaves
2 parts red clover blossoms
2 parts nettle leaves
1 part lemon balm leaves
1 part peppermint leaves
1 part spearming leaves
1/2 part calendula flowers
1/2 part lemon verbena leaves
1/2 part rose petals (I usually use rosehips b/c I don't keep the petals on hand very often)

Combine the herbs in a pot, cover with boiling water, stir well, cover and steep 10 - 20 minutes (I do about 20 minutes for maximum strength).

[ekkaia]

Hi everyone,

I have found this thread very helpful and intend to try out rasberry leaf tea and cranberry powder next time. I'll let you know how it goes for me. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread over the years!

I've suffered from terrible cramps since I can remember but it seems to have got worse with age (and weight gain perhaps).

I have been prescribed all kinds of meds for my pain and now take mefanamic acid (otherwise known as Ponstan, or Ponstan 40). This is a non steroidal anti inflamitory, which blocks the effects of a prostoglandin that causes utrine contractions. These pills only seem to work for me if I remember to begin taking them 2-3 days before my period starts - and I often don't. I usually take acitominiphen (tylenol) in addition to my prescribed medication. My pain has bee so bad that even after overdosing a little on meds including codeine I have still been tears, in bed with a hot water bottle and have occassionaly had a fever, felt sick/ have fainted a couple of times.

The side effects of taking too many pain killers included even more painful upper abdominal cramping (I had irritated my digestive tract), which were like regular contractions and had to be treated with strong stomach calming medication.

Over the past few years I have been finding ways ways to cure or help my pains without pills. Here's a list of things which I have found to be succesful in order of how effective I feel they were.

I have reduced my intake of coffee (which was hard cos I love coffee) and try not to drink it at all 1 week leading up to my period. I think this has helped me a lot.

I take calcium supplements (should do that every day but make sure I do it at least in the week leading up to my period). Calcium citrate is absorbed more effectively by the body than other forms of calcium. I also take magnesium. These two minerals are supposed to reduce cramping and I believe they do help me to a degree.

Yoga poses like cat and cow pose and lying on my back holding my knees towards my chest together and alternatley also provide some relief.

Regular excercise (the gym 2-3 times a week) appears to have reduced my cramps.

I have tried wearing a magnet in my underwear - this is proclaimed to work wonders although I have not noticed significant effects.

Teas and herbal supplements like black cohosh, red clover, feverfew and nettle have all been claimed in literature to provide relief but unforntunatley not significantly enough for me. I also read that use of black cohosh for long periods of time is not good.

I hope this helps someone else - who also suffers like me.

I have considered the possibilbity of endomertriosos but apart from the pain I have no other symptoms.

L.

[ekkaia]

Hi everyone,

I have found this thread very helpful and intend to try out rasberry leaf tea and cranberry powder next time. I'll let you know how it goes for me. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread over the years!

I've suffered from terrible cramps since I can remember but it seems to have got worse with age (and weight gain perhaps).

I have been prescribed all kinds of meds for my pain and now take mefanamic acid (otherwise known as Ponstan, or Ponstan 40). This is a non steroidal anti inflamitory, which blocks the effects of a prostoglandin that causes utrine contractions. These pills only seem to work for me if I remember to begin taking them 2-3 days before my period starts - and I often don't. I usually take acitominiphen (tylenol) in addition to my prescribed medication. My pain has bee so bad that even after overdosing a little on meds including codeine I have still been tears, in bed with a hot water bottle and have occassionaly had a fever, felt sick/ have fainted a couple of times.

The side effects of taking too many pain killers included even more painful upper abdominal cramping (I had irritated my digestive tract), which were like regular contractions and had to be treated with strong stomach calming medication.

Over the past few years I have been finding ways ways to cure or help my pains without pills. Here's a list of things which I have found to be succesful in order of how effective I feel they were.

I have reduced my intake of coffee (which was hard cos I love coffee) and try not to drink it at all 1 week leading up to my period. I think this has helped me a lot.

I take calcium supplements (should do that every day but make sure I do it at least in the week leading up to my period). Calcium citrate is absorbed more effectively by the body than other forms of calcium. I also take magnesium. These two minerals are supposed to reduce cramping and I believe they do help me to a degree.

Yoga poses like cat and cow pose and lying on my back holding my knees towards my chest together and alternatley also provide some relief.

Regular excercise (the gym 2-3 times a week) appears to have reduced my cramps.

I have tried wearing a magnet in my underwear - this is proclaimed to work wonders although I have not noticed significant effects.

Teas and herbal supplements like black cohosh, red clover, feverfew and nettle have all been claimed in literature to provide relief but unforntunatley not significantly enough for me. I also read that use of black cohosh for long periods of time is not good.

I hope this helps someone else - who also suffers like me.

I have considered the possibilbity of endomertriosis but apart from the pain I have no other symptoms.

L.

[Meadhbh]

I get the worst cramps, like curl into a ball and cry bad. Luckily they let up as I get towards the end otherwise I'd be spending half my month in misery.

Menstrual Cramp Tea
1 teaspoon cramp bark
&#189; teaspoon each motherwort leaves, chamomile flowers, wild yam root, fresh oats, hops strobiles and skullcap leaves
&#188; teaspoon ginger rhizome
1 quart water
Combine the herbs and water in an uncovered saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat, cover pan and let mixture steep for 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. Drink at least 1 cup to start, then drink freely, as needed.

Menstrual Cramp Oil
2 ounces Saint-]ohn's-wort oil
8 drops each lavender, marjoram and chamomile essential oils
Combine ingredients. Apply as often as needed by rubbing over the lower abdomen. This formula is also excellent for lower back or shoulder pain, or any type of muscle cramps, even when you are not menstruating.

[Crimson Mage]

Ok, this is going to sound STRANGE, particularly coming from a male, but i have a customer that does this and SWEARS by it.

Clary Sage essential oil - NOT a blend, or a fragrance oil, but the true essential. Rub it on your belly for a few mins daily, except for the week of your actual period. According to her, there's nothing that works better!

[Bandia]

So sorry to hear that so many ladies suffer for such a positive and necessary function. I happen to be one of them. Out of curiousity (I havent been able to address this issue with a doctor yet, but intend to) is there anyone who has experienced this? If so, mind telling me why and what was done to fix it?
I'm 21 years old, with a two year old (beautiful) little girl, and the women on my mother's side all have a history of "female" problems such as endometriosis, polyps, and ovarian/uturine cysts. Mom had a hysterectomy at 29 after she had three children by my age. I've always had a heavy flow,
but since the baby it's been worse. I've also since miscarried, and had an ovarian cyst rupture (according to a tentative ER diagnosis). I'm terrible with remembering pills, so my ob/gyn told me that the shot would do wonders, having the medicines/hormones consistant in my body. Well, my last cycle began February 17th, and I bled very light for 6 days. After a two day rest period I started bleeding dark, tarrish blood lightly but daily until I began a more normal flow (if a little lighter than I'm used to) until today. This has been going on for about a full month and I'm kind of scared but unable to be medically treated in my current life situation, so does anyone have any helpful advice for me. I am trying to track this. I've obviously had to regulate any physical relations I'm having and this is very distressing as well as it is a cherished part of my relationship. Any input is welcome. Thank you.

[Nitefalle]

Are you talking about Depo when you say "the shot"? Have you already taken the shot? A friend of mine was on Depo for quite a number of months and it really sort of messed up her whole system. She bled (light spotting) for two months straight until she finally stopped. She also had insane weight gain while on Depo, and then once she was off it, couldn't lose it. After watching that, I would never personally recommend Depo to anyone, it just scares me to think how much that messes with your whole endocrine system. I guess I shouldn't talk, as I've been on the pill for seven years, but at least I still have my period once a month. When I see those commercials for that new pill where you only have four periods a year, or don't have it at all, that scares me. What are we doing to our bodies for the sake of convenience?
ETA - once you are financially able, I would highly recommend going to see an endocrinologist, as well as a gynecologist. They can check your hormone levels and see what's going on to a greater extent than just a gynecologist.

[Autumn-Forest]

I have horrible cramps too! Horrible! Mydol only helps if I take more than 2 and even then I still have to lay down and cry at the numbing pain for a half hour. GRRR!

I told my fiancee this, and he had some herbs that could help. He made a tea with the herb cohosh or kohosh (i'm not sure which spelling is correct.) And the pain surely subsided within 15 mintues of drinking it. Just warning you now, it tastes H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E! So put honey in it and you'll be able to stomach it!

Anyways, I hope I helped a little, if anything you can just remember that cohosh helps! :)

Blessings and I hope you feel better,
Autumn

[windoe]

I too have suffered from day one when I was 13. I used tampons and pads until last year,when I finally switched to sea sponges and natural cloth pads. I also have found *great* ahhhh relief from valerian tincture, I use a lot of it when I am bleeding. I realize the natural products are not for everyone (you have to do a lot of hand washing)--but I have noticed a 90% improvement in my experience each month, which makes all the washing well worth it. I am convinced that the bleach and chemicals used on commercial products irritated my uterus which made my cramps much more intense!
A good website to haunt is http//www.susunweed.com if you are interested in herbs and natural products. I got my natural products from gladrags.com. Also the natural fiber pads smell a lot less, almost never leak and are to me more comfortable, which makes it easier to just 'let go' and bleed- for me much of my cramping was due to me unconsciously 'holding back' on the flow for fear of leaking, the social taboo is pretty strong on that....
Well blessings to all of you cramping devas, may you find relief!

[Bandia]

Yes, I'm on Depo, and I sure wish I had known before how bad it could mess
with you. One doctor had me on the pill, but I was still very irregular. So my
gynocologist had me put on Depo (which is when the constant bleeding started). Before, though, I was still very irregular, but I preferred that. Weight gain? I've lost and gained so many times I'm not sure what to attribute it to anymore. My diet, perhaps, leaves alot to be desired. Would that have any effect on my cycle (there are days I just have a hard time eating much). Or would it be a result of the yoyo weight gain/loss? I'm at a fairly healthy weight for my height but went through much disorded eating on the way and am trying to find a healthier weight management system as well. Best of luck to the ladies, and to your friend too. I hope she has gotten herself situated to her comfort.