Woman TMI question

[Renee750il]

You'll probably have to do some experimenting, Fran, maybe even come up with your own "cocktail" from all the different suggestions They all work -- just not universally, and sometimes they quit working and you have to try something else, or add something else to the mix.

[Zoom]

I'd suggest seeing a chiropractor, odd as that sounds. This is the first period I've had in a while where I haven't even had to take Advil and I've been getting adjusted 3x a week since my car wreck.

[Jenne]

I get really bad cramps myself and a heavy flow. I use Aleve because it's the only OTC that works, though my doctor has given me stronger medications, I'd prefer to start with the OTC first. Other than that I use hot baths and a heating pad. It allows me to function, but they are still pretty bad, but at least I can stand up straight. I might try some of the other suggestions here myself.

[Laurelin]

I tried 3 BC pills recently and they were AWFUL. Constant cramps and bleeding. I had one month long period on one. If I go without a pill, I have no periods because of my PCOS.

I went back to Yasmin. First month and I was regular again. I think it's definitely possible if you only tried 3 pills that there could be one out there that would work for you.

[Dogdragoness]

Originally Posted by Fran27

Oh I need to look into all that stuff. I guess the issue is that I'd really have to use birth control with those permanent solutions anyway... so I guess it seems a bit extreme (not that it doesn't sound great, but I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to our tiny chance of having children naturally yet).

I am LOL if i had the money & the insurance right now i would get my tubes cut, i mean we are careful (we use condoms & make sure we use them correctly since i cant take the pill). I knew from early on that i wasnt the child type hell I'm barely maternal enough to nuture puppies much less a human baby.

[Barb04]

Ibuprofen never worked for me. Only Alleve works for the cramps.

If you can't take anything right now, try wetting a washcloth with warm water and putting on your stomach to help ease the cramps. You can heat the washcloth up (very careful so it's not too hot) in the microwave when it cools off.

[ihartgonzo]

I have pcos, and had AWFUL periods. I wouldn't go to school for that week. I would cry from the cramps no matter what medication I took. I eventually got high dose Ibuprofen, which would dull the pain for a few hours, but it's so unhealthy to take that all of the time. My body began to associate Ibuprofen with periods. I swear. I would take one for a headache, during a time when I was not at all supposed to get my period, and suddenly I'd have it! Very weird.

Eventually I started taking BC (it took a few trials to find one that worked for me) and I took it every day to prevent getting any periods. So awesome!!! I did that for years with no side affects, and no periods at all. My doctor told me to stop taking it for a couple weeks a year to have one period just to make sure everything was normal. I got pregnant WHILE taking birth control constantly, and despite being told I would never be able to get pregnant, so I don't think it hurt my chances at all.

Our bodies are NOT designed to endure constant periods through out our lives. Especially not horrific, painful periods! We're designed to have baby after baby, to breast feed for years and not get our periods, then to get pregnant again and repeat the process. You should definitely do something to ease your pain and discomfort, there are so many options out there that don't have impact on your long term fertility.

[Fran101]

Heating pad + Aleve + Lots and lots and lots of water does the trick for me..

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

I'd see a doctor. A friend of mine has the same thing and they found an anomaly in her blood and she's meeting with a specialist at Vanderbilt.

[lizzybeth727]

I take 3 ibuprophen (600 mg) every two hours for my first two or so days, usually about 5 or 6 doses, then gradually taper it down depending on how bad it is (I finally found a 1000 capsule bottle at the store ). The worst is at night, the cramps wake me up once or twice a night, and I have to get up and get another dose of ibuprophen (which I can't take on an empty stomach so I have to eat a piece of bread or something too). Very annoying, but I'm grateful that at least it's not so bad when I take the ibuprophen.