| Author |
Message |
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:06 am  |
For some reason as I'm getting older I'm getting menstrual cramps. I really never used to get them, but now they're really uncomfortable and a bit painful.
Are there any natural remedies? I know I can always resort to tylenol and midol and so forth. I forget someone telling me not to take either aspirin or Advil because it'll thin the blood out or something of that nature and make it worse.
The pains of being a woman.  |
_________________
26, combination skin with oily t-zone |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:19 am |
| My doctor told me taking advil was fine. As a matter of fact, I take 3 (!!) advils to knock those suckers out!!! Another thing that helps a lot is some kind of heating pad, placed right on your stomach. I use either a real heating pad or a warm whiskers. (Warm whiskers are these stuffed animals that are filled with herbs, and when you microwave them they retain heat--- the combination of the heat and the fragrant herbs is very soothing.) You can check out the warm whiskers at warmwhiskers.com, and good luck, I know what you are going through! |
_________________
27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:47 am |
| I may break down and take a few advils. I wish I was at home to use a heating pad. Thanks for the advice. |
_________________
26, combination skin with oily t-zone |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:52 am |
The wraps that stick to you and heat up work pretty well.
If you are goingto go the aspirin route, Pamprin All Day Relief is the best I have ever used. |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:15 pm |
| My dr said its your hormones getting out of whack. I take Advil |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:25 pm |
I had to have three operations because of a large fibroid in my uterus. I'd had horrible
cramps before my operations. Make sure to have your gynecologist do a thourogh exam. I'm so sorry you're having this. |
_________________
40, fair skinned, dark hair, blue eyes |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:28 pm |
| c4ward wrote: |
I had to have three operations because of a large fibroid in my uterus. I'd had horrible
cramps before my operations. Make sure to have your gynecologist do a thourogh exam. I'm so sorry you're having this. |
Good Lord your post just made me scared, I highly doubt it's anything that major. It's painful and so forth, but not to the point where I'm tearing up. I should be seeing the OBGYN next month so will tell her to take a closer look. Thanks for the heads up though. |
_________________
26, combination skin with oily t-zone |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:09 pm |
ariesxtreme, I feel for you!!
Unfortunately, pain killers are no longer an option for me, my body cannot tolerate them and I break out in rashes.
When you see your gyn, ask them to do an ultrasound on your uterus/ovaries - I don't want to create more alarm, but one of my friends who suffered severe menstrual pain for years (eventually moving up to prescription morphine for the pain!!!!!!) had these things called dermoid cysts on her ovaries - apparently it is very common.
Or if you know you have PCOS, it is good to get check ups especially when symptoms worsen overtime.
HTH. |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:10 pm |
| My Naturopathic Doctor recommended taking Magnesium Citrate and B-Complex for cramps. |
_________________
34, oily acne-prone skin, Toronto, Canada |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:52 pm |
| jlrobatzek wrote: |
The wraps that stick to you and heat up work pretty well.
If you are goingto go the aspirin route, Pamprin All Day Relief is the best I have ever used. |
I agree with the heating pads. They're available at any grocery/ drugstore and are fairly cheap. Your doctor can even prescribe some kinds to you from the pharmacy.
I've tried pamprin and it did absolutely nothing for me  . So warm baths and such help tremendously.
Yes, asprin does thin blood but I wouldn't let that stop me from taking motrin(ibuprofin) or anything. As you age, it is actually recommended my doctors to begin to start taking baby/ childrens asprin which is about 81mg I think.
And then there are the people who do take birth control pills for the specific reason of regulating their period and lessening cramps.
If it helps, by all means =) |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:24 pm |
| I have endometriosis, fibroids and had a cyst that had to be removed. Maybe go to your doctor. I take Naproxen Sodium 500 mg a few times a day. Stay off caffeine for at least a week before your period. I feel so bad for you...I know what you are going through! I had went to so many doctors telling me that the pain was in my head (I'm 34)...I've had problems with my cycle since I was 18...birth control didn't even help...doctors sent me for a psych evaluation...it was bad! I have found a doctor that took me seriously and did surgery and found that I had fibroids and cysyts. Those things do not show up on xrays or ultrasounds. Try keeping a diary of what you eat and your pain levels. Sorry to rant!! |
|
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:02 pm |
| I think you should to go a gyn to check it out. I don't think it's normal that you get menstrual cramps now when you did not have when you were younger. |
_________________
53, normal/oily skin, concerns: wrinkles/lines/bags under eyes |
|
|
|
|
Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:51 pm |
The heating pads are amazing - I take far less tablets now I use those.
Also, magnesium is great for spasming. |
|
|
|
|
|
Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:16 am |
Another thumbs up for the heating pads (portable). I use a home one when convenient and the little portable ones for when I'm out. They are a life saver for me and that, in conjunction, with Midol, keeps me sane for the day.
Thankfully, it only hits me hard one day of the cycle - but can be brutally hard - though this has been far less so recently. Perhaps, my supps are helping....HMMM.
I'd get checked out, just in case. |
|
|
|
|
|
Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:26 am |
Okay, I will get it checked out, but most likely I'm thinking they're just bad cramps. Now I'm afraid to go see by gyno more than ever..  as if the usual semi annual visits aren't unpleasant enough. |
_________________
26, combination skin with oily t-zone |
|
|
|
|
Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:45 am |
ariesxtreme- you'll be okay! Some of us have had major problems and hopefully you're not one of us...you're in my thoughts and prayers!
bex |
|
|
|
|
|
Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:12 pm |
I think maybe worrying about fibroids and cysts is a little alarmist. Our hormones fluctuate with age; I'm sure you have nothing to worry about arisextreme!
I don't get them badly now (on bcp) but when I did, I'd drink catnip tea-- it's a natural muscle relaxer and will make kitty love you to bits when you drink it, which helps too! Also, abdominal massage. I still do this even when I feel a little crampy and it helps immensely. You press right where you feel the cramping, right above your pelvis. Press fairly hard and massage for 10 or 15 seconds. This helps to move the blood clots through, which is causing the cramping. (I learned this from my dr, just so you know I didn't make it up!  ) |
|
|
|
|
|
Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:41 pm |
| I have suffered painful periods for years and docotors said it might be endometriosis,the natural therapy would be evening prime rose and chasteberry but it works really really slowly, i use the prescribed anaprox for my pain right now. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:01 am |
I feel for you.
I used to take Advils for pain relieving too. Also, I found some warm heated pad around the stomach helped me. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:26 am |
| violetanne wrote: |
I think maybe worrying about fibroids and cysts is a little alarmist. Our hormones fluctuate with age; I'm sure you have nothing to worry about arisextreme!
I don't get them badly now (on bcp) but when I did, I'd drink catnip tea-- it's a natural muscle relaxer and will make kitty love you to bits when you drink it, which helps too! Also, abdominal massage. I still do this even when I feel a little crampy and it helps immensely. You press right where you feel the cramping, right above your pelvis. Press fairly hard and massage for 10 or 15 seconds. This helps to move the blood clots through, which is causing the cramping. (I learned this from my dr, just so you know I didn't make it up! ) |
I like the catnip tea idea! Do you find this at the health food store? My kitties will just love this and me, too, sounds soothing.
I'm also going to have to try the massage next time. Just got over my cramping episode on Friday but it wasn't too bad with Midol and the heating pad. I would like to add the tea and massage, though! Thanks for the tips.
Oh, and Arisextreme, I think Violetanne is right about it likely being nothing. I didn't want to discourage you from getting it checked even though I'm the last girl who ever goes to the doctor...only for the necessary things. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Oct 01, 2006 11:42 am |
| Hi Scalawagirl! The catnip tea should be available at any health food store. I've never done it but you could also make your own if you have catnip in your garden. We used to have a big beautiful catnip plant, and I'd dry it with the intention of brewing it but it always just went to the kitties. The taste of the tea can put some off (though I never minded it). It's very green and delicate. You can brew it with any herbal blend you like if you don't care for the taste. HTH! |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Oct 01, 2006 6:41 pm |
oh the cramps! I get really severe ones where I cannot even get out of bed and basically want to kill myself
I don't like to take advil and other painkillers just because they are not good for the liver and it's all bad chemicals.
Try heating pad..just lie down and love your heating pad! Also, try dissolving brown sugar in water and warm it over the stove or microwave. Hopefully you like sugar water  but the sugar basically warms up your blood and I think vasodilate your arteries. It's some old chinese remedy that has worked great for me! another thing you can try is boil pieces of ginger in hot water (and add the brown sugar if you want to) which is also great. Stay away from cold food (no ice cream or yogurt or cold milk!) and spicy food. A doctor once told me that if you eat/drink inappropriately during this cycle, then you will definitely get pain during the NEXT cycle.
I know my ideas are kinda wack, but they work and god knows, I have the worst period out of everyone I know. Try this before resorting to painkillers! Hope you feel better! |
_________________
20's: rare pimples and oily T-zone..annoying little blackhead buggers on nose |
|
|
|
|
Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:34 am |
this is from my alkaline diet book regarding the subject of heavy periods, cramps/severe pain, pms and endometriosis:
get more GLA fatty acids in you
avoid milk (says milk is linked to some reproductive disorders because the mucus it generates blocks the fallopian tubes)
avoid caffine, coffee, tea, sodas and chocolates
black cohosh, valerian and wild yam root will help normalize estrogen levels
*thyriod suppliments. a slightly above normal thyroid function helps pms nd endometriosis by getting rid of acidic wastes (not sure if this applies to the cramps)
i also agree with poofybabypenguin's suggestion of brown/rock sugar, hot ginger water. it helps with EVERYTHING. nausea, cramps, any time u feel unwell this helps.
and of course, heating pads! the warm whiskers heating pads are SO CUTE! i really want one now.. either Poker Pony or Sleepy Pete Lam. hehe |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:38 am |
I get extremely severe cramps - where I get unbearably hot, then shiver with cold, vomit and pass out from the pain.
The only 2 things that have really helped me to get through this are a combination of acupuncture once a month and a slow-release NSAID (the one I take is Diclofenac Sodium 75mg).
I did try a suggestion from an EDS forum member a while ago to massage a few drops of clary sage EO into the base of my spine (lumbar region). This does produce a nice, warming sensation that actually helps a little too. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:18 am |
I really feel for those who get severe cramps. My friend gets really bad ones where she can't work all day and just throw up. It's mainly due to genetics, if your mom suffers from cramps... most likely you will too. I'm soo glad I dont get bad cramps, sometimes i dont get cramps at all when i get my period. This can be a disadvantage because I dont know when my period is comming and it can all of a sudden just show up without any signs of it comming (which can be very embarrassing)
Also if you are suffering from realllly severe cramps, it would be a good option to see your doctor because sometimes severe cramps when you have your mentral cycle is due to something more severe.
This is a very common problem. Known as dysmenorrhea, it is often severe enough to cause absences from work or inability to perform other responsibilities. Symptoms include lower abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and headache during menstruation.
In one type of painful menstruation, called primary dysmenorrhea, doctors cannot find any problem with the reproductive organs. This common disorder tends to affect about half of all young women fairly soon after they first begin to menstruate. Painful contractions may occur as the uterine walls release natural substances called prostaglandins. Psychological factors may play a role.
Primary dysmenorrhea can be treated with ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, others), which helps block production of prostaglandins. In some cases, birth control pills or other medications containing hormones can help. Exercise, good nutrition, and reducing stress also are important.
Secondary dysmenorrhea develops after years of normal menstruation and results from disease of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Among the possible causes are tumors and other abnormal growths, pelvic infection, uterine cancer, and endometriosis (in which uterine tissue is found outside the uterus, in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and abdominal organs). Endometriosis is a serious disease that can cause infertility.
When you see your doctor, he or she will ask you about your periods and the timing and severity of the pain. The doctor will also do a pelvic exam. Since treatment for secondary dysmenorrhea depends on its cause, he or she may do additional tests or refer you to a specialist. |
|
|
|
|
| Tue Apr 23, 2024 11:50 pm |
If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.
Click Here to join our community.
If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site. |
|
 |
|
