I’m also riding the cotton pony this week, and I find that drinking a lot of water helps, along with a lot of Motrin/Aleve and hot showers or baths. The water makes you run to the bathroom every five minutes, which seems to help with the bloating, and in turn, the cramps.
I also find that if I keep myself immaculately clean, my period doesn’t seem to last as long.
Robin
It’s hard for me, since it seems like ibuprofin works some months, but other times it just makes my stomach hurt (like this past week). Aleve also does the trick sometimes, so maybe try that. Avoiding chocolate is supposed to help. However, this can be hard to do if you have cravings like I do.
Another question I have: I always get extremely gassy at that time of the month. I’ve tried altering my diet to see if that helps, but it seems like no matter what I eat, I am still incredibly gassy. And Gas-X and the like doesn’t work at that time. My doctor has told me that it’s unusual but normal, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Has anyone else had this problem?
This is so important, it’s worth saying for a third time (I’m echoing zyada and jarbaby): Take the painkillers before the cramps begin. It’s much more effective that way. If you don’t know in advance (I never do) it’d be worth keeping a calendar just so you can start popping the pills before the cramps start.
I’d always heard this for menstrual pain, but the doctor also told me this was the case for surgical pain. I was taking pills “only when I really needed them” and they told me that was a moronic method. Don’t wait until you need the drugs!
Red Raspberry Leaf tea is supposed to be good for uterine tone. Does anyone know if that’d help with cramps? Not Raspberry flavored tea, but Raspberry LEAF tea.
I’ve seen suggestions that it does (mrs beagledave is currently using it pre-labor)
Actually there is a tea called “Female Toner” that contains RRL and other stuff…
You also may wish to check out evening primrose oil capsules. They contain GLA, a pre-cursor to prostaglandins…Used to soften the cervix prior to labor, but some also say it helps with Aunt Flo pains. YMMV
I think have too much awareness of this for my own good. :eek:
A few points:
Don’t douche, especially during your period. You are more susceptible to infections because of the bleeding and douching can introduce bacteria.
As everybody says-take the antiinflammatory medication BEFORE the pain starts and continuously. It works by blocking production of prostaglandins (the substances that cause pain). Once your body makes prostaglandins you will have pain for at least a couple of hours until your body clears them. While tylenol is a pain killer only and won’t block prostaglandins, it is safe to take with antiinflammotories for additional pain relief.
If you get stomach upset from ibuprofen or Aleve, ask your doctor for Vioxx 50 mg tablets. This is FDA approved for cramps, differs from the above medications because it’s stronger and specially designed to cause minimal stomach symptoms, and it’s ONCE A DAY!
There is an arguement that continous pill-taking is closer to a physiologic system because traditionally women were either pregnant or breast feeding almost continously so had many fewer menses than current women. Certainly, it will prevent cramps.
Be careful with depo-some women bleed continously, some not at all, some women gain 50 lbs, some lose it, etc.
Make sure you are checked for things like fibroids or endometriosis, which can cause increased pain.
(This should not be considered as official medical advice as Dr. Bunny may not be licensed in your state. Please consult your own doctor)
I get the kind of cramps that make me cry and throw up and even wish I was…a man 
One thing that I do is take three Ibuprofen and two Aleve. By themselves they just don’t cut it, but together, they form the best painlkiller ever! I also have had my mom/sister/really good friend push on the back, bottom part of my pelvis. It works pretty good.
I get really bad cramps. Usually I take 2 maximum strength midol (it works better than tylenol), use a heating pad, stay off the caffine and drink hot tea. I’ve heard that exercising can help ease cramps too.
I agree with those who say not to douche, especially psychobunny.
I use Bed Buddies–hot or cold–and Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Decrease your salt intake. More salt = more bloating = more pain. Increase fruits and veggies.
I was supposed to start the Pill (Levlen 28) a few weeks ago, not for birth control but for pain and fatigue between periods, but couldn’t start it because I was on amoxicillin and heard that antiobiotics would prevent the Pill from working properly. *I am somewhat leery of taking it because of the potential side effects, but I am going to give it a shot. It might be worth it to get rid of all the extra pain.
Has anyone tried cramp bark tea? Does it actually help?
vivalostwages: I haven’t tried crampbark tea, but I have tried crampbark in pill form. Seems to work well, just have to find the right dosage. For me, it’s 5 pills to start, then 1 an hour till the pain stops. No stomach upset or anything, which is great…
Thank you, Rasa. I should have figured that out, as I take quite a few herbs and such. It might even work faster than tea, who knows. Will see about it.
Another vomiting cramper here (ohh, a new nickname!).
I definately agree that medicating before they start is your best bet.
Usually my cramps don’t start until 2-3 hours after the first signs of my period, so when that happens I’ve learned to take three or four tylenol (1-2 isn’t enough) and fall asleep before they get bad. The pain will wake me up every hour or so, and I take another one when it does. This is enough to keep them bearable (bearable in the sense that I don’t ask the nearest person to please kill me now). I have to wear pads when I’m cramping because tampons seem to make them hurt more, so for two days of the month I’m puking, in agony, stuck in bed and bleeding all over the place. Yech.
I suppose I should go see a doctor… oh well.
This probably doesn’t apply to the OP…
If you have heavy bleeding, have the doctor check your thyroid, as well as checking for endo and fibroids.
I just remembered something else.
If you have heavy bleeding and/or bad cramps(especially if you’re regular as a clock), try a cholesterol reducing diet and take niacin. Cholesterol is a precursor to estrogen and I’ve seen one study where reducing cholesterol levels reduced morning sickness in pregnant women (an effect of estrogen)
When I get really bad cramps I just take Nyquil and sleep til they’re gone. This is probably really bad advice though. 
Another one chiming in with “yes, take the painkillers before your period starts!” My family doctor and my gynecologist have both told me this. It works for nearly anything you’ll need painkillers for, in fact. I just had two wisdom teeth removed, and my dentist told me to start taking Advil in the morning, before I had the work done. That helped. A lot.
I’ve always wondered why cramps happen, anyway. Anyone know? And why all the other stuff that you’d think would have nothing to do with your menstrual cycle, like diarrhea & gas (no Jeannie, you’re not alone)?
aurelian: Thanks for starting this thread, really! I love threads like this. Anything that will give me one more clue as to just what the hell is going on with my reproductive system is great!
Oh god. The monthly diarrhea. Ugh. Why DOES that happen, anyway??
Have your ob/gyn check you for fibroids and/or endometriosis.
I’m the same way. It didn’t help that I had an undiagnosed case of endro-my doctor at the time thought the pain was all in my head-and I ended up having emergency surgery for it. It had gotten so bad that I couldn’t urinate-not good when you’re an insulin dependant diabetic. I’m lucky I didn’t end up with kidney damage.
Ever since the surgery, it’s been better but I still have Vicodin on hand just in case. Yes, I reported that doctor to the state medical board.
Opal-the diarrhea may be due to hormonal fluctations.
Maybe not too practical for some, but if you’re going to have to take the day off anyway… I am originally from Holland where you legally do this, a smoke of Mary Jane does help with me. You’ll need even more chocolate than usual. Otherwise Ibuprofen is the best I can do, I’m afraid. I am sure if men had this we would get three days off work for it every month.
Good advice above. I did have a gyno investigate for fibroids, endo, etc.; had the labs and the ultrasound; everything came out normal and negative, so she thinks it’s my hormones acting up and causing the extra pain between periods. Could it possibly be because I am nearly 36 and have had no pregnancies?
South333
I may be wrong here, but I think that Midol contains caffinne. And obviously, some teas do as well.