Dealing with painful periods

The truth is
she used to cut them thin—never gained an ounce

Nicole Davis7 said:Clearly, you don't think the pain is as bad as you think the weight gain is. I gained some weight myself, and honestly, I'd rather carry an extra 20 pounds than deal with those agonizing period cramps I had before starting birth control. I couldn't work, couldn't go to class, I was passing out in public or on the bus, ending up in the ER... I don't care if I'm a little heavier if it means I can actually function and live my life. Just start with one pill, and if it makes you gain weight, switch them until you find the right fit. I heard Yasmin doesn't cause much weight gain...

Regarding the weight, I already have enough on me. Adding another 20 pounds isn't exactly helping my situation. Just like I don't feel good dealing with the pain, I won't feel good carrying all that extra weight either.

Emily Kern47 said:True...
she used to drink them all the time and never gained an ounce...

It really depends on the person. Personally, I gain weight just by looking at water, so I doubt they wouldn't affect her...

That's why you just lay it all out for that guy—tell him everything

Here’s another one for you: I am literally dying in pain, which is exactly why I’m posting here. I have my senior trip coming up in three days, and of course, my period decides to hit right when I’m stuck on a long bus ride. I honestly don't know what to do. Every single time this happens, it feels like I'm going through hell. Usually, it lasts a day and then breaks, but this is different. None of my friends deal with pain this intense; whenever I try to talk about how much I'm suffering, people act like I'm just being dramatic because they all get cramps too—except they can actually function and go out and live their lives. I came here looking for some actual advice. I haven't tried any herbal remedies, but I know it's way too late for that since it starts in three days. Normally, I just grab Spasmomen, Advil, or Midol, and I don't just take one—I take a ton. The problem is, I can't stand pills; my stomach rejects them and I end up throwing everything back up. I’ve tried Tylenol, Motrin, Aleve, Voltaren, Ketorolac, and even Celebrex, but nothing seems to touch this. I have no idea how I'm going to survive this trip. Before the cramps even start, the back, stomach, and leg pain kick in, followed by diarrhea and vomiting. And the leg pain? It's unbearable. My mom usually has to spend ages rubbing and massaging them just to get me through. So, if you guys know a solid combination of meds that actually worked for you, please, help me out!

I can usually tell when it’s about to hit, typically in the evening... so I just take a few pills. If I don't have my meds on hand, I honestly lose it—I'll take anything, in any amount, just to cope

Honestly, mixing different meds like that isn't a smart move. You’re better off just taking one stronger pill or, better yet, seeing an OB-GYN for a full workup—they can hook you up with actual contraception or whatever specific med you need once they figure out what's actually causing the issue.

For me, I’ve been relying on Advil Dual Action for years. My cycle is pretty predictable, so I usually manage to pop a pill (maybe half a day or a full day before things get messy) which is huge—one doctor actually emphasized how vital that timing is. If you wait until the cramps are already hitting you, it takes forever for the stuff to kick in. Now, with Advil Dual Action, you aren't supposed to go over two a day with 12 hours between them—and look, sometimes I end up shortening that gap because the relief wears off after about 8 or 10 hours—but I try my absolute hardest not to blow past the recommended dose, no matter how much it sucks.

Also, I heard through the grapevine that raspberry leaf tea can help with cramps. Apparently, you have to drink it consistently for a whole month, and it might take at least three months before you even notice a difference—so don't expect a miracle overnight. Once I give it a real shot, I'll let you guys know if it actually works.

Oh, and yeah—exercise helps too. During those months when I’m actually hitting the gym regularly, things feel way more manageable.

Voltaren Rapid isn't an option for me. As soon as I feel any pain, it's game over. I actually just felt something slip in my throat a few minutes ago.
Today, I thought I’d try to see if I could push through without discomfort, but man, was I wrong. Jesus, nothing works better than how you absolutely wreck my mental state. Every single well-meaning person I hear just sends my blood pressure through the roof. Everything is getting on my nerves to the max. My patience is at an all-time low... and then some.

stormymaker24 said:oh, yeah, the classic story.
What really got under my skin during all of this was how my gym teachers used to look at me with such pure disgust if I couldn't participate... they’d just claim it wasn't an actual illness, that it was just "that time of the month," and that I was making it all up.
And, yeah, nobody could wrap their heads around why it hurt me so much. The consensus was always that I was just being weak, that I needed to grit my teeth and get over it. Sometimes I honestly felt like people thought I was faking it just to skip school. Or whatever.

And one more thing—I had a nurse in the ER try to "comfort" me once by saying: "Well, at least now you know what labor feels like!" 😵 🤣

I totally get it. Even today, so many people think we're just exaggerating pain for whatever reasons they can dream up. Very few people actually understand... as if I actually *enjoy* lying in bed for three days straight feeling like I'm dying. If I have responsibilities, I take two Advil right at the start, before the intensity peaks, then one every 4-5 hours as it starts to taper off... maybe four pills total... and even then, the pain isn't gone, it's just down to a level I've gotten used to...
So, yeah, I don't exactly have a magic potion to make the pain vanish 😠 —if I did, I'd > find it... especially if it were something all-natural 😁 but hey, at least we have basic painkillers for first aid...

Carol Ramirez said:I picked up some evening primrose oil and some B6 supplements. I think they might actually be working, but honestly, I’m going to wait until my next cycle hits before I decide if it’s just a placebo effect. I went with capsules for the primrose oil because swallowing pills is already enough of a chore. As for the B6, I just grabbed a small 20-count pack, and unfortunately, I can't keep taking it next month since you aren't supposed to go through multiple packs back-to-back.

Since my PMS brings on these absolutely brutal migraines, I usually try to take some effervescent magnesium tablets to take the edge off.

I have tried basically every tea under the sun, but this specific blend is the one that actually did something for me:

- 20g elderflower (Sambucus nigra)
- 20g rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- 20g white mustard stem (Sinapis alba)
- 20g yarrow flowers (Achillea millefolium)
- 20g shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa pastoris)

Just crush all the herbs together. Boil 1 liter of water, throw in 10g of the herb mix, cover it, and simmer for 2 minutes. Once it cools down, stir in 5 tablespoons of honey. Strain it and drink about half a cup every 2 hours.

That evening primrose stuff sounds interesting. How much does it run you?

I stick to a mix of plantain, lovage, St. John's Wort, and calendula. Plus, I rely heavily on autosuggestion—basically, I just try to tune out the pain and tell myself, "Okay, this is only going to last 3 or 4 days, you won't even feel it," and then somehow it works. Staying active helps a ton too, especially during that week leading up to everything. Swimming is best, followed by power walking, and then running. Keeping a positive mindset really is key.

I used to be totally useless without Advil; I had to pop 50mg or even 25mg just to function. Now, I don't take anything at all, except for trying to "burn off" the tension a few days early with heavy workouts.
When my period actually shows up, I just lay low and try to distract myself with creative projects.

I’m talking about years of dealing with constant pain—everything from my chest down to my knees, just total agony everywhere.
Out of all the painkillers I've tried, nothing works quite like taking some Advil Forte along with a cup of black coffee, no sugar. Honestly, that combo seems to kick in for me in maybe 20 minutes or so.
As for those really intense monthly cramps, my doctor finally sorted that out by putting me on birth control.

Larry Vaughn, I really can’t offer you any specific medical recommendations, given that you’ve already read my own harrowing account of how things went for me. If you want to mitigate the discomfort, my only advice is to be firm with whoever ends up sitting next to you, avoid wearing anything too tight, and keep food constantly available so you can take medication every few hours—or even more frequently whenever the pain flares up. You might need something like Advil, or perhaps something even stronger if they’ll actually authorize it; personally, I’ve found that even standard over-the-counter options were sometimes denied to me. Just keep in mind this is strictly for the duration of your travel, and you absolutely should not attempt such frequent dosing under any other circumstances! 🙂
And please, do not mix different medications; stick to just one type at a time.
Once you’re back home, head straight to a gynecologist for an ultrasound. You should also give some serious thought to starting birth control.
I wish you nothing but the best of luck!

The cramps used to be absolutely brutal—I’m talking total torture! It was usually just one day, maybe two at most, but it was rough.
Since I started taking Yasmin about four months ago, though—well, nothing! Literally nothing. No more cramping, and my periods are shorter and much lighter.

Larry Vaughn said:Here's another one suffering through this and coming to this thread for a reason. I have a senior trip in three days and I need my period to hit right when I'm on the bus. I honestly don't know what to do. Every single time, it's pure hell. It hurts for one day and then stops. None of my friends hurt this bad, and whenever I talk about how much I'm struggling, people think I'm being dramatic because they all get cramps too, but they can still go out and live their lives. I came here looking for advice. I haven't tried herbal stuff, and it's way too late for that since it'll start in three days. Usually, I just take Advil, Aleve, or Midol, and I take way more than the recommended dose. I can't handle pills though, so I end up throwing them all back up. I've tried Motrin, Tylenol, Voltaren, Ketorolac, and Celebrex, but nothing works for me. I have no idea how I'll survive this trip because before the pain starts in my back, stomach, and legs, I get diarrhea and vomiting. The leg pain is unbearable. My mom usually has to massage them hard just to help. So, if you know a good combo of meds that actually worked for you, please... help.

The only thing I can tell you that works fast is to go get a shot that day, right before the trip. You'll sleep a little more, but the pain shouldn't be an issue, especially if you haven't had it yet. Just watch out if you have any drug allergies.

A girl on this forum recently suggested I try some St. John's Wort tea.
Tomorrow is going to be a total disaster. D. FUJ!

Susan Vaughn46 said:The only practical advice I can offer you that actually yields results is to go get an injection on the day of your trip, before you even head out. You might find yourself sleeping a bit more deeply, but the pain shouldn't be an issue, especially if you haven't used them before. Just be mindful of any potential drug allergies.

The most obvious solutions never seem to occur to me when I need them most. Honestly, following that suggestion would be an excellent idea, and you really shouldn't delude yourself into thinking you'll be able to find relief once you're out there. I once found myself stranded in rural Texas in absolute agony, and they were completely unable to help me.

Thanks so much... I'm definitely going to give some of that a shot. Right now, I've been taking the pills every night leading up to it, since apparently starting two days early helps. Maybe it'll actually work. I just really hope everything goes smoothly... It’s a total bummer that I won't be able to grab a drink while I'm traveling 😁

Larry Vaughn said:thanks so much... I might give one of those a shot. actually, I’ve been taking some pills every night leading up to this since apparently it helps to start two days early. maybe something will actually work. fingers crossed everything goes smoothly... too bad we won't be able to grab a drink together on the trip 😁

just hoping you aren't in pain, at least while you're traveling... keeping my fingers crossed for you

Harold Stewart3 said:just hoping you don't feel too much pain, at least while you're traveling... fingers crossed

correction, I actually want you to never feel any more pain, not even on the road🙂

Birth control pills honestly reduce menstrual cramps to almost nothing—it’s like you barely even notice you're on your period. There is significantly less bleeding, just a few drops here and there. It’s a fantastic feeling.
When I'm not taking the pill, though, I rely on Voltaren 500 suppositories. You just insert it—which is incredibly straightforward—and within 20 minutes, it acts like a local anesthetic for your entire pelvic region. Since you aren't swallowing anything, it doesn't mess with your stomach at all... it's brilliant. Give it a shot.