Period talk: Questions and advice

Look, go get an ultrasound. Those excruciating pains could be symptoms of endometriosis or PCOS, both of which need medical management and constant monitoring to stay under control.

So, you should probably go greet the doctor on my behalf and demand a referral for an ultrasound, or perhaps just head to a private clinic to get it handled—I suspect we are looking at something around $67. Then, if the endocrinologist confirms it, you’ll need to get those markers checked, or look into hormones if it turns out to be PCOS, assuming my memory serves me correctly. Honestly, doing both simultaneously would be the most prudent course of action.
And do it immediately!
Good grief, you are sitting there enduring such agonizing pain (and believe me, both Angela Wright and I know exactly what you're going through), yet you're being told this isn't necessary simply because some doctor holds the misguided opinion that suffering is perfectly normal. 🙄 Regarding the doctor,

By the way, how old are you exactly?

From my own experience—as someone who was popping Voltaren and Baralgin like they were Tic Tacs, only to end up facing days of vomiting, eventual respiratory distress, ER visits, and pure screaming matches... Ketonal is the heavy hitter here, and it will likely be your best bet. It should provide enough relief to keep you functional until you can start a proper regimen, which will most likely involve pills. As for Baralgin, I have read that they are incredibly harmful, so I would steer clear of them entirely.

I’m dealing with this exact same thing—searched everywhere, did the ultrasounds, and my OB-GYN just shrugged and told me nothing is wrong. It’s like every woman experiences this differently, right? For me, I think it all started after I dropped a ton of weight a few years back; everything was fine until then, but now the pain is just unbearable—more or less constant. Some days it’s so bad I just want to scream, though we all know that doesn't actually help. I can barely walk because my legs cramp up, and I end up throwing up multiple times... I can't even keep food down, it's honestly awful. Though, let's be real, the vomiting is mostly from the meds. My doctor suggested switching to Advil suppositories since they don't mess with your stomach and kick in faster... I just haven't worked up the nerve to try them yet.😛

Ever since I started my period at around twelve years old, it’s been the same grueling cycle of issues... there were months where I simply couldn't pull myself out of bed for two or three days straight. Sleep was an impossibility because the pain was just that relentless. It was honestly a nightmare. I relied heavily on Voltaren and muscle relaxants; while the Spasmex helped somewhat, over the years I found myself taking four or five of them a day just to function. Everything finally changed when I decided to see my gynecologist for a full workup, and she prescribed some hormonal birth control. Since then, things have progressively improved. Sure, the first and second days are still rough, but it isn't even half as catastrophic as it used to be. Nowadays, I just sip some herbal tea meant for cramps and take one extra-strength muscle relaxant if needed. For ten years, I genuinely feared these pains would never subside, but now it's actually manageable. Finally. On top of that, my flow isn't nearly as heavy as it once was, which is a relief given that my anemia used to cause me to faint on more than one occasion.

stormymaker24 said:By the way, how old are you?

I'm 20. My period started when I was 12.

I feel you... I know exactly what you're going through... My periods are absolutely brutal too, especially that first day,
and honestly, I spent half my life stuck in the bathroom feeling like I was gonna barf,😁
Then I started taking birth control... and I've only had one period since then—it was still painful, sure, but nothing compared to this nightmare...

Angela Edwards76 said:I'm 20 years old, and my first period arrived when I was 12.

Honestly, I suspect we might be looking at a simple cyst here. In my own experience, my cycle started around ten or eleven, and by thirteen, the cramps were already becoming a regular burden. While you waited a bit longer than I did, that extended gap actually makes me lean more toward the theory of a cyst; such things tend to develop gradually over time. My personal logic dictates that if it were truly PCOS, the symptoms would likely manifest much sooner, perhaps within a year or two after the reproductive system fully kicks into gear.

For me, nothing works quite like Ketorol. I’ve tried Voltaren Rapid, too, but it tends to be a bit harsh on my stomach.
I started taking birth control pills nearly a year ago, and while they only seem to provide a marginal reduction in pain, I suppose even a slight improvement is something. 😢

Lady's Mantle 🙏really makes a difference; it won't knock out pain like Advil, but it definitely helps!!!

"It tightens and tones the tissue, making it an excellent astringent and tonic.
It aids in reducing water retention, strengthens the heart muscle, and treats inflammation and ulcers—even neglected ones. For both children and adults experiencing muscle weakness or lethargy in the limbs, it serves as a subtle yet beneficial remedy; it's safe to use and should be taken for at least a year. Lady's Mantle is incredibly medicinal and recommended for various conditions, including many women's health issues: menopause symptoms, menstrual irregularities, abnormal discharge, abdominal pain, postpartum recovery, abdominal sagging after difficult births, uterine prolapse, and pelvic hernias. It strengthens the uterine wall to help prevent miscarriage, heals chronic ulcers, infected wounds, stings, cuts, and sepsis resulting from injuries. It also helps with epilepsy, builds muscle strength in children, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and supports vascular health;
it treats respiratory inflammation, stops bleeding gums following dental work, and eases pains from gout and rheumatism, etc.
Recent scientific studies have shown that certain compounds in Lady's Mantle can even inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus—bacteria that have become resistant to many common antibiotics. Researchers in Japan have even discovered that a compound found in the plant, agrimonin, can help combat breast cancer!
Lady's Mantle also boosts overall health by addressing anemia. Most importantly, it regulates excessive secretions, relieves painful menstruation, and can assist in facilitating childbirth. It helps with both menopausal transitions and puberty (for the latter, a blend of Lady's Mantle and Yarrow in a 1:1 ratio is suggested). However, those suffering from gallbladder issues or gastrointestinal problems should avoid it.
In children, Lady's Mantle can stop diarrhea without any unpleasant side effects.
For women facing difficult labors, it addresses uterine weakness and acts as a safeguard against miscarriage. It would be ideal for expectant mothers to drink this herbal tea starting from their third month of pregnancy. When combined with Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Lady's Mantle becomes a universal remedy for various female ailments, including uterine prolapse.
Experts suggest that "two-thirds of gynecological surgeries could be avoided if patients took Lady's Mantle consistently over time; it treats many lower-body ailments, inflammations, ulcers, and even aids in bone healing.
Every woman should consider drinking Lady's Mantle tea postpartum. Topically, when crushed into a poultice, this plant treats wounds, stings, and cuts... it also strengthens children who may have weak musculature despite a good diet."
Lady's Mantle is also great for weight management; just 2-3 cups a day can help maintain a slim figure."

Jessica King16 said:I suppose I should probably address the whole situation regarding Vrkuta, though honestly, looking at how things tend to spiral, it’s hard to say if anyone actually cares enough to change anything. It’s just one more thing on the pile, another layer of complexity in an already exhausting landscape where nothing ever seems to quite land where you expect it to. You look at these developments and you see the same patterns repeating, the same predictable cycles of chaos and supposed progress that don't actually move the needle for any of us regular people just trying to navigate the day. It feels like we're all just circling the same drain, watching these events unfold with this heavy sense of inevitability that settles in your bones, making you wonder why we even bother debating the specifics when the outcome feels so preordained by the sheer weight of institutional inertia.🙏 It honestly makes a difference, and I’m telling you, while it isn't going to knock back the pain quite like popping a couple of Advil or some heavy-duty prescription stuff, it actually provides a level of relief that's worth noting.

Where on earth am I even supposed to find this stuff, and more importantly, how are you actually supposed to take it without making a mess of things? It’s just one of those things where you realize everything changes once you go through it, because honestly, I didn't have any of these issues before I went through labor, but now that I'm on the other side of it, good grief, the pain is just absolutely relentless.

The spinal blocks were the way to go for me...no pain after the delivery...honestly, the pain was even worse once everything was over

Yeah, I’m one of those lucky people who actually managed to wrap up their PhD😁...
while my sister ended up dealing with the exact same mess you're going through after giving birth.
For me, my go-to was some herbal tea blends I used to pick up from a local apothecary down in Portland. It was basically just a random mix of everything under the sun, but honestly, it worked... my symptoms were a total moving target, too; one month it was nausea, the next it was groin or abdominal cramps, then sometimes it was a killer headache or just feeling completely wiped out, though the whole ordeal really started kicking in around age 16, even though I'd been dealing with it since I was 13.

Birth control pills definitely did the trick for me; they also happen to treat my PCOS.

So, usually my period lasts about seven days straight and my cycle is super predictable, but this month things are just totally wonky. I started on Thursday, and now it’s Saturday and I’m basically almost done! My doctor mentioned it could be a possibility that I'm pregnant—even though my husband and I didn't actually have sex during my fertile window—or it might just be some kind of hormonal imbalance acting up. On top of that, I've been getting these little sharp pains in my lower abdomen every now and then, though I haven't noticed any other typical pregnancy symptoms yet!

Has anyone else ever dealt with something similar?
p.s. It's still way too early to even bother with a home test—my doctor told me to wait at least another week before trying one!

Laura Sanchez26 said:My period usually lasts 7 days—totally regular—but this month it started Thursday and I’m basically done by Saturday. My doctor mentioned it could be pregnancy (even though my husband and I didn't have sex during my fertile window) or maybe just a hormonal imbalance. Now I'm getting these random sharp pains in my lower abdomen. No other pregnancy symptoms so far!

Anyone else dealt with something like this?
p.s. Too early for a home test—doctor said wait another week.

Honestly, it could be anything—hormones, pregnancy, or just stress.

You don't have much choice but to wait until next week. Personally, my spouse would skip the pee sticks entirely and just go straight for a blood test to check Beta HCG levels—it's way more reliable.

I once experienced what I can only describe as a "period" that lasted a mere three days—it was a bright, light red, almost pinkish in hue. Driven by an overwhelming anxiety regarding a potential pregnancy, I sought medical advice from my physician at the Mayo Clinic. He prescribed me some Dabronston and instructed me to take it for five days; his logic was that if I didn't see a legitimate period within the following five days, then pregnancy was a certainty. Fortunately, my cycle returned as expected, which suggested nothing more than a temporary hormonal imbalance—an irregularity that, thankfully, hasn't resurfaced since.

I’m honestly considering just starting the medication, but my boyfriend is being such a hovering worrywart about it, fretting that it'll completely wreck my system and lead to some massive health crisis down the road, which is just exhausting... how on earth am I supposed to make him see sense??😢

So, how old are we talking? And is this going to be your first time, or what?

Look, we’re talking about hormones here; they aren't exactly "healthy" by any stretch of the imagination. That said, you might not experience any side effects at all—they can be completely asymptomatic for some people. For instance, I didn't run into a single issue while I was on them. 🤷
However, you really need to find the specific ones that work for your body.

I'm 20, he's 24, and we've been stuck in this loop together for two years now...