Dealing with bad cramps?

Nicole Baker · 2003-03-23T21:24:13+00:00

So, here I am again, hunched over my computer and twisting around trying to find some relief from this pain... this damn menstrual cycle is relentless... 😢 The…

Sam Hughes5 Active Member

52 messages
joined Sep 2008

#421 · Nov 12, 2006

So, I got hit with it yesterday... just this constant, dull ache that won't quit on me... haven't taken anything yet... maybe I'll just grab some Tylenol later.
My sister is dealing with these absolutely unbearable pains... and honestly, even standard over-the-counter stuff doesn't touch it; she really needs to get an injection just to find some relief. She went to see her OB-GYN and everything checked out fine, though the doctor did mention seeing signs on the ultrasound of some old ovarian inflammation from way back. She’s also incredibly thin—stands about 5'6" but weighs barely 100 pounds. She actually struggled with anorexia about ten years ago.
I’m just wondering how I can actually help her or what I should suggest, besides the obvious "please eat" advice. She's so stubborn and refuses to admit how bad it is. We're all reaching our breaking point here because every year it seems like she gets thinner and thinner (since she doesn't live here in the States)... she's 31 now. She's living on pain meds, but they just aren't doing the trick. Does anyone have any advice? I'd really appreciate it.

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#422 · Nov 12, 2006

Sam Hughes5 said:I got my period yesterday... and that dull ache is just constant... I haven't taken anything yet... maybe I'll grab some Tylenol...
My sister is dealing with unbearable pain... nothing we try helps, and she actually needs injections to get relief. She saw her OB-GYN and everything came back "normal," though they did mention an ultrasound showed some old inflammation in her ovaries from way back. She’s also extremely thin—about 5'6" and only 99 pounds. She struggled with anorexia ten years ago...
I really want to know how I can help her or what advice I can give besides just telling her to eat. She won't listen to me, and honestly, our whole family is at a breaking point because she gets thinner every single year (since she doesn't live here in the States). She's 31. She relies on painkillers, but nothing seems to touch the pain... does anyone have any advice? I'd really appreciate it.

During a consultation with a gynecologist at the hospital, he mentioned that women should consider birth control more often. Beyond preventing pregnancy, it can lower the risk of ovarian cancer and help reset the body if there's a hormonal imbalance. Since I started on the pill, I feel like a brand new person, and I see the same thing happening with a friend of mine who used to be incredibly underweight. It helped her appetite and she finally filled out. For me, my skin cleared up, my nails got stronger, I have less hair on my legs, the pain is gone, and my flow is much lighter. I only use about six slim tampons per cycle.
You have to stay on top of the doctors and pester them; otherwise, they aren't going to go the extra mile to make sure everything is handled immediately. You have to be persistent.

Sam Hughes5 Active Member

52 messages
joined Sep 2008

#423 · Nov 13, 2006

So, she was adamant about skipping the birth control because she’s terrified of putting on extra weight...
Then there's her other sister, who actually is on them because she deals with PCOS... and honestly, ever since she started, the hair growth has been a real struggle for her. She’s currently on Diane-35... though I’ve heard through the grapevine that Yasmin might be a better option. I tried my best to talk her into switching over to Yasmin... but she just won't budge. And now, it feels like nobody can catch a break.

Samuel Diaz Member

24 messages
joined Oct 2006

#424 · Nov 13, 2006

Angela Wright said:About a year ago, I posted here about my experience dealing with pain and shared my story regarding endometriosis. Listen to me, people—just popping pills isn't the answer to painful periods!!! PLEASE, just go see a gynecologist and demand an ultrasound exam!!! Endometriosis is becoming way more common among women, and if you don't get treated immediately and the right way it can cause massive problems it could even turn into something malignant like cancer!!!
Unbearable pain isn't normal and it means something is wrong with you! Go right now to your doctor and deal with this once and for all!!

Honestly, I actually know for a fact that intense pain doesn't always have to be a sign of something life-threatening... I had my first gynecological exam when I was sixteen because I would literally pass out from the pain, start seizing up, turn pale, and deal with these insane pains in my right side. The ER doctor sent me straight to a specialist because she thought there might be cysts, problematic ovaries, inflammation, or even internal bleeding... In the end, after doing all the tests, the specialist told me that what I was feeling didn't necessarily mean there had to be some hidden inflammation or disease lurking there...
After that, it happened one more time where I just collapsed because I hadn't taken a pill in time and the pain just radiated everywhere... (In my case, I have to take something the second I feel it in my lower back, otherwise, if I don't lie down and get warm, things get nasty) but alright, I've gotten used to my symptoms and I know exactly when I need to act... I went for another checkup later and the doctor saw how panicked I was and basically told me not to worry since everything looked fine during the exam, even though I still get these crazy pains periodically...
She also mentioned that painful periods don't necessarily stop after you give birth... which is something I've seen a lot of people talking about online...
And for anyone who thinks the pain is just "all in your head"... haha, yeah, I'd love for them to feel it "psychically" like I do, just to see what it’s like to pass out in the middle of the street or on a city bus...

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#425 · Nov 14, 2006

Sam Hughes5 said:but she said she doesn't want birth control because she's worried about gaining weight...
and her other sister is on the pill... because she has PCOS... and she's been dealing with increased hair growth ever since she started taking them... she's on Diane-35... though I've heard Yasmin is better... I tried talking her into switching to Yasmin... but she won't budge.. and now everyone's losing their minds.

I take Yasmin. My doctor explained that there are basically two types of oral contraceptives. The first type—which includes things like Celest and Yasmin—completely shuts down ovarian function. The second type manipulates how the ovaries work by creating an unfavorable hormone level that prevents conception. That’s the older style of contraception. I'm not entirely sure which category Diane falls into.
One thing is for certain: Big Pharma pours massive amounts of money into researching and refining these pills, and there is a huge difference in quality and effectiveness between what was available ten years ago versus what we have today.

Maybe she should head over to a specialist to see if there’s a better alternative for her, because the ones she's using clearly have nasty side effects.

I actually just typed "Diane-35" into my search engine, and honestly, some of the results were pretty grim. Here's the link:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media...2005_39_e.html

After reading through that, if I were her, I’d be rushing straight to the doctor to demand Yasmin.

Sam Hughes5 Active Member

52 messages
joined Sep 2008

#426 · Nov 15, 2006

The whole thing boils down to her gynecologist putting her on Diane

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#427 · Nov 15, 2006

Sam Hughes5 said:the whole point is that her gynecologist prescribed Diane

Good grief, she’s not the only doctor on the planet. She has every right to seek a second opinion—or a fifth one if necessary. Yasmin was my very first pill, but my doctor made it clear I should report any side effects immediately so we could pivot to something better.

Chloe Ward44 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Nov 2006

#428 · Nov 18, 2006

Walter Myers4 said:It’s all just playing out in your head anyway.😉

Only people who don’t have problems say that. Like, nobody actually *wants* to be popping pills or making monthly trips to the ER. It’s not a hobby. Sure, you try everything—holistic stuff, Grandma's herbal tea recipes, whatever—but some people just feel it more than others. It’s simple. I used to think you couldn't lose your grip on reality from something like this, but for some, that’s exactly how it plays out. It’s heavy. And honestly, it gets under my skin when people start trying to psychoanalyze period cramps with some therapist's logic, claiming it’s all tied back to childhood trauma or something. You can't argue with a sensation. There isn't a machine in a lab in Chicago or anywhere else that can measure exactly how much pain you're in. I’d give anything if there was an instrument for that.
I’d love for a cup of tea to do the trick, really I would. But no... I have to go straight for the Ketoral. I take it the second I feel anything coming on, because if I don't, things turn bizarrely intense—we're talking full-blown pain, vomiting, diarrhea, passing out... and don't even get me started on my spine. Since I had surgery on my back, the pressure is just so much heavier.
So, I actually listened to the advice. I did what everyone suggested and switched over to hormonal birth control... and then I ended up with a thrombosis. So, if anyone feels like lecturing me now about how "it’s all in my head," you can save it. It's funny how people talk about mental health and psychosomatic stuff until a physical reality hits them in the face. One minute you're following the script, the next you're dealing with a blood clot. It isn't a mood swing; it's a medical emergency.

restlesscobra132 Member

27 messages
joined Oct 2006

#429 · Nov 23, 2006

Does anyone have tips on how to AT LEAST minimize PMS symptoms? 🙂

Sam Hughes5 Active Member

52 messages
joined Sep 2008

#430 · Nov 24, 2006

Chocolate 😉

Chloe Ward44 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Nov 2006

#431 · Nov 24, 2006

Trying to use music... or maybe just cleaning... to funnel all those heavy emotions, all that anger... I'll redirect it into polishing something. It’s better if my poor loser isn't always the primary target.

Gerald Clark5 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Nov 2006

#432 · Nov 27, 2006

Lately, I’ve been suggesting
Magnesium, a good B-complex—could be standard pills or even something like Neurobion—and those primrose supplements from Natural Wealth... honestly, all of this helps dial down the pain and that general irritability that just creeps up on you. Though, look, if none of that touches the sides, we might have to talk about oral contraceptives... which can definitely help regulate your cycle, but they don't really do much for the mood swings 😁. Also, I’m trying not to prescribe Ketonal quite as often lately—there’s that Ketonal Duo out now, but personally, I think things like Ventor or Nimesulide are better choices chemically; they don't mess with your blood work or wreck your stomach like other stuff does, they kick in fast, and they're solid for those really intense pains
. I also heard some people raving about those Dolorex tablets—they’re basically herbal-based imports from China... pretty great actually. I tried them for a migraine once, but I hear the girls find them super effective for their specific pains
.

Ronald Parker6 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jul 2008

#433 · Jul 19, 2008

Ugh, the pain and cramping I’m dealing with right now are just absolutely brutal. Honestly, yesterday I tried taking some Voltaren... waited an hour and felt zero relief. Then I popped some Normabel—nothing after 45 minutes either! It wasn't until I finally took some Unufen that the pain actually started to let up, even if it took half an hour to kick in. And last time, the Unufen didn't even work, so I had to resort to the Voltaren again.
(Seriously, the pain is so intense it makes me want to just give up entirely—I just want this misery to end.)
My mom keeps telling me I need to go see a gynecologist for an ultrasound... but honestly, the thought of even stepping foot in a hospital makes me so anxious. Has anyone else here dealt with this?

James Collins12 Member

14 messages
joined Dec 2008

#434 · Jul 19, 2008

Ronald Parker6 said:Ugh, the pain and cramping I’m dealing with right now are just absolutely brutal. Honestly, yesterday I tried taking some Voltaren... waited an hour and felt zero relief. Then I popped some Normabel—nothing after 45 minutes either! It wasn't until I finally took some Unufen that the pain actually started to let up, even if it took half an hour to kick in. And last time, the Unufen didn't even work, so I had to resort to the Voltaren again.
(Seriously, the pain is so intense it makes me want to just give up entirely—I just want this misery to end.)
My mom keeps telling me I need to go see a gynecologist for an ultrasound... but honestly, the thought of even stepping foot in a hospital makes me so anxious. Has anyone else here dealt with this?

I truly don't see any reason why you should be afraid of going to the hospital for an ultrasound. It isn't uncomfortable at all, and it certainly doesn't hurt.
Also, I assume when you mentioned "neUfen," you were referring to Neofen.

ruggedrider4 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Aug 2008

#435 · Jul 19, 2008

🤷 My period is coming every 22-23 days now and I am seriously going to lose my mind, because it used to be every 27-28 days, so now suddenly it's every 22-23 (I'll probably have 15 a year at this rate). At least it doesn't hurt as bad anymore, though the only real change is that I've lost weight, so maybe that's why. 😲 This cycle is just weird.

Austin Booth2 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Jul 2008

#436 · Jul 19, 2008

ruggedrider4 said:🤷 My period is coming every 22-23 days now and I am seriously going to lose my mind, because it used to be every 27-28 days, so now suddenly it's every 22-23 (I'll probably have 15 a year at this rate). At least it doesn't hurt as bad anymore, though the only real change is that I've lost weight, so maybe that's why. 😲 This cycle is just weird.

Last August, I had mine TWICE 🙏 because of that sudden weight loss...😵

Tyler Morales2 Newcomer

8 messages
joined Apr 2020

#437 · Jul 21, 2008

Alright, look, I know I'm late to the party here, but can someone just tell me what pain relievers I can grab over the counter besides Advil? And honestly, which one actually works best? 🙏

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#438 · Jul 21, 2008

Tyler Morales2 said:Alright, look, I know I'm late to the party here, but can someone just tell me what pain relievers I can grab over the counter besides Advil? And honestly, which one actually works best? 🙏

Ketoral, Voltaren, and stuff like that.
Don't go overboard with that stuff; you’re going to wreck your liver. Have you actually sat down with a doctor for an exam yet? You might be dealing with PCOS or endometriosis. For women who find that a single dose of Neofen doesn't cut it, I highly recommend switching to AB pills.

Samuel Davis16 Member

46 messages
joined Jan 2009

#439 · Jul 25, 2008

Hey,
you might want to give Baralgin M. a shot.
It’s the only thing that actually touches the pain for me; everything else is too weak. I'm thinking about getting something stronger, maybe around $12.
later

cosmicraven41 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Aug 2008

#440 · Aug 3, 2008

I used to take two Voltaren just to handle the pain. Honestly, since I started on pills about six months ago, I can't even describe how much better things are. I used to be stuck using overnight pads constantly, but now even the smallest ones work fine. And the pain? Completely gone. 🙂

Dealing with bad cramps?

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