Dealing with bad cramps?

Which magnesium supplement do you use?
For me, those effervescent tablets cause too much stomach upset, so I avoid them.

Ugh, seriously? I thought I was the only one dealing with an absolutely unbearable period...🙂It drags on for seven days straight, and those first two days are just pure hell—insane cramps and heavy bleeding. I’ve actually ended up in the ER before; they gave me a Ketorolac injection and within five minutes, it was like nothing had even happened. Honestly, if I take some Ketorolac a day before my cycle starts, everything stays manageable, but once the pain actually hits? Forget it. No pill on earth can touch it at that point. So, if your cycle is regular, pro tip: take a dose or two of Ketorolac a day early. At least it works for me... Also, regarding that whole "hot water bottle on your stomach" thing—my doctor told me not to bother because it can actually make the bleeding heavier, and personally, it didn't help the pain at all. If anything, it felt like it made things worse...

I also take Ketonal, but I can't afford to wait a day or two since the pain sometimes hits seven days early. I expect to get it tomorrow, though it isn't due for another six days.

Ugh, tell me about it. I’ve been feeling pretty crappy for a few days too—dealing with these constant headaches and some serious ovarian pain, but honestly? It’s nothing compared to that absolute nightmare when my period actually hits...😢

hiddenviper17 said:Which magnesium supplement do you use?
For me, those effervescent tablets cause too much stomach upset, so I avoid them.

Well, I stick to the effervescent ones myself—I find they hit my system much faster since they’re liquid, really. A friend of mine and I both swear by the fizz, so I wouldn't know if anything else actually works quite as well.
I used to take the Dietpharm brand, but then I picked up some others at CVS—honestly, I have no idea what the manufacturer even is—but they work wonders for me. They actually taste better, too.
It’s a solid supplement to have on hand regardless, though I really only bother with it during my period—or just before, depending on when the cramps decide to show up. You should seriously give it a shot; just grab whatever is available.

Drew Cook5 said:Ugh, seriously? I thought I was the only one dealing with an absolutely unbearable period...🙂It drags on for seven days straight, and those first two days are just pure hell—insane cramps and heavy bleeding. I’ve actually ended up in the ER before; they gave me a Ketorolac injection and within five minutes, it was like nothing had even happened. Honestly, if I take some Ketorolac a day before my cycle starts, everything stays manageable, but once the pain actually hits? Forget it. No pill on earth can touch it at that point. So, if your cycle is regular, pro tip: take a dose or two of Ketorolac a day early. At least it works for me... Also, regarding that whole "hot water bottle on your stomach" thing—my doctor told me not to bother because it can actually make the bleeding heavier, and personally, it didn't help the pain at all. If anything, it felt like it made things worse...

It’s like this—my sister eventually became completely immune to medication because she was overusing them so much; nothing worked anymore, so she had to head to the ER every single month just to cope, often requiring an IV drip since she deals with other health issues too. The doctors there warned her that she can't keep doing this every month or she'll end up destroying her kidneys, so please, be careful!!!

And just a word of advice—watch out for those salt cravings right before your period starts. It’s such a common thing for women to crave all that sodium during that window, but honestly, it just causes more water retention, which makes the cramping feel so much worse. I’ve started trying to stick to a lower-salt diet around that time every month—and I’ve been taking magnesium, too—and I have to say, the intense pain I used to deal with? It’s basically gone. 🙂

Brandon Reyes6 said:Well, I stick to the effervescent ones myself—I find they hit my system much faster since they’re liquid, really. A friend of mine and I both swear by the fizz, so I wouldn't know if anything else actually works quite as well.
I used to take the Dietpharm brand, but then I picked up some others at CVS—honestly, I have no idea what the manufacturer even is—but they work wonders for me. They actually taste better, too.
It’s a solid supplement to have on hand regardless, though I really only bother with it during my period—or just before, depending on when the cramps decide to show up. You should seriously give it a shot; just grab whatever is available.

Faster than a pill??

hiddenviper17 said:Faster than a pill??

Honestly, anything that hits your system before a tablet even reaches your bloodstream is going to feel faster.
To be fair, pills don't even do much for me—you take one, you feel a fleeting moment of relief, and then we’re right back where we started. I find grabbing a glass of juice much easier, and let's face it, it's probably healthier too.
From what I’ve gathered, magnesium helps relax the muscles—which is the whole point—so you aren't dealing with those brutal cramps and the inevitable pain that follows.🙂 (And we all know that pain comes from the uterus contracting like crazy during your period or even a few days leading up to it!)

Here are a few instances where it actually matters:
In rowing, triathlons, and various other high-intensity sports, magnesium deficiency is a constant issue. It usually shows up as muscle spasms, tremors, or migraines.

Just look it up on Google if you don't believe me.

Of course, people with kidney issues shouldn't touch magnesium without talking to a doctor first. There’s also the risk of it interacting with certain medications, so you really have to be careful.
And whatever you do, don't take it alongside iron!!

I was thinking about magnesium tablets.

hiddenviper17 said:I was thinking about magnesium tablets.

I actually wrote that bit regarding other pills that weren't doing much for me—not that I've seen any difference, anyway.
As for magnesium tablets? I haven't tried them yet—assuming they even exist in that capacity—so really, I have nothing definitive to say on the matter.

I am currently taking iron supplements 😢
but this is excellent advice—I will consult my doctor about it.

hiddenviper17 said:I am currently taking iron supplements 😢
but this is excellent advice—I will consult my doctor about it.

Right, well, looking at the packaging on these Dietpharm effervescent ones—you know, the fizzy kind—it mentions that you shouldn't take magnesium at the same time as tetracycline or iron preparations; you really need to space them out by about three or four hours.

Anyway, just give it a shot whenever you feel that pain coming on—it doesn't cost you anything to try, just be careful to space it away from your iron, or better yet, just ask your doctor.
My own OB-GYN recommended the same thing to me before I started taking anything.
It’s worked wonders for me—and look, that doesn't mean it'll work for everyone, obviously—but everyone I’ve personally recommended it to has said it’s great, so if you decide to try it, let me know if it helps you too.

But in that case, you have to go with the effervescent ones; you can't just mix all those different pills together.
Try the fizzy ones, but let them dissolve completely first. Honestly, the taste was pretty nasty for me at the start, but I eventually got used to it.

Yes, exactly like that.
First I will finish my iron supplements, then I will move on to magnesium.😁

Hey everyone, I really need some advice.
My period isn't necessarily heavy (okay, it’s only day two), but man, the cramps are brutal. Sometimes the pain is so intense I’m literally screaming and clutching myself just to get a moment of relief. 🙂 I know that’s not a healthy way to handle things, but sometimes it truly feels unbearable.
I’ve cycled through Advil, Aleve, and even tried some Voltaren (just for a quick fix), but I always end up relying on Motrin. If I take one pill the second I feel it coming on, I can usually avoid being curled up in bed making noise. By the second day, though, I’m typically needing two pills in the morning, and maybe another one later if the first dose wears off (otherwise, I’m completely out of commission). I know these aren't great for you long-term—I've heard they can be pretty hard on the body—but they’re the only thing that actually works. I tried switching to "natural" remedies based on recommendations from friends and my mom’s girlfriends (I can't remember the names right now, but if any of you suggest something, it might ring a bell), but nothing worked. I always find myself crawling back to Motrin.

So, here’s the thing. I really want to find an alternative, but I have no clue what it would be. It doesn't help knowing that supposedly the first time you give birth, the pain is less, because that’s a long way off for me. Also—just so we're clear—I don't take birth control, I never have and never plan to, so using that as a way to manage the pain isn't an option for me.

Hey girl,
I just happened to stumble upon this, and honestly, my heart goes out to you—but I’ve got a question too:
So, basically, ever since I got my first period (I was about 13 and a half) up until now (I'm 34), my cycles have been absolute torture. In the beginning, during those first couple of years, the pain would only hit on the first day, but then around age 20, things shifted and the pain started stretching out to cover the entire cycle, like a full six days. I actually had a fibroid that I ended up having surgery for, but even after that, the pain hasn't gotten any better; the only difference is that back when the fibroid was growing super fast, my periods would last 8 to 10 days and be incredibly heavy, but thankfully, that part is over.
The real nightmare I'm dealing with is how sudden the pain is—usually right when the bleeding starts, because it isn't even constant. Like, on day two, the bleeding is pretty steady and the pain is intense, bordering on unbearable, but by days three, four, or five, the bleeding comes in waves, and the pain follows suit. When the flow starts, it feels like something is physically trapping it inside (this horrific bloating), and once the contractions kick in, the pain is just devastating; I get dizzy, feel totally weak, nauseous, and I'm just completely wiped out and unable to do anything at all.
The only thing that actually touches the pain is taking some high-dose Advil or Aleve.
And doctors? Man, I've seen so many of them in my life, but most of them just give me this blank, pale look whenever I try to explain what I'm going through. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Thanks!🙏🙂

I’ve tried everything—all kinds of herbal teas, switching up my whole diet, cutting out salt, ditching dairy, you name it—but honestly, nothing makes a dent. There aren't even any physical changes to point to.
About two years ago, I started dealing with these cysts that popped up right after some doctor put me on hormone treatments because I've been trying to get pregnant. It was such a mess; one doctor would prescribe them, another would yell at me for even taking them, and a third would just mumble something incoherent, clearly having no clue what he wanted to say himself... so yeah, I’ve pretty much given up on seeing doctors unless it’s for a basic check-up.
The funny thing is, once I finally stopped taking those hormones, the cysts just vanished on their own.
But the pain? That hasn't budged an inch; it was there before, it's here now, and it isn't going anywhere.
I’m just living with it at this point, but I have to ask... am I really the only one out there dealing with this?🤷

Anthony Doyle10 said:Hey girl,
I just happened to stumble upon this, and honestly, my heart goes out to you—but I’ve got a question too:
So, basically, ever since I got my first period (I was about 13 and a half) up until now (I'm 34), my cycles have been absolute torture. In the beginning, during those first couple of years, the pain would only hit on the first day, but then around age 20, things shifted and the pain started stretching out to cover the entire cycle, like a full six days. I actually had a fibroid that I ended up having surgery for, but even after that, the pain hasn't gotten any better; the only difference is that back when the fibroid was growing super fast, my periods would last 8 to 10 days and be incredibly heavy, but thankfully, that part is over.
The real nightmare I'm dealing with is how sudden the pain is—usually right when the bleeding starts, because it isn't even constant. Like, on day two, the bleeding is pretty steady and the pain is intense, bordering on unbearable, but by days three, four, or five, the bleeding comes in waves, and the pain follows suit. When the flow starts, it feels like something is physically trapping it inside (this horrific bloating), and once the contractions kick in, the pain is just devastating; I get dizzy, feel totally weak, nauseous, and I'm just completely wiped out and unable to do anything at all.
The only thing that actually touches the pain is taking some high-dose Advil or Aleve.
And doctors? Man, I've seen so many of them in my life, but most of them just give me this blank, pale look whenever I try to explain what I'm going through. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Thanks!🙏🙂

Have you actually gone to get your hormone levels checked to see if they're normal??
A friend of mine who deals with cysts also struggles with thyroid issues—just like her mother did, who had both cysts and cancer.
Maybe try taking some magnesium when it hits? It helps relax the muscles and is usually good for migraines and general weakness...
I don't know if it'll help you specifically—if the pain is caused by uterine contractions, it might work, but if we're talking about cysts that can cause pain or even rupture, I'm not sure how much of a difference it'll make.

I actually had them once, maybe two and a half years ago, right after I finished hormone therapy—nothing before and nothing since. My levels were totally fine back then, but honestly, I really should go get checked out again because my mom is dealing with some thyroid issues lately.
To be fair, my doctor used to send me for hormone panels while I was still on the meds, but she never bothered with the before or after stuff.
I’m definitely going to try taking some magnesium, since I know how much it helps with muscle cramps, but man, it never even crossed my mind to try it—guess you really do learn new tricks every day, huh?
I'll let you guys know if anything changes, because I am seriously expecting my period to show up soon.
Thanks.🙂

Anthony Doyle10 said:Hey girl,
I just happened to stumble upon this, and honestly, my heart goes out to you—but I’ve got a question too:
So, basically, ever since I got my first period (I was about 13 and a half) up until now (I'm 34), my cycles have been absolute torture. In the beginning, during those first couple of years, the pain would only hit on the first day, but then around age 20, things shifted and the pain started stretching out to cover the entire cycle, like a full six days. I actually had a fibroid that I ended up having surgery for, but even after that, the pain hasn't gotten any better; the only difference is that back when the fibroid was growing super fast, my periods would last 8 to 10 days and be incredibly heavy, but thankfully, that part is over.
The real nightmare I'm dealing with is how sudden the pain is—usually right when the bleeding starts, because it isn't even constant. Like, on day two, the bleeding is pretty steady and the pain is intense, bordering on unbearable, but by days three, four, or five, the bleeding comes in waves, and the pain follows suit. When the flow starts, it feels like something is physically trapping it inside (this horrific bloating), and once the contractions kick in, the pain is just devastating; I get dizzy, feel totally weak, nauseous, and I'm just completely wiped out and unable to do anything at all.
The only thing that actually touches the pain is taking some high-dose Advil or Aleve.
And doctors? Man, I've seen so many of them in my life, but most of them just give me this blank, pale look whenever I try to explain what I'm going through. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Thanks!🙏🙂

That’s exactly how it is for me too—only Voltaren or Ketoral helps.
Every time I mention how intense the pain gets, they just ask if I've thought about taking pills. 🙄

Anthony Doyle10 said:I’ve tried everything—all kinds of herbal teas, switching up my whole diet, cutting out salt, ditching dairy, you name it—but honestly, nothing makes a dent. There aren't even any physical changes to point to.
About two years ago, I started dealing with these cysts that popped up right after some doctor put me on hormone treatments because I've been trying to get pregnant. It was such a mess; one doctor would prescribe them, another would yell at me for even taking them, and a third would just mumble something incoherent, clearly having no clue what he wanted to say himself... so yeah, I’ve pretty much given up on seeing doctors unless it’s for a basic check-up.
The funny thing is, once I finally stopped taking those hormones, the cysts just vanished on their own.
But the pain? That hasn't budged an inch; it was there before, it's here now, and it isn't going anywhere.
I’m just living with it at this point, but I have to ask... am I really the only one out there dealing with this?🤷

Of course you aren't alone. I'm 21 and honestly wondering how much longer I can keep going like this because it's getting unbearable. I think I'll try taking some magnesium; maybe that'll make a difference.