As for those monthly cramps, I’ve dealt with them my entire life, and honestly, having kids didn't do anything to ease them or make them go away... I started getting my period when I was about 12, and the only real change I can point to is that once I lost my virginity, that intense, splitting back pain I used to get during my cycle finally decided to quit on me... When the pain hits, I also get this overwhelming sense of weakness, almost like my legs are made of glass and they’re just waiting to shatter at any second... It usually only lasts for the first two days... I take Ketoral Forte, and it's really the only thing that actually works for me, and it kicks in pretty fast...👍
Ugh, my periods used to be absolutely brutal—like, genuinely terrifying levels of pain. And honestly? Having kids didn't make things any easier at all, which is just great. For years, I was basically living on Ketoral (Knavon)—you know, that heavy-duty stuff—and it was really the only thing that actually touched the pain. But man, it totally trashed my stomach. Now, I can’t even think about taking it because the gastric issues end up being way worse than the actual cramps, if that makes sense. So, for a few months now, I’ve been trying these PMS Free supplements from Encian, which use Vitex as a base—so they're totally natural and all that. And wow, what a difference. My cycle is actually hitting a perfect 28 days now, whereas it used to wander around anywhere from 30 to 33 days, and the bleeding itself is completely painless. I haven't even been super strict about taking them every single day, either—I usually just stick to taking them for about a week leading up to my period.
Walter King3 said:Ugh, my periods used to be absolutely brutal—like, genuinely terrifying levels of pain. And honestly? Having kids didn't make things any easier at all, which is just great. For years, I was basically living on Ketoral (Knavon)—you know, that heavy-duty stuff—and it was really the only thing that actually touched the pain. But man, it totally trashed my stomach. Now, I can’t even think about taking it because the gastric issues end up being way worse than the actual cramps, if that makes sense. So, for a few months now, I’ve been trying these PMS Free supplements from Encian, which use Vitex as a base—so they're totally natural and all that. And wow, what a difference. My cycle is actually hitting a perfect 28 days now, whereas it used to wander around anywhere from 30 to 33 days, and the bleeding itself is completely painless. I haven't even been super strict about taking them every single day, either—I usually just stick to taking them for about a week leading up to my period.
Seriously?😲 If that Encijana stuff actually works like that, I'm grabbing a box.☕ Even though I always thought my post-pregnancy cramps were pretty mild, this cycle was a nightmare. My stomach was killing me, I felt dizzy on the first day, and had a massive headache.😢, but I managed to get through it without pills.👍
I deal with these absolutely horrific cramps during those days, and honestly, I’ve just had enough of it all.😢 It really is excruciating, and it isn't even just about the pain itself; it's more that I become completely incapacitated, unable to do anything except sit there in agony. I feel genuinely ill—nauseous, too—and if I don't manage to get some painkillers into my system, I often end up vomiting. I get these dizzy spells where I feel like I might actually pass out, almost as if I've come down with a nasty case of the flu. And the paleness... I turn as white as a sheet, like someone literally smeared chalk all over my face. It’s just awful. I truly despise the idea of constantly poisoning my body with medication, but at this point, it feels impossible to cope without them. Currently, nothing seems to touch the pain quite like Ibuprofen or Voltaren Forte. It’s as if my body has developed this frustrating tolerance to medicine; I remember when even something basic like Tylenol used to work, but now, there’s just no chance. What’s most discouraging is that sometimes even the Voltaren doesn't cut it, forcing me to take two pills or try a combination of both Voltaren and Ibuprofen just to stay upright. I’m planning to start birth control soon, and I am desperately hoping that might help ease these pains a little bit.
I’m dealing with the exact same thing—I’ve been on my period for two days now and I’m finally starting to feel human again, but yesterday and this morning were absolute hell. Honestly, I was just counting down the minutes until I could crash. The cramps are so brutal I can barely roll out of bed, let alone face the world outside. I’ve been leaning heavily on Advil—and even then, one pill usually isn't enough, so I end up doubling up—but it wreaks havoc on my stomach. It gets so sensitive during these couple of days that eating, drinking, or sleeping feels like a chore. I’ve even tried taking bismuth subsalicylate because I heard it helps with internal bleeding, but honestly? Nothing. I’ve been popping it for months now and it hasn't done a damn thing. I’m at a total loss here.🤷
Well, I finally decided to weigh in, even though I see this thread is already pretty old 😉. For me, the pain is just unreal—none of those Ketolacs, Ibuprofens, or Voltaren meds do a single thing for me. It usually hits me in the middle of the night, around 4 AM, and it wakes me up with such intense pain that I can’t handle it. I feel like I’m going to throw up, but I can’t even get up to reach a bucket or make it to the bathroom. I can't sit, I can't stand, I can't do anything at all. By the first day, I’m vomiting most of the day; honestly, after three times, there’s nothing left to come up except stomach acid. Of course, I can’t eat a thing—maybe a tiny bit of tea if I don't immediately feel like it's coming right back up. I saw someone mention pouring water into the bathtub and just lying there while it lasts, but someone else told me that's the absolute last thing I should do! Rubbing my stomach doesn't help either. The only way I manage to cope is by exhausting myself through vomiting until I start feeling dizzy; then I have to lie down, and after about an hour once the dizziness subsides, I finally fall asleep. When I wake up, the pain has eased slightly, but God forbid I try to get up—my leg muscles are so cramped and dead from lying still that the pain just rushes back. It’s brutal on the first day, maybe a little less on the second, but the pain doesn't actually taper off as the days go by; it can still hit me with that disgusting intensity even on the fifth day. Also, I have to mention: I read somewhere that some gynecologist told a person that after their first time, the cramps would be milder!?!? I’ve talked to so many people—my entire high school class, my current college girlfriends, and tons of other women—and everyone tells me their cramps actually got worse after they lost their virginity. It was the same for me; my period used to last four days and I wouldn't even realize I was having it, but once I lost my virginity, the pain became absolutely horrific and now it lasts 8 or 9 days!!! Is this for real?!! Does anyone else have any advice?!
I believe a certain percentage of pain can actually be managed through calmness (with effort!). Mentally accepting that this is just a passing process—that it isn't a disease or anything inherently bad—can help, or at least you can convince yourself of that. Some of us experience pain, while others don't. Some are luckier in that regard, some less so. Since you are still young, there is no need to rush back to work 🙂so stay home and lie down without any distractions. I used to deal with vomiting and intense pain myself. The vomiting has stopped, but the pain remains. Has it decreased? Probably not, but I can now distinguish between cramps caused by nerves or digestion and pure pain. I no longer suffer from those first two, simply because they are things you can actually influence.
Alright, I’ll weigh in with my own experience too... My period started when I was 11. At first, it was just once every three or four months with this horrific bleeding that dragged on for fifteen days straight—and honestly, that felt better than this current nightmare. The monthly pain is absolutely unbearable. I’ve thrown everything at it: Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Voltaren... nothing works. I can barely stand up, I’m vomiting, dealing with migraines, sweating through my clothes; the sensation in my gut is basically like someone driving a knife into me and twisting it. I’ve ended up in the ER twice. People claim that things settle down after you have sex for the first time, but for me, it actually got worse. I have genuinely tried everything. I overhauled my diet, took up dance classes because apparently that’s supposed to help, practiced yoga religiously, drank all the herbal teas... eventually, hormone therapy became my last resort. I’m starting on birth control this month, and I am praying it blunts the edge of this pain. Because of how much this affects my work, I simply can't afford to be sidelined at home for three days every single month.
I'm not sure if you caught the thread, but magnesium keeps coming up quite a bit—I'd say give it a shot. Natural Wealth makes a decent magnesium supplement that you can just take with water or milk (I've found that if you mix it with juices containing citric acid, it starts breaking down way too fast—kind of turns into this nasty little mush). Maybe another brand carries something similar, I haven't really looked around.
But, you probably need to start taking it about 7 to 10 days before your period is due. And, well, you have to be consistent about it—every single day.
If the hormone therapy alone isn't doing the trick—maybe try combining them.
I can handle the cramps if they hit me during the day, but when they strike in the middle of the night... that’s when it truly becomes unbearable. What’s most bizarre is that it isn't just stomach pain; my legs ache too. My sister used to laugh at me, wondering how leg pain could even be related, but lately, she’s been feeling the same thing. It’s incredibly frustrating because I can't find any peace—I'm constantly shifting around just to try and soothe the ache in my legs. Last night was particularly brutal; I spent the entire day yesterday feeling completely out of sorts after being hit mid-sleep. Usually, I take a combination of Tylenol, Advil, and Buscopan. A pharmacist at the local CVS suggested that specific mix.😁 Though, it takes quite a while to actually kick in; personally, I still find Ketorolac to be the most effective. But reading through everyone else's experiences... I suppose my best bet is just honey and milk.😲
Just figured I'd chip in with my own experience. I started getting my period at 12—totally regular, and for the first couple of years, it wasn't even an issue, but then later on... man, it got brutal.😢 Back before I was even sexually active, I’d be literally screaming into my pillow from the pain—couldn't even sleep most nights. Eventually, once I started on birth control and things settled down with having sex, everything changed. Now, if anything, I just get this dull, sneaky ache that fades away within an hour or two. Honestly, the pills were a total lifesaver—thank God I don't have to deal with that nightmare anymore.🙏
I honestly don't get girls who claim they started on birth control and suddenly their periods are shorter, lighter, and totally painless. For me, none of that works 😢 ! It’s not even that I’m in pain every single month, but when it hits... man, I just have to crawl into bed and stay there. Don't even touch me. I’ll bundle myself up under the covers regardless of what season it is and just curl into a ball... and then once I finally settle down, I feel some relief 🙂. But if I can't get to my cozy spot, I just grab some Aleve and the pain actually dulls down—or just vanishes entirely! All those pills they advertise specifically for period cramps? They don't do squat for me, and neither do any of the heavy-duty stuff 😢. I'm just sitting here praying I don't build up a tolerance to Aleve, because at this point, it's literally the only thing that touches these brutal headaches and cramps!!! 👍
I’ve dealt with brutal periods my entire life—and I mean the kind where if I don't have an Advil or something on me, I literally collapse... I start sweating through my clothes just thinking about it (honestly, I’m getting chills right now just remembering how bad it used to be). Every single month was just pure torture and crying fits. It was awful. Then I switched to Yasmin. And oh my god, I feel like a whole new person. You wouldn't believe how incredible it feels when you aren't constantly in pain. I still feel a little sensation, but honestly? It's just enough to remind me I'm actually alive. I swear, my favorite people are those girls who claim they have "painful" cycles but then go out for drinks or a long walk like nothing's wrong. Like, seriously, just go home and deal with it, please.
All in all, birth control has been a total lifesaver for me, and I really think it would help most people too. There are women who end up in the ER every single month because of this stuff, and while we’re lucky most of us don't deal with that level of crisis, using contraception should definitely help ease the struggle.
One just finished right before me.🙂 It was surprisingly pleasant. Of course, I took my pills and all that, but there was very little pain. The only things I did differently (though I still can't quite pinpoint exactly what!) were: 1. I ate fresh figs (lots of them!). 2. I took 2 teaspoons twice a day ofSIPF - black currant root.
I had already realized that fasting a bit before and during my period helps avoid digestive issues, but this SIPF is mainly for circulation. It isn't cheap ($20), and you finish it quickly (probably in about 8 days), but if it worked, I will buy it every month!
Matthew James7 said:I can handle the cramps if they hit me during the day, but when they strike in the middle of the night... that’s when it truly becomes unbearable. What’s most bizarre is that it isn't just stomach pain; my legs ache too. My sister used to laugh at me, wondering how leg pain could even be related, but lately, she’s been feeling the same thing. It’s incredibly frustrating because I can't find any peace—I'm constantly shifting around just to try and soothe the ache in my legs. Last night was particularly brutal; I spent the entire day yesterday feeling completely out of sorts after being hit mid-sleep. Usually, I take a combination of Tylenol, Advil, and Buscopan. A pharmacist at the local CVS suggested that specific mix.😁 Though, it takes quite a while to actually kick in; personally, I still find Ketorolac to be the most effective. But reading through everyone else's experiences... I suppose my best bet is just honey and milk.😲
YEAH, same here, especially in my thighs, it feels like every single muscle is just seizing up at once... it's absolute hell.
I see I'm not the only one dealing with this... otherwise, everything the women around me don't have even a fraction of my level of suffering, so I actually started wondering if something was wrong with me. 🙂 Same here, honestly. The pain is terrifying. I can't even get out of bed. If it hits me while I'm at work or out somewhere, I just pass out—vomiting, losing all sense of time and place... it’s awful. I spent the first two days in a coma-like state. For the rest of the time, I still get these sharp spikes of pain, but compared to those first two days, it’s almost negligible. Basically, I think I've become immune to pretty much every pill out there. The only thing that still works is Voltaren suppositories. I avoided them for the longest time because they were so unpleasant, but lately, they’re the only thing stopping me from jumping off an 18th-story balcony. 😁
I'm wondering if there's anything else worth trying that's actually proven to work? Not necessarily pills—I'm kind of done with swallowing stuff.
Thanks in advance... waiting for my next cycle, so I'll be looking for an answer. 🙂
Maria Nguyen2, this thread is only seven pages long, and you still have at least twenty days left before the surge 🙂 so it would be great if you read through the experiences and struggles of this group 😁 Perhaps you will find something that suits your needs 🙂 I have written extensively several times to organize my own difficulties 🙂 Take a look 😉
Ever since I started taking PMS FREE (by Encian), my cramps have completely vanished... It’s been three cycles now, so I can't tell if it's just a fluke or if this stuff actually works...🤷
