Dealing with bad cramps?

Roger Rodriguez said:Knavon really wreaks havoc on my stomach 🙂
To be honest, even Advil isn't much gentler, but Knavon leaves me with heartburn all day long. I was popping it because I literally couldn't breathe from the pain after a muscle got stuck between my ribs 🙂
Oh well, I've still got a few weeks of leeway before the big party starts 🙂

One really ought to ensure there is some sustenance in the stomach before taking Ketonal or Knavon. If I have managed to eat beforehand, life proceeds without incident; however, if I fail to do so, the resulting indigestion is nothing short of a catastrophe.

Hey ladies, I’ve got a quick question for you all. So, my OB-GYN actually prescribed some evening primrose oil capsules yesterday because my period cramps are absolutely brutal and my PMS is just straight-up nightmare fuel... so I was wondering if anyone here has actually tried these capsules and what kind of results you saw? Thanks!🙂

It hurts.
Not a single one of them helped.
Spent the whole day in bed today...
From when I was 13 until now at 30, I've tried just about everything pharmaceutical
Voltaren, Ketoral, Baralgin, Spasmex—lately, Neofen has been my go-to...
And always the extra strength stuff...

The best combo for me is Voltaren/Normabel
It actually calms me down and the pain lets up

Just saying, the pain is absolutely catastrophic... 😢

My back and stomach are absolutely killing me today—it’s a total disaster... I think it’s just the start of my monthly PMS cycle. 🙂 😢

My period was about two weeks late this month, and honestly, for every single day it drags on, the pain intensifies by another hundred percent—I feel like I’m actually dying. I’ve already tried taking some Aleve, magnesium, and Valerian, but if that doesn't cut it, I've got Naproxen standing by 😢 just in case things get worse.

A friend of mine swears by Advil, which she orders straight from the States, and says it works wonders.

So, I’ve been barely hanging in there the last few days, basically living off Advil and a handful of Tylenol 😠. But hey, it passed, thank God.

Seriously, screw periods and all those lunar cycles... and don't even get me started on the PMS and the total emotional meltdowns that feel like a complete nervous breakdown 👎. I've tried everything—natural remedies, drugstore stuff, you name it—but nothing really hits the spot.

Karen Stewart62 said:My period was about two weeks late this month, and honestly, for every single day it drags on, the pain intensifies by another hundred percent—I feel like I’m actually dying. I’ve already tried taking some Aleve, magnesium, and Valerian, but if that doesn't cut it, I've got Naproxen standing by 😢 just in case things get worse.

A friend of mine swears by Advil, which she orders straight from the States, and says it works wonders.

Seriously, a friend of mine uses these regularly; she orders them all the time and they really are fantastic.

James Nguyen5 said:It hurts.
Not a single one of them helped.
Spent the whole day in bed today...
From when I was 13 until now at 30, I've tried just about everything pharmaceutical
Voltaren, Ketoral, Baralgin, Spasmex—lately, Neofen has been my go-to...
And always the extra strength stuff...

The best combo for me is Voltaren/Normabel
It actually calms me down and the pain lets up

Just saying, the pain is absolutely catastrophic... 😢

I'm in the exact same boat... same pills, same routine... it's just awful... honestly, I feel like I'm at my breaking point mentally... 🤷

Nicole Baker said:Yes... since forever... and I'm a total novice at this whole thing...
It isn't quite to the point where I'm passing out or throwing up, though the pains are honestly quite sharp and intense. I wasn't taking four pills at once before, but since I've been dealing with this from the start—about four years now—the dosage seems to be creeping up while the effectiveness just fades away. I suppose it might be time to look into something else, hopefully something a bit less harsh on the system, which is why I decided to start this thread... my mother never really struggled with painful periods...

Interesting. My mother didn't have severe pain either 😳, yet during those days, I absolutely lose my mind, especially the first two 😠 😠 😠! Luckily, I use Ketoral; it almost always helps. I try to keep it to a minimum—maybe 2 or 3 capsules a month, sometimes 4 if things get critical. It doesn't seem excessive, just 50 mg. That's nothing compared to Neofen, which goes up to 200 mg 😲, but you still have to be careful. You never know when an addiction might set in.

stormymaker24 said:One really ought to ensure there is some sustenance in the stomach before taking Ketonal or Knavon. If I have managed to eat beforehand, life proceeds without incident; however, if I fail to do so, the resulting indigestion is nothing short of a catastrophe.

I’ve been taking Ketoral (50 mg) for years now too. I tried Voltaren once, but it just didn't sit right with me at all. Lately, though, the acid reflux has been kicking my ass.
I'm actually wondering if I should switch to something else. What do you guys recommend instead of Ketoral—maybe something that won't wreck my stomach so much?

I used to deal with these absolutely dreadful pains, but honestly, ever since I started taking birth control pills, they’ve subsided so much that I feel incredibly relieved! Now, I am under no illusions—I know this relief won't necessarily last forever—but for the time being, I am truly savoring it. Usually, the first day is the hardest, and the second day still carries some weight, but it’s become a manageable kind of discomfort, the sort of thing you can actually soothe away with a hot cup of tea. That’s what does it for me. I’ll brew myself a pot of tea, very hot, and sip it while it's practically steaming, and after a little while, the pain just seems to ebb away. It eventually creeps back in, of course, but then I just go back to my tea and tackle it all over again... though, in all fairness, the tea probably wouldn't be nearly as effective if the pain hadn't already lessened thanks to the medication. Still, it feels like something worth trying.
In the past, I would usually just take two Voltaren tablets or an effervescent Aspirin, and that would typically do the trick.

gentlelynx3 said:Hey ladies, I’ve got a quick question for you all. So, my OB-GYN actually prescribed some evening primrose oil capsules yesterday because my period cramps are absolutely brutal and my PMS is just straight-up nightmare fuel... so I was wondering if anyone here has actually tried these capsules and what kind of results you saw? Thanks!🙂

Not sure if I'm checking in too late here... but honestly, I've messed around with those capsules before. Nightshade is seriously a total game changer for PMS; I only had like, maybe 5% of my usual symptoms when I was taking it, and man, what a relief! 😍
Honestly, nothing really works for my cramps unless I pair my meds with omega supplements—that combo was a total game changer for my PMS, kept everything regular, and actually shortened the whole cycle. But man, both types of pills are super heavy on the stomach and you have to take them several times a day, which isn't great since you can't just pop painkillers indefinitely without taking breaks every few months, plus the good stuff is pricey! If you can manage to watch your diet (just Google it, there are some great tips from Mayo Clinic online) and stay active enough to get a good sweat in twice a week, it definitely makes surviving those off-medication breaks a lot easier.

Samuel Morgan40 said:Seriously, a friend of mine uses these regularly; she orders them all the time and they really are fantastic.

Honestly, I’m an Advil user too! They used to be available over in Europe, but the last time I picked some up in the Netherlands, they told me they were pulling them from the shelves... hmm...
Now I just source them directly from the States—I absolutely love those massive bulk packs. I currently have a bottle with 250 tablets, which basically lasts forever before the expiration date hits!
As far as the ingredients go, it's just ibuprofen—basically the same thing as Motrin or Nuprin—but for some reason, Advil just works better for me...
The real trick is catching the pain early, before it really "gets going." That goes especially for my migraines; if I don't intercept them right away, then nothing works except Voltaren Rapid...

Hey, could I get some help here?
So, here’s the situation: I’m 15. I started my period when I was 12, and back then, the cramps weren't too bad. But since I turned 14—it has been absolute HELL.
My cycle is still irregular, too; it feels like every month it takes a little longer than the last. o.O
On top of that, my period lasts about 8 or 9 days. I can sort of manage the pain on the first day, but by the second, third, fourth, or fifth... BOOM.
Suddenly, the bleeding gets heavy, and the pain becomes unbearable. I can't sleep, I can't move; it honestly feels like I'm being ripped apart from the inside. It lasts all day long. The only thing I can do is lie perfectly still and just suffer in silence. I tried taking some Advil, but it barely helped. The pain is truly excruciating—I feel like punching myself in the stomach just to distract from it. I've tried everything: massages, oils, heating pads... nothing works.
I asked my friends how they deal with it, and they say they barely feel anything at all. Meanwhile, I feel physically sick; I almost fainted at school because of the cramps.
My mom was worried at first because she never dealt with pain like this, but then she started getting frustrated, thinking I was just making it up to skip school. And yeah, she still thinks that. I haven't seen a doctor yet, but once I head back home in September, I am definitely scheduling an appointment to figure out what's going on.

What I really want to know is: can anyone recommend any supplements or anything else that actually helps? I stay active—I bike and run, and I eat healthy. Please, help...

Hmm... maybe try starting some magnesium and PMS balance supplements? Just before your period hits. A few girls I know said it helps take the edge off those days. :/

A friend of mine deals with insane cramps too... her OBGYN actually recommended some heavy-duty pain meds usually prescribed after surgery. I can't remember the exact name.

Honestly, the smartest move is just seeing a gynecologist. It’s really nothing to be stressed about 😉, they can just run an ultrasound to see if cysts are the culprit or check your hormone levels...

When I was on birth control, I didn't even realize people dealt with bad cramps 🙏 or breakouts. 🙏

Oh, right... have you tried Advil? It's pretty strong... though it was a bit much for me 😢 and gave me some side effects.

Understood. I'll try taking some magnesium and Advil. 🙂
Thanks so much for the help. 👍

My take: that first day is always a killer, and honestly, the pain can be pretty unbearable... though I’ve found that sex actually helps me through it more than anything else. I have no idea why, but once it starts, the pain just seems to fade away. 🙂

Good God, save what little is left before you cut everything else out...🙄

Steven Price7 said:My take: that first day is always a killer, and honestly, the pain can be pretty unbearable... though I’ve found that sex actually helps me through it more than anything else. I have no idea why, but once it starts, the pain just seems to fade away. 🙂

mellowsurfer34 said:Good God, save what little is left before you cut everything else out...🙄

Why on earth are you acting surprised by this—when it’s already been proven? Honestly... one just needs to take it slow and allow the muscles to relax—eventually.