Dealing with bad cramps?

Jason Morgan said:I tried that. It didn't go well. I couldn't lie down, I couldn't sit up, I couldn't even think straight. Eventually, my mother suggested I just take some Tylenol. So, I did. Shortly thereafter, I lost consciousness in the bathroom—nearly met my maker, actually—and spent the next twenty-four hours shivering and sweating in a fetal position.

I'd like to think I know my body better than I did during that particular ordeal 🤷

New Age spikes won't save you. When it hurts, it hurts. No amount of magic, "finding your center," or focusing on your inner self and other spiritual nonsense is going to cut it—unfortunately, it’s just chemistry that does the trick.

Facts. I actually tried to quit the pills once and switched to some herbal tea for cramps, but yeah, total fail.😢

Honestly, you can't do it without meds. Even with them, it still sucks, so without them? Forget about it. I try to limit it to just those two days so I don't wreck my system too much, I guess.

I don't take painkillers for anything else—not even when a migraine hits so hard I'm seeing stars and feeling numb—but period pain? Yeah, that's a different story.

I actually had no idea this thread even existed, but I feel like I stumbled upon it at just the right moment.😁

So—should I head to my primary care physician for the prescription, or would a gynecologist be the better bet?🤷

The real frustration is that, according to my charts, apparently I don't have any underlying health issues that would justify the level of pain I'm feeling.🙄

My OB-GYN mentioned I have a few ovarian cysts, but nothing major—nothing that poses a real threat to my health.🤔 BUT she can't explain why I get these sudden, sharp stabs of pain in my ovaries a few times every month, nor can she tell me why my period has been running 10 to 12 days late for the last four months, especially since it was perfectly regular for years.

And when the pain hits, it hits hard. From day one to day three, I’m basically out of commission. No classes, no grabbing coffee, no walks—nothing. It's just bed-bathroom-bed.🙂

Even standard over-the-counter stuff, like Advil or Aleve, doesn't touch it. I would be absolutely thrilled if I could get some actual, effective medication.🙏 Because honestly, I'm done popping five or six Ibuprofens a day just to cope...

Those aren't actually cysts—they’re just follicles, which is what PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) looks like on an ultrasound. The symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person, so the imaging doesn't always tell the whole story.
Most often, you'll notice your cycle is somewhat irregular, usually in the sense that it feels like your period is perpetually running late. You might experience anovulatory cycles—where ovulation doesn't happen at all—or perhaps just "lazy" ovulations where everything takes a bit longer to trigger. There are other symptoms to consider too, and while periods can be painful, I guess that isn't necessarily directly linked to the PCOS itself.

Honestly, the best move would be to have your gynecologist write you a referral for a full hormone panel—including your thyroid levels—just to see how everything is balancing out. It’s important to check if anything is trending too high or too low to confirm if it’s definitely PCOS; the diagnosis really comes down to combining those hormone levels with the ultrasound results. After that, they'll likely suggest birth control (though they'll probably want to run a standard blood count first), which should help regulate your cycles and hopefully make things a lot less painful—maybe even painless.

rustyraven75 said:I actually had no idea this thread even existed, but I feel like I stumbled upon it at just the right moment.😁

So—should I head to my primary care physician for the prescription, or would a gynecologist be the better bet?🤷

The real frustration is that, according to my charts, apparently I don't have any underlying health issues that would justify the level of pain I'm feeling.🙄

My OB-GYN mentioned I have a few ovarian cysts, but nothing major—nothing that poses a real threat to my health.🤔 BUT she can't explain why I get these sudden, sharp stabs of pain in my ovaries a few times every month, nor can she tell me why my period has been running 10 to 12 days late for the last four months, especially since it was perfectly regular for years.

And when the pain hits, it hits hard. From day one to day three, I’m basically out of commission. No classes, no grabbing coffee, no walks—nothing. It's just bed-bathroom-bed.🙂

Even standard over-the-counter stuff, like Advil or Aleve, doesn't touch it. I would be absolutely thrilled if I could get some actual, effective medication.🙏 Because honestly, I'm done popping five or six Ibuprofens a day just to cope...

You need to ask your primary care physician for a referral.

As for the reasoning, for heaven's sake, even the instructions on Advil, Aleve, and Midol state they are intended for post-op and menstrual pain. Honestly, I think it’s incredibly regressive by today's standards to question whether someone is actually experiencing period cramps 🤷
If she won't write it, just ask for a referral to a gynecologist instead. Or a dentist 😬

melloworca6 said:If we women say we’re feeling miserable, then fine, let the guys say they’re having a rough time too. 😬

Girls, have you noticed that everything just seems to get worse as you get older?

Back in the day, I didn't even need pills because I could actually tough out the cramps. Around age 18, things started getting heavy, but I could handle it with just one Tylenol. Now? Every month gets more brutal. The flow during those first two days is getting heavier and more intense. It honestly scares me to think what it'll be like when I hit 40.

Before I was 19, I didn't even know what PMS or period cramps were.😁 Then it all hit at once, and every year just keeps getting worse. First, it was mild cramps, then the flooding, then both at once, then digestive issues for the first two days, then pain during ovulation, and now full-blown GI issues throughout the entire PMS cycle...🙏 Is there anything else that can go wrong?!🙄

melloworca6 said:If we women say we’re feeling miserable, then fine, let the guys say they’re having a rough time too. 😬

Girls, have you noticed that everything just seems to get worse as you get older?

Back in the day, I didn't even need pills because I could actually tough out the cramps. Around age 18, things started getting heavy, but I could handle it with just one Tylenol. Now? Every month gets more brutal. The flow during those first two days is getting heavier and more intense. It honestly scares me to think what it'll be like when I hit 40.

It feels pretty much the same for me, though in my case, the pain started intensely in my lower back before eventually spreading down toward my lower abdomen.

Now, this might be a silly conclusion to jump to, but back when I was a virgin, a friend told me that once I started having sex, my period cramps would become absolutely unbearable. I didn't believe her at the time—I thought it was impossible. And if I’m being completely honest, she was right! It feels a bit foolish to try and link the loss of my innocence or my "sexual history" to this, but the reality is that things are just getting worse and worse. Every once in a while, I might have a lighter month where I can go without pills, but that happens maybe once a year at most. Also, I’ve noticed that the pain has actually intensified since I started or stopped taking birth control. While I was on the pill, I barely even felt my period, but since I stopped, the pain has been significantly worse than it was before I ever started using them. 😢

Does anyone else here have similar experiences?? 😕🤷

Honestly, I feel just as much pain regardless of any sexual (in)activity 😁

Jason Morgan said:Honestly, I feel just as much pain regardless of any sexual (in)activity 😁

Honestly, I could easily find myself coming to the conclusion that if I had just remained a virgin, I would have spared myself all this heartache and pain. 🤣😂
But then again, when things truly felt that way for me... 😁

Samuel Morgan40 said:Those aren't actually cysts—they’re just follicles, which is what PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) looks like on an ultrasound. The symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person, so the imaging doesn't always tell the whole story.
Most often, you'll notice your cycle is somewhat irregular, usually in the sense that it feels like your period is perpetually running late. You might experience anovulatory cycles—where ovulation doesn't happen at all—or perhaps just "lazy" ovulations where everything takes a bit longer to trigger. There are other symptoms to consider too, and while periods can be painful, I guess that isn't necessarily directly linked to the PCOS itself.

Honestly, the best move would be to have your gynecologist write you a referral for a full hormone panel—including your thyroid levels—just to see how everything is balancing out. It’s important to check if anything is trending too high or too low to confirm if it’s definitely PCOS; the diagnosis really comes down to combining those hormone levels with the ultrasound results. After that, they'll likely suggest birth control (though they'll probably want to run a standard blood count first), which should help regulate your cycles and hopefully make things a lot less painful—maybe even painless.

My thyroid levels are fine—I already had that checked—but I guess we'll have to tackle the rest once we get started.

I know I’m going to have to push for more testing because, based on everything I'm feeling, I'm pretty sure it's PCOS. The weird part is my period has been regular since I was eleven; it never used to be late, but for the last four months, it's been lagging by 10 to 12 days. My doctor told me PCOS usually shows up as missing periods for months at a time, but apparently, I'm just the exception to the rule. 🤣

I have to laugh at the whole thing just to keep from losing it—it's so frustrating. I've cycled through several different doctors now, and finally, when I think I've found someone sane, well... life happens.

And as for the pill? No thanks. I had a nightmare experience with Yasmin, Triquilar gave me cellulite and ten pounds of weight gain, and Celest left me with mood swings from hell. Plus, with my family history regarding breast cancer, I'm really hesitant to mess with hormones anymore.🙂

Anyway... I'm heading back to the clinic in a few days to have a real talk with my doctor.😁

rustyraven75 said:My thyroid levels are fine—I already had that checked—but I guess we'll have to tackle the rest once we get started.

I know I’m going to have to push for more testing because, based on everything I'm feeling, I'm pretty sure it's PCOS. The weird part is my period has been regular since I was eleven; it never used to be late, but for the last four months, it's been lagging by 10 to 12 days. My doctor told me PCOS usually shows up as missing periods for months at a time, but apparently, I'm just the exception to the rule. 🤣

I have to laugh at the whole thing just to keep from losing it—it's so frustrating. I've cycled through several different doctors now, and finally, when I think I've found someone sane, well... life happens.

And as for the pill? No thanks. I had a nightmare experience with Yasmin, Triquilar gave me cellulite and ten pounds of weight gain, and Celest left me with mood swings from hell. Plus, with my family history regarding breast cancer, I'm really hesitant to mess with hormones anymore.🙂

Anyway... I'm heading back to the clinic in a few days to have a real talk with my doctor.😁

I suppose you’ll have to be persistent—if things don't start improving—but that's just how it goes, I guess. For the longest time, my cycle was practically as precise as a high-end Swiss timepiece; it would arrive right around the 23rd or 24th of the month—I started at thirteen, if I recall correctly. Eventually, things drifted slightly—the cycles stretched out to about 34 days—but since every ultrasound came back looking absolutely flawless and I wasn't dealing with any other glaring symptoms, there was never actually a formal diagnosis to speak of. Not until about a year and a half ago, anyway. Mind you, I don't exactly suffer from the textbook, classic symptoms; lately, it feels more like PCOS. My cycles stay regular—well, mostly—and ovulation definitely occurs, but I try to stay on top of everything and keep it under control, as much as one can.

I can’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the whole situation—mostly because if I didn't, I’d probably just lose my mind. It’s been such an exhausting cycle of frustration, really. I’ve cycled through more gynecologists than I care to admit, searching for someone who actually knows what they're doing, and I finally think I’ve stumbled upon one. Someone actually normal—heaven knows how that happened.

Unfortunately—and I say this with a certain degree of resignation—you can’t exactly go out and find a single, flawless solution that addresses every possible complication at once. Well, actually, you *can*—but then we run into the rather inconvenient reality of the price tag. It turns out perfection isn't free, I suppose. 😛 I suppose one might argue that there's a specific tool for every particular problem—one for this issue, another for that one, and a third for something else entirely. That’s just how things tend to play out when you're dealing with women's matters, I guess.

Honestly, I wouldn’t touch birth control with a ten-foot pole. My experience with Yazmin was nothing short of a nightmare—it basically gifted me cellulite and a solid ten pounds of unwanted weight. Then there was Celest, which triggered these absolutely brutal mood swings that made everything feel impossible. Plus, given my family history with breast cancer, I think I've reached my limit; I'm just not interested in playing games with hormones anymore. 🙂

Hey—is anyone actually around? Just checking in, I suppose. 😢Well, if that’s the case, then I suppose it's probably better to just move on—honestly, it's likely not worth the headache. I’d suggest sitting down with your OB-GYN to see what the actual options are—though, obviously, you’ll need to run a full battery of tests first. Don't be afraid to push back, either; you have every right to insist on getting those done.

Today marks day one of my period. Usually, this first day is an all-day affair—constant, dull, and exhausting. I feel completely unwell.😬Even now, there’s pain, though I can manage.
But today was something else entirely. It lasted at least two hours, despite the Advil, chamomile tea, and soaking my limbs in hot water. I spent an hour stuck in the bathroom—stupid Advil, and I ran out of Ketonal. Nausea, lightheadedness, and this overwhelming sensation that I might collapse, even though I’ve never actually fainted in my life. I have never felt pain quite like this. Never.🙄
I’m starting to notice a pattern: as I age, these cycles become shorter but significantly more intense.

It’s peaceful now that the crushing pain has subsided. Such relief. It makes one truly appreciate being healthy, doesn't it?😍

A few days ago, my ovaries were aching for several days straight. Perhaps it was the cold I caught over the last month catching up with me.

I cannot afford to run out of Ketonal. How would I ever survive another day like this?😁

I haven't started my period yet, but I can still help you guys out. I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this, but my mom uses Hoffman's drops and they actually work. Seriously, girls, just head to the pharmacy, grab some Hoffman's drops, and pick up some sugar cubes—because that’s how you're supposed to take them. Back in the day, people used to carry Hoffman's drops and sugar cubes in their pockets all the time. Someone faints? You just hold the drops under their nose to sniff, and eyes pop right open. Honestly, you're supposed to suck on them. XD It’s not just for cramps either; it works for basically any pain. Headache, stomach ache, toothache, fever... whatever. It really works! 👍 And yeah, all you have to do is hold a sugar cube in your hand, take the little bottle, tip it over the cube, and then flip the bottle back up immediately. Hopefully, you know what I'm talking about.



Can't find a picture of the drops, but the lady at the drugstore will know what's up. xD

The pain is so unbearable that nothing actually works. My only option left is to crawl into bed, hug a pillow, and just cry. :P
I’ve been to the gynecologist for exams several times. No cysts, no issues... everything comes back perfectly healthy.
I started my period in fifth grade and was taking painkillers almost immediately. By high school, I was already moving from Advil to much stronger doses. Now that I’ve built up a tolerance to basically everything, my doctor prescribed Nalgesin 275—which is usually reserved for post-op recovery. After taking that, I couldn't concentrate at all; I couldn't even follow what was on TV. I felt so drugged that I had no choice but to go lie down. To make matters worse, the pain didn't ease up one bit. I just ended up lying in bed, groggy and in agony. It seems my doctor is just as clueless as I am about what to do next. Every single month feels like I'm performing manual labor.😱

So, my periods have been heavy and painful from the start.
The first few were manageable, but lately, things have just gone downhill fast.
I’ve tried basically every pill out there. The issue is I can only take one type for maybe three or four cycles before my body just gets used to it. Once that happens, they don't touch the pain anymore, and they absolutely wreck my stomach... I end up vomiting for hours. 🙄
I'm against birth control. Everyone needs a specific hormone dose, not just whatever is standard in a pill. Maybe they should make custom-dosed tablets for every woman? That would be something. ☕

My gynecologist checkup showed everything is fine, all normal. 😁
Last checked my thyroid about a year or two ago, and it was fine then.
My main issue is anemia. Probably just born with it 🤷 and despite a mountain of vitamins and eating right, nothing changes. The bleeding makes the anemia worse, and the anemia makes the bleeding heavier. Just a vicious cycle. 🙄
I've been living in Germany for the last two and a half years, and I finally found something that actually works here. Dolormin for women. 👍 Not sure if you can even find those back home in the States.
Depends on how bad it gets, but I usually don't take more than three or four over a couple of days.

Sorry for the novel, guys. 😍

Sandra Peterson74 said:The pain is so unbearable that nothing actually works. My only option left is to crawl into bed, hug a pillow, and just cry. :P
I’ve been to the gynecologist for exams several times. No cysts, no issues... everything comes back perfectly healthy.
I started my period in fifth grade and was taking painkillers almost immediately. By high school, I was already moving from Advil to much stronger doses. Now that I’ve built up a tolerance to basically everything, my doctor prescribed Nalgesin 275—which is usually reserved for post-op recovery. After taking that, I couldn't concentrate at all; I couldn't even follow what was on TV. I felt so drugged that I had no choice but to go lie down. To make matters worse, the pain didn't ease up one bit. I just ended up lying in bed, groggy and in agony. It seems my doctor is just as clueless as I am about what to do next. Every single month feels like I'm performing manual labor.😱

I actually tried that Nalgesin 275 once, but it felt completely useless to me and didn't help at all.😢
I ended up going right back to Advil.🙏🙏

Joining the club.
Even though I'm only 16, the pain I deal with the day before my period, and then on the first or second day, is just unbearable.
Sometimes I actually wake up in the middle of the night screaming because it hurts so bad, and nothing seems to touch it.
Taking Ketoral Forte only helps for maybe six or seven hours before I have to take it all over again.
But now that it requires a prescription, of course, I can't get a hold of it.
If I tell the doctor it's for Mom, he knows she isn't allowed to take it, and if I say it's for Dad, he's banned from it too—same for Grandma and Grandpa. And since I'm just a kid, he won't give it to me because he says it'll wreck my stomach.
Good grief, what am I supposed to do when stuff like Nuofen or Voltaren doesn't even work?
He gave me these Ibuprofen packets that clearly don't do anything at all -.-'

So, I took some Ketoral about an hour and a half ago (usually the pain subsides within an hour), but it still hurts.
It's also really heavy right now; I feel like I'm bleeding everywhere.
It’s hard to even sit down on the toilet; that’s when the pelvic pain is at its worst.
I'll probably wake up tomorrow morning with my bed covered in blood like I've been ripped apart, but I guess I'm used to it by now.

I'm really hoping that once I start birth control, things will calm down and the pain will ease up.
Until then, I just have to suck it up.
Luckily I haven't fainted yet, but the sweating, the hot flashes, being pale, losing my appetite, nausea, dizziness... yeah. I've got it all.

For me, the Ketoral doesn't really kick in until about two hours have passed, though I find it provides my best and most lasting relief; even if it only lasts six or seven hours like you mentioned, that’s honestly quite a blessing considering how some other pills barely touch the pain for four hours, or don't work at all 😢... plus, I don't feel like I'm dealing with heavy bleeding when I take it 😍😍

You might start feeling much better once you begin taking the counteracting tablets; personally, I found that my pain became incredibly rare whenever I stayed on top of them, and my flow was significantly lighter. I am truly keeping my fingers crossed that you manage to find the specific ones that work best for your body 👍

p.s.—Please tell your doctor that they shouldn't be so preoccupied with your stomach health at the expense of addressing your unbearable pain. I was also given those little packets of Ibuprofen; they are fine, I suppose, but Ketoral is simply Ketoral

I know some people don't want to hear about birth control, but I am definitely going to ask about it.
My mom is totally on board; she’s taking me to see my gynecologist, and she even mentioned how her periods only last three or four days now—even though she used to deal with the exact same stuff I do.
I know everyone is obsessed with low-hormone pills these days, but honestly, as far as I'm concerned, I don't care if they have more hormones, as long as they actually work. I feel like garbage every single day from everything else—food, drinks, you name it—so why wouldn't I do something to make my life easier?

And the doctor? He’s just being a doctor. I don't believe him when he says I shouldn't be relying on Ketorolac at sixteen because nothing else seems to help.
First, he asked if I wanted to try the weaker ones in capsule form, and I was just like, "No. Give me the Forte. The blue tablets." He gave me this look like my stomach was going to dissolve by tomorrow morning.
As for Ibuprofen packets, he told me I should only take half a dose—like 300mg instead of 600mg—since what's the harm in staying low?
I basically threw five bucks down the drain for that advice. -.-

Benjamin Robinson3 said:I know some people don't want to hear about birth control, but I am definitely going to ask about it.
My mom is totally on board; she’s taking me to see my gynecologist, and she even mentioned how her periods only last three or four days now—even though she used to deal with the exact same stuff I do.
I know everyone is obsessed with low-hormone pills these days, but honestly, as far as I'm concerned, I don't care if they have more hormones, as long as they actually work. I feel like garbage every single day from everything else—food, drinks, you name it—so why wouldn't I do something to make my life easier?

And the doctor? He’s just being a doctor. I don't believe him when he says I shouldn't be relying on Ketorolac at sixteen because nothing else seems to help.
First, he asked if I wanted to try the weaker ones in capsule form, and I was just like, "No. Give me the Forte. The blue tablets." He gave me this look like my stomach was going to dissolve by tomorrow morning.
As for Ibuprofen packets, he told me I should only take half a dose—like 300mg instead of 600mg—since what's the harm in staying low?
I basically threw five bucks down the drain for that advice. -.-

$18??? 😲 My doctor actually wrote mine on a prescription, and I think I only paid about $3 or so... 🤔

Well, I don't know, I take the capsules and they work wonders for me. It’s true that it takes some time for them to kick in, but man, they REALLY work!!!! 😍😍 A friend of mine told me she sometimes just takes two capsules at once because one isn't enough for her. I'm not trying to encourage anyone to do that, but I just want to say that I would be willing to do the exact same thing just to make the pain stop.
As for birth control, I don't take it anymore since I was on it for a good eight years and felt it was probably time to quit (plus, I've been dealing with some side effects lately). But I used to take it even when I didn't need it for protection, just to keep my skin clear and my periods painless.😍

Taking calcium and magnesium supplements a few days before my period really helps ease the symptoms for me. Just a daily dose of minerals—nothing crazy.