Dealing with bad cramps?

I honestly think you should try cutting out dairy, bread, and anything else loaded with flour. Just make sure you're staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids. Also, it might be worth looking into taking some calcium and magnesium supplements during your PMS cycle.

I’m not one to go out of my way to avoid things, but once I feel a headache coming on, I just take some Zaldiar and call it a day. Everything settles down after that.

cosmicbear3 said:I’m not one to go out of my way to avoid things, but once I feel a headache coming on, I just take some Zaldiar and call it a day. Everything settles down after that.

Zaldiar? Jesus, I’m actually surprised you’re taking that stuff. It’s pretty heavy-duty—most doctors here in the States won't even touch it with a ten-foot pole because it’s got tramadol in it.

Honestly, I don't know how some of you idiots even manage to get your hands on Zaldiar. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. That stuff isn't for your little everyday aches; it’s a heavy-duty therapy prescribed specifically for the kind of excruciating pain caused by metastatic cancer. We're talking about agony that hits you like a freight train. It’s intense, and the way it hits you can be overwhelming. If you think you need this for a common headache, you’re completely out of your mind.
When you're dealing with pain this abnormal, you can't just brush it off; you need to put it under a microscope and get a thorough gynecological exam immediately. Seriously, don't wait. You also need to look into some of those AB Pil alternatives—honestly, taking something like that is a much smaller evil than popping heavy hitters like Zaldiar, Tramal, or Ketoral.
I’ve been dealing with endometriosis, and let me tell you, I had three different gynecologists look me in the eye and insist everything was perfectly fine. It wasn't until I pushed for an ultrasound that the reality actually hit the table—turns out, they were dead wrong.
Look, most people who tell you it’s "normal" for things to hurt that much are basically telling you they aren't sane. If you’re out there hunting for a second opinion because the pain is that intense, you already know deep down that something is wrong. Don't let anyone gaslight you into thinking extreme pain is just part of the deal. Get a real doctor.

I just need to vent to someone, somewhere... I’ve had debilitating menstrual cramps for as long as I can remember, and every single month they just get worse. This morning, my period started around 7 AM; I ended up vomiting nine times. I ended up taking a cocktail of Voltaren, Ketonal, and Ibuprofen, plus another Voltaren suppository. It sounds like way too much, I know, but it’s the only combination that actually dulls the pain, even if it doesn't make it disappear completely. Last time, the pain was so intense I actually blacked out. I was lying in bed, the agony was unbearable, and then everything just went dark—I didn't fall asleep, I just lost consciousness. I woke up three hours later...
I’ve seen plenty of gynecologists, including specialists in private practice, and they all tell me the same thing: there’s nothing "wrong" with me, it’s just the shape of my uterus that causes the pain. I tried using birth control to manage it, but that actually made things worse and didn't help at all. Honestly, I am at my wits' end and have no idea what to do anymore. 😢

Brian Kim5 said:I just need to vent to someone, somewhere... I’ve had debilitating menstrual cramps for as long as I can remember, and every single month they just get worse. This morning, my period started around 7 AM; I ended up vomiting nine times. I ended up taking a cocktail of Voltaren, Ketonal, and Ibuprofen, plus another Voltaren suppository. It sounds like way too much, I know, but it’s the only combination that actually dulls the pain, even if it doesn't make it disappear completely. Last time, the pain was so intense I actually blacked out. I was lying in bed, the agony was unbearable, and then everything just went dark—I didn't fall asleep, I just lost consciousness. I woke up three hours later...
I’ve seen plenty of gynecologists, including specialists in private practice, and they all tell me the same thing: there’s nothing "wrong" with me, it’s just the shape of my uterus that causes the pain. I tried using birth control to manage it, but that actually made things worse and didn't help at all. Honestly, I am at my wits' end and have no idea what to do anymore. 😢

Hey, I’m in the exact same boat. Mine have always been brutal. Occasionally, I’ll have one where I feel almost nothing—which is super rare and catches me off guard—but most of the time it's intense pain and extreme PMS (I've honestly felt suicidal over it a few times...). Pills don't even touch the pain for me. Last time, I had to take 3 or 4 Neofen Forte plus some Tylenol with codeine just to get any relief. I haven't thrown up, but last time I nearly collapsed—I had to lie down on the bathroom floor just to gather enough strength to crawl back to bed. My doctor also told me everything looks fine, though he didn't even bother checking my hormones; he just prescribed some light birth control and said it should fix things. Apparently, it's due to ovarian cysts or some kind of hormonal imbalance. I haven't started taking them yet because I'm waiting for my period to start, so we'll see. Have you tried switching brands? You know how it is—not every prescription works for everyone. 🤷

Hey Dotty, thanks for getting back to me. 🙂 I get the theory that it’s different for everyone, but after that episode with the birth control, I swore I was done with it—even if I find myself thinking about trying again every single month when my period hits. I’ve dealt with PMS, breakouts, and a whole laundry list of other issues because of them. I guess I just fell into that cycle of accepting it as my "normal."
I've been through a lot, and I'm definitely not someone who cries easily; my pain tolerance is actually pretty high. But this? This is unbearable. It puts me straight in bed, completely sidelining me from work... In short, it's a nightmare.

Brian Kim5 said:Hey Dotty, thanks for getting back to me. 🙂 I get the theory that it’s different for everyone, but after that episode with the birth control, I swore I was done with it—even if I find myself thinking about trying again every single month when my period hits. I’ve dealt with PMS, breakouts, and a whole laundry list of other issues because of them. I guess I just fell into that cycle of accepting it as my "normal."
I've been through a lot, and I'm definitely not someone who cries easily; my pain tolerance is actually pretty high. But this? This is unbearable. It puts me straight in bed, completely sidelining me from work... In short, it's a nightmare.

I know exactly how you feel. My pain tolerance is huge too, but menstrual cramps and the mental side of PMS? Unbearable. 👎 There have to be pills out there that actually work for you—just try one, and if it doesn't fit, you just stop. I used to think just like you—telling myself I wouldn't bother going to the doctor or my OBGYN because it wasn't *that* bad this time, or it wasn't hurting enough to justify the trip. I kept putting it off until I realized I wasn't going to get anything done in life if I kept letting my schedule revolve around my period and my PMS. 🤣

Thanks, I’ll definitely head back there and give something else a shot. If it works, great; if I realize right away that it’s a bust, I won't bother telling anyone.

Brian Kim5 said:Thanks, I’ll definitely head back there and give something else a shot. If it works, great; if I realize right away that it’s a bust, I won't bother telling anyone.

And you can't expect results instantly—it takes about three months for your body to actually adjust to the pills.

I misspoke... If I start seeing any heavy side effects like last time, I'm stopping immediately... Anyway, thanks for the support 😁

So, looks like I’m not the only one who spends every single month convinced my period cramps are actually going to be the end of me... even though I somehow survive.
I'm right there with you—just a total mess who's been basically poisoning myself since I was 12 just to get five minutes of peace.
Honestly, if there's a painkiller out there in any CVS or Walgreens, I've probably tried it. I'm basically a walking test subject at this point.
From age 12 until I hit 26, the pain was just insane... we're talking vomiting, dizzy spells, fevers, and me just being stuck in bed all day. Then I tried birth control pills that cost a fortune but did absolutely nothing, until I finally found Diane-35. For that first year, it felt like pure heaven. But, you know how it goes—side effects. Within four months on Diane, I gained 10 pounds and turned into a total water balloon. My veins were bulging in my legs and hurting like crazy, so I finally said "nope" to birth control forever. Of course, the cramps came back, but they aren't quite as brutal as before. It still drives me absolutely nuts, but at least I'm not puking or passing out anymore. Still, I have to pop at least 5 or 6 pills on the first day. I used to take Advil Forte, but my body just stopped responding to it after a while, so now I'm on Blokmax Lady. Someone mentioned earlier that these can cause heart issues... I've taken them a few times since they hit the shelves and haven't had any problems, but I'll admit, I really tend to overdo it with the meds when the pain hits.

Frank Hall18, you sure you don't have anything going on with your hormone levels?

Have you ever tried Maca powder for regulation? It really helped balance things out for me—helped stabilize my hormones, stopped the weight gain issues, and gave me a serious energy boost.

I’m actually taking a break from it right now to try out another alternative—Lugol's iodine.

So, first dose after starting Lyndette—and honestly? No pain at all... 😁 Good grief... the only thing that isn't "light" bleeding is the fact that I basically rained today... 🤦 PMS was absolutely brutal—I had migraines, felt like I wanted to end it all, flu symptoms... I’d wake up completely drenched in sweat and shivering from the cold. 👎 I'm hoping things settle down the longer I stick with this—honestly, if it’s just to deal with these endless periods, it's barely worth the hassle. I’d much rather deal with standard cramps than this absolute PMS nightmare... it's just not worth the trade-off.

Larry Castillo2 said:Frank Hall18, you sure you don't have anything going on with your hormone levels?

Have you ever tried Maca powder for regulation? It really helped balance things out for me—helped stabilize my hormones, stopped the weight gain issues, and gave me a serious energy boost.

I’m actually taking a break from it right now to try out another alternative—Lugol's iodine.

Tried that miracle stuff too—nothing but a temporary buzz, honestly feels like I just downed a cup of coffee. And I’m not buying the whole "hormone regulation" claim for a second... there’s zero proof for it anyway...

@Frank Hall18, if you stumble onto anything better than Neofen Forte, let me know—I honestly don't think there’s anything stronger out there without a prescription... 🤷

I heard today that women who deal with super painful periods might actually have an easier time with childbirth since they’re already conditioned for that kind of pain. I don't know if that's total nonsense or not, but somehow it's comforting 😁

Nothing's wrong, honestly... my OB-GYN didn't find anything at all. He didn't even really bother suggesting any extra tests or showing much interest, just kind of brushed it off saying it's normal for a lot of women and called it a day...

Frank Hall18 said:Nothing's wrong, honestly... my OB-GYN didn't find anything at all. He didn't even really bother suggesting any extra tests or showing much interest, just kind of brushed it off saying it's normal for a lot of women and called it a day...

Vomiting, dizziness, chills, fevers, and abnormal pain—these aren't exactly "normal" things to just brush off.
And why mention only one doctor? Would you really rather just suffer through it and constantly pop pills instead of seeking a second opinion?

quietfox384 said:Vomiting, dizziness, chills, fevers, and abnormal pain—these aren't exactly "normal" things to just brush off.
And why mention only one doctor? Would you really rather just suffer through it and constantly pop pills instead of seeking a second opinion?

Actually, they are—plus this PMS is brutal. I see so many women complaining that their doctors don't take them seriously. They just brush it off like, "Oh, that's just normal cramping" or "You're overreacting." And then there's the ☕ my doctor is the absolute best in town excuse—same exact reaction. He didn't even bother checking my hormones because he assumes the Pill will just fix everything. So, I'm waiting...🤷

Has anyone actually found a tea that helps with these aches and pains, besides just chamomile or lemon balm? I’d way rather stick to teas than deal with pills...

quietfox384 said:Vomiting, dizziness, chills, fevers, and abnormal pain—these aren't exactly "normal" things to just brush off.
And why mention only one doctor? Would you really rather just suffer through it and constantly pop pills instead of seeking a second opinion?

I mean, I'm not exactly "suffering" through it, but I am just totally exhausted from trying to find a fix. Now there's this new OB-GYN who took over my old doctor's patients, so we'll see what she thinks. I'm kind of hoping that since she's a woman, she might actually put in some effort to figure out what's going on with me...