Any tips for period pain?

[JustOneLastThing]

I have PCOS on one ovary, and like this month, when i do eventually get a period from that side it is absolute agony.

I have stabbing pains in my uterus and through my back. I take pain relief (ibuprofen and paracetamol) and try to battle through but i am almost in tears and cant get comfortable. I have on a few occasions had to leave work because it can be so agonising.

The bleeding can be heavier and hard to manage with large clots (sorry) and even with both pads and super tampons i can leak through in an hour or so.

I have had every tesf going to get to the conclusion i have pcos and there are no signs of endometriosis or fibroids.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Mefenamic acid Helped me but I haves has periods in a long while so don’t know if it’s still prescribed.

Thank you, i'll make an appointment with my gp. I didn't used to get periods at all for months at a time so I suppose i should be grateful to have them at all, but this has been an unpleasant side effect.

I take Buscopam, ibuprofen and paracetamol when mine is really bad.

I know it sounds weird but I was recommended a few months ago to eat a banana on my worst days. I was sceptical for obvs reasons but I was shocked how much it helped.

Sometimes I used to pass out with the pain

Feminax Ultra (not the regular Feminax off the shelf ) only available from the pharmacy counter is Naproxen and may tide you over until your GP appointment.

I was prescribed Naproxen, which helped a bit. Have you been tested for adenomyosis? If the pain is coming from your womb, that would be worth checking.

Feminax extra from pharmacy only thing that helps me. Its Naproxen and I only need one and pain is gone for whole period. Has to be the extra one though.

This may sound bloody weird but I found that whenever I eat gluten that month I have terribly heavy, large clots, agonising periods. If I go gluten free no pain with light periods. I'm not celiac but have Ibs triggered by wheat and barley.

My body is crazy though 🤪 but it's worth a thought at the very least. Hope you feel better with it.

I'll get some feminax ultra tomorrow and see if that works- i hate going to the gp and bothering them if i can get stuff myself to fix the issue

You poor thing. I suffered shocking period pains until my late 30s, then they calmed down. Would also have to leave school/work at times. Runs in my family and I tried everything I could except prescription pain killers.

My tips would be:

• Double up ibuprofen and paracetamol (I’m no doctor but think this is ok?) and try to do it before the pain really kicks in - for some reason if I could see it off at the pass it didn’t take such strong hold

• add heat; a hot water bottle if you can, or if you have to be out and about try wearing those stick-on heat patches - you could have one on the front and one on the back if the pain goes through to your back

• I once got something from the US called Menastil - a roll on oil of some kind; it was bloody amazing but I couldn’t find it after a while... worth a google though!

• boring, but - taking care of yourself. I always found eating well, getting enough sleep etc. in the run up made a difference to how bad the pains were

• re. diet - the banana tip is probably because of the magnesium. B vitamin complex is also good when it comes to nutrients that will help

• I’m no yogi but googke The Child pose - lying in that for a few minutes also seeemed to relieve something somewhere!

Hope something on that list helps - you have my sympathy, it’s hard to understand if you don’t get them badly. Im also reading a book at the moment called ‘Period Power’ by Maisie Hill that’s really informative and all about understanding/optimising your cycle. Also a fun title to flash about on the train

Co codamol for me - available over the counter. Ibuprofen does nothing for mine. Take it as soon as you feel first twinge.

Cocodamol for me too

Some GPs are much better and more sympathetic than others when it comes to period pain, so do go to the doctor, and hopefully they will be able to help. If the first one isn't much good, then see another, or the practice nurse.

Mefenamic acid is pretty good, but prescription-only.

600mg ibuprofen (the pharmacist would only give me 400) gp told me to take 600mg (which you can get over the counter in spain 😯). Buscopsn really helps with the twinges as it’s a muscle relaxant and you can take ibuprofen and paracetamol together. Be careful if the heat patches I got a chemical burn from them. The bleeding and infection was awful, had to get string anti-biotics and the heat isn’t strong enough. Hot water bottles help me but I need the heat to be intense and end up with burns on my stomach. I feel for you as it’s awful.

Mefanamic acid, amazing mostly.

Would the coil help given you have polycystic ovaries? I have no idea, but omg, it’s saved me!

Echo what cherry said, the coil was a miracle for me. I've had mine removed due to trying for a baby and boy do I miss it!

Mefenamic acid is a amazing! Take it as soon as you feel a twinge or know your period is on its way.