Period pain is just horrible :(

[Mirrors123]

I feel so unwell and so sore and so unhappy. Hate going through this every month. As soon as I came on today I just thought here we go a long night ahead :(

You're not alone, I'm (literally) feeling your pain right now too. Do you also get nausea? I hate the nausea.

The only positive thing I have to say about having had horrificly painful periods is that labour is easy in comparison. No more painful than a bad period which has meant I can give birth on just two paracetamol.

Period pain is awful. Do you have a hot water bottle? That always made mine a bit better. I used KY gel to insert tampons too. I used to have horrendous period pain and such heavy periods too but after giving birth it did get slightly better.

I feel your pain quite literally. 600mg ibuprofen (have spanish pils which come in this dose), 1000mg paracetamol and buscopan has helped a bit.

@SpaceCadet4000 really bad nausea. Horrible :( sorry that you are suffering too!!

@caringcarer no idea where it is tbh not even sure i still have a hot water bottle but i need to dig it out or buy a new one because it does help!

@Likethebattle have only had paracetamol so far as all I had to hand but I might need to have a rummage soon and see what else I can find as it's made no difference so far :(

@Mirrors123
I went on the pill at 13 purely because of heavy and horribly painful periods. Is this an option for you? It made a huge difference.

Now, at 34, I have a coil - the last few months have been a bit of a nightmare as it isn't where it is supposed to be and they are struggling to get it out again but I WILL definitely be having another put in as I've had no periods (never mind the horrible cramps) for the last 6 years

Hope you feel better soon

I have no useful tips to share other than what's been suggested already but I did want to stop by just to offer my support to you. Heavy and painful periods really are the worst things ever and alot of people don't understand especially when they don't suffer as bad.

Definitely sort a hot water bottle out, however, I read you don't have one go hand now. I've had similar issue before so I used an old bottle (milk bottle/fizzy drinks bottle/anything with a lid) I filled it up with warm/hot water and wrapped a tea towel or t shirt around it to act as a cover. Hope this helps you until you can find/buy the real deal.

Sometimes some gentle stretches can really help with the pain. I know it's literally the LAST thing you want to do but try laying down in bed or on the sofa and stick your belly out for the count of 5 seconds and arch your back for 5, then stretch your legs by pointing your toes towards the end of the bed/sofa. Finish by gently rubbing your belly.

Chickenwings85

^^

That's a super good idea I. E. Hot water bottle

I get some relief from naproxen, but Buscopan is the only thing that really stops it for me. Miracle stuff! Hope you get some relief and sleep @Mirrors123

It is awful . I don't have periods any more but won't forget what the pain was like. I will certainly pass on the Buscopan tip to my daughter. And OP, in the morning get yourself out to the shops first thing and buy yourself a hot water bottle, some Feminax - get plenty so you don't run out - or at the very least some ibuprofen which is way more effective on period pain than paracetamol and some chocolate (not even kidding about the chocolate). You poor thing.

Mines are so much better since I had my little boy but when i was younger I was awful, sent home from school then work every 4 weeks on the dot. Once taken home by my boss because I kept fainting.
To be honest pain killers didn't do all that much for me, I used to take nurofen plus like sweeties when I was in my early 20s but it didn't give me relief from that pressure feeling. The only thing that works for me is a bath, as soon as I feel it coming on I go in a deep hot bath and sometimes sit in there for hours. If I couldn't sleep for the pain I would just take another bath through the night. Hot water bottle really helped too.

I suffered from horrendous period pain- as a PP has said, similar in intensity to contractions in labour but only for an hour or two- from age of 12. The dread of it every month ruined my life for years - I couldn't walk and sometimes couldn't see for the pain- until I went on pill. Doctor had prescribed mefanamic acid but it didn't help me in the slightest. Had no problems conceiving twice, and labour was genuinely not much worse, just lasted longer. Still on pill now aged 52 (mini pill) purely to avoid periods. Hoping I can stay on it until menopause.

Reading with interest. I usually take cocodamol, and if that doesn't do the trick I take ibuprofen. I've never tried buscopan - is it any good?

Thanks all for your kindness and suggestions, it may sound silly but I felt really sad last night as I live alone with horrible period pain keeping me awake.

Buscopan does help @BlueBrush I would recommend! naproxen (different anti inflammatory) also helps me more than ibprofen but I think you can only get it on prescription.

Have found my hot water bottle too! Fingers crossed for a better day today pain wise. I don't know about you guys but for me the first day is always the worst?

Thanks @Mirrors123 Hope you have a better day!

Agreed. I never really had period pain until my periods restarted when DS was six months old. I get the nausea too, I never linked it to the pain... I had to get up in the middle of the night a couple of nights ago because the pain woke me up . Hot water bottle and painkillers didn’t cut it...

I had the nausea last night. I just want to drink cups of tea and eat chocolate biscuits today lol.

Hope you are feeling better

Mine was horrendous. Trying to conceive was traumatic as the periods were so awful. I had to take anti nausea medication to be able to work and very strong painkillers. I agree that labour was not an issue, if anything it was better because you get a break with contractions ;) (apart from when they ripped her out of me with forceps, but that's another story!)

I'm now on the depot injection and have no periods, I highly recommend it!

In the meantime get the over the counter naproxen for period pain + some paracetamol with codeine. Lots of heat and chocolate

I feel your pain. I think having painful periods makes giving birth easier as your resilience is so much more (that's the only positive I can think of!) Hot water bottle and feminax I find help. Sometimes blowing a hot hairdryer over my tummy too

Feminax ultra or Nurofen plus used to be the only things that worked for me, if your periods are regular & predictable, start taking painkillers 48 hours before your period is due. Buy yourself a heated pad, gel hot bottle or a wheat bag. Please don't use a hot water bottle, a lady I know used one last month for period pain, it split leaving her scalded from stomach to knees & needing skin grafts. Could you go on the combined pill? It makes periods lighter & shorter or you can take it without a break &not have periods.

Have you been checked by your GP?

I have a long history of bad period pains, largely resolved by going on the pill for years. Came off the pill about 10 years ago, period pains were largely bearable & ibuprofen managed them.

In the last two years, my period pains are now extreme (rocking with pain + vomiting, even with ibuprofen alternated with co-codamol). Turns out I have fibroids, so now I also take tranexamic acid (which reduces bleeding and pain).

So my top tips:
*ibuprofen (if you can)

• alternated with paracetamol or co-codamol
• get two microwave hotties (rather than hot water bottle) for steadier longer lasting heat and one can cool whilst you use the other
• see your GP.

I've only recently learned about Buscopan from here. I've checked with pharmacist that I can take those alongside the ibuprofen /co-codamol / tranexamic acid, so that's next on my list.

And see your GP! Mines referred me to a gynaecologist to see what my options are.

Feminax Ultra are naproxen, and available from the chemists without a prescription, they're the only thing that helps me. Not that they're doing much today dammit

Well, that and Jilly Cooper recommended it, it can't be wrong

Going to echo a few pp's - is there a reason you can't go on the pill? If there is (age, ttc, etc.) fair enough - but we've been conditioned to think, as you say, it's something we "have to go through every month" but we really don't. I went on the mini pill about six months ago and haven't had a period since. IT IS AMAZING! and I didn't even have 'bad' periods. Just nice not to worry about holidays, having those few days feeling rough, mood swings, etc.

GP assured me there are no health benefits to having periods every month, so no reason why the majority of women (certain restrictions as mentioned above) have to put up with them at all.

I'm currently wrapped up on the sofa with a hot water bottle. Have taken a cocodamol. The pain is horrendous. Back in June I had polyps removed and a D&C to try and sort out the pain. I have 2 or 3 days a month without period pain. I'm totally at the end of my tether with it. 💐 for everyone pissed off with periods.

Feminax Ultra are naproxen, and available from the chemists without a prescription, they're the only thing that helps me

I had prescribed Naproxen - was less effective for me than ibuprofen, disappointingly.

I find ibuprofen more effective than paracetamol; my friend says it's the other way around for her.

So it's trial and error to find what suits you best!