Period pain management - any tips?

[itsgettingwierd]

I have menstrual issues and have been referred to gynae after failed attempt at mini pill and 2 expelled coils.

I'm on northisterone long term but have to take a break when I have breakthrough bleeding - which I waited 2 weeks for as mentally have to prepare myself and half term so won't be off work as off anyway!

The pain is unbearable. It's akin to labour pains.

I'm using Mefanamic acid, 30/500mg co codamol and 500mg of paracetamol. It makes it just about bearable but makes me feel like I'm floating around space!

Anyone else had such severe pain and had a better combination of pain management?

I'm facing a 32 week wait for initial appointment and so need something to help me get through the next 8 months as the pain is really affecting my MH.

My doctor prescribed me Naproxen, they work really well

Another one with severe endometriosis and adenomyosis (plus pcos).
I’d watch out with alcohol as it causes inflammation and that could make the pain worse.
I would say naproxen, (make sure you eat before taking them), ask GP for codeine.
I have been recommended TENS machine before now. Hot baths and hot water bottles help.
I had excision surgery to remove endometriosis and have been a lot better after that, I also take the progesterone only pill to suppress my periods which helps too.
I’d advise getting a referral to an endometriosis specialist as endometriosis is progressive disease and can get worse over time. Especially if there is any suggestion of bowel or bladder involvement.

I have the same and take the same meds - nothing really touches it so I am currently undergoing investigations. It's so debilitating, so watching with interest

I've bought a tens machine!

Currently have it on my right back where I get pain.

It says caution using on a menstruating uterus.

However all the research I did online also suggest they are good for period pain

One thing I do which I see other people writing is start with painkillers BEFORE the pain starts, easier if you have regular cycles admittedly. Then keep going every couple of hours on the dot. If I wait until the pain starts, if I'm asleep for instance or have run out of painkillers I cannot get back under control.

Warm bath and, if you can bear it, an orgasm.

My heart goes out to you OP. It's utterly debilitating and so very wrong in this day and age.

Naproxen? You can buy it OTC as Feminax Ultra.

You need to get the Ultra one for max relief.

https://lloydspharmacy.com/products/feminax-ultra-maximum-strength-9-tablets

I’ve taken most of what’s suggested on here to varying results, I don’t personally get on with a tens machine but something I discovered a year ago which I would recommend is CBD tampons.

I get mine from Daye, they are obvs more expensive than normal tampons, I do still take painkillers but I’ve found the need much reduced, have gone from trying tramadol and voltarol to taking the odd naproxen or just strong ibuprofen.

I was very sceptical and only tried them as a friend raved about how they helped her. I’m still a bit dubious as I wonder if it’s almost a placebo effect but regardless have been life changing for me!

I'd stick CBD oil up my fanjo if I thought it would help 🤣🤣🤣

I'll have a google although I'm not actually sure it's something I'd be comfortable with I'm also at the point I'd try anything!

Good advice about taking painkillers from the start. Not tried that one.

Also will investigate feminax ultra and buscapan.

I'm hoping as northisterone isn't working and I have to take a break and the new bleeding the GP will write to consultant and it'll change my place in queue. The original referral wasn't based on this.

sounds really tough, poor you.

The strongest I ever need is co-codamol, occasionally so can't help with anything prescribed.
but sugar is a natural painkiller so DH normally has to do a Jaffa Cake - Kit Kat - Kinder Bueno run as soon as the painters arrive. starve a fever, feed a cold, sugar up a period

Naproxen with paracetamol was life changing for me. It meant I could actually sleep without waking in pain. It wasn't the be all and end.all, but it did help massively. I've gone back on the combined pill but a low dose one.

This advice is taken at your own risk!

There was a study, which sadly lost funding before it was finished, but it showed that sildenafil (viagra), can be effective against period pains.

I bought some from Superdrug online, (you have to use a male name or they won’t fill the prescription). I don’t know if it’s really amazing, or it was the placebo effect, but it really helps me!

Naproxen helped me buy it made me feel really sick so make sure you get something to balance that out. A hot water bottle is better than any pain killer I've found tho. That and red wine

I know you said you had the mini pill, but which one? I had a mirena coil removed after 4 years, the strings were bothering my DH and I think it was slightly wrongly placed, I had some amazing pains! The doctor who removed it just chucked a progesterone only pill-Desorex-at me and it has revolutionised my life! Zero pain (zero sexual desire, but honestly, I’m ecstatic to be pain free). I used to sit in a boiling bath with a hot water bottle, which is what persuaded me to get the coil in the first place, only moderately successful.

PS I was on mefenamic acid and buscopan too, sometimes worked.

Poor you, this sounds awful. I used to getting awful periods - not as bad as you by sounds of things but I’d be doubled over / bedridden at least one day a month. The main thing that helped eventually was taking ibuprofen regularly from the day before the period would start. As long as I got the timing right in this way it was markedly less painful. That was the only painkiller I used.

Bizarrely having a baby seemed to put an end to painful periods after c15 years of it (touch wood).

@HumunaHey

I usedto suffer really bad period pains. I changed my diet (less refined sugar, carbs and more sources of iron acouple if weeks before each time I was due). This made a massive difference.

This is interesting as I've noticed this too. I cut down on my sugar by going low carb from February and my periods were so much more manageable until I then increased my sugar/carbs in April, this months period has been awful. I have adenomyosis which I manage with naproxen and paracetamol. I find walking and being upright really helps, being crunched up sitting down is agony. I'm low carbing again from tomorrow to test my theory!

Things that helped me:

Buscopan (I had terrible bowel cramps to accompany the uterine cramps)
Oral painkillers were tricky for me as I'd often just vomit them straight up.
Using a heat pad / hot water bottle on my lower back rather than on my belly
Cut out caffeine for 3 days before my period was due and the first couple of days of being on (Lord above this one was HARD but it really did help)
Diet: eat 4 or 5 brazil nuts every day
a handful of pumpkin seeds every day
2 spoons of flax seed oil a day. I basically shoved the nuts and seeds and oil in a bowl of really good quality muesli every morning.

Now have a mirena but before that, this is what got me through.

I'm sorry OP, it's rotten isn't it. I've missed out on so much in life by beeing wiped out for 4 days a month for 25 years

Buscopan and Naproxen have been my go-tos.

@Cherrysoup

I know you said you had the mini pill, but which one? I had a mirena coil removed after 4 years, the strings were bothering my DH and I think it was slightly wrongly placed, I had some amazing pains! The doctor who removed it just chucked a progesterone only pill-Desorex-at me and it has revolutionised my life! Zero pain (zero sexual desire, but honestly, I’m ecstatic to be pain free). I used to sit in a boiling bath with a hot water bottle, which is what persuaded me to get the coil in the first place, only moderately successful.

I had that one.

I take transanemic acid combined with Mefanemic acid. I have to keep my doses topped up,so I take them together every 8 hours.

Naproxen makes me vomit.

Hope you can get some relief.

Why are you having breaks? Not necessary with norethisterone I'm on it for endo and I don't take breaks and don't have periods at all. Suits me fine.

But then I'm aware how shit gps are on this stuff

Also don't think you should be taking paracetamol AND cocodamol as cocodamol has paracetamol in it and you're at risk of overdosing which can be very dangerous. Does your dr know you're taking both?

Cocodamol is codeine and paracetamol combined

www.nhs.uk/medicines/co-codamol-adults/

All that said, things that have helped me in the past that aren't usual advice:

Regular small amount of carbs through the day
Fill a hot water bottle with COLD water and apply to affected areas. (Sounds counterintuitive I know) I was always worse in my back, didn't know why exactly until my endo was dx via surgery for ectopic pregnancy, exploratory lap found endo on my spine as well as other areas - inc bowel - but there was a significant amount on the spine

I'm afraid to say 2 things that REALLY helped me were

Surgery

Prostap - this basically creates a fake menopause and shuts the reproductive system down, worked great but messed with my bp (I'm on the low side anyway, add in pots and the prostap made me keep passing out)

Yes yes yes to taking pain meds BEFORE the pain - hell before the periods hits!

Hi OP
Sorry to hear about your pain - agree it sounds like endo.
Hot bath, shower, water bottle and ibuprofen all help me.
It took a few months but sticking to a low carb diet and exercising a few times a week helped MASSIVELY. You may not experience a difference straight away but it’s def worth trying. Good luck

I was told I'd need a week break if I had breakthrough bleeding.

I started it in 27/5 and had 2 days before bleeding stopped and then had a small bleed for 3 days 2 weeks later with the pain in same place as I get it worse. Then continued to spot daily as I'd planned to take my break from Friday.

Yes I can take the co codamol with paracetamol. This is because you can have 1g of paracetamol and I only take 1 30/500mg co codamol so can have 1 500mg paracetamol as well.

@itsgettingwierd how are you getting on with the TENs machine? I have endo, diagnosed 20 years ago. I use a 4 pad 2 channel TENs for period pain. So 2 pads on the back and one on each ovary. I can link the 2 on my back or front together or have one pad on the front link through to one on my back which also helps.

I have used a TENs machine for years and often for 18 hours to take the pain level down. Like you on one 30/500 co-codamol I am a space cadet and only ever take 2 if it is out of control and I need to sleep but I do have a Dh and my children are now teenagers. I probably only take some once a year. My go to is actually a Migralieve Pink, low dose co-codamol and because it contains anti-sickness too.

For back pain a massage gun that sort of pummels you really helps and I will suggest two things that may or may not help you. One is meditation daily, just 20 minutes every day to "centre" yourself, breathe and relax your body. Stress makes endo worse and from the sounds of it your life is pretty full on as a lone parent with a child with additional needs.

The other is attitude to the pain. With endo some level of pain will probably always be there. Like when you are in labour you know why you are in pain and you accept it. You know that for x number of days your body will be in a high level of pain but you know it will be over at some point. For me it is 24-36 hours or 48 at the absolute most.

My daughter takes tranexamic acid for heavy periods, it works really well. I wonder if it would help with pain too. Might be worth talking to your dr about it.