Home remedies for teen period pains?

[OrchidLass]

DD's (almost 15) period pains have been getting steadily worse over the last 6 months. Spoke to the GP twice now who said the same thing each time - ibuprofen and heat pad. Pharmacist said the same this morning. But it's just not helping. Her period was 12 days late now and started today with awful period pains for her. She's been crying (which is not like her at all) and has thrown up quite violently too. I don't know what to do for her. Any ideas?

I think that’s a poor response from the GP. Can you request another appointment with a female GP (I’ve had more success in the past doing this). I take it she is going into her GCSE year and should be helped more.

Naproxen can be taken from 15. It's sold OTC in pharmacies as Feminax Ultra.

Get a 2nd opinion from a different GP, she can't continue like this.
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I went through a spell in my teens of being in agony and constant vomiting on my period. The only thing that helped was taking contraceptives. I has scans and tests but they didn’t find anything wrong. I grew out of the severe pains and vomiting in the end!

Hot water bottle on small of back and another on her stomach. And look up acupressure/shiatsu as there are some massages you can do on the feet that relieve period pain.

That's bollocks. My 15 year old finally had enough last year and we had a phone consult with the GP who said her being in pain and missing school was archaic, and prescribed Mefenamic acid and said give it 3 months and come back. DD said it wasn't really helping so she was then given more options, one of which was the pill. The GP was also great at advising how to take it to minimise time off school. DD is a different child. Not anaemic, not in pain, not anxious about school. Try a different GP.

I think that’s a poor response from the GP. Can you request another appointment with a female GP (I’ve had more success in the past doing this). I take it she is going into her GCSE year and should be helped more.

This is exactly how I feel. It was a female GP both times. I'll get back on to them tomorrow. DD has type 1 diabetes too so she has enough to deal with and vomitting is never good for diabetics because it messes with her blood glucose levels.

A tens machine might be worth a try. You can pick the mini ones up quite cheaply. I'd also be badgering the GP to do more.

As a PP said mefenamic acid is often prescribed for period pains. That's what I was given in my late teens and it worked really well.

Naproxen makes me really sick, but is supposed to work well. I went on the pill at 15 as I was similar. Much empathy from me for your DD.

I second trying a different GP - making clear that you've tried standard painkillers and they don't touch it.

Failing that... I take a full dose of paracetamol and a full dose of ibuprofen (standard over the counter ones) at the same time, works a treat. Obviously be sure you don't exceed the daily dose of either, but they interact together to boost the painkilling effect. I picked this up from a friend who's a doctor and also has horrific pains - it was a game changer for me.

I started like this at her age, turns out I've got endometriosis. I got diagnosed at 33, since going to various docs from the age of 15.

I'm not saying it's definitely that, just that it's a possibility and it's far better to get a diagnosis at a young age when they can hopefully manage it, than let them fib her off and she ends up putting up with this for a long time. It often take a long time and many different GPs to finally get answers.

Makes me so cross that doctors are still so dismissive about this. I had the same problem in the 1980s and still have dreadful period pains in my 50s, as does my 15 year old dd.

Magnesium supplements help a bit, alongside painkillers - I second the point above about paracetamol and ibuprofen if you can't get naproxen.

larabriden.com/when-period-pain-is-not-normal/

DD had similar awful period pain- after trying mefanemic acid (no improvement) she is now on pill and so much better. I had to be a bit pushy on her behalf with GP but it was well worth it.
Your poor DD- the vomiting sounds horrible and must be very stressful for her.

May be worth trying Buscopan

I've linked to the IBS version - they sell exactly the same ingredient as an anti cramp tablet, but it's much more expensive.

I was struggling this month. I put in a tampon and it really took the edge off the cramps.
Possibly worth a try? In the short term at least.
Otherwise contraceptive pill helped massively when I was younger.

I was going to post the lara briden link...she does great work. ,its definitely worth trying out her suggestions. ...sadly in my experience the gp's are ju st generally not good in this area....The pill is all they seem to offer. I wish they woukd offer a dr at each surgery who is specialised is women's health

I started like this at her age, turns out I've got endometriosis. I got diagnosed at 33, since going to various docs from the age of 15.

This has crossed my mind and it really worries me.

meant to say I have found turmeric particularly useful

Your poor daughter! I had horrendous period pains too, up until some time at uni, then it eased off. A hot bath sometimes helped a little but I was still crying and writhing in pain. Doctors really do need to take this seriously.

I would start with increasing iron intake prior to her period, and eating lots of leafy green vegetables and drinking lots of water. From the day she comes on, take ibuprofen and paracetamol, regularly. They must be taken regularly as they build up in the system. If this isn't working, she can speak to a gp about going on naproxen. It is extremely good with paracetamol but it can give you very strange dreams! I also find walking helps too rather than scrunching up in a ball on the sofa, but it takes some effort as it goes against what you want to do. I know it isn't ideal, but maybe a low dose contraceptive pill could help. Worth considering as a last resort.

Another vote for talking to a different GP. I had mefenamic acid as a teen. Made a big difference.

It seems to have settled down a bit since she was sick earlier thank goodness. She's so pale though, hoping she's not anaemic.

What about co-codamol? You can buy it over the counter and it will be a lot more effective that paracetamol alone, and you can take it alongside ibuprofen.

I ended up on the pill at that age due to impossible to manage periods (ending up off school) and it worked incredibly well for me.

I had horrible period pain as a teenager, Mums attitude was very much 'deal with it, it gets better after pregnancy'. She had me at 24, I didn't have DD1 till I was 37 and DSis never had children (not through choice) so still has painful periods in her 40s poor thing.

Things that helped: heat (hot water bottle or a bath), not eating the first day of my period (less likely to vomit), exercise, not drinking alcohol when my period was due (not an issue when I was a teenager but as a student it was), healthy eating, evening primrose oiled helped for a short while.

A TENs machine sounds like an excellent idea (DD1 has just started her periods so will get one for her), and buscopan.