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Original poster

DD and periods

66 replies

tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:16

13 year old DD frequently has to miss a day of school a month for her period. Not every month but more often than not.

She gets bad pain but we're just about on top of that with alternate dosing ibuprofen and paracetamol, although at home she also uses a heat pad to make it bearable so often struggles at school.

The other issue is that she just feels'ill' and out of it.

I've had BC so I don't want her on the pill.

I've tried other medications myself over the years and the only thing that helped at all was transexamic acid , which she is too young for .

I'm going to start giving her spatone and more vits.

Anyone got any recommendations for what else would help , as she gets older she can't keep missing school? I'm not really interested in making her power on through as I have suffered for 40 years and don't think it's particularly on that women have to just cope with it and carry on.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 20/09/2021 20:22

I’d take her to GP in case there is more going on than simply painful periods. Teens can develop endometriosis for example as recent studies have shown two thirds of women with it had symptoms start while a teenager.

Other than that, I’d personally allow her the one day off a month from school. She can easily catch up and her health is more important than perfect attendance.

Twizbe · 20/09/2021 20:23

Have a look at a book called the period repair manual.

Life saver for me!

Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:29

@PlanDeRaccordement I was like this as a teen though and I don't think I've had endometriosis. I recently had an investigation and not even fibroids were found. I think many of us just have awful periods with no reason. What has helped me is the same investigation - under GC - was a d&c and it's entirely got rid of my pain which was so bad that I passed out from it earlier this year. I'd have had that done every year had I known!

But I don't think DD would ever let anyone ever take a look.

Might be worth a chat with the GP since it's all over the phone anyway I can probably just do it.

She is a hard worker so I don't mind her missing a day. Just wonder about the impact when she's into her GCSES.

@Twizbe thanks I'll look that up!

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hellswelshy · 20/09/2021 20:29

Hi op, my dd uses tranexamic acid and she is 13 and a half. My gp went away and did some research before prescribing it and said it was fine. It may be worth chatting to your GP about this?

HummingBeeBox · 20/09/2021 20:31

Menstrual cup use significantly reduced my pain. Real game changer for me.

It's so incredibly sad that society cannot deal with periods and the effect they have on women. It's just not ok that we feel like we have to always be ok. I have a week a month where I am out of it, more so when I was younger. I realise we can't change this but sometimes we feel bloody awful and need to stay home.

Newchances · 20/09/2021 20:32

Feminex ? I think is it quick release ibuprofen ?
You can also get sticky heat pads for stomach/back for period pain in boots etc. I dont think would be too noticeable under a uniform ?

Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:38

Yeah I looked at feminax but it's just expensive ibuprofen isn't it ? Also looked at sticky heat pads but she refused ! Had slightly mixed reviews too but be interested to hear if anyone had found them good?

She won't use Tampax we have lots of period pants, she seems to usually manage the flow ok - with pads and the pants together on heavy days. She's had her period for 4 years now .

Have ordered the period manual it looks interesting - and she really has to stay away from hormonal treatments so I want to help her tackle this differently to me - I spent 20 years on the pill. The 'out of it' feeling seems to be her main concern as she is learning to manage to work even while in bad - but she can't override the wooziness .

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 20/09/2021 20:39

Oh, I agree many women have awful periods for no discernible reason. I do myself. Just that our DC are products of both our genes and their fathers genes and so not 100% sure our DDs are exactly like us.

I completely understand if she doesn’t want any investigation done now, or even soon. It can be traumatising and is at very least humiliating. Just thinking more that her symptoms should be on record in her NHS files so that when she is older teen or even in her twenties and it doesn’t improve, and she wants it investigated that she will be able to say, hey I’ve had these symptoms since I was 13 it’s in my records and so there’s no excuse to not give me a gyn referral.

IvySneezes · 20/09/2021 20:40

DAYE do tampons with cannabis oil that are supposed to relieve pain. Not tried them myself but maybe worth a research/try?

Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:42

Maybe I should just let her stay at home and not worry then - when she really has to power through she can. And I'll read that book and see if there's anything that might help with diet / vits. I was going to get well teen vitamins but she thinks the pills are
too big (i take well woman so assuming they are the same ?

Will ask the GP about transexamic acid as it really helps me and does cut the wooziness too

OP posts:
Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:44

@PlanDeRaccordement yes I think I'll ask GP for ideas and re transexamic acid. I've never had any help - I asked for the prescription after reading about it on Mumsnetn

OP posts:
buttercup1001 · 20/09/2021 20:45

I suffer bad with my periods makes me unwell neasous headache bad pains can hardly stand up I feel for her.

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/09/2021 20:48

Please take her to the Gp. In my surgery there is one that specialises in Gynae issues and the same could be true in yours.

AnnaMagnani · 20/09/2021 20:51

A million years ago I had tranexamic acid when I was about 11. No idea why she would be too young.

Also worth discussing risks of the pill with her GP - remember she's old enough for it to be her decision not yours if she is able to consent!

Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:54

Yep it's her choice re the pill when she's older but I don't want her on it at 13. Really good to know about transexamic acid thanks . Will contact GP tomorrow

OP posts:
Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 20:56

Just realised what you meant re Gillicks! Yes if she wanted the pill I'd let her of course but it's bad enough trying to make her take ibuprofen she won't take something that has a risk like that. She won't use Tampax as she read about toxic shock!

OP posts:
DGFB · 20/09/2021 20:56

Only thing that ever worked for me was the pill.. total godsend. Keep it on the table as an option

buttercup1001 · 20/09/2021 20:58

Could be Endometriosis.

Innocenta · 20/09/2021 21:10

It's worth really discussing the symptoms in depth with her if you can (if she's able to share with you), to find out what sort(s) of pain she's having. Because it can be helpful to 'mix and match' medications depending on how the pain manifests - which may vary from day to day, too.

I have quite bad periods and manage them with a combination of naproxen (very similar to ibuprofen), paracetamol, very occasional morphine (but I do have endo), tran acid for the bleeding, buscopan if I'm getting any cramps/pain involving more gastro-ish bits of the abdomen, and occasional diazepam as a muscle relaxant. I'm obviously not suggesting most of these medications exactly for someone as young as your DD, but it is definitely an area where 'finding your own formula' can really make quite a difference. Same with what you eat and drink that is helpful - it's very personal, but worth supporting her if she's at all interested in exploring it.

If she's too young to try out this stuff, it's something to come back to if they're still so bad when she's older. I vividly remember having nasty periods as a teen and I know how horrid it is, but you sound like a really lovely mum! Smile

Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 21:20

@Innocenta yes that's the kind of approach I was thinking of - eg I found running really regulated the intensity of my pain, but she is sporty and it doesn't seem to help, so I want to try and work out what might help eg diet maybe (within reason). I took codeine pre scrape. Naproxen gave me massive heart burn and she's a bit prone so not sure about that one.
Yours sound horrendous , I'm sorry you have them so badly

OP posts:
Original poster
tiddlysquat · 20/09/2021 21:21

I've just spoken to her and she's up for trying tran acid if we can get it, so will ask tomorrow

OP posts:
WhatsitWiggle · 20/09/2021 21:28

I'd be interested to know how you get on, as I have similar with my DD. Home schooling actually helped here because I could let her have the day off and we'd catch up but otherwise it's a day off school because she's in so much pain - has got worse as she's got older. We also dose ibuprofen and paracetamol/codeine and the sticky heat pads (they do help but she won't wear to school as she's worried about a 'lump' under her skirt).

I assumed the pill would be the only option, useful to know it's not. We've got a lovely female GP, she's just so hard to get hold of but I will try - you've given me hope there's something she could try.

Notaroadrunner · 20/09/2021 21:29

Could she be lacking in iron which could cause the woozy feeling? Might be worth having a blood test. Definitely go to gp and don't be fobbed off.

Notaroadrunner · 20/09/2021 21:32

Does BC stand for blood clots? If so the mini pill (progestogen only) might be an option.

mrsmacmc · 20/09/2021 21:33

@tiddlysquat

Yeah I looked at feminax but it's just expensive ibuprofen isn't it ? Also looked at sticky heat pads but she refused ! Had slightly mixed reviews too but be interested to hear if anyone had found them good?

She won't use Tampax we have lots of period pants, she seems to usually manage the flow ok - with pads and the pants together on heavy days. She's had her period for 4 years now .

Have ordered the period manual it looks interesting - and she really has to stay away from hormonal treatments so I want to help her tackle this differently to me - I spent 20 years on the pill. The 'out of it' feeling seems to be her main concern as she is learning to manage to work even while in bad - but she can't override the wooziness .

Tesco migraine relief pills are the same but a fraction of the price ❤️
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