Anything that works for severe period pain?

[anonchangename]

I’ve had problems with my periods since they started 20 odd years ago .

have an existing dx of PCOS, gynae said probably also have endometriosis, cysts on one ovary and scarring on the other and my bowel .

I’ve tried mirena, nexplanon, combined pill, mini pill, triptorelin, and northisterone .

Mirena caused horrendous pain, they said after that it was too big for me so causing contraction like pains . They said Jaydess coil is smaller but not licensed for menstrual disorders .

I’m trialling the mini pill yet again, I’m on day 50 of taking it - but am flooding through night pads, I’m on day 5 of a period and I’m in absolute agony to point of tears . Taking ponstan to no avail .

GP is reluctant to give me codeine based meds as have had a problem with codeine before but last month needed 6 x dihydrocodeine daily plus buscopan, paracetomal and ponstan just to function, that lasted a week .

Am deliberately trying to ride it out this month - because if I do take codeine I’m scared I’ll get back into habit of it! - but it’s agony, kept waking up last night doubled over .

I’m seeing gynaecology on the 1 June, I haven’t had children yet and I’m scared of doing anything too final (eg ablation or hysterectomy) that would stop me from having my own kids .

I’m not sure if there’s anything I haven’t tried, short of surgery? I’m at my wits end with it .

For me, upping the quantity of quality red meat cured my pain completely and I could've begged for an ambulance in previous times I was in such horrific pain.

I have PCOS and really was amazed the difference with both ovulation time (well for me can be 10 days of ovary pain in a 21-23 day cycle) and period pain when I was low sugar/low carb.

Like amazingly different.

@anonchangename Awful when your body feels like this, you have my sympathy. I have endo and used to take codeine but it made me feel awful, complete space cadet and I feel out of control on it but that was on prescription. I have done, pill, mini pill, ponstan plus endo meds.

The two things that work for me now are a TENs machine, I literally could not function without it. You can hire them just like you can for labour to see if it works for you. I am talking about the 2 channel 4 pads ones not the one pad for period pain that you can get. Also a plug in heat pad, not at the same time as the TENs obviously.

I am also taking note of the increased red meat, I don't really need an excuse to eat a delicious steak. @ladleo is it the iron? Were you advised to do this or did you read it? Very curious as anything that would help would be welcomed.

PCOS too, also used to have horrible period pains. The one upside was that they weren't monthly. I was fine once I was on the the right type of pills for me - microgynon and then Marvelon.

I have polycystic ovaries (not PCOS though), and my periods were/are excruciating, I sometimes the pain is so extreme that I can't even pee, and spend and an hour just crying on the toilet. Tablets with high levels of codeine (500mg paracetamol 30mg codeine, I took two) often wouldn't even touch it.

What finally gave me relief (enough to even be able to go to a museum during my period!) was taking mefenamic acid (ponstan), and metamizole together. Gynaecologist prescribed them for me. We don't have the exact same problems but it could be worth trying out the metamizole, as you're already on the ponstan.

A friend of mine swears that CBD oil helps her periods, but I'm more sceptical as it doesn't do much for me. Now I take the painkillers and lay down with a hot water bottle and wait for it to pass.

Good luck, I hope you are able to get relief!!

I suffered really badly with period pains, used to take naproxen and cocodamol but to be honest I never really got any relief from it, like I'd take it but it would still be super crampy. I also often vomited and fainted with the pain. Trying to swallow the tablets was a nightmare too because I was so nauseated.

So I switch to a different approach now. I get a lot of very local pain so found tampons excruciating so I switched to a cup which is usually much better. There's some vague evidence that taking ibuprofen before your period is due has an effect on the prostaglandin production jn the uterus so I take 400mg three times a day from about day 27. Obviously there are risks to so much ibuprofen but I've never had any stomach issues so far. It also can reduce the volume of blood. I then must get out a 40 minute walk on day 1. I have no idea why buy of I don't go for a long walk its do much worse...maybe endorphins?

methanamic acid got me thru & I never had severe pain after I had kids (thank goodness)

mefanimic? sorry, it's ibuprofen related but prescription, anyway

CBD oil and completely eliminating white carbs (bread, white rice)

Interesting what a PP says about the evidence for ibuprofen started before your period is due, because that was just about worked for me, and I didn't know it has been shown by any research. I just knew that if I thought there was a vague chance my period was due I should start taking it. The hospital max dose for ibuprofen is a lot higher than the OTC dose quoted, so I didn't feel bad taking more than it said on the box either - and my GP was happy too. I had tried Ponstan previously, which didn't help. Codeine makes me vomit, so that rules out some other options. In my case my issue is/was endometriosis which has damaged my internal bits, so I also tried several different diets, eliminating various things, but none helped. I am curious about the increasing red meat option though!

Have you tried CBD? I have a friend who suffers with endo and she swears by it. She takes the oil daily but sent me an article about CBD tampons recently which I'll try and find.

Found it :)

https://www.leafie.co.uk/articles/cbd-tampons-period-pain/

Raspberry leaf tea really helps mine along with some painkillers. But it's awful to suffer like this nothing ever gets rid of it altogether although mine did improve after I had children but have gotten worse again as I approach menopause.