DD15 - horrible periods

[EarlyInTheMorning]

DD has a torrid time with her periods, so in the past we've used period delaying tablets whenever she has something big coming up like DofE, mocks, etc, and this has been working well. However, when her period comes, she has such awful cramps that she usually feels faint, vomits and misses school at least one day.

I feel it's come to the point where we need to go to the GP, but apart from the pill, what else are they likely to suggest?

Anyone aware of alternatives worth considering?

I sympathise. Dd is the same - though her periods are getting better now she's 20.

Keep on top of the pain - take Feminax when period is due. Use Flo or similar to track periods. A hot water bottle or wheat bag worked too, or warm baths.

But I have been so close to taking her to the GP for medication. It's horrible.

I was given the pill at 15 for the same reason… it was life changing. I had no pain (minor discomfort) I could even run packs together to ensure it didn’t ruin holidays etc. On the depo jag I put in a lot of weight but the no periods were worth it. Don’t let the GP fob you off, the gave me painkillers, I threw them back up. I told them it was affecting my life and my mum chimed in saying I was suicidal (I wasn’t but she said she only did that to make the GP do something).

The GP might prescribe tranexamic acid. That has worked for some of DD's friends.

I was like this as a teenager and all the pharmacy medicines were of very limited help. If you don’t already then ensure she is alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol and don’t miss a dose, even if she’s feeling better. As a GP told me once you must keep on top of the pain to stop it breaking through.

For me though going on the pill at 18 was a major turning point in feeling like my life wasn’t dominated by the misery of monthly agony anymore.

The pill really helped dd - she was probably 16 or so when she began to take it, but the pain for her was really dreadful. And when she ran out and forgot to get some more, the pain noticeably returned.

Also I can’t take codeine based meds as I faint.

This was me years ago, hideous time. The pill sorted mine out but can see you'd like an alternative. Feminax made me fall asleep, not idea when you're in class having a snooze.

DD is the same but she has POTs so the fainting/vomiting happens a lot during her period. She wants to go on the pill but they're trying a different drug first (to try and manage the POTs).

The GP, when we asked, said the pill and decent pain relief would be the first choices.

I’ve found nowadays taking buscopan as well as ibuprofen really helps . I take 600mg of ibuprofen the box says 400mg Max but Spain give you 600 over the counter and my Doctor said short term it was fine.

Ask dr for tranexamic acid or mefenamic acid - both really good for period pain and making periods lighter.

I was put on the pill very young for my periods but I wish I hadn’t.

Do please go to the GP. I had the same all through my teens; useless male GP told me I was exaggerating, it was normal to feel a little twinge/tired..
As soon as I got to university I consulted a female student-health DR who gave me a three month course of hormones (NOT contraceptive pill) and the problem was gone forever.

People won't like hearing this I expect, but dd & me totally cured horrific period cramps by upping our red meat in the week before we're due. Totally cured.

Iron from a bottle wasn't the same.

Do go to the doctor, who knows what new help may be coming through.

I managed mine with ibruprofen + codeine tablets, but you can't take those throughout your period every month and they do make you sleepy/woozy. I have lost out on jobs because I've been having periods/on painkillers in job interviews. It's crap.

Please take her to the GP and see what they advise. I suffered like this in my teens and it was horrendous. My mum didn’t want me to go on the pill so doctor tried really strong painkillers (I just threw them up) then a combination of painkillers and anti emetics, still didn’t work and I had so many tablets to take. I was missing a couple of days of school every month because I was in so much pain I was fainting/vomiting, honestly for me it was worse than childbirth. As soon as I reached 16 and got up the courage I went to the dr alone and asked for the pill - it was completely life changing, and when I came off it a few years later everything had completely settled down.

Btw my mum was lovely just old fashioned - I did tell my mum I’d got the pill but it was easier to present it as a fait accompli when she could see how much better I was!

DD is the same and the progesterone only pill has helped a lot (although it took a few months to settle down). I think she may have endometriosis actually as such painful periods are not normal.

Thank you everyone. I will book an appointment. I wouldn't say this to DD or to the GP in front of DD, but of she was to go on the pill, I'd be genuinely concerned about her weight, as it seems to be a common side effect and the last thing DD needs.

They might prescribe something stronger for the pain and something to slow the flow. Unfortunately it didn't work for my daughter, she is now speaking to the nurse about injections, she is now 17 and they've been bad since she started at 13.

The pill helped me a great deal for the same reason, I went on it at aged 16 and it changed my life. Came off it mid 20s and my periods had calmed down by then. It'll give her her freedom back, she'll have less or no pain and more control over when she'll start. Her bleeding will be less so she'll probably not feel faint or sick. There isn't really anything else that I found to work better. Pain killers are hard to take regular when at school as it's hard to remember to take them so after 4 hours it's still in your system and there isn't really anything else they can prescribe .

The pill can make you put a bit of weight on but I didn't find this was anything major, maybe an extra 2/3 pounds totally worth being pain free op