What helps you get through awful menstrual periods?

[Mishamotto]

Looking for suggestions of anything you swear by to make your period more manageable, particularly maybe if you perimenopausal?. This is probably more a question for women whose periods leave them shattered (physically and mentally). I do realise that for some women periods are not a big deal (this was me for most of my 20s and 30s) but now I’m early 40s and feeling like I’m losing two weeks a month to feeling like a fat potato/ carb snaffling emotionally unstable monster . Ideally I’d retreat to bed for at least a week but obvs that isn’t really an option with a busy life and children . Tell me your tips/ miracle supplements/ gadgets / routines please, I’m making a list for next month. 🙏

Mefanemic acid.
Tranexamic acid.
Heat pads.

All the boring stuff but it does help!
Walk outside every day, preferably up a hill.
Drink plenty, healthy foods.
I use a daylight lamp too.
Keep your iron and vit D up.
I did a gratitude journal for a bit which helps with the moods/sadness.

It feels like a full time job being in peri, I can't lie. Best of luck!
Worst case, go to the GP for some hrt, I'm holding out but losing so much of "me" I might have to go and ask.

Also interested to hear about any medication, blood tests etc that your gp may have offered / advised if you were in a similar situation. Or any tests you had privately if the gp wasn’t helpful.

A full time job is exactly how it feels!

For emotional wellbeing..

Femlieve Angus castus suppliments from Holland and barret. I take them for around 4 days before my period and it’s a game changer.

They really balance my mood and help me stay stable.

Have you considered the Mirena coil? Often recommended for peri

Os I’m also peri and my periods have become more problematic .

for physical pain, I use cloth pads alongside period pants… not sure why or how but I get less cramps than using reusable.

heat pad.

syndol pain relief (not the migraine one). If has a muscle relaxer that really helps with cramps.

Contraceptive pill.

I've got a mirena coil, it's been a total game changer for me. No more heavy painful periods and no miserable PMT!

The mini pill. My last period was in 2015. Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

Eurgh! I feel you!

No problem in my 20s/teens. I'm peri now (no diagnosis but it's bloody obvious) late 30s.

I'm an emotionally unstable monster mid cycle. Tearful, angry, stroppy, mood swings, wanting a divorce one minute and a renewal of vows the next 🙄 oooh the mood swings. Never experienced anything bloody like it. I worry I'll act like a total psycho at work one day during mid cycle !!!!

Pain is worse, flow gone from light to heavy or just weirdly variable. Bloated, getting fatter. No sex drive whatsoever. Skin and hair looking saggy and old. I can't cope with this for another potentially 20yrs. Can't go to GP as it'll be eye rolled at and not taken seriously because I'm not yet 40.

Anyway, I digress. Water bottles, co codamol and naps when I can get them !! Also outdoorsy activity does help the bloated feeling a little.

I have endometriosis and the mirena coil has been amazing - I have no pain or bleeding now!

Citalopram 😂 but I have PMDD

Cerazette.
That's the only thing that works for me.

Heat pad, heat pad, heat pad.
Oh and did I suggest a heat pad?

These are all great tips, I’m adding everything to my list! Thanks everyone 😊

Mirena coil has been a game changer for me. Perimeopause caused really heavy painful periods every 3 weeks. Had the mirena placed december 2024, took about 3 months to settle down, and still have periods, but they are so light now I barely notice them.

Buscopan for cramps. It originally started as a period pain medicine then the industry realised it worked for IBS so now it’s marketed for that but it works v well for terrible cramps

Ibuprofen, hot water bottle and lying in my bed in the dark crying.
Mini pill did nothing for me - bled all the time instead of just my period. I cant have a coil as I have a septate uterus.
I've always had awful heavy periods but they are even worse now I'm mid-40s. I am so glad I work from home because I honestly don't know how I would manage out of the house for the first couple of days of my period.