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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for tips on coping with period pain?

53 replies

shouldnthavesaid · 13/04/2015 15:53

I should be old hat at this - my periods have seen me in A&E and having emergency hospital admissions before - but today has caught me out. I've a mirena so only bleeding tiny amounts but bloody hell the pain. I keep ending up bent double. I'm working 7pm to 7am tonight :( and don't need this. I've taken paracetamol, ibuprofen but can't have anything else really as they'll knock me flat :/ had a ahower, tried to nap..

What usually helps, any coping strategies (short of asking for a hysterectomy at age 23)?

OP posts:

Welshmaenad · 13/04/2015 15:57

Naproxen. Ask for feminax ultra at pharmacy counter. Magical shit.

MrsBojingles · 13/04/2015 15:57

I used to sit in the bath for a couple of hours with a hot water bottle on my tummy. It's the pits

Enjoying a respite at the moment cos I'm breastfeeding. Maybe I'll just carry on doing that for a few years?

sparechange · 13/04/2015 15:58

You need to go and see your GP and get stronger painkillers, but also a referral to a gynae. It isn't normal for pain to be that bad (although a lot of women have to suffer it), so you should get things checked out...

Original poster

shouldnthavesaid · 13/04/2015 16:12

Have been seen by gynae before. They did mention endometriosis but they were reluctant to take it any further - said there was no point in doing investigations as the treatment would be the same as already offered (coil). I haven't seen them in well over a year now though so maybe I might be best to see.

I've in the past been prescribed - microgynon, mini pill, northisterone, evening primrose oil, tranexamic acid, mefenamic acid, xr diclofenac, cocodamol, colprofen (I think) ,dyhdrocodeine, diclofenac injections. Have had ultrasounds several times and an examination under anaesthetic before - apart from one ovary hiding sometimes they said they couldn't see anything else untoward.

I've gotten up out of bed now and made my 'lunch' for tonight, see if moving a bit helps.

OP posts:

armsandtheman · 13/04/2015 16:22

Have you tried a tens machine. I found that plus painkillers helped the worst. I have endo and find microgynon fab.
I also would try to lie really still as moving would trigger waves of pain. It's hard as I would try and get comfy but I found eventually the pain would peak and then ease off so I could sleep.
Good luck. Period pains are crap.

sparechange · 13/04/2015 16:44

You poor, poor thing. It sounds absolutely miserable. I hope you find something that helps

Morelikeguidelines · 13/04/2015 17:05

I use codydamol by I see you have tried that. Sometimes I have to take an nsaid as well but I try not to due to reflux.

Original poster

shouldnthavesaid · 13/04/2015 17:07

Yeah that's what I'm being careful of too. I threw up this morning and I think that was caused by reflux (though not entirely sure) and don't fancy that happening again. Not least because that would mean a night off work and I can't be doing with that.

Still, tonight being a nightshift I will sleep tomorrow I presume. I've managed to black my room out a bit, so never mind if I am awake for 21 hours by the time I crash out tomorrow!!!

OP posts:

Fluffyears · 13/04/2015 17:26

Aw I remember that hell. I used to throw up with severity of the pains I had. I can't take codeine as it makes me sick but as a pp suggested try feminax ultra or panadol ultra (make sure it's over the counter ultra jobs) they have lovely codeine in them. A hot water bottle will help and I also found doing pelvic floor exercises helped as it kept everything flowing. Tmi alert but I found it most painful if I had clotting at start of period as they seemed to get stuck and my womb would contract harder so doing the exercises seemed to get the clots out.

Babymamamama · 13/04/2015 17:30

Lasering of my endometriosis resolved my issues. Wish I'd had it done years earlier. Surgeon said it was everywhere. Literally felt like a new woman afterwards (and went on to conceive dd when I thought would never be able to).

cleanmyhouse · 13/04/2015 17:34

I used chinese herbs when i was younger for the type of pain you describe. It was very effective. Something called moxibustion.

strawberrysalsa · 13/04/2015 17:50

my daughter suffers really painful periods and she swears by serious quantities of carbohydrates...think pasta or white bread. She also feels chocolate is the answer, and if its not the answer you are asking the wrong question.

Seriously though I agree with other posters who recommend seeing a gynaecologist again. That level of pain is not normal.

uglyswan · 13/04/2015 17:56

So sorry to hear this, OP. Second the use of a tens machine plus naproxen. And, erm, orgasms.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 13/04/2015 17:56

When mine were bad, the only thing that really helped, to an extent, was a very hot hot water bottle - to the point of bright red stomach skin (no painkillers seemed to do much, even feminax or prescribed pills - Ponstan I think?). Then I went on the pill (Yasmin I think then Cilest) and it was amazing the difference it made - which lasted even after I stopped it again after a few years. It wasn't a 100% cure but really went from sometimes totally unmanageable (fainting etc) to no worse than a regular headache or something, and treatable with normal painkillers.

I have now accidentally found out that vigorous dancing seems to help with the remaining pain I discovered this when I turned up to dance class two months in a row not realizing I was about to come "on", and then found the pain never really happened. I presume other sorts of energetic exercise would have a similar effect? Not sure whether it would work after the pain had already started though, or up to what level of pain it would help; but it might be worth a try...

FrizzyNoodles · 13/04/2015 17:59

When not taking the pill I have period pain so bad that I turn grey and pass out. I've had prescriptions for mefanemic acid which is brilliant and have bought tranexamic acid over the counter. Brand name Femstrual. Both take the edge off the pain and slow the bleeding down. Chocolate contains magnesium therefore it helps with cramps. Also alcohol relaxes the muscles a bit.

WhereYouLeftIt · 13/04/2015 18:18

Similar to MyNameIsInigoMontoya - I have found brisk aerobic exercise can work for me. At the very least I've found it takes the edge off the pain a bit, to a level I can cope with. Very brisk walk, or if I'm in the house some fast music on and a made-up aerobic routine with lots of hip flexion. I don't know why it works - whether it creates endorphins, gets the blood pumping enough to bring lots of oxygen and reduce cramping, or just distracts; and I don't care, it works for me!

shellistar · 13/04/2015 18:20

Cocodamol 30/500 x 2, Naproxen 500 x 2 plus a hot water bottle, bed and a massive slab of chocolate!

I have PCOS and I'm super irregular so only strong strong strong (did I mention strong) pain killers work as soon as the pain hits. If I let I take a hold nothing helps.

shellistar · 13/04/2015 18:22

Pressed send too soon. I find mefanemic acid only works if I can build it up a few days before I start. Because I dont know when that is going to be and the pain hits about 48 hours before I start I'm a bit stuck which is why I have the super stuff :-)

WannabeLaraCroft · 13/04/2015 18:27

I used to suffer a lot when I was younger, always got sent home from school once a month! Pain, vomiting, dizziness, you name it. Hot water bottles, ibuprofen, doc prescribed painkillers but just puked them up.

The only thing that worked for me was when I went on the pill. Came off it to have DS1 and was getting pain and sickness again (luckily fell pregnant quite quickly). Went off the pill for 7 months before getting pregnant with child 2 and must say this time I didn't suffer like I used to. Hopefully you will get better as you get older.

After all that I don't actually have any advice or quick fixes! But know that you are not alone in this and keep at your gp for help. Good luck

maitaimojito · 13/04/2015 18:27

I agree with those who suggest exercise.

Mine used to be quite bad before I went on the pill and as a teenager I used to run around the house to try and ease it.

Also a hot bath or hot water bottle would sometimes help.

It doesn't sound right though to be in that much pain. I'd be back to the doctors and ask to be referred to a specialist.

KateSpade · 13/04/2015 19:12

My period pains used to leave me in bloody agony, seriously throwing up, bent double in agony. When I was at work I used those stick on heat patches - didn't take the pain away, but helped a little.

My gp said to me once - try doing done exercise! oh yeah, when I'm bent double in agony throwing up, going for a run in really going to help!

Ratfinkandbobo · 13/04/2015 19:17

How horrible for you, I use Panadol for period pain. Hot water bottle for when you go to bed tomorrow . Hope your shift goes ok

DollyParsnip · 13/04/2015 19:23

I have endo and I find Buscopan really helps, I take varying pain meds depending on my pain levels but Buscopan helps SO much. I was really dismissive when my Dr suggested it but it works. Transexemic acid helps with the bleeding but doesn't help much with the pain.

Magnesium supplements can help too, and they're not too £££.

Would definitely push for a referral and see if there isn't a surgical option for investigation as knowing what's going on will help you to work out how to deal with it.

Discounted · 13/04/2015 19:27

Exercise does help, even going for a walk (or pacing about like a caged tiger)

I haven't found anything more effective than Paracetamol but you need to take it before the pain kicks in. My pain starts about a hour before the bleeding and I need to take it before then, or nothing helps.

HazelBite · 13/04/2015 19:31

Vigorous exercise!

I really suffered until I started on a "get fit" plan. Daily jogging and three visits per week to the gym, absolutely no pain each month.

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