To not be able to cope

[KenAdams]

I'm in absolute agony. I have a medical condition which means I can't take the pill or any of the anti inflammatories that are often prescribed for period pain. The strongest thing I'm allowed to take is co-codamol. Ibuprofen does nothing for me. My last dose of co-codamol has worn off and I need to get through the next couple of hours without anything so that I can take the co-codamol before bed and get some sleep tonight.

I'm so sick of feeling like this every fucking month. The pain is always this bad and I can't take anything else to get rid of it. And the flooding! I'm always bleeding everywhere and can't find a pad that can contain it. I go through a night pad every half hour to an hour.

I'm absolutely climbing the walls. Please tell me what I can do in the meantime. I can't even use heat as my heat pad slipped the other night and left a burn on my stomach.

This is probably going to be TMI, but I have always found an orgasm usually offers some relief from period pains. (obv not suitable if you're at work!)

In the longer term though, I would be going back to the doctor to discuss your options, limited though they may be.

Have you had a diagnosis re extreme period pain and heavy bleeding? It took 11 trips to 4 GPs over 9 years before I got my PCOS diagnosis; you have to fight! Re this present moment would an ice pack/frozen peas help? Or gin!

Have you tried Mefenamic acid?

Yes I have been diagnosed and the bleeding is normal for my condition unfortunately.

Sabine I can't have that due to my other medical condition.

This sounds ridiculous. Try a Mooncup next month. Entirely sorted period pain for me. Now also take iron because they were utterly wiping me out and that is slowly improving.

Mirena coil?

I was going to suggest mirena coil aswell, could stop periods or at least make them lighter and hopefully less painful.

Would you consider endometrial ablation or hysterectomy if your quality of life is being so badly affected?

Are the hospital not concerned about the amount of blood loss? I know a lady who had to have a blood transfusion due to heavy periods.

Here's what works for me.
Raspberry tea
Massage (lower back and abdomen)
Lots of water - find it thins the clots, and it's passing clots that's most painful for me.
Combining ibruprofen with co-codamol. See your GP about this first though.

Oh and take a good quality multivitamin

Orgasms make the pain worse for me.

I'm ttc as well. No there's no concern as it's common for what I have. It's usually treatable but not for me because of my other condition unfortunately. I'll try and find some raspberry tea as well. Are ttc vitamins good enough?

Moon cup holds a lot more than usual sanpro
I can go 6 hours instead of hourly on heaviest day, and the pain has gone too!
Mine is a diva cup but there are a few different ones

should be. Oh and I forgot one more thing - peppermint tea. It helps keep me as regular as Constipation makes the cramps so much worse.

Guessing you have Endometriosis. I do. Go on Amazon and look at Jelli Bath. It solidifies a bath of water and retains geat. It's awesome. Is the GP looking at pain relief that's suitable for you overall?

I have endo, a non-drug way of dealing with the pain for me has been vigorous aerobic exercise. Yes, I know it sounds strange, I came upon it by accident, it's not a painkiller as such but it can really take the edge off it for me. Not sure how it works - maybe getting the blood pumping delivers oxygen to the cramping muscles, maybe it warms them, maybe it creates endorphins, maybe it distracts me, maybe it does all of these things. No idea. But when I can't safely take any more painkillers but I'm still in pain, I find this can help. Brisk walking, marching on the spot, put on an exercise DVD if you have one. HTH.

Whiskey or gin. Neat.
Warm bottle and rest.
Lavendel oil, lemon balm and valerian tea.
Magnesium.