To take painkillers every month?

[BeanBoozled123]

I have namechanged because I'm going to be moaning about a friend who knows my usual MN name.

I have really awful periods, need super plus tampons and get horrendous cramps for the first day or two. I usually take painkillers because that's the only way I can function on those days. Yesterday, I was out with a friend and I needed to take some painkillers because the cramps were horrible.
My friend then proceeded to say it wasn't good for me to take painkillers every month and then banged on about her own periods which are apparently amazing. She seems to think it's super bad for me to take painkillers for it. AIBU to take them anyway?

I met someone once who went on about how her children - teenagers then - had never had antibiotics at all and only had calpol once and how wonderful that was. We were in the midst of dripping ear infections every two months leading to conjunctivitis and open sores around the ear/neck where the pus was dripping out. So yes, we went through a lot of antibiotics and creams and drops and constant nurofen. Because, you know, people are different

It's the curse of Eve.

Eve suggested the whole apple-eating thing and was cursed with periods and pain in labour.

We deserve to suffer.

I'm lying in a hot bath, reading this, having just taken my 2nd lot of nurofen for the day....just trying to ease the pain!
Ignore her and do what is right for you!

Exactly, Trills - we women deserve it. It is written thus.
They didn't even let Eve have soup did they? The big original sinner.

Ibuprofen apparently reduces the flow. Would have been useful if someone had told me that years ago!!

Sorry to kind of hijack your thread but was really interested to read that you can take ibuprofen a few days before your period to lessen the flow...would that be max dose of ibuprofen for those days? I have spoken to my gp years ago about very heavy periods but she wasn't overly helpful. If this works I will give it a try. And OP your friend is being ridiculous. If you are in pain you take painkillers... The clue is in the name

If you're in physical pain then take medication to relieve it, surely that's common sense and not something for anyone to be critical of but then again, some people can be very strange.

Just ignore any future comments from your friend, she's ignorant!

Did your friend have a reason why it was supposedly bad to take pain killers for pain each month?

I am blessed with only mildly painful periods. Occasionally I will get a really painful one. At which time I thank my lucky stars it is occasional. When pain is bad I will take painkillers so I can sleep and concentrate. If pain is bearable without, I don't bother. Just like loads of other people. Soup has never done anything for me. Nor acupuncture (not that I could fit this in around work). If it works for you, Crack on. But ibuprofen and paracetamol are great as far as I'm concerned. And cost a whole lot less!

I would like to not have to take painkillers every month, as I don't think it's great (particularly as I have to take ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time). I used to be a person who would try and ride out a headache. Unfortunately, now, if I don't take them the very instant I start to get a headache during my period, I get a crippling hormonal migraine that lasts for 48 hours. As it is, the painkillers lesson the pain and sometimes stop the migraine before it gets going. I've been to the doctor and they weren't very helpful. So painkillers it is.

She would hate me ! I take painkillers all the time

If it's not back ache it's a headache and if it's not headache it's period pain

Mainly bank pain I have to say - I mean what else are people meant to do ??

I can see there are a few achey to chronic pain folk on here - it's shit

Is Gooddaytoyou completely nuts? Foods/supplements don't stop physical pain. Terrific period pain needs painkillers and also, anyone who says "been to yr GP?" has no idea that they can generally do zilch for you if scans come back "normal". I had Co-codamol and Co-something else for years. I also (because otherwise I couldn't live my life) sometimes found I needed 2 extra tablets near the end of the day or didn''t sleep with the awful pain. Your pal isn't a true pal if she questions you?!??? She should be supporting you! Bet unlike me she doesn't get clots the size of a small satsuma either ....... I very much feel for you, end of.

I take maybe 4-5 doses of painkillers a week for headaches (mostly due to sleep deprivation). I vary the types of pills. Isn't it nice we have these modern safe treatments to help us not suffer from minor ailments.

Your friend is an arse.

However, as a side issue - I'd go to your GP and get a prescription for stronger painkillers. Period pain is not something you just have to put up with.

I haven't rtft, so apologies if this has been suggested already.

Try a magnesium supplement, it changed my life. My periods are still heavy and I frequently flood through my clothes (I always carry spare knickers and trousers), but the pain doesn't stop me from functioning anymore.

The one I use is actually a Vogel one for the menopause, but I have given it to DD when she was grey and vomiting with pain. She actually managed to sleep after taking it.

Another one here who takes painkillers everyday.

Oh, "I don't like to take painkillers" smug tests annoy me. Lucky them, to have not experienced horrible pain and/ or periods

YANBU

*Smug TWATS

"Is Gooddaytoyou completely nuts?"

No Gerty, I'm not. I am speaking from experience though in the hope that it might help someone else. I can't take ibuprofen any more due to stomach problems (caused by taking it for years). I have also read about the many deaths every year which are linked to it. I know it can be a great quick fix - believe me, I know! - but it's not always a good long-term solution.

I am under the care of a pain consultant and have been for over 10 years

I take strong opioids every day - tramadol, oxycodone and amitriptyline (spinal injury, plus hurty joints from EDS)

My consultant said there was no long term physical harm from long term opioid therapy - whereas daily ibuprofen could be. That's over the long term

Taking ibuprofen daily for a limited period of time isn't going to find you a stomach ulcer. Taking it daily for a prolonged period might

If taking ibuprofen for more than a few days it's worth taking ranitidine to help protect your stomach. That was what my pain Dr advised to me when I was taking a higher dose of ibuprofen for a few days for a raging UTI.

(IANAD)

I take nurofen every day during my period.

When I was researching heavy periods I found out that nurofen slow down bleeding. Made a huge difference to me. Would recommend in a heartbeat.

Those that take ibuprofen before you start, how many days before? I take full dose from first pink wipe (sorry) and it really helps with reducing flow, no more 'liver' lumps. Interested to see if a day, 2? 3?would make it even better.