To ask for your period pain tips

[MingoMingo]

I’ve always suffered quite badly with period pains... first period after baby and I’d forgotten how awful it is. I’m dosed up on paracetamol and ibuprofen lysine. I’ve got a hot water bottle and nothing is touching it.

What am I missing? What can I do?

You need to get co codamol. My pain was so bad, I would honestly wish I was dead. Contractions and post c section were nothing in comparison. Co codamol has been a game changer.

The trick is to take it as soon as you have the slightest pain and stay topped up.

@danishkids why are you taking 1300mg paracetamol? The max dosage is 1000mg every four hours.
Paracetamol overdose happens even with small overdoses. You’ll be ruining your liver.

Alka seltzer was my period pains lifesaver

A bath always sorts me. I also just had my first period after birth. I found it really mentally tough.

I have endo too. I can’t take anti-inflammatories either. I swear by paracetamol and codeine (I get codeine on prescription because the co-codamol OTC isn’t effective), using a mooncup rather than tampons, deep heat stick on patches when I have to move around, wheat bag when I don’t. I’m considering a tens machine. Also I have an app called ‘Pain relief’ (for iphone) which helps you to relax your body. My cramps are made worse by my being tense so this helps a lot.

There is an acupressure point just below your belly button which when stimulated really helps the pain. Google it for a diagram. I really hope it works.

Wow, so many suggestions, thanks ladies. Going to work through as many as I can with things I have at home for tonight.

Definitely buying a mooncup too, I used to have one and they are so much better than tampons. Unfortunately can’t have hormonal contraceptives or a coil so I’m stuck with just dealing with the pain every month.

Another vote for co-codamol. I have a little tens machine that helps a bit too, but co-codamol made the biggest difference by far. An orgasm helps too, if you can manage one!

The problem is different things work for different people!

BUT...

I would definitely say take the painkillers at the very slightest of symptoms. I don't suffer any more but when I did as soon as I felt the first cramp or saw bloody discharge (my body wasn't consistent as to what occurred first) I'd take painkillers.

If I took painkillers after the pain was already bad they didn't work.

Echoing co-codamol and mefenamic acid, adding acupuncture.

Went for fertility but it really really reduced my period pain from feeling like I was being stabbed to something mild that could be relieved with a hot water bottle. Expensive, but also got rid of how low I felt just before my period.

Mefenamic acid needs to be taken before the cramps start or it makes no difference. Is wonderful if timed right.

If/when you can face It, an orgasm.

You have my sympathies.

Feminax Ultra is fantastic from behind the counter at boots. I only need one and fine for rest of period. Has to be ultra one as normal feminax is just paracetamol.
Also like stick on heat pads from wilko.

I'm dreading periods returning. Since becoming pregnant, I've realised how much of my mood ups and downs were obviously due to my monthly cycle. With that and the pain (and the fact my body doesn't like hormonal birth control) I'm not looking forward to my period ever coming back :( I feel so much more emotionally even at the moment, which I suppose is odd as a lot of people seem to suffer quite badly the other way during pregnancy. But I feel mentally fantastic - much more balanced than the usual fluctuations I have month to month.

I had endometriosis & before my hysterectomy when I had a period I took Nurofen plus, paracetamol & buscopan during the worst days. Talk to your doctor if you are regularly in pain every month, they can prescribe something stronger like Naproxen & either co-codamol 30/500 or Dihydracodeine, if your periods are regular it can often help if you start taking ibuprofen for a couple of days before your period starts. I used to find I got really constipated when my period was due & until I had managed to clear the backlog the pain wouldn't ease, eat loads of fruit & veg & take lactulose, drink lots of water as well.

A friend had awful period pains yesterday - she was writhing around on the bathroom floor, whimpering and retching.

I did some panicky research to try to find out how to help her and the consistent advice was to take 400-800mg of ibuprofen, because it both helps with the pain and also reduces the release of prostaglandin, which reduces the cramps.

She took 800mg of ibuprofen and 3/4 hour later the cramps eased off.

A bit more research said start taking ibuprofen regularly (not such a large dose though) 24 hours before your period is due, so that it's in your bloodstream endometriosis.org/treatments/painkillers/

No idea if this helps, but thought it was worth sharing.