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Original poster

Help my dd15 with horrendous periods

82 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 24/09/2020 08:39

Poor thing, she has stayed home from school yet again with bloody awful period pains. Nausea and not being able to stop crying even though she didnt feel sad so was intermittently laughing at herself and basically had no clue what was happening to her.

She tried so hard to go in, but she missed the bus because she couldn't get it together from the bout of crying and her legs felt like jelly. I told her to come home.

What can i get for her to help? We have ibruprofen lysine which i believe is what is in feminax.

Is there anything else i can try. Shes a good girl and upset about not being in school.

Dont want to go down the pill route which is what i did.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 24/09/2020 08:45

Anyone?

OP posts:
JeffreyJefferson · 24/09/2020 08:47

speak to the gp

why don’t you want her on the pill?

SoddingWeddings · 24/09/2020 08:48

Why don't you or she want to go down the Pill route? It's the only medication that bag really help. Neither of you would refuse to take diabetes medication, surely, and yet this is as important.

Sunny4876 · 24/09/2020 08:48

No help I'm afraid as my daughter is about to start the pill to see if that helps her,tried mefenamic acid off Dr but was no good and painkillers offer little relief.
Can I ask why you are against the pill?

Peeeas · 24/09/2020 08:48

I went down the pill route at that age and it was life changing. Cleared up my skin too (dianette, but I don't think they prescribe it anymore).

Why aren't you keen? There are lots of different types of pill out there that she can try, in case you had a bad experience?

CovidStoleTheRainbow · 24/09/2020 08:49

Why don't you want to go down the pill route?

It was the only thing that worked for me.
How does she feel about taking the pill?

sticksandstone · 24/09/2020 08:49

I think it would be wise to make an appointment with the GP to discuss options, or perhaps a telephone appointment given the current circumstances. You could alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol every 2 hours so there's a steady intake of pain relief. Good luck x

lydia7986 · 24/09/2020 08:49

Get her to speak to her GP as soon as she feels able to.

And regarding her going on the pill, that’s her decision, not yours.

She has a right to know that there is medication that can help regulate her periods and prevent this awful monthly experience. And it’s up to her whether to go on it.

Why do you want her to miss school every month in agonising pain when there’s a medical solution?

FOJN · 24/09/2020 08:55

There are other medications you could try before the pill, mefanamic acid for one. I found naproxen to be the most useful in taking the edge of the pain but never alleviated it completely. Warm baths, hot water bottle and a ten's machine might also help.

She may need investigating to establish the cause of such severe pain. Don't be fobbed off, it took 25 years for my self diagnosis of endometriosis to be confirmed by which time quite a bit of damage had been done.

Lovebug06 · 24/09/2020 08:58

I went on the pill as a teenager for awful periods, it changed my life. Please don't rule it out

VeraPink · 24/09/2020 09:00

The only thing that really worked for me was going on the pill. If she isn’t keen on that it’s still worth speaking to the GP about whether she can be prescribed better painkillers.

MrsGrindah · 24/09/2020 09:04

God I remember those utterly miserable times as a teenager. It had a huge impact on my life. GP ASAP and don’t reject the pill option if that’s what they recommend.

HappyDinosaur · 24/09/2020 09:08

I was similar to your dd and so didn't want to go down the pill route. The things that helped were those heat patch things and I used to wear two pairs of big knickers and stick it in between the two. Not very glamorous, but it helped massively. Drinking lots of water will also help and try to encourage her to eat as it feels worse with an empty stomach. I also found ibuprofen much more effective than paracetamol. Poor thing, it is awful, I hope you find something that helps.

Wibblypiggly · 24/09/2020 09:08

I also went onto the pill to help with atrocious periods. I really don’t think there’s anything else to be done is there? Some of us have a terrible time, so of us don’t.

What is your reason for not wanting her to try the pill? Incidentally, I don’t think that decision is yours to make, she has bodily autonomy, no?

Wibblypiggly · 24/09/2020 09:09

I also used to vomit and pass out from the pain (they truly were comparable to labour pains, I don’t care what anyone says!) and no amount of ibuprofen or heat patches or hot water bottles is going to touch that.

TweeBree · 24/09/2020 09:15

Another rec for the pill here. I wish someone had put me on it as a teen. So many years of agony.

Woodifer · 24/09/2020 09:16

Supplement with Magnesium and Omega-3 especially the week before (I take month-round - it helps a lot). If you are regular/ish be pre-emptive with the NSAIDs (i.e. the ibuprofen, the mefanamic acid) - so take 1-2 days before due on, or take BEFORE pain bad. As mentioned above heatpads (like a portable hot water bottle) - if at home hot water bottle or hot bath. I found less cramps with pad than with tampons (on that first bad day). Some people try an anti-spasmodic like buscopan (available over the counter) - I haven't properly tried. I did get put on the pill as a teenager but retrospectively wish I'd known these things, it made me feel quite flat and put on weight (though as you see above it totally suits some people).

ExclamationPerfume · 24/09/2020 09:16

You have to weigh up if not going on the pill is better than missing time off school. My Dd went on it at 13 it took 4 types to find the right one. Education is very important.

Matwood · 24/09/2020 09:18

I tried mefanamic acid and tranexamic acid (can't be bought over the counter, need to be prescribed) but it was going on the contraceptive pill that really made a difference.

StrawberryPi · 24/09/2020 09:18

I also went on the pill at 14 for horrendous periods. It was miraculous and I stayed on it until 25ish when I got a Mirena coil (which is also great but maybe a bit much for a teenager!). I know you are reluctant but I suffered so much before I was started on the pill, it really felt life changing for me.

marigoldsmarigolds · 24/09/2020 09:18

Sorry one more for the pill too. My daughter had horrendous pain, would pass out. Suffered agonies of pain and embarrassment - once had to be carried off a netball court. Pill has stopped all of that. She tried everything before that, nothing touched it. She had to try a couple to find the one that suited; the progesterone only one - which I think is most commonly prescribed - affected her moods but now she is settled in one and has been on it for about three years. Has changed her life.

FippertyGibbett · 24/09/2020 09:19

Definitely see the GP.
She shouldn’t be missing school due to periods.

GameSetMatch · 24/09/2020 09:20

When I was younger a concoction of paracetamol, ibuprofen, IBS relief tablets and Buccal migraine medicine (for nausea) was the only way I could get some relief. Why are you against the pill if it’s that bad surely you’re willing to try anything to help her?

AriesTheRam · 24/09/2020 09:20

The pill as pp said.I used to bleed so heavily before I went on it.

MyGodImSoYoung · 24/09/2020 09:26

I got put on the pill (Microgynon 30) long before I was 16 as I used to be physically sick every month on the first couple of days of my period. It worked like a charm and I still use the same pill. I can still feel queasy and get the delightful stabbing cramp pains, but in terms of enabling me to get up and get on, it really worked.

My DSis, on the other hand, has been through every different pill the doctor could prescribe. She doesn't get sick like me, but is in excruciating pain. It has really been a case of trial and error. The one she is on now really helps, but has made her put on weight.