First period, child in agony

[Lottie4]

My colleague's daughter started her periods today (age 12). She says she's in agony and as calpol hasn't helped, she phoned the doctor. He just said it should ease off soon.

I suggested walking around the house and a hot water bottle. I also mentioned I thought she could take tablets now she's 12 and said I'd look at some with my colleague (she is from a different culture and although her English is good, she can't read well) but she seemed reluctant.

Just wondering if anyone else has any ideas as I know the girl really well and don't like to think of her in pain.

Are those stick-on heat pads suitable for a 12yr old? Tesco and other places have them, they're quite good at relaxing the muscles which would presumably help with the pain. Feminax used to do a rub which you apply to your abdomen, which I found helpful, but I don't know if they still do it. Maybe even a small amnt of ibuprofen gel like is used for strains etc?

I found ibruprofin was better than calpol. She can take both at the same time.
Walking helped, warm bath/shower. My second one was very painful, but after that nothing like as bad. But if she keeps having lots of pain then go to the doctor and see what they recommend.

Ibuprofen, definitely. Plus hot water bottle or hot bath.

hot water bottle helps dd.

Thanks for your replies. I'll give Mum a call to see how she is now. I'm surprised the doctor didn't give more advice than it will ease soon.

She was in school when she started and asked if her Mum could come in for a few mins, but by the time she arrived the pain had started and the school let her come home and she started to get scared then. I know it's something we all have to cope with, but not very nice if medication isn't touching the pain.

She is big enough for an adult dose of paracetamol or iboprufen depending on her size. They can be alternated 3 hourly so she's kept topped up. Hot water bottle, blanket on the sofa and being spoilt rotten will help her too.

Have spoken her Mum, who says its still the same. She says the pain is more on the left side and down that leg. I didn't want to panic them, but when my daughter had an appendicitis it was on the left side and burning her leg, so gently pointed that out and said if the pain doesn't ease off soon or gets worse, I'd get her checked out. It's a bit hard as I think their culture comes into how they deal with it.

Madlizzy, I did wonder about that as I know most brands say age 12+ and she is quite well built.

I've done what I can for now, but made it clear it they want any support I'm here as they've asked me for help in the past.

My period pain always traveled down my legs. I hated it so much.

Drugs - Ibuprofen or/and Paracetamol, pills fine at 12 - plus hot water bottle, a bath and chocolate make things semi-tolerable for my dd (14, who has suffered badly since 11).

Bless her, it sounds horrid. I had awful pain when I was young, used to have me vomiting and rolling around on the floor.

Like labour pain it is better if you can relax, probably not easy for your first period but warm compresses, sticky pads or hot water bottles can help.

Drugs aimed at muscles like ibuprofen more useful than paracetamol.

I used to vomit, go to sleep and then wake up with bearable pain.

I used to have horrible pain and also vomited and just used to curl up in a ball. The only thing that used to help was paracetamol and codeine and a hot water bottle with lots and lots of sleep.
My mum used to get so annoyed and say I wa seeing over dramatic and it wasn't that bad, but I can honestly say now after having 2 children, the pain was as bad as labour. hope she feels better soon

Buscopan is meant to be good for relieving period cramps.

I was a very early starter with my period (aged 9) but when I was in my last year of primary school ( so i must of been 11/12)I started to have very heavy and painful periods. My mum took me to the doctors and I was given some tablets (not the pill) that I took a couple of days before my period was due, throughout my period and for a couple of days after. It's quite a while ago now and I don't recall the name of them but they did help ease the pain. Eventually a few years later I went in the pill and that helped/stopped the pain all together. I also recommend feminax not sure if these are still available but I think they are a mixture of ibruprofen/paracetamol designed specifically for period pain. Also hot water bottle warm milk and plenty of cuddles from mum n dad seen to ease the pain xx