Gin, you are a double-hard bastard all right Even the mildest toothache is a mutha, so you have my deepest simpaffiez. So much so, I'll stick to groping you instead of snogging Hope you get the git whipped out ASAP.
Aries, you are threatening my current title of Queen of Period Pain I've mentioned it on here before, but I have a three-pronged attack on cramps that does work. If they're super-mental it doesn't take them all away (well, it doesn't with my mental ones), but it stops me from being an incoherent, writhing mass of semi-conscious, vomiting agony, unable to speak, eat, walk or stop shaking: paracetamol, Buscopan and a stick-on hot pad.
Buscopan can be bought from any supermarket or chemist from the IBS shelves (name is 'Buscopan IBS') - it's a strong anti-spasmodic that works on the whole area below the navel, so don't be put off by the IBS tag. In Germany, the no. 1 treatment for period pain is a combined Paracetamol & Buscopan tablet.
I also swear by those pads you stick on your clothes over your wombular area; tis like being able to carry a hot water bottle about all day. I just wear leggings and stick on of those on 'em, then wear a dress/skirt over and all is cool.
Needles Lady also commended me on using hot pads, as warmth is essential to womb health (or summat).
Hope this is not patronising - dunno if you've heard me going on about my cramps before, but as most people on here know, I have to be hospitalised at least once a year for mine, so do know what I'm talking about solutions-wise
Have been blubbing like a twat on and off all day. Have realised that I always get very teary and pessimistic on D3 of cycle - this is when FH is kicking in, so maybe this is the effect it has on me. At least now I see this pattern I can take a step back and not get so taken over by feelings of helplessness. I hope.