tips for extreme period pain/PMDD during A Level exam

[Easipeelerie]

My daughter has an A level exam tomorrow morning which will last for nearly 4 hours (with extra time). Her period started today. Normally this would mean 2 to 3 days of hibernation, extreme pain, mind gone blank, low mood etc.
Obv. she will make an exception and do her exam but it will unfortunately not be in the best of circumstances. She finds codeine helps a bit. She doesn’t take Ibuprofen because of its interaction with her Fluoxetine.
Any other tips to help get through the exam?

Does she take paracetamol with the codeine? They often work better together and apparently, paracetamol is a mild prostaglandin inhibitor (it reduces the hormone that induces cramps.) How will she get to the exam? Some people swear by gentle exercise. Speaking as someone who had no choice but to get on a bus then walk through town to get to college, (we didn't have a car) I wouldn't choose exam day to try it out. If your DD is likely to need a taxi, book it now - in many areas, taxi companies are on schools contracts and are very busy early on.

If she's been given extra time, she should use it. She might find that taking some boiled sweets to suck helps her concentration. Mint can help with period pain apparently and a pack of polos or mint imperials won't hurt. Mint is also supposed to be good for nausea. Wishing her and you all the best for tomorrow 🐈‍⬛🍀

Ohhh poor DD 🥺 my DD 14 two weeks ago also noticed on her weareluna tracker that she'd get hers during exams! She has strong flows and cramps so we made sure to pack her period kit with extra pads, painkillers, spare underwear, heating pad. the whole lot. My tip is to make sure she has fresh period product on right before she enters the classroom to start exams, to have taken the painkillers, and to put the heating pad on on the way to school. If possible maybe trying to give her exam teacher a heads-up in case her symptoms go bad during exams? Hoping your DD's school teachers are more reasonable and your DD doesn't struggle so much x

Codeine snd paracetamol, I've been known to take 4 at once. My GP said that was fine for severe pain as long as I didn't take more than 8 a day.

Contact your GP for advice on line so there’s a record of how she’s feeling and you get the best possible approach.

Heating pad best option for pain relief. I sometimes use the ones you get for back pain that stick to your skin and just stick on my stomach. They stay hot for many hours, longer than the exam.

Be you pain patches are good

Do the school know about her painful periods? It may be possible to apply for special consideration.

Such great tips! And great to see another parent with a teen on the luna app - such a great platform x

I got a bad burn doing this.

(as a teacher, sat unmoving for 3.5hr parents’ evening. Burn lasted over a month…)

No good for tomorrow, but for the future mefenamic acid is amazing for period pains. DD got it from the GP and it is much more effective than any over the counter stuff you can buy.