Teenage Girl suffering terrible period pain

[Yorkshiregirlatheart]

Hi
New to MN never used it before so bare with me...
My dd is 15 and has had periods for 5 years now and since she started having them she's sufferer really bad period pain. Really bad cramps till she cries and she has migraines/headaches with them+vomiting and diarrhoea.I regularly give her tablets paracetamols etc.. And hear pads or a hot water bottle. She has time off school because she feels so weak and I'll.I've taken her to the doctors and they recommend tablets etc or the mini pill.i am totally against her using the mini pill or anything alike. So I'm just wondering if there's any doctors/nurses or parents to anybody who have any hints tips on how to relieve he pain that restricts her doing so much every month. Plus she is going to boarding next week (weekly) at pocklington school and I don't want her in pain.
Hints/tips welcome

Some months she misses her periods and other months she light other months she's heavy...

Yorkshiregirlatheart I suffered a lot with period pain as a teenager. It was awful - vomitting, shaking, not being able to do anything much. My Dr prescribed ponstan which helped a bit. The thing which totally helped was the combined Pill. I'm Catholic too and the principle of double effect applies here - from a theological point of view the Pill is being prescribed for medical reasons to relieve period pain misery and while there is a contraceptive effect that's not the reason why your daughter is being prescribed it. (I don't oppose contraception by the way). My periods afterwards were lighter and I wasn't missing school or doing badly on period coinciding exam days. Paracetamol didn't touch my pain at all.

stepmooster I just took it when I knew mine was coming - my pain starts about a day before my period actually arrives. The first time I took it I couldn't believe how good it was.

Having done a little light Googling, I suggest you look on the Catholic Answers forum. There are links there to pronouncements that taking medication that renders you infertile is not a sin as long as that's not the reason why you're taking it.

I suffered for years, would knock me off my feet for at least two days. No pain killers helped, I would be sick, shake, have panic attacks... I was given meflanic acid, but would quite often just throw up the capsule! It only worked before, and I couldn't always be sure when they were coming.

The pill got rid of all of that. And since I've come off it these painful periods have not returned.

See it as a hormone control, not a contraceptive. If you can give your daughter a new lease of life and stop this happening then you should.

Fruityb, my periods are not painful now after coming off the pill. My sister had much worse period pain (needed painkilling shots from the doctor once) and years later she was diagnosed with endo.

I have read that taking Buscopan can help with period pain.
Alos Nurofen for period pain.

My dd went onto the pill for period pain and it has helped loads.

Boots also sell a magnet that is worn on knickers but we didnt try that.

Please dont let you dd suffer anymore and miss school

I had horrific periods as a teenager. Really awful. They used to last 10 days and I would be in terrible pain for at least four of those. I used acupuncture relatively successfully. It regularised them and reduced the flow a bit. Also, would agree with the Nurofen recommendation. If she's regular, get her to take it for two days beforehand so it's in her system.

There are also prescription antiflammatories that can be used. I was on Naproxen but that was a long time ago. There may be better drugs now.

I would actually agree with you that the pill not may be your answer. Only because you haven't tried other methods yet such as ibuprofen lysine (makes a huge difference for me). I would also say that it would be in your daughters favour to find the reason she is in so much pain. I went on the pill at a similar age because of my pain (also because of sex too) and it masked an underlying problem, which may be contributing to my personal stuggle with infertility.

At the end of the day you have to let her make her own decision. It isn't your decision to make, she'll get it from a clinic if she wants it.

At 15 she'd be considered Gillick-competent and able to make her OWN decision about HER OWN BODY.

Please tell her that.

Hi again

There is family history of bad periods etc...
My dd is fully aware about the pill etc..and she's spoken to her school nurse and I've asked her if she would like to go on the pill etc and my dd wouldn't like to so for those of you trying to make me sound like a bad parent I'm simply not and I didn't realise mn was so judgemental. My dd has agreed she would rather try herbal remedies first and doesn't believe in the pill....

Trinners, I guess I grew out of it like people always said I would.

It's the most awful pain I've experienced, not had a kid yet lol, and if there's something that can be done to stop it then I would go for it.

Failing that stock up on nurofen, but that only works if she's clockwork. You could set your watch by mine but not everyone is like that.

Also have a look at the sanitary protection she's using. If she tried using a menstrual cup then lots of women on MN have found that it significantly reduces menstrual pain and the length of a period (can get mooncup in boots or Meluna, etc online).

Taking the pill in order to improve a medical problem does not equal sudden promiscuity.
Are you under the impression that contraception will encourage her to sleep with someone or are you opposed to it because you want her to get pregnant should she become sexually active? I really don't understand the 'we're Catholic' argument against letting your daughter feel better.

fruityb

I suffered exactly the same as did my sister and I only found after having my dd did they stop before I become a catholic the doctor prescribed me with the pill and it didn't help me at all. Neither did it touch my sister she ended up having a hysterectomy x

toavoid

Thanks will try that with her.

Like I said before I've discussed with my daughter and she doesnt want to go on the pill either I haven't forced her into this opinion as a mature pleasant young lady I think she's perfectly capable to make her own choices

Her wishes are very relevant, so apologies for the x post, and of course she should try other remedies if she wishes. However, if they don't make a difference, the pill is one possible option to try that I don't believe should be discounted on the grounds of religion.

No absolutely not pinic if nothing else fails I'm sure pastoral care and myself and our family doctor will guide her into making the right decisions and will help her if she needs to take the pill.

I've taken her to the doctors and they recommend tablets etc or the mini pill.i am totally against her using the mini pill or anything alike

What you said gave the impression you would not even consider the pill as an option.
Maybe you dd knows you are anti contraception so has said she does not want to admit she would try anything to get rid or the terrible pain!

I would def google buscopan for period pain and she how it is taken - think it had yo be taken few days before period to reduce the cramps.
The other tablet with the acid is worth trying to.
Heat pads can be bought cheaply at wilkinson sir home bargains and fond chemist but they can't go directly on the skin.
Good luck hope you find something

You can get patches from Boots that do go directly on the skin. Again - Menefamic Acid and do consider discussing the pill with your priest. I think you'll discover if it's not to avoid making babies, there's no problem.

She would not be using it as a contraceptive though , she is using it for her pain.

I went on the (combined) pill at 15 for unbearable period pain. I wasn't having sex, I didn't use it as a contraceptive.

Your daughter should also be investigated for endometriosis. I was finally diagnosed at 30 after years of suffering. Now the only thing that keeps my symptoms at bay is the Mirena coil. Also used as a contraceptive but that is not its sole purpose in this case.

If your daughter wants to go on the pill and the doctor advises it then what is the problem? It is a hormonal medication in this context that will save your daughter lots of pain.

You need to find out what the CAUSE of this is rather than just solely treat the symptoms with varying degrees of success. The problem is still there regardless and endo can become more chronic in nature over the years. If her symptoms are indeed due to endometriosis then specialist gynae help is needed.

Your DDs problems may well be due to endometriosis (that was my initial thought); it is very common in women and much under diagnosed. It is the most common cause of severe period pain like described. What you write about her in your initial post could well fit that profile.

The pill whilst it would help would simply mask the symptoms of the underlying problem and you do not want her to take that anyway for your own reasons. I also note that your DD does not want to take this either. Herbal remedies will do bugger all if endometriosis is the root cause. Sorry to write that but you're better off knowing that now. I bet her friends do not suffer half as much with their periods as your DD does either.

It was not altogether surprising to read either in a subsequent post that there is a female familial history of problem periods. Endo can and does travel down the female line.

The best thing you can do for her is for her to actually see a gynaecologist via your GP to see if endometriosis is indeed present. It is usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy.

www.endo.org.uk is a good website. Both of you should read it.

I would also advise your DD to start keeping a daily pain and symptom diary if she does not already do so as it will give the gynae clues. Some family GPs are frankly hopeless when it comes to "female problems" and may not recognise endometriosis or even think of it. Do not solely rely on the GP; you will both need to be persistent in order to get answers.

She needs naproxen for the period cramps which you can get behind the counter.
Migraines need specific treatment so paracetamol will do nothing. First try migralieve from a chemist which also contains anti nausea. Next speak to a doctor about it, Triptan medications are a the only thing I find helps now. I have hormonal migraines too and they are horrible
A hormonal tablet may help solve everything. There are many options, speak to the doctor. Cerazette being the first port of call. I personally didn't find it very helpful but for some people it can be a miracle.

She cannot have the combined pill if she gets migraines. It drastically increases the migraines and stroke risk. Just worth mentioning as posters have suggested it. The mini pill however is fine and would be helpful.

Shroomboom oestrogen feeds the endometriosis so to speqk so mini pill is recommended rather than combined pill. Heavy extremely painful periods are a symptom of endo I had them for a few years before my diagnosis. Progesterone only contraception definitely helps. I also used feminax max which helped more than paracetamol.