Extremely painful periods, what can I do via the natural route?

[Willowwisp]

Hi

I'm 38 and have a DD who is 8 months old and was born by unplanned C section. Before I was pregnant I had painful periods, but not nearly as bad as they are now. I started my period last night and I can honestly say I have been in complete agony all day, the cramps have literally taken my breath away and in six weeks I'm going back to work, I would not be able to go to work if it continues like this? I've taken ibuprofen, even sneaked a codeine off my hubby and they didn't touch the pain?

I've been to see a gynae three weeks ago and he put me on the mini pill (cerazette) and told me this would sort it out, yeh right it made me worse, I was depressed, stressed, snappy and think my DH would have divorced me if I carried on taking it, it also made me extremely bloated and spotty? I've stopped taken it as I felt so ill on it, the combined pill does ease things but I've been told I'm too old and overweight to go back on the pill? I've tried Ponstan Forte and it didn't work and I'm literally at the end of my tether, my GP told me having a baby would cure the pains, instead there worse? I know if I go back to the gynae he will suggest a lap and then if it shows nothing, the microwave thing which would end my chances of having another baby, I'm not ready for that huge decision, we had IVF to get our daughter and I secretly hope we will find the money to do it again in the future??

Has anyone got any suggestions on natural remedies, I will take any supplement going if it will help, I've heard B6 can help with PMT and evening primrose to, is it worth a try for the period pain?

Please help with some suggestions as I'm getting desperate and work will not understand that its simply 'period pain'!!

Okay, so the first three months of periods following pregnancy can be really fucking horrible. But when it goes on beyond that - I agree it needs sorting.

Personally I've always had very bad periods and hormonal treatments always make me worse.

I find starflower or evening primrose oil in high doses helped me. What also helped me was removing sugar from my diet and eating wholegrain foods for ten days before and during my periods - cut the cramps entirely and got rid of the spots - don't know why.

The other thing you should request is a blood clotting essay - I have a clotting disorder which was only diagnosed when I saw a very smart gynae who noticed that I was bleeding so much I was getting anaemic (and obv that's a vicious circle). But it caused such severe cramps because I was shedding masses of womb lining in one go and literally haemorrhagging. This also led to some fertility problems and miscarriages - so if you have had problems, it's definitely worth ruling out.

On the medical side ponstan forte (mefamic acid) doesn't always help, traxemic acid often does though - it reduces the amount of blood lost which reduces the cramps.

Finally, I know this is the last thing you probably feel like doing but exercise three times a week can make a massive difference.

Good luck, I know how horrible it is.