Painful periods - what can she take?

[Oohgarydavies]

My DSD10 (nearly 11) gets very painful periods. So bad she throws up. Apparently this is runs her family. DSD's Mum sadly died when she was 6. She has an aunt and a Grandma she is close to, but they are not always around and seem very much to believe that she should just 'get on with it' (as they had to).

DP is not brilliant at dealing with it and they both get embarrassed when he's tried to broach the subject of pads etc. We don't live together yet so I'm not around enough to help properly.

Does anyone know what painkillers she could take? Does Buscopan work? She's too young for Feminax, according to their labelling.

DSD and DP will be moving in with us in a few months and I'll be able to support her better.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Has she tried good old paracetamol or ibuprofen? The generic ones, no need for branded. You can alternate them if the pain is very bad, to get max pain killing.

If that doesn't work, consider something like feminax ultra, which is naproxen, but maybe talk to pharmacist about that . Make sure that someone is monitoring many she takes per day, and for how long, as it is easy to od on painkillers. Otherwise, consider getting her to visit a gp - it's not something that she should need put up with!
buscopan is an antispasmodic rather than a pain killer per se.

[Oohgarydavies]

Thanks - I have suggested the paracetamol/nurofen thing. It's a bit tricky because lots of people 'involved', but no one doing (in my opinion!) what's actually needed.

I think it's the cramping that's causing the vomiting and Buscopan can apparently help with that? (From what I've read online)

DP has mentioned contacting the GP so I hope that will happen. Poor thing she's so young to be having to deal with this!

[ALittleFaith]

Wheat bag she can put in the microwave are great too.

[GothicRainbow]

I think it would definitely be worth a trip to the GP. I've recently had very painful periods and have been given mefenamic acid as a painkiller which is very effective and also been referred for an ultrasound to see if there's an underlying cause.

In the meantime maybe try a hot water bottle, paracetamol and brufen combo. I really feel for her as its so so awful and makes you feel totally wretched

[TelephoneIgnoringMachine]

YY to the wheat bag. I've never tried it as my periods were blessedly less painful after pregnancy, but you can now get a tens machine for period pain. I remember my periods during teenage years were dreadful. She shouldn't have to put up with it, definitely get her to the GP.

[liveloveluggage]

Poor little thing, its horrible as an adult. I think it might be worth seeing the gp. Maybe you could take her if she feels awkward with her Dad there.

[Oohgarydavies]

Thanks all.

I will investigate the wheat bag and carry on gently mentioning a trip to the GP.

[Dancergirl]

Hope things improve.

You sound like a lovely caring step mum ??

[Husbanddoestheironing]

Ibuprofen worked better than paracetamol for me- something to do with cramping, plus take doses regularly for maximum effect. (I used to feel sick and pass out with the pain in my teens). Def suggest a GP visit though - there are specific prescription pain killers that work even better, and at that age it would be as well to get extra advice.

[basketofshells]

My dd1 had this from age 11. Was prescribed mefenamic acid which in her case didn't work but I know others who swear by it. Definitely worth a try. When it didn't work for dd1 we tried a Pill for a while. I wasn't happy about it as she was still just 11 but if it had been the solution we'd have stuck with it. Unfortunately it affected her mood so badly that we had to stop that as well.

We then just had to ride it out for a few years with the vomiting, etc. The best solution we found over the counter was to swoop in with ibuprofen at the very first twinge, then paracetamol as well. Paracodol on the worst days but they knocked her out so only in emergencies.

She got to 16 and it was getting massively disruptive - every month we had to work out which exam, holiday, party, Duke of Ed, etc, would be ruined by the period this time. Back to the doctor who tried the Pill again and this time the moods are fine, presumably as she's fully through puberty now. She still gets cramps but they're now manageable with ibuprofen and hot water bottles, no vomiting or fainting any more.

I was just the same at her she and was later diagnosed with endometriosis so I'm recommending that dd1 keeps this in mind and gets it checked. I hope your poor little dsd can get it sorted. It can be a long haul but the GP can definitely help you find things that work.

[Verbena37]

Get her to drink regular cranberry juice....as long as she doesn't tie meds to thin her blood. It contains vitamin K and I think it thickens the blood, therefore making periods lighter. It isn't peiven but this thread I began yonks ago, explains a bit more.....

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1227629-Cranberry-Juice-and-reduced-menstruation

[Verbena37]

That should read 'isn't proven', not peiven !!

[Thenapoleonofcrime]

My life was really made a misery by painful periods and vomiting in my early teens. What worked in the end for me was what some others have suggested, which is ibuprofen at first sign of period or if you know when it is going to be, take it the day before, keep that dosage regular as it needs to build up to work, then supplement with paracetemol or paracetemol and codeine if really bad. I also used buscopan, it is an anti-spasmodic and it worked well with the other things.

The key is to get the medications down before you start throwing up!

I also had endometriosis, so it may all be part of a package. I wish I'd got on top of the pain much earlier, things like heat pads/baths didn't even touch it for me.

I would also see what the doctor says as there may be newer treatments and I would definitely try those.

[Disneyfan1995]

My DD (10) uses disposable heat pads like the ones you can get for sore shoulders. They are great, she sticks it on before school and it lasts all day. Combined with nurofen and paracetamol that helps.

[LL0015]

Gp and don't stop going and don't stop trying stuff.
My teens were ruined by flooding, pain and cramps. Another endo sufferer here.
I would have stopped my periods during my teens by whichever method I could but it was the days of get on with it. Get a gynea referral if necessary.

[mordernlifeisrubbish]

I went through this as a teenager, it's horrible. Definitely take her to gp, hot water bottles are helpful. Not sure if she's old enough for diclofenic which I used when menefanic acid wasn't really working, gp prescribed it but I think it's sold over the counter now. Otherwise ibuprofen & paracetamol is helpful.

[TinyBit]

I had this at her age, complete with the vomiting etc.

I was advised to take vitamin B6. It may just be coincidence, but it seemed to work for me.

Later (17ish?) I moved on to the pill to ease my symptoms and that worked really well.

[ememem84]

I was advised to take b6 too.

And also discovered that tonic water also helps. There's an ingredient in it - quinine I think which eases muscle cramps. I'm not sure why....

[VenusRising]

She needs to see her GP and have a gynae referral.

I wouldn't self medicate with buscopan or anything until the GP has seen her at least.

You need to keep a diary of how bad she is for proof and to be assertive for that gynae referral.

[lljkk]

I also think seeing GP is ideal. She needs to be involved in knowing that she can find solutions to this kind of problem.

[ShipShapeAhoy]

I used to get mefenanic acid and tranexamic acid from the gp. I can't remember which is which but one was for pain and the other reduced blood flow.

If she does get those, or takes ibuprofen then tell her to make sure she eats before taking them. I didn't know you were supposed to do that and got terrible acid reflux from taking it on an empty stomach! The last thing she needs is more pain.

I've not tried myself but I've read on here that mooncups have reduced period pain for some people. I don't know how practical one would be for a 10 year old though, they might be tricky to use. Some people find tens machines useful too - I'm not sure if there's an age restriction on this. Poor little thing, 10 is so young.

[soimpressed]

As others have said ibuprofen taken as early as possible before the pain kicks in. My mum always gave me gin with hot water and sugar! She even packed me off with a small bottle when I started uni.

[cantpooinpeace]

She could try an anti spasmodic - Buscopan can work wonders

[hulksmum]

Please give her a pain killer - paracetamol/nurofen ANYTHING....even top dose of calpol.

I suffered really badly all through early teens and was given buscopan(useless) some other tablets you had to take 3 days prior (useless again as was never regular)

Once I found paracetamol I couldn't believe my mother had never given it to me!!!!! I think she thought I was to young.

Anyhow, my dd suffers badly too and I have give her pain killers from day one (no one should suffer in pain, my toes use to curl in pain, I'd black out and really do think I had better labour pains than period pains)

Try 1/2 tablet rather than full one or as preciously said CALPOL