Awful periods for my 12 year old advice please

[Jamfirstest]

Dd1, 15 and me 45. We haven’t struggled ever with periods so we are a bit lost.
DD2 started about 6 months ago and we now seem to be in an awful place where she is having a day off school sometimes 2 because the cramps are so bad. She has quite significant IBS and it’s causing flares too so we have a bad ibs week followed by a bad period week every month now.

She seems so young for the pill but I can’t have her missing so much school she is top set and she loves school.

I’ve bought feminax and it helped a little.

i will get an e consult next week but any advice?

The GP can and may prescribe mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid for pain and excessive bleeding respectively.
My DD was on them for a couple of years in her early teens.

Hot water bottle at home, stick on heat pads at school. Ibuprofen.

@cryinglaughing thank you that helps a lot I will mention to gp

Buscopan can help if the pain is from cramping. As someone who suffered significant period pain until I'd had my children, and whose teen daughters now struggle, I'd say get on the pain as early as possible. Once you're throwing up from it the painkillers won't stay down! My dds were both offered the pill by our GP. One has stayed on it from age 14. The other started it at 13 but found it altered her mood and chose the painkillers route. Much sympathy xx

I struggled through with mefenamic acid during early teens...it helped a bit. But I went on the pill as soon as I turned 16 and that was life changing. Definitely speak to your GP as there might be more they can do these days.

My DD was similar and used to take one or 2 naproxen at the start and then she would be fine for the rest of her period. Boots do a period pain relief which is naproxen but check the age.
We also used to buy the stick on heat pads from home b for school days.
She used to also take buscopan.

She did have a magnetic thing that stuck on the knickers but she lost in and wouldn't let me check school lots property for it!!! 😕

My daughter suffered heavy 10 day periods and bad cramps, she was going into GCSE year and it was affecting her schooling, the GP agreed to put her on the pill and let her take 3 packets back-to-back so she only gets 4 periods a year.
Sone of her friends take it constantly so don’t have periods but our GP attitude is that it was healthier to have a bleed occasionally.

DD went on the pill at 12. I did too, for the same reason so was very keen she didn't have to suffer.

I would suggest you see your GP and request a referral to a suitably qualified gynaecologist.

I went on the pill at 14 because my periods were so bad. Nothing else worked.

@Jamfirstest sending solidarity. As others have suggested heat pads/ pain relief / mefanamic and tranaexamic acid can be a good start for the period pain.

can I ask why you think she’s too young for the pill? Is there a particular concern or just the idea that she will be on medication for long term with hormones? I work in this area and the pills have changed a lot in recent years, some with much much lower doses of hormones which can get her bleeding under control. Periods shouldn’t be so debilitating in the 21st century so have a good think about this. Also if any side effects or she doesn’t like it she can just stop taking it or try another one.

When did she start her periods?
If this has been going on a long time, just be aware that endometriosis is often misdiagnosed as IBS which would link in with the awful periods.

I would speak to your daughter about what matters to her most - being pain free / bleeding less ?/ going to school more and try and try and come with a joint plan with health care professionals about the right solution.

Fresh minced ginger tea is your answer, 1teasp of minced ginger to water , mug of, hot as you can handle.
Helped massively with cramps for me, not pleasant to take I get that, sorted bloating too

Encourage her to start logging symptoms and cycle, all the time. Not the the basic days period was type tracking.

More along the lines of how am I feeling today type thing.

It helps with discussions with professionals, and can help with identifying most useful ways to reduce impact on life and timing.

Some of the non hormonal medication options work a lot better if start a few days before period starts.

Buscopan can be really helpful, both for ibs and spasm type period pain.

Weights type exercise can help some people, seems to do something that forces the muscles into doing something more sensible than the crazy party mode the go into.

Mefenamic acid helped a bit, but mini pill has helped loads, we didn't have much choice because she faints and the school nurse sends her home in anticipation of the faints.

I'd consider the mini pill for the gcse years in your position

Can I ask why it is so bad her missing a littl3 bit of school when unwell ? She is a child and nobody should be unnecessarily panicking over a day or two a month.

We have such a pressured culture in this country over school

Obviously if she wants a solution then fine but it's also fine if she needs those days in bed ..she will likely grow out if it ..I did.

Naproxen on prescription for pain. Buscopan on prescription for the IBS. Tranexamic acid for bleeding.

Evening Primrose Oil has helped my daughter.

@LadyTyburnshes just been sent home from dance throwing up 😭

For posters recommending buscopan we’ve had that on script for years it doesn’t help dd2. The ibs is a whole other thing and we are on meds number 10000000 feels like. Periods have really made it worse

@waterrat we are feeling the effects though. She sat a science test the other day and didn’t know any answers because she missed that lesson. Plus the missing school causes anxiety. She loves her school time off is a last resort

Be you period patches are good if she doesn’t have sensitive skin
mine were shocking at that age and age 39 I ended up being diagnosed with endometriosis
painkillers taken before period starts and then constantly through my period did help

GP there are a few options. I suffered badly, with periods missed some school and sometimes was sick. It also causes my bowels to be much looser. This was until I had dd1 when I was 21 so didnt 'grow out of it' neither did my sister. I have either been pregnant (with dd2) breastfeeding or on the pill/patch/implant since, as much for period control as birth control. My mum didn't think about taking either of us to the GP and I wish she had. Dd1 has had a few bad period's, if her next one is I will be taking her to the GP.

In the meantime ibuprofen as soon as she notices any cramps, taken alongside paracetamol. Hot water bottles/heat pads as well.

My daughter is on transexamic acid but she does have a bleeding disorder. Could be worth testing for blood disorders.

I'm so sorry you're in this situation - it's so difficult, but definitely seeing your GP is a good idea. I often turn to this website because they have loads of articles about teens and periods, but it's written for parents of teens by experts. There's an article on period pain relief actually that might be helpful: https://weareluna.app/parents/guides/periods-and-hormones/