Easing period pain

Kate, 2 months

Emmpii: Sounds like you have endometriosis. You can look it up. Your doctor should refer you to a gynaecologist. I have it and I got put on the combined pill for 3 months at a time- it has two good effects: 1) You only have periods every 3 months and 2) It lessens the symptoms. Whether you put on weight or not is dependent on you and the pill you are on; there are lots of different types of combined pill, e.g. Marvelon, Yasmin, Microgynon, and one may suit you more than another. The first one I tried made me put on weight, but now I'm on Marvelon and have no side effects. I don't think your mum is worried whether you'll put on weight - I think she doesn't like the idea of you having sex, but if you do have endometriosis, she should accept this really will help you. Look into endometriosis - coping with the pain is difficult, but surgery to remove patches of it might be really helpful. If not, there are other painkillers around more suited to this. Hope that helps.

Emmpii, 2 months

I'm only 14 & since I was 12 i've had absolutely horrific period pains - i've got them right this second. I feel constantly lightheaded and sick, get headaches, sometimes even diarrhoea. I also faint a lot. Every time this happens I go to the doctor's & they prescribe some pill that I have to take with my normal painkillers. For months i've been overdosing. Today for example, i've taken 2 or 3 mefenamic acid tablets, 3 paracetamol, 4 or 5 ibuprofen, and 2 Voltarol (Diclofenac) tablets (which are supposed to be REALLY strong, and you're only meant to take one every 6-8 hours). I've been in absolute agony all day. I also tend to start getting sever cramps up to two weeks before my period. My doctor says i'm probably going to have to go on the pill (which my mum doesn't want but oh well), because nothing is working. I think if I go on the pill I will feel less paranoid if one of me & my boyfriend's condoms break, and it should also make a difference to my cramps. I really can't go on like this - I have exams in about 3 months & I can't keep taking time off school. Also, I find that no-one is very sympathetic, I can't help feeling like s***, but I get shouted at if i'm not all smiley. It's REALLY pissing me off. I suffer from depression which just escalates when I have my period. My boyfriend is genuinley the best thing that's ever happened to me & I shout at him for any excuse I can find when I have my period. Aswell as the pills, i've tried heat pads, hot water bottles, "relaxing" hot bubble baths, light exercise, working out at the gym, eating really healthily, eating lots of chocolate, doing things that usually make me feel relaxed, resting with hot chocolate while watching a funny DVD snuggled up in bed....NOTHING HELPS!!! It seems impossible that all the prescribed tablets plus painkillers don't work at all most of the time & whatever I do I can't make myself more comfortable, and can concentrate on f*** all. I actually got accused by my friends and a teacher of being stoned - when i've never been high in my life!! It affects me so badly I look deranged. I really want to go on the pill but my mum tells me that the average weight you put on when you go on the pill is half a stone...I think I should at least try it for a few months & see how it goes...but i'm insecure enough without putting on loads of weight, and don't feel that i'm a particularly good weight as it is. But if it makes me put on weight I don't know what i'll do....because I really don't want to...but nothing else is going to work, it would appear. Are there any more drastic treatments for period pain that I could have if the pill doesn't go well for me?

Dani, 5 months

i have always suffered from extreme period pains. I faint, vomit and im constantly lightheaded, so im always falling over or bumping into things. not to even mention the pain on my belly, back and legs. this is only normally for the first day that i come on. i've been to the doctors and they have gave me menafemic? acid tablets, these help but not alot. i end up nearly overdosing on painkillers just to get rid of it. i've tried running and using hot water bottles and that also doesnt seem to work if anyone can help me, then i beg you too. this is getting too far now and it stops me from doing alot of things in a day. epecially being a student at uni, it really has affected my study, and dont want it to effect it anymore! please help!!

depressed, 7 months

when im on my period (which i am at the mom) i get really moody!!! And sometimes depressed, I cry at times and feel sick...I sometimes faint because of the pain. No can really understand the pain I go through...Not even my boyfriend. At this very moment im arguing really bad with him :( What can I do? tnx.. im 18

brigitte, 12 months

i use to take this herb Echinea Purpura (or Echina Force), it's very magical herb! works very good. Also against flu's and all. Beside this i also drink Chamomille-tea as it's calming.

Lisa, 12 months

Hi, I used to get really terrible period pains on the 1st day of my period- I'd be sick and curled up in a ball with a hot water bottle for most of the day. My GP suggested mefanamic acid tablets and then something called spasmonal which is normally used for IBS. I took these alongside 500mg paracetamol and codeine tablets, but it really didn't seem to make much difference. A few months ago however, i discovered an absolute miracle cure- regular excercise!!! I started running and cycling 3/4 times a week and after a few months I really began to notice how much my period symptoms began to improve. I really don't know if this is something that will work for other people, but I really suggest you give it a try. It has completely changed my life- as cheesy as that may sound! Although i still get cramps, they are much more manageable and I no longer have to take time off work because of them. I used to absolutely dread the 1st few days of my period. Now i just make sure I always have a cura heat pad and a packet of paracetamol, and I can get on with my day as normal. I really do hope this works for other people. I'd always been advised to walk around when you get cramps, now I know you just have to do a lot of running and walking all the way through the month to prevent getting bad cramps in the first place! Good luck to everyone. I suffered badly for 8 years before finding some relief- it's finding the right treatment for yourself, but eventually something will come along and help!!!

Kirsty West, about 1 year

Sounds silly I know but bananas really help. Im only 16 and suffer agonizing period pain, ive tried walks, painkillers and some good old fashion chocolate, the only thing that helped was the pill, but it also made me put on weight, so i stopped. ive been thinking about the injection. does anyone know if it helps pain? x

Kate, about 1 year

I suffered from period pains in my teens and went on the pill. All OK until I came off the pill in my late 30s and suffered awful heavy bleeding and pain so bad I wanted to die at times! After medication failed to bring relief and as I was not wanting to get pregnant, I was given a mirena (coil that contains progesterone) which has sorted out the bleeding (now very light) but the pain continued. I used to take 400 mg ibuprofen 3 times a day and still suffer. I felt there was some kind of inflammation reaction going on, so when a friend mentioned a herbal anti-inflammatory I thought I would try it for the period pain. It worked! I now take much less ibuprofen (only 200 mg and usually not more than 2 doses on the odd day). The herbal remedy is of course less damaging to my stomach too. It's called Tabritis and you can get it from health food stores etc (e.g. Holland and Barrett).

hannah, about 1 year

Mine have gotten worse since the birth of my third child a year ago, I find just locking the world out for two of the days really helps, with biscuits and cups of tea for comfort!, not really a medical solution but it makes me feel better !... In severe cases did you know ladies that you can, get signed off work for a couple of days, I used to when I worked and I was younger, especially if you have a physical job.

shannon, about 1 year

cura heat is good! just to let you know i bought the exact same one (pack of 3) in the 99p shop!. also i realised being on contraception helps as i am now off of it i am havin the worst cramps! feeling sick and vomitting! but with it i felt nothing! i never even knew when i was coming on! no pain at all. but there is consiquenses with using contraception, ie irregular periods, though mine were fine! spotts (got a few of those) and weight gain (defo for me)

Emma, about 1 year

Try using a menstrual cup like femmecup, loads of women say they get rid of period pains altogether, don't know how they wokr but they do!

Emily, about 1 year

I'm 21 now and have had horrendous periods since the age of 13. Every month i would be sick and faint and have agonising pains shooting through my stomach and back. I went back and forth to the doctors and was constanly in and out of hospital having scans and tests but i was always told that i was fine i even went privately and paid to see a 'very good' doctor who also told me i was fine. I eventually found myself a specialist doctor in endometriosis as i was sure this is what i had, turns out i was right. I had surgery in the summer of 07. Unfortunately the surgery didnt work for me and now i am having another course of treatment however, i would definitely recommend going to see a specialist because they are the only ones who will tell you for sure if there is anything wrong and they can recommend soloutions for you. good luck!

samantha, about 1 year

im only 17 and my pains are so bad that im sick ive have been to the doctors so many times ive had scan and been on all diffent pain killers but every month im stll sick! it leve me in so much pain it stop me from going out and getting on with my life i hate it!!! ive triyed hot watter bottels going for walks im open for any other tips any 1 has got just to stop the pain !!

bethany jones- manchester x, about 1 year

i find it really helpful going for a long run and as a health carer it is well benifitial for your pains, so all you women out there who are in pain with pmt why not give it a go?? x

sharon lambert, over 2 years

i have suffered from pmt and seen several doctors for it and never got any advice just sarcy comments. my moods chnage from month to month i can be very angry or low to the point i want to kill myself i take b6 and even primrose oil. none of this helps.