Dare To Fight PMS Cramps With A Natural Remedy?

bethlynn00
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 04:09 pm: [report]

I have become a major pill popper due to my menorhaggia.  Ibuprofen constricts the blood vessels so it’s essential for someone like me who has heavy periods (I still have heavy flow on the Pill, the only difference is that on the Pill it only last for 4 days, instead of never stopping!) and the constriction helps with cramps. I’ve tried going natural, using heating pads, doing light exercises/yoga, and other relaxation techniques, but they have not worked for me, but 800 mg of ibuprofen works wonders every time.  I

heartofglass
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 04:10 pm: [report]

I am definitely a pill popper. I get horrendously strong cramps to the point that I want to swallow a whole bottle of painkillers whole. I wouldn’t mind trying this product along with Naproxen.

lea322
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 04:28 pm: [report]

Since I was about 15, I was taking three Advil every three hours, and that was barely cutting it. I worked at an acupuncture clinic for about a year, and regular treatment plus Chinese herbs helped some, but I was still reaching for that bottle of “Western” stuff on really bad days. Earlier this year, after a particularly embarrassing bout of crazy period-induced bitchiness directed at my boyfriend (God bless him), I started taking Yaz. Now I feel great.

All this to say: when I was still suffering through womanhood each month, I definitely would have tried something like this. Like I said, the more natural medicine DID help to some extent, so maybe if I had really amped it up with something like this, I could have found even more relief. Unfortunately, when you’re not working for the acupuncturist anymore, it gets expensive fast, so that wasn’t a route I could continue down.

heathabee
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 04:39 pm: [report]

When I was a few years younger, my mother used to make me take evening primrose oil capsules to “balance out my hormones” (aka tone down my excessive menstruation-induced bitchiness).

I was far too lazy to remember to take it everyday, but it did work for a while when I did remember to ingest it on the regular.

I honestly think some herbal remedies can work, and even though I go through a lot of pain during my period, I do not like to take advil. I’d rather live through the pain, and ride it out.  I know it sounds odd, but I don’t want to build up a tolerance for it.

abbylyn
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 04:51 pm: [report]

Be very, very careful taking large doses of ibuprofen without a doctor’s supervision - it can cause bleeding ulcers.

thehighandlow
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 05:20 pm: [report]

@abbylyn you are absolutely correct. I, too, used to pop a ton of Advil come period time due to some seriously debilitating cramps. However, in college I developed a new and terrible stomach sensation—BURNING STOMACH PAIN. Many tests later, I found that the Advil was to blame. Ever since going on the pill, my cramps are a little less but still enough to keep me in bed. I keep the occasional emergency vicodin around for the worst of times. Cheers to being a woman!

lea322
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 05:25 pm: [report]

@abbylyn: That’s another reason why I was looking for a better way to deal with cramps. I also used to get menstrual migraines, so if it wasn’t a pill for one thing, it was for another. I knew I couldn’t do that to my body for much longer without having some serious consequences!

bethlynn00
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 05:58 pm: [report]

@abbylynn: that is very important, but my doctor is the one who recommended that I take the ibroprofen over acetaminophen (Tylenol), which was actaully causing me upset stomach. But so far no ulcers and hopefully that won’t change any time soon.

Ginger
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 06:01 pm: [report]

I can’t swallow any sort of pill so it was rather hard for me to become a pill popper. Before I was on birth control I had horrendous cramps that sometimes left me curled up in bed unable to move. On those days I would slam back super strength (as in, from the hospital. But it was from when I was young and had intense migraines, or after my appendix burst) Motrin.

But I’ve usually been a ‘deal with the pain’ girl because I hate the taste of medicine and the history of addiction in my family has me terrified of getting hooked on anything. When my appendix blew up and nearly killed me I was denying morphine after the surgery.

mayorbubbles
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 06:43 pm: [report]

I try to stick it out and try not to use pain medication but i use it mostly when i get my period. I take 2 every 6-8 hours for about two days. On the third and fourth day i usually wake up with pain so i take 2 and then i’d be fine for the rest of the day. After that I don’t need it. Besides that, I take advil if I have a headache and I don’t have the opportunity to sleep it off… and I only take one. I wonder if this really works… if so, thats amazing

MsNeche
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 07:03 pm: [report]

Question Ladies: What are the type of cramps I’m getting? Normal, a lil worse than normal, oh crap I wanna be a boy or somethings is really wrong?

A few times possibly 4-5 I have been in severe cramp pain. One time, the first time I felt these severe cramps, I was cramping so bad, I was dizzy, I could barely walk straight, I was sweating, delirious, nauseous, the pain radiated from my left leg and traveled up and down. I took a pill and it did not help.

One time maybe 2 yrs after that. My period finally regulated after 24 yrs of 6 months on and then 6 months off but thats another issue. But I was having regular periods, mild to moderate cramps and more PMS symptoms, then after I went for a great walk/workout I sat down and the next thing I know my cramps had me yelling and crying, the same feelings I described above.
My cramps are ok now but I dare not go an entire day without meds, I only take one (200mg advil) maybe two the first day and then I’m cool for the rest of the um…period (ha never used it as a pun). Last period they were so mild I had a few drinks at the bar the night the began and I was ok for the rest of the period.

Does anyone think there could be something going on during those extreme paid periods?

impoddity
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 07:03 pm: [report]

Naproxen is my new best friend.  I’m taking it for joint pain and my pharmacist told me a beautiful side effect is less cramps during my period.

@abbylynn: If you’re worried about stomach ulcers, take your pills with a small meal (like three Oreos or a granola bar) or 8 oz of milk. Avoid citrus, tomatoes and juices since the acid will only increase the chances of erosion.

driftingfocus
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 08:06 pm: [report]

I am exceedingly lucky in that I barely get any cramps at all.  In the 12 or so years I’ve been menstruating, I think I’ve probably taken something for the pain only 20 or so times.  The cramps just tend to only last an hour or two with me, and even with those, they’re not usually any worse than a headache-level pain.

Harlequin
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 08:21 pm: [report]

It seems like a lot of women have very painful cramps, I have a friend who can barely move without taking something for the pain during her period. I’m the exact opposite, my time of the month never really affects me at all, is it abnormal to almost never get cramps?

lostrun
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 09:16 pm: [report]

@MsNeche..i don’t think there was anything wrong causing the pain.  When you’re young, it tends to be worse, which would explain why it’s not so bad for you now.  When I was a teen, my would knock the wind out of me and have weak legs.  Now, in my late twenties, my pain lasts for a week prior and then about two days into it.  The only day I take pills is the day i begin, and I take anything w/ naproxen b/c anything else doesn’t work.

Heatherer
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 09:24 pm: [report]

I use midol and heating pads when I can’t deal with the period pain on my own. It’s a life saver.

Lexington
wrote on October 22 2009 @ 09:48 pm: [report]

I get menstrual migraines too, so that’s where my real pill popping comes in- it took me the longest time to figure those out- literally, the most painful thing I have ever experienced coming in once or twice a month, completely debilitating, lock me up in a dark and silent room for 6 hours pain, and it wasn’t until I started taking Excedrin Migraine (I realize I’m about to sound like an ad), but Excedrin is possibly one of the most amazing things to come into my life- it let me actually function- I generally take about 2 or 3 migraine ones when it’s that time, and I can generally get away taking 2 regular Excedrin during the ladytime. I suffer from really bad cramps the first day, too, depending on the month, and I’ve switched from Aleve to Advil Liqui-gels to Excedrin. I tend to be a tough-it-out girl, too, so I always forget how much better medicine makes me feel in the end!

chasingstars
wrote on October 23 2009 @ 08:09 am: [report]

I’m guilty of popping 4 advils at a time every time I feel a cramp. But since I’ve been getting sick a lot lately, I’ve decided to quit pharmaceutical chemicals and go all na-tu-ral (except for my birth control pills, which deal with the insane PMDD). Thanks for this post

Christinaval
wrote on October 23 2009 @ 08:37 am: [report]

chasing stars: Me too. I’m taking around 10 advil a day, and it still doesn’t take it away. I’m looking for an alternative, so maybe I will try this.

MeNeche: Sounds like you could have episodes of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease). Go to your doctor and let him know your symptoms. I have recurring episodes of this, it is very damaging to your reproductive system, and most women never realize they have it. Talk to your doctor.

Thanks for this post!

FrzKey
wrote on October 23 2009 @ 08:53 am: [report]

I actually had my doctor tell me to up my usual advil dosage up to 4 at a time during my periods. I would also use a hot water bottle and still had horrible cramps and other symptoms during my periods. Went on the nuvaring which regulates the length and amount down to a manageable space (at my worst I was PMS’ing for 3 out of every 4 weeks) and my doctor prescribed a new pain pill that’s much more effective with the pain than anything I’ve tried before. If I had the bottle with me I’d write the name down and tell anyone with horrible cramps to run and beg for a prescription for this stuff. It works like nothing I’ve ever tried - completely. It’s a blessing.

casablancas
wrote on October 23 2009 @ 09:20 pm: [report]

Just a note: “homeopathic” and “holistic” or “natural” are not synonymous. Homeopathy is a specific branch of alternative medicine that has to do with the law of similars. It’s related to the use of essential oils, but your usage of the word in this context was incorrect.

Also, I use essential oils for these kinds of situations, mostly because my mom is a big advocate. I feel like I should mention for you ladies: always use high-grade specialty essential oils (i.e. Young Living Essential Oils), never something you can buy in, like, a department or makeup store.

kl564063
wrote on October 24 2009 @ 07:11 am: [report]

I’ve suffered TERRIBLY from cramps since day one and by far the very best drug money can buy for them is Naproxen.  It’s sold as Aleve in North America, and the Aleve dosage is low so I usually end up taking more than the package recommends.  But the point is that it’s a great anti-inflammatory as well as pain reliever.  This is the stuff they give to people after having their wisdom teeth removed to reduce pain and swelling. Nothing compares!

EricaB
wrote on October 31 2009 @ 02:36 pm: [report]

I suffer for as long as I can, but when the cramps get bad enough I’ll pop some ibuprofen.  I love Aleve for everything else but it just doesn’t work as well on my cramps.

I’d definitely try this stuff except I’m extremely allergic to sage, so probably not a good idea.