Comments on: How to Relieve Menstrual Cramps

on 11/24/2007 i have bad pain and i threw up like 6 times today and i almost fainted..does anyone no if thats a bad thing? Like im only 14 and ive never had sex or done anything sexual. please help

on 7/14/2007 yummytaylor's problem sounds the exactly the same as mine. When I went to the doctor he said it's because when you are on you period you body releases a chemical that causes your muscles to contract. Genetically some peoples pores are bigger inside so the chemical reaches deeper and causes more pain. My suggestion is definitely try birth control pills. But since then I've gotten off them and instead of crying in pain crouchd over on my side I try to take it easy.
Draw the hottest bath you can handel
listen to music
drink lemon lime soda
eat some chocolate
and just relax

on 4/17/2007 I'm no expert but I think that the best thing that you can do to relieve yourself from cramps is to drink a lot of herbal tea (mixed with brown sugar), and also to take some advils. Though you should start taking these things not when your period starts, but actually couple of days before it begins. If you do this before the pain is more than likely to subside. Another suggestion is to simply PRAY. Get down on your kness and say 'Lord Help ME, I am in Pain'. I don't know about you but whenever I have called out to Him he has always been there to respond. All the best. Wishing a healthy future for you!!!

on 4/15/2007 From a teenage girl- Every women has got to experience "that time of month" From my few years of experienceing menstrual cramps I can offer a few suggestions. First is to take tylonel or advil. Secondly, this one may be hard, but don't pig out on chocolate. i love to eat chocolate, and it realieves my cramps for a few hours, but afterward I feel worse than before. Lastly, try to sleep. when your asleep the cramps subside, so when you wake up you feel 10x better. To fall asleep lie on a bed or couch flat on your back, no pillow, put on soothing music, and try to fall asleep. Good Luck with your cramps.

on 4/3/2007 I have had the severe, wish I was dead mentrual cramps since I was 13, I'm 30 now. The only time I didn't have them was when I was on birth control pills from age 21-25. I take two aleve as soon as my period starts, and my severe cramping begins with the heavy blood flow, usually 15-24 hours after the start of my period. I take two or three aleves every 12 hours after the heavy blood flow, but still almost always have 2-3 hours of horrendous pain where I'm unable to do anything but lay in a hot bath of water or cry or scream! I also get constipated and can't pass gas for some reason and that makes the cramps so much more painful. I just watch what I eat a couple days before my period starts, if I eat pasta or something starchy the night before it starts, I'm in BIG trouble the next day, I have had episodes where that happened and I was on the toilet thinking it was the end for me. I also have my heating pad and hot water bottle that I use monthly, but none of this stuff really works the best, but does help slightly. The masturbation thing I tried out of desperation, using our back massager through my clothes and pad and it actually does make all the cramping and pain stop while building to orgasm and during, but cramps do come back right after. If you keep doing it for awhile they'll keep going away during. But sometimes a person isn't at home when the cramps strike! I hope someday if I have a daughter I don't pass this onto her, it's horrible!

on 2/19/2007 The size of the cramps, for me, depends on which side the egg is released. But when they're bad, THEY'RE BAD. Symptoms are usually that 'intestine-twisting' feeling in your gut, the urge to vomit, fatigue, sweating, diarrea, and chest pains. Its hard for me to concentrate on other things, even with my vibrating heating pad. Especially when you're getting up every 5 minutes for a bathroom break. Well, in my house, we dont have any fancy tea or pain relievers. Just a bottle of Pamprin. What I find to help, is occupying yourself. But nothing where you have to walk around. If your an artist, try drawing. A writer, type a short story or blog entry. But, atleast in my case, sheer concentration isnt enough. By that time, I just shrug and stick it out. Or take some PM medication and crash on the couch.
(Masturbation is also a neat little trick, too.)

on 2/5/2007 What I usually do is track my period online and take medication 3 days in advance. I hardly have any cramps since starting this regimen. I also cut out caffeine a week before and cut out sugar as well. Another good tip is to use those heat wraps. They work wonders.

on 1/29/2007 Cinnamon. Hi guys, thanks for the tricks, the ones I liked the most are about the hot water..

I'm Arabic.. and that's what Arabic women do to srop their menstrual cramps: we drink a warm cup of milk, a spoon of cinnamon with a spoon of honey and then go to sleep. It works, my older sister taught me this trick and I will teach it to my younger sister, and my future- Inshallah - daughter(s). The cinnamon is the thing that does thetrick. it kicks in in less then half an hour.

on 12/21/2006 My thighs usually ache during my period, so I decided to fill a plastic waterbottle with hot/warm water and let it rest on my legs for a while. It actually worked! And it helps when you try to concentrate on other things, like other said.

on 9/18/2006 I work at an OBGYN office, and when it comes to cramps all of our doctors swear by Aleve. Also, there are a few girls here who have mentioned the thermo care heat wraps, they do work wonders! I'm able to go out and about and run errands without having to think twice about my aching stomach! My fiancée swears that chocolate is supposed to help. I used to roll my eyes when he'd tell me this and say "It feels like someone is stabbing me over and over...candy is not going to help!" Till one day one our way home from the grocery store, my eyes were watering because I hurt so bad, he smiled and handed me a Hershey bar. I ate a few pieces and by the time we got home and I curled up in his bed, I already felt better. I'm not sure if this will work for everyone, but hey it won't hurt, and it gives you an excuse to eat chocolate!

on 8/23/2006 As soon as I start having cramps, my bowels also like to act up too. Not too fun. I usually take 800 mg of Ibuprofen and get a heating pad and lay on the couch (and get up, and get up again) so I don't get much rest but when I do, it really helps just lay there and focus on the TV or something.

on 8/21/2006 I get excruciatingly bad cramps during my period. I vomit, faint, get cold shakes and just wish I were dead. It's especially bad at school where I have to sit in an uncomfortable chair all day and try to pay attention. A lot of people have been saying not to take chocolate, but I find curling up in front of the TV with a big chocolate bar really helps me to relax. And above all, do what your body wants you to do. It knows best, so if you get cravings, go for them! You never know what will work for you!

on 8/8/2006 I've had severe cramps all my life and until products like Motrin, Advil, and Aleve came along, I was miserable. Taking birth control pills can help a lot. I take 3 Advil pills (200mg) every 3 to 4 hours, during the worst part of my period (which usually lasts 2-3 days). Alcohol (the drinking kind) can be very helpful for cramps. I don't like to take more than 3 Advil at once, but sometimes that doesn't do the job, and a glass of wine really helps. Unfortunately, it's not good to be drinking at work, but if you have cramps that bad, you're probably at home curled up on the couch anyway.

on 8/8/2006 I get really bad cramps (the kind that you can even feel in your back). I take 3 ibuprofen, get out the heating pad and then lie on the floor with my feet and knees propped up on the couch. For some reason this position starts relieving the cramps right away.

on 8/8/2006 I don't get cramps as bad as most people, but the slightest discomfort can distract me from my life. Like other people, I don't have the time for it. So here is what I do:
Before I get my period, my temperature goes up. As soon as this happens, I take Primrose oil and have a hot cup of tea. Then I have a long, hot shower and focus the shower head on my lower back (it actually helps me more than focusing it on the front). Afterward, I curl up on my bed and go to sleep for an hour or so. When I wake up I have another cup of tea and Primrose oil, and it makes me feel better.
During my period I watch movies, read books, call friends, anything to keep my mind off of the pain. Distracting yourself is a good idea.
If at school, apply pressure to your abdomen or bring your knees to your chest. Don't rock, I found this makes it worse.
If at work, and you have to stand around a lot (I work in a restaurant), I've found leaning on the table at a 90 degree angle and taking long deep breaths can help. If possible, go home and wrap up in warm clothes and curl up in front of the TV.

I'd just like to say thank you to the people who have posted on here, you have distracted me from my cramps long enough for the Primrose oil to set in. Now I can get a couple of hours sleep.