Comments on: How to Relieve Menstrual Cramps

on 11/22/2005 My symptoms include: heavy bleeding, extreme cramping (where I can feel my heart beat at the base of my stomach), feelings of nausea, diarrhea, cold sweating, and my heart beat oddly increases then decreases very slow. My last cycle my mother (who is a labor and delivery nurse) had to coach me through it. I was crying and praying. I fainted on the toilet due to the pain. That was my first time fainting. I took 800mg Ibuprofen while my mother tried to feed me oatmeal. My mistake was I had taken the Ibuprofen too late. Sometimes it's hard for me because I am not a regular person. I don't have a set plan of attack. Instead, I have invested in Advil Liqui-Gels. The relief is far quicker. Nothing works for me unless it has Ibuprofen. I take 2-3 Advil gel caps with lukewarm water, then drink hot decaffeinated green tea which I buy a box of it at the grocery store. The relief comes within 15-20 minutes. If I drink caffeine, it seems to stimulate the cramping a lot. At the office I don't have a heating pad adjustable, so I just make more green tea and hold it close to my stomach while sipping. I hope this helps for anyone who has gone through my pain.

on 11/22/2005 When I get cramps I take 3 Ibuprofen and take a nice hot bath. I try to relax as much as possible. I use lavender bubble bath.

on 11/22/2005 My cramps get worse every time I start a period. I noticed if you stress a lot before your period begins you will have horrendous cramping! I used to take hot baths, but that doesn't work anymore, now I turn on the blow dryer, and put it on low. I go about 35 cm's away from my lower belly, and the heat helps. Sometimes I sit up and do this, because a pull my knees up to my chest, and that position helps when used with heat. I also cry, and scream, and birth control does not help. I got on it for this reason, and got off it. If your cramps are so severe you can't even breath, go to your doctor, and ask about fibroids and cysts. I also get hot flashes, and last night was my first time puking from my cramps. Tea or food doesn't do the trick for me, I get worse from that stuff.

on 11/22/2005 The first thing that I do when I feel menstrual cramps is to give myself an enema, followed by 2 Pamprin. Quite often the cramps are worse due to constipation during that time of the month. Make sure that you take a very hot bath. I only eat soups and salad, nothing heavy. I drink warm tea every other hour. I know that you always hear about avoiding caffeine and chocolate, however, I always get a Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks and it always calms my nerves. Then I watch old movies all day.

on 11/22/2005 My cramps aren't to the point that I'm screaming and crying, but they're not what I'd call mild either. What I do is:
1. Take some pain killers, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
2. Drink some hot chocolate made with Nesquik (it's 99.9% caffeine free, if you're worried about caffeine) and soy milk.
3. Lay down and read or watch TV for a bit with a hot water bottle on your stomach for about an hour. But not too hot, that might make it worse.

If you're in school then you're screwed. You might want to just go home if it's really bad. I try to stick it out, but once my friends tell me my face looks gray and I look like I'm about to faint, it's not worth it. I go home!

on 11/22/2005 I've seen many suggestions about taking pain killers with alcohol, tea, and caffeine and thought I should include a warning. Taking pain killers with any of these may cause bad drug interactions that can lead to many complications - from headaches and dizziness, to vomiting and fainting. Check all warnings on the different pain killers since they all list things that can have bad interactions with them. Also, if possible, ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to combine your pain killer with any of these products.

For those addicted to caffeine, I would suggest not stopping it because you might actually feel worse. Try lowering your caffeine intake before your cramps stop so that you don't experience withdrawal.

on 11/22/2005 Drink lots of raspberry tea! The liquid state helps it absorb into the blood stream faster than were you to eat raspberries or jam. Warm or cold, it always does the trick for me!

on 11/22/2005 I have some of the worst cramps in the world. I have never felt the discomfort of abdominal pain, my cramps occur in my lower back. When I feel cramps coming on, I have someone take the palms of their hands and apply pressure for thirty seconds on either side of my back. This has helped numerous times and always eases my pain. I then apply heat to the area of pain and take long, deep breathes. Once you relax, your muscles tend to relax. If this does not help, try sitting in a chair, bending down, and rubbing behind your ankles. Those nerve endings are connected to your lower back.

on 11/22/2005 I've have horrible menstrual cramps my whole entire life. This is what I find works best: I started keeping track of my period. 2 or 3 days before I am supposed to get my period, I start taking extra strength Tylenol and continue to take Tylenol until the day my period arrives. Then I take 2 Tylenol PM along with a heating pad and I fall fast asleep. When I awake, the cramping is gone, but sometimes there is still that irritability. I'd much rather have that than the cramps. This method works real well. When my period comes along I am still able to stand up straight and go about my business.

on 11/22/2005 I used to get cramps to the point where I would miss school to curl up in the fetal position on the couch crying. Crying actually helps, I guess it has something to do with muscle contractions in that area (depending on how hard you cry). What works for me is 2 Midol Extended Relief tabs ( naproxen tablets) as soon as I wake up and a hot shower. I am good for the day! If I do feel a slight pain coming on during the day I'll take another Midol.

on 11/22/2005 As soon as I see a spot of blood or feel any kind of menstrual cramp, I take two ibuprofen tablets. Then I take a long, hot shower and aim the water at my stomach. After this I put on some really comfortable, baggy clothing, and I lay down on my stomach and go to sleep. This really helps me. When I wake up I feel 10 times better.

on 11/22/2005 If you have the opportunity to be home, then I suggest taking a hot bath, it will soothe the cramps. Take some pain relievers and go to sleep for awhile. You will feel so much better when you wake up. If you're stuck in school or at work, then I guess you're out of luck, unless you want to sit there and knead like a cat.

on 11/22/2005 Take 3 Advil, Midol or Motrin. Drink some cranberry juice or grapefruit juice! Lay on the sofa, curled up. Try to lay there for as long as you can. Have a blanket and relax yourself, don't tense up! Watch some TV. You can also apply a heating pad to your tummy which works wonders! I use the new Playtex heaters, they stick to you. I play softball and I pitch, I wore one during the game and it helped (and no one ever saw it). Drink a lot of cranberry juice or grapefruit juice! Keep drinking the juice until your period is done, it tends to make bleeding less!

on 11/22/2005 I get cramps bad,sometimes to the point where I have hot flashes and dizzy (on my way to fainting). Here's what I do: When I first notice I'm about to have my period I take Ibuprofen and I stay away from caffeine (which will only make you feel worse). I take a hot bath, then I take a nap. By the time I wake up, my pain will be drastically reduced or gone. From that point on, I avoid caffeine and I take ibuprofen every 4 hours. Don't exceed 12 tablets in a day, and take the pills with food or milk (or it could hurt worse)! It may seem like a lot, but it actually helps. :)

on 11/22/2005 I have the worse cramps! I scream, cry, and take Tylenol 3. Nothing makes my cramps go away faster than laughing. Heat a hot water bottle and put it on your lower belly, then put a heat pad under your lower back. This causes heat from both sides, which relaxes the muscles even more. I hope this helps someone.