PMS RELIEF

[JazzysMom]

I need help from U ladies.....my PMS has gotten really out of control the last few months with this ome being the worst yet. I never had any real problems until the last few months. Now in addition to the famous witchiness, moodiness, emotional basket case: I also feel like I am going to explode from my rib cage down. I have tried motrin & midol, but nothing has really helped. Any other suggestions!

 

[Faust]

Not to derail this threads purpose, but this is exactly why men fear a woman president <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">


PMS + BIG RED LAUNCH BUTTON = Not good <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JazzysMom]

So does that mean Bush has pre PMS? I believe men have their own hormonal challenges every month or so! Either way they still have it easy.......dont push my buttons, SeanDavis! Get it...dont push my buttons!

 

[Faust]

Men drink beer, get angry, and violent. Women get emotional for no reason and VERY witchy. I can deal with angry, drunk, and violent. I still till this day (after countless girlfriends) dont understand the bursting out into crying fits for no reason with no logical purpose, and when I ask "Why are you crying?", I get "I DON'T KNOW!!!!" WWWAAAAHH. Freaks me out. When Aunt Flo visits my lady, or any of the ladies in my family, I just go hide back in the computer room for a few days. That way they can be one large biomass of estrogen and leave me alone.


Anyways, try eating massive amounts of chocolate/comfort food, drink a ton of wine, watch some sappy romantic comedy, and go shopping...I tend to notice (for the brief periods I leave my room) that's what all the females in my family do when Aunt Flo is in town, and it makes them happy.

/shrug



I did read something interesting about menstrual cycles a long time ago though. Scientists haven't fully been able to come up with all the logical reasons why women overall always outlive men. They figured out that a menstruation cycle helps purge the body of excess iron, and that somehow leads to longevity. Men don't naturally have this going on (unless they play hockey), so that makes them feel it increases a womans lifespan. I personally think men die first volluntarily, just so they don't have to be dragged to any more chick flicks at the movies.

 

[JazzysMom]

Well SeanDavis thanks for the advice when Auntie FLo is in town, but I am not big on chocolate, shouldnt drink (epilepsy in addition to my CF), I HATE shopping; BUT I could go for a movie.....the pain, the pain! OH maybe I should send my hubby to you until Aunt Flo leaves. This is one relative visit he will see glad to end!

 

[Diana]

Sorry I don't have any answers for you but the topic reminded me of a t-shirt I saw once which had written upon it;

"PMS - Allows women once a month to act the way men do EVERY day"

Always makes me laugh.

 

[kybert]

my answer to pms was to stop my periods... period!

 

[anonymous]

OHH I hate Aunt Flow. She's a biyotch.

I have found for me the only pain reliever that works is Aleve.
I had the worst cramps until I started taking Birth Control - worst as in vomiting, can't eat, can't get out of bed let alone stand up straight or walk, miss days of school and/or work cramps.
I vividly remember being strapped to a coach one weekend trying every pain reliever in the cabinet. I tried Tylenol XS, Midol, Pamprin, Advil, liquid pain relievers and ibuprofin and bayer. I finally settled on Aleve and it is amazing.
Before I started taking B.C. for the cramps I would mark the calender with my start day and start taking Aleve a few days before hand. It pretty much stopped the cramping in most cases. I normally had a days worth but nothing to horribly bad.
I usually take the recommended daily max on my first dose - I believe it is 3. Then I am good for the whole day - it takes that for me to get relief, but obviously do what is best for you if you try them.
I also found if you can bear to do them - crunches or sit up would alleviate some pain. Though the muscles are working it warms them up and helps relieve some pain.

I hope the situation gets better and your monthly friend takes a hike soon.

Lindsey
23 w/CF and CFRD

 

[anonymous]

my daughter uses advil, a low dose prescription diuretic and vigorous exercise.

 

[Diana]

Melissa is the issue pain or excess bleeding? Either way if it has become progressively worse over the past few months it could indicate an actual problem possibly to do with the ovaries. I would suggest a visit to the doctors for a check up and hopefully they will do an ultrasound to check your ovaries and make sure all is well.

I dont think I can help with suggesting a specific medication because we have different meds in Australia but I usually take Nurofen Plus. It is an anti-inflammatory and the "Plus" stands for codeine. If I don't take it then I am crippled over wanting to vomit, if I do take it then it doesn't even feel like I have my period.....maybe try something that is similar to this.

Hope all goes well.

 

[anonymous]

Hi Melissa

I agree with Diane about seeing your doctor. If the pain has only really been an issue for the last month or two it indicates that something has changed, maybe hormonal, possibly a cyst on an ovary - very common and often go away on their own, but i'd get it checked if i were you. Ditto with the multi-purposed painkillers that have both an anti-inflammatory and an algesic for the pain, preferrably codeine or something of similar strength. Being from the southern hemisphere myself i dont know any actual brand names over there either sorry. On the odd occasion i get really bad cramps i find heating up a hot water bottle and resting on my lower tummy really helps, as does a hot bath or spa. I also sometimes have my partner give me a 'man rub' as we've labelled it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0"> which is basically just a quite firm and slow rubbing back and forth across my lower tummy, it really seems to help.

Kat

 

[anonymous]

Ask your doctor about taking magnesium and calicum daily. Maybe increase the magnesium on the days you have cramping. A good daily exercise program will lessen your crampy and bloody days. Accupucture can help. There are points on the feet as in reflexology that can take away horrible cramps. Right around your inside of your ankle. Look up on a reflexology chart areas of ovaries etc.... and just press firmly.

I use to get horrible cramps and then I figured it was the drugs that I was taking. Everyday set an intention and tell yourself that next month your periods will have no cramps. Rub hands together and gently move them over the painful spot without touching your abdomen. You might feel a sensation of uneasiness but keep the flow going in a counter clockwise direction and this might help. Doing this daily you will see the difference in sensation. Having someone else do this to you will be easier. When you are actually having cramps you will feel the sensation feel more intense through your hands.

This is all from healing touch.

There are herbal remedies if you are not a transplant patient. I would consult a specialist like in accupuncture. I would definitely see one person weekly and you will see a big difference. Your spleen could be congested. This is common

 

[anonymous]

My PMS is like yours too Melissa. HORRIBLE. I am the biggest crab, all the emotions, backache, cramps, and a light period everytime (you think it would be like a gallon considering how I feel.) What works best for me is advil (or anything else to take the edge off), then a heating pad or hot water bottle, and drinking warm liquids (tea especially) helps me from the inside out. I take it easy for a couple of days and a lot of complaining seems to help me!
I asked my CF docs about going on the birth control pill that only causes 4 periods a year instead of 12. I thought that would be great! Well they shot that down in a heartbeat, said b/c osteoperosis (spelling) runs in CF & my family that I shouldn't do that. I'm still considering it though since every period I go psycho, about die of pain and ask for a divorce. Not pleasant!!!!
Good luck to you!!!
~KELLI

ps. And can you even believe that people suggest having sex while on your period to ease the pain. HELLO??? I swear a man came up with THAT suggestion.

 

[anonymous]

Hey Melissa,

I was going to suggest the calcium too. Taking a couple capsules when the cramps start usually helps me. Don't ask me to explain it, it's like an old wives remedy.

Go to your gyn! Feel better.
Christian

 

[melleemac]

You know what the PMS stands for ............PUTTING UP WITH MENS SH**, lol, couldnt resist
Mel

 

[anonymous]

What do you mean Kybert? Have you had a hysterectomy or something? Sorry if too personal, just wondering how easy it is to stop periods..period

TJ

 

[JazzysMom]

Thanks for the input......I finally started to bleed & that seemed to have eased the discomfort. I have the same discomfort every other month so its related to an ovary I am assuming. This time I couldnt get comfortable. Poor huby tried everything. Things are better now.....I am also not as crabby. Now just to catch up on sleep since I havent done well with that the last few nights due to the discomfort!

 

[anonymous]

Speaking of Seasonale (birth control pill that you take in 3 month cycles so you only have one period every 3 months), has anyone tried this???? Does it work??? (I mean work for PMS, moodiness, etc.)
Thanks!!

 

[miesl]

I'm not a CFer - but... I'm on Seasonale and it's absolutely wonderful. I don't know if it has made my cramps (and other crappy period related issues) less when I have them... but having them 4 times a year instead of 13 is a wonderful thing. (Since we all know I'm not using BC to prevent pregnancy - CF has taken care of that for us... stupid CBAVD).

However - Seasonale doesn't work well for everyone. I have been on three kinds of BC. Ortho-tri-cyclen lo - which is triphasic (the three pill colors in the active pills mark off when the pills change in hormone levels). It didn't really help with the cramping at all (if anything, it seemed worse since it shortened my cycle some). Going back to back on packs (skipping the inactive pills and going right into the next pack) didn't work too great (I started cramping during the last week - eek!, but never bled through). I switched to Trivora, which is a higher dose tri-phasic. I could back to back three packs, ending up with 5 cycles per year. Apparently I'm a bit odd - because most people can't pack-to-pack on triphasic pills. After Seasonale became available, I switched to it. It's a high dose monophasic pill. I had no trouble with break through bleeding - which is a common complaint with users.

I would say if you have had trouble going pack to pack with birth control pills before (and not a low dose pill like OTC lo) - Seasonale might not work very well for you. Otherwise - it's a wonderful, wonderful thing.

 

[anonymous]

Hydration & exercise are very powerful when it comes to menstruation - don't underestimate these. Also, a B vitamin complex can work wonders for a woman's mood - at any time of the month! Make sure it is a complex of B vitamins & not just one of the B vitamins. Also, I highly recommend acupuncture. It will get your qi (chi) flowing.

~ Julia, 37, CF