Harsh

[Aerows]

...Mestrual period. Where do you go to ask about this? I figured it would be okay if I asked it here, because I am having one, and it's hardly a Lounge or GD topic.

[Aerows]

1. I have cramps

a bad headache and feel generally like I want to bitch at everyone around me, so I'm keeping to myself. This isn't a joke, I'm serious. I haven't had one this bad for years. I'm off today, thankfully, since it is Labor day and I am trying to take it easy, but I can't decide if I'm pissed that no one is around, or if I should be glad.

I guess I took my complaints here. I just needed to express it.

[libodem]

7. Maybe a heating pad

You have my every sympathy. I had a hysterectomy at 35. Having 'labor' day cramps was part of the reason! I only quit my hormone therapy a couple of years ago and sweated out the change. I do not miss my menstrual cycle. Thank Goddess Almighty...FREE AT LAST!!!!

Eat chocolate.

[seabeyond]

8. Eat chocolate.......... bah hahahah. WINNER. nt

[libodem]

9. True, huh

Nice to see you back. I think chocolate actually has magnesium in it which may act as a muscle relaxer. A reason for our craving.

[seabeyond]

10. i was thinking about this. and i think you are right. and....

thank you

[Aerows]

12. Maybe take an additional multivitamin?

I shudder to do so, though, because of nausea and the only thing I am remotely interested in is tea or soup.

[seabeyond]

17. you end up just peeing out what you do not need. research that.

the first helping of multi is probably mostly being peed out. i believe. i use to do all that and then read some stuff on it. i eat healthy and make sure i get most of the stuff i need thru food.

[Aerows]

23. I'd probably just be better off eating vegetables

or eating soup, which eating right now is not exactly appealing, though the Excedrin is helping. My headache has diminished, and so have my cramps. I still feel crabby, though.

[Aerows]

11. I don't like chocolate

I swear I'm not a complete monk, but I don't like caffeine, soft drinks, and artificial flavors.

[seabeyond]

2. i would suggest 3 advil.

takes 45 minuted to kick in. that is hospital strength and the same as the prescription a doctor will give for harsh. i generally need it only once at the beginning. lasts about 8 hours. but... sometimes i would take two more 8-10 hours later.

[Aerows]

3. Thank you

I don't mean to moan and groan, but this is the worst one I've had in ages. I'm only 40, but I feel like I'm 17 with this one.

Maybe I need more vitamins. That's probably why it is so bad. I quit coffee three years ago, but I don't know what I've done in my diet to make it so hellatious.

Do you think Excedrin will work? That's all I have, and I'm going nowhere.

[seabeyond]

6. this is what i read

Pain Reliever: Ibuprofen
Over-the-counter brands: Motrin, Advil
Ibuprofen is chemically similar to regular aspirin and functions in an analogous way, minimizing the production of prostaglandins, though it accomplishes this with slightly different chemical reactions. So how is ibuprofen different from aspirin? In lower doses, ibuprofen seems to irritate the esophagus and stomach lining less than its close cousins, aspirin and naproxen. If you have ulcers or acid reflux disease, ibuprofen may be the best product for pain clearly resulting from inflammation (arthritis, sprains, sunburns, etc.).

i guess excedrin is an asprin and advil an ibuprofen. seems like the difference is gentler on stomach.

i though advil was for muscle and that was why....

[Aerows]

13. Advil is an anti-inflammatory

Aspirin is a direct dilator of blood vessels, which is why it is good for heart patients. I'm not sure which would help, but I popped the Excedrin I had, and I'm hoping for the best. Blood vessel dilators include caffeine, nicotine and adrenaline.

[Squinch]

14. It might not be anything in your diet.

As your hormone levels change, especially after 40, it can completely change how your body behaves.

I am thinking, as I come down the other side of the mountain, that it's nature's way to make you not be sorry to see your period go away forever. I was a little sad as the process began, but now as I near the end of menopause (I assume) I am happy it's ending.

[Aerows]

15. I won't be sorry to see it go

I think it might be dietary, but seeing it go? Right now, I'd rather it be banished to the deepest part of hell with the headache I still have.

[Squinch]

16. Do you eat a lot of carbs?

[Aerows]

19. No, I don't

I do eat a lot of vegetables and meat. I quit caffeine 3 years ago. My BMI, if it gives you a point of reference is about 22 ... maybe closer to 21.

[Squinch]

21. I ask because cutting them out helped me. But you've already done it. Feel better.

[Aerows]

22. Thank you :)

It helps to know people care. I've been kind of touchy the last few days.

[Reformed Bully]

4. Ginger Tea

2 Midol and a 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger in a cup of hot water works best.

[Aerows]

5. I hadn't heard of Ginger working before

I think I have some. I'll try it. Does it work if you use it with chamomile tea, too?

I checked it out, and you are correct, so thank you for this advice.

http://tipnut.com/cramp-remedies/

[Reformed Bully]

56. Mid-wife advice

My maternal & paternal great grandmothers were "mid-wives" so the ginger for cramps remedy has been handed down. It dialates the blood vessels and allows smoother passage, especially if there is any clotting. The Midol is great for the other symptoms.

[Squinch]

18. Welcome!

[Aerows]

20. And thank you

and Welcome to DU!

[seabeyond]

24. yes welcome...

and i find your name fascinating and curious. behavior is a favorite of mine, so really interested in reasoning for name. if you want to share.

[Reformed Bully]

57. My name

I was raised an only sister sandwiched between two brothers so early on, as a method of survival, I learned to use bullying tactics to get my way. After perfecting these strategies, I took them with me though life, always looking for the weaknesses and strengths in others and moving to use them to my advantage. One day I decided to look for the "good" in everyone, especially myself. Therefore I am "reformed".

[seabeyond]

58. i luv it.

thank you so much for explaining that to me.

i especially luv it because, i am very good at manipulating people to do what i want done. early on, i came to the decision that i would not use that in order to get my way. so not bullying, but the same thing

thank you.

[pansypoo53219]

25. i used to take low dose aspirin for 3-4 day before. now, i must have aged past cramps.

[ismnotwasm]

26. Drink fluids, exercise if you can

Short walks, whatever. Take whatever mild analgesic is available, be creative; draw or paint or draw faces on water balloons and toss 'em (fun)--whatever--and reserve your right to feel emotion around the pain--like rage.

I never had problems-- even menopause is easy so far--but I've worked with mostly women for a long long time

Alternate; crawl into bed with a cuppa and a good book or movie or music and reduce other stimulation. Focus on yourself, it's ok to do that, no shame.

If the cramps remain harsh see your health care provider (if you have insurance, if not find a sliding scale clinic that has women's well checks---but DO go)

Increasing exercise when you're not cramping, sleeping a proper amount that works for you, taking in sufficient fluids. (avoid surgery juices and pops--just as a part of general good health)

Keep a diary, note when they start, how long they last. Be aware if anything affects them. ( not while your having them--then most likely what your aware of is pain) I know some woo stuff as well, but I'm not woo.

[Aerows]

27. A walk sounds like the best plan

I'm feeling better, and my headache has passed. A run always clears my head but I think a walk is the best I can do right now, because I still have cramps.

[seabeyond]

28. i was waiting for you.... i knew you would have the answer.

good read. and share the woo whenever. even though none of us are woo. lol

[ismnotwasm]

52. Some of my 'woo'

Comes from a book called "menstrual magic" (BTW, spellcheck wants to spell "men's trail" if you start out wrong--lol)

Includes; having a menstrual alter with red cloth and flowers as a meditation place, bleeding into the ground as an offering, stomping on the ground to relieve cramps; a surmise that the word 'dragon' once meant a group of menstruating women, and a bunch of other woo stuff

[seabeyond]

53. lmao from spell check thru the rest of your post. thanks. nt

[ZombieHorde]

29. When my wife has bad cramps I give her

a heating pad, some chocolate, full control of the TV, and then I ask if she wants any pain pills. She usually refuses the pills.

[Aerows]

30. I don't eat chocolate, don't watch TV

and don't take pain pills. I'm pretty much impossible LOL.

I did go out and water the grass and the garden for a while, though. That's about my speed right now.

[ZombieHorde]

31. Have you tried going to the mall and slapping people?

That might help.

[Aerows]

33. I watered the grass and thought about slapping people

Does that count?

[ZombieHorde]

39. Yes, I think so. nt

[Aerows]

41. I do feel better

So it probably worked, and the grass looks perkier.

[ZombieHorde]

43. Double win!

You rock!

[Aerows]

45. I smacked the hell

out of the people that annoyed me, in my imagination. The grass is very green, and I feel less vengeful.

[ZombieHorde]

46. Seems like you have mastered at least some aspects of life!

Hehe!

[Aerows]

47. That's a relief. I've mastered

being pissed off. *sigh*.

I'd prefer something along the lines of being kind, or not wanting to slap people. I've mastered being pissed off and managing to water the grass without smacking irritating people across the face. Hurray for me.

[seabeyond]

48. lol lol. you are SUCH a problem solver. nt

[Aerows]

50. LOL I love ZH

As usual, ZH steps up to the plate.

[seabeyond]

51. yup. a world without zombies what would we do. nt

[BainsBane]

34. a warm bath helps temporarily

while you're in the bath anyway.

[Aerows]

37. I could do that

and think about slapping people, too.

[BainsBane]

40. That won't actually help the cramps

That a lesson from the Dude.

[BainsBane]

32. Are you getting close to menopause?

They get bad when you're perimenopausal. The food gates open. I've decided mine is just never going to stop.

[Aerows]

35. I'm 40.

I think it's because I changed some things in my diet and my medication that caused me to have a hormonally fierce reaction.

[BainsBane]

36. Your hormones do start to change in your 40s

Diet and medication certainly can throw you off.

[Aerows]

38. Genetics in my family tend toward the LONG ass haul

my mother didn't go through menopause until she was 55, and my cousin had a baby at 47. On both sides of the family, everyone lives far into their nineties. If this is the start of menopause, I'm screwed.

[BainsBane]

42. in my experience, permenopause is interminable

The worst for me has been migraines.

[Aerows]

44. I got severe migraines

from caffeine addiction (Unsweetened Iced tea has been my addiction since pretty much birth) when I couldn't get unsweetened tea at certain places. I started drinking black coffee, didn't like it as much as iced tea and switched back. I wanted to get off of caffeine, quit coffee and switched to decaf black iced tea. Now I am a certified unsweetened decaffeinated iced tea addict. I make two quarts of it every day, and that is what I drink when it isn't water, 1% milk or low sodium V8 juice.

I rarely get headaches now, which is why I was so pissed off that I got one earlier due to this hormonal mess I am right now. I'm just spewing my habits and being open and telling everyone I'm about to cry which isn't like me at all.

It's very screwed up.

[Aerows]

49. Thanks everyone

I'm just being pissy now. You all have been extremely understanding and helpful. I deeply appreciate it. ALL of you have been awesome. I won't forget it. Thanks, friends

[lumpy]

54. Mestrual periods come and go.

[bravenak]

55. Shiatsu massage pillow with infra red heat.$20 at Walgreens.

And some midol.