Women on the forum:
Hello! I'm new to the forum and have been browsing for a while. I have noticed people sometimes provide advice for medical situations with no cure and want to give it a shot. I'm 18F and have had practically unbearable period pains since I started my cycle around age thirteen.
Symptoms of these periods include:
- moderate to extreme abdominal pain and cramping
- vomiting multiple times within 30 minutes of starting the cycle
- stomach trouble i.e. constipation, diarrhea, severe food sensitivity
- numbness from the waist down
- muscle spasms and physical shaking from pain
- headaches and/or migraines following vertigo spells
- stiffness and swelling in arms and legs after medication
Symptoms I don't experience:
- irregular or unpredictable period cycles
- heavy or uncontrollable bleeding
- periods that last longer than seven days
- no clotting or random spotting outside of the cycle
For more background info, yes, I have talked to a doctor and seen a gynecologist. Both suggested FIVE different forms of birth control as the only solution, otherwise toughing it out of course. I am unvaxxed (no vax since 1st grade) and don't take any other medication for my cramps besides Midol. In general, I practice healthy habits in my eating and exercise frequently and nothing seems to make my periods any different.
Almost every month is terrible, with the occasional month of peace where my period is "normal" and no extreme symptoms are present. No family history other than my grandma who also had terrible periods, but she passed away and I wasn't able to ask questions.
When I start my cycle, it can be so debilitating to the point of being bedridden all day. I've had to miss work and school for my periods and am desperate for some kind of aid to put a stop to these symptoms before I begin a long-term career. Sometimes during my cycle, I've been known to throw up blood as a result of the vomiting and stomach acid build-up solely because of cramps.
Friends and family are familiar with my issue but no one I know can come up with or recommend any diagnosis or possible solutions. No other medication I've tried besides Midol will subside the cramping, but now the Midol is giving me adverse reactions.
Though this post is aimed at women who menstruate, I ask that anyone with any possible answers, advice, or recommendations comment and leave their two cents. I'd love to read and research anything left below. Thank you for reading!
I have had horrid periods throughout my life. The only thing a doctor would ever do was put me on birth control. I'm pretty sure I have PCOS, fibroids, or endo, but I have never been diagnosed because every gyno insists I try birth control before anything else. And the birth control worked (at least when I was younger, as I got older I had horroble reactions), so they still wouldn't evaluate me further. See if you can get an ultrasound. I've never been able to get one, but I probably should have had one when I was 15.
I read a great tip on Reddit, of all places. Tell your gyno that you're concerned about your fertility, and you're worried these menstrual problems indicate something that will affect your fertility in the future. That should get them to bend over backwards to find out what's wrong. I wish I had thought of that when I was young. Now I'm too old for that to work.
Barring any of that, I second the ibuprofin. I have to take 4 at a time when my cramps are at their worst. But be careful with it.
Hi!
I knew I wasn't alone when my doctor only recommended big pharma and birth control as the only solution to my problems. I've heard so many from school who have had horrible symptoms from strong, hormonal medications such as 'the pill' that give acne, weight gain, and life-altering symptoms. I'm so sorry that you didn't get the care you needed as well.
I considered going back to a GYNO with that in mind to try to sway away from birth control but still get some kind of care or diagnosis. I will see at my next doctor visit if an ultrasound is an option as well.
I'll try with the Ibuprofen over MIDOL next time and hope for the best. A big thanks for your advice!
Yeah, you're definitely not alone...it seems like prescribing birth control is just about all gynos know how to do. Good luck with the advil, just be aware that, like all drugs, it can cause problems if you overdo it (stomach bleeding, ulcers), so only use it when you really need it and try not to take it too regularly when you're not on your period.
One more thing you might want to check out. I don't know if it will help you, but it's worth looking into. There's a book called the "Period Repair Manual" by Lara Briden. I just got a copy so I haven't had a chance to read it, but I've heard good things about it. It's full of natural ways (diet, vitamins, etc) to try to make your periods more manageable. You can get a copy off of ebay for only a few bucks, and it's also available as an ebook.
Hi! The more I do my research, the more I find that fact of GYNOS slapping the band-aid of birth control on the bullet hole sized wounds of period symptoms. It's crazy how long this has gone on for so long and I hope there will be better solutions available for our situations soon. I read something about that book as well and will consider finding a version of it online! I'll for sure be careful with the big pharma drugs too, it can be too easy to overdo.