Hello

[miaokitty.livejournal.com]

This is a fabulous idea, I'm glad I found this community. :)

Anyway, I'm looking for some ideas for my little sister, age 15. She gets terrible cramps during the first few days of her period (she's been sent home from school, etc.) Midol etc seems to work, but I'm worried because she seems to have to take so much of it. She sometimes also takes Dramamine at the same time because she gets nausea. What else could she do? I just don't think all these drugs are good for her, OTC or not. Ideas...?

Thanks. :)

Comments

[pooka.livejournal.com]

Meclizine/Antivert. Over the counter in a relatively low dose, does wonders for nausea (it's an anti-vertigo medication, and for motion sickness, too), without the drugging effects of Dramamine. It's a step to work her down from what she's normally taking.

Talk to your mom about a gyno appointment for your sister. If she's not on birth control, and is a good candidate (I can't, Blood Pressure, yech), it might help most of her symptoms. The poor kid sounds like she has it bad, and that's no way to survive the teen years.

thank you

[miaokitty.livejournal.com]

I will look for the Antivert for her.

Unfortunately my mom's pretty Catholic, so birth control probably isn't an option for my sister. :( But I will relay your suggestions to her anyway. Thanks! :)

Re: thank you

[pooka.livejournal.com]

I know the Catholic dilemma well ... but since it would be for her health and not for actual birth control, you might have a better chance. Or explain that aspect to the doctor and see if the gyno can come up with something that would be a Mom-friendly substitute.

[eimei.livejournal.com]

hi there. I'm new here.

Actually, I have the same problem. For two to three days a month I am completely useless. I was put on OrthoTriCyclen, and it helps a bit, I can actually move during my period now...But basically, I take a lot of Midol and sleep a LOT. That's the only thing that I've found that has worked so far.

[dyfferent.livejournal.com]

Dunno about the cramps (when I wasn't on the pill, I had ridiculous cramps and took 4 advils), but for the nausea, I recommend ginger. You can buy ginger capsules, eat candied ginger root, drink ginger beer/ginger ale. Any of these can knock out queasiness in a big way. I usually take the capsules when I have to travel by plane/boat.

Peppermint tea is said to be good for nausea as well. Blackberry/Raspberry leaf tea is an old remedy for menstrual problems, but I haven't given it a try, so I can't vouch for it.

[miaokitty.livejournal.com]

I'll have to have her try the tea... she's a big tea drinker. :) I have some bad-ass ginger tea from Korea I could give her.

[urania.livejournal.com]

ginger or mint is good for nausea....

otc drugs usu. aren't bad so long as she *doesn't* overtake them (ibuprofen you can take usu. up to 800 mg every 6 hours safely if and *only* if you take them only when you need them and with food--maybe a problem if she's nauseous. otherwise, can give you ulcers--which she doesn't need :) ...the main thing is don't OD and don't take more than you *need*--don't talke less either. pain is not good, really.

so far as prescriptions go: you might check into a smooth-muscle antispasmodic, like bentyl or a non-brand-name equivalent--they're usu. prescribed for intestinal things, but the uterine system is very close and that has worked for me. the only real negative side effect is it can give you dry eyes and the pills, though they are small, are very bitter.