pain relief

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

What's best to take to relieve cramps?
I've heard different stories as what's best to take. I usually take an Aleve in the morning if i'm going to be at work or school all day and that seems to do the job. But I take it before I get the cramps(as a slight precaution, so the cramps don't have a chance to sneak up on me because they like to do that), so maybe i just get lucky that day and don't get cramps. Otherwise I usually take IBprofein and that does the job.
But recently a friend told me that her doctor told her that it doesn't get rid of cramps. Although i disagree because it works for me. But I have a friend that only take IBProfein because its the only thing that works for her because she's been taking other things like Tylenol for so long that her body doesn't react to it anymore. Well really anything that I have ever taken has done the job to get get of the cramps.

I've never felt the need to take Midol or Pamprin because other pain relievers do the job. Plus when i'm hurting and don't have anything with me its easier to ask people for tylenol or IBProfein because then they don't know if I have a headache or cramps(i'm kinda shy about that kind of stuff).

Comments

[darkenedminds.livejournal.com]

Ibuprofen is an analgesic - a pain releiver, just like aspirin is an analgesic and tylenol/acetaminophen is an analgesic. Your friend's doctor is full of it(i'm prescribed 800 mg ibuprofens for my cramps - and have been by several doctors!) Granted, they all work in different ways and have different properties, but an analgesic is an analgesic.

Midol and Pamprin contain (off the top of my head), an analgesic (i think acetaminophen), caffeine (enhances the effect of the analgesic and gives you a perk), and a mild diuretic, which helps with bloating. Sometimes I skip my prescription ibuprofens and take a Midol or Pamprin just for its diuretic effects, like when I bloat really badly (some periods i do, some not at all. its weird).

In short? Whatever works for you. Some people don't react as well to tylenol, like your friend. Some people don't react as well to aspirin, or ibuprofen. All three can upset your stomach - I avoid aspirin because it gives me heartburn.

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

thanks

[emilime.livejournal.com]

Just be careful with Ibuprfen. My friend developed an allergy to it. So you may want to alternate it with tylenol or something else every. My friend was told by her doctor that he had just taken ibuprofen so many times she developed an allergy to it. Now she can't take it anymore or she breaks out in hives.

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

i really don't take it all that often. mostly for just during that time of the month and even then I switch between that and Aleve.

[quiltingdragon.livejournal.com]

I bought a box of midol that's wrapped... I separate one little set of pills and keep it in my purse... My brother, who's 20, got tired of all the girls crabbing at him when he didn't have ibprofen or tylenol... I wondered where my midol went... when they asked him this month, he said, "I have both - and I also have midol and chocolate." He is now the most popular guy at the junior college.

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

your brother is a very smart guy!

[thatgirluhate.livejournal.com]

I take a daily calcium supplement a week to ten days before my periods due, and during my period as well.

For cramp relief I take a homeopathic remedy that has worked wonders for me, Circumfuga (Black Cohosh) http://www.1-800homeopathy.com/topics/people.html?productid=CMCF&topic=people&sub=female

Those Therma Care Heat Wraps (both for the lower back, and the ones for the lower stomach) have helped as well.

Drinking plenty of water, eating healthy (easier said than done) and mild exercise have all been said to help ease cramps.

Hope you find this helpful!

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

that is helpful. I did check out the website and its interesting. I'll have to look into a little more. I have heard that the therma wraps are really good.
I have been trying to drink more water than what I usually do. The eating healthy is easier said then done... I can eat somewhat healthy the rest of the month, but that week before my period is hard to do. I'm lucky if the only unhealthy thing I eat is a small bag of M&Ms...
and i'm taking an aerobic dance exercise class twice a week, plus I'm constantly walking around campus.

[thatgirluhate.livejournal.com]

If it weren't for those darn cravings! Glad to help.

[hexeengel.livejournal.com]

I drink Yogi Tea's Women's Moon Cycle blend, and for me, it's practically instant relief (and I have strong painful cramps my first couple bleeding days, in my lower back as well as my pelvis in the front).

[maidenmorticia.livejournal.com]

I would just like to point out (because a lot of people don't know about it) that moon cycle tea (http://www.yogitea.com/Organic-Tea/Tea.asp?Tea_ID=WT02) contains red raspberry leaf in it which if you read the comments in this post (http://community.livejournal.com/menstrualhut/1237742.html) is not supposed to be taken by women with fibroids, endo, or gynaecologic cancers. I don't know the contraindications for the other ingredients unfortunately. As with regular mainstream pain meds, you really should consult a naturopathic doctor before taking naturopathic teas, supplements and medicines because not all natural things are good for you.

xo M.

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

I wish I was a tea drinker, but i generally have trouble finding teas that taste decent. I did go to the site and request free samples, but not of the moon tea because the other tea samples mother to be and nursing mom would go to waste.

[maidenmorticia.livejournal.com]

I'm with the "whatever works for you" school of thought, but fwiw, I take anaprox, which is prescription. I take it because that's what everyone was taking when I was 14 and so that's what I'm still taking. You should consult your doctor if whatever you're taking is not working for you.

[redheadedrebel.livejournal.com]

thanks.
I really don't think my cramps are that extreme to get a perscription because over the counter stuff works just fine.

[sarar.livejournal.com]

raspberry leaf tea works better for me than any meds I've ever tried. It doesn't taste fabulous (and I'm not really a tea person) but I don't care. It works almost instantly for me. I've recomended it to friends and it's worked well for them too. It's fabulous stuff. It seems that if you drink it frequently throughout the month, you don't have to worry about having cramps when you do get your period, and if you do they are much more mild. When I remember, I start drinking it the week before my period, but I have a friend who drinks it all the time to insure little to no crampage for her.