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[pansy-flower.livejournal.com]

((I hope none of you mind that I'm using an old RPG journal, I have some friends on my f-list who would probably take one look at this community and never, ever let me forget it.))

Hi. So I'm a new member and was wondering if any one had any tips (other than midol) to lessen cramps. My periods usually last between eight days and two weeks and the whole time my cramps are so bad I can't keep food down.
So, for me a period is like having the flu with extra body fluids.

I've heard a lot of things about masturbation relieving cramps but I can't seem to figure it out, does anyone have tips on masturbating during menstruation without getting my hands icky?

Comments

[belinconnu.livejournal.com]

seriously take calcium suppliments beginning about a week before and up to every hour or so (that's what my mom told me to do- so many pills freaks me out so I only do 2 or three times a day) and extra vitamin d suppliments (I just got a woman's multi that I take regularly so I stopped with this one) Light excersize and stretching the week before. I'm also a big fan of my icepack and icyhot (they make unscented varieties too)

[pansy-flower.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'd never heard the calcium/vitamin d thing before (my mom is a prude, we don't talk about these things.)

See, with me when I put cold on it everything tenses up and just hurts more...

[belinconnu.livejournal.com]

your welcome- normally my mom's a prude about such things as well, but I used to throw up constantly the first day or so and ended up making friend with EMS personel twice because of how often I was throwing up/the scary colors before I went on Birth control. There's also a pressure point behind your ankle (just below the knobby bone and a little back) thats supposed to be good for cramping. Then there's three on your hands for nausia/headaches- the squishy part right above where the thumb connects to the hand, the center of the palm, and in the center of the palm part of where the palm meets the wrist. 10 seconds of pressure then release for at least 10 secs is the general rule I think. I never seem to remember pressure points when I'm in actual pain tho.... also when you can't keep a lot down I remember sucking on a spoonfull of frozen cranberry juice concentrate to attempt to keep electrolytes up. much luck!

[pansy-flower.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was really, really helpful!

[garillama.livejournal.com]

Try hot packs (since you say you don't like applying cold). Also, try to take any pain meds before the cramps start. So, if you're expecting your period to start that day, take midol in the morning. As for masturbation, if you can do it standing up, try in the shower. Or masturbate in the morning before you shower so that as soon as you're done you can go in and wash up. Or masturbate while you have a tampon in (if you use tampons or a cup).


Also, I feel like I'm giving unsolicited advice, so I hope you don't take it that way, but have you considered going to a OB/GYN or other doctor? If your periods are as debilitating as it sounds, something could be seriously wrong :( And even if there's nothing wrong, a doctor might be able to put you on hormonal birth control (if that's something you would want) to help regulate your periods.

Good luck, and keep us posted <3

[pansy-flower.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm still new enough at the whole bleeding out of my genitalia thing (I'm only 15 and this is my 13th month) that I don't have any notion of when it will start.

Thanks, I had never really thought of using a tampon before, and I've never tried standing up, I'll try that too.

Yeah, it runs in the family, my sister has the same problems I do but I have this thing about taking medicines... I guess I have this idea that anything that I don't know exactly what it is is out to get me. (Stupid, I know.)

Thank you for your help! <3

[garillama.livejournal.com]

Ah, yeah, if you're 15, your cycle is still sorting itself out. It still wouldn't be a bad idea to go to the doctor (I really think that all girls should go as soon as they start menstruating, just so the doctors can answer questions for them and so it's not such a shameful thing, but meh...), but birth control can be a pain in the neck if it messes your cycle/moods up even more. And being wary of the pill-pushing type of doctors isn't a bad thing at all :) It's always a good idea to at the very least run an google search of any drug before you take it.

Good luck, and I hope your body figures itself out soon :)

[winifred.livejournal.com]

I second the application of heat. While analgesics (aspirin, Advil, Tylenol) work great, when I'm worried that pills will mask something else I've always gone back to the heat. A hot water bottle, a heating pad, or a ThermaCare patch you can wear out and about will do the trick. This is coming from someone who is old hat at menstruating: 25 years!

Your period is going to change over time, so don't get too used to the idea of it being painful (or heavy) forever. You'll be okay for a while and then things will change, so I also second establishing a relationship with an OB/GYN so you'll always have a reliable resource for questions.

[birthingway.livejournal.com]

Hello vibrator!

[cork118.livejournal.com]

And the point of this comment was....?

[dakotakym.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where you're located, but this massage has fixed my menses-related cramping, low back pain, and headaches entirely->

www.arvigomassage.com

There is a listing of trained practitioners on the site.

[cork118.livejournal.com]

I used to have the same icky bad cramps that seem to be plaguing you. Couldn't go to school, threw up a few times, such a heavy flow that I had to take iron supplements... yeah, good times. I also had the same aversion to taking medicine that you do, so I rarely took aspirin or ibuprofen to help deal with it (not like it helped much, anyway...)

But after spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas bedridden and away from my family because of my freaking period, I broke down and convinced my mom to set me up with a gyno appointment. I got the exam and a prescription for oral BC and I've been pretty great ever since.

My advice is just to try and not let the medication-taboo get to you. I rationalize my BC like this: I might be taking medicine daily, but it also forces me to consider my reproductive health at least once a day, which is pretty important. It also helps remind me to do my monthly self-breast exam, which is also another good thing. It helped discourage me from smoking because I so do not need blood clots.

But anyway. My favorite thing to do when I have cramps is to turn on the shower really hot and lay down in the tub, letting the water beat on my stomach and thighs. It's a bit like a message. (And if you want to give masturbation a go, it's a great relaxer and always stimulates me a bit. :D )