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[red-inuzuka.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing this is an odd question, but I need some advice, and since my gyno has moved cross country, I'm hoping you guys can either tell me I'm crazy or point me in a direction and I can continue doing research myself. To start off, I had miserable periods from age 14 to 16 with cramps so bad, if I didn't get some sort of pain relievers in me as soon as I woke up, I was guarnteed to be throwing up most of the day. At 16, I finally went on the pill. I'm not sure which one (I could look it up if it's important), tho I do remember that nasty iron-y taste during the last week. Anyways, I stopped when I was about 21, and suffered with bad periods until basically now (I'm 25). I started back up on pills (Yaz) to control the cramps etc, but I really want to try and conceive within the next year or so. My question is, is there something out there (aside from aspirin and other painkillers) that can help me with my cramps but will still allow me to become pregnant? I don't want to "block" the pain and be forced to keep popping aspirin for that week, I just want cramps to not be an option at all or want it much less than it has been in the past. Or is my only option birth control, which means no babies? :/ Thanks for the help~

Comments

[belinconnu.livejournal.com]

I'd say talk to your Dr. I was on something before I started BC that got me down to only throwing up once or twice the first day (instead of 8-9 hours) and I could basically function.... I don't know if that would be better than asprin for you though, and I don't have the records handy to rememer what that was & I don't know if it'd be wise to try to get pregnant on that. Some other things that lessen cramps (I've found at least) are sunlight & exersize, calcium suppliments, and certain teas (I've seen pre-mixed in stores and just made some will willowbark and marshmallowroot) I've *heard* some people grow out of all this (or at least the worst of it).... much luck to you

[red-inuzuka.livejournal.com]

I can't really talk to my doc. She's on the other side of the country now, so while I guess I could call her, I'm not sure how much help she would be. I doubt she has my files anymore, I bet where she used to work still has them. I do need to find another doc, but since I just went recently to her before she left, I don't think I can see another until a full year has passed. I'll have to ask my insurance.

I am taking vitamins now, and definitely will be excerising more, so I'll see if those two will help. Thank you~

[cork118.livejournal.com]

If your cramps are so bad that they literally cause you to throw up, it is highly unlikely that anything you do will make them "not an option." You're always going to have them. It sucks.

I second sunlight and exercise. I was in a similar situation as you (cramps so bad I was vomiting, but hated to pop pills) before I went on birth control. Even though it feels like your body will hate you forever if you even so much as think about leaving your bed, exercise is soooo good for you when you have cramps. Not necessarily really strenuous stuff (and sit-ups are obviously a bad idea), but stretching and upper body workouts really help me.

If you're a fan of heat like I am *snuggles heating pad*, get the Thermacare patches that you can stick on your belly and back. They stay warm for hours and you can wear them under your clothes.

Drinks lots and lots of water, that always helped me.

One of my favorite things to do when I'm on my period is to run a really hot shower and then lay down in the tub under the spray. The hot water hitting your belly feels freaking amazing. It's a massage and a heating pad all in one. :)

[red-inuzuka.livejournal.com]

Well, it used to be BAD when I was a teen, and it has gotten better. I don't throw up as much, it used to be EVERY month, now it's like every now and then. The cramps are still as crappy though and still can give me the nauseous feeling, making work soooo hard to do and making me want/forced to pop pills a lot. My poor stomach lining must not like that, and I've already been warned not to take aspirin too much, it can give me nosebleeds, esp in winter.

I've tried excerise before, it helps a lot when I'm actually moving, but when I stop, I seem back to square one (and sometimes worse). I am starting a new excerise routine to get myself in better shape, so maybe excerise overall and not nesscairy just during that week will help.

I've always wondered about those Thermacare patches. They look like they'd be helpful. Do you wear them out in public? Are they that comfortable and unnoticable to others?

Oh my yes, about the shower. My mom used to think I was crazy, I'd sit down in the shower with the plug on, taking a bath and a shower at the same time. I can't really do that here tho, I just have a stand up shower, so no room to really lay down comfortably. I'll try next time I'm in there and not in pain, maybe since it will force me into a loose fetal position it might help. That position does sometimes when I lay like that in bed. Thank you for the suggestions~

[majortom-thecat.livejournal.com]

Experimenting with dietary changes might help a little. When I was in high school a teacher told me to eat bananas. I believed, and they became my miracle cure. I don't know whether that was the placebo effect or there's really something to bananas, but I eat them all the time now. Some people benefit from cutting out things like dairy, coffee, refined sugar, refined flour, highly processed foods... Helpful foods are whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. And lots of water. And long walks before your period starts.

[red-inuzuka.livejournal.com]

How many bananas do you eat a day, just one or more? Do you remember if your teacher said it was the potassium or something else in the food?

I don't drink much milk (intolerant), but I loooove cheese. And coffee. I'll try to see if I can cut down on them. I am hoping to change my diet to something better and not so college-y, so I'll make sure to include more of the whole grains/fruits/vegetables. Thank you for your help~