Cramps

[maggiemac.livejournal.com]

I have never had cramps with my menstrual cycle, but I just started Nuvaring and I have been pretty much doubled over in pain. I think my ovaries are mad at me!

What methods do you use to alleviate the pain of cramps?

Comments

[gunshotbeauty.livejournal.com]

i swear by my wheat heat bags for any pain especially period pain. there are also gel pads available but i love the wheat ones.

[emmeangel.livejournal.com]

I have corn-filled things that you heat in the microwave, and I get the thermacare heat pads as well. They work wonders!

[jennifer19.livejournal.com]

heat and painkillers are the only things I could use when I got cramps. :-( Good luck!

[uozlulu.livejournal.com]

A little TMI, but if I can take the time, I sit on the toilet with a gameboy or a good book and let whatever happens happen, and after about a few bowl movements and 1 - 3 hours, I feel much better with my cramps. Another thing that works is curling up in bed and trying to sleep. Also some ibuprofin helps a little when I don't have the luxury of stopping the world for a couple of hours.

WARNING: TMI AHEAD

[brigittefires.livejournal.com]

Nothing I've ever used has alleviated the pain of cramps, except medicated unconsciousness. Heat makes me nauseated but is worth a shot sometimes, cold packs make them worse, all the tea in the world doesn't help me, pretty much the only thing to do for me is to curl up with a blanket, a teddy bear, and a good movie that I've seen a dozen times and zone out/sleep if I can. Staying hydrated helps a little though.

If I'm forced to be functional in public, such as for work where I'm moving and on my feet, I'll drink some coffee (decaf for me but it's better for the caffeine if you can). Yeah it makes me have to pee and I'm already doing that enough, but it does help a little, even if only because it makes me emotionally feel better as a comfort food thing. I know even the little caffeine in the coffee acts as a vasodilator and diuretic so that helps everything get moving a little smoother.

I do find that when the cramps get unbearably awful, sitting on the toilet and "pushing" helps (not like trying to have a bowel movement, tho that helps too, but doing deep muscle tensing and relaxation to try to move the fluid out, really similar to the pushing that one does in labor), but that's also because it helps pass some of my awful blood clots.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Hopefully some of the things I've tried will work for you better than they did me.

[mysterybabalon.livejournal.com]

If I were using something internally that caused me pain, I'd discontinue using it.

[intracellular.livejournal.com]

I agree with this. Have you considered trying an alternative to the NuvaRing, maggiemac?

To answer your question, hot-water-bottles and having naps helped me a little - but I realise that's not convienient when one has school or work. Because nothing was totally effective in getting rid of them, I've recently had to go on mefenamic acid (a prescription painkiller, also known as Ponstan/Ponstel).

[maggiemac.livejournal.com]

I am fully convinced that the problem is not the nuvaring itself, but the fact that I am on birth control for the first time. hormones are throwing me off, I guess. If it becomes a seriously problem (I literally just started it two days ago) then I will talk to my doctor. Thank you so much for your concern and you help!

Copy/pasting from other reply.

[maggiemac.livejournal.com]

I am fully convinced that the problem is not the nuvaring itself, but the fact that I am on birth control for the first time. hormones are throwing me off, I guess. If it becomes a seriously problem (I literally just started it two days ago) then I will talk to my doctor. Thank you so much for your concern and you help!

Re: Copy/pasting from other reply.

[mysterybabalon.livejournal.com]

Might I suggest looking into the fertility awareness method of birth control? It's completely hormone free, but it's not for everyone. You have to be committed to checking you temp and cervical fluid everyday. I've been using it for a year now with great success.

If you're interested there's an LJ community for support and questions fam

[sabishii-kirito.livejournal.com]

That and my moodiness were why I quit Nuvaring.

But for cramps, I usually take Midol and do a few yoga poses that are supposed to help. If I can't do yoga, I take the pills and get a peppermint hot cocoa or peppermint tea from Starbucks on campus. The smell keeps me from feeling nauseous, if you're wondering why there's so much peppermint, aside from the fact that it helps with nausea and stomach (not necessarily uteran) pains.

[the-red-vixen-2.livejournal.com]

I find that if you breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth - like what you would do on a contration, since the pain is caused by a small contraction


works for me

I heart Nuva Ring.

[akajules.livejournal.com]

Midol Maxiumu Strength! It's got caffeine, ibuprofen, and a light diuretic. I find relief using gel heating pads, a few cups of hot peppermint tea, stretching when I can, and a walk around the block.