OW!!!

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

What do you do when your cramps are so bad that even extra-strength vicodin doesn't cut it enough for you to be able to walk?

Comments

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

I take NyQuil. No, it doesn't do anything for the pain, but you're asleep so fast, it doesn't matter. :)

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

Extra-strength vicodin doesn't even make me sleepy, and NyQuil does nothing. Hmm... maybe valium?

[resilientpewter.livejournal.com]

i have the same response to nyquil, and benadryl (which theoretically makes you tired) -- what really knocks me out is "non-drowsy" sudafed..

anyway my response to your initial post was to say "curl up in bed and cry" but a more useful response would be: see your doctor!! There are some new medications out there that are supposed to be useful, and they are a different class of medicine than vicodin, meaning they work in a different way. also, are you on the pill? that *really* helped me.

good luck -

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

The pill (several varieties, different strengths) all gave me the same problems - chronic uncontrollable migraines, loss of personality, loss of libido. I swore I'd never pu myself through that again.

[whatevah.livejournal.com]

If your cramps are chronically that bad and don't respond to regular medications, heating pads, rest etc, then you may need to talk to your doc about other therapies such as the pill, other medications or being screened for endometriosis or other possible causes.

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

I was on the pill for seven interminable years, during which my migraines becamse so uncontrollable as to render me disabled. I've been screened for endo, PCOS and HPV, and told that no further investigation is necessary. All my gyns have told me is that I'm one of the "unlucky ones" who has to deal with incredible pain until menopause.

Re:

[whatevah.livejournal.com]

YOW!

That's gotta suck. Well, here is my personal set of home remedies that have helped me get through bad cramps...the pill's side effects weren't very good for me either. Take what you like and leave the rest:

Very strong raspberry and ginger root tea (several raspberry tea bags and at least 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger root per 8 oz of water, more if you can manage it)...sweeten with honey. Ginger is a blood thinner and antispasmodic. Thermacare pads...and Naproxin Sodium taken sometimes the day before and then at the highest allowable dosage on the day of cramps.

Other remedies I've heard work well: massaging the uterus (if you have the physique that allows you to push down behind the pubic bone to massage it), masturbation (which I haven't tried for cramps as I think it would aggravate them), and even self-hypnosis.

[graeviking.livejournal.com]

I've actually had some luck with masturbation. Orgams release large amounts of endorphins, which are our body's natural painkillers.

However, if Vicadin isn't killing the pain, you need to get to a doctor ASAP. You may have endometriosis or another disorder that's increasing your pain levels. There are remedies available to you, and there's no reason to suffer without help.

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

They ruled out endo right away and refused to do any further testing, told me I just had to eal with it.

Masturbation relieves it for about 10 minutes. I can't keep up a pace like that all day!

Re:

[whatevah.livejournal.com]

I totally forgot my new secret weapon! Humming...humming a single note intensely until it resonates all through your body. I do this for a few minutes at a time, when I have some quiet time (or if I'm at work, I go down to my car) and just hum that one note...for some reason it helps.

I also incorporate birthing breathing techniques...and along that line, I hear warm baths or even a warm jacuzzi can cut the pain in half.

[adrun.livejournal.com]

personally, i cry. but to be more helpful...
take a hot bath, do some situps, get a backrub. when you can take more medicine, take two aleve (naproxin sodium), which tends to be the best painreliever for cramps. lay in a dark room with soothing music and force yourself to relax.

good luck, feel better

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

I'd only do sit-ups if I really wanted the floor to be covered in blood. My flow is really heavy, even with tampons. Aleve has absolutely no effect on me, nor does ibuprofen. Usually I just hope I pass out. I do like hot baths and a heating pad on my uterus, though.

[lilyofthewest.livejournal.com]

Even if Ibuprofin doesn't seem to have any direct effect as a painkiller, it can really help with cramps in a less direct way. Ibuprofin is a proglastin inhibitor, basically it reduces the act of cramping itself even if you don't respond to it as a painkiller. It will do this most effectively if you start taking it 24 to 48 hours before you expect your cramps to begin.

Masturbation has the same effect.

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

That would be great - except that I've never had regular periods. Usually my cramps start from 2 days to a week before the actual blood comes, and my periods can reliably come anywhere between 24 and 40 days.

[delicata77.livejournal.com]

Go to a Gyn and get checked out!

It could be something serious.

[dragon-spirit.livejournal.com]

I did. Like, 9 or 10 of them. They told me that while some of my hormone levels are a little weird, I'm otherwise "normal and healthy", just unfortunate.

[delicata77.livejournal.com]

Have you even considered trying holistic, alternative remedies to balance you out?

There are a lot of options in those areas of women's health.

[asciikitty.livejournal.com]

I agree with this one- I know a guy who's learning Chinese herbalism who looks at me in utter confusion every time i complain of cramps and says something about Chinese medicine and how that will help. If your area has a good Chinese herbalist, or a good New Age shop where they might know an herbalist, you could try there. Just check with your doctor about mixing herbs with whatever other meds you might be taking. Accupunture is also pretty good for pain. And in a preventative sort of way- I try to do exrta sit-ups and stuff to strengthen my lower abdomninal reign a couple of days before- the more excercise i get right before my period, the less my cramps hurt.

good luck

~annie