monthly cramps-don't read if not interested...

so i suffer, truly suffer, every month from such severe cramps i do not know what to do. i can't take over the counter or presrciption anti-inflammatory meds because i am very susceptible to ulcers and stomach problems. i really find the pain to be of a debilitating nature. i have had ultra-sounds and pap smears to try to detect any treatable problem, but nothing comes up. any suggestions?

Thu. Sep 7, 10:49am

Have you tried those little heating pads that stick right inside your underwear? You can't see them at all through the clothes and they are WONDERFUL!!

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 12:15 PM

herbal tea...

I drink 2 or 3 cups of camomille tea per day when I have mega-cramps and that seems to help me.

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 12:25 PM

here is an idea...

Somethings can't be found with ultrasound. very tiny endometriosis can cause horrible pain but it may be mssed with u/s. Laporoscopy is the only way to confirm if you have it. if your gyn can't find the problem maybe you would like to try a chiropractor. I know it sounds strange but I have had successful relief from excruciating PMS pain this way. I got the idea from other women I have met that sought help from the chiroprator. By the time I went I was willing to try anything and I was glad I did. It worked better than popping Rx pain pills every month!

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 1:02 PM

I had this problem in my late teens and early twenties. Just going on the pill helped a LOT. Even better, I discovered later that I could suppress my period entirely by not taking the week of sugar pills. At the time, my doctor wondered if this was healthy. Now (15 years later) there's evidence to say that there are no health negatives to skipping some periods this way, and possibly some reduction of risk for uterine and ovarian cancers.

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 1:28 PM

Have you only been seeing one Dr.? I ask this because sometimes a second opinion is good. They may order some of the same tests but they may see something different or take a different approach. I too had this problem and do have some issues that are oh so fun, and I am on the pill, I do a lot of diet and exercise during this time, and believe it or not.... potassium.... it is a great thing. Helps greatly with the cramps. It is hard because I crave so many "bad" things while I have these cramps, but if I stick to the diet the cramps are not near as bad. Along with my cramps, I have headaches, so I get a 2 fer, it is GREAT, I LOVE BEING A WOMAN! Ugh

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 1:57 PM

Acupuncture

I started doing acupuncture a few months ago and one unexpected side effect is that my monster mestral cramps have really been reduced. My acupuncturists occassionally does moxibustion which is supposed to help with cramp.
Exercise also helps for me. Good Luck

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 2:13 PM

Do you have a job that requires you to sit alot? In my teens I had the worst cramps, (sitting in school all day), but having jobs that kept me moving and on my feet really made a difference. Activity (last thing you want to do when you are hurting I know) can go along way towards redirecting the blood from your pelvis to your extremities and relieve cramping.

Thursday, September 07, 2006, 5:10 PM

Magnesium, calcium and potassium, oh my!

I've found that I get a really significant amount of improvement with cramping and also in menstrual migraines when I supplement with extra magnesium, calcium and potassium, particularly the magnesium. Also, lying backwards (face up) over an exercise ball helps release the hip flexors to reduce cramping.

Saturday, September 09, 2006, 2:34 PM

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