Girls, how do you cope? (time of the month)

SuzieSue

I've never used tampons only pads (I started my periods around 1980 when there was a lot of talk about toxic shock syndrome so I never got round to trying tampons), but I didn't realise they caused pain.

I've always wondered why there are some many different types of pads in supermarkets when most women seem to use tampons and I always appear to be the odd one out amongst my friends.

SuzieSue

themull1 wrote: »

Sorry if its too much info, but i expel part of my uterus lining every three months or so when i'm on my period, its exactly like going into labour, then a ball of skin drops out - not pleasant, i also have agonising pain when i'm on and i need a poo, its absolute agony, and sometimes bad pain in my left ovary - but everything goes away between periods, so it can't be that serious - just painful!!

Oh dear, that sounds unpleasant. I also find that my digestive system is messed up for a couple of days.

giantmutantbroccoli

Ugh I feel for you OP, I get some horrible periods.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet (not enough time to read the whole thread) but if not, I find Buscopan works fantastically well for me. It works by relaxing the muscles so it actually stops the cramps that cause the pain. They do a version that's specially for periods and one for IBS (I have both) but they're exactly the same so it doesn't matter which one you use. If I'm having a really bad period I take a painkiller on top of it, usually Ibuprofen or paracetamol. A few times when I've had extremely bad pain I've taken co-codymol, but that stuff makes me very dopey.
Hot water bottles are great too - I use two, one front and back, although not in this weather! I've been on the look out for a heat pad type thing that goes all the way around although I've not found one yet. Hot baths are always nice, and sometimes a gentle walk can help after the first day when I never want to move. Other than that, a really engrossing book, movie or game to distract myself from thinking about the pain!

delain

SuzieSue wrote: »

I've never used tampons only pads (I started my periods around 1980 when there was a lot of talk about toxic shock syndrome so I never got round to trying tampons), but I didn't realise they caused pain.

I've always wondered why there are some many different types of pads in supermarkets when most women seem to use tampons and I always appear to be the odd one out amongst my friends.

I've always used pads too and now know a few people that do.

still got some friends who would never dream of using pads and think they are dirty.

RazWaz

Nicki wrote: »

Yup. Me too. I was the first one to mention a mirena. But if you look at the whole thread every non narcotic suggestion has been discounted by the OP (mirena, heat pads/hot water bottles, menstrual caps, gentle exercise, positions to lie in), who is self medicating with controlled drugs supplied for other conditions, so it is clear what kind of advice she wants to get from the thread.

I only rejected contraceptive methods. I made my own version of a hot water bottle and it worked. I don't have a bath.

All the other tips and tricks are things that I tried, or am I supposed to show you a dairy?
18:37 - went for a walk.
19:47 - tried lying down.
20:23 - Tried using my mooncup - still didn't fit.

I'm not self medicating, I'm on 24/7 pain relief - somehow this manages to include the time I'm on my periods. Shocking isn't it, no idea how it happened. I take nothing outside of what and how my GP prescribes things.

Though I've been around here a few years now, I know you do have a habit of picking fights over nothing so I'm just going to ignore you now. Bye!

RazWaz

SuzieSue wrote: »

Oh dear, that sounds unpleasant. I also find that my digestive system is messed up for a couple of days.

That's my two day warning system Never ever fart while on my period.

tea_lover

Bowel-related issues can be a sign of endo in the pouch of douglas (speaking from painful experience here).

lostinrates

tea_lover wrote: »

Bowel-related issues can be a sign of endo in the pouch of douglas (speaking from painful experience here).

My gastroenterologist (who I am seeing for other stuff relating to endocrine and neurological side effects we think) was also asking all sorts of questions about my cycle and bowels. I have always noted a difference, but then all the female friends I have discussed it with have said they have too. I always presumed the uterus cramping away in there was giving us a good old bowel massage

SuzieSue

delain wrote: »

I've always used pads too and now know a few people that do.

still got some friends who would never dream of using pads and think they are dirty.

Well, you're the first person who has ever told me that they have always used pads, so it makes me feel a lot better. Even my (female) GP looked astonished when I told her.

fashionlover10

SuzieSue wrote: »

Well, you're the first person who has ever told me that they have always used pads, so it makes me feel a lot better. Even my (female) GP looked astonished when I told her.

Quite a few of the girls I went to school with would only ever use pads which I always found really weird but back then I didn't realise having to use Super Plus tampons and maxi pads, changing every 3-4 hours, wasn't the norm.