Question:
LADIES!!! What do you take for monthly cramps??

I really need to know. I have not had to deal with the dreaded monthly cramps because of PCOS. Until now!!! The weight is coming off, my hormones are getting their act together and now I have to deal with cramps...LOL!! I remember being the queen of Ibuprofen, but now that my stomach doesn't do NSAIDS, I don't know what to do. I have tried the Thermacare heat patches, hot baths, Aromatherapy, heating pad, Tylenol (does nothing), Midol, Pamprin. You name it, I think I have tried it. Avoiding Caffiene and Salt as well. So I need to know what others in my situation are doing. My gyn is not helpful (he is being replaced), he wants me on the Depo shot, which I refuse to do. Thanks y'all.    — KLandrum (posted on July 1, 2002)


July 1, 2002
Kristin, Am looking forward to the answers to this one. I have had awful cramps lately and used to take care of it with Motin 800's-they were the best for cramps/headaches/backaches. Your right, Tylenol is not worth taking...
   — Cindy R.

July 1, 2002
I also would really like to know. I used to take Advil like candy when I have my period and I am in the middle of my first one after surgery and I am suffering big time. It took 6 weeks for it to come and it is making me suffer and I can't take anything that will relieve it. I just wanted to mention, be careful with midol and pamprin. Check the label, I believe one of them has ibuprofen in them. What is the reason we can't take ibuprofen anyway????
   — Dawn L.

July 1, 2002
Unfortunately, I have no answer for you either! :( I had my first period post-op last month and it was HELL! I used to down 2 or 3 aleve every few hours. Tylenol isn't worth anything, and I too tried the thermacare patches and hot baths - basically just ended up suffering through it. I happenend to have my annual exam with my gynecologist a week later and he was NO help! He said cramps tend to get less severe when you lose weight. Which is bull because I had horrendous cramps when I was 145 lbs!!! He also had never heard the no NSAIDS thing after surgery. But then, that's not his area of expertise I guess.
   — sheltie

July 1, 2002
I held on to the liquid Tylenol with Codeine that was prescribed to me after my surgery for pain. I take a tablespoon of it whenever the cramps are really bad. It works well for me. I never had to deal with cramps either so I feel you. Good luck and God bless!
   — Kimberly L.

July 1, 2002
My PCP said that Viox (sp?) or Celebrex would work well for me post op instead of my usual ibuprofen. I have to run it by my surgeon though.
   — Heather N.

July 1, 2002
If you haven't tried Pamprin post-op you might want to try it again, it seems to do wonders for me now when it did nothing for me post-op (I'm finding a lot of medicines like this..) But because of my back / knee / joint pain ect, the Dr gave me Darvacet and those seem to work nice too when it's just too bad...
   — Elizabeth D.

July 1, 2002
I don't know if this will help but I am pre-op by about 18 days and I also have PCOS and my doctor prescribes Darvocet for the pain of cramps for my period. I'm not sure if I will be able to take them after the surgery, but I meet with the doctors to do pre-op testing and Wednesday and will find out. I have have Pseudo Tumor Cerebri and use the darvocet for the migraines, so I hope I can use it after surgery or something equally as strong. Hope this helps!
   — Denise S.

July 1, 2002
I get extreme cramping and my doctor lets me take about 1 tbsp or so of Lortab. If you take to much it will make you sleepy, but it does seem to take the edge off. You could try and see if it works for you. I Hope you find something that will help.
   — Tracey W.

July 2, 2002
Go to your local health food store and try a homeopathic remedy. You put it under your tongue and it goes directly into your system! Haven't tried it yet, but I have a friend who swears by them. They're available in both liquid and tablet form.
   — Shannon D.

July 4, 2002
Have you tried exercise? It always works for me. Also, doing some really good stretching helps - try the "cobra" (yoga) position - stretches that abdomen right out and feels great!
   — Angie M.

July 4, 2002
My personal favorite non-chemical way to rid myself of cramps is to have an orgasm. Cramps (muscle contractions that are painful) are the uterus' way of trying to shed the built up tissue. You can get more effective muscle contractions that feel better, increase circulation to the area and relax the uterus after the contractions with a good (as if there was such a thing as a bad one!) orgasm. HOW you get one is up to you. Good Luck!
   — merri B.

July 5, 2002
On second thought, screw the exercise! I like Merri's suggestion better!
   — Angie M.

July 7, 2002
Best treatment????????? Plenty of sex and excercise like walking (but don't try it during sex!) ;-)
   — DianeN




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