Girls: help!
 

Hey girls! Oh, if you're a guy reading this, I think you'll want to stop now http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif. You won't be able to stomach this! I'll give you a few seconds...
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So anyway, girls, http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif, I have those dreaded awful cramps! They hurt like $hit today, more than before http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. Any tips/advice? Thanks!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif


[This message has been edited by newbie (edited June 21, 2001).]

Newbie, make sure you are getting the RDA of
calcium and magnesium. I had a calcium deficiency and then I started to take supplements and they helped a lot, bad cramps including period cramps can be a sign of defiency. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

I don't know if this is true or not, but one of my high school teachers said that bottled water can make cramps worse. Maybe you should stick to tap around that time. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/confused.gif

Oh yeah, I'm baaccckkkk!!! I could'nt resist, I'm addicted to GC! I still like CC too.

Thanks so much, SH80!!

They hurt BAD http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif ARGHHHHH!!! It's driving me crazy...I can't even move...otherwise it hurts even more!! Yeah, you nkow what? I haven't gotten lots of calcium lately, that must be it http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. My cramps used to be RELALy bad, and then they stopped being so bad (period cramps), then today it's just horrible!

Oh, tap water?? SF has supposedly the cleanest tap water out there, but i'm still scared to try it!!

P.S Did you ever get my email?

If your cramps are really bad, you should definitely get them checked out - just because it can be a sign of a bigger problem, like endometriosis (which can make it impossible for you to have kids). Your doctor may even put you on the Pill to regulate your period and help your cramps.

I think it's pretty common for doctors to put people on the Pill to lessen the severity (if not to completely eliminate) menstrual cramps. I've become a bit of a Pill expert, so feel free to ask any more questions.

If you're not willing to be controlled by synthetic hormones, there's always Pamprin...but there's a catch. To combat cramps most effectively, you have to start taking them a few days before your cycle starts. If that doesn't work, it might be time to talk to a doctor.

I find soaking in a hot bath usually does something to alleviate cramps. Also, a combination of M&Ms and Diet Coke has done wonders in a pinch as well.

One of the few times I took Midol, it doped me out beyond belief! I told my mom that I had to go to sleep now because I felt like I was wearing giant mittens, and was driving a cloud. Does it have that affect on anyone else?

Jr Girl! You must be allergic to something in Midol. I pop one every morning during my period. It iradicates (sp?) my cramps and lets me be in a good mood. (I think it's just the caffine that helps my mood thuough http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif )

A heating pad almost always helps, just keep it on your lower abdomen. Try it at night when you are in bed. Low to medium heat should do it.

I used to have horrible cramps that were so bad that I once rushed through a test just because I was in so much pain! I started the pill almost 2 years ago though, and I hardly even notice cramps anymore. But before that, Midol was the only thing that worked for me.

The pill is one of the best inventions. I was blessed every month with having some of the worst period systems http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif ; irregular periods, heavy bleeding, unbearable cramps, and very bad PMS (I bursted into tears one day bc I got a needletip size drop of nail polish on my favorite stuffed animal). I've been on the pill for 2 years and I haven't had a single problem with my period. The Pill is also great in protecting you against certain cancers.

I totally agree! The Pill is great!! When I was younger I would get cramps so bad that I'd get naseous and have to leave school....I couldn't sit still they were that bad. Well, I got on the Pill and those problems just dissappeared!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif
Midol also works when I have the occasional cramp!
Hope this helps chicky!

Vera

Heheheheheee, CRMSNTiDEGRL717, your post made me laugh, LOL http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif. Thanks a lot everyone for your advice!!! I do feel better today, but sleeping yesterday was a pain--I tossed and turned for the most part! It's OK, though, I have an appt booked tomorrow to see my doctor, on both these horrible cramps and on my allergies!! Hopefully he will have answers to both http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

Do you have to be 18 to take the pill? I'm not 18, yet http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. Are there any bad side effects?

Oh, also, hope this isn't too gross to ask--but, I've never used tampons before--but I'm thinking about using them soon, b/c I like to go swimming daily, yet I've never used a tampon before (I tried once, and I couldn't get it in!!!). Does anyone use them, and if so, do you have any advice and any brands/kinds (i.e., O.B., Tampax, etc.) that you would recommend?

Thanks girls--you guys are the best!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Heheheheheee, CRMSNTiDEGRL717, your post made me laugh, LOL http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif. Thanks a lot everyone for your advice!!! I do feel better today, but sleeping yesterday was a pain--I tossed and turned for the most part! It's OK, though, I have an appt booked tomorrow to see my doctor, on both these horrible cramps and on my allergies!! Hopefully he will have answers to both http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

Do you have to be 18 to take the pill? I'm not 18, yet http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. Are there any bad side effects?

Oh, also, hope this isn't too gross to ask--but, I've never used tampons before--but I'm thinking about using them soon, b/c I like to go swimming daily, yet I've never used a tampon before (I tried once, and I couldn't get it in!!!). Does anyone use them, and if so, do you have any advice and any brands/kinds (i.e., O.B., Tampax, etc.) that you would recommend?

Thanks girls--you guys are the best!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Newbie,

Try Percogesic. It's an over-the-counter medicine that is a miracle cure for cramps. But make sure you're not going to be doing anything for a while. It makes you sleepy and I used to have to take a nap whenever I took it.

Also, the pill is a wonderful antidote. I've been on the pill for about 7 years now, and have had no cramps since.

newbie--- i always use tampons except for at night, i use pads. I like playtex tampons. the first time i tried to use a tampon, i couldn't get it in either. but i just kept persisting, and FINALLY up it went, lol. anyways, you just gotta relax. until you get used to them though, definately use one w/ an applicator. it helps TREMENDOUSLY. hope your doctors appts go well tomorrow!
Liz

Thanks Carrie and Liz!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Carrie, actually I think I might stay away from that over-the-counter thing you mentioned--I'm afraid I'll fall asleep in the worst of places (I'll be starting a new job soon, prolly)! But I'm really interested in the PIll http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Liz, does putting in a tampon really hurt?? I'm very afraid of that, that's why when I tried inserting one 2 years ago, I chickened out and gave up, LOL. Should I get the Super Absorbency, Light, etc.?? Thanks so much!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

First of all, I really hope no guy tries to stomach this thread. I feel bad for the man that makes the attempt!

Newbie, stay away from Super Absorbency. Start out with the super skinny ones. they're much easier to get in. And no, it should not hurt at all. Never go near the big huge ones unless you have to. Best chances for toxic shock are with those. I'd much rather change my tampon every 3 hours and wear a regular tampon than have one of those big huge ones in there. Plus, they are WAY harder to get in. And the few times I tried one, they were pretty uncomfortable.
You shouldn't feel it at all once it's in there http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

Honestly, I was scared of using them too for the longest time. Now I swear by them. I never go near pads anymore. Even for bed. You can wear a tampon for up to 8 hours. They're such a wonderful thing http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.
Go for it Newbie. Just relax, cause being tense makes it harder. But you'll be fine.

Leslie

LOL Leslie, I edited my first post on this thread (adding a few astericks) so the guys have a few seconds to get out of this, LOL.

Thank you so much for your advice!! Do you have any fave brands, too? I think if I DO get the hang of tampons (hopefully!), I will still stick with pads, for sleeping (since lol, in the summer i sleep at least 10 hours).

Hopefully it won't hurt http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. Also...my mother is sooo apprehensive about tampons that she won't let me wear them! So I guess I'll have to go buy them on my own without letting her know ?

Also, is there a possiblity of getting the TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome?) from tampons? Thanks!!

Does anyone use them, and if so, do you have any advice and any brands/kinds (i.e., O.B., Tampax, etc.) that you would recommend?

hey newbie,
i recommend playtex slimfits. they are super skinny and come with an applicator making it much easier to go in. also, a friend of mine used to put k-y jelly on the tips of her tampons to make them go in even easier!

feel better! meghan

p.s. just take a deep breath and relax when using a tampon, if your muscles are relaxed it will 100% easier and more comfy too...

Car-
the possibility of TSS is very rare and increases with absorbency. That's why you should always wear the lowest absorbency you can. I personally swear by Tampx Satin Glide regulars. VERY easy to use, hence the "satin" in the name. ha ha

Cramps. Midol makes a formula JUST for cramps--its box has the light green trim and I take double whatever the recommended dosage is.

Also, remember that the cramps can only last so long--like when they are realllly bad I focus on the thought that in an hour, no matter what, they'll be better.

don't take Advil...it makes the cramps worse

Thanks you guys!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I feel a lot better now, but my stomach still feels very queasy. Anyway, can you believe it that i'm actually looking FORWARD to the dr.'s appt tomorrow??!! Maybe if the Dr. puts me on the Pill I will no longer have to deal with these cramps any longer!!!

Do any of you crave sweets, chocolates, etc. while you're ON your period? I know that most women crave sweets right before (PMS), but I am totally craving ice cream and chocolate right now, LOL. I told my Mom to go pick up some chocolate for me, LOL.

PhisigQT, thanks for the rec!!! Where can I find k-y jelly??? Also, is there a recommended time to when I should change it, if I use the thinnest ones out there?

Amy (or anybody else who can answer this), have you ever tried Playtex Slimfits? What is it like compared to the Tampax Satins? Which one do you think is better for a first-time user like me?

LeslieAGD, actually, I took Advil today and I felt a ton better! It didn't work for you?

Thanks again for all the advice, girls--I'm so glad we have this messageboard http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif!!

newbie--

Your doctor should allow you to go on the bill w/out being 18. From the time my period started, age 11, every doctor I talked to tried to push the pill on me.

If you decide to use the ky jelly, it's ususally by the condoms. Be prepared to answer A LOT of questions if your mom or dad run across it though. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/redface.gif

Definitely Playtex, just say no to cardboard applicators! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif I care about the environment too but this is where I draw the line! My roommate used to swear by OB with NO applicator and let's just say...even at this advanced stage in my life I can't fathom it.

Yeah, if you are going to try the KY thing, you might want to show it to your mom and say "hey mom, this is what I'm using it for..."

I bet my boyfriend is getting queasy right now, solely by virtue of this thread existing. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

LOL you guys.

I KNEW that k-y jelly sounded really familiar...lol.

Thanks SoCalGirl! I wonder if it's expensive to go on the pill? Oh well, I heard it has so many benefits--in addition to the cramps and the obvious, it's also great for our face, too, right (supposedly no more zits!! YAY!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif)?

33girl, so is Tampax cardboard?? And you use the Playtex Slimfits?

Thanks girls http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif! Hopefully the boys/men are smart enough to stay away from this thread http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif.

My boyfriend's usually great with this stuff, but only for a little--for example, he'll bring me chicken soup or chocolate or whatever...but he always goes, "Car--PLEASE SPARE ME THE DETAILS!!!!" Sometimes, unknowningly, I start to tell him what my female troubles are (I don't intend to, it just comes out!), and he get's really grossed out. He says, "Stop! You want chocolate, right? OK, I'll get you some!" LOL


[This message has been edited by newbie (edited June 21, 2001).]

33girl--- im totally w/ you on the plastic vs. cardboard thing. plastic is definately the way to go! it makes things run much smoother.
newbie-- once you get the hang of tampons it's no big deal, i dont even think twice about it anymore. it becomes very routine, and they are so much better than pads, ahhhh, those things make me crazy!
Liz

Hey Liz!!

Actually, pads are actually great (IMHO!). I always use the Ultra Thins from Always!! They are usually great--but of course they don't allow me to go swimming, lOL!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

So if I finally get the hang of tampons, then I can go swimming regardless, and won't have to answer any questions from my guy friends who I usually go swimming with regularly.

Awww, I wanna bond too! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Ok, I have really bad cramps too for the first day, to the point where I can't move either. So I've found my "miracle". I take 3 Aleve and they are gone w/in 10-15 min...sometimes sooner. Also, try laying in the fetus position. This can ease them a little bit. But I'm a (legal) druggie, so I just pop the Aleve! LOL
I also wear tampons and I use O.B w/ the applicator. I would prefer to buy/use the Tampax ALL COTTON ones though (they're supposedly safer cuz they don't have that stuff that causes TSS). However, I can't find them in a lot of the drugstores and when I do, they are pretty costly. So I usually end up w/ O.B. I love tampons. I was a cheerleader in H.S. so tampons were the ONLY way to go for me! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif Hope this helped...everyone gave some really good advice http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

midol has never worked for me, and neither has pamprin. So i just grin and bare it. well not really, it usually puts in a pretty bitchy mood.
Newbie--- i know what you mean. it hurts me too just to move, when i have bad cramps. maybe you should try everyone else's suggestions and check up on that pill??? Hope you feel better soon!!!

The pill should be anywhere from 12-35 a box (1 box per month), depending on the brand, what your doctor prescribes. Since you have a pre-existing medical reason, your parents' insurance should cover all, if not part, of the prescription. Your doctor might give you 2-3 months worth of samples, to make sure it's okay before she (or he) writes a prescription. If you're going to college in the fall (depending on the school, of course!), your school might distribute them for much less than what you'd pay in the pharmacy.

What brands do they normally prescribe for cramping? I know that doctors usually prescribe some brands for heavy bleeding, severe acne, endometriosis. Does anyone know?

The pill is the best thing I have ever taken for cramps.

I used to be deathly afraid of tampons, because of a bad experience I had with them when I was like, 12. Until the day I ran out of pads and couldn't get to the drugstore. I had to go to the school's mini-mart and all they had were tampons. Now, I swear by them...

Not to mention, summertime in Louisiana + pads is a pretty nasty combination! I'll spare the details http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

I like playtex, they just fit better. Tampax seem to be a bit on the long side...just my personal preference.

try a heating pad...always seems to help me... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

A doctor will usually prescribe OrthoTriCyclen for cramps and severe acne. It's supposed to be better because its a 'triphasic' pill, which means that the pills have varying amounts of hormone in them depending on where you are in your monthly cycle. Its been a godsend for me.

Side effects can vary from person to person. I'm on Alesse which has the lowest estrogen dosage, but when I first started I was so nauseated that I couldn't eat for four days! I think that was just me though, so don't let that scare you! The lower the dosage, the less likely you are to experience side effects... and if you decide to go on the pill, the doctor will most likely start you off on a low dosage.

I actually don't mind the cardboard ones. They're not so yucky anymore. They're super smooth. I just use plain 'ol tampax regulars. Nothing fancy. But when I started out i used the ones with the round top. They're easier to get in for some reason.

Really, once you go to tampons, you won't love your pads quite so much anymore. Getting hot and sticky with a pad on is horrible. And you don't even realize how yucky and dirty they are during the heavier times (sorry for the graphic image)until you have a nice clean tampon keeping the flow from flowing, if you know what i mean. I used to shower twice a day during my period just to feel clean.

Ortho Tri-Cyclin is great... but be warned. They do come with some side-effects. They say that your system takes three months to adjust. I got really dizzy every once in a while for the first little bit. But I've been on it for years and I LOVE it. I can tell you, to the hour and day when my 'visitor' will arrive. Such a nice thing to know http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

There's my 12 cents. Good luck Newbie. Let us know what the doctor says!

Leslie

[This message has been edited by gphi2k (edited June 22, 2001).]

Well, I was on ortho tricyclen for a bit and I dumped it cause it actually made my skin worse! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif So much for that.

THANKS so much girls!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

My appt is in about 4 hours!! Hopefully it goes OK. My cramps are completely gone now!! I wonder if the dr. will still prescribe me something even if right now I have no symptoms (i.e., how can he tell that I have really bad cramps, now?)??

Hopefullly he does!!! My acne is very slight, sometimes it's moderate (during period time)...hopefully birth control pills wouldn't make it worse!!

I"m so sorry, Amy http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. Did your skin get better when you got off the Ortho Tri-Cyclen?

thanks again everybody!!! I will keep you all posted, hopefully all goes well!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

OOoh, also, forgot to add...maybe I'll ask my dad to bring me to Walgreens after the appt so I can buy the tampons...i don't know if he knows the differences between tampons and pads http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif!

(As said earlier, my mom's deathly afraid of tampons and doesn't like me trying them!)

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited June 22, 2001).]