Feminine Troubles

[desertvixen]

 Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do about low-level period cramps that feel like empty stomach cramps?  It's not exactly painful, so much as it is uncomfortable and distracting.

 Aleve (my usual go-to for painkiller) isn't doing much - eating makes it go away some but it keeps coming back.

 Heating pads have never done much for me, although sometimes Hector will come lay on my stomach and that helps.  :)

 Any suggestions?

 DV

Comments

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

I've never experienced anything that sounds like what you're describing. Are these cramps higher up than the usual below-the-navel types? It sounds like it.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Still right around the navel, maybe a little higher. They aren't as sharp as a typical period cramp, but they keep hanging around and making me unhappy.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Are you hydrating enough? I do get cramps there, whether or not my period was involved, when I haven't drunk enough water.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

I think I am, but I'll keep that in mind for next month.

[garpu.livejournal.com]

Hrm, I haven't found much that works for those type of cramps. I don't know if Advil actually works, or if it's a placebo, because aspirin worked just as well, and aspirin doesn't usually do crap for me.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Aleve usually does a pretty good job. I don't like Motrin because the Army always hands it out.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

IME, Aleve and aspirin might as well be taking candy, and ibuprofin's the only thing that works. But since half an aspirin would put my mother to sleep for hours, YMMV.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

It does vary from person to person.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

Sorry no suggestions, just a question. If these are relatively new, have you had a checkup just to be sure they are not a symptom of anything more serious?

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

I've been having some issues since I restarted BC after the deployment - I stopped taking it there because a) no need and b) we were taking a daily antibiotic anyway and c) they made us go for pills and not patches due to climate.

However, I've had an exam in the meantime, and she didn't find anything out of the norm.

Some months it is worse than others. I'm wondering if stress is contributing.

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Corsets.

The elastic ones (as opposed to the ones with the heavy duty boning I use for cosplay) are the most effective.

Well, that and Scotch, but I don't think that's quite what you're looking for :-)

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

An idea to look at.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

You might try muscle relaxants instead of anti-inflammatories?

Also — is it possible that what you're getting that pain because you take anti-inflammatories during your period, not because of your period?

I have an occasionally-recurrent duodenal ulcer originally from heavy anti-inflammatory use, and that is roughly what it feels like.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

I only take the anti-inflam if I'm actually in enough pain to need it, which is not often.

But also an idea to look at re: muscle relaxers.