How to deal with menstrual pain (PMS or MS)

Ever since I first got my period, which was long time ago I must add, I always had problems with pain that was accompanying my menstrual cycle. First of all, my period comes regularly, usually around the same time of month, but sometimes it varies. I probably have 28-day cycle, which is the most common one. I also have normal load period, which means it is not too light or too heavy. Usually, for 3 days is all day long, then for day a little bit, and fifth one almost nothing. It’s been like that for years, and those are most common trends I’ve noticed.

I remember like it was yesterday when I first got my period. It was raining that day, and I felt very miserable and couldn’t wait to go home from school. When I came home from school, shocking discovery was waiting for me. Since then, I have special connection with rain and I can feel when I will get my period. So, when it rains, and it is particular time of the month, I cover myself with blanket, and relax, there is nothing more soothing than that.

Sometimes, I get pain few days before my period. It starts around my ovaries, sometimes right one, sometimes left one, or both. It is never the same, yet it always feel the same. Hard to describe, but most women can relate to this. Pain is dull & constant for most of the time. I usually solve problem by taking 1 extra strong or 500-mg Ibuprofen. That always helps. When I get my period I usually start feeling pain right away, so I got into a practice to take 1 Ibuprofen as soon as I get my period, and that would help sometimes not to feel any pain at all.

However, sometimes, nothing really helps. Pain can be there for few hours, tablets don’t want to work for some reason, or if they do, it is usually too late. Then I try alternative things, such as heating pad. Heating pad is excellent for that matter. I bought one with automatic shut-off so I don’t have to worry about burning myself, although one always have to be careful when using electrical heating pad. What I like about heating pad is that covers this particular area where I feel pain, and heats it - I usually put on Medium heat -. Of course, heating pad must be used over clothing, so I dress up my PJ, lay down, put heating pad on me and then cover myself with blanket. When I lay down, I realized that if right ovary hurts me, for example, then I should never be laying on my right hand side as my own weight will press against the ovary and make my pain even worse. Usually, most comfortable position for me is if I lay down on my back, and have my knees up slightly. I try to breath calmly and relaxed, that helps too. I just take deep breaths and try to calm myself down.

Of course, few times over the years I ended up in ER, but I didn’t find their particular shots very helpful, so I don’t go there anymore. My family physician prescribed me some tablets, they were good, I must say, but I forgot their name. Anyway, as they were prescription and I don’t like going to doctors to often, I decided to do my own thing in order to help myself. I take either Ibuprofen or Advil. Tylenol Menstrual never worked for me, I bought one bottle and ended up throwing it away because it didn’t help me at all. Now, the thing with Ibuprofen or Advil (same thing, different package) is that if they are used for a long time or very often, they can over the years cause bleeding of internal organs, so one should be careful not to use them excessively. Now, if I use only 3 or 4 of those a month, I think I’m ok. I really try not to go overboard with use of tablets. Anyway, the way I figured it out, Advil or Ibuprofen reduces inflammation, therefore, when I feel pain in my lower abdomen, and take tablet, my pain disappears within half an hour the most (and that is only if I took tablet late). Most of the time, if I take tablet as soon as I get my period, I never even get the pain.

Sometimes, I get mood swings when I have my period, and that is not fun. However, it is never that bad that chocolate bar cannot solve it. Pretty much, at that time of a month, I am hungry and would eat anything. I crave chocolate the most (although I am usually not the big chocolate eater). Anyway, I indulge myself in forbidden sin of eating and try not to worry about it, it never really affects my weight as I stop eating chocolate or sweets as soon as my period stops.

Going through a menstrual cycle is though, especially with pain, but that is something that most of women experience and each find their own comfortable way of reducing pain. Everything I mentioned above is my own way of reducing the pain. I always try to feel better at that time, so I take extra care of myself, like going to a massage (that helps me to as it increases volume of my period, but then cuts it short by a day or two, which I find beneficial). I like taking extra long showers at that time, and relax. Everything is about relaxing. As soon as I tighten up my abdomen muscles, my pain comes back. Also, exercising is good for me too. I go and do my full regular workout at the gym, including any cardio and sit-ups. It just makes me feel better and I can hardly feel I have a period at all. Also, I read somewhere that people who sometimes feel constispated should eat healthier during menstrual cycle so they could go to washroom regularly. That would help reduce menstrual pain as well.

Pretty much, how you deal with PMS or MS is your own choice. Everybody does different things, what works for one person, may not work for other, but it is always good to hear experiences of other people as that may help you in order to deal with your pain. Everything I said above is my own way of dealing with menstrual cycle and pain, but in order to find out what is the best for you, talk to your doctor, they can help you the most.