Cramps. (Full Version)

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BlessedAngel1983 -> Cramps. (9/20/2008 3:11:17 PM)

I have the most ungodly cramps in the world. I've taken both tylenol and advil (not at the same time). I can't do a heating pad because I have diabetes. So if anyone has some suggestions i'd be much appreciative.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 3:18:50 PM)

Five ibuprofen at once. Have you tried that? Or two tylenol and three ibuprofen at once? (Acetamenophin doesn't work for me, but it does for some people.)



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 3:21:24 PM)

As soon as I can take my next dose I will.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 3:43:06 PM)

I guess the weight of the pill would determine if you can take five, but I've done it safely. I don't make it a habit (only do it for vaginal cramping and backache). Sometimes I'll take two, then wait 15-30 minutes and take the other three.



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 3:49:50 PM)

Thanks!



PatricksPeaches -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 6:46:55 PM)

I do not have cramps but I have heard that Midol helps for some women. Maybe you could try that? Just a suggestion.



agapetos -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 8:43:18 PM)

quote:

Five ibuprofen at once.
How many times a day to you take 5 ibuprofen? You say you don't do it regularly, which suggests to me that you don't take 30 or so a day but you need to post that information too.

I have problems with people advising others to take more than the recommended number of tablets a day.

If your cramping is very bad, it will be worth you at the very least, speaking with a pharmacist about what medication you can take and how often. The best suggestion though would be to see a doctor to determine what can be done to treat you safely, not to mention ruling out any other reasons why you're cramping so badly.

You may want to look into your diet ~ caffiene and refined foods can cause cramping and it may be worth you trying to cut out/back on these sort of foods in favour of an unrefined diet.

You may also want to consider gentle exercise. Yoga, pilates, tai chi etc all involves stretching and they will help with cramps.



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 8:47:45 PM)

Well I don't drink anything with caffeine except hot tea now and then. I am on meds for my diabetes which also treats PCOS. Its the first day of my cycle, so of course its a little rough. I am overweight, but have dropped 70 lbs. I eat a lot of fresh foods.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:06:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

Five ibuprofen at once.
How many times a day to you take 5 ibuprofen? You say you don't do it regularly, which suggests to me that you don't take 30 or so a day but you need to post that information too.

I have problems with people advising others to take more than the recommended number of tablets a day.

If your cramping is very bad, it will be worth you at the very least, speaking with a pharmacist about what medication you can take and how often. The best suggestion though would be to see a doctor to determine what can be done to treat you safely, not to mention ruling out any other reasons why you're cramping so badly.

You may want to look into your diet ~ caffiene and refined foods can cause cramping and it may be worth you trying to cut out/back on these sort of foods in favour of an unrefined diet.

You may also want to consider gentle exercise. Yoga, pilates, tai chi etc all involves stretching and they will help with cramps.


Well, if one has prescription ibuprofen for cramping (the same OTC IB in a larger pill), that IS the recommended dosage in many cases-- either that or more actually. It all depends on whose label it is, and who gave it to you. :) The OTC bottle will probably say 1-2 at a time, but oftentimes one can safely take more than "recommended" on the bottle. My doctor recommended five ibuprofen for my problems, but I found it worked *for me.* I think some women are immune to it like I'm immune to tylenol. :) It won't work for all.



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:11:23 PM)

I took the 5 and a shower and feel some better.



agapetos -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:19:29 PM)

quote:

Well, if one has prescription ibuprofen for cramping (the same OTC IB in a larger pill), that IS the recommended dosage in many cases-- either that or more actually. It all depends on whose label it is, and who gave it to you. :) The OTC bottle will probably say 1-2 at a time, but oftentimes one can safely take more than "recommended" on the bottle. My doctor recommended five ibuprofen for my problems, but I found it worked *for me.* I think some women are immune to it like I'm immune to tylenol. :) It won't work for all.
The difference is that a prescription is given to someone under guidance. I take OTC pain meds in a stronger than usual dose, for a longer period of time, with my doctor's knowledge ~ just as your doctor recommended you take five tablets. Oftentimes yes, you can take more then 'recommended' but sometimes just taking an extra one tablet can cause serious harm. What is right for you is not necessarily right or good for others and I believe that it is irresponsible for you to suggest such things.



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:22:16 PM)

Terri, I find Pamprin works great!



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:23:50 PM)

Very strongly brewed chamomile tea. Chamomile is a muscle relaxant, and cramps are due to muscles not relaxing. Works for me every time.

I would not take so much ibuprofen unless a doctor told me to. I was told to once, or rather the 3/2 IB/Acetaminophen combo, and all it did was mask symptoms and stress my kidneys.



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:25:03 PM)

I'm having some hot mango herbal tea now. Had some soup for dinner.



reach -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:30:20 PM)

I take 4-5 advil every 6 hours on my first day. It is the only way I can make it.

I am not advising anyone, only saying what works for me.



agapetos -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:35:40 PM)

quote:

The recommended dose varies with body mass and indication. Generally, the oral dose is 200–400 mg (5–10 mg/kg in children) every 4–6 hours, adding up to a usual daily dose of 800–1200 mg. 1200 mg is considered the maximum daily dose for over-the-counter use, though under medical direction, a maximum daily dose of 3200 mg may sometimes be used in increments of 600–800 mg.
From here. Emphasis mine. The site (wikipedia ~ while not medical, it does present things in a way a lay person can easily understand, unlike some medical sites) also gives info on problems resulting from overdose.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:36:51 PM)

The 5 IB was doctor recommended for vaginal cramping/backache during periods. I think she didn't want to prescribe that horse-sized pill if I could get it OTC and just up the dosage. :)

Reach, it's the only way I can make it as well. Otherwise I'm incapacitated for a few days. [8|] No bueno when you can only have so many absences, and they don't care why you're absent. :) I don't go over the max daily dosage though, and I try not to take anything during the rest of the month. I've seen too many people take it for everything too often then wonder why an organ was messed up later on. I don't take anything during the night though, and I know some do. I'll only do it if the pain wakes me up.

Angel, one of my friends has cramping so bad that she passes out and/or vomits...but her uterus is twisted in such a way that it cramps up that way because of how things have to force themselves out. She has to actually get a prescription for something she can't get OTC because the pain's that bad (and she can't do anything those days either). Is yours bad enough to need one of those?



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:38:47 PM)

No one objects to YOU taking it, Solo, the problem is telling someone with an unknown medical history to do so. That's dangerous.



Focusing -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:39:02 PM)

(((Terri))) cramps stink big time [&o]

I can only take one 200 mg pill every several hours because I am very sensitive to taking anything, so I have had to try some alternatives. Since you can't use heating pads, have you tried taking a warm bath with epsom salts? I use about a cupful in the bath, along with either rose or lavendar bubbles. Those are pretty soothing scents for me. That's helped me in the past. I also do deep breathing, focusing my mind on something specific (like closing my eyes and picturing waves coming onto the shore). Sometimes I just crouch down and scrunch up in a ball. I have no idea why that helps, but it usually does when the cramps are so bad all I can do is cry. And, prayer. I have a couple friends I can ask for prayer when they get really bad.

Also, since you're not a caffeine person, and are diabetic, that pretty much cuts out the advice to cut back on those things. Same for alcohol, but I suspect that's not an issue. How about salt? Do you normally have a lot of salt? Sometimes cutting back on that the week before your period can help.

(I agree to be careful about the amounts of meds, especially being diabetic. I am not, but one time my doctor gave me an Rx for 800 mg Motrin, and I had a very severe reaction to it.)



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:40:08 PM)

Well I am old enough to decided if a treatment option is going to possibly work for me. I didn't think my stomach could handle tylenol and advil at the same time, so I just took 5 advil. That was after I waited several hours for all the other to be out of my system.



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:43:07 PM)

I don't usually eat a lot of salt, try to drink a gallon of water a day. Plus I never know exactly when the cycle is going to happen. This times isn't as bad as usual, but still bad.

I must admit that i've been extremely happy as of last night and today, so thats helped me not want to cry from it.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:44:38 PM)

A brisk walk sometimes helps, as well.



Focusing -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:48:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: AngelInWaiting1983

I must admit that i've been extremely happy as of last night and today, so thats helped me not want to cry from it.

Yay for Terri!!! [sm=raisedbrows.gif][;)][:D]


You know, I tend to get pretty tired before my period, so I try to up my consumption of iron in the week prior. I can't take iron supplements, so I have to make a point to eat iron-rich foods. Come to think of it, I didn't this month, and my cramps were much worse than usual. Hmmmm ... wonder if there's any connection?



agapetos -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:48:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair

No one objects to YOU taking it, Solo, the problem is telling someone with an unknown medical history to do so. That's dangerous.

Thank you for understanding what I was trying to say.

Solo, the other point is things like this
quote:

I don't go over the max daily dosage though, and I try not to take anything during the rest of the month.
You told Angel initially that you took 5 ibuprofen at a time. In that post, you didn't give any other information out about how many times you took 5 tablets or the strength they were, or indeed if it was with your doctor's knowledge and consent. If you're going to suggest taking extra meds as you have, then surely you have a duty to say exactly how you take them.

quote:

Well I am old enough to decided if a treatment option is going to possibly work for me.
You may be, but there are millions of people who can see what has been posted in these forums, including children. What if someone came along and read that someone took something and tried it themselves just because they read someone try it. Posting has to be responsible.

I have on several occassions made the point in the mental health encouragment thread that we should be careful about saying to many negative things about a particular medication because of the risk it would put someone off trying it, when it may work perfectly for them.

On the same basis, we need to be careful about saying what we do and don't do with all medication because of the way others will interpret our post.



BlessedAngel1983 -> RE: Cramps. (9/20/2008 11:49:19 PM)

I did have a huge steak earlier this week. I have to eat a high protein diet anyway. Plus my biological father had low iron quite often.



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