The pill and cramps

[Grasshopper Green]

I searched and didn't come up with this topic specifically, just kinda cramps in general......

Since I had my son three years ago, I get horrific cramps. The kind that make you want to curl in a fetal position and die. I'm not on the pill, I've been on it before and didn't like the side effects (nausea and weigh gain), but I'm seriously considering getting back on it to ease up the cramps. Anyone here had success in relieving cramps with the pill?

[Manuel Hong]

See a professional!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honey, ouch!!! This could be a serious problem. I would hope the Dr. would give you a thorogh look-see to find the cause of the problem and not just write you a 'scrip. Good luck. (I know I tend to beat this here dead horse, but I think alternative medicine is excellent for finding and helping the reasons behind the probs, not just fixing the symptoms)

[Sugar&Spice]

I used to get really bad cramps. At least one day a month I would lay in bed all day and try to ease the pain with Ibuprofen. Then I got on the pill and I love it. There has been a little weight gain, but definitely worth it because I never get cramps. Plus, when I am on my period it feels just like any other day of the month.

[ally]

I never had any weight gain or ill effects from the pill and it definitly improved "the bad week" (its now the mildly bad three days).
the pill has improved in the last couple years, maybe orhto lo would help you?

[SparklingDot]

Please go to the doctor. You should be checked out to make sure everything is ok. And if you had bad side effects from one variety of the pill, ask your doctor to change your prescription. I had really bad nausea with my first one, and everything has been fine since she gave me a lower dosage. The cramps were really bad the first month or two on the pill, but now they aren't bad at all, just mildly annoying.

[snowy]

The Pill definitely helped with my cramps. They went from excruciating to manageable. As for the nausea, a lower dose will certainly help...you might also taking it with some food or taking it before bedtime. That seemed to help the nausea I had.

But definitely DO go get checked out to make sure that this isn't a serious problem, especially since the cramps only began happening after the birth of your son.

[Ella]

I get cramps around ovulation time, and the pill wipes that out, I guess. They come around 14 days after the beginning of my period and last for about 3-4 days. They're not massive, but uncomfortable enough for me to have to take Nurofen (similar to Ibuprofen). It's pretty common....search for "pain during ovulation" in Google for a heap of info.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by Sugar&Spice

Ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen 600 mg is your friend.

If your cramps really are that bad then perhaps you should see a doctor though I'm convinced that there's nothing wrong. Some women just have severe cramps that's all. Hopefully he can give you some painkillers so you won't have to suffer the side effects of the pill again

[ShaniFaye]

This happened to me after I had my daughter, cramps so bad I was actually having to call in sick at work with them. Seeing a doctor is your best bet, it could be things like endometriosis (sp?) or uteran/ovarian cysts (which was my case) etc. They found out that I stopped producing progesterone after giving birth which allowed the cysts to form.

They put me on Estrostep and things improved IMMEDIATELY, the cysts went away on their own and the cramps have all but stoppped. Plus these pills cause NO weight gain or queasiness

[raeanna74]

I used to get severe cramps and Migranes whenever I started my period. I was out of commission for a whole day and feeling Really uncomfortable for a few more. My Dr and I worked through quite a few options till we found one that has worked fairly well for me. I take Seasonale birth control pills. They are a 90 day cycle pill where I have only 4 periods a year. That alone freed me from the monthly cramping. Then we found that my taking Iron suppliments helped with both my migranes and my periods. We've since gone to a prenatal vitamin suppliment that has a slightly higher dose of Iron than regular suppliments but I'm not taking quite as much as a single pill might give me. Then finally I take Imitrex (or Maxalt works too) for my Migranes and Naproxin for cramps. She actually gave me a prescription for Naproxin that is 3 times the strength of one regular Aleve pill. That usually is enough to let me function without much cramping getting in my way. I've also found that it seems like I get less intense cramping when I don't use a tampon. Maybe it's psychological but whatever works.

It took me quite a while to get settled onto something that worked for me. Seasonale doesn't seem to have the same side effects that some pills have. Because it's taken for a longer term the hormone dosages in the pill aren't quite as great as some other BC pills. The cause of my migranes AND cramps is mostly because of the CHANGE in hormones. The BC pills help control all that. I've been on Seasonale for almost a year now. I have tried 5 different other kinds of pills and one of them we tried me taking it the normal way and also tried skipping the placebos for two packets in a row then letting myself have a period the third time. The dosages in that pill weren't quite right for me though. Don't give up. Sometimes you have to take the pills for a couple months to know if they'll work for you or not. I know it may seem like a long process but it may well be worth it.

[Demeter]

My sisters awful cramps came from endometriosis. Get checked out. It can get worse as time goes on.

[lurkette]

Definitely get it checked out. Any changes in your cycle should be checked out by a doctor. The cramps could be due to hormonal changes, or they could be due to some kind of medical cause like endometriosis or fibroids. Going on the pill should help, and there are so many formulations of the pill out there that you should be able to find one that works for you with minimal side effects. I used to get cramps that would literally drop me to the floor and keep me up all night. Even ibuprofen didn't do more than take the edge off.

One simple thing you can do to ease cramps is to change your diet. Cramps that aren't caused by some kind of medical condition are generally caused by excess prostaglandins that stimulate severe muscle contractions. Avoiding foods that produce prostaglandins (dairy, processed meats) can really help. Here's a good article on some simple dietary things (like taking magnesium) that you can do to ease cramps: http://www.jivemagazine.com/column.php?pid=1982

And here's some very basic information on dysmenorrhea (painful periods): http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-.../mencramp.html

I've been on a steady-dose continuous pill for a couple of years now, and I've adopted a semi-vegetarian diet (I still eat meat, but only probably 2-3 times/week). When I do have my period, which is only 3-4 times a year, it's completely bearable.

[Grasshopper Green]

Thanks everyone. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow (whoohoo for your yearly exam!) and I'll discuss it with her then.

[rhaevyn]

Since I was 12, I would get major cramps every month; bad enough that I would either miss a day or two of school, or I would have to come home from school. It wasn't JUST cramps, either; accompanied by chills and nausea and headaches and stuff. When I was 16, I was put on the pill, and the cramps and stuff virtually disappeared. Last summer, I went off it, but I'm back on it now.

[Manuel Hong]

How'd it go with the doctor, Medusa99?

[Grasshopper Green]

I had an exam and she said everything felt normal; I started the pill but haven't had my next period yet, so I'll see if they ease up in a couple of weeks. Thanks for asking!!!