I hate when it's a bad one... (WARNING: GIRLY ISSUES AHEAD!)

[fireheart]

One other question: have you looked at getting the implant? Dunno what it's called in the US, or even if it exists in the US, but Implanon is basically about the size of a matchstick, goes right under the skin of your upper arm and stays there for three years. In most cases, it generally makes periods lighter or they don't occur at all.

[The Last to Know]

I'm sorry you have such a hard time with your monthly. I, myself, have been kinda lucky (truly luck would be not to have it at all), but know penty of women who have had hard times. My old PCP told me to take magnesium supplement when I was suffering from dibilitating back pain - he said it was a natural muscle relaxer. It actually works very good. Another thing I have found to work is an herb called Cramp Bark - http://health.howstuffworks.com/cram...l-remedies.htm - that site will give you some info on it & you might be able to find it in a tincture at a health food store - if not you can make your own tincture.
After having my third son (after birth cramps get worse after the birth of each child) I brought & only used herbal medicines to control the bleeding & the pain.
Good luck & I hope it gets better.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Have you tried Naproxen Sodium (Aleve)?

That's my all time favorite painkiller for muscle and joint issues.

That's what they gave me after my car accident (prescription strength). Still couldn't sit up in bed the next morning...but that and the muscle relaxers were nice for a few days...

[ArcticChicken]

My doctor advises large doses of Advil or Motrin, and actually prescribed 800 mg Motrin for me to take. It helps a little.

Have you tried Naproxen Sodium (Aleve)?

That's my all time favorite painkiller for muscle and joint issues.

[Buglady]

Thanks to this thread, I went and bought a magnesium supplement today, figuring it can't hurt - and I'll be biking HARD pretty soon so I probably need it for that too (Food sources of magnesium: whole grains, dark leafy veggies, and nuts/seeds. I'm not eating much of any of those, don't know about you all...)

Also, while studying pharmacology, learned that the nineteenth century's cure-all for cramps was laudanum! Whee, alcohol AND opium all in one!! (I would imagine that it would help with cramps all right... but the constipating effects might well make you worse off...)

[BookstoreEscapee]

I don't remember if I've suggested this before, but calcium and magnesium seem to help the pain

Calcium and magnesium can definitely help. Symptoms of low levels of both include muscle spasms (as I suddenly get a cramp in my calf - ow! Talk about irony...).

Hmm...guess I can't share my Milanos or my fudge brownie cookies...

*tosses bag of oatmeal cookies while keeping arms safely in New Jersey*

[lupo pazzesco]

Finally had endometrial ablation (second degree burn of the inside surface of the uterus. Owie) to stop it, and to fix a set of monstrous fibroids. The relief was wonderful. Wish I'd done it decades ago.

I've had issues with fibroids as well. 2 D&Cs in my history, to get rid of some particularly nasty ones. Nothing like laying in stirrups and having a doctor go at you with what looks like a melon baller to your innards, and feeling hollowed out like a Halloween pumpkin. (Apologies if the imagery is too graphic. I'm trying NOT to go into horrendous detail...)

Yes, you know it's bad when I go in for a checkup at 14, while on my period, and then get grilled over my sexual history because they assume I'm miscarrying. (Not to squick most people out, highlight to read the following...)

I pass clots a lot when I'm not on the pill, and bleed very very heavily. To say it's unpleasant and painful is the understatement of the century.

[morgana]

Hopefully one day there will be a way women won't need to have periods without being pregnant or going through menopause.

Wouldn't that be wonderful . . . I feel for you, Lupo. I've had the on-a-week-off-a-week, might-as-well-be-in-labor periods as well. Most of my life. Started when I was nine.

Finally had endometrial ablation (second degree burn of the inside surface of the uterus. Owie) to stop it, and to fix a set of monstrous fibroids. The relief was wonderful. Wish I'd done it decades ago.

[blas]

I wouldn't even say it was that. It's the big issue with the typed word versus the spoken word. I have a hard time deciphering sometimes if someone is being facetious or serious, and I've even had a few posts that came across the wrong way.

No worries Just wanted to add my 2 cents on what saved me from being a slave to my own body and how I was able to live like a normal young lady again. Hopefully one day there will be a way women won't need to have periods without being pregnant or going through menopause.

[lupo pazzesco]

Mk, good! I just know that when I'm hormonal and pissy, I may come off as sounding aggressive, or interpret other posts as such. My bad. I was just afraid I'd insulted/upset someone. That's all.

[blas]

Oh lupo, no no no no....I should have clarified. It wasn't you or anyone on this site trashing Depo.

Edit: I shouldn't have typed it out to sound so dramatic. Most of the time, I only hear bad things about Depo from coworkers or girls I talk to when I'm out and about.

[lupo pazzesco]

if it sounded like I was talking trash about depo, then I'm sorry. I'm not. My sister's on it, and it's right for her. But discussing options with my doctor, it was the conclusion that the pill I'm on now is what's best for me.

Again, I didn't want to sound like I was badmouthing depo, blas. I'm glad it helped you, but it's just not right for me.

to each their own, I suppose.

[blas]

Most girls I talk to are too scared to go on Depo or have been on it and gained a lot of weight or went insane....not sure if I believe it all....some girls probably have....but with ANY form of birth control, you need to watch your weight and exercise. Depo is probably the worst for weight gain, but you can gain weight on the Pill as well. Extra hormones, ya'll...

Funny story, EQ.....my medical insurance covers my Depo shot 100%. I do not pay a penny for it.

But...every. other. form. of birth control costs extra. It's messed up. My coworker Michelle is on Yaz and she has to pay $50 a month for it. I wonder how much a month's worth of Yaz is without insurance! Yikes!

I don't know why Depo is covered 100% but the Pill, the patch, and the ring are not. I heard IUDs are quite spendy too, even with insurance.

I won't go on the Pill for any reason. The Pill is how I got here.

[Evil Queen]

I haven't heard anything bad about the Depo shot. Of course, I haven't gone looking for the bad stuff either.

My now-ex-roommate's girlfriend (Duckies4becca, she's a member here) is on the Depo. She's always singing praises about it. Wish I could be on it but I don't make enough money for it. Oh well. I like my Ortho Try-Cyclen.

[blas]

After a period that went on for several months straight with barely a break snuck in, I went to the doctor and got on the Depo shot when I was 17. I can honestly say that I have never had a period of any kind or anything heavier than very light spotting in 5 years.

It has been the best 5 years of my life.

Sure, Depo is controversial and has the worst side effects of probably any birth control. I have to exercise every day and take calcium supliments....but I figure even if I wasn't on Depo, I'd need to be regularly exercising anyway.

Talk all the shit you want about Depo Provera, but it helped stop me from being a slave to my own body.