Help for a Preteen with Cramps

[luvsJack]

DD is 12. Her period started last year but has never been regular.

At first she had no cramps, but now she does. In January she got really sick when she started. February she skipped. Now she is curled up in a ball on the couch where she has been since last night.

She took Mydol last night but it didn't help much. This morning I gave her Aleve and it doesn't seem to be helping much either. Last night and this morning she took hot baths (which is what always helped me the most), but it didn't help much.

Anyone have a suggestion? She has a dr. appointment during spring break (week after next) for a check up and I will mention it to him then, but I was wondering if anyone had found something over the counter that works well.

 

[NMAmy]

Give her ibuprofin instead of the Aleve. Have her start taking it a day or two before her period starts. My doctor clued me into this and it's the only thing that helps.

ETA: Oops, just saw that her periods aren't regular. Have her start taking it at the very first twinge--tell her not to wait until it gets bad.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd's take Pamprin. My youngest has it as well, she is almost 15.

She slogs through it. Lay off caffeine, drink water, moving around helps. Staying curled in a ball is not going to help.

I know it stinks. My dd recently has the new symptom of feeling like she wants to barf. Hurray.

 

[DVCLiz]

Motrin. Ask her doctor for dosage suggestions and if possible get a prescription for 800 mg pills. Have her start taking them as soon as she starts or has symptoms and keep taking them consistently.

I used to have to take Darvon as a teen and college student - thank God for the invention of Motrin. Really, it was amazing how well it worked. It's a prostaglandin inhibitor and that's what causes such severe cramping in most cases.

 

[Mermaid02]

Ibuprofen- and as someone else said try to "stay ahead" of the pain. Also a heating pad or hot water bottle might help.

 

[cepmom]

ibprofen helped me the most...I would take 4 (200 mg) at the first sign of cramps and continue every 4 - 5 hours until it subsided. Also I used to use these disposable heat pads that are made for cramps....they are sticky on one side so you can attach to the inside of you pants with the warm side against your stomach....they will help relieve the cramps for hours.

 

[golfgal]

Another one for ibuprofen. She also may need closer to a prescription dose too, 800mg. Like other's have said, take it around the clock, not just when it gets bad. You need to build up the level in your system for it to work properly.

Birth Control pills help for some but I wouldn't want a 12 year old on them though.

 

[mjlewis23]

I have had the same problem since I was about 13. Poor girl....it used to get so bad for me that I would literally throw up. Anything with Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Midol, Pamprin, etc) does not help at all....I don't even know why they market them for cramps. Alleve helps ever so slightly, but not really. What you need is anything with Ibuprofen in it. Advil, Motrin, or just generic ibuprofen will help. But, if she's anything like the way I was, ibuprofen alone won't help completely.

What I do now (well not *now* because I'm pregnant...lol), is take ibuprofen at the first indication, then continue to take it for the next 2 days or so. Then at the slightest twinge of pain, I use those thermalcare patches that you can get at the drug store. The thermalcare patches work wonders because they deliver a constant source of heat, and I can wear them to work.

If she was a bit older I would also suggest a birth control pill, because my cramps were cut in half after getting on a good pill.

Another thing, have her keep her stomach full, even though she will not want to. If you allow her to drink soda, the carbonation helps too.

Even with all of that, be patient with her. There are times where I physically could not make myself get out of my curled up fetal position to go to school or work. It literally hurt almost as much as childbirth. Luckily the worst of it for me had about a 2-3 hour span then I could go about my day. (with the ibuprofen/thermal care mix)

Hope this helps!

Michelle

 

[mickeygirl14]

Heating pads, Motrin at the first twinge of pain and lots of fluids. Mine were always worst when I wasn't drinking enough water. (And I was also one to be curled in the fetal position and having to take sick day(s) from school.) Also, I know she's probably too young for it now and I know some would think I'm crazy to suggest, but birth control pills did help me tremendously with the cramps/pain. That may be an option later on.

 

[SydSim]

Strongly agree with prescription strength ibuprofen (600-800mg. Generic is just fine), but make sure she takes it with food. Yes, many people can take it on an empty stomach (me!), but so many people get sick to their stomach if they take it without food. And since she's already feeling poorly, it will only make it worse.

And physical activity once the ibuprofen kicks in.

I was one of those teens that suffered as well (crying, vomiting, etc.). Unfortunately, my family gave me aspirin, and ewwww yuck Golden Seal nasty tea, on an empty stomach. They didn't have a clue....so glad things are different for our daughters.

 

[golfgal]

I have had the same problem since I was about 13. Poor girl....it used to get so bad for me that I would literally throw up. Anything with Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Midol, Pamprin, etc) does not help at all....I don't even know why they market them for cramps. Alleve helps ever so slightly, but not really. What you need is anything with Ibuprofen in it. Advil, Motrin, or just generic ibuprofen will help. But, if she's anything like the way I was, ibuprofen alone won't help completely.

What I do now (well not *now* because I'm pregnant...lol), is take ibuprofen at the first indication, then continue to take it for the next 2 days or so. Then at the slightest twinge of pain, I use those thermalcare patches that you can get at the drug store. The thermalcare patches work wonders because they deliver a constant source of heat, and I can wear them to work.

If she was a bit older I would also suggest a birth control pill, because my cramps were cut in half after getting on a good pill.

Another thing, have her keep her stomach full, even though she will not want to. If you allow her to drink soda, the carbonation helps too.

Even with all of that, be patient with her. There are times where I physically could not make myself get out of my curled up fetal position to go to school or work. It literally hurt almost as much as childbirth. Luckily the worst of it for me had about a 2-3 hour span then I could go about my day. (with the ibuprofen/thermal care mix)

Hope this helps!

Michelle

Good idea, I am going to get some of those for dd.

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

My daughter uses heated pain patches so she wont miss school, its like having a portable hot water bottle. We buy the ones that are made for you lower back, she places on on her tummy in the morning and then another after lunch. That and Motrin work most times.

 

[a1tinkfans]

DD is 12. Her period started last year but has never been regular.

At first she had no cramps, but now she does. In January she got really sick when she started. February she skipped. Now she is curled up in a ball on the couch where she has been since last night.

She took Mydol last night but it didn't help much. This morning I gave her Aleve and it doesn't seem to be helping much either. Last night and this morning she took hot baths (which is what always helped me the most), but it didn't help much.

Anyone have a suggestion? She has a dr. appointment during spring break (week after next) for a check up and I will mention it to him then, but I was wondering if anyone had found something over the counter that works well.

I would have her for her first visit with a Gyn (they do not do an exam, just meet) to get them ready for what is to come. I would get a female dr for a young girl, but thats just me. They can help provide ideas that are best for your child.
Usually if you get some caffeine into them, (flat soda) it helps alleviate the issues a bit, warm heating pad to abdomen. The things we ladies put up with, right!
Hope her issues resolve, it can be very difficult to revolve your world, around a m/cycle...just awful....

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I had horrible cramps that started when I was 12. I was just like your daughter, curled up in a ball and nothing worked. I popped pills like it was candy. I started doing research and went to a different doctor. This doctor told me to get on magnesium and vitamin D and it worked. My DD who is 13 started getting bad cramps out of the blue and I put her on magnesium and vitamin D and it worked! You have to take it daily. Also the vitamin DIM works well too. Good luck! I hope your daughter gets the cramps under control.

 

[Kika]

I had this issue when I was younger. The ONLY thing that helped was when my doctor prescribed me Anaprox, which is basically the prescription strength Aleve. I would ask for this or prescription strength Ibuprofen. None of the over the counter stuff cut it for me.

A heating pad may help a little, too.

Good luck!

 

[Mama_Dis]

Extra iron. It seriously helps with so many of the crummy side effects of that time- cramping, headaches, fatigue etc. Get a slow release iron (I like SlowFe) and have her take one every day she's on her period. HTH!

 

[snapppyd]

I suffered horribly for years and years. Finally a doctor told me to take 3 Advil every few hours and that finally did the trick! Take with toast or cereal or it will cause stomach irritation.

I really don't miss those days

 

[Diegosmom]

Heating pad worked for me...and birth control. I did go on till I was 18 but I wish I had started earlier they worked wonders...not sure about someone so young but I would talk to OBGYN about it.

 

[luvsJack]

Thanks everyone for the responses! I had cramps but not as bad as she is having and a hot bath would do wonders for me, so I really was at a loss.

I will go now and get some Ibuprofen and some of those heat patches (GREAT idea!). She already takes iron and she was taking Vitamin D on a sugggestion of a nurse on trying to get her built back up after having mono. I may start those again and the magnesium.

And thanks, a1tinkfans! I really did not know that a gyn would do just a meeting/appt. and didn't want to freak her out just yet with an exam. The first time I saw a ob/gyn was when I was pregnant (talk about a shock!). I will set that up when we see her regular dr.

 

[mousebymarriage]

Ibuprofen- and as someone else said try to "stay ahead" of the pain. Also a heating pad or hot water bottle might help.

I agree 100%!
DD14 got her period when she was 11. For the first year or so it was a bit irregular (would get her period, then not again for maybe 6 or 7 weeks, then twice in one month. it was a pain).
Anyway, ibuprofen works best for her even back when she first started getting her period. Just have her start taking it as soon as she begins to have symptoms, if she waits until the pain gets bad then it is much harder to control. DD also uses a heating pad but, she only needs it for the first 2 or 3days, thats when her cramps seem to be at their worst.