Nausea and cramps

[wvjules]

Who has a home remedy? I really don't want to go down road to the BCP but DD's cramps and nausea are horrible. She spends atleast one day a month throwing up and 2-3 others in pain. She takes Midol but it only dulls the pain and doesn't do much for the nausea. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else to try? (She approved this message. She wants relief that bad. )

 

[BEloveDisney]

Heating pad and sprite or 7up? Tums? Take her to the doc and see if he can recommend something?

Maybe BCP is the best option...

 

[DVCLiz]

First switch to Motrin. Have her take it consistently the whole time - the idea is to keep it in her system. Get a prescription strength if you can so she doesn't have to take it as often, or take twice the number of OTC pills at a time - we took 800 mg about every 6 - 8hours.

Motrin was a miracle drug for me and my daughter because it inhibits prostoglandin, and an overage of that hormone/substance can cause more severe cramping.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I suffered like your daughter. I had a prescription for the cramps. But I think the biggest help was the timing of when you took something for the cramps. Even Midol worked when taken early enough. It seemed like once the cramps started nothing worked, but when I took something early enough it made a huge difference. The dr. had told me about this and it helped alot. And to take another dose just before the first one wore off. Like if it is a 4 hour dose, take another one after 3.5 hours. As soon as I would start for the month, I took midol or the prescription meds. I would even do this if I felt like I was going to start, like the day before or so. I hope this helps because I am sure she is miserable.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

First switch to Motrin. Have her take it consistently the whole time - the idea is to keep it in her system. Get a prescription strength if you can so she doesn't have to take it as often, or take twice the number of OTC pills at a time - we took 800 mg about every 6 - 8hours.

Motrin was a miracle drug for me and my daughter because it inhibits prostoglandin, and an overage of that hormone/substance can cause more severe cramping.

I just read this, and I was prescribed Mortin.

 

[Octoberbride03]

The Therapads are fantastic for cramps. And you can ear them for hours, there is 1 for cycle cramps so check the drug store. As a PP said you want to keep the medicine in her the whole time. AS SOON AS it starts or even the day before if she can time it that well start dosing with meds, For me Midol and Phazyme are my standard routine, as I get a bit gassy but no nausea most times. Had that last month but that was an exception to the rule. Every once in awhile i need a chaser of Advil on top of the Midol, but not always. Midol is codiene and the Advil is ibuprofen, so you're not going overboard on either.

How old is your DD btw? I don't miss the cycles of my teenage years that's for sure. But I never really had less cramps until after my surgery for fibroids..

 

[wvjules]

Thank you! So next month we will try high strength Motrin as soon as she feels like she's getting ready to start then keep it consistently in her system for 3 days. Hopefully this will help her.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

She needs to take the ibuprofin before her menses start, ie when the prostaglandins begin their "descent into inflammation" of the pelvic area, which is "pre menstrual". For this, she can learn to track her cycles to get an idea of when it will be a few days before, and at this time she can keep the dose low. This will help prevent the bloating and cramping, etc. Once her menses start, she should keep up with the dosing, round the clock. Keep the dosing as low as possible in order to get the desired effect, which will also require trial and error. And remember to take ibuprofin with food. If she's sensitive to ibuprofin, my sympathies. It's the only thing I've ever gotten to work for me.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I feel for her. Mine were horrible in highschool. I remember one day laying down on the floor in the art room it was so bad. And I didn't even care who knew why I was laying there.

Ibuprofen was the only thing that helped me. Once my cramps were not as painful (due to the Ibu), the nausea was better, too, though not completely gone.

Mine got better around age 20 and then after I had my first son, they were a lot better.

If I were you, I would take her to the gyn and see what they can do.

 

[MosMom]

Lots of Ibuprofen and hot hot baths. Heating pads work too but for me, sitting my whole lower half (because the cramps radiate to my back as well) in heat is better.

 

[lemondog]

Definitely ibuprofen! 800mg every 6-8 hours. It's the only thing that works for me. You can get prescription strength or just take 4 of the 200mg pills. And like the others have said, it's much easier to prevent the pain than to treat it once it has hit. Start early and keep it up round the clock for a couple of days. It should make a huge difference.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I totally understand! Mine were so bad..I started at 12 y.o. and had it 10-11 days and the 1st 2-3 days were horrific! Unfortunately my mom thought I was making it up until twice when we were on vacation and I refused to leave the sofa because it was so painful, I couldn't even walk. Motrin only helped a little and after 2 years of it my family Dr. finally recommended I go on bcp. What a godsend! Hope your dd finds some relief!

 

[golfgal]

I used to take 4 mortrin every 3 1/2 hours when I had bad cramps. She should really start taking it 2-3 days BEFORE she starts and take it on a schedule like others have said. I haven't had cramps since I was pregnant with our oldest, but I wouldn't recommend that, YET.

 

[Octoberbride03]

This is tracking site I use for my own cycle. The basic tracking is free and sends reminders for for due dates after you report in for 3 months so it can establish a pattern. I find it very helpful as I never remembered to write down the start date on a written calender. Its very helpful, and you can report in weight, meds used. all kinds of stuff. I love it. it should be very helpful in alerting your DD on when to start dosing.


http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/

 

[wvjules]

This is tracking site I use for my own cycle. The basic tracking is free and sends reminders for for due dates after you report in for 3 months so it can establish a pattern. I find it very helpful as I never remembered to write down the start date on a written calender. Its very helpful, and you can report in weight, meds used. all kinds of stuff. I love it. it should be very helpful in alerting your DD on when to start dosing.


http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/

Thanks for that website. I'll email it to her.

Thank you everyone. I plan on next month being a better month.

golfgal, me too! After I gave birth to DD I never had cramps again. lol

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm planning on going the BCP route with dd14, which my mom did for me, when I was 16. Those cramps were horrible. I never had any side effects, and ended up being the most fertile woman on the planet (which I did warn dd about).

 

[disneydawgs4]

My DD can so relate to this. I was just the opposite, didn't have trouble as a teen, but in mid 20s and after children, was horrible until my hysterectomy 3 years ago.
Anyway, I agree with PP's about getting and keeping the Motrin in her system, really does help. I do think you need to have a GYN see her though. My daughter put up with the pain, etc. for over 2 years before I finally took her (I know, bad mom, just kept hoping it would get better) and she has now tried 4 different BCP's and about to start Prometrium because after the last pill, she started having left side only pain and we had an ultrasound done to rule out cysts. Once dr saw there were none, just evidence that she does not ovulate yet (common for teens), he is trying this new non-estrogen (she has plenty already in her system) pill and we will see what happens.
All this to say, even after going to dr, it is still taking trial and error to find the one that really helps (we have been doing this almost a year now), but hang in there!
Hope you can find some answers and help.

 

[dispor]

I think going to 800 mg of ibuprofen might be a bit much to start with, especially as it sounds like you haven't tried it for her cramps yet. (A lower dose might work fine for her - depending on her weight, etc.) That many mgs is really hard on my stomach. Definitely have her take it with food or milk. Personally, I would try 600 mg to start with. It is a wonder drug for me. I hope it works as well for your daughter!

But I agree with the others who say she should be seen by a doctor. It could endometreosis, etc. And if the dr. says bcp will help, please consider them. There is no reason for her to suffer for three days every month!!

Let us kow how it goes!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Personally, I would try 600 mg to start with.

I would say even 200mg "pre" menstrually, then up if needed. (But, especially for tweens and teens, you should check with your health care provider on dosing.) My DD12 1/2 joined this club this summer and the 200-400mg is working well for her. I think *if taken correctly*, for most sufferers, this will do the trick. I also suffered horribly when I was younger. Ibuprofen was truly a miracle drug for me, and fortunately, one of my health care providers taught me how to use it correctly way back when, so I've never needed anything else. As others have said, pregnancy helped somewhat, but now I'm back to horrible pain again some months. My mother was the same way.

 

[disneygirl_wdw]

I totally understand! Mine were so bad..I started at 12 y.o. and had it 10-11 days and the 1st 2-3 days were horrific! Unfortunately my mom thought I was making it up until twice when we were on vacation and I refused to leave the sofa because it was so painful, I couldn't even walk. Motrin only helped a little and after 2 years of it my family Dr. finally recommended I go on bcp. What a godsend! Hope your dd finds some relief!

My story is similar. I was 11 when I got mine and mine would last 10-11 days, the first 3 days being horrible. My mom didn't want me to go on birth control until we were heading to Panama City Beach, one of my favorite places, and I told them to leave me in Nashville I was feeling that bad. We called the Dr the next day and I was put on bcp. The Dr wondered why I hadn't been in sooner, since it lasted so long and it was that painful. It has helped a lot with me and that was pretty much the only thing that did.