Re: pain relief for menstrual cramping

[Guest guest]

Do you mind if I ask a personal question? Do you use tampons or pads during

your period? I had severe cramping and pain during my periods but after I

switched to reusable cloth pads my pains are much less. They are almost

gone except for on the first day.

I know this is not a remedy for everyone but it sure made a huge difference

in my life.

Blessings,

pain relief for menstrual cramping

Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been talking Naproxen Sodium for

years during the first few days of my period because it's the ONLY thing

that's releived my pain. For alternatives, I've tried Dr. Schulze's female

balance formula but that didn't help and is too expensive to continue with.

Now that I'm taking HCl regularly, I especially want to avoid -1

inhibitors like Naproxen Sodium since they reduce the protective lining of

the stomach, which could cause serious problems when taking HCl especially.

And of course, I don't want to continue taking drugs indefinitely!

What has worked for you ladies who've had pretty serious menstrual pain?

TIA!

Suze Fisher

[Guest guest]

>> Calcium/magnesium usage seems to be the key. <<

I second this recommendation. I take a big dose, three times the daily

recommendation, at the first sign of bad cramping, and that usually takes care

of it. " Theoretically " we can't assimilate that much calcium at one time, but it

seems to have a pharmacological effect anyway.

Hope this helps!

Christie

Caber Feidh ish Deerhounds

Holistically Raising Our Dogs Since 1986

http://www.caberfeidh.com/

http://www.doggedblog.com/

[Guest guest]

Suze Fisher wrote:

> Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been talking Naproxen Sodium for

> years during the first few days of my period because it's the ONLY thing

> that's releived my pain. For alternatives, I've tried Dr. Schulze's female

> balance formula but that didn't help and is too expensive to continue

> with.

> Now that I'm taking HCl regularly, I especially want to avoid -1

> inhibitors like Naproxen Sodium since they reduce the protective lining of

> the stomach, which could cause serious problems when taking HCl

> especially.

> And of course, I don't want to continue taking drugs indefinitely!

>

> What has worked for you ladies who've had pretty serious menstrual pain?

>

> TIA!

>

> Suze Fisher

Calcium/magnesium usage seems to be the key.

I was having problems about the time I was

having bone pain and tetany, which I don't get

anymore. But there's a fair bit of study that's

been done on it. Cal/mag is related to migraines

too, and I would always get my migraines around

PMS time. However, though the migraines got

BETTER with cal/mag, they didn't go away until

I stopped dairy, so dairy might fit in there somewhere.

I didn't read all of this, but it's similar to

other stuff I have read. And of course you

know from here and the GFCFNN list that " calcium imbalance "

can come from IgA allergies, gut damage,

hormone issues, lack of Vit D, etc.

http://altmed.creighton.edu/pmdd/calcium.htm

Recent studies have shown that the underlying pathophysiologic changes

that occur with PMDD could be a reflection of an important physiologic

disruption in calcium regulation. Significant alterations in the

hormones that manage calcium metabolism have been studied during the

menstrual cycle of women with PMDD with the results pointing to calcium

imbalance as a possible causal factor. Retrospective and prospective

investigations have identified a relationship between PMDD and bone

loss, further promoting a derangement in calcium metabolism as a

potential biologic trigger for PMDD. Therefore, dietary calcium

supplementation may be a possible therapeutic modality for PMDD.

Previous clinical investigations have shown calcium to be helpful in

alleviating symptoms such as irritability, depression, anxiety, social

withdrawal, headache, and cramps. In a double-blind randomized

crossover trial done by Thys-s et al^5 in 1989, a 50% reduction in

PMDD symptoms was found among 33 women on a daily calcium regimen of

1000 mg. In a similar study by Penland and in 1993, increasing

dietary calcium intake to 1336 mg per day reduced mood, pain, and water

retention symptoms among women during their menstrual cycles.

-- Heidi

[Guest guest]

Suze,

I'm 25 and have had horrible cramps up until a few years ago, though

what's worked for me isn't something I took. I made a lifestyle

change, though I didn't do it for that reason and didn't realize what

happened until later. But here it is: When I got myself out of

stressful situations by relaxing the urge to control the situation or

other people, and by generally not being around stressful situations

as much as I could, my periods became closer together in time,

shorter, and the cramping became less. The more I'm around supportive

people (tribe), the less my stress is. Just these last few months and

especially the last month though, I've been under an incredible amount

of stress being trapped here with my in-laws, to the point of several

nervous breakdowns, and lo and behold my period was very late and the

cramping horrendous. I am normally on schedule with the full moon,

about 28 days, and when I am stressed it is up to a week or more " off. "

So, de-stressing works for me. Re-tribalizing works. So does laying

down on my stomach, if it's really bad. Conversely, exercise also

help, especially exercises that move that area around, like a good

fast hike or walk. It hurts at first when I just start out walking,

but it begins to go away and the decrease in pain lasts a lot longer

than laying down.

Sincerely,

> Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been talking Naproxen Sodium for

> years during the first few days of my period because it's the ONLY thing

> that's releived my pain. For alternatives, I've tried Dr. Schulze's

female

> balance formula but that didn't help and is too expensive to

continue with.

> Now that I'm taking HCl regularly, I especially want to avoid -1

> inhibitors like Naproxen Sodium since they reduce the protective

lining of

> the stomach, which could cause serious problems when taking HCl

especially.

> And of course, I don't want to continue taking drugs indefinitely!

>

> What has worked for you ladies who've had pretty serious menstrual pain?

>

> TIA!

>

> Suze Fisher

> Lapdog Design, Inc.

> Web Design & Development

> http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg

> Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine

> http://www.westonaprice.org

>

> ----------------------------

> " The diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause

> heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times. "

--

> Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt

> University, Tennessee; heart disease researcher.

>

> The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

> <http://www.thincs.org>

> ----------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions.

, I use both pads and tampons. The first few days my flow is pretty

heavy so I use tampons, but when it's lighter I prefer pads. I do notice a

bit of a difference in the pain.

As for cal/mag supps, I'm already concerned I'm not getting enough cal (and

maybe mag?) I take 6 capsules of Ron's cal/mag supp daily, but that's only

1000 mgs cal and 500 mgs mag total. I don't think I get much cal from food,

especially since cutting out most dairy. Christie, how much cal and mag do

you take daily at the first sign of cramping? And what forms do you take?

Heidi, do you take a cal/mag supp as a general rule of thumb? I'm thinking I

should take more of both regularly, but have no idea how much is too much. I

don't mind " overdosing " temporarily during cramping though!

As for stress, thanks , I *am* going through some stressful times now,

so I'm sure it's not helping :-( I'm usually quite regular too, but

apparently my recent fast threw off the timing.

Suze Fisher

Lapdog Design, Inc.

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg

Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine

http://www.westonaprice.org

----------------------------

“The diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause

heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times.” --

Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt

University, Tennessee; heart disease researcher.

The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

<http://www.thincs.org>

----------------------------

[Guest guest]

I would highly recommend switching to completely reusable pads. Our bodies

were meant to flow freely and cleanse itself during this time. By using

tampons are you inserting a foreign body that is not natural. The cramping

many times is you body trying to remove this foreign body.

Also light exercise can very helpful just immediately before and during the

beginning of your period. Nothing heavy just some light yoga or even

walking to help your body begin the process. It is helpful for stress

relief and relaxation due to the endorphin release.

-----Original Message-----

From:

[mailto: ]On Behalf Of Suze Fisher

, I use both pads and tampons. The first few days my flow is pretty

heavy so I use tampons, but when it's lighter I prefer pads. I do notice a

bit of a difference in the pain.

[Guest guest]

Cod liver oil helped me a lot. I got to where I was taking it with

calcium, though. And then taking magnesium sometimes, too.

But aren't you already taking CLO/cal/mag?

> Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been talking Naproxen Sodium

for

> years during the first few days of my period because it's the ONLY

thing

> that's releived my pain. For alternatives, I've tried Dr. Schulze's

female

> balance formula but that didn't help and is too expensive to

continue with.

> Now that I'm taking HCl regularly, I especially want to avoid -1

> inhibitors like Naproxen Sodium since they reduce the protective

lining of

> the stomach, which could cause serious problems when taking HCl

especially.

> And of course, I don't want to continue taking drugs indefinitely!

>

> What has worked for you ladies who've had pretty serious menstrual

pain?

>

> TIA!

>

> Suze Fisher

> Lapdog Design, Inc.

> Web Design & Development

> http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg

> Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine

> http://www.westonaprice.org

>

> ----------------------------

> " The diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol

cause

> heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times. " -

-

> Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at

Vanderbilt

> University, Tennessee; heart disease researcher.

>

> The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

> <http://www.thincs.org>

> ----------------------------

[Guest guest]

Suze,

>

>What has worked for you ladies who've had pretty serious menstrual pain?

>

Since my teens I have had painful cramps off and on. I was almost

hoping for amenorrhea with a raw vegan diet, just to avoid cramps. It

didn't happen because I couldn't keep at it. But I have been a pad user

pretty exclusively for the last 5 years, with yogic thought mainly the

reason. Since I have been lower carb NT the last year and a half, I

have not had many problems at all, maybe an hour of discomfort at most,

and my cycles are set at 27 days or less consistently. I have noted

dairy as a possible culprit in the past, but that doesn't always pan

out. I rarely supplement the foods I eat; not even with CLO very

regularly. That is my experience and I know it doesn't offer specifics

except a noted increase in animal foods, mainly meat with fat. I was

always told that having kids would reset it or something, but that never

happened for me.

Deanna

[Guest guest]

Suze Fisher wrote:

>

>

> As for cal/mag supps, I'm already concerned I'm not getting enough cal

> (and

> maybe mag?) I take 6 capsules of Ron's cal/mag supp daily, but that's only

> 1000 mgs cal and 500 mgs mag total. I don't think I get much cal from

> food,

> especially since cutting out most dairy. Christie, how much cal and mag do

> you take daily at the first sign of cramping? And what forms do you take?

>

> Heidi, do you take a cal/mag supp as a general rule of thumb? I'm

> thinking I

> should take more of both regularly, but have no idea how much is too

> much. I

> don't mind " overdosing " temporarily during cramping though!

I think Laurel would know a lot more about this than I do. I started

taking Costco Cal/Mag/Zinc some time before I learned about

NN, and it got rid of several problems so I just stick with it.

The studies often use plain ol' Calcium Carbonate, which isn't

even all that digestible, and they have good results with that!

I've taken anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day ... if I start

getting tetany I take more, then I start taking less (I usually

get tetany though, when I forget to take any for 3-4 days).

But Laurel's point, that if you have GI then the body doesn't

have a good *regulation* of calcium uptake, is a good

one, I think. Most people really don't OD on calcium because

the body just excretes it, but some people get too much, esp.

relative to magnesium, and some people (it is said) get kidney

stones from taking too much. This latter I doubt ... I think

the stones are likely another " disregulation " issue. People who

have celiac often get calcium deposits (in their brain, heel spurs,

etc) at the same time they have osteoporosis, which says

to me anyway that lack of calcium or too much calcium

by itself isn't the issue.

All of which might boil down to: experiment!

-- Heidi

[Guest guest]

>> Christie, how much cal and mag do

you take daily at the first sign of cramping? And what forms do you take? <<

I take 3000 mgs calcium and 1500 mgs magnesium. I'm using a form that is working

fine for me but that I am going to switch from when this bottle is done - I was

going to try Dr. Ron's formula next time. This is the label:

http://us.st7.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/vitanet_1858_36590093

This is three times the amount I normally take in a day.

Christie

Caber Feidh ish Deerhounds

Holistically Raising Our Dogs Since 1986

http://www.caberfeidh.com/

http://www.doggedblog.com/

[Guest guest]

Suze,

I would also recommend switching over to cloth pads,

the change for me has been phenomenal. Also, there is

an alternative to tampons... the keeper, and also the

divacup. I used to have cramps so bad that I would

have to stay home from school or work, use muscle

relaxers, a heating pad, and phenergan, all together.

They were really bad, but I got relief after I

switched over to cloth. One other thing that I can

recommend is the herb cramp bark, you can get it in

capsule form at the health food store. It worked

well.

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