Calcium stopped her cramps
Hi.
I suffered severe menstrual cramps for 20 years (starting at 16) that
left me crying in bed for at least two days a month. Then I read SOMEWHERE
(I think it was in a book by Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar but I won't swear
to it) that the biggest reason we have cramps is because in the few days
leading up to our periods, our bodies become depleted of calcium. This made
sense to me as I couldn't drink milk as I was lactose intolerant. She suggested
a 600 mg calcium supplement to rid ourselves of the cramps..
I started taking a 600 mg calcium supplement (the Walmart brand Spring
Valley has been tested by women's magazines and absorbs well.) I started
with the supplement the day my period started, (yes, I should have taken
one every day but I was testing her advice)
I took it for two days and had NO cramps! I tried this every period for
six months and the cramps disappeared. Never to be heard from again. [I
suggest trying also a magnesium and a vitamin D pill with the calcium to
increase absorption.]
As the mother of six daughters, I've gone on to recommend this for their
cramps too. It has worked like a charm but must be 600 mg. 250 won't work.
Our bodies can absorb a maximum of 600 mg at a time so taking more than
that in one pill is a waste. I made my discovery nine years ago and am still
cramp free as are five of my menstruating daughters
The best kudos came from one of my daughter's friends. She had cramps
so bad she threw up regularly while on her period. I asked my daughter if
she told her about the calcium. She had, but it hadn't worked.
I asked what mg she took. 250mg was the reply.
I told her she needed more. The friend was picking my daughter up to
take her to school that day, and lo and behold she'd just started her period
and the cramps were already bad. She'd already thrown up and felt like she
was going to do it again. I went and got her a 600 mg calcium supplement,
My daughter called from school 20 minutes later telling me her friend was
cramp free and she couldn't thank me enough. To this day, her friend still
uses the calcium supplement and hasn't had a cramp since that morning three
years ago.
One of my daughters forgot her calcium one morning and was in the school
nurse's office having horrible cramps. she had me call attendance and get
her older sister released to come home and get her a calcium pill. The school
nurse called and asked about the calcium thing. I informed her of my discovery
several years prior and even after my daughter told her it worked like a
charm, she informed me she couldn't "dispense medical advice"
to students "by just suggesting they take a Calcium supplement!!"
Try it, it won't hurt, and who knows? you might just feel your last menstrual
cramp.
Reach for the sky because if you should happen to miss,
you'll still be among the stars.
Have a great day
February 2007
Hi there,
Just thought I'd share my story. I've got a bicornuate uterus
(you can compare it to a normal uterus or research it more on
Google). Plus I have a double-lined uterus with each lining twice the
thickness of a regular lining. So, I was told that with the double
linings I might start having two periods per month at some point. Well,
I don't know which is better, two periods per month or one KILLER once a
month! Currently I suffer from one HELL of a period once a month. I
wonder if the people who have 'heavy' periods could even compare to this. Because
of the two double-thick linings, it's like having four times the amount
of a regular person. It sucks, but what I do is as soon as I see or
feel a hint of my period coming, I load up on Ibuprofen, which lessens the
pain. Heating pad helps, walking, sleeping, plus I have a very loving
husband, who massages my lower back gently, because it's so very sensitive. I
was on the Pill for 10 years and decided that was enough. The Pill also
made the pain a bit more bearable, plus my periods were lighter, but I don't
know if anything out there is strong enough to eliminate all the pain. I
guess I was lucky to be a VERY late bloomer. I didn't start till I
was 17. I remember being so upset because my younger sisters had theirs
and I didn't. I guess my body knew I wouldn't be able to handle the
pain at a younger age. Even with all this, I always welcome my period,
it feels like such a cleanse every month. Plus it sure makes me appreciate
being pain-free and mobile again when it's all over. It's kinda like
my monthly reminder to enjoy life as much as possible whenever you can!
I'm 32, no children, even though everyone's told me to have a child
and it would fix it. I've been told by my doctor that I would have
a very difficult time getting pregnant because of the bicornuate uterus,
plus I have one severely damaged ovary from a cyst that burst. So I decided
children weren't for me. So instead I run a daycare centre! Much
more fun, plus I get paid for it!
January 2007
Hi,
It's nice to read all the wonderful contributions.
For me when I started initially at 13, I had basically no pains but
as I grew older the pains started with cramps, vomiting and all the like.
Nothing I took seemed to work. But it's only on the first day and after
that I don't really feel pain.
Growing older I realised that taking long walks, taking deep breaths
and releasing it again and not stressing myself too much both
physically and emotionally just works like magic for me.
A friend introduced me to a painkiller (BrustanN brand name) which
I sometimes take - 1 or 2 tablets the first day (6 hourly) and it works.
I also believe if your pain is severe you could start your medication
a week or a few days before your period actually starts.
January 2007
Number one cause of cramps for me is caffeine. When I give up caffeine,
my cramps become much more manageable and most difficult symptoms of PMS
go away. Also, I firmly believe that pain is a message and that looking
very critically at my life and making changes in my habits and relationships
has done so much to ease my "flow."
March 2006
Kia Ora Harry, ["Hi" in Maori]
Firstly I think your site is marvelous. Thank you for such candor and
honest edu-tainment!
I tried to add my thoughts to your "Would you stop menstruation
if you could?" section via your Web site but it refused to work with
this computer.
Here is what I think. Please add it to your panel.
Or perhaps dismiss it as crazy hippy conspiracy femmespeak - this is
what I was inspired to write nonetheless..
I have had my period since I was fourteen. It came late, but I was glad.
While growing up I never felt like a girl, and was an utter tomboy.
I felt in fact deeply that I would never become a woman, and dreaded such
an occurrence. I sometimes wonder if this is why I developed so late. Girls
in the changing rooms at school would laugh at my flat chest and rather
than wishing I was like them I would secretly think "Well, I'm glad
I don't have those ugly lumpy things on my chest- ugh!"
I grew up on a dairy farm and the sight of women's breasts I related
in some weird way to the grossly enlarged udders of dairy cows, forced to
expel milk twice most days of the year.
For a long time I guess you could say I struggled with my femininity.
For a long time I really thought of myself as "feminist." I liked
that women could act like a man, work like a man, drink and do drugs, have
sex like a man, work sixty hour weeks, and what of it - screw you - we're
the same - we're Equal! I beat my body hard with martial arts and exercise.
During this period -(Ha!) - I suffered extremely bad cramps during my
menstruation, to the extent of being bedridden and in agony. I remember
screaming and moaning incapably and dreading my periods. Every four months
cramps would come along that made me want to die, they were that awful.
Doctors prescribed heavy-duty liver toxic painkillers, contraceptive
pills, hormonal adjustment, or even surgery. I was resistant to all these
treatments, distrusting this kind of suppressive "medicine."
I tried acupuncture, yoga, herb teas, Tibetan medicine. Stupidly, I
tried all this while not changing the way I ate or lived.
After panicking one day in an exceptionally bad period I was ambulanced
to the hospital and was left, untreated and in agony, on a bed in the corridor,
(they refused to treat me because they thought I was mentally unstable,
or on drugs, that's how crazy I was from the pain - staff wouldn't even
refill my hot water bottle for the pain) I went into some kind of pain-induced
zone of a Zen-like calm, and thought: I've got to do something about this.
The medical establishment will not help me. I have to do this by myself.
Who am I?
It is obvious to me now my hard, dare I say "male" (though
I have no idea what it is like to be male) lifestyle of hard work, late
nights, drinking, smoking, eating badly and sporadically, six cups of coffee
a day, drugs, etc., were responsible for my state. I had been suppressing
my femininity and trying to live some kind of exceptionally driven existence.
I had been duping myself.
Now, several years later I have barely a twinge during my periods, which
are light and last for about four days.
This is how I got there.
1. I eat very minimal animal products.
2. I don't drink caffeine.
3. I eat minimal processed foods.
4. I don't drink or do drugs to excess (occasionally I will have half
a glass of stout and the occasional joint or brownie).
5. I relax with yoga and capoeira.
6. I walk and cycle moderately for fitness.
7. I drink a lot of water before any other beverage.
8. I work lightly, as a job cooking what is considered "slow food."
And that's it. These things worked for me.
I basically slowed down, and got in touch with my body and stopped being
so demanding. I laugh and smile a lot more, for the joy of being.
And there is a bit of an ideology behind this, which I will try to explain.
Basically I think as women we have to engage with our connection to
the planet and stop harmful, hurtful (I could almost say demonic) activities.
I don't judge anyone who wishes to stop their menstruation, but I think
that modern western existence is fundamentally anti-feminine, and that we
are being reshaped into suffering worker drones for capitalism.
Does that sound radical? Scary? Plain ridiculous?
I think the African original woman has a lot to teach us, to stop the
pain and the frustration. Of feeling like a ROUND peg in a SQUARE hole.
Women are intuitive, nurturing beings. Our bleeding is a tool for empathy.
If we charge our love for ourselves, for all beings and for the planet our
natural strength and fulfillment will emerge. Women are strong, sweet mothers
of wisdom. Witches of herbs, minerals and stews.
We don't need to compete with men, they have their foci and we have
ours.
We are best placed in careers that emphasize our feminine aspects of
nurturing, natural wisdom, healing and other kinds of generous giving. I
am not trying to demean women in writing this, rather that femininity has
been and is continually being demeaned in this society.
I know many women who get very upset at this. I'm not suggesting that
we are not intellectual or that we are only mothers and homemakers, rather
that we need to give our femininity importance, and breathing space instead
of suppressing it for work, or play.
I give thanks to all women who have fought long and hard for our rights
- to those bright shining sisters.
But what have we lost in the fight for so-called "equality."
Do you feel equal? Really?
It's okay to feel tired - relax, have a bath, a walk, a cup of tea.
It's okay to feel bitchy - let it out in a good chat, a letter, a workout.
It's okay to ask your man (or maybe woman) to be gentle and take time
- we need to feel appreciated, loved or respected, to want to make love
in the highest sense.
It's okay to not want to have children - it is a marvelous, scary event,
but our bodies are undeniable geared to produce offspring.
It's okay to say hey, I'm a woman, I want time with my mother, sister,
women, in our feminine pursuits.
It's okay to wear a dress, a beautiful flowing sacred garment, releasing
our belly organs from constriction. It's okay to be sexy - to feel our powerful
kundalini.
I guess what I am trying to say is that our conception of femininity
is a very warped thing in this fast track existence, and that by trying
to be men, to compete in their pursuits is a dangerous thing for our cycles,
our well-being, our woman-ness.
I wish every woman could observe nature on a daily basis, sit in her
garden and tend vegetables, have time to make a simple meal, be able to
sit, chat, sew and comfort.
I'm not ashamed of being a woman. I don't desire to climb and claw and
cut throat in a race to the top. I'm glad to be educated and respected but
I don't need to fight for that - my perception of myself is more important
than reality.
It's easy for me to say this, living in a society where woman are not
subjugated to terrifying things like circumcision or sanctioned rape. These
things are perhaps female suppression of the most extreme.
But what other subtle disharmonies are we subjected to? Perhaps unrealistic
and perverted expectations? Perhaps a white Western male order?
(Please, no disrespect intended to any real men, the description of
which is for real men to consider)
I made myself very ill trying to fit an unfeminine mold, and I feel
very much for the women I know, trying to compete, distancing themselves
from their empathy, their connection to the earth, to the ancestresses in
pursuit of male fame, glory or success.
What is female success? How about we try and uplift our sisters in pursuit
of that? How about we give that cycle, circle, the respect and love it deserves.
In love, sisterhood and humility -
and with my arms open in embrace-
****
March 2006
As far as I'm concerned, diet seems to have a great effect: eating smoked
mackerel, salmon (or other similar types of "fatty" fish), mussels,
etc., a couple of times during the 14 days before period greatly improves
mood and makes menstrual pain almost non-existent. I have also found milk
thistle (available in capsules) to be have a very beneficial effect on mood.
I also found that after my first (and only) child, bleeding decreased significantly.
Franco-Brit, aged 40
November 2005
"Calcium-rich diets may prevent PMS," 13 June 2005, NewScientist.com
news service, by Anna Gosline
"Encouraging women to eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
could prevent the development of clinical premenstrual syndrome, suggests
a new US study. The findings suggest that by consuming four servings of
low fat dairy products a day, women can reduce their risk of developing
the disorder by almost 50%." Read the story.
From 13 to 19, I had terrible PMS and cramps that often left me doubled
over in pain, plus very heavy flow lasting six days. Nothing seemed to relieve
the cramps.
Since 19, when I adopted a vegetarian diet, the PMS almost disappeared,
flow decreased by half, and I have much less severe cramps that rarely last
more than two days. I try to take some ibuprofen only on the first day,
when the cramps are the worst. Drinking ginger and chamomile teas, eating
very spicy foods, avoiding caffeine, and increasing my intake of calcium
all seem to offer enough relief to make things tolerable.
Californian, age 33, started at 13, regular cycle, no pregnancies
May 2005
I find that either eating a little bit of chocolate helps or having
a hot or cold chocolate drink, using milk. Personally I have a milk shake
and it always works for me. I don't see the need in taking a drug (paracetamol).
It might help but it is still a drug and milk is more natural.
April 2005
Hello Harry, I just chanced upon your site. I really like your artwork page that described your cafe experience - it reminds
me of some of mine. And I like your artwork for the fact that it is varied
and fun.
With regards to a pain remedy, I am astonished to find that nowhere
has it been mentioned (yet) that exercise helps.
I am a pretty regular "bleeder" approximately every 28 days
who feels quite lucky that for most of my life, starting from when I was
9 years old, my parents stuck me in all sorts of extracurricular activities:
taekwondo, soccer, cross-country skiing, down-hill skiing, and even for
a year in high school I took ballet.
I started menstruating around the age of 12. and never really felt too
much "pain" about it - you know just squishy discomfort and all
the embarrassment that comes with the learning process of how to deal with
blood letting go from your body on a monthly basis that you haven't figured
out when it might come just exactly yet.
With regards to the pain, I never really experienced it too much compared
to my best friend who described severe pain - I never really knew why and
felt that I was just lucky I guess. That may be part of it but what I did
notice is that after I stopped playing soccer on a regular basis after college
(and fell into a state of being severely OUT OF SHAPE) that my pain and
discomfort ratio went up significantly.
Now I gauge how much out of shape I may be by how much I feel the ache
in my lower back knocking me around my period. I figure it is good sign
if it is relatively dull or nonexistent but if it is sharp and annoying
I know I better get into a better habit of working out again - sit ups,
running, yoga or pilates are the ones that my body seems to prefer best
at the moment although I hear swimming (wear a tampon!) is also very relaxing
as well.
Well, it won't work for everyone but, hey, I figured I better throw
my two cents in. There are all sorts of wonderful effects that come from
being in better shape physically. Don't get me wrong, I love to cozy up
on the couch too - but when I read of people doubled over from the pain
I also just wonder if more exercise might help. I also have a friend who
suffered from endometriosis and she managed to KICK IT entirely without
surgery. I'll try to get her to send you a note as well since I don't recall
exactly all the methods she used.
I'm also reading some really great books about HEALING AND THE MIND
(interviews with doctors and scientists) written by Bill Moyers; THE ANATOMY
OF THE SPIRIT by Caroline Myss, Ph.D.; and just kind, healing meditations
found in THE WOMAN's BOOK OF SOUL by Sue Patton Thoele
Each of these books have really offered some healing insights to me
along the way and encouraged me to treat my whole body with more kindness.
I would highly recommend them to anyone.
Finally, its funny but for me, since I started having sex on a regular
basis with my man, it has been an interesting transformation in my own thinking
about menstruation. Since I am not ready to get pregnant yet, and since
there have been a few close calls I have come to look upon each menstruation
cycle as a true blessing: a time where my body is speaking to me in a different
sort of way - telling me what is going on with it.
"In her class "The Positive Power of PMS," Nancy Conger
states: "Studies show that a negative attitude about one's body and
menstrual cycle is a major factor in PMS. There are times in your cycle
when emotional and physical sensitivities are on high - but it is sensitivity
to all emotions and sensations, both positive and negative. If your mind
set is that your cycle is a curse, you may only perceive it negatively when
changes occur. Some women have found relief from PMS in just changing how
they value and honor their femininity."
Best wishes.
Age 32, Kentucky. I use: a mix of natracare <http://natracare.com>
organic cotton tampons (regular or super) with re-washable glad rags <http://www.gladrags.com>
depending on mood, flow and amount of activity. most recently I have been
relying on the pads alone which I feel is more healthy for the environment
all around.
March 2005
How cool to find this page with all sorts of info on it. Here's
my take on it all:
Gentle lower back rub from loving husband on the first and second days
is good! It doesn't make the pain go away, but it feels really nice and
distracts from the pain. I also drink a fair bit of water (I'm in a warm
climate anyway), but nothing I do seems to ease the bloating which is (usually)
always quite sudden and very pronounced.
Diet also seems to have no effect on the severity of the pain/heaviness
of bleeding, or the diaorrhea. There are a couple of nice oil blends that help
(more with relaxation and calming than anything) and they all have clary
sage in them. Nurofen is my painkiller of choice and works a treat, especially
on the lower back pain which always accompanies the intense period pain.
A warm compress on back/belly helps too.
I occasionally smoke a joint if things are really bad (which is most
periods, actually). I find it a great help with relaxing and
distraction from the pain. I know it's not for everybody [or legal in the
U.S.A.], but it works for me.
Really bad pain started in my early 20's. Haven't used birth control
for over 10 years and very happy about it. But I was diagnosed with endometriosis
some years back. It was dealt with and the pain did ease somewhat for
a little while, but in the last couple of years, it's as bad, if not worse,
than ever. Periods are generally regular - I have a 24 day cycle which goes
a little nuts sometimes.
Sometimes just lying down in a cool, dark room, putting on some fave
tunes and deep breathing can be a lifesaver. Conversely, whacking some hardcore
techno on the player and having a big dance can be excellent too! Different
things work for different months - the common denominator is always the
pain, but depending on your mood and situation, there are so many different
ways of dealing with it. Really appreciate being able to read about
other women's experiences. Thanks.
Queensland, Australia, 38 years old, no kids, started at 10 years. Very
heavy flow.
January 2005
I drink a cup of red raspberry leaf tea twice a day on the first day
of my period, and once a day after that. It reduces my pain a lot.
I find it also helps to take a day off work or school on the first day and
do a lot of what I call "power relaxation" (I coined the term
to sound like "power walking"). I lie down in a comfortable
spot and focus on each muscle in my body, especially the abdomen, and I
relax it. This doesn't remove the pain, but simply taking the time to relax
makes handling the pain ten times easier for me.
Later she added:
My main method of dealing with PMS is writing in a journal. I find
that just before my period I do tend to be more emotional than I normally
am. However, the emotions I feel are not irrational. I believe that
"PMS" is actually my body's way of letting me know that I
have personal issues to deal with. By journalling I am able to explore
my feelings and understand the root cause of any emotional discomfort I'm
feeling. This introspection forces me to deal with unpleasant situations
I may otherwise have ignored and come to a sense of peace with my life.
This changes my period from being a time of heightened moodiness to being
a time of heightened peacefulness.
From an ethnic Indian (the country of India) woman living in Canada,
writing in November 2004 and March 2005
I asked my doctor what I should do about the severely painful cramps
that leave me curled up on the floor next to the toilet, with the nausea,
fainting, diarrhea and cold sweats that afflict me occasionally when
I have my period. I endure these severe symptoms with about three out
of 12 menstrual cycles. (The rest of the cycles are simply heavy painful
cramps with diarrhea and only a little nausea.)
My doctor told me that "There's a reason why it's called the curse.
Some women just have periods like that." There was nothing she could
do for me except to tell me to take my favorite painkiller.
Every doctor has told me this, with the exception of when I was
a randy teenager. My doctor at that time recommended the [birth-control]
Pill, saying we could kill two birds with one stone, my cramps and the chance
of pregnancy. (I did take the Pill, my cramps did go away, along with my
libido and any chance of a sunny mood. I no longer take or recommend the
Pill.)
So my home remedy calls for tracking my period and taking painkiller
(Naproxen [Aleve] seems to be the best for me) starting the day before I
expect my period. I stay home from work on the most painful days, when painkiller
taken at treble the over the counter dosage still leaves me in pain. A hot
water bottle helps. Hot baths are a comfort.
I am 36 years old and have tried every diet. I have been a vegetarian,
avoided caffeine and sugars and wheats and salts. I grew up on the traditional
meat and potatoes and salad diet. I am no longer a vegetarian, but eat whole,
unprocessed foods only, organic when I can. Diet does not affect my painful
periods. I have had painful periods since I was 13 years old. If anything,
the pain and bleeding have grown a little worse as I age.
I have four sisters. Only one of them suffers as I do. She has found
that diet does not affect her painful cramps. She also takes painkiller
as I do. The other sisters have no idea what we go through. Lucky them.
(July 2004)
The things that have worked best for me:
Cramps Analgesic approach: To avoid them entirely, you need
to be lucky enough to be awake at that moment when your period just starts,
when maybe you feel the first odd little twinge, or when you see the very
first faint evidence on the t.p. [toilet paper] when you wipe after using
the restroom. Then, you can attack with Naproxen Sodium (trade name
is Aleve, but you can find generic formulations). Take two immediately,
and they'll last 12 hours, and you'll never feel a thing. Cramping
when those wear out? Take another course. I've tried ALL the pain
relievers, and these are the best. These are the first pills I've ever tried
that can actually relieve the cramps quickly, and the ONLY ones that work
after the cramps have already taken hold.
Cramps "Natural" approach: If you're averse to
taking pills, the next best thing is those disposable 8-hour heating pads,
the ones made for menstrual pain, that adhesively attach to the inside front
of your undies. In fact, these are so soothing, that I've sometimes
used them even with Aleve. They're like a warm, loving massage that lasts
8 hours; especially wonderful when you have to go to work everyday, cramps
or no. When I've had the rare luxury to call in sick, or when the cramps
hit on weekends, I've found some relief from walking a couple of miles,
or writing on my computer, or playing the piano or even PlayStation. When
I was a kid, I used to mindlessly trudge a circle around the first floor
of my parents' house, hour after hour, just hoping the pain would cease
enough so that I could rest. That was before Naproxen Sodium.
Bloating: Although it sounds counter-intuitive, I seem to be able
to avoid most of the bloating by just drinking extra water the days before. Just
keeping a bottle at my desk and sipping at it frequently has seemed to eliminate
the bloating issue.
Diarrhea or other g.i. [gastrointestinal] issues: Immodium. Or
just stay near a bathroom and hope to have privacy when you need it. Diet
has no effect, at least not for me. More fiber, less fiber, no cheese,
extra cheese, more water, less: no effect. I never noticed this problem,
though, until I was about 35.
- Ohio, 41, started at 9, regular cycle, medium flow, no pregnancies
(July 2004)
I have been using Depo-Provera for nearly four years, and no monster
problems, a little weight gain is all. However, before I started on
Depo, I was not taking any birth control and I would have excruciatingly
painful first and sometimes second days on my period. My solution for those
painful days was always a plain-and-simple hot bath (minus the bubbles),
then a cozy spot on the couch, a pillow rolled behind the small of my back,
and a hot water bottle wrapped in a pillowcase on my abdomen. (An understanding
Mom who makes you soup is always a plus, too). Hope this helps someone
out there. (July 2004)
Until the day that I scrape up money and courage to remove my uterus,
I have a few more hints for that time of month.
CHIROPRACTORS are my favorite people. A quick adjustment in the week
before my period prevents a lot of cramps and backaches. (I don't have insurance,
I just shell out for it - oh, so worth it!)
Sleep naked on old/dark towels, and if needed, put under your old sheets
a vinyl tablecloth (the kind that are flocked on the underside) to protect
the mattress.
Wear really low-slung panties and no clothes with waistbands - even
slight elastic or other pressure around my waist causes nausea and vomiting.
Herbs like the Dong Quai and Red Raspberry Leaf tincture from Zand seem
to help reduce cramps.
Eating food during the first day or so gives me a stomach ache, so now
I just nibble on crackers and drink juice.
Hit the library or video rental shop. If I'm absorbed in a story I'm
less aware of my pain. Distraction is great! I survived a really bad period
by watching all the Twin Peaks episodes in two days.
Since I've started the chiropractor, movie-day, free-waist regimen,
I don't think I've taken any Ibuprofen.
Diarrhea is still a problem though. Fate often takes me to Indian restaurants
on the day before my period, and bananas never seem to be in the house at
the right time.
Stats: lifetime pad user, regular cycle, medium flow, no pregnancies.
Pennsylvania, 34 years old. [She suggested I start this page - Good
idea!]
June 2004
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