Question about periods

[Truthinlove]

Hi ladies,

I'd like to direct this question to older ladies who still menstruate. As you have gotten older, have your periods become more painful? Mine have....just wondering if that is normal. I am currently 34, but in the past year or so things have started changing. It used to be cramps and period....almost at the same time. Lately, the cramps precede the bleeding by 24 hours!!! That is just so weird to me. And the cramps are bad.....I had to to take 5 ibuprofen, well 3 at once and 2 more a couple of hours later when I didn't have enough relief.

I am just wondering if I can expect the cramps to get worse and/or more unpredictable as I get older.


Thanks ladies

[steelerbabe]

I can only speak for myself. I am 48 years old and my periods have gotten heavier and more painful the older I get. Heavy to the point I have to change every 20 minutes because I bleed through everything You should consult your doctor, assuming you have insurance and a doctor.

[Truthinlove]

I can only speak for myself. I am 48 years old and my periods have gotten heavier and more painful the older I get. Heavy to the point I have to change every 20 minutes because I bleed through everything You should consult your doctor, assuming you have insurance and a doctor.

I had a pap a couple of months ago...told her about the changes with the cramps. She didn't say much

Another thing.....I find that I am getting what I believe to be re-bound headaches after my period. I believe because I am needing so much ibuprofen the first couple of days.

[nicolapompicola]

Not an older lady, but as one that suffers from heavy, painful periods, there are better painkillers then ibuprofen. Go to your doctor and ask for mefenamic acid or naproxen.

[moonglow]

I have heard of that happening before and I have experienced some cramping before my period started too but usually just a few hours before.

Two things that helped with my severe cramping: Magnesium (take all month long, but especially make sure you start taking it two weeks before your period) and progesterone cream. The cream can be bought at any homeopathic store or some drug stores. It says on it to use 1/4 a teaspoon once or twice a day..its like a lotion you put on your skin and rub in. Use it everyday until your period stops then stop using it for seven days. That cream was a God send to me..it really was! I used to have severe PMS two weeks before my period started...painful swollen breast, water gain, mood swings..turn into a bear! But most of all it helped with those horrible cramps! My cramps were so bad I was taking prescription Ibupen 800 mg ..two and three at a time. I had cramps going down my thigh even... Nothing much helped..not heating pads...just drugging myself like crazy.

I don't know if you can get rebound headaches from Ibuphen. I would think if anything it would be the extreme pain and tension from the cramps. Sometimes when we are tense..later when we relax, then we get headaches.

Anyway try getting the cream. Its great!!

God bless

[Truthinlove]

Thanks Moonglow!

You know, I am a big fan of progesterone cream....absolutely! I started using it a couple of years ago for severe emotional pms, however, it DID help reduce breast pain, helped regulate my cycles and I do think it may have helped the cramps too.

I tried a new brand this last time, and well, it just doesn't seem as effective. I am going to switch back to the first brand I tried. I also have not been as consistent and I need to be better with that. Good call on the p.g.!

[Truthinlove]

Not an older lady, but as one that suffers from heavy, painful periods, there are better painkillers then ibuprofen. Go to your doctor and ask for mefenamic acid or naproxen.

Ok, thank you. I have used naproxen in the past for other pain. I will have to "google" the other medicine.

[SethElijah]

I am 38...depending on who you talk to I am either ancient or just a kid. However, the women in my family have historically had early menopause. In the last two years I have noticed mine getting ever more painful and I have to change normally15-20 times per day for the first 2 or 3 days. Mine will also stop for about 24 hours, then come back. My cramps start the dsay before and continue for about a day after it stops. My doctor said I could document this for 12 consecutive months then go in to see about having my uterus frozen, thereby stopping the menstruating altogether. Don't know if I will go to that extreme, but it is an option

[Truthinlove]

Ok, so hmmm, it seems like the increase in pain is somewhat normal with the increase in age. I have always heard women say the bleeding usually gets very heavy. Well, I am not looking forward to that! I have always considered my periods very light....3-4 days....1-2 tampons, pantiliners....usually after day 2 it is spotting for 2 more days. I have always had the cramps though. It's just odd that now they precede my actual period by 24 hours...sometimes even a bit more.

[Equipped_4_Love]

Oh, wow, this worries me. Is it normal to get menstrual cramps?

I don't get cramps, but I bleed very heavily. Should I be worried?

[moonglow]

Ok, so hmmm, it seems like the increase in pain is somewhat normal with the increase in age. I have always heard women say the bleeding usually gets very heavy. Well, I am not looking forward to that! I have always considered my periods very light....3-4 days....1-2 tampons, pantiliners....usually after day 2 it is spotting for 2 more days. I have always had the cramps though. It's just odd that now they precede my actual period by 24 hours...sometimes even a bit more.

Actually I don't know if they get worse as a person gets older or not..you can google that i guess.

Welder4Christ Oh, wow, this worries me. Is it normal to get menstrual cramps?

I don't get cramps, but I bleed very heavily. Should I be worried?

Most women do that is why the ads on TV for over the counter meds for bloating and cramping. Very few probably don't....consider yourself lucky!! I don't think its anything to worry about.

God bless

[ShortStuff]

Well, I am now almost 38, and yes mine have become more painful and heavier as I get older. When I was much younger it was like a walk in the park, and I could not understand why some of my friends had such a hard time..

However, now I understand...usually cramp the day before..and during.. I actually think they started getting worse after my kids were born...

[L'Ange]

It sounds like just possibly it could be endometriosis? Have you gotten scanned for that possibility? There is an i.u.d. with progesterone on it that helps a lot with that.

Also, are you getting enough iodine? You might want to check out these vids.

My own doctor has been to Dr. David Brownstein's workshops & agrees with him. You can't necessarily trust those blood tests, as my doctor also says. RDA's aren't necessarily accurate for just one reason.

Dr. David Brownstein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlRt6W3zDbg

Dr. Bob DeMario
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuU6_cTHBVw