disturbedme
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Member # 12346
posted
I am having EXTREME menstrual cramps. They woke me up this morning because they were so extreme. Made me very nauseated and felt like I was going to puke. Took Ibuprofen (had to take two for it to even do anything). Six hours later, the cramps came back and then took Midol. Helped, but not as well as the Ibuprofen. Next time I can take anything again for the cramps will be at 10:00 tonight. I'm afraid they'll come back before that.
Is this possibly due to Lyme and/or co-infections? This is extreme pain. I've always had bad cramps, but this time around it seems extra painful.
I don't know what else to do except take over the counter meds for it. Any other ideas? I am thinking of asking my LLMD at my next visit for a prescribed pain relief med for when it's that time of the month. I can't deal with this. It's too painful to even function like this.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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bettyg
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posted
can you call or fax your LLMD TODAY? mine were always bad but i never knew i had lyme then. best wishes;; comfort
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Betty - Yes, I think I will call him today about it. What should I expect? Pain meds from him or something?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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merrygirl
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Member # 12041
posted
You could try placing a hot water bottle or heating pad on your belly or back.
I had to start Birth contol before Lyme to regulate me and I wish I did it sooner.
Everything is a lot better, shorter and less painful.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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disturbedme
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Merry Girl - I am using a heating pad. Hasn't really made a difference today. Some days I think it helps, but not today.
Birth control isn't an option for me. It's something I don't want to have to take. Personal reasons, I guess you could say.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Before I started prescriptions, I found Alleve was the best for this. Start with 2.
If you have this every month, you might want to consider the pill. It makes a huge difference. Now I use zanaflex and vicodin.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I figured that you may have already been doing the heating pad thing...sorry it is not working.
As far as birth control goes, I understand. I havent been on it since I was 17..
but I have Polycystic ovary syndrome so I really have to take it now.
Good Luck and I hope it eases up for you ASAP! Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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disturbedme
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posted
Peacesoul - Nope. I'm taking Doxy and Rifampin and Biaxin on the weekends.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Peacesoul
Unregistered
posted
Ok, I asked cause when I was on Plaq, I had the absolute worse period cramps of my life.
What always works for me is a hot water bottle.
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lymednva
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posted
Sorry you are having to deal with this. I well remember the days I spent in my bed unable to do anything because of the pain. I found Aleve helped me the most.
You may want to have your LLMD check your hormonal levels. Mine were all low normal, so he decided to supplement some of them.
I found it helps me feel better. I get a compounded cream from the pharmacy for this, not something over the counter.
I'm past the periods now, I hope!! Hallelujah! Thought it would never happen!
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
If you are deficient in B Vitamins (particularly B6) and magnesium, it can cause period cramps ... taking those supplements can get rid of them.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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disturbedme
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posted
sixgoofykids - I take a multivitamin and I do take magnesium daily, so I don't know if I'd still be deficient in those two things.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I've found red raspberry leaf tea really helps with bad menstrual cramping.
You might call your doc and ask about any interactions, but I don't think there would be any.
Its worth a try.
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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Vermont_Lymie
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Member # 9780
posted
Advil is one of the few things that really helps me with bad cramps.
Red raspberry leaf tea is pretty good too.
Hylands homeopathic "Menstrual Cramps" tablets seem to help a little bit too.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote:Originally posted by disturbedme: sixgoofykids - I take a multivitamin and I do take magnesium daily, so I don't know if I'd still be deficient in those two things.
Some people need up to 1000 mg daily of magnesium.
Also, you may try supplementing a B Complex in addition to your multi. Check how much B6 is in your multi ... is it anywhere near 50-100 mg?
Do you take any oil supplements? They can help, too.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
If this happens for a few months, keep endometriosis in mind. Many girls and women go years with this kind of pain w/out any MD thinking of this. A California endometriosis surgeon has said there is a link between Lyme and endometriosis, as well as autoimmune problems in general.
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sparkle7
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posted
I have had really bad cramps for most of my life. I think I've tried almost everything from yeast free diets to acupuncture to herbal remedies & homeopathy to birth control to prescription & non-prescription medications.
When I got Lyme/fibromyalgia, I decided to try a birth control pill called Seasonale - since I was in so much pain in addition to the cramps. It reduces your period to 4 times a year. It worked out OK but many people gained weight while on it (including myself). I think I must have gained 20 or 30 lbs from it.
After a while, I just didn't like the idea that it was rearranging my hormones & who knows the long term effect of these types of things. They don't do intensive, long term studies on this stuff. Some people get migraines from birth control pills, too.
When I started seeing my new doctor, he recommended bio-identical hormone replacement. It's worked out very well in the past year I've been doing it. I was 'really' in bed for about a week with severe pain. It's down to a day or two now. I also get alot less migraines then I used to. The BIHRT really helped me with this issue.
I think that Lyme has negative effects on our hormonal balance making bad cramps - worse. I'm sure there some research on this topic but I don't know the specifics off hand. I know it also effects other hormonal functions like the thyroid, as well.
I also use Vicodin. That seems to help the best. I used to have a prescription for double strength Advil but since the pain has gotten worse over the years I just go straight for 1/2 to 1 whole Vicodin (5-500).
Oxycontin doesn't seem to help me as much for cramps - for some reason. I used to have to take 2 Vicodins on occasion but the BIHRT really has helped alot! I would definitely recommend it.
I prefer hot water bottles over heating pads & when the flow isn't too much, hot baths are good.
Red raspberry leaf, spearmint, or chamomile teas are nice but they just aren't strong enough to really help me at this point.
The old folk remedy for cramps is to have a baby. I don't know if this really works since I'm not planning to have any kids & I'm almost too old for that in any case.
They say in Chinese medicine that you shouldn't lift heavy things around your period. Also, you're not supposed to do any inverted yoga postures around this time. Maybe the Native American idea of going into a menstrual hut is a good idea around this time (?)...
Feel better!
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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sparkle7
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posted
PS - you may want to take some iron supplements, too. Floradix is good but probably most are OK.
Also, I've heard that having surgery for endometriosis doesn't always help. The tissue just grows back.
I've also heard that many women actually have the excess tissues but they don't always cause pain to everyone.
Always be cautious about getting any surgery & do your research.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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cantgiveupyet
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posted
Ive had painful periods since march of this year.
For me the first two days I am so weak and just sick, like im dying...with bad cramps. Then it lessens a bit.
I went without a period for most of 2006...and when i got it back I had NO cramps and it was more normal, not sure what happend....
I also flare around ovulation :-(
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I've also had bad cramps for as long as I can remember. The only thing that has ever worked for me is lots of ibuprofen, and cramp bark. I tried cramp bark for the first time a few months ago and found I could actually reduce the number of advil I had to take. My doctor has also recommended that I try and take 2 ibuprofen before my period even starts, so at the first sign of any cramps.
Posts: 60 | From Northern Va | Registered: Jan 2006
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disturbedme
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posted
quote:Originally posted by pamyla: My doctor has also recommended that I try and take 2 ibuprofen before my period even starts, so at the first sign of any cramps.
I actually did that this time around and it didn't help at all.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
disturbed- i took pamprin for a week before my period and it didnt help either. I wish we could figure this one out.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
disturbed, I too had the increase in cramps and bleeding after lyme & company. I was 42 when all heck broke loose.
Was done with having children and had had many female surgeries prior yrs in my 30's for PID and unsucessful cleaning up of scar tissue to help with chances of becoming pregnant with fertility spec.
My gyn after examing me and complaints about bladder control, excessive bleeding and pain with cramps that I didn't realize was lyme had found my stressed & twisted uterus as a hangout. He recommended removal except when he went in my ovaries looked good, so he left them and removed uterus and cervix and fixed my bladder.
I was so hopeful that the gyn had removed some of my lyme bacteria load. Some of them son of a guns had found more hiding places and scattered I guess.
Age and child bearing days gone helped me make that decision. You might be too young for extreme actions. Pain meds could help you on those days.
Just wanted to share my experience for all those women who could find lyme effecting their reproductive organs.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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disturbedme
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posted
quote:Originally posted by Munch: I urge you to see an OB/GYN or Reproductive Endocrinologist. Severe menstrual pain is NOT normal. It could be endometriosis!
I've had painful cramps just about every cycle I've had, so I doubt if that's what it is. But thanks for the information.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Its really during my ovulation time, prior to getting my period. I will get nausea, headaches, cramps, be hungry but not wantint to eat, etc. I keep telling my husband that it feels like the first trimeseter of pregnancy!
MY LD told me to see a gyn who uses bio-identical hormones. Not so easy to find. Did some research on the web and this is what I found.
Look up Wilson's temperature syndrome. I found that I seem to fit the symptoms here and it could explain the PMS symptoms. I had actually decreased my T3 thyroid medication in 1/2 over the past two months. Thats when my pms symptoms got worse.
I went back up to my original dose and most of my symptoms were gone the next day.
Right now I am tracking my body temperature throughout the day to see if its an adrenal or Thyroid issue.
I hove a phone consult with a dr I found on line throuhg Biohrt.com. They do hormone testing and use bioidentical hormones.
I kind of like the idea of not having to leave home as I don't have any more time or energy left to run to doctor's offices!
My consult is thursday. I will keep you posted
Posts: 368 | From freehold, nj | Registered: May 2007
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If Advil works for you, you can take up to 4 pills every 6 hours. I wouldn't do it long term but it should be OK for the time you have your period.
My pain increases by 5 times when I have my period. It's not cramping pain it's my neck/shoulder/back pain and I also get bad headaches.
My OB/GYN suggested taking the pill to stop my period and hopefully the pain would stay at the normal level.
I was on the pill for 1 month. I started having headaches and just thought it was an adjustment period. By the end of the month, I could tell that my intracranial pressure was increasing.
I had to increase my dose of Diamox, I took 4 times my normal dose. It took about 6 weeks to get relieve from the headache.
Just an FYI if anyone takes the pill and has headaches.
-------------------- Peggy
~ ~ Hope is a powerful medicine. ~ ~ Posts: 2775 | From MN | Registered: Apr 2001
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sparkle7
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posted
I would be resistant to any extreme measures like surgery.
I know it has helped people but you may want to try the bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for a bit, first.
I've heard that endometriosis tissues can grow back after surgery - so it doesn't make a big difference if you find that you have them or not.
If the Advil isn't strong enough - you may want to see if you can try some Vicodin. It's helped me quite a bit.
Lyme does make everything worse regarding hormones. I'm not a scientist but it does effect those systems.
I just don't buy the thing about "cramps are not normal". That may be true but I've had them since day 1 of getting my period.
I think alot of things about this world are not normal including xenoestrogens, toxic chemicals, PCBs, etc.
We don't have alot of control over these things & they have been proven to disrupt people's (and animal's) hormones.
Having Lyme just make matters worse...
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