Question: Every month that I'm on my period,...

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heating pads and switching from cold to hot really help me

I completely agree, I suffer from extremely bad lower backpain and cramps, somedays I find that the only thing I can do is lay in bed with tears in my eyes. The only thing that works for me is midol and it gets rid of the back pain and cramps for a little while, enough where I can go about my day normally. I suggest it, but don't take medications if you don't have to because it can cause damage to your liver, etc if you take a lot or use it for a long period of time.

For YEARS I never got any cramps. The only PMS I had was a little bit of bloating that disappeared really quickly. I guess for the last few months my body realized I wasn't cramping or getting moody and it seemed to decide to pay me back double. I never got why heating pads worked, but holy crap, they are a godsend! Motrin and Midol work really well too. I was looking for Motrin in the cabinet once and wound up grabbing my mom's Tylenol Arthritis which wound up making me a little...hazy, I guess XD

For cramps, I take hot baths and almost INSTANTLY its gone!!! :D
like previously posted, I don't get major mood swings. Though I do cry easier.

It all depends on your own body and how it reacts.
We're all different woman here, but I suggest that you grab some chocolate,
fill the tub with a hot bubble bath,
and mix up a martini.
Listen to some soothing music and make it your girly day. Don't let your cramps ruin it.
Get lots of magnesium into your system, though.
:)
Hope I helped!

I cry easier, am moody(okay, super moody), I eat more(unhealthy food): I hate this time!

preventing PMS:
GOOD: eat more magnesium (as previously said, just confirming it :-) ), exercise (diminishes fluid retention), sleep enough(min 8 hours), eat healthy(fruits, veggies, whole grains=complex carbohydrates), vitamin E en B6 are said to help but be carefull with supplements.
BAD: caffeine, stress, alcohol, sugary foods, smoking, excess salt.

To relieve pain:
painkillers obviously (as mentioned above), something hot on your belly/back(warm bath,...), massage, ...

Good luck with it, hope it gets better! :-)

Take a painkiller as soon as u feel the pain is about to start, it eliminates the pain b4 it even starts for real. Keeping the pain area warm also helps a lot. I usually take an empty Coke bottle 1.5 liter and fill it with warm water.

Thermacare has heating pads designed specifically for menstreual cramps.. they are a god send.. Walgreens makes Women's Tylenol and thats a god send also..

a nurse suggested to me once that u get some hot water(bearable hot) in a bowl and a wash cloth. wet the wash cloth in the water then squeeze out most but not all of the water from it. then place it on ur stomach....well a little lower.....where ur getting the cramps.........she said warm stuff helps with the cramps.......it works for me........well good luck!!! ^_^

I feel ya on the cramps but I luckily don't get bad mood changes... I cry a little bit easier and I get extra horny, but that's it for moods. Don't get the wanting chocolate or salt thing either.

As for the cramps, I've tried all the light exercise, heat, massage remedies, and they either didn't work or made it worse. I've also found that no pain killers help them either except for Naproxen. Naproxen is a God Send for my body- its also the only thing that helps my headaches. My pediatrician prescribed it for me several years ago (I have TERRIBLE cramps the first 3 days of my period week) and it worked like a charm. They're available over the counter in smaller doses (I just take more to get it to prescription strength).

I have read, though I haven't tried, that if you take things loaded with calcium and magnesium when your cramps start (like milk, cheese, yogurt especially) that it will help your muscles not to cramp. Ironically, as one of the previous posters said, bananas are high in magnesium. Cashews (which i love) are also high in magnesium and will take care of a salty craving if you get those! Eating a good amount of calcium and magnesium (as well as a balanced diet and exercise) through the month is supposed to help as well. Try taking a multi vitamin everyday if you don't already!

Other than that, birthcontrol pills or patches can really help with your symptoms. Keep in mind that you might have to try a couple different ones to find what works well with your body.