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Natalia
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| Posted: Feb 11 2009 at 8:16pm | IP Logged
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For the last six to eight months her periods have gotten really painful. The first day she is cramping badly and the second day, even when the cramping has subsided, she is completely wiped out. She even look pale. She is not bleeding heavily so I don't think there is an unusual loss of blood. I have never taken her to the OB/gyn. I am wondering if I should. Do you take your dds to the ob/gyn? my mom was of the opinion that you needed to take them after their first period just to make sure everything was working properly. I hated and never have taken my dd. If I were to take her now, I am afraid that they will put her on birth control pills. It seems to be the cure-it-all this days. Is there any kind of natural remedy we can try to ease her periods? any good remedies we can use to prevent this from happening?
TIA
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JodieLyn
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I think I'd start with "Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition" by Marilyn Shannon
I don't know it well enough to say what would help. But I know it addresses things like dietary changes and natural things that might help.
Until I could research things I would likely give red raspberry leaf tea (in capsules or as tea) and calcium/magnesium.. my midwife has me take that after a birth for the after pains and it helps tremendously.
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10 Bright Stars
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Natalia,
I don't know anything at all, but maybe have her iron checked since you mentioned she looked pale? Is she eating enough protein rich food during her cycle? I remember having all sorts of terrible cramps when I was younger. Sometimes it would feel like a hot iron was on my sides! It was terrible. You didn't mention how old she is. Perhaps you could take her to the pediatrition first to see what his/her advice is and then go to an ob/gyn if there seems to be a problem. Often, they do try to "remedy" cycle issues with birth control, so I would be alert etc. It does seem to be more difficult when you are younger, from my experience. I wonder why that is?? Good luck. 
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aussieannie
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Natalia, Ladies Mantle is the specific herb for this problem and I understand it is very effective. I drink this herb myself, I drink it daily making it into a tea. It would need to be drunk daily but if you read the link you will see it is a herb highly prized for it's ability to heal and resolve women's problems especially the ones you have described.
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aussieannie
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Just perusing through a few herb books.....Maria Treben says this:
"Not only is Lady's Mantle beneficial for menstrual disorders, "whites", abdominal disorders and indisposition during menopause, but it also helps at the beginning of puberty, together with Yarrow tea, to influence the onset of menstruation favourably."
So it is a safe herb for teenagers.
Here is what Isabel Shipard says:
"The herb seems to have an affinity to the needs of women, as early herbalists esteemed and prescribed it for all menstrual disorders, for prolonged blood loss due to menopausal problems or uterine fibroids."
HTH
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Red Cardigan
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I know this is probably too simple, but does she consume much in the way of dairy or eggs before her period starts?
I was in college before a good female friend told me that laying off the eggs/dairy about a week before my period and then staying off of them the first couple of days made a difference. Boy, did it ever! I went from missing classes on occasion to being pretty much okay with nothing more than some mild OTC aspirin or something the first day of the cycle.
As for the OB/GYN, I never went till after I was married; while I think it's a good idea if there's a problem that seems really unusual or can't be helped nutritionally, I don't necessarily think girls need to go at a young age "just because."
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mathmama
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JodieLyn wrote:
I think I'd start with "Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition" by Marilyn Shannon
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I second this suggestion. I used to have unbelievably painful periods, much like what you are describing with your dd. The first day or two would wipe me out so much that I would have to sleep. Then I would have a day or 2 reprieve and then the last day was horrible again for a couple of hours. I had to down ibuprofen like crazy to function at all. Once I started following what I read in her book I didn't need to take any pain meds at all. I used to love her columns in the old CCL magazine. The absence of her column was one of the big reasons I let my subscription lapse.
Beth
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Natalia
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| Posted: Feb 12 2009 at 8:29am | IP Logged
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Thank for your responses.
My dd is 15. I did talk to her pediatrician and he said that she should try to start taking Advil three days before her period starts. He suggested she takes a larger dose that usual ( I don't remember exactly how much) and then ease the amount once the period starts. The problem is that she never remembers, and I rather she doesn't take some much Advil if it can be avoided.
I will look into Raspberry leaf tea and the Lady's Mantle. She doesn't like tea though. I am glad the Raspberry leaf tea comes in pill form, what about the Lady's Mantle?
Red, I have not noticed. I know she loves cheese as for eggs, I don't think so. I'll try to pay attention.
Thanks again,
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amarytbc
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Natalia, a friend mentioned to me that taking advil or motrin before her period makes it very heavy. I made a point of avoiding it myself the next month and sure my cycle wasn't as heavy as it had been. An aunt confirmed that ibuprofen before her period effects the flow for her too. I know it has an oppposite effect if you take it during your period. Just thought I would mention this in case hers suddenly becomes very heavy.
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Betsy
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I would probably NOT recommend taking here to the ob/gyn. I had painful periods and when you go to the doc they almost always recommend going on the pill. This only masks the problem (not to mention the many side effects-even if used for "medical reasons").
Nutrition is the best way to deal with this--like these other ladies recommended.
I implemented Nourishing Tradition principals and had great results.
Betsy
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Mackfam
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amarytbc wrote:
| Natalia, a friend mentioned to me that taking advil or motrin before her period makes it very heavy. |
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Advil works as a blood thinner. I know this because my dh has von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder) and cannot take aspirin or any form of ibuprofen (which Advil is). If you are a heavy monthly bleeder, or have any kind of clotting or bleeding issues, Advil/ibuprofen would not be a good choice around this time. Tylenol would be a better option.
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CKwasniewski
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Natalia,
Your dd sounds like me when I was in highschool. The best advice I've ever had about dealing with pain and pms was cutting out sugar! Not only right before but all the time.
That made a HUGE difference to the moodiness and pain levels for me. I am sure the book mentioned earlier wd. discuss this more.
I know this is so tough--God bless you both! 
CK
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stacykay
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I used to have such horrible periods in high school, that my mom actually took me to the er once. A follow-up with my family doc, then to the gyn, and an u/s showed that I had cysts on my ovaries. When they were irritated with my cycles, they hurt like the dickens. Eventually (years later,) they went away.
I used to take naprosyn for the pain. Back then it was prescription only. And, I could always count on having to miss school once a month. Bleh!
I don't know what else might be helpful, other than taking her to the doc to rule out any other problems. And I know, from experience, how awful going to the gyn is, especially as a very young "lady."
Ugh! The joys of being female!  I will say a pray for your daughter.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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mathmama
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If I am not mistaken, Marilyn Shannon mentions in her book that the use of pain relievers like Advil for menstrual pain is bad for some reason (my book is packed away so I can't check).
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CatholicMommy
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I had a similar problem - my cycles started relatively painless and over the course of the first couple of years became SEVERELY painful. I was on so many different pain meds, otc and rx - and they'd work for a few months then slowly stop working. And all those that you have take beforehand? I'd forget, or I'd remember but that would be the one month that I'd start early or late (I was fairly regular really, but there would be fluctuations based on exercise levels, diet, etc).
The result of the pain meds? Nothing works for me short morphine and anaesthesia - I can't take anything for headaches even! Nothing works. (I hope I am an isolated case in this matter!)
As a young adult (early twenties), I dipped into a yoga a bit (I DON'T recommend it! for many spiritual reasons!), which led me into nutrition studies and exercise as seen from a Catholic viewpoint. What I discovered is that God made our bodies in a particular way and the pain from childbirth and menstruation are not natural pains - we weren't "meant" to have them (Thank you, Eve!) 
My first mistake: scrunching while in pain (our natural reaction to pain is to enclose it). By learning to relax those muscles, and keep that area open (lying flat on my back without a pillow - all stretched out), worked wonders. (later it was the only thing that saved me during childbirthy!). Posture throughout the month was crucial too - let the oxygen flow through the area.
My other mistakes were dietary and I am guessing that the above recommended book(s) will cover those better. For me, it was lack of essential oils and too much junk (sugar and hydrogenated oils).
I can tell when I've sunk into the dietary problems too much (usually when I'm visiting extended family and need the comfort food!)... the pain and the fatigue increase substantially.
I'll pray for your daughter - it's a miserable cross to bear!
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Natalia
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Thank you ladies for your responses. You have given me some things to think and research. I was hoping for some easy solution. Not such luck, I guess. It never occurred to me that diet could have an effect on your period. 
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MaryM
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Natalia, sorry for not jumping in the discussion earlier - I have been meaning to post! Jodie mentioned the calcium/magnesium idea. Marilyn Shannon does discuss suplementation with magnesium. I originally ran across the calcium/magnesium information in my work helping breastfeeding mothers. In women there is a steady decrease in blood calcium levels from mid-cycle until a couple days into the period. This impacts milk supply for some women - hence the reason I ran across in breastfeeding resources.
...but it also is a cause of uterine cramping before and in the first days of the period.
Patricia Gima, a well respected lactation consultant, recommends taking a calcium/magnesium supplement from mid-cycle until 3 days into the period to counter this loss of calcium. It can help maintain milk supply. Since it also affects uterine cramping she has also suggested it to her daughters who were having painful menses and this has alleviated that for them.
Anyway she suggests adding 500mg-1000mg of cal/mag (the amount needed varies with different women). The more meat that we eat the more Ca/Mag we need. Usually it takes the higher doses to accomplish the desired goal. One shouldn't take calcium without magnesium in a 2/1 ratio (the ratio that is found in foods and is usually found in supplements).
And my mom swears by magnesium for just about everything - and if you read the lit., muscle cramping is affected by magnesium levels. And ca/mg work together so that kind of supplementation makes sense. I wish I had known this as a teen (before my mom became the magnesium proponent she is now) - as I had very painful periods which only abated after I had my first baby.
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JodieLyn
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If I'm remembering it right Mary, calicum helps the muscles contract smoothly.. but you have to have the magnesium for them to relax again after contracting.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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stacykay
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Here is a link that lists food sources for magnesium- I had to send it as it lists one of my faves (chocolate!) Granted, it is a bit lower on the list, but it's there!
magnesium sources
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Bella
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Wow! Such awesome suggestions!! I think caffeine has a pretty negative effect on ovaries,too.
Severe cramps are NOT normal. There is almost always an underlying issue/cause.
Have you considered Endometriosis? It can start in the early teens. I am sure this is something that a regular gyn could diagnose-but it's better to let an Endometriosis Specialist do the actual surgery. Just something to throw out. Maybe you could have your dd start charting her monthly, along with food intake, and see if there is a pattern. I would check to see if she is having any bowel issue along with the severe cramps.
I pray it is something as simple as a neccessary dietary change.
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Bella
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Topic: My dd has a problem
