ibuprofen/OTC pain killers

[Random]

I've had terrible cramps on the first day of my period since I was 15, and ibuprofen makes a huge difference. I only take it on the first and sometimes the second day of my period every month, probably about 1200 mg in all spread over the day.

I'm new to raw, and I know that pills can affect the whole detox thing, so I thought that I'd try to go without using ibuprofen today. I had such awful cramps in my tummy, lower back and bum (does anyone else get menstrual cramps that send horrible shooting pains in their bum?). I had to lay on my side and gasp for breath. I was crying from the pain - and I am NOT a person who cries often or easily. I drifted in and out of "sleep" (not really sleeping, just kind of out of it) for about half an hour until I gave in and took a pill. Half an excrutiating hour later, it finally kicked in. What a relief!

What do the rest of you do for menstrual cramps? I've realized that I can't just skip the pills. Will the ibuprofen have a huge effect on my transition to raw?

[rawstrength]

I gave up Ibuprofen when I went raw and I toughed it out. It was horrible at first, giving up the Ibuprofen. I have a high threshold for pain, but this was just awful. I was in tears the cramps were so bad. But now I have no more menstrual cramps.
Going raw cured me of my menstrual cramps.

[roseyonnex]

I have heard several people comment that the longer they are on raw, their cramps go away and they have easier periods, and, therefore, in time you are able to go off the ibuprofen completely.

But, I would like to hear anybody else's experience with this too.....

[iamacranberry]

Oh, and to actually answer the original question....take it for now, and phase out of it slowly and eventually. It will be much easier for you, and you'll get the result you want (ibuprofen-freeness) soon enough.

[GlimR]

I use a willow bark tincture from Avena Botanicals....they make them by steeping the herbs for two weeks at very low temps....I love the company....it is owned by herbalist Deb Soule. They have a tincture called MoonEase that works wonders for menstrual cramps, etc.......a much better alternative than chemical based nsaids......I have a chronic very painful back condition where one of my vertabrae is shifted out of alignment.,the willow bark is amazing for that....http://www.avenabotanicals.com/compounds-elixirs-women.aspx...wishing you the very best.

[snoops]

I know this may not help, most of you being vegan but I started taking omega 3 oil a couple years ago and my cramps completely disappeared after about 6 months. I was also on ibuprofen for the first two days and couldn't do without it. My chiro (boss) told me that studies have shown that omega 3 fish oil has similar anti inflammatory effects as NSAIDS and I am proof. I am not vegan (yet- I eat some fish, eggs, cheese)so I take it. I'm not sure if flax seed which also has omega 3 would have the same effect.

The cheese is going to be a hard thing for me to give up. I have made it without any this past 5 days as I am trying to go mostly raw and it's been OK so who knows. Maybe soon...

[Pitaya]

Hi Random...I hear you I almost reached for the pills a few times. How about a cold pack or hot pack or alternating the two or a warm bath? ANYTHING but the pills. Meditation focussing on the pain until it goes away sounds torturous but really works for me with headaches and everything. I don't have menstrual cramps anymore, like many of the ladies here so hang in there and you'll get here! it's a beautiful learning journey about pain and our bodies and physical pain tolerance levels and how to manipulate them.

you can do it!
keep sharing,
much love and soothing energy,
pitaya

[Vaclare79]

I too hope that RAW will help me with mine.. I get PMDD or mental while I'm pmsing and feel homicidal lol.. :D

[coco]

borage oil supplements! enough essential fatty acids can really help.
that and a hot water bottle in bed with a good book.

[Random]

Thanks for the posts everyone! I think that I'm going to see how I feel every month, and hopefully I won't need the pills anymore. If I really can't function without them - after all, I certainly can't call in sick twice a month for cramps - then I'll take them, and not worry about it too much.

But you've all given me hope that this will get better. Thank you!

[coco]

could you call in sick if you got a note from your doctor? it's a sad thing when a woman can't take a day off to nuture herself through cramps. sad.

[rawstrength]

could you call in sick if you got a note from your doctor? it's a sad thing when a woman can't take a day off to nuture herself through cramps. sad.

Many women today take birth control pills to suppress their periods, starting as soon as they first get their periods as teens :( . Why has our world/modern lifestyle become so inhospitable to women? It seems to me that patriarchy is still alive and thriving.
Fortunately, through raw foods, we can take our feminine powers back, naturally :D . It feels so good to be a real, natural women! No chlorinated pads/tampons, make up, plastic surgery, painted fingernails, menstrual suppresion, expensive designer clothes, waxed/shaved/lasered body hair, hair spray, hair straighteners, hair dye or other chemical beauty products for me, please!

Also, I love getting my period now :o . It makes me feel so alive and fertile. I used to hate having my period.

[Random]

Well, I'm allowed up to 20 paid sick days per year, so I suppose I COULD take 2 days off a month without a doctor's note. But I wouldn't want to. I'm a teacher, and like most teachers, I seem to think I'm absolutely indespensible. :D

I can, and do, take occastional sick days if I'm not feeling well or if I need a rest. I think I'm just going to take this one as it comes, and see how I feel. I'm hoping that eventually it won't be an issue anymore.

[Theogirl]

I have had those shooting pains also, they are very intense and I can't even stand or walk for long when I've got them. I've been mostly raw for 5 1/2 months or so, and I've found that every second period was really painless, then the other one would have those shooting pains and unbelievably heavy flow.
The last three periods I have switched to soft, flannel reusable pads and I LOVE them! The theory I'd read was that putting toxins and plastics next to your body actually gives you cramps, and lengthens your period. (And tampons - even worse because removing one actually causes tiny lacerations within your vagina!)
My periods used to be 6 days, my last one was only 3 and quite light. Absolutely pain free. Wow.
If just going raw doesn't help, you might consider seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor. They can do wonderful things with acupuncture and/or herbs. And the herbs are not taken for the rest of your life, either, the condition is dealt with and then finished.
Oh, one other thing that sounds far fetched but TOTALLY WORKED for me... when I'd get a crampy feeling coming on, I would make sure I was warm and comfortable (nothing tight or irritating) and try to relax my abdominals, and be thankful that my body was doing its monthly cleanse and renewal as it should. Don't fight the flow, accept and encourage it. You may be amazed at the difference.

[Raw To Live]

I feel your pain, LITTERALLY!! I've been down for the past two days with severe cramps. Even missed work because of it. I have stage 3 endometriosis and had my left tube and ovary removed because of it. :(
It didn't take away the pain though.

I've been on birth control pills for the last 2 years because I just couldn't take being in pain anymore. I really want to come off of them but #1 I FEAR the pain and #2 as a previous poster pointed out, "Why has our world/modern lifestyle become so inhospitable to women? It seems to me that patriarchy is still alive and thriving." Other women are just AS BAD as the men!! If other women have never had to deal with the debilitating pain of menstrual cramsp they don't understand and such is the case at my place of employment. I get 15 sick days a year. I've been there just a bit over a year and this is the first time I've ever had to take off because of my period. What was the fist thing that came out of two of my female coworkers' mouths? "You need to call your GYN and see what can be done about this!!" :mad: Um, how about you let me get through this naturally and just give me some down time to do so??

I REALLY want to go raw and see how that can help me too. I've had cramps since day one of my periods 22 years ago (whoa, I can't believe I've had a period THAT long!!).

[snoops]

I'm on birth control pills too for heavy flow. It left me not wanting to leave the house a couple days a months and I just got sick of it. Was told the alternative was hysterectomy. No thanks. I hate being on the pill but my quality of life is enough better that I'm still on them. Hopefully I'm almost done with this because unlike previous posters I am done with the fertility thing. I'm quite ready to move on to the next stage. Please. Anytime now.

[JennaBoBenna]

I got rid of my terribly monthlies by eating really clean. but then I had my IUD inserted and all of that hard work went out the window. My cramps since then have been so terrible I've had to take pain killers if I'm at work or etc. But it's been 6 months so the pain isn't that bad anymore and I'm finally able to cut down. It sucks being dependent on something like that! Esp. since I hadn't taken pain killers for my period since 2005 !

[iamacranberry]

That's because the IUD is famous for its side effects of causing heavy, painful periods...sorry you're experiencing that!

[coco]

ooh yes, an iud can ramp your cramps right up! most of the ones they use now are full of time released hormones so they are like taking the pill. i wonder if that has an affect on cramps or not.

i thought of a couple more things. an orgasm can greatly reduce cramps. and i wonder how your PC muscles are, are all of you suffering from bad cramps doing regular kegels? i think that may very well make a difference. if you can control tensing those muscles up you can also have greater sensitivity and control over relaxing them.

[Green_Woman]

When I first went raw my periods went from BAD to WORSE... but by the third month they were relatively easy compared to the last ten years of monthly pain and tears. :)

Now, I'm going through another major detox. I also tend to have issues (undiagnosed, becaase Dr's can't pinpoint what's happening) down there that ramp up the period pain level, anyway.

But I do believe in the power of RAW to take away the pain and discomfort!!

Now, off to do some more moving into my new house despite a big detox headache! ;)