Severe pre-menstrual cramping, and extreme pain one the first day of menstruation. IS this serious?

Hi, I have extreme pain when it comes to my period. In the past, i've never had a real problem with cramps until about 1 - 2 years ago. I also have a thyroid problem, which since i found that out, i've been taking thyroid medicine and my flow of menstruation is lighter because of it. However, even though my period has improved, the pain of the cramps i have ONLY on my first day of my period, have prevented me from going about my daily activities. Some months i throw up because my cramps are so bad, but every month i get severe lower back pain, and aching in the thighs. On first day of my period I have to take advil and pamprin ( overlap), and use several heat packs, just to prevent myself from screaming in pain. I've also been noticing that i've been getting pretty bad cramps a week or two BEFORE my period as well. It's so weird though, after the first day/24 hours of my period, i don't even need medicine because i have little to NO pain. What the heck is going on? I don't think it's cysts because my flow isn't heavy at all, and i dont have pain through out my entire period. I wish i were male. Please help me, and is this serious?!

i used to have very severe cramps and my (male) doctor never took me seriously. he suggested taking painkillers up to 3 days before my period started. i stared in disbelief. i was a 14 year old girl, AS IF my period was regular enough for me to know that! after a while i was fed up and asked to go on the pill. it really helped with my cramps. they're still there but MUCH less noticable (I'm no longer rolling around screaming and taking days off). perhaps you want to try this? you'd have to consult a doctor to find the right type to go with your thyroid medication as theyre both hormones. hope this was helpful?

Did you ever get a responce from a doctor?

pastalover23 wrote:

Hi, I have extreme pain when it comes to my period. In the past, i've never had a real problem with cramps until about 1 - 2 years ago. I also have a thyroid problem, which since i found that out, i've been taking thyroid medicine and my flow of menstruation is lighter because of it. However, even though my period has improved, the pain of the cramps i have ONLY on my first day of my period, have prevented me from going about my daily activities. Some months i throw up because my cramps are so bad, but every month i get severe lower back pain, and aching in the thighs. On first day of my period I have to take advil and pamprin ( overlap), and use several heat packs, just to prevent myself from screaming in pain. I've also been noticing that i've been getting pretty bad cramps a week or two BEFORE my period as well. It's so weird though, after the first day/24 hours of my period, i don't even need medicine because i have little to NO pain. What the heck is going on? I don't think it's cysts because my flow isn't heavy at all, and i dont have pain through out my entire period. I wish i were male. Please help me, and is this serious?!

I've found since going on the pill my cramps have become a lot worse and my bleeding very heavy, strange! your completly the opposite!

I'm the opposite, I've found since going on the pill my bleeding has become heavier and my cramps worse, strange!

I had a very similar experience. When I was 16 I suddenly started getting debilitating cramps right before my period would start. I was also advised to take pain killers which would work but I never knew exactly when my period would start. I finally started taking Yasmin (Birth control) and the cramps stopped and haven't come back in 6 years. Yasmin also helped with acne, mood swings, depression, and it reduced the length and heaviness of my period. I've tried other birth controls due to my lack of health insurance. (Yasmin is a "designer b/c" and is not usually available at a discounted price through clinics.) But I haven't found them to be nearly as effective as Yasmin. To me it's worth paying full price to not have to deal with pain, crazy mood swings, depression, acne and long heavy periods.

I have often found myself with these symptoms, ever since I started. Now at the age of 16 I have finally had it. My advice is go on the pill, it still may hurt but you will feel relieved.

Birth Control and other pharmaceuticals are synthetic hormones and can often make problems worse. In fact, many increased levels of estrogen (even estrogens found in our environment due to synthetic uses -xenoestrogen) have been attributed to increase in menstrual pain. Look for ways to limit prostaglandins, and look into progesterone. With your underlying thyroid condition, you should really look into progesterone. Progesterone has also been found to help arthritis, a common complication during menstruation. I am no expert on this, but here are a couple sites that helped me in my search so far..

Wow. I have been wondering what was happening with me for over a year now. I have regular appointments with my doctor, he's male, I changed to him after not much help from my last female doctor. Every period, on the first day I get extreme pain, yesterday I got my period and I was screaming out for mum to help me, to take me to hospital. It was so bad I wanted to be put to sleep so I wouldn't feel anything! I got the extreme stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting and tiredness. My doctor suggested a hormone imbalance, but I looked that up on the net and it was symptoms of dry vaginal area, bloating, rapid weight gain, and they are not my symptoms. The doctor has put me on Ponstan which is a very effective pain killer, but takes atleast an hour to set in. I always have to take the day off whatever I'm doing when I get my period on the first day. I went on the pill, I didn't get my period at all for about 3 months. But as soon as I got off the pill, my pain seems almost WORSE!

Above is the site I found most helpful, and I feel I may have just that, Dysmenorrhea. Anyone think they have the same thing? I'm so glad I came onto this site. I'm only 16, but my visits to my GP are more and more regular. I just want to find out what I have and cure it.!