It seems now that I'm getting older I have been dealing with Severe cramping before and during my menstrual cycle. I have a hard time functioning when this happens what do you recommend?
It could be dietary contributing to it and chiropractic may help. Also consider that you may be low progesterone and you may have a high exposure to xenoestrogens (bad estrogens) I've included a link to an MD that talks about it. Check out his videos 1-6 they are about 15 minutes each it may give you some answers and something to talk to your doctor about.
for me (almost 45), the answer is walking daily, cutting way back on dairy, and acupuncture. I reviewed all with my doctor and her assessment was no fibroids, and no other reasons for excessive cramping, but that I needed to be more active in my life (I sit for a living!). Those three things make a huge difference, AND my periods are shorter (although that could be peri menopause, but the effect after acupuncture was noticeable).
Good luck, and don't "just live with it". No one can understand what debilitatiing cramps are like, just like a bad back or neck pain - it consumes all your thoughts! Be gentle with yourself, but don't stop until you get an answer that works for you.
Period changes are normal during peri-menopause. I am 50 and now get my period about every 70-90 days. Can't wait for it to go away completely! I do feel more cramping before these infrequent periods. When I was young my period would always surprise me, since I had no pain at all. In the last year I had one period that lasted 21 days! The doctor told me to start taking ibuprofen for 48 hours around the clock when my period starts. It stops the heavy bleeding by reducing the swelling I believe. That long period did come with severe cramps. She told me she could do an endometrial ablation, which is a non-contact method (ultrasound waves I believe) to remove the lining of the uturus. For lots of women this stops periods altogether and for others reduces the bleeding severity. However, my next periods were normal so I never had it done (almost wish I did to stop the periods). So yes, changes in duration and severity of bleeding or cramps are normal, but unless you get it checked out you will not know if everything is OK. There are other reasons for those same changes, like fibroids, cysts and even pelvic inflammatory disease (they did all kinds of scans on me when I bled so long to make sure I did not have those). A friend started going through peri-menopause at about age 35 although early onset is not the norm. Good luck.
I. how old are you as that is part of a sensible answer. Are you old enough to be peri menopausal or do you have a fibroid or some other problem.
Go to a doctor and get a through check up so you can eliminate any medical issues. And whatever you do don't give them your uterus.
Fibroids go away after menopause is over.
Definitely see your OBG/GYN about this. ARe you taking any OTC meds to help with the pain such as Midol or Ibuprofen? I also heard that Chiropractic/acupuncture helps the symptoms.
I agree to get it thoroughly checked out by doctors, but if there's nothing actually wrong, acupuncture can really help!
I would have a thorough GYN exam first, and if everything is fine, I would change your diet. You don't say your age, so IF you are peri-menopausal, as I am, then a diet change & a good women's multi-vitamin may really help. I suffered from very heavy bleeding as well as debilitating cramps, and so I started doing some online research into natural supplements. If you google natural supplements, you will see things that help. I also changed my diet, I eat ALOT of leafy, green veggies, especially the week before/of my cycle. I also take a good vitamin daily, and drink ALOT of water. I exercise more as well. You would be amazed how much this helps, and best of all, it's a 'natural' approach to the problem! Good luck!
