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Dealing with Cramps, Period.

Posted by Alexandra C. | Thursday January 10, 201316 comments


Periods suck. Period. They are no fun, and we don't need to pretend that they are, but we do need to get on with our lives when they hit. 

As a cramp sufferer, I've become an expert at dealing with them and trying to put on a happy face (no matter how much I want to punch the next person who speaks to me, blame PMS). So, here are a few tips, tricks and do's and don'ts for successfully dealing with that mean ol' Aunt Flow next time she comes to town. 
 
Diet and Exercise Dos:
 

Your diet and your activity can affect your PMS symptoms and you may not even know it. Here are some do's for your time of the month: 
 
1. Do incorporate lots of calcium into your diet: Calcium helps maintain muscle tone which reportedly helps to reduce cramps. 

2. Do exercise: I know, it sucks to hear this but even simple stretching will help your cramps. 

3. Do drink lots of water: Be sure to keep hydrated.
 
4. Do load up on veggies and fruits: Vitamins D and E both help with cramping and antioxidants found in fruits like blueberries help as well.  

5. Do substitute dark chocolate: I usually get serious salt cravings, but forgo the chips and go for dark chocolate if you're in need of a treat. Dark chocolate is healthier and has antioxidants. 
 
Avoid: Caffeine, alcohol, excess sugar and refined carbs 
 
Remedies: 
  

Alright ladies, here it is straight: don't be a hero. Pain relievers are there for a reason: because they work. I recommend picking up some PMS relief specific meds or ibuprofen. Never underestimate the power of a hot water bottle or bean bag either. 

Lastly, if you find you find that you suffer from bad mood swings, the type that go beyond the regular PMS about a week before your period, you may have Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. I myself am a sufferer and I know that there is nothing worse than that icky feeling before Aunt Flow comes. I found that taking vitamin B6 helped me a lot, but as always you should seek a doctor's advice first. 

1. Bed Buddy Cramp Relief Pack (C$34.39)

2. PMS Midol Complete Extra Strength (C$7.47) 

3. Jamieson Vitamin B6 (C$15.99)

All the Necessities: 
 

So, you took two ibuprofen, you did a few sun salutations, ate some blueberries and you're still not feeling up to par? No worries. Sometimes your body is just telling you that it's time to just veg out and take it easy. When this happens to me, I have three things I need to have within my reach. 

1. Tabloids: Nothing makes me feel better about my situation than knowing that there is a celebrity train wreck happening. 

2. Great Chick Flicks: I recommend Mean Girls for some hilariousness and a nice, touching ending. 

4. Bathtime: Slipping into a warm bath is like a hug for your body. Bonus points for adding in a bath bomb
 
Also, because I am slightly disorganized when it comes to tracking my period, I need to take this moment to thank and highly recommend a period tracking app. I am using 3. Pink Pad Period Tracker on my Android right now. You'll get notifications when your period is about to start and you can track your mood as well as other symptoms. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that it changed my life. 
  
What advice do you have for dealing with cramps? You can also check out a bunch of advice here!
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13 Comments

on January 21, 2013  midnightsun2288  6,053 said:

A home remedy I use is Ginger. Like a gingerbread tea, really helps deal with cramps.

on January 16, 2013  Racenhawk  2,689 said:

definitely loooove dark chocolate!

on January 14, 2013  shanaz  5,961 said:


The Pink Pad Period Tracker sounds like something I can really benefit from....

on January 13, 2013  jlgoneboatin  2,478 said:


great advice, i suffer every month:(

on January 13, 2013  TammyK  1,073 said:

Cool I never knew about tip number 1 with the calcium. I do tend to not drink milk during my period tho because my mom always said that cold things make the pain worse.

on January 11, 2013  LisaDrew  2,288 said:

Great advice! I follow many of them myself :) Midol is my very best friend when Aunt Flow is visiting.

on January 11, 2013  melissakj  50 said:

My go-to is usually a tummy rub from someone who loves me, hahaha.

on January 10, 2013  takoda  28,648 said:

When I was in my teens I would be in so much pain the morning I started that I would be in tears literally crawling on my hands and knee's to the bathroom. Nothing I tried would help and I would get so bitchy just knowing it was getting close to the time I was going to start. Then after I had my sons I had my tubes tied and the pain just stopped. It was strange, but I wasn't complaining about. Then about two years ago the pain started again and has gotten worse with each month that goes by. I can tell when it’s about to start because I can't stop eating sweet and salty foods, my chest swells and hurt and I have a hard time staying awake. I've even craved sweet and salty things so badly that I've even eaten salt right from the shaker and sugar by the teaspoon full. Sick I know, but I can’t help it, nothing else will make that cravings stop. The only thing that help's me with the pain and it doesn't help much is Tylenol one and sleep. Could you ladies imagine the guy’s dealing with this? Most can’t even deal with a cold never mind having this happen to them even month.LOL

on January 10, 2013  LissaG  6,010 said:

Same here with the exercise! It hurts but eventually it gets way better. And after that, a warm bath and heating pad are my best friends.

on January 10, 2013  mamaluv  STAFF said:

Exercise during my period is a must-do for me. Working other parts of my body really takes my mind off my discomfort, though I avoid ab work for sure during this time. That's just asking for trouble.

I also like to get outdoors as much as possible, though I prefer cold or mild temperatures for my walks. If I want heat, I'd rather get it from the sauna at my gym because humid summer heat just adds to my misery.

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