Females: My wife is dying of menstrual cramps what do I do to help her?

[Meshuga]

I need to know this from a woman since you can relate and I can't relate enough to say the right thing to comfort her. :-)

Should I just leave her alone? :-)

[nini]

1. ibuprofen, heating pad

if she can handle walking.. i always found getting up and moving helped.


good luck

[Meshuga]

7. Ibuprofen and getting her up might be a good idea

I feel so bad for her. Thanks for the tip!

[MissMillie]

2. I found that Excedrin Migraine

works really well on bad cramps.

Heating pad is a good idea.

something warm to drink.

a foot rub

[unblock]

11. excedrin migraine is EXACTLY the same thing as regular excedrin

except it's more expensive.

marketing and branding at its finest.


also, if it works for you, go do it, but i wouldn't think caffeine would help cramps. migraines, yes, but cramps, no.

[Susang]

47. You're wrong about caffeine

Its a diuretic and does indeed help cramps and bloating. That's why they've always put it in Midol, Pamprin and all the other menstrual cramp relievers. Now Midol uses a different diuretic, but the intended effect is the same.

[mrbassman03]

53. Actually, caffeine will not help cramps...

Bloating, yes... cramps, not at all.

[niyad]

3. blackberry brandy, and lots of calcium tablets (if cramps are a regular

thing, she should start extra calcium 5-7 days before her period starts.)

[Meshuga]

10. She said that is a good tip.

Can it be the chewables chocolate tablets? :-)

[Cassandra]

4. An orgasm is also helpful.

Hers not yours. Of course, getting to that point when you're in pain is not so easy.

[Meshuga]

13. I don't think I can convince that I can get her into the mood right now...

:-)

[AndyTiedye]

Give Her a Massage

[Bertha Venation]

29. Yep -- especially without intercourse. eom

[Lydia Leftcoast]

57. I second that suggestion

Orgasm is the most effective menstrual cramp killer. :-)

[NashVegas]

59. And a Third

If nothing else, it focuses attention elsewhere.

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. Anaprox (Naproxen Sodium)

550 mg. Then make sure she's got good tv to watch in bed, with a dog or cat to keep her company.

(are they usually this bad? Perhaps she should call her GYN for some lovin'.. I mean, for a visit)

[Meshuga]

16. I think the problem is her IUD

Since she put it in she is having these bad cramps when that time of the month arrives. Maybe she needs some loving from her OB/GYN. :-)

[Ilsa]

24. Sounds like a good reason to switch methods, IMO.

Maybe she should talk to her OB/GYN about other methods that last three months or longer if taking a pill on a daily basis causes more problems than it solves.
Good luck; I hope she feels better real soon.

[Meshuga]

30. She thought of that but...

she is taking it out in a few months because we may try to get another bambino or bambina so she wants to face it a couple more times.

[NMDemDist2]

55. i had horrible cramps with an IUD nothing helped

feed her chocolate, whiskey and aleve

repeat every two hours

[yvr girl]

56. Best drug ever

I get the worst cramps of anyone I know - I call these my happy pills.

A hot bath always helps me. Painkillers / Alcohol / Sleep is also great.

They make these hot patches that you can wear, so you don't need to be tied to an outlet, and they work quite well.

Your wife might not feel like talking, but she will appreciate a foot rub, back rub etc.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. right now, a nice bathtub with warm water

and ibuprofen...

[kclown]

8. Not female, but

doesn't intercourse help?

[Meshuga]

21. That's what I'm trying to tell her...

But I'm not getting any points here.

[Lefta Dissenter]

22. My husband seems to offer that solution

for just about everything!!! :shrug:

It's about the last thing I'd want to do with cramps, but as you read, it seems to help for some.

[Meshuga]

31. This solutions...

at least helps the other person who is not having the cramps. :-)

[miss_kitty]

40. it's not the INTERCOURSE

it's the ORGASM! and hey! we definately don't need the full on intercourse for the orgasm! in fact...:evilgrin:

[NashVegas]

61. And Contractions

help expel things.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

9. Ibuprofen-at least 600mgs.

200-400mgs do nothing for a bad case of cramps.
Rub her lower back too if she wants.

[TNDemo]

12. Elevating the legs helps.

Ibuprofen is a given. Like someone else said, the old time remedy for cramps is an orgasm. I have a friend who has suffered terribly and finally found out about that and says it cures them immediately. Of course I don't want any more details...

[TXlib]

42. Elevating them to behind her head helps more.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. Rice bag

heat rice bag in microwave until warm. Place on back. This helps me when I have cramps. Sometimes cuddling/snuggling helps. It is important to ask her what she feels she needs-some women crave intimacy/intercourse at this time, while others want to be left alone.

[miss_kitty]

15. just ask HER what SHE wants

if she wants to be left alone, leave her alone. but do extra stuff around the house.

if you can do some chores for her so she can curl up and take it easy, that would be good. just do stuff for her...it's verrrrrry romantic, you wanting to comfort her.

and you might find yourself receiving an ample reward when she's feeling better ;)

[Meshuga]

27. I think she will like your tip...

And it is my chance to score some points here. I convinced to take her out of the house and as long as we keep our 20-month-old from jumping on her I will already be doing a lot. :-)

[Kahuna]

17. Have her take three or four ibuprofen. It always worked for me.

She could start with two. If two doesn't work, up it to three. If three doesn't work, up it to four.

[wildflower]

18. Ibuprofen up to 800 mg...but do not do this if she has any GI

problems...or on a regular basis. As a one- or two- time thing only, each cycle. It (along with aspirin, naproxen, and other NSAIDS) can cause erosion of the stomach lining, ulcers, and bleeding.

But it works best, IMO.

-wildflower

[Infomaniac]

19. A glass of wine, cosmo or shot of whiskey

Alcohol was was prescribed for women who went into premature labor. It will stop the contractions causing the cramps. Ibuprofen is qreat but it does upset the stomach, which can make her feel worse. Try the alcohol, get some food into her and than use the Ibuprofen. A foot rub concentrating on the outside ball of the feet will help too. If your wife has cramps without menstrual flow, please call her doctor. She could be having a problem with ovarian cysts or something else.

[LynzM]

20. The IUD can do that...

All of what's mentioned above is good... ibuprofen, heat, lower back massage, mild exercise, orgasm if she's up for it. Distraction of any sort (a good movie, book, music and some headphones to just tune into that...). Cramps suck. If they continue to be really terrible after several months, she may want to consider something other than an IUD. For some women, the benefit isn't worth the pain. I consider myself lucky that mine are not significantly worsened by it.... Hope the time goes by quickly!

[xultar]

23. 4 Ibuprofen, a short walk, a glass of red wine, and then a nap n/t

[The empressof all]

25. Here's what you can do to help

Leave her alone! Turn the TV on for her to a movie she would enjoy, bring her something nice to drink with a heating pad and some ibuprofen. Then go and deep clean the house. Clean the fridge, behind the furniture and dust all the shelves. Use a cleaning product that has a strong yet pleasant scent. I like Caldera products for this-cleaning is almost like aromatherapy. She will feel much better knowing that you are slaving away.

I'm past the cramping stuff-now I'm just pretty much pre-menstrual 24/7. I know the prescription I've outlined above would pretty much cure me for a day or so.

[Meshuga]

28. She saw this post...

And she loves you for the tip. I have to go now because I have a lot of work in front of me. Now I am cleaning the inside of the oven followed by washing the windows, thank you very much! :-)

[matcom]

26. GIN!!

get her good an liquored up!

[Meshuga]

35. Sometimes I fear a woman with cramps on booze...

You never know what she is capable of when you say or do the wrong thing! :-)

[barb162]

32. does she ever take the pills that are specifically for

menstrual cramps? They are over the counter. I found they really help. If you get these bad, they are like the worst stomach ache you ever had

[Dogmudgeon]

33. Lots of stuff

Sexual arousal (with or without nookie).

Booze. Tranquilizers. Mild narcotics (like Darvon).

Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, ketoprofen. (OTC painkillers.)

Exercise.

Vitamins.

Warm bath, with or without bubbles.

Hot tub.

Diversion -- TV, videos, reading. Comedy especially.

Sleep.

Good luck.

--bkl

[mairceridwen]

34. marijuana

why am I the only one who suggested this?

hee hee

seriously, go outside and build her a menses hut or pick up a nice chocolate dessert for both of you later.

I have to anticipate my cramps and take an aleve before they set in or it barely helps.

[Meshuga]

37. None available and no connections...

But that was one of her wishes. :-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

36. Chamomille tea and backrubs, low back

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

38. Ibuprofen (as much as 1000 mg) or naproxen sodium (Alleve)

along with a shot of Scotch (I am half-kidding), a heating pad, and curled up in the fetal position, moaning.

Let her throw things at you.

Bring her chocolate. Make sure she has a good movie to watch.

It's true that orgasm helps (non-intercourse orgasm, that's very important!!) but I find my enthusiasm for that non-existent and she might, too. It has to do with blood flow to the area.

Exercise helps too, but when I am in pain and people suggest exercise, I throw things at them.

I feel for her.

Oh there are these things they sell at the drug store that you can place on your abdomen and it heats up and stays heated up (it has an adhesive side that sticks to your underpants so it stays facing your lower belly), I can't remember what they are called, but the same brand also makes them for the neck, shoulder, etc. Thera--something??? They have these magnetic disks that heat up and stay warm for 24 hours!! They are AWESOME! She doesn't have to stay on the heating pad with those.

And my best piece of advice? Evening Primrose Oil. Comes in pill form, over the counter. Helps ENORMOUSLY as does Vitamin E. She has to take the Evening Primrose Oil consistently, though, starting a week or two before. A Godsend.

[Glenda]

39. Mefenamic acid

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001599.html

My friend in the UK swears by this, but I don't know if it's available in the US, or if the name is the same

Glenda

[TXlib]

41. Get out of the house

And come home drunk tonight and tell her nothing helps cramps like a little head.

Yeah. That'll work! :evilgrin:

[Meshuga]

50. I'm very attached to my penis...

And that would be a sure way to lose it. :-)

[Cheswick2.0]

43. her cervix has to open to allow the blood clots to pass

that is why she is having cramps, it's just like early stage labor. You can do something called fundal massage. You get behind her or next to her and massage the area where her uterus is, in a down ward motion. It really helps.

[Meshuga]

49. Nice to know...

She says it's pretty much like the pain during contractions.

[wildflower]

44. MrWiggles...how is your wife feeling? n/t

[Meshuga]

48. We went out and she is feeling much better!

Thanks for all the responses and all the help!

Ibuprofen is the best!

Thanks to all!

[AlCzervik]

45. A heating pad always works for me

and a couple of Advil or motrin. Muscle relaxers also work but if you have a heating pad try that on a medium setting.

[grannylib]

46. Weed, heat, chocolate and Pamprin. And yeah, orgasm really helps.

[andino]

51. YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT TO HELL!!!!!!

Or at least that is what MY wife tells me...

;)

[mrbassman03]

Tonic water and bananas...

Quinine and potassium are both awesome on cramps... why not make a gin and tonic, the booze and quinine will both help.

[amazona]

52. Bextra!

I'm not sure if I have this spelled right. It is like an Rx level ibuprofen. Tell her to ask her doctor. He can phone the script to the pharmacy because it is not a narcotic and it doesn't affect your functioning so it isn't a DEA tracked thing. You don't feel high. You just feel well. I had some pretty severe pain where I thought I was going to die and it worked wonders.

[kodi]

54. drive to nearest airport, purchase ticket & fly to tibet, return in 3 days

stay out of her way. she is in pain and there is little you can do except not aggravate her.

[NashVegas]

58. For the Future

Not to be gross or anything, but a diet with a good amount of fiber for the week leading up to the expected period might be of help to relieve some pressure.

Works for me.


*shrugs*

[Meshuga]

62. I will get her some Metamucil for the next cycle

:-)

[NashVegas]

64. Don't Go Overboard, Though :)

you don't have to use Colon Blow or anything. A bottle or two of dark beer (I like Pete's) two nights in a row can help *ease* things. Early-period constipation was always the biggest source of my cramps, when I used to get them. Your wife may not have that problem, but if she does, eliminating that part of the source may help wonders.

[tilsammans]

60. You are so sweet . . .

. . . to care for your wife so! Bless you.

(Do you have a brother who's single?)

[HERVEPA]

63. Cuddle/snuggle

Act as a human heating pad. Orgasm too.
Of course only if she feels these will help her.