Bummed... (solutions for this girl problem?)

Ok... it is a board for women. I don't really feel comfortable talking about this but I am totally bummed out.

I just did the math for the big two day charity ride I've been planning to participate in since last September. It is going to happen during that time of the month for me. And not at the tail end when things are normalizing and I'm feeling better. Pretty much right at the beginning when things have always been worse (cramps, etc...). :(

I really can't imagine spending 14 hours over two days riding my bike (85 miles each way according to the course map online). There are support stations every 12 miles or so... but really... this could potentially be miserable. It is also my first ever of this type of ride. If it is anything like today - and I'm supposed to be riding right now if that is an indicator to how I feel - I don't know what to do. I guess suck it up and go? But this is supposed to be fun for me.

Sometimes I really hate being a girl.

{{{Ruby}}} No constructive advice since I've not had this to worry about since a couple of years before I started cycling, but I can certainly remember what this was like. I hope you are able to come up with a way to deal with this that will allow you to approach the event with confidence!

If you are on the pill, check with your doc and see if you can take them continuously (i.e., avoid the placebo pills). My doc has prescribed them that way for me for years because of horrid periods. How close in time is the ride? Could you see your doc before then? He or she might have some other options for you.

Have you tried riding on the really sucky days? I was always surprised (even with the horrid periods) at how much better I felt with exercise. I was *so* hard to get out there, but it did help. I know not everyone is that way - but it was true for me.

Otherwise, hugs and sympathy. That sucks:(

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Originally Posted by rubysoho

Ok... it is a board for women. I don't really feel comfortable talking about this but I am totally bummed out.

I just did the math for the big two day charity ride I've been planning to participate in since last September. It is going to happen during that time of the month for me. And not at the tail end when things are normalizing and I'm feeling better. Pretty much right at the beginning when things have always been worse (cramps, etc...). :(

I really can't imagine spending 14 hours over two days riding my bike (85 miles each way according to the course map online). There are support stations every 12 miles or so... but really... this could potentially be miserable. It is also my first ever of this type of ride. If it is anything like today - and I'm supposed to be riding right now if that is an indicator to how I feel - I don't know what to do. I guess suck it up and go? But this is supposed to be fun for me.

Sometimes I really hate being a girl.

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((Ruby)) I understand. I can't actually ride the first two days of my period.
How far out is this ride? Consistent exercise makes mine lighter. The only problem is that my cramps get worse, but it seems to be the opposite for most people.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

If you are on the pill, check with your doc and see if you can take them continuously (i.e., avoid the placebo pills). My doc has prescribed them that way for me for years because of horrid periods. How close in time is the ride? Could you see your doc before then? He or she might have some other options for you.(

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This is what I do.

Ride is in the beginning of June. I've been pretty consistent in my exercise since January. Cramping still varies month to month. Some times there is none and other times I want to curl up and die. Midol is the only thing that can touch the moderate to worst cramps. Everything else is mostly predictable.

I think a lot of this is mental. The ride is already going to be a challenge for me. I've been constantly pushing myself further to meet this goal. I just got done with a very stressful 6 weeks of work where I haven't been able to ride as much as I want for training. Throw this into the mix... and well... do I really need one more hurdle?!? (I'm laughing a little about this.)

My teammates are guys and I know they don't/won't understand. Plus I am not close enough to any of them to even broach this subject. At all.

I'm going to try and meet with my obgyn next week. I'm not on bc because in the past (10 years ago) it made me feel sick enough to outweigh the positives. Plus, I don't like the idea of messing with hormones and my body. This bike riding has been the first thing to make me reconsider.

Well you can stay home curled up in a ball and be miserable. Or you can go on a bike ride and be miserable. I would venture a guess that the bike ride and surroundings will be distraction enough that you are able to put the discomfort on the back burner. Even a bad bike ride is better than curling up and feeling sorry for yourself.

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Originally Posted by withm

Well you can stay home curled up in a ball and be miserable. Or you can go on a bike ride and be miserable. I would venture a guess that the bike ride and surroundings will be distraction enough that you are able to put the discomfort on the back burner. Even a bad bike ride is better than curling up and feeling sorry for yourself.

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If it is light to moderate cramping, yes. But curl-up-in-a-ball-wanting-to-die cramping where stomach, back and crotch all simultaneously hurt... I don't know about that. Thankfully it is more likely to be the former and in that case the distractions are welcome.

Not sure how most women handle this, but exercise always seems to quell the cramping for me...especially bike riding. It's about the only activity that actually lessens the cramping. For me, the 2nd day of my period is the worst (heaviest flow, headache, feeling crappy, etc.) then it improves from there. Last summer, I rode a century on the 2nd day of my period...don't ask me how, but I managed. Afterwards, when I revealed that tidbit to my riding partner (a testosterone-laden male) he actually was impressed that I didn't "b!tch" as much as I usually do on a 100-mile ride. :D

ETA - I've read/heard that taking Aleve starting 2-3 days out from the onset of your period, can minimize the cramping. The key here is start using the Aleve BEFORE your period starts. Something about the anti-inflammatory properties of it result in less contractions that cause the cramping. Might be worth a try.

Linda

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

Hard to say exactly though, because I started using cloth pads and the Moon Cup for the first time. Looks different. Plus, those things can change the flow, at least, that is what TE says. :)

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I swear since I started using a menstrual cup and cloth pads my cramps have lessened significantly. I truly believe the chemically-laden stuff we put IN and against our bodies makes things worse. Maybe it's all in my head, but I swear mine have gotten better.
Might be worth a try...

Exercise never helped my cramps. I think it made them worse. Midol didn't touch them either. Ibuprofin and aleve did help. If you don't want to take BC, your OB can suggest the best medication to prevent cramps.

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Originally Posted by rubysoho

If it is light to moderate cramping, yes. But curl-up-in-a-ball-wanting-to-die cramping where stomach, back and crotch all simultaneously hurt... I don't know about that. Thankfully it is more likely to be the former and in that case the distractions are welcome.

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I have stage 2 endometriosis and adenomyosis. They've been MUCH better subsequent to having thermal ablation done a few years back. Prior to that exercise made my cramping and bleeding MUCH worse (I used to cramp so painfully that when I was in labor with my son I didn't find the contractions--with pitocin--to be significantly worse than what I dealt with as a teenager. I can recall in junior high having cramping so bad that I'd be in a cold sweat and very nauseous while white-knuckling my desk. I had a couple of occasions where I bled through my pants, too, even while wearing massive night-time pads that I'd change every hour or two). It sounds to me like you could have abnormal menstruation issues, too. I also had the crotch pain...it felt like my entire vaginal region had been kicked and bruised. No way could I have even thought about riding a bike back then.

I also found the pill to really help...but the side effects were also not favorable for me. Primarily I found the pill to absolutely kill my libido. Nowadays my biggest issue is 23 day (on average) cycles. Super annoying, but at least I rarely have much in the way of cramping, now.

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Originally Posted by rubysoho

I'm going to try and meet with my obgyn next week. I'm not on bc because in the past (10 years ago) it made me feel sick enough to outweigh the positives. Plus, I don't like the idea of messing with hormones and my body. This bike riding has been the first thing to make me reconsider.

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from the conversations I've had, it seems bc rarely works 100% problem free for most women. And there is a difference between brands (I even find a difference between my brand & the generic). Most have different doses, and I've had friends who do well on one type and horrible on another.

Since (I assume) you aren't using it for actual birth control but rather period control, maybe you could ask your doctor for one with a real minimal dose of hormones? Don't know if you consider it worth taking for one ride, but it's an option, anyway.

Also, hey, maybe we SHOULD start calling it "period control" rather than birth control. Maybe less people would be inclined to make laws about it :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Antaresia

Also, hey, maybe we SHOULD start calling it "period control" rather than birth control. Maybe less people would be inclined to make laws about it :rolleyes:

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I don't see why it can't be termed "hormone replacement" or "hormone adjustment" or something to that effect. Heck, I've been on the pill subsequent to having my tubal and during many years when I was not sexually active.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I don't see why it can't be termed "hormone replacement" or "hormone adjustment" or something to that effect. Heck, I've been on the pill subsequent to having my tubal and during many years when I was not sexually active.

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Ya, can't say I've ever relied on it as bc 100% for more than a year (and that was a looooong time ago). Not gonna lie, for me the best reason for taking the pill is that it clears up my complexion like mad. Acne medication with a side effect of making my period less awful, I will be taking this stuff forever.

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Originally Posted by withm

Well you can stay home curled up in a ball and be miserable. Or you can go on a bike ride and be miserable. I would venture a guess that the bike ride and surroundings will be distraction enough that you are able to put the discomfort on the back burner. Even a bad bike ride is better than curling up and feeling sorry for yourself.

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mmm. dunno about this. When my cycle is really bad, I get cramps with diarrhea, plus a super heavy flow that involves changing out supers like once an hour. The good news, it just lasts a day. The bad news is, frankly I'd rather stay home than deal potential leakage and other disasters. To top it off, I've found that the soft bits get a bit congested and then I'm more prone to chafing and other issues. Sorry for TMI, but that's just how it is sometimes. The days I have things going on and have to deal with this while out and about are a real nuisance.

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Originally Posted by Antaresia

Ya, can't say I've ever relied on it as bc 100% for more than a year (and that was a looooong time ago). Not gonna lie, for me the best reason for taking the pill is that it clears up my complexion like mad. Acne medication with a side effect of making my period less awful, I will be taking this stuff forever.

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I tried 10 years ago my freshman year in college because all of the sudden I had massive cramping. Like the other poster, I was having cold sweats and it was just terrible. My problems were (1) remembering and (2) the bc I was on made me feel like I wanted to throw up within an hour of taking it. It was awful and I quit after 2 months. That did something funky with my cycle, shortening it to every TWO weeks :eek: for four times before I got back to normal. Since then I've stayed away from the stuff.

Funny about changing the name. I'd love to get politics far far away from this!!!

withm, thanks for the kick in the pants earlier. I ended up getting out for a two hour bike ride today. Much better than sitting around having a solo pity-party. :p

I'm another one that mostly uses BC for period control. Started when I was in college. My cycle varies 28 days to as much as 60 days, so I started BC pills. Here's the thing for me I cannot take most of the generic BC pills because they make me sick. I've never had a problem with the name brand ones. The one I'm on now I actually can take the generic which is nice for the cost savings. I'm on one of the seasonal pills now.

There are lower dose options these days. I used Nuva Ring for a while to deal with heavy frequent periods, and did not have bad side effects. Unfortunately I wound up needing a higher-dose solution for my problem, and the pills I switched to did a number on me (water retention, migraines, feeling enraged most of the time) so I got off them as soon as possible.

But something lower dose like Nuva Ring might be enough to take the edge off your misery, and you leave it in for 3 weeks so you don't have to remember to do anything every day.

Yea, though I never experienced cramps like some gals here, it was the first 1-3 days that was uncomfortable on a multi-day ride..especially in the summer when it was scorching hot and humid.

Hope you stay refreshed.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I don't see why it can't be termed "hormone replacement" or "hormone adjustment" or something to that effect. Heck, I've been on the pill subsequent to having my tubal and during many years when I was not sexually active.

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after all they also call the tamoxifen therapy I take for breast cancer as hormone or endocrine therapy.

We do need a less polarizing label than BC.

just sayin.

My friends use pills to delay their period when they have a vacation reservation for example. I don't know the name of the pill because since I gave birth, I don't feel pain or discomfort. I use tampons and I can race or go for longer rides during this time. It might be worth trying this pill, it's over the counter.

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Originally Posted by Grits

This is what I do.

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Me too.

I hear the Mirena IUD also helps with cramps.

Is your cycle so regular, that you can be sure that the race will be just at the same time as your period?
I'm asking because last month I was fretting about the same issue just to find out that my body decided to be 2 days late - so there was no issue at all. If your cycle is just a little irregular, chances are that you won't have a problem at all.

If you have to deal with this problem: I talked to my doctor about this and she precribed a pain medication especially for pain/cramps related to menstruation (it's Ibuprofen-based). If I feel really bad, I take one in the morning and feel quite ok for the rest of the day, and I normally have really serious cramps that make me nauseous and dizzy.
You'd have to ask if it is safe to work out while taking medication though, I don't know about this for sure.

I would get medication and give it a try, but permit myself to not start/not finish the race, if I felt really bad. I don't think this is "feeling sorry for yourself", it's just sensible to not ignore serious pain.
Generally I feel that stress worsens my problems. I try to use this time of the month to be gentle to myself, take it a little easy and permit myself not to "feel like" doing something. This my sound strange but really helps for me.

I'm fortunate enough to not suffer from severe cramping or bleeding, so I can't really comment there. But I have had success with acupuncture to help with the cramping I do have, to the point where if I keep up with regular acupuncture, I don't have any cramping at all and my periods are more tolerable all the way around.

Also, in the past I have had the same timing issue that you are having related to an Ironman event. I also cannot tolerate most BC pills and don't like to mess with my hormones. But, my doc worked with me and got me on a low dose BC pill where I took it consecutively for 6 weeks (I think), about 4 months out from the race. That was enough to shift my cycle by about 10 days, problem solved. Meanwhile the low dose pills for a short duration were no big deal and the effects were way out of my system by the time the event came.

Whatever you want to call it, the options have changed in the last 10 years so a chat with your doc sounds like a good idea.

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

This is exactly why I started taking progesterone. It is not the full birth control, has no side effects (so far), and appears to reduce pain. Just started taking at the beginning of April. but looks promising.

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Progesterone increase is supposed to be ideal as you approach menopause. Funny, I used to the topical creme, and .... well not sure what happened. I'm so close to menopause now that I keep hoping that each time is the last time now.
http://www.johnleemd.com/ has some very interesting info on the use of progesterone. Maybe I need to start up again

Seconding the Mirena. Bonus: never having to remember taking pills!