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14yr old w/severe menstral cramps

by PGB, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
My 14yr old has always had extremely "normal" periods.  She has never had cramps or any other problems.  She started her period Friday, this morning she came to me crying saying there is soemthing wrong with her.  She is cramping bad enough that she's crying.  I want to think that it's just "normal" cramping, but I can't help but wonder.  I don't even remember when I started having cramps with my periods. LOL been too long ago.  Is it "normal" for them to start all at once like that, that severe?  

Oh, I also need to mention that she tried to use a tampon yesterday for the first time so she could go swimming.  She never could get one in.  She did try for a while.  Could this be part of it?  I mean, the cramps are in her stomach, right where the uterus should be, not down low.  So, that makes me think it's not related to the tampon thing.  What does everyone think?  I don't want to put her through having to go to the doctor and get an exam if I don't have to.  She REALLY wouldn't deal with that well at all. And that's bad enough, embarrassing enough to me, much less to a 14yr old kid.
Member Comments (16)

by tina1111, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
It could be hormonal changes. Only her dr would be able to say for sure. When I was 16 I went through major changes with af. I thought I was was going to die! I went to the dr and he put me on bc pills for 3-4 mos, no I was not sexually active. It did the trick. I have never had cramps again. It may be something different entirely. If the pain does not subside or if fever is present, most definitely have her see dr.

by Nicole624, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
When  I was 15 I started getting severe cramps. I would pass out and not remember they were so bad! I had to go on the pill to get my hormones back on track. I hated going to the dr. but was soooo glad I did. I think your daughter will have to go to the dr. otherwise, her cramps will be that bad every month. Take care and gooc luck to your daughter!

by TonyaB, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
My story is the same as Nicole.  I would have horrible cramps and would just lay down on the couch and stay home from school the first day of my cycle.  I did faint a few times.  After taking the pill I was SO much better!  

by ang79, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
I started my period when I was 11. I would bleed pretty bad, but no cramping until I was around 14 or 15. That is probably when the hormones kicked in. I suffered through the severe cramping for several years. They get so bad that I typically throw up and curl up into a ball for an entire day. Birth control really helps with the cramping. I still get them, but nowhere near like when I am not on them. I hope this helps with your daughter.

by pertykitty, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
poor girl!  i had severe cramps but i think i was closer to 17 or 18 and i had other problems. did she take anything for it? use a heating pad? make sure she cuts down on her caffiene too, it makes cramps worse. hope she feels better! see i dont know if  i can handle all this if i had a girl, tampons!!! oh my!!! lol.

by *heartagram*, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
I feel for her, I have cramping like that all the time during periods when I am not preg. Usually it only lasts a day and I am popping tylenol and such to ease the pain. It is completely normal. Sometimes I even throw up it get's so bad. There are just some out there luckier then others I guess.

by Darkestlight, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
Cramps suck. Being a women sucks sometimes. I had bad cramps too, enough to make me curl into a ball when I was young. I will say this though I understand not wanting to put her through a exam from a gynecologist at 14 however I think that all women should go to the gynecologists within a few yrs or starting their periods just for a exam. Because when I was 16 I went and had abnormal cells from a pap smear. They had to do a biopsy and took a tissue sample. When the sample came back I had cancer, well they called it precancer. The cells were changing into cancer and had to be frozen off.  If I wouldn't have went to the doctor when I did then I might not be here today. And I was so young... only 16 years old you would think too young to have cancer, but it can hit you at any age. So maybe talk to her about going to a doctor. Better safe then sorry. Just thought I'd share my story.

by AnnieBrooke, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
Advil and Nuprin are antiprostaglandins, and they work really well on period cramps (unlike aspirin or Tylenol).  If it's just cramps, they should be effective, so that is one way to tell.  Have her try them.

Also, I don't want to embarass you or her but someone should tell her that the usual reasons tampons are hard to put in at first is that either she is trying with one that is too big (i.e., the "super" size) when it's a lot easier to start with the "junior" size, or she is not pushing it in far enough.  Getting it past the opening of the vagina is the trick, once past that, she won't feel it or feel like something is stuck down there.  She also might try lubricating the end, for that use either Vaseline out of a tube (so it is sanitary) or KY jelly.

by peekawho, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
Amen, Annie.  

by PGB, Jul 01, 2007 12:00AM
duh!!  i never thought about lubricating the end.  i bought her the "junior" size tampons, so it shouldn't be too big...she's had them for MONTHS and was scared to even try to use one.  i'm sure it's just getting them started that's the problem with them.  i figure in a another year or so she's gonna really want to use them.  i wouldn't go back to pads myself for anything.  if she can ever get the first one in, she's gonna be like the rest of us and be hooked on them.  i actually feel "dirty" when i use pads! lol

the cramps got better after a while and even though she's been cramping some off and on today, they haven't been that bad any more.  i gave her some naproxen sodium for them (my gyno told me to take them for my cramps and it really works much better than midol or pamrin or anything) and she laid around with the heating pad.  gotta love those heating pads!!

thanks for all the answers and i did mention the doctor to her and she said she would feel better to wait and see if the next period is that bad or not before she does that.  no surprise there.  LOL

by BABYRUTH9899, Jul 02, 2007 12:00AM
i am addicted to my heating pad. i have a standard size pillow that i rolled up and taped off under a pillow case, and i will lay it on the floor, a heating pad on top of the pillow, then my stomach on the heating pad. i have to have major pressure on my stomach to relieve the cramps any. thank god that only happens to me every other month. on the odd months, my periods aren't that bad. whew! cause i need the break!!!

by BraedenzMom, Jul 02, 2007 12:00AM
Before I went on the pill at 15 my cramps were horrible as well... I had Rx painkillers inorder to even function. The pill helped out a lot, since it helps regulate hormone levels.

And as uncomfortable as it may be, if she's been getting her cycle for some time, she really should start seeing a GYN for anual check-ups. Its a good habbit to start now, he/she can explain various forms of birth control pills (the patch, low-dose or regular) and test to see which type suits her best. My sister was placed on birthcontrol that was too strong for her (she needed the low-dose) and ended up in the hospital.

Its never to early to teach her about the importance of regular doctor visits. If you start her on them now, she's more likey to continue to go as she gets older.

by 2songbirds, Jul 02, 2007 12:00AM
I got my period when I was 11, and sometime when I was 12 I started getting horrible cramping. My mom never did anything for it, but then again she was so freaking "crazy" that she insisted the reason why I had such severe cramps was because I had STD's, although I never even fooled around with boys yet....I still get bad cramps to this day, 3 kids later. Goes down my legs, get the poops, the whole shabang. Midol works best for me.

by amberd5191, Jul 02, 2007 12:00AM
I had really painful periods at that age, when I went to the dr they put me on the pill to minimize bleeding. I don't think they will do an exam on her, but may prescribe a rx strength tylenol to help. Good Luck to you both!

by spngbobnrs, Jul 02, 2007 12:00AM
I had the same problems. I went to the doctor and he gave me Naproxium Sodium 500mg, my cousin's was worst, he put her on birth control and she hasnt had cramps for the past 10 years

by PGB, Jul 02, 2007 12:00AM
what's wrong with my post?  On the previous page it shows that there are 15 replies to it...but when I click on it I can only see the first 9.  I can't even see my last post.  Peek's is the last one I can see.  Wonder what the deal is?
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