Please help! I'm about to cry from this dizziness since my period started!

[crid]

I'm about to cry, I don't know what to do anymore. I've been having so much trouble with my period. My period started on the 17th and I had horrible cramps to the point of me almost crying. I took medicine and it helped, but the next day they came back, so I took more. Then I started to get dizzy, I thought it might've been a side effect of the medicine I was taking (Pamprin), so I stopped taking it. But I still became very dizzy.

Last night I was at my boyfriends house and it got so bad that he had to take me home. He was freaking out because I almost passed out. When I got home I had some water and some crackers and it went away, so I thought it might've been low blood sugar.

Today I was fine. Then I ate lunch and I started feeling really dizzy again. It's pretty bad right now, I describe it as my head feeling heavier than the rest of my body so I'm top-heavy. My vision is swaying. I'm FREEZING and I'm shaking (from the dizziness and because I'm that cold). My body is almost exhausted from me shaking and being so tense from being cold.

I don't know what to do! It just keeps coming and going. I'm seriously about to cry right now because its getting that bad. Plus my boyfriend wanted to take me out tonight and I'm afraid I can't now because its getting so bad. What should I do? How can I get rid of this dizziness? What's going on with me?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Your symptoms of cramps are suggestive of primary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea involves no physical abnormality and usually begins within three years after you begin menstruating.It is thought to be due to a chemical imbalance in the body.

Dizziness that you are having may be due to low hemoglobin,dehydration or stress.

The treatment of primary dysmenoorhea includes prostaglandin inhibitors,non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and low-dose oral contraceptives.Consultation of a gynecologist is mandatory for their prescription.In addition,Lifestyle modifications like dietary modifications (to increase protein and decrease sugar and caffeine intake),vitamin supplements,regular exercise,keeping heating pad across the abdomenor taking a hot bath or shower may also help.Also take iron supplements for some days and eat a healthy,nutritious diet and take adequate amounts of fluids.

Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.

[Encephalomalcia]

Cramps can be so extremely painful that they can drop a person to their knees.  Woman can vomit and get diarrhea and feel like a knife is stabbing.  Motrin works good, but can cause depression.  Alieve works good and is over the counter now. If the dose that is recommended on the bottle does not help, call your doctor and see if you can take a little higher dose (make sure to get a doctors okay first).  If you are low on iron because of heavy flow, you can experience dizziness and weakness.  You may want to get your iron checked.  Take the over the counter medication with some food to protect your stomach and make sure it stays down.  Hope you are feeling better.