recs for that time of the month? what brings you comfort/eases pain? i get severe painful cramps 😓

Question

Dylan · Answer

Cancelling all your plans the moment your period arrives: At this time of the month, I should not be allowed or expected to leave my house!!

I am accidentally smashing things daily (RIP my expensive water glass, vintage smoked glass table, vintage mirror and favourite glass fruit plate...does anyone else get extra clumsy?), my lower back is throbbing, my tummy is upset, my ADHD meds have stopped having any effectiveness WHATSOEVER & absolutely everything is irritating and/or upsetting!!!!

My body: no

My brain: also no

See also also: no cold drinks!!!

Dylan · Answer

My Pain Is Chronic But My Ass Is Iconic: Read this as an affirmation to yourself and repeat as needed. Effective supplementary relief for physical and/or emotional pain.

Analisa Burns · Answer

ice cream every night: cures any & all late summer heartaches

Laura Landers · Answer

Drinking organic raspberry tea leaves to reduce cramps: I actually drink this all month bc I enjoy the flavor! But I’ve seen raspberry tea leaves proven to reduce cramping. I bought this one and it’s lasted me a long time!

Gracie · Answer

Wild Power: This book completely changed the way I think about and understand my cycle. I have been following this method (which involves keeping a journal throughout your cycle) for almost 3 years and can’t recommend it highly enough. Incredibly helpful and empowering.

Catarina Gaspar · Answer

Advil and this heating pad.: And drinking lots of water. I have migraines together with cramps and I find that dehydration can make symptoms much worse.

JDJ · Answer

Bucky Unisex Heartwarmer Hot & Cold Therapy Pad: Adding to the recs for heat, but this one is a heart which makes me feel better somehow and it’s soft yet weighty to clutch to your body.

Lindsey Millikan · Answer

Cramp Cream (Somedays): This Canadian company makes this product that’s really helpful on the worst days.

Mel · Answer

Honestly Advil is my bff: Advil just works best for my cramps. I also like to spoil myself with some good take-out food!

Kelly P · Answer

Taking a sick day: We would take a sick day for any other type of pain, so why not for period pain?

Don’t make yourself suffer more than you have to- stay at home in your pj’s and watch trash tv all day…and don’t feel guilty about it!

Holly Funk · Answer

Castor Oil Compress: So soothing!

Cool Your Jets · Answer

WEIGHTED heating pads: I didn’t even know a heating pad could get better till my partner surprised me with one after mine finally bit the dust. A real game changer.

Aya C · Answer

Acupuncture (especially from someone who specializes in fertility and women’s+ health): I am a 42-yo post-cancer medical menopause person who is returning to periods again (🫠🫠🫠) after 6 years of ovary/hormone suppression. I feel like my body is learning to menstruate again.

I do all the things to help. Probably a shotgun method worked but I credit acupuncture with returning me back to life in about one cycle. I went from being unable to breathe, calling out of work, fetal position while on 3 ibuprofen to being able to participate in regular life. Life-changing.

*everyone in this photo is wearing a suit??

Mo · Answer

period underwear: more comfortable than pads and less invasive than cups or tampons. makes me feel more normal on my period. i like saalt's seamless line as it doesn't cut into my ass (which a lot of period underwear seems to for some reason)

Elena · Answer

Naproxen Sodium (Aleve) for menstrual cramps: Importantly your doctor can prescribe higher dose and it’s practically free with insurance !!

This is so simple but was a game changer for me! If you can take slightly preemptively it'll make the biggest difference, but taken at the first twinge of a cramp and continuing through the phase where you get most cramps (for me this can be both luteal and menstrual) can change the trajectory of my week.

Big Red · Answer

Heating pad: My pride and joy. If this thing broke I would go out that same day and buy another. If I'm traveling and I know that time of month could hit, it comes with me. Quite literally nothing gives me relief like a heating pad. I love it so much I now sleep with it most nights, it has auto off! Cold room, crispy cold sheets, heating pad on your back - nothing better. Borderline addicted to it. You can pry it from my cold dead hands (except they're not cold because they're probably tucked under my heating pad).

Nora Rev · Answer

The Origins Hug Body Wrap: The perfect gift, especially for someone with cramps, endo, or muscle pain. I have stage IV endo and use this constantly. Every person I’ve gifted it to is obsessed. And it smells so good!

Jess · Answer

Shakti Mat: Yes, it's covered in spikes. They will press all the tension and sadness out of your muscles and leave you feeling like melted butter. I use mine at least three times a week.

Gloria · Answer

tiger balm patch: cover my torso in these front and back, or icy hot patches or anything along those lines.

Dylan · Answer

No cold drinks or foods on your period!: Ask any Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and they'll tell you that drinking that cold beverage or eating a bowl of ice cream (as delish as that might be) is only going to make cramps worse. Replace cold and raw foods (like salad, smoothies etc) with warm and easily digestible foods (stews, soups, tea, bone broth).

"TCM views the menstrual cycles as the cycles of nature which correspond to the four seasons of Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

The season of Winter begins on day one of your bleed and ends on the final day of your bleed. This season is a time to rest and to release. Through winter, energy moves inward and downward as Blood leaves the body.

Just like Winter in nature, this season should be listened to for the body by slowing down, keeping warm, and consuming warm and easily digestible foods."

Dylan · Answer

Magnesium & Aloe Vera Spray: perfect for helping you have sweeter sleeps and soothed muscles

Dylan · Answer

Young Woman on her Death Bed: i recommend replying with this image to any loved ones who check in on you when you're deathly hungover, bed rotting or a legitimate sicko

Dylan · Answer

Legs up the wall: i love a restorative inversion! the most delicious thing to do after a day spent on your feet, after a long-haul flight, or just for a calming evening ritual.

activate the parasympathetic nervous system, improve circulation, lymphatic drainage, reduce swelling/pain, relieve tension.

so simple, so good.

Dylan · Answer

Self-Warming Body Patches: amazing for muscle aches and period pains and every ailment in between

Dylan · Answer

Moving With Pain: a journal article about somatic practice principles for people living with pain

Dylan · Answer

Ginger Hot Chocolate: my current obsession now it's officially WINTER in my part of the world.

hot chocolate (or cacao) with ground ginger powder for a warming zingy treat. other spices like cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne pepper could also be yum additions if you're feeling a little risky and frisky. you could even add a tsp of coconut oil or maybe some protein powder if that's your vibe!

combine with milk of your choice and whisk in a small pot on the stove until warm and frothy. YUM.

Dylan · Answer

Bennetto Raspberry Dark Chocolate: my perfect chocolate. the real pieces of raspberry are so intense and coupled with the richness of the dark chocolate, meaning it's a little more challenging to binge the whole block, which is good for me, a chronic binge the whole block bitch. also i aspire to be both rich and intense.

Dylan · Answer

Going potato mode: Did you know that humans share about 50% of our DNA with potatoes because we use the same basic genes for cellular function? This is what Reddit told me, anyway, which is obviously the most reliable source of scientific knowledge.

With this in mind, I highly recommend transforming yourself into a human potato by getting into the comfiest clothes possible, surrounding yourself with pillows and blankets, and merging your body with your couch.

Allow any freeloaders (pets, kids, etc) to nuzzle in your nooks. Put on your favourite comfort movie/show/podcast or read a cosy book.

And remember: rest is not earned, rest is not "laziness", rest is a basic need and simple pleasure.

Dylan · Answer

Giving your cat 500 forehead kisses: i don't make the rules, this is just a legal requirement in my house.

Dylan · Answer

Zen Pain Relief Spray: Recommended to me by my TCM practitioner for muscle aches & pains

Dylan · Answer

fudgey sweet potato brownies: i'm not a baker because as i've mentioned i do not like to follow instructions or measure amounts etc BUT i was craving a chocolate treat at midnight last night when my body was stabbing me from the inside with period pain so i attempted to recreate a version of the healthy brownie my friend Elo made me recently.

ingredients you will need:

sweet potato, cocoa powder or cacao, honey or maple syrup, dates, almond or other type of nut butter, salt, vanilla essence

optional add-ons:

coconut, chopped walnuts, granulated sweetener (i used monk fruit extract coz i was working with what was in my pantry)

vague vibes for how to make it:

1. soak a handful of dates in boiling water (just enough to cover) then blend in blender / food processor til it giving a syrupy saucy vibe

2. meanwhile cook & mash a sweet potato - i peeled it, wrapped it in aluminium foil & cooked at 200c til soft & steamy, then mashed 1 cup of it into a bowl

3. add a big squirt of honey or maple syrup, pinch of salt, dash of vanilla essence if you have it, about 1/3 cup of nut butter & 1/3 cup cocoa powder or cacao

4. pour into a baking paper lined dish & bake for about 20-30 mins

5. cool on wire rack for a minimum 60 mins for best results then gobble that shit up and consider yourself healed from all ailments

Dylan · Answer

Deep Heat Back Pain Extra-Large Heat Patches: cannot live without these, especially come that time of the month when i'm in literal agony! so good because you can wear these out under your clothes and nobody will ever know :)

Soph · Answer

Nu Ke Ba Zhen wan: Acupuncturist has me on these for a month, 7 teapills 3x a day. Only been on them for 4 days but they made this period a lot more comfortable. I’m in shock. Obvi have a TCM practitioner take ur pulses etc. but this one seems to be a special one for bad periods and cramping.

Soph · Answer

Motrin Dual Action: Acetaminophen + ibuprofen( they work on different pain pathways). My endo surgeon told me about this, works so much better than Advil alone for endometriosis and adenomyosis pain relief. Take 2 every 6 hours. He told me I was severely under medicating my pain, like a good first born daughter.

ellie jones · Answer

selefina ginger root tea: THE spiciest ginger tea ever!! delicious on its own, but i also enjoy it with a little honey and cinnamon, and/or some steamed milk for a spicy tea latte of sorts.

it makes me feel sooooo good and will def give you a caffeine-free kickstart to your morning, warmth on a chilly day, and overall amazing digestive and immune system benefits anytime.

Sophie · Answer

MY OBI Apollo 2.0: Good wireless heating element, TENS, red light, and mild compression. Long-ish battery life, will charge on car USB. Fits under clothes.