What's good for cramps?

SarahMeyer0823 · March 2012

Hi Ladies --

Since ibuprofen is a no-no while TTC...what do you do to relieve cramps??

wiggles527 · March 2012

Alcohol.

And a heating pad.

But mostly alcohol.

ETA: I've heard that you can take ibuprofen up to 28 weeks. It's later on in the pregnancy where the damage is done. This was told to me by a nurse but I would definitely ask your doc. Tylenol is always safe but it doesn't help much. Is midol an option since you are only on CD3?

Daiz813 · March 2012

Good ole heating pad and Tylenol. Feel better!

Kristinfm · March 2012

Wine? Jk (sort of).

Tylenol is okay, although I don't really find it that effective. Maybe a heating pad? Hot bath?

kleigh926 · March 2012

Why shouldn't you take ibuprofen when you have period cramps? I'm seriously curious, I never heard of not taking it when you know for a fact you're not pregnant.

AshDahlia · March 2012

Heating pad and a funny movie to distract you.

JBM1204 · March 2012

kleigh926:
Why shouldn't you take ibuprofen when you have period cramps? I'm seriously curious, I never heard of not taking it when you know for a fact you're not pregnant.

This is what I was thinking. I thought it was just off the table during the 2ww because it could effect implantation but period to O was fine because you are def not pg.

monimu13 · March 2012

yeah, i take prescription strength NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) for cramps....no reason it should be a problem.

choppinbroccoli22 · March 2012

JBM1204:
kleigh926:
Why shouldn't you take ibuprofen when you have period cramps? I'm seriously curious, I never heard of not taking it when you know for a fact you're not pregnant.
This is what I was thinking. I thought it was just off the table during the 2ww because it could effect implantation but period to O was fine because you are def not pg.

Did she say she was having her period? I didn't see that.. I just thought she said she was having cramps. Like, O cramps, perhaps.

edit: ooohhh...I see the ticker now! Gotcha. I think I agree with you then! Is it still bad to take?

ChiTown Bridget · March 2012

Daiz813:
Good ole heating pad and Tylenol. Feel better!

This.

JustWonderin805 · March 2012

Tylenol never helped me much. I would take 4 ibuprofen (with my doc's approval). A warm bath and a heating pad afterwards helped. Also, if I still woke up with the cramps I usually take a long walk. The exercise seems to help.

JBM1204 · March 2012

monimu13:
yeah, i take prescription strength NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) for cramps....no reason it should be a problem.

You may already know this but NSAIDS can mess with your O. Studies show that they can act like a birth control and prevent, or seriously delay, ovulation. I was on them last year and i saw a problem with my O.

sschwege · March 2012

JBM1204:
kleigh926:
Why shouldn't you take ibuprofen when you have period cramps? I'm seriously curious, I never heard of not taking it when you know for a fact you're not pregnant.
This is what I was thinking. I thought it was just off the table during the 2ww because it could effect implantation but period to O was fine because you are def not pg.

I still take ibuprofen for cramps, not sure why you can't if you know you're not pregnant. Unless they say that because you might take it thinking you are starting your period when in fact they are cramps due to pregnancy (I actually did that, thankfully no ill effects). But I think as long as you are sure it's your period I think it's fine.

peanutmuse · March 2012

JBM1204:
monimu13:
yeah, i take prescription strength NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) for cramps....no reason it should be a problem.
You may already know this but NSAIDS can mess with your O. Studies show that they can act like a birth control and prevent, or seriously delay, ovulation. I was on them last year and i saw a problem with my O.

This is what I would be concerned about too. I would especially not take them from CD1 to O. Here's an article from Oxford Journal about it: https://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/39/8/880.full

ETA: The study was done on women with rheumatoid arthritis, but the RA diagnosis is irrelevant for this study other than the fact that it was the basis of their test sample. The point is that the NSAIDs seemed to be related to the infertility of these women. I wouldn't risk it (and have chosen not to, for any who might have read my post about my hip injury and naproxen prescription).

mrsjollybrown · March 2012

A heating pad. And milk. Milk does what? I have no clue but it's in my mom's Home Remedy book and it works for me.

JellyTwoPointO · March 2012

Tylenol should be ok. Also a heating pad and a nap! Comfy pants and a good movie.

Laurakat81 · March 2012

Um... Yeah. Ibuprofen is perfectly fine to take during AF.

peanutmuse · March 2012

Ibuprofen is still an NSAID, though. That's not to say that it will cause ovulation problems for everyone, because obviously everyone's body will react differently. My personal feeling is that I don't want to do anything to my body that has the potential to negatively affect ovulation. I might be more sensitive about this particular topic because of the fact that I'm in my mid-30s. I don't want to have anovulatory cycles if there is anything that I can do to help it. There are a lot of things we can't control. For me, this is one thing that I can control.

I find that doing certain yoga poses helps with cramps. I also love hot baths & heating pads. Good luck, OP!

Kristinfm · March 2012

peanut+muse:
Ibuprofen is still an NSAID, though. That's not to say that it will cause ovulation problems for everyone, because obviously everyone's body will react differently. My personal feeling is that I don't want to do anything to my body that has the potential to negatively affect ovulation. I might be more sensitive about this particular topic because of the fact that I'm in my mid-30s. I don't want to have anovulatory cycles if there is anything that I can do to help it. There are a lot of things we can't control. For me, this is one thing that I can control.
I find that doing certain yoga poses helps with cramps. I also love hot baths & heating pads. Good luck, OP!

Agreed! When I told my OBGYN that I was TTC, she actually told me no more ibuprofen.

Shayliz · March 2012

I take prescription Naproxen Sodium.. which is Aleve OTC. I have crawl into the fetal position and feel like death cramps if I don't take it, and nothing else touches them. My RE knows and has said nothing negative about it since it's only taken around CD1-5.

SarahMeyer0823 · March 2012

I thought I had read somewhere that ibuprofen was bad cuz it can effect your lining? Make it thinner? Looks like I need to invest in a heating pad

thanks!

monimu13 · March 2012

Shayliz:
I take prescription Naproxen Sodium.. which is Aleve OTC. I have crawl into the fetal position and feel like death cramps if I don't take it, and nothing else touches them. My RE knows and has said nothing negative about it since it's only taken around CD1-5.

this is exactly why I take mine too...I've been on it for 15 years and still take it. I've been charting since September and have ovulated on CD 15 all but one cycle. Its the only way to get through the day and go to work sometimes.

happilyeverafterxo · March 2012

Heating pads are amazing for cramps...just sayin'

Want a personalized experience?

What's good for cramps?

Re: What's good for cramps?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards