What works for period cramps besides ibuprofen?

[LemonTea]

This past cycle of Clomid didn't work, and now that I've stopped taking progesterone, I'm expecting AF in the next day or two (actually started spotting today).

For the past couple months, I've been reading about studies showing that ibuprofen can cause a lot of harmful side effects for women who are pregnant (including miscarriage), and can even hinder a woman's ability to get pregnant. Ibuprofen is the only thing I've ever taken for cramps -- from the time I first got my period in middle school until last month. Usually, if I start taking it the night before I expect my period, I don't feel any cramps at all! For the last few months, I've been worried about starting ibuprofen too soon (just in case I actually am pregnant, and I'm not really having a period when I start spotting), and whenever I wait until AF actually starts (not just spotting, but actual red bleeding), I have the worst cramps. I'm a complete mess, can't move or walk except to stumble to the bathroom to throw up. I feel like my insides are being ripped apart. It lasts about a day, and it's happened for the last two months straight.

I am dreading my period showing up, but I really want to find an alternative to ibuprofen, just in case it's had something to do with why I haven't gotten pregnant since we started not-preventing. Does anyone know of something else I can try? I have a stock of extra strength tylenol, but everything I'm reading says tylenol is generally not enough to keep you from feeling AF cramps.

I feel like I'm doomed. Any advice much appreciated!!

 

[SKP]

tyenol extra strength, works wonders for me. I take 2

 

[SKP]

ps. ibprohen is a blood thinner

 

[LemonTea]

tyenol extra strength, works wonders for me. I take 2

Thanks, SKP! I think this is what I'm going to try since I already have it in the house. I was reading somewhere else about Midol and Pamprin, but both are basically just 500mg of the active ingredient in Tylenol, which means it's the exact same thing as taking a Tylenol for pain relief. I hope it works.

The more I keep reading about ibuprofen, the worse it's seems that I've taken it so for so many years for pain relief when AF shows. But seriously, it has always worked for me! I hope Tylenol does the trick.

 

[SKP]

I had a really bad experience with ibprohphen, I been sick alot so thats what i been taking. and it thinned out my blood that it landed me in the hospital hmeraging for over a week, had to have 2 blood transfusion and 1 life saving transfusion also a dnc.

 

[blessedlife]

A heating pad is wonderful. Exercise (believe it or not) can help but it's hard to make yourself when you're in pain! Good luck!

 

[OperationBbyO]

I was about to suggest a heating pad. Turn it on low and be sure to put a barrier between the heating pad and you. For whatever reason massaging the area also used to help me.

 

[LemonTea]

Will also try the heat suggestion. Thanks ladies! 15dpo and no AF yet (who knows when I'll get it since I just came off prometrium -- I think about two days is normal), but I know I'll be as prepared as I can possibly be for whatever she throws at me!