Dealing with a Period

Periods are as unique as each individual girl.  Some girls feel great and even experience more energy and a sense of well being during their period.  Others get headaches and cramping.  They may experience depression, anger or the jitters.   I wish I were one of the first group.  Unfortunately, I’m one of the latter.  Most of the time, they are just a dull annoying ache and I am a bit on edge with my emotions.  But occasionally, I have cramps so bad I doubled over, accomanied by diarreah and naseau.  I mean who has an appetite when your uterus is trying to claw its way out like something out of Alien?

The ONLY thing that makes the bad ones feel better is a couple of Ibuprofin every 4 hours and a comfy couch with a heating pad.  Thank you God for the invention of heating pads.  The second best thing is the heat patch – heating pads that you can actually stick to you and they go where ever you go.  Those are now a must in my supply cabinet, right beside the femine napkins.

Having had many years of experience now, I pretty much know what brings on the bad ones.   It starts with being under a lot of stress with a whole lot of this and that going on.  I don’t get to the yoga routine like I should, then I start eating comfort foods instead of what is good for me.  Stress goes up because I am not taking time take care of myself.   Suddenly, the period rolls around and I am now forced to take a break, on my back, in the bed because I can’t stand to be around anyone (and no one can stand to be around me).

At that time, I get out my period care package:
My heating pad (or stick on heat)
Feminine napkins (tampons made the cramping worse)
Lots of water (to flush out the toxins)
Vitamins (to put back in what my body is taking out)
Lavendar oil (because it makes me calm and happy)
Chocolate (because it makes me calm and happy)
Hot tea (because it makes me calm and happy)

You get the idea.

What are periods like for you?  What are your tricks for getting through them?