Coping with Period Cramps- Mary 21

“I was still agonizing in pain after I gained consciousness”

My period cramps started way back in 2016 during my first menstrual cycle. It was on Saturday and I was in school, after lunch break, I just had a stomach ache which I thought was a normal stomach ache and I knew that after sometime I will be okay, little did I know that my condition was going to worsen. I did not even have the last memories of what happened before finding myself in the school sick bed being attended to by the school nurse and I was bleeding. I was later told by my classmates that I had fainted. I was still agonizing in pain after I gained consciousness.

“The accusations”

Before I could tell that I had received my first period the nurse accused me of trying to do an abortion. This caught me by surprise. I didn't expect this from a professional. It even made the situation worse since my cramping was severe and the nurse was talking to me harshly and I couldn't even help myself. I cried. Later, the school nurse decided to take me to the hospital where several tests were taken and the doctor said that it was just a normal period, it's only that my cramps were intense so I was injected and later given some painkillers.

“My new normal”

Ever since my first cramping, I have been experiencing severe period cramps whereby I must see a doctor during the period or take painkillers during the period for pain relief. If the condition gets worse I have to be injected. I take three days of bed rest during my periods because of the intense cramps that make me not to walk properly. I have also discovered some painkillers prescribed by my gynecologist that help me so much, I also apply heat to my stomach that is by massaging myself with hot water and also accepting my situation has helped me cope with it since I know that there is nothing I can do about it other than seeking medication and self-care.

“Take care of yourselves”

Each menstrual cycle gets better after I accepted my situation since I have known how to deal with it. It is important to be able to identify if your period cramps are normal or not. I did this by going to see a gynecologist when I was on break and that’s when I found out that my cramps were in fact not “normal” and that I needed to be on medication. I was given some helpful pointers such as, if the cramps interfere with your daily life, come with intense discomfort, feel different or last for more than 2 or 3 days then they aren't normal. I hope all the young women reading this realize that they should seek medical attention rather than normalize the pain.