Dealing with Menstrual Pain/Cramps

A lot of women, including me, look like this (picture to the left) at least once a month. If the people around us are observant enough, they'll even be able to tell when the next 'look' is due.

It's the horrid 1st (or 2nd) day of the monthly menstrual period that i personally hate.

Today, I didn't make it to work because the "evil-red-liquid-monster" showed it's ugly head and brought its painfulness in its wake.

The funny thing though, is that I have suffered this for years and gotten different sorts of advice (some which have worked and some which were total bull crap) but for some reason, every once in a while (more often than that actually), I get lazy and forget to do as I was told by a doctor or my sister or my mum...and i end up rolling on the floor and crying (horrible sight I tell ya).

From next month, I have decided to do better and try not to be bed ridden (or in this case, floor ridden) just because my monthly visitor arrived. Here are a few things I am gonna do...

1.  I will count my cycle days...the benefits of these are numerous (including knowing the safe periods for sex *cough*) but for the purpose of dealing with menstrual cramps, this will help me have a good idea of what day my visitor will come by...so i'll be prepared.

2. I will take my pain killer...a day before the expected visitation date, and the morning of the expected visitation date. This 'sermon' has been preached by my doctor friend (who now believes I enjoy the pain since I don't obey this tiny little advice) and my sister (who has dealt with menstrual cramps far longer than I have). The idea, I think, is to have your body fighting the pain, even before it arrives, so when it comes, it meets a 'brick wall' that it can not penetrate. Also, because i get so weak during my periods, I'll include some kind of meal and/or vitamin supplement to my daily intake. 

3. I don't know if this is the same with all females (as a matter of fact, I doubt that it is) but sugar, cakes, non-alcoholic drinks etc have a way of multiplying the pain (by what I imagine to be 10 fold). So, I will avoid all these, at least 2 days to the expected visitation date and all through the visitation period (except in dire cases where my birthday or valentines day happens right before *yimu*). 

4. I will have a drink...a strong drink...just a little...a day to the expected visitation and as soon as the visitor arrives. From basic biochemistry, we all know that alcohol dulls pain. That is all I have to say about that *straight face*

5. I will become best friends with hot cups of tea (probably green tea or ginger tea) every morning through out my visitors stay. I don't know the sense behind how it works, but it has always felt good.

6. I will exercise. Well...honestly speaking, this will be tough. Considering my job schedule, it will be very tough. I will probably just settle for walking up and down my office stairs and maybe walking round the office building (seeing as that is where I spend most of my time *eye roll*)

Ok. That's it. That's all I know for sure that I will do.

I am sharing this with everyone for the benefit of some ladies who suffer cramps and have no idea how to deal with it. Meanwhile, if you know of any other things I (and other females) can do to deal with it, go right ahead and share in the comment box.