For a long time I believed that it was normal to be in pain every time I had my period, it was a norm that most of the girls had to accept, and never complain. The idea of how painful they could be only dawned on me as soon as I began to get sharp abdominal cramps. Every month, on the eve of my menstruation, I would prepare myself for one more monthly torment , a kind of boring aching pain in the lower abdomen that felt as if it was expanding, clutching my back and thighs.
It is one of those cliches that every series abounds in. First day is the most difficult one, I experience these mild pain in my lower stomach area, the next thing Is stomach upset as i undergo stinging pains in my abdomen. Sometimes, it is as if my uterus is being squeezed vigorously, similar to when someone wrings out a wet towel. The pain is sometimes almost unbearable since I actually have to sit or stand hunched over, and there are nights when all I can do is lie in bed holding a hot water bag on my abdomen, wishing the pain would go away. These are usually preceded with cramping up, throbbing headache, nausea, and general weakness, which hampers any activity.
As I mentioned before, the manifestations of period pain are different for every woman, however, I personally designate it when I experience a sensation of weak pressure in the lower part of my stomach. The cramps then start as a twitch or a painful contraction and are usually small at the initial hours but become massive at the later hours of the day. Sometimes this discomfort gets to a point where it actually feels like there is a knife twisting inside my tummy, and every little aspect of this world becomes blurred. My lower back also gives me pain and this being an important part of the body, it hampers my movement and ability to get comfortable.
Besides the physical discomfort there are actual losses from which one suffers emotional distress. Managing pain and discomfort during those times of the month significantly affects peoples’ mental and physical health. It brings discomfort that may lead to irritability, and I may be on edge during that time of the month and feel like a different person entirely. Since such pain is experienced over and over again, it can be extremely challenging to explain to a person who has not gone through it just how tiring it can be.
Through the years, I have used one relief measure or the other for the pain. Ibuprofen,bascopan,diclofenac and other non-prescription painkillers can dull the discomfort, but they are not always enough to resolve the said issue. The hot waterbags are a god send as it keeps the muscles warm and the warmth assists in stopping the cramps. I have also discovered that taking a routine workout for instance, a simple stretch can sometimes diminish the intensity of the pain. However, some of these days are extremely bad and all I have to do is wait until the pain becomes bearable again.
What it has taken me to learn is that period pains is something that we do not need to accept as a norm for us to suffer in silence. It is more than real and quite typical medical problem threatening millions of women all over the globe. To some, it is just a simple discomfort which is easily tolerated while for others, it comes close to being an absolute crippling situation. Certain indications must be disclosed and professional help should be sought if the pain interferes with the living. It is also important to point out that there are treatment options available and nobody has to endure this in secrecy.
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