damn that's so shitty. Every 3rd period or so (so about 4 times a year) I get SUCH bad cramps I literally can't function. I miss class, miss work, stay in bed all day, take painkillers every hour, and just try and spend the 24-36 hours sleeping. I lose so much blood that I have absolutely no energy, I get light-headed or even faint any time I try to stand up.

i don't get it. You guys, stop saying that isnt FYL or that she deserves it or that she should this with it. isnt this website made for people who are having a though day? You guys are like shocked that she posted this. calm down.

Whoever wrote "Suck it up" or "Get over it" clearly does not have a uterus. Do you understand how horrible period cramps can be? It's not something you can just "get use to." Depending on the woman, cramps can feel like "getting knifed in the gut" as #166 stated. I have stayed home on various occasions feeling like complete shit because of cramps. The pain is debilitating and I would NOT be able to function with them on my 21st birthday. So, OP: I hope you managed to have a good birthday, hopefully the pills kicked in eventually. And to everybody else? Suck it.. you don't understand.

i completely agree with #171. by the way, maybe you should ask your doctor about birthcontrol pills. they helped me to control the pain. it worked very well. :)

I had mono on my 19th birthday. couldnt talk, swollow..i could barely get out of bed to pee. happy birthday to me. i feel your pain!

You have a menstrual disorder go to the gyno and possibly try going on BC pills they help If your cramps are debilitating and prevent you from participating in normal every day activities that's considered grounds for various menstrual and hormonal disorders Some of which really need to be checked out by a doctor If you're chronically in debilitating pain go to the god damn doctor it's not that hard people

Seriously, go to your doctor and get tested for endo, ovarian cysts, PCOS, etc. I went through the same thing, everything aching and in agony (the only exception being my toes), puking, diarrhea, the works every time I got my period, and prescription painkillers didn't even touch the pain. My doctors spent 2 years trying to diagnose me with PCOS but it turns out I just have plain old chronic ovarian cysts. Less than a month on Yaz, which is a miracle pill for me despite all the dreadful reviews out there, and it cleared everything right up. In the meantime, one thing that was suggested was taking an Aleve every 12 hours 3 days before you get your period and then I went to taking it every 8 hours once it arrived. The pre-emptive strike did help, I only spent the morning curled up in bed and sick rather than the entire day.

you do realize that alcohol is a really really good pain killer...right?

Wow that sucks. I know how you feel though. I got my first period (and bad cramps) on Christmas Day, and it's been that way ever since. D:

try putting an electric heating pad over your abdomen/hips/wherever it hurts. it will relax your muscles; and for me, it has worked soooo much better than any pain killer.