[mom2LJ]

In the past few years my cramps have become increasingly irregular and hurt worse with each period. I've also noticed I am very emotional just before and during my period. I am 28 years old, have had the copper IUD since Nov 2010, periods are 45 days apart. I've also had more ovarian cysts, my body produces at least 1-2 per cycle.

My cramps are so bad that not even 600mg of Advil reduces the pain. The first days I am brought to tears due to the pain, it feels like i'm going into labor and the pain stretches from lower back and into my thighs.

As far as emotions go, I become very tempermental and rage swells up. the little things, that aren't even worth getting angry over, I get enraged over. And it happens very suddenly, one minute I can be ok, then I just snap.

I feel like I am going crazy during each period. And the only way to stop myself from having a complete breakdown is to ignore everyone. It makes me think irrationally, such as I almost left my boyfriend because I was so upset at something he said, we left each other alone for a couple days and I apologized for my behavior. I told him the next time I was supposed to start so he could just avoid me all together Even stuff my son does sets me off and I just want complete silence.

Ugh. It's just getting worse every period and the older I get.

What to do besides see a doctor? Any alternatives I can try? Should I get hormone tested during that time of the month to find out how much my hormones are surging?

[swakemen]

I feel your pain!! As healthy as I try to be, my periods just seem to intensify each irregular month. Everyone beware when it arrives! I turn into Mr. Hyde.

I'm no expert in the field, but I have read that pain extending to your lower back and the thighs could be a sign of endometriosis. I know you have cysts, but could your pain be coming from a different set of problems?

My biggest suggestion to help with the hormones and pain is to exercise. I've noticed that despite eating and drinking super healthy, I'll still feel TERRIBLE if I don't exercise. And not just any kind, for me, it has to be cardio. I have to get my heart pumping for around an hour a day to really feel like a normal gal. And I've always found it important to exercise when I'm on my period. Even if I have horrible cramping, bloating, and headaches.. somehow exercising dramatically reduces any pain (not to mention releasing endorphins to balance those angry hormones!)

It may also help to drink lots of tea, especially Raspberry herbal tea as raspberry leaves work with the reproduction system to correct imbalances and strengthen the uterine muscles. I only drink it when I'm on my period though. Ginseng Root and Chaste berry (aka Vitex) are herbs that you might consider looking into too for helping correct any hormone imbalance. Although I would start with just a multi-vitamin, lots of daily cardio, and lots of fluids. (but only in the form of teas or water, fruit juice and milk will NOT hydrate you)

Try to drink 64 fl oz + half your body weight in oz. That will help everything work easier and decrease any tension your body is building.

I really feel for you! I just turned 23 and everyone expects me to have the BEST health. It isn't easy when they don't understand what we're dealing with.

[Wonderwall]

With pain a heating pad saves my life. I had more frequent pains there after having an inguinal hernia surgery.
So I take midol (pain med) and have the heating pad with me on certain days. Sometimes regular pain meds wont work
on things like cysts and hernias so I try the heating pad.
For the emotional problems, i had it before but its not bad now.
I took a mild anti-depression herb called St.Johns Wort and taking it for a few days before the period, it started working
with some time.
I stopped using it after I felt I didn't need it anymore.

Good luck and i hope things will improve