Coping with Menstrual Pain

Hi from New York,

And welcome to my little corner of the web.

If you recall, last week I introduced you to the first time I met my monthly friend.

Dread. That is what I grew to associate my ‘time of the month’ with. Complete and utter dread. 

I would essentially become a cripple for an entire week every single month. I got every symptom listed on google: intense cramps, nausea, backaches, stomach knots, and hot flashes. 

And even when using the SUPER strength pads with the EXTRA thick layers, I would STILL experience MORTIFYING accidents. 

Here’s one that I’ll share for the collective embarrassing periods burn book (Is there such a thing? There should be such a thing. 🙂

Boys & Blood – Coping with Menstrual Pain

Once upon a time, as teenage-Nikki, I hung out with a boy I liked. 

It was a nice day so I rode my bike home, only to realize that my pad had leaked and I had a lovely red trail down my butt and on my bike seat. 

I spent the next three and a half hours crying and frantically scrubbing my jeans, wondering how long I had been walking/riding around with a red stain on my bottom. 

So, of course, I mentioned the pain and heavy bleeding at my annual checkups. And my physician kept persistently recommending birth control in some form.

Enter Birth Control – Coping with Menstrual Pain

When I was hanging out with this little boy, and riding my bike around town, I wasn’t sexually active so the idea of taking birth control was confusing to me. I didn’t understand why I needed it. 

The doctor convinced me that it would lighten my period and lessen my other symptoms, so after much resistance, I went on the pill, which worked for a while but it made me feel CRAZY. And to be honest, I just couldn’t remember to take it consistently. 

So, I quit the pill.

And then asked to try an alternative form of birth control, one that would maybe make me feel less crazy and not require a daily alarm on my phone.

My doctor suggested the NuvaRing, but after an hour and a half down the Google rabbit hole, I decided that depression, suicidal thoughts, depersonalization, and paranoid (amongst other things) were NOT my thing and unacceptable possibilities as side effects. 

The last method of birth control I tried was honestly the most traumatizing. But I was convinced it was the BEST IDEA! I was so hopeful.

IUD or Bust – Coping with Menstrual Pain

I had heard of a friend who had gotten a Mirena IUD and after about a week of research, I discovered there was a hormone-free copper IUD option. 

After continuing to research, I became convinced that this was the best option for me. It would just be a quick insert of a little copper T-shaped device and I would be good to go! Once I found out that my insurance would cover it, I was all in. For the first time ever, I felt really hopeful about a “natural” product regulating my menstrual pain.

I scheduled my appointment and got it implanted. That day I left the office in pain but full of hope, not knowing that it was the first day in a yearlong traumatic experience. 

Two words: Copper Toxicity. 

I could probably write a blog post just on that experience. 

One year later, I found myself at the doctor again, begging to have the IUD removed because of all of the intense and negative feelings I experienced. 

When I realized the IUD wasn’t going to work, I felt super angry and helpless. 

Enter F.A.M. – Coping with Menstrual Pain

But thankfully, I had stumbled upon some helpful books along the way, mostly in nutritional therapy, which led me to discover the Fertility Awareness Method (F.A.M.). 

I know I’m not alone in experiencing this pain.

Which is why I am sharing my story, and also why I decided to become a functional nutritionist. 

I hope that by sharing, I can help women around the world know that they are not alone and that there is another choice besides, IUDs, implants, and hormones. 

Going through this experience helped me develop a list of resources to help anyone experiencing abnormal menstrual pain or looking to quit hormonal birth control. I can’t wait to share those resources here on the blog! 

Thanks for hanging with me. 

Drop your embarrassing period story in the comments *insert silly face*

In Health,

Nikki