My little sister has bad period cramp, help?

Question

I'm 23 year old guy and my little sister is 15. I have a twin brother as well as an 18 year old brother and our parents died 2 years ago so we've been raising our youngest siblings. My sister started her period when she was 11 (even when our parents were alive we've always been very close so she told me and my brother when she'd started). When our parents died my little sister became very stressed as you can imagine since she was only 13 and me and my twin have had to become mother, father, brother and best friend at the age of 21. When she got her period the month after they died it was very painful but it was manageable with pain medication. Now it's so painful that even medication isn't working and now she's in our bedroom crying her eyes out about it. My twin has tried rubbing her back, getting her hot chocolate, hot water bottle, hugging her and putting on a film. I've never seen her like this in a long time and my 18 year old brother is getting scared about it because she's so upset. We love our sister to pieces and we don't want to see her so hurt. Is it stress that is making it so painful? What can we do for the mean time just so that she'll sleep? Thanks.

Kiwedin · Accepted Answer

Aw, you guys are so amazing and I'm so sorry to hear about such a big loss.
I'm about to get real sciencey on your ass so bear with me, I'll make it as simple as possible. During menstruation, a women releases something called prostaglandins, which are active lipid compounds that act very much like hormones. These prostaglandins get released and causes pain by causing the uterus to contract. Not only that, but they can travel around the body via the blood stream and can then cause back pain, migraines, and pretty much every PMS symptom you can think of (besides the emotional ones). So, the idea here is that if we can reduce the amount of prostaglandins her body produces, we can reduce the amount of pain she experiences every month. Our diets actually play a very large role in the production of prostaglandins, because the more hormones you have, the more prostaglandins are produced as a result. If she really wants to get to the root of the problem, she's going to have to be open to making some diet changes. Now this brings me to nutrition, where the biggest things you have to looks out for is foods that contain hormones, estrogen being a big one because they're going to upset her natural hormone levels. I'd definitely recommend completely cutting out dairy (or at least really reducing her intake), reducing her meat consumption (the less she consumes, the better), avoiding soy products, and upping her intake of fresh produce. Essentially, a completely vegan diet would be ideal and would be her best chance at reducing menstrual pain, but of course, just lowering intake of these foods would make a difference. It's almost important to remember that her body will produce prostaglandins no matter what, so even if she were to vegan, there's still a chance that she'd experience some discomfort, but it definitely won't be as bad. Other than that, I'd recommend regular and consistent exercise, popping some midol, using heating pads, and gently massaging her lower abdomen.

marvelgirl2016 · Accepted Answer

Medicine doesn't work for me either so on my worst days I take a heating pad and press it to my lower abdomen, a lot of pressure on the lower part of my stomach helps a lot. And I usually put a pillow between my legs and pressed up against my stomach just to keep everything compressed and it does take away the pain a lot. Which ever side she is cramping on the most is the side she should lay on and then press the heating pad across the whole lower abdomen abdomen it's best to lay on her side curled up. Then put on a really funny t. v. show so it distracts her from the pain do NOT turn on any sad movie because she's probably already depressed enough being in that much pain, so keep the shows light and funny. Rub her back and play with her hair I love that when I'm on my period it adds a little comfort when she's in pain. Keep the food light and healthy while she's on her period because greasy food makes it worse, she'll have cramps and a stomach ache. Fruit is really good on periods because it's sweet and it helps detox your body. Make sure she is drinking a lot of water and hot tea is also good for her to sip on. If she gets restless then let her get a shower because she can stand up but it's not as uncomfortable because the hot water is very soothing. You guys are so great because most brothers or fathers or boyfriends would never do this so your sister is extremely lucky. Just be glad you don't have two sister and periods only happen one week out of the month lol. Best of luck to all of you and I hope this relieves her of some of her pain. If she has any questions she can always message me I know it sucks not to have a mother to help you out but you guys are doing great so far.

Paris13 · Accepted Answer

I am so sorry for the Pain that you and your sibling twin have had to endure with your sister and other sibling in Not only losing 'Our parents,' but in handling your sis sibling with kid gloves and Now... I've never seen her like this in a long time.
It may be More in Store than Anyone has bargained for with her painful periods, and it Might be Best from the Rest to make an appointment with the gynecologist and have her checked out to make sure everything is okay "Up there."
Stress and strain can cause a Bad period but there may be a Physical part to this and not just from her own Heart.
And with the gyne, perhaps it is time as well, I can tell, to have her talk to a professional and take the serious sister situation out of your hands now somehow.
Good luck and God's blessings. xx

Intraluminal · Accepted Answer

You and your brother are true men and you will do well in life. You've given her a hot water bottle, rubbed her back, tried to distract her, and i assume you've given her motrin or something similar. At this point I can't think of anything else you can do for her except take her to the hospital. Is it possible that it could be something else? What country are you in?

JuicyGuard · Answer

Take her to the hospital, cause too have the worst period cramps and if pain medication does not work there could be something else wrong with. AND DON'T GIVE HER ANY SWEET THINGS, rubbing her back, putting on a film, hugging her will not help cause it will just hurt so take her to the hospital. And if you have been giving her one pill you'll probably need to give her 2 depending on her weight.

SarahCollins5 · Answer

try a heating pad, or just try to get her mind off of her cramps, what does she like to do? distract her. and you'll do a good job raising her dw my sister was like 15 when she raised me for a few years. exercising can make the flow lighter and less painful

fauchelevent · Answer

Maybe asking her to go take a warm bubble bath will help, warmth relaxes the muscles and eases cramps so that might help out a little bit. I recommend taking her to the doctor - period pains vary between every girl, but if she's in that much pain, there might be something going on that should be checked up on. Also, you could ask the doctor to put her on birth control to help regulate her periods and make it manageable for her.

AzureGirl · Answer

Have you thought about having her start taking birth control? There are forms that help menstrual pain, my sister had terrible back pains to the point all she would do is cry and be miserable and now she doesn't have that issue anymore.

sjoes006 · Answer

Of Midol isn't working you need to take her to the doctor. What happened to your parents?

Drooogie4 · Answer

Take her to the doctor. She should see about birth control. It saved me.

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