That monthly...thing, I mean. I've gotten to the point where I can't even say the name out loud, can't even use euphemisms. Weirded my dad out yesterday when I asked him for money to go buy pain killers and couldn't explain why. I just can't stand the fact that it happens to me. >.<
So how do you deal with it? (or how did you if you're on T) I still haven't found a way. I get horrible cramps, become HUGELY irritable, and pretty much hate everyone and everything (but mostly myself) until it's over.

I"m glad I'm not having IT any more but ....

I learned to drink.

Now, this doesn't sound very scientific, but hear me out here. They handed out Motron/ibuprofin like it was candy at the Olympic Training Center and I took it in quantity. I'd spend my "periodic" days on it, swallowed down with milk, and could mostly function. It trashed my stomach, I could no longer eat dark chocolate and still can't, and can have an irritated stomach at times now. Ibuprofin is not good for you! Now, booze isn't either, but a monthly binge isn't nearly as bad as the Motrin, and it has the effect of decreasing cramps as it relaxes involuntary muscles, and relaxing the mind. Ideally I'd get a case of beer and drink a few, doze off, wake up and drink some more, doze off. with a good book this is great. And some Pringles. My monthly prescription would be beer 'n' pork rinds, ale and pringles, stout and jerky, whatever I felt like. This is a no-no while working! But I was self-employed, and could take a day off. It was better than feeling horrible and trying to battle it back with the pills, working for someone else. I'd just structure my time and activity for boozing it off. I'd generally hardly eat, just some kind of beer and some shots of whiskey etc. and snack foods. Called a Good Weekend in the Midwest, I think.

I think there's a type of birth control where you don't have periods, your local Planned Parenthood can help you with that. Or, go on T. A few crampy days are not fun even if boozing, and on the day or two after the really bad one, if I ate, I generally had to get some alcohol aboard to even feel like eating anything. It gets you looks at 10AM. And I think what I was spending on alky was costing me more than I'm spending on T now, or you'd spend on that no-period birth control pill.

My liver function etc are fine after all this, and now that I'm not compelled to booze it up once a month my drinking is almost nonexistant.

But if you find yourself all cramped up etc before you're able to do something more permenant for it, go out or have someone go out and get whatever sounds good to you alcohol-wise, it may work for you and will damage you less than that Ibuprofin, that stuff's not as un-harmful as they lead you to believe. Booze is a time-proven thing, and easy to get anywhere. (Please be over your state's drinking age!)

I've found that the worse your general health is the more painful the cramps are.

Drink a lot of water, avoid excessive salt, try not to think about it. I keep a bottle of tylenol around for the cramps. Exercise helps, go out and run a few miles if you can. It will also get your mind off of it (hopefully) pain is worse when you focus on it.

Can't be of much help, mine aren't as painful anymore. I used to just lie in bed and sulk for a week out of every month, with some pain-induced tears mixed in. Probably not a good idea.

Exercise didn't help mine, I was in extremely good shape at times, worse shape at times, it was consistantly miserable.

The best thing is to get on T or onto that birth control that controls it.

Quote from: Alex_C on November 30, 2009, 02:51:19 AM
Exercise didn't help mine, I was in extremely good shape at times, worse shape at times, it was consistantly miserable.

The best thing is to get on T or onto that birth control that controls it.

That's too bad.

I assume he can't get T, or he would probably be on it. Birth control is just putting more female hormones into your body (meh).

Quote from: SilverFang on November 30, 2009, 03:28:12 AMBirth control is just putting more female hormones into your body (meh).

True, but it really does help alot. It reduces the cramping and pain to almost nothing (for me anyway) and decreases the length. Plus, you always know when it's going to come so you're prepared. You also bleed less. So, even though you're adding female hormones into your system it makes the monthly period more tolerable to the point you even forget about it. YMMV

It might take longer for T to work if you've been on BC pills for a long time, I'm not sure. I was on BC pills for 20 years () and I feel my changes are slower than many other guys, but it could just be my age and/or genetics. I also had big menopausal symptoms and massive hot flashes when first starting T- which the extra female hormones may have made more intense. Anyway, I had a horrible time with my period as well as many ovarian cysts before getting on BC pills, so for me it was worth it.

Quote from: Alex_C on November 30, 2009, 01:27:47 AM
(Please be over your state's drinking age!)

Wayyyyyyyy too young. lol.
And the birth control thing - I am paranoid about that. (Example: I couldn't eat soy after I found out it had estrogen in it. Even though it would have pretty much no effect) So that would take some psyching up... though I have to admit it sounds better than dealing with this.

I always went for the whole "ignore it" course of action. I knew it wasn't going to go on forever and that eventually once on T it will stop. I know that's not what you want to hear sorry.
I found giving into what my body wanted helped - like chocolate and junk foods for a couple of days. Not good for me but the release of endorphins made me feel better 
A heat pack always did the trick for me too... And if possible time in bed but I know not always possible. I know there are no real answers here but if you can get past the whole mental thing (I know its hard) and treat it as though it isn't your body sorta - it helped me. Reading about trans issues and what would happen once on T and surgery results, also taking steps to progress my transition made it easier for me to distance myself.
Jay

Noooooo .... that one kind of BC may be "female" hormones but it's something that stops your period, that's becoming *less* female in my book!

I met an FTM who was on that and liked it, was just getting on T but said that type of BC didn't make 'em more female, just got rid of the "curse" which they liked a lot.

It's worth looking into.

I pretend it's not there.

Mind you, it doesn't work very well in the long run. Sooner or later one's got to "do" something about 'em.

My "something" is medication (T+ something else).
Last period ever is due next week...

Quote from: Miniar on November 30, 2009, 03:38:49 PMLast period ever is due next week...

Don't assume that. I've heard of guys being on T 8-9 months and still have the red tide. I just don't want you to be disappointed if it takes awhile.

Cringe a bit until you use something that eradicates it and also remember it could be worse.

You could also have severe PMS and ov pain (sorry for mentioning them)

I still had it while on half dose went away immediately, never had on again, when I moved to full dose. I could not handle it before T I was miserable spent a lot of time in bed sleeping and just being unhappy.
Andrew

Lots and lots of tylenol and hot water bottles.

Unfortunately exercise brings on the cramps and (sorry for mentioning, but...) just makes it gush 

And i've been on BC for a while now - i was having tons of trouble with it in HS.  I don't NEED BC but it sure helps with cramps.... Thankfully i only have "it" once every three months now (though in my opinion still too often.) I'm going to the doctor next week so hopefully i'll get off BC and go on T (within the next few months.)

"I went on progesterone-only birth control before I went on T. Yes, it is a "female" hormone, but it isn't estrogen and it in fact has estrogen-suppressing effects." - Didn't know there was such a thing!

Pain killers and exercise. I only get it once every two months, so I just try to ignore it when it does come around.

I've always treated it like I had a wound.  Ibuprofen is the only thing that works for the pain for me, so I take that.  Not in large quantities, mind you.  I mostly spend my time sopping up the blood as if I had a bloody wound and had to make sure it healed.  I have a lot of interest in medicine, and go into "doctor mode", which makes things a thousand times easier.  I am just treating a body.  It could be anyone's body.  Thinking of it medically helps me to not crumble.  Heating pads work wonders for the pain, too.  If you can't change your mindset and see it a different way, which is difficult, then either testosterone or birth control pills is the way to go.  It depends upon which you can get, and whether you can deal with the fact that a lot of birth control pills cause breast growth and weight gain.

Whenever that time comes about I try and ignore it and not think too hard on it. I tell myself it wont always be there. It is a temporary thing.
When I get bad cramps I take a painkiller and it is usually over with. I don't get them too bad but if it gets real painful a hot bath or shower tends to ease the muscles... apparently yoga helps but I tried that once and I felt stupid.
I used to not get cramps at all till college when I started having bad eating habits. Not eating enough and eating food that didn't have all the vitamins and good stuff I needed. Now I have an iron deficiency and get some awful pains now and again.
Also being dehydrated makes it much worse. So lots of water and no caffeine.

a lot of this has already been said but hopefully something is helpful.

It was hell during puberty, after which I was pretty numb to it. Never knew when it was going to happen but when it did, found it grossly fascinating. Liked to look at it, examine it. Line used tampons up on the side of the bath with varying degrees of absorption and color. It was kind of cool, really.

I always refused to keep track of even what general time of the month it falls on.. I just never wanted to document that or think about it when I didn't have to.
Which can create timing fail sometimes. At some point once a month I think "Hm, it's been a while. Arse." and stick something in my bag.

Fortunately I don't usually get cramps so I can mostly ignore it..

But, haha.. Nero, I used to poke at it sometimes too. x)

Quote from: Nero on December 01, 2009, 01:24:28 PMIt was hell during puberty, after which I was pretty numb to it.

That sums it up very well for me.