Periods suck, there is no doubt about it. They cause us to be bloated, irritable, and fatigued, but in some instances they can cause us some serious pain. Many young women deal with cramps at some point during their period, but what a lot of women don’t know is that it’s not normal to have that pain interfere with your daily activities. In my personal experience, there are a few days out of the month where I have to plan to stay home and do nothing, all because my period pain takes over my entire body - sometimes to the point where I can’t even walk without someone helping me. Although it feels like it sometimes, I know I’m not alone, so I wanted to clear the air and tell you everything there is to know about period pain and how you can control it! Starting at the basics, menstrual cramps are throbbing and cramping pains in your lower abdomen that can come 1-3 days before your period and peak around the 2nd or 3rd day of your period. Some women get cramps that they can barely feel, while others get cramps that are unbearable. The reason we get cramps is that when our uterine lining sheds, our uterus is contracting. These contractions are caused by hormonelike substances called prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation, triggering the uterus to contract. Did you know that your cramps could be more painful because you may have an underlying condition? Now, this may sound scary, but these conditions don’t affect your health too much. However, it is still important to see a doctor if your cramps are interfering with your day-to-day activities. Some of the symptoms that may indicate an underlying condition that you should look out for are dizziness, pain radiating in your lower back and upper thighs, nausea, sharp/stabbing pains, and migraines. Here are details on a few of these underlying conditions: Endometriosis Endometriosis is something we have been hearing more and more about in the media. Some people mistake their painful periods for having endometriosis, but did you know that it's a condition that needs to be surgically diagnosed? Endometriosis isn’t just a painful period. What happens when you have endometriosis is that the tissue that lines your uterus becomes implanted on the outside of your uterus. It begins growing along the outside of your uterus, and most commonly on your fallopian tubes. When you go in for surgery, your doctors are actually able to remove these growths, which could potentially reduce your pain greatly. Endometriosis is also genetic, so if someone in your family has it, it’s likely that you have it too if you are experiencing painful periods. This is the condition that I resonate most with because my sister has it. I personally haven’t gone into surgery yet, but based off of my symptoms, I’m on the same track as my sister. Personally, I feel sharp, stabbing pains in my lower abdomen and it hurts so bad that I need to grab onto something around me in order to keep myself up. Uterine Fibroids Uterine fibroids are another type of growth that can cause your periods to be painful, but these are inside of your uterus. They are noncancerous and grow along the wall of your uterus. They range from sizes that can’t be seen with the human eye, to large masses that may distort the uterus. Many women experience these at some point in their life, but they go undiagnosed because they often don’t show any symptoms. But if you are worried you may be showing symptoms, here’s what to look out for! If you’re experiencing periods that are lasting for more than a week, heavy periods, frequent urination, constipation, or backaches and leg pain, then you may want to ask your doctor about examining you for uterine fibroids! Cervical Stenosis Cervical stenosis may be something you are already aware of if you have spinal stenosis. Cervical stenosis isn’t as extreme as Endometriosis or Uterine fibroids because there aren’t any growths involved! This condition affects women that have a small cervix opening that affects the flow of their period. With this smaller opening, women feel a lot of pressure and pain in their lower abdomen because the normal flow of their period is being blocked. Some women are born with this condition, but some develop it over time! There are some medical procedures that can be done to help widen this opening, so talk to your doctor if this is something that you may be worried about! Ever since the beginning of humanity, women have been dealing with periods and have learned remedies that work for them! Some swear by exercise, some swear by medications, and some swear by herbal and topical remedies. Personally, exercise makes my cramps worse, but I have found a good combo of Midol, green tea, and a heating pad that works pretty nicely for me! There are many other remedies that I have read about and that have been suggested to me, so I’ll tell you all about them so you can find what works for you! Yoga I have tried yoga a little bit on my period, but I haven’t tried any stretches that target the tension in your lower abdomen, so I am excited to find a yoga routine that is perfect for my period! I have heard that people swear by this to reduce the pain in their lower back and upper thighs, as well as target their core to reduce their cramps. There are a ton of youtube videos that give virtual yoga classes that target period pain, so go and check them out! Essential Oils I use essential oils to reduce my migraines when I’m on my period and they work like a charm for me. Sage Oil is good to use if you need to reduce pain. If you’re looking to reduce inflammation, Rose Oil is best for you. Lavender Oil is probably one of the most versatile essential oils out there, but it is great to use in a diffuser to reduce your anxiety and irritability. Peppermint Oil is my personal go to for migraines - just massage 1-2 drops into your temples for some immediate relief! If you’re looking for something that works all around, try the Progessence Plus Oil from Young Living! It uses a mixture of different oils that help soothe pain and boost your mood! I highly encourage you to research find oils to incorporate into your daily routine that are specific to your needs, especially on your period, because they’re great natural healers! Medical Marijuana Now, I know this is a VERY controversial topic, but it’s 2020 and I am here openly talking about periods. With that said, I think it’s an important choice to throw in here, just in case there is someone out there that can really benefit from it. Medical marijuana has all sorts of health benefits when it comes to reducing pain. It is a great alternative to pharmaceuticals because it is only addictive in 10% of users. It’s a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent. It helps greatly in reducing migraines, back pain, and cramps themselves! I know many people who have benefitted from medical marijuana and reducing their period pain, but these are people with underlying conditions (including chronic pain, which can be caused by painful periods) that qualify for a medical card in their state. If this is something that interests you, talk with your doctor and visit a Qualified Medical Provider (QMP) in your area to discuss your options Medication This is typically everybody’s go to, but it’s still important to know about all of the options that help! I personally swear by Midol Complete, which can be bought in just about any drugstore imaginable. Many people also use Advil or Tylenol Extra Strength, but they don’t always do the job. Did you know that you can get a higher dosage of ibuprofen that is safe for you to use with a prescription from your doctor? I didn’t find this out until last year, so I’m sure that there are others out there that have no idea as well. Other prescriptions that you can get to help cramps, especially if you get them not just on your period, is birth control! I know bringing up the topic of birth control to your parents or healthcare provider can be scary if you're going on it for the first time, but there are lots of available options out there where you can get it on your own and online! Personally, I use The Pill Club. I love using them because I was connected with a doctor that I was able to send all of my symptoms to, and they were able to get me the right prescription shipped to my house! If you want to continue with taking medications, but they aren’t quite doing the trick, talk to your doctor about the pain you are having and see if you can get a prescription for these higher doses of ibuprofen or birth control! Do your research and talk to your doctor about what would best suit you. Now these are only a few of the many remedies out there, but some of them may be things you haven’t tried before, so take control and go try them if they seem right for you! On top of some of these remedies, I also still use a heating pad and drink hot tea regularly to soothe the pain, but that doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. I know I don’t typically discuss medical topics on here, but I’m glad I got the opportunity to give a little more insight into why we may have painful periods to all of you! It’s time to stop letting your period pain control you. Talk to your doctor and try new remedies! Find exactly what works for you and take control. You truly can conquer your period pain, it just takes some time, so in that time, stay happy and stay healthy! You are stronger than your period. xo, The Undergrad *all medical information was sourced from Mayo Clinic
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We are in a weird time, that’s for sure. Quarantine is not easy. Every email and we send consists of something like, “hope you are doing well during this crazy time,” and, “stay healthy!” I for one struggled with this new normal a lot towards the beginning, and although we are finally starting to see a potential end to the madness, I have started to feel much better about the whole thing and I’m finally starting to feel comfortable with it all.
It wasn’t easy to get out of my slump, but once I did, my whole perspective on the situation began to change. I started quarantine with a lot of anxiety. I had come into it after having a few family emergencies and abruptly leaving home after spring break because of potential lockdowns that turned into real lockdowns later on. I had had a few online classes before, but I’m the kind of student that requires a routine and a traditional classroom setting in order to be able to focus on my work properly. None of my professors required us to meet on Zoom and just posted all of the notes for us to copy down on our own time. To some, this may sound like a luxury, but at the beginning of everything that was about to happen, this was my worst nightmare. I tried creating my own routine in my one-bedroom 550 square foot apartment that I share with my boyfriend but I found it very difficult. Our shared laundry room no longer became usable because someone in our building was diagnosed with our beloved COVID, and things began to get very messy very quick, but it was completely out of our control. I was anxious from the mess, but with everything the media was saying, on top of the many earthquakes Utah was having, I was also too anxious to go outside. I found myself in this uncontrollable spiral of anxiety that I was afraid that I would never be able to shake off. I came to the conclusion that I needed to just try and focus on one thing at a time, whether it was school, my internship, or an activity for myself. I decided to put the blog on the backburner, only posting on the instagram with little mini-blogs, which ended up reducing my stress quite a bit, but not completely. I hit my breaking point about two weeks before finals, so with a lot of consideration, my boyfriend and I decided to pack up our bags and head back out to California to wait out the rest of quarantine with my family. Having a change of scenery was exactly what both of us needed. Both my boyfriend and I had been struggling with severe insomnia for weeks when we were back in Utah, sometimes not getting any sleep for over 48 hours. As soon as we got to California, that immediately changed. Once I saw how easy falling back into a normal sleep schedule was with the change of location, I slowly got my routine back in order. I added one new thing to my routine everyday until I had a set routine for the entire day that I was comfortable with. I am not saying that this works for everybody, but I encourage you to try this tactic in your own home during quarantine! Here is what my day looks like:
I let myself wake up naturally. I don’t have a set alarm so that my body can get the amount of sleep that it needs in order for me to feel good throughout the day. When I first got to California, I was waking up closer to 9:30-10:00 AM, but as time has gone on, I’ve been waking up naturally closer to 7:30-8:00 AM.
To get my day started, I immediately make my bed and turn on either a show or some music before going down stairs and getting a cup of coffee. Once I’ve finished my coffee, I like to do something wellness related. Some mornings I journal, sometimes I meditate, and sometimes I do 30 minutes of yoga. There are mornings that I do all three, but it really just depends on how I am feeling at the moment and how much energy I have to release.
Once I have finished my morning activity, I make my boyfriend and I smoothies for breakfast. These have been a great way to get our extra servings of fruits and veggies at the beginning of the day, giving us the energy we need to get everything we want done!
After we finish breakfast, I get in the shower and then do my makeup. I wasn’t doing my makeup at the beginning of quarantine, but once I started to get into a new routine, it made me feel really good throughout the day and made me feel more productive. I also found that putting on a real outfit, rather than just changing back into sweats, made me feel the same way. It has been boosting both my confidence and my productivity throughout the day!
Once I’m dressed and ready to go, I start working on stuff for my internship and for the blog. I Like to sit outside and get some sun while I do this because I was dealing with a lack of Vitamin D back in Utah due to my poorly-lit apartment. For me, Vitamin D plays an important role in my mental health. Growing up in California, I was exposed to Vitamin D almost constantly. Moving to a state that has seasons that require you to be inside a lot was a big change for me and it caused me to have seasonal depression, so when I do come home, I make sure to spend a lot of time outside!
Since I take my time throughout the morning, I don’t sit down to eat lunch until about 1:30 PM. I try to keep it healthy as much as possible, but I never restrict myself. Some days I have chicken salad, but some days I’ll give into my cravings and I’ll swap that for chicken nuggets. Not worrying about diets has actually helped me a lot through quarantine. I see posts all the time about diet culture and post-quarantine bodies, but in all honesty, these are toxic posts. You should be able to eat whatever makes you feel good. You do not need to be worrying about what other people think about your body, especially after being quarantined for months. If you are doing and eating what makes you feel good, then keep doing that! Don’t fall into the pressure that social media may be putting you under.
After lunch, I like to put some focus on the blog accounts. I do mini photoshoots at home and edit pictures, and even got into making Tik Toks. This has given me the ability to allow my creativity to continue flowing. I enjoy this because it all ends up going back into my work for my internship and also allows me to connect with other college girls, like myself, that are going through a lot of the same things in the moment!
In the afternoons, I also like to make time for spending some time with my boyfriend and my dog. Sometimes we take the dog for a walk, sometimes we play with her in the backyard, and sometimes we just take the rest of the afternoon for ourselves and watch a show together. Since we are sleeping in different rooms while we are staying at my parents house in order to have some alone time throughout the day, this time spent together has become really important. We have been rewatching our favorite movies and TV shows, going on drives, playing games, doing puzzles, and just sitting outside to enjoy nature. Quarantine has given us the opportunity to focus on our relationship through quality time and it has been so good for us. We are communicating better and have been more intentional with our time together.
In the late afternoon, I love to start winding down right before dinner. I typically take off my makeup and change into something more comfortable. After a healthy dinner, I like to do something self-care related. Sometimes that’s a facemask, sometimes it’s doing my nails, and other times it’s catching up on a show that I’ve been watching on my own time. I also like to do a lot of my photo editing during this time, just so that I’m keeping myself busy.
I’ve been trying to get to bed around 11:00 PM, so with my extra time before bed, I make sure to straighten up my room and put together any laundry that I want to get done the next day. I finish off my nightly skincare routine, turn on a show (yes, I’m a TV sleeper, don’t judge me), and climb into bed! Now this may seem like a lot to do throughout the day, but like I said before, I slowly built up to this! I don’t always get everything done that I want to get done, but that’s okay because it’s quarantine. If you take anything out of this, I want you to take these few things: ★If you are spending quarantine with a significant other, make sure that you are both making time for yourselves and time to spend intentionally with each other! ★Giving into diet-culture during quarantine will not do you any favors, unless it is truly what makes you feel best! Just don’t put others down by making jokes about post-quarantine bodies. This is a form of body shaming and that is not okay ★Do what makes YOU feel best throughout the day! If you want to spend your time trying new things, then try new things! If you want to stay in bed all day, then stay in bed all day! Listen to your body and your mind and don’t push yourself too hard. Conquer quarantine your way! Like everything I post, my routine was created from my personal experiences during quarantine. I am doing what makes myself happy and you should too! Focusing on how you are feeling rather than what other people are saying about what you should be doing will take a lot of stress off your shoulders and will help reduce your quarantine anxiety! Let’s keep in touch! Let me know how you have been conquering quarantine! Hopefully we will all be out of this soon, but in the meantime, stay happy and stay healthy! Xo, The Undergrad |
AUTHORCamille Baron is a 20 year old attending the University of Utah and is in her third year as a Strategic Communications major. She strives to educate college women like herself to achieve their full potential in all aspects of life. ARCHIVES
July 2020
CATEGORIESAll Business And Professional College Culture Education Health And Wellness Self Care Travel |