Premenstrual cramps?

[disturbedme.livejournal.com]

Anyone have premenstrual cramps? I have cramps before my period and cramps during my period.

I've had premenstrual cramps for years. I HATE it. Well, I hate any and all cramps; I usually have EXTREMELY terrible cramps during my period.

I was just wondering if anyone else has cramps before their period? I have cramps usually 5 to 3 days before my period starts and then cramps pretty much the entire time of my period.

Anything you guys do for it? All I usually do is Raspberry Leaf Tea, Naproxen, and Tylenol, which doesn't really do a lot of good most times, but it's something.

YI + home remedies + period + tampons?

[paisleypixie.livejournal.com]

Hi, VPers. I just recently discovered this community, and I love it already. This is my first post, and I'm a bit anxious, but here goes...

I recently finished a 10 day course of antibiotics for a persistent UTI. The UTI went away, thankfully, but I was left with a mild (though still incredibly annoying and no fun) yeast infection. I was visiting family at the time and unable to visit a doctor, so I decided to try some natural home remedies instead, most of which I researched on EarthClinic and this website. I immediately started taking acidophilus supplements (1 billion active cultures; two pills in the morning and two at night), cleansing the area with diluted apple cider vinegar, etc. What really gave me the most relief was a few drops of tea tree oil on a tampon. I felt loads better after trying that for the first time.

However, the day after my first tea tree oil treatment, I was due to start my period, and I did. I'm sort of unsure what to do at this point.

Questions:
1. Should I continue trying to treat this YI even though I've started my period? If so, how? I'm still taking the acidophilus, but I'm not sure whether to continue with the natural remedies or not, specifically the tea tree oil one. I've heard that yeast usually can't survive once a woman begins her period, but I'm not 100% sure about this. What would you do? In your experience, has your period caused your YI to go away?
2. Would it be safe, unsafe, or pointless to try the tea tree oil on a tampon method again? Also, is it unwise for me to even be using tampons right now? Should I stick to pads for this period? I'm already using pads, just in case, but if tampons are permissible, I'd much rather use them.
3. Once my period is over, will it be safe to have sex with my partner again, without risking him getting a YI as well?

Sorry if any of these are silly questions! I just really want this thing to go away. I've had very little itching/irritation in the past few days, so I THINK it's going away on its own, but I guess I'd like a little extra security, if possible. Franky, after having a recurrent UTI for two months and now this, I'm just ready for things to be normal again down there! I've only ever had one other YI, about a year ago, and I got a prescription (don't remember the name) which cleared it up quickly.

Thanks in advance for your help, VP!

HBC opinions and other matters

[humascot97.livejournal.com]

( Background & questions )