DD14 doesn't feel good when she eats (during her period)

[Anonymous]

DD is 14 and she's been getting her period for two+ years. She sometimes gets terrible stomach aches, especially when she has her period. But they don't seem like cramps, or just cramps, it seems like a gastro issue. When she feels like this, if she eats, it's a lot worse. So she just won't eat. And she's a very active kid so obviously that worries me. This also happens when she is not on her period, but less frequently. I convinced her to take one adult tylenol and she said it helped her feel better "for like 15 minutes." Any ideas, advice? I haven't experienced this so I appreciate your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had pain/ not feeling good when I eat twice in my life and both times it was acid related.The internet tells me acid can get worse during menstruation.

You should tell a doctor though.

[Anonymous]

Check for celiac or allergies or IBS? There may be certain foods that cause bloating. This is a lifelong issue for me and what helps is eating healthy food in smaller amounts - avoiding very processed or greasyfoods. So maybe see if there is a small snack she can stomach, like a protein bar or yogurt with honey and fruit. Eating smaller physical amounts is really key for me - so you want to find foods that pack a punch nutrient wise, like full fat Greek yogurt and eggs.

[Anonymous]

I have to be very careful about what I eat around my period. Can’t go anywhere near dairy, especially. Foods that work are very basic with very few ingredients and not ultra processed — e.g. refried beans on a tortilla, oatmeal, smoothies, toast with peanut butter and honey, soy milk, pasta with marinara.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your responses. This is really helpful.

She has a checkup in two weeks so we will absolutely be discussing this with her doctor and perhaps also a specialist.

I think the advice for smaller, healthier foods is spot on. I'll have to think more about what would be palatable to her. She is usually not super picky- but she is when she is feeling like this. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I spent the entirety of my teen years puking and having diarrhea with my period. The miracle for me was going on birth control in college. Your kid likely needs more than “one Tylenol” when she feels this bad. You could also ask her doctor about a zofran prescription.

That said, I agree with figuring out foods that are more palatable when you don’t feel well. She will also be just fine not really eating for 2 days. It isn’t ideal, but it isn’t the end of the world unless she is some Olympic level athlete or marathon runner. Most kids if parents on DCUM are likely extremely well nourished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spent the entirety of my teen years puking and having diarrhea with my period. The miracle for me was going on birth control in college. Your kid likely needs more than “one Tylenol” when she feels this bad. You could also ask her doctor about a zofran prescription.

That said, I agree with figuring out foods that are more palatable when you don’t feel well. She will also be just fine not really eating for 2 days. It isn’t ideal, but it isn’t the end of the world unless she is some Olympic level athlete or marathon runner. Most kids if parents on DCUM are likely extremely well nourished.

I agree she needs more than "one Tylenol," I was just making the point that she doesn't like to take adult doses and that's what I finally convinced her to take. Thank you for your comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent the entirety of my teen years puking and having diarrhea with my period. The miracle for me was going on birth control in college. Your kid likely needs more than “one Tylenol” when she feels this bad. You could also ask her doctor about a zofran prescription.

That said, I agree with figuring out foods that are more palatable when you don’t feel well. She will also be just fine not really eating for 2 days. It isn’t ideal, but it isn’t the end of the world unless she is some Olympic level athlete or marathon runner. Most kids if parents on DCUM are likely extremely well nourished.

I agree she needs more than "one Tylenol," I was just making the point that she doesn't like to take adult doses and that's what I finally convinced her to take. Thank you for your comments.

Doesn't like adult doses?! And she has had her period for two years? Tell her she has an adult body. Of course she should take a dult doses and nobody I know takes one Tylenol. If it is cramps, Advil/Midol would be better, but it sounds like it isn't and those vould just upset her stomach more if it is stomach related. I's try Pepto or even just Tums.

[Anonymous]

I remember having diarrhea with or around my period when I was younger. (I'm post menopause now so it was a bit ago) I don't think it is an uncommon phenomenon. The hormones that cause cramps to expel the uterine lining affect the GI system too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember having diarrhea with or around my period when I was younger. (I'm post menopause now so it was a bit ago) I don't think it is an uncommon phenomenon. The hormones that cause cramps to expel the uterine lining affect the GI system too.

I experience this now as an adult. It skipped our teen daughter..

[Anonymous]

she could try to take ibuprofen when her periods starts and to increase her water/fluid intake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember having diarrhea with or around my period when I was younger. (I'm post menopause now so it was a bit ago) I don't think it is an uncommon phenomenon. The hormones that cause cramps to expel the uterine lining affect the GI system too.

+1. Midol alternated with Advil, plus Pepto Bismol should help. BTDT. Hated it for me, hate this for her.

[Anonymous]

Take her to the doctor but also try keeping a food journal. After years of meds and bad acid reflex and stomach issues I’ve found it’s almost completely cured if I avoid greasy food, chicken, dairy and peanuts.

I can eat lean beef just fine so it’s not all meat. Really paying attention to which foods we’re doing this helped. For years I thought it was tomatoes and it was cheese since e I got sick after pizza.

[Anonymous]

I had this. the only thing that helped was getting a mirena IUD to skip my periods entirely. if I would’ve known about that when I was young, It would’ve changed my life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is 14 and she's been getting her period for two+ years. She sometimes gets terrible stomach aches, especially when she has her period. But they don't seem like cramps, or just cramps, it seems like a gastro issue. When she feels like this, if she eats, it's a lot worse. So she just won't eat. And she's a very active kid so obviously that worries me. This also happens when she is not on her period, but less frequently. I convinced her to take one adult tylenol and she said it helped her feel better "for like 15 minutes." Any ideas, advice? I haven't experienced this so I appreciate your thoughts.

Maybe clean up her diet and work on food choices. Could be too many carbs.