Pain

KEEP YOUR PERIOD PAIN AT BAY WHILST SWIMMING

Swimming whilst on your period used to be a no-go area, but not in these modern times. With the use of tampons, it is easy enough to spend time in the pool or even in the sea without embarrassment or discomfort due to the use of sanitary pads. With so many discreet ways to deal with your period so readily available, you can wear even the skimpiest of swimsuits or bikinis and feel very self-confident and comfortable.

bay whilst swimming

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Keeping pain at bay

However, even when you are prepared for swimming in this way, what do you do if you have period pain whilst preparing for some pool-side fun? Your first immediate thought may be to give up on the idea, and yet some experts tell us that exercise and keeping mobile whilst menstruating is a good thing. The idea is that when you are exercising and using muscles in the body, it helps them to stretch and relax. As some of the period pain is caused by muscular contractions and aches, the logic is that the pain will be lessened.

Exercise like swimming also boosts the body’s production of beta-endorphins which help as they are our own in-built natural way of dealing with pain. Added to this, the increased blood flow can help to reduce the severity of the cramps as circulation is boosted.

Pain Relief Treatment

So, even if you feel like curling up in a ball with a hot water bottle on your tummy and doing nothing, it is possible to keep your period pain at bay whilst swimming. You may also want to try using pain-killers. By using a medicine that reduces pain, the intensity of it will be lessened and controlled even before you get into the water.

A popular pain relief treatment for use with period pain is Co-Codamol which is a mix of Paracetamol and Codeine. The way it works is that Paracetamol blocks nerves that transmit the message with regard to the pain to the brain. Codeine works in a similar way as it helps to make the brain less aware of the feeling of pain. By mixing the two together, you get an excellent medicine that tackles pain in two ways and is suitable for the occasional treatment of period pain and cramps.

Consult with your doctor

However, like all pain relief treatment codeine phosphate should be taken with care. It may not be the right medicine for you so if you have never taken it before, it might be worth to have a chat with your doctor or G.P beforehand. He will look at not only your medical history but also take into account any other medicines that you are using and advise if it is safe or not to proceed. Even herbal remedies and homeopathic treatments can conflict, so better to be safe than sorry. You should also note that although you can purchase low doses of the pain relief over the counter, a higher dosage will need to be prescribed by your doctor.

Use safely

The other thing to take into account is that many prescription medicines, including Co-Codamol, codeine phosphate should not be taken frequently for long periods of time. Again, your doctor can advise on this and he will most likely tell you to use it only when your period pain is intense as he will not want you to become too used to taking it. If at any time you notice side-effects or feel unwell whilst using pain relief, you should refrain from use and contact a medical expert. They will be able to assess your symptoms and find out if it is the medicine causing the problems or something else.

Used wisely and in the appropriate dose, Codeine Phosphate is a suitable treatment to help women deal with period pain at any time and will definitely help to make you feel better before taking a dive into your favourite swimming pool or the warm blue sea.