I might not mind so much about the cramps kicking at night if I had some true extra-strength painkillers.
Which reminds me of the subject of women and girls not really beinb able to count on women stepping up and advocating for us. This is not some shit that begins at menopause, contrary to the current fixation on it (“nobody talks about it!” Really? REALLY???); there needs to be more advocacy for pain and anxiety relief and hormone therapy … for menstrual cramps, for the shitty in-office over-zealous procedures they do, for PMS, etc.
My cramps are mild now compared to what they were like when I was younger. Experiencing this relatively mild version of cramps now and still really wanting relief to be able to sleep makes me very very sad for my younger self and the hellish pain I experienced way too fucking often. Nobody should have to go through that without pain relief or a fucking medal of valour to recognize and acknowledge their bravery, strength and fortitude.
Knowing there are perfectly good drugs being discarded at these wasteful drug-dropoff events all over the place this weekend really adds insult to injury.