#20. cramping pain

[faofinn]

20. Cramping Pain

After the morning's excitement and drama of Finn’s seizure on the orienteering course, the rumours had started to fly. By lunchtime, Jess had had enough of the hushed whispers and sideways glances as their friendship group walked through. Of course, Finn had yet to return, quite happily asleep curled under Fao's duvet with Lion and a hot water bottle, but from the rumours, he could have been abducted by aliens. 

While the plan had been for Finn to return to the group after lunch, the weather had ended up calling off most of the activities. In the end, the organisers ended up putting a film on in the sport's hall, allowing the kids to mill about or watch it, letting them have a little freedom. Jess had managed to convince them to let her go see Finn, aware he wouldn't deal with the noise of the sports hall, and so spent the first half of the movie sitting in Fao's room with him. She was glad of the peace and quiet, a headache starting and just generally feeling snappy and on edge. It couldn't last forever, and she begrudgingly returned to the sports hall, keeping herself to herself. 

She was glad of bedtime, happily snuggling under the duvet and hoping the next day would be better. Of course, life was never simple (as she'd often learned with Finn), and she woke in the middle of the night with the all too familiar cramps. She couldn't help the flare of panic, quickly scrambling up out of bed and running to the toilet, hoping she was wrong. 

Unfortunately, she wasn't. Hand pressed to her mouth, she tried her best not to cry, overwhelmed and frustrated. She'd only had two before, and she hadn't expected to start while she was away, so she had nothing, completely unprepared. Trying to calm herself down, she took a few minutes to clean herself up and tried to come up with a plan. The teacher by their dorm was far from her favourite, and she didn't really trust them enough to tell them. The only adult she did trust on the trip was Fao, but he was at the other end of the corridor. 

As much as she tried to gain the courage to knock on the other teacher's door, she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She'd much rather get in trouble for going to Fao a million times over. Mind made up, she grabbed her hoodie and trainers, and quietly slipped out, padding down the corridor to Fao's room and knocking quietly.

Fao slept lightly, he always had done, and when he heard the knock on the door he stirred, sitting up with a groan and flicking his bedside light on. 

“One second!” He called softly. It was probably Finn, either feeling shitty or having had a bad dream, but he threw on a hoodie regardless, padding over to the door.

When he opened it, the last thing he expected was to see Jess standing there, and he frowned. 

“Jess? Are you alright?”

She glanced around. "Can I come in please?"

He stepped back from the door. “Yeah, of course.”

Jess perched on the edge of the bed that was obviously not Fao's, fidgeting with the sleeves of her hoodie and staring at the floor. 

“Is everything okay?”

She took a shaky breath. "No. I've started bleeding and I didn't know and I didn't think I would and I don't know what to do!" 

He softened. “Oh, sweetie.” He murmured. “Your period? I can go and wake Miss Smith if you want?”

Her nod quickly changed into a shake. "No, not her."

“Okay, not her.” He said. “Is it your first time? Do you have any things with you?”

"I didn't bring anything." She couldn't help the tears that started to fall. "Dad bought me some stuff last time but it hurts and I've not got anything and it's going to get everywhere."

“Right. First thing’s first, let’s dry those tears.” Fao said, offering her a tissue. “You can give this guy a cuddle, too. I won’t tell anyone.” He reached into his bed for his little Eeyore, passing him to her. 

"Thank you." She took him gratefully, clutching him tightly. 

“There’s some things in the first aid box, but I don’t have it here. Do you want to go and get yourself some fresh underwear, and if you wait outside the girl’s toilets I’ll bring you some stuff. Then we’ll go and get a hot chocolate and I can get you some paracetamol.”

"Thank you, Fao." She managed a small smile.

“It’s okay. You can take Eeyore with you if you want.”

Her smile widened. "Thank you.

“He’s a good companion, just don’t tell the others, yeah?” He offered her a grin. 

"I won't." She stood, quickly giving him a hug before disappearing off to get sorted. 

He slipped out of his room, to the little staff room where they kept the first aid kit, and made a note of what he was taking, as he’d been told to do. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jess, she’d had a shit day and this was only making things worse for her, but he was glad she’d trusted him enough to come to him. He was quiet as he headed to the girl’s toilets, waiting for Jess outside. 

Jess wasn't long, clutching both Eeyore and a bag to her chest. She greeted Fao with a small smile, trying to pretend things were more okay than they were. 

“Here, I got you a few bits and pieces, though I’m not the best person to explain them all. Take it all, use whatever you need, and then we’ll go get that hot chocolate.”

She took them gratefully, swapping the supplies for Eeyore. Her father had actually been decent in his explanations and education, and she was quietly confident as she cleaned herself up further. She put the spares in her bag, alongside her dirties wrapped in plastic bag, and headed to meet Fao. The promise of hot chocolate and paracetamol had already helped, along with Fao's reaction and support, of course. 

He met her outside, giving her a supportive smile, and then led the way to the staff room. He pushed the door open, propping it open with a door stop, and flicked the lights on. “Get comfy on the sofas, I’ll get these paracetamol for you and put the kettle on. Do you want eeyore back?”

Jess hesitated, giving a small nod as she took Eeyore. As mature as she often acted, the small stuffed animal was comfort for all of them, and the fact Fao had offered it to her meant the world. She settled on the sofa, pulling a pillow across her stomach and curling up. 

He put the kettle on, waiting for it to boil as he sorted out the tablets. “Right, here’s the paracetamol, and here’s some water. If that doesn’t help the cramps you can have some ibuprofen too, but try the paracetamol first.” He said, handing both the tablets and the water to her. She looked so small, curled up on the sofa, and it broke his heart. She acted so mature, but really she was just a kid, and it was no fun being on your period away from home. He made her a hot chocolate, a tea for himself, and passed her the mug. “Here you go. Careful, it’s hot.”

She rubbed her eyes before taking the mug in both hands, holding onto it for a moment. "Thanks, Fao."

“It’s okay. Do you want to go back to bed?”

"Can I wait for the paracetamol to work please?"

“Yeah, of course you can.” He said, sitting down on the sofa with her, hands curled around his own mug. 

"I'm sorry for waking you up." She murmured. 

“Don’t be. I’m glad you did, there’s no use in suffering in silence.”

"I didn't know who else to go to." She admitted. "I didn't want to go to the teachers, because it's embarrassing."

“Not too embarrassing to tell your boyfriend’s big brother, though.” He teased. “I get it, but there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s just life.”

"It is embarrassing." She pushed, taking a sip. "And you're like my big brother, you're family."

“I’m glad you think so. You can always come to me, for anything, yeah?”

"Thank you." They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, drinking their hot drinks. The paracetamol hadn't really done anything, the pain grating on her despite everything. Her lip trembled as she turned to Fao, hating herself. "Fao? Do you have any of Finn’s hot things?"

He frowned, turning to her. “Yeah, I do. Still sore?” 

She nodded. "I'm sorry I'm being a pain."

“You’re not being a pain at all. They’re in my room, I’ll go and grab you one.” He said, standing up and setting his tea down on the side. He wasn’t long at all, nipping to his room, and was back within a few moments, holding one of Finn’s disposable heat packs. “Here we go. Do you know how to use it?”

"Thank you." She took it carefully. "I've done them for Finn before."

“Perfect. Should help with those cramps.”

"I'm sorry for causing such a fuss." She put her mug on the side as she sorted the heat pack out, pressing it onto her top under her hoodie. Frustrated and tired, she quietly curled up on the sofa, hoping the heat would finally help. 

“Hey, no. No need to be sorry, it’s what I’m here for.” He said gently. 

She sniffed, rubbing her eyes. "Not in the middle of the night."

“Especially in the middle of the night.”

"I'm meant to be asleep and fine."

“It happens. I know I’m here because of Finn but I’m looking after everyone, yeah?”

She nodded. "It means a lot."

“Can I do anything else to help?”

"I don't know." She admitted, thinking. "Last time, Finn rubbed my back and that helped. He was really good, just like you've been."

“He’s good really, eh?” Fao said softly, reaching out to rub her back. 

"Thank you." She hummed in appreciation. "He gets a lot of crap, but he doesn't deserve it, not really."

“Mostly from me, but that’s what brothers are for.”

That made her laugh. "He loves you."

“Doesn’t mean we don’t give each other shit.”

"I wish I was as close with my brother as you two are." She sighed, the pain finally starting to shift.

“Finn and I are so close because he tried to die on me.”

"We weren't that hurt." She shrugged. "I don't remember it, but he does."

Fao hummed. “You might get closer again when you get older.”

"He thinks I'm a stupid girl." She laughed. 

He laughed. “Us men are the stupid ones.”

"Sheila agrees." She murmured sleepily.

“Because she knows everything.”

"She does."

#sicktember 2023 #20. cramping pain #whump writing #whump prompt #whump of a minor #jess weston #faolan blackwood #oc #fic #period #school trip #period cramps #jess is smol really #just never seems it bc she's so grown up with finn #fao is a sweetheart #and truly passes the vibe check #period whump #menstruation #minor whump

[luminarai]

I often think about all the people who were forced to go through their periods before reliable painkillers were invented. I just had period cramps so bad, I was frantically googling ‘how to tell the difference between period cramps, ovarian cysts, and a cute appendicitis’ while waiting for the painkillers to kick in and trying not to throw up from the pain. And how period cramps were probably the least of their problems. Absolutely insane. How did we survive as a species.

#cecil blogs her life #period mention #period mention tw #like I was genuinely trying to do the pressure test for appendicitis but I was in so much pain I couldn’t tell the difference #I know that morphine and so on has existed for ages but like. imagine you’re a Victorian trying to get thru your cramps bc you already have #11 kids to manage by taking Ye Olde Totally Safe Concoction (70% morphine 20%alcohol 10%cocaine) #and oops now you’re addicted to morphine #if you don’t accidentally overdose #or you’re a hunter gatherer without running water and your options are ‘try these berries/mushroom/bark’ #‘you’ll either forget you have a body or die instantly problem solved in either case’ #and you’re sitting there try to remember if those were the berries/mushrooms/bark that killed Kenneth last week #and so on and so forth

[psychic-winged-turtle]

Me, every single month: “wow I’m in a significant amount of pain for seemly no reason and my brain has decided it’s time to die. I wonder why this is happening?”

*My period starts*

Me:

#period cramps #period pain #period problems #suprised pikachu #I’m 20 #this shouldn't be allowed #why do I forget #it’s not like I’ve done this literally every month for 9 years

[elderwisp]

so i got my lab results back turns out i am severely deficient in vitamin d-

#ur supposed to be in the 20 percent range and i'm at 13 percent.... PFFT #so that explains the fatigue muscle cramps and bone aches #i thought it was just growing pains LMAOOOO #i have to take like this op supplement for 8 weeks #and then get retested #elderwisp speaks

[cammie]

okay yes yes i’m glad that (usually) after the first day of excruciating back pain and some tylenol my period is nothing more than the mild inconvenience of having to change my tampon every few hours but i am soooo annoyed that lately my periods have been getting longer (today is the 6th day...) while my cycles stay the same length. wtf

#ever since i first got it i’ve had a 4 day period with a 20-25 day cycle but since august they were all 5 days. and in december it was 4. #but this month it’s 6.... i need at least a 30 day cycle if my body is doing this 6 day madness. miss reproductive organs you’re eating into #my monthly period-free time #also idk if this is strange or not i only have my own period for reference (when i first got it my mom wasn’t in my life and now we don’t #talk about that i’ve had it for 10 years. unnecessary) but the very first day i am in so much pain cramps wise and then nothing at all for #the rest of my period. erm. anyone else here odd like that #cammie.txt

[warriorsatthedisco]

Man I used to sympathize people with chronic illness, but now I can really empathize. This shit sucks and it has the worst snowball effect too.

#helped my friend with her art booth at a con this weekend and it wasn’t even like a ton of work but it fucking exhausted me so much #I think I pushed myself too far because I also got sick and now I feel like shit and I’m so so so tired #and of course this is with steroids. like the drug that gives you energy to do shit and I’m barely functioning at work #I’m going to up my dose to 30mg bc the doctor said I could. cause even at 20 I’m still getting crohns symptoms #nothing like picking up groceries and feeling sudden impending doom where you have to get to a toilet as soon as possible #and then being so tired from just picking up groceries that you don’t have energy to make food #so you just lay in bed but you can’t sleep because you’re in pain and it’s hard to breathe from this stupid cold #this cold shouldn’t be kicking my ass but of course my steroids are immunosuppressants so it’s like I have fucking Covid #(I don’t have Covid) #and then crying because even on the steroids I still have to follow this stupid miserable diet because apparently #my body just fucking hates all good food #including goddamn rice #RICE! #not to mention the fact that prednisone can make your vision bad and it’s been making it hard for me to read even with my glasses on #and the foot cramps. idk what that’s about but I’m drinking so much water and taking supplements #anyways. rant over. hope I can work tomorrow. I accidentally slept thru my alarm today and was an hour late #personal

[acasualcrossfade]

Long Haul Healing

Sicktember Day 20: Cramping Pain

Stranger Things: Steve Harrington/ Eddie Munson

Words: 500 | Rating: T | CW: coughing, mild vomiting, effects of poison

@sicktember

Summary: Steve visits a poisoned Eddie in the hospital and assures Eddie he’s in it for the long haul.

Find me on Ao3!

--

Steve stepped into Eddie’s hospital room, finding familiarity at the steady beeping of Eddie’s heart monitor. The room smelled sharp with antiseptic and something sick, and Steve’s nose crinkled. Eddie was resting fitfully on his side and Steve approached quietly to not disturb him. 

Eddie twitched and face creased as if he was in pain. His long hair was loose and knotted, and his bangs stuck to the sweat on his forehead. Eddie's skin was waxy under the fluorescent lights and the dark circles around his eyes matched the dark poison stained around his lips.

The small side table held a fresh emesis basin, napkins, and a cup of water with a straw, and Steve felt some comfort that the water seemed to have been sipped at.

Eddie groaned as he blinked awake, just as a cramp shuddered through him.

“H-Harrington, y-you’re here.” His voice was hoarse and he coughed lightly.

“Said I’d come every day,” Steve replied. 

Before Eddie could reply, he coughed harder and reached for the basin, but Steve got it first and held it under Eddie’s chin. Eddie choked up inky black liquid and spat it into the basin between hoarse coughs. He whimpered as his body cramped again, and instinctively reached for Steve’s hand. Steve held it tight as Eddie coughed and spat into the basin.

Steve had gotten used to Eddie’s hand in his and at times like this, knowing it brought Eddie comfort.

“You’re okay,” Steve soothed. He wished for another hand to push Eddie’s hair from his face.

Eddie fell back to his pillows panting with exertion, making the heart monitor beep erratically. Black liquid clung to Eddie’s lips and chin.  

“Here,” Steve guided as he placed the bowl back on the table. He reached for napkins on the side table and sat on the edge of Eddie’s bed. “Do you mind if I…?” He held up the napkins.

Eddie gave Steve a slight nod, too tired to speak.

Carefully, Steve wiped his lips and chin. Eddie’s eyes followed him as Steve tossed away the napkins.

“Y-you don’t n-need,” Eddie started but broke off, suppressing a cough. He willed his voice to steady. “You don’t need to stay for this, Harrington.” He swallowed. “I-I’ll call the nurse. You can g-go.”

“I don’t mind. I want to be here,” Steve admitted.

“To watch me suffer?” Eddie deadpanned. He cleared his throat and grimaced.

“To make sure you’re okay,” Steve said. “You think you can try some water?”

Eddie nodded and let Steve guide the straw for him to take a few sips. Eddie’s voice was clearer when he spoke again.

“They say it could take weeks for it to clear, Harrington.” Eddie looked away dejectedly. “Could be a long time.”

Steve nodded. “I know.”

Eddie’s eyes snapped to Steve’s. “Weeks, Steve.”

“I know,” Steve repeated, unbothered. “So you better get used to this.” He brushed a stray piece of hair out of Eddie’s face.

Eddie’s hand found Steve’s again. “I’ll do my best.”

#sicktember2023 #sicktember 2023 #sicktember day 20 #cramping pain #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #hurt eddie munson #protective steve harrington #acasualcrossfade writes #thunderously halo writes

[lovecolibri]

Finally back home and settled after spending like 9 hours on the road, I am cozy in bed and ready for the ACOFAF finale while also not being ready at all to be done with this season 😭😭😭 I might actually just immediately start it over for background at work now that I've seen it and won't feel compelled to fully pay attention. Ultimate comfort season for realsies.

#dimension 20 #a court of fey and flowers #i also have cramps so i have been miserably in pain and nauseous all day #bless my mom for driving the whole way because i absolutely could not have done it #also bless her car's heated seats because that absolutely helped

[your-absent-father]

Have you ever have that feeling like "Oh shit, I shouldn't have coping mechanisms towards this situation. It wasn't actually "just normal". I should have gotten help."

#me after fully dicossiating for like two days because no one told me 20 days a month of cramps wasn't normal #and now I have to bear the concequences with being fully out of my body once a month #tmi #chronic pain #eve rambles

[fletcherwilbury]

@sicktember Day 20: Cramping Pain

Warning for Illness, pain, chronic pain, pain crisis, flare-up, medication

#sicktember #sicktember 2023 #sicktember day 20 #cramping pain #tmnt #tmnt 2012 #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt 2012 donnie #tmnt 2012 raph #brains and brawn #illness cw #pain cw #chronic pain cw #pain crisis cw #flare-up cw #medication tw

[newwwwusername]

Fic title : Pay Attention to How You Feel

@sicktember 2023 prompt : Cramping Pain

Rating : General Audiences

Fandom : Atypical (Netflix)

Pairing : Casey & Doug

Additional tags : Running, Pain, Leg Cramps, Overexertion, Good Parent Doug Gardner, Phone Calls & Telephones, Awkwardness

Word count : 397

#fanfiction #fanfic #fanfic challenge #fanfic prompts #sicktember 2023 #sicktember day 20 #cramping pain #atypical #atypical netflix #netflix atypical #casey gardner #doug gardner

[fanfictasia]

Sicktember Day 20

Cramping Pain

Spoiler: This is an excerpt from The Mushroom Strikes Back

Cody smiles at him – something Anakin’s pretty sure he’d never do in his right mind, until they actually know each other better – something oddly warm in his dark eyes.

He falls asleep for a little while, but wakes up to a sharp, cutting pain in his right arm. Sometimes, it just burns, much the way it did when he lost it, and he shifts slightly, reaching up to press his left hand over the area where the metal meets the what’s left of his arm, willing the pain to fade.

He’s… had worse before, but it’s too severe to sleep right now, despite how worn out he is. Maybe it’s also worse because he’s sick right now.

“What happened to your arm?” Cody asks, and Anakin blinks, twists sideways to look at him.

His Force presence doesn’t feel quite as muddled as earlier, but the pain medication is definitely still affecting him. That’s probably the only reason he asked so bluntly, anyway.

“I fought Dooku on Geonosis. I… lost it when I was fighting him there,” he explains. He’ll never be able to forget that moment, or the pain of the lightning that took him down right before.

He… should have been more careful, and it feels like sometimes whoever sees his arm is ceaselessly remembering how much he failed there. He can feel the stares, wherever he goes in the Temple, like they see him as something lesser. (To be fair, they always have.) Jedi don’t commonly lose a part of themselves.

#star wars #star wars fanfiction #fanfiction #sicktember #sicktember 2023 #sicktember day 20 #sicktember day twenty #day twenty #day 20 #anakin skywalker #commander cody #cody #anakin and cody #hurt/comfort #friendship #cramping pain

[be-a-cute-scientist]

wild to me that sometimes painkillers just. work.

#had some awful stomach cramps #and i took a painkiller and 20 minutes later they were gone #this like never happens to me #usually i take two naproxen to try and calm a headache and that works like 50% of the time #and i have to take the naproxen at the earliest hint of period cramps or they do jack shit #nuts man #you mean some people just take painkillers and stop being in pain?? #sounds fake

[chappellrroan]

god knew i would be too powerful if i could remove my head from body remove eyes from its socket undo and redo all my joints and change gender on whim

#why do i have a headache eye pain #i feel like a 90 y.o in a 20 y.o body #i could skip periods and cramps life would've been good

[flareondotcom]

I think nonbinary ppl should get the day off work if their tummy hurts :^/

#skin breathes #my cramps are soooooooososososo bad today oh my god #like im pretty sure something is wrong with me like pcos or something #stuff like that runs in my family #but every time i try to address it with a doctor they just try and prescribe me birth control pills about it #but birth control pills famously make me insane and the side effects are physically really hard on me too #the cramps are so bad that the sheer pain makes me nauseous and my chest feels tight and my heart rate quickens #and i cant focus on anything. like even worse than usual #and thats ON TOP of a whole host of other pms symptoms #like im rendered completely bed ridden for around 3 to 4 days every month #and i was told that everyone experiences periods differently my whole life so #i didnt figure out anything was wrong until i hit my 20s and they got worse and worse instead of better #really really need to schedule another appointment about it i always forget until my monthly reminder arrives lmao #anyways lets hope i dont puke up this ibuprofen im about to take cheers lads

[giverofempathy]

period cramps so bad i have to crawl instead of walk because walking hurts too much 😍

#salisha speaks #my back hurts so bad its like someone stabbed me 20 times #and the cramps oh my godddd its been so long since ive felt this much pain #AND THE BLOOD CLOTHS ??? so many of them 😭😭 #have to skip class bc i will Not go out in this state wtf