From what I understand, periods are "supposed" to be manageable with a standard OTC dose of something like Tylenol. and not manageable like "now I grimace and put on a face of non-grimacing and force myself through the day." (this still seems like a myth to me based on my own experience, but.)

OTOH if you talk to a gyn, you may or may not get this response depending on how compassionate they are or how much they actually listen. >.> so. YMMV.