Period from hell

I'm 23 and have a one year old son who my husband and I adore. We did the hole breastfeeding, cosleep thing which was great for us. I breastfed til he was 5 months old that was also the month he got his first tooth. But soon after I stopped breastfeeding him, I got my first period in over a year. It was brutal but I thought it was the first one the next will be easier. Boy was I wrong I was wondering if any other moms out there have the same problem and any helpful tips!