A newbie and a big 'ol rant...
Nov. 12th, 2003 10:51 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
mybrokenrecord.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
menstrualhutHi everyone, I'm new. I hope you don't mind me starting off with a huge rant about my period... Or lack thereof. I'm just so frustrated with everything concerning my reproductive system, I could just scream!
First, let me just start off by saying that I have ALWAYS had regular periods BEFORE starting the birth control pill. Always. I had my first period a week after I turned 12, and from that moment on it was regular as clockwork. By the time I was 15, I could pin point the EXACT time my period would come (third Wednesday of the month, 8 PM sharp). So, when I was put on Ovcon 35 (birth control pill) when I was 22, I had already had 10 years of an established, extremely regular natural cycle. I was put on the pill to supposedly control the spread of endometriosis that my gyn had found after I had to have emergency surgery to repair a ruptured ovarian cyst (he found the endo by accident in the process, and it was such a tiny amount, but he want to play it safe).
Anyway, fast forward to this last April, almost 3 years later. I stopped taking the pill and got my period right away. I had a second period more or less 30 days later (a little later than my natural 28 day cycle, but hey, I'd just gotten off the pill, so I could expect a little irregularity). Third period came 40 days later than the previous one, in early June (okay, no worries. It's a little weird, but the doc said to expect some irregularities...). Fourth period came in August. Called my gyno about it and he said not to worry. Um. But they're getting more and more spaced out, Doc. Shouldn't that be a sign that something is wrong?
I haven't had a period since. It's been 3 months. When I went in for a pap in October, I asked my doc about it again and he shrugged it off, saying that I probably had irregular periods before I went on the pill and then being on the pill for those two years caused me to forget that fact.
WHAT THE?!
No, Doc, I had a freakin' DECADE of regular periods before I went on the pill. Now at the age of 25, I am in what appears to be MENOPAUSE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ME. Can't something be done about it???
"Only if you want to get pregnant." The world's most sensitive male gynecologist said to me.
AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!
I'm so mad right now, I could just cry. I'm seeing my women's health specialist next month and I'm going to raise the issue with her if I don't hear from my ovaries in the meantime. I'm so sick of not having my period... I mean, some women do nothing but complain about their period, and I have to admit, I was one of them. But lemme tell ya, as soon as you stop having it for no good reason, you start to feel like you're a malfunctioning weirdo who is not fit to call yourself a woman.
First, let me just start off by saying that I have ALWAYS had regular periods BEFORE starting the birth control pill. Always. I had my first period a week after I turned 12, and from that moment on it was regular as clockwork. By the time I was 15, I could pin point the EXACT time my period would come (third Wednesday of the month, 8 PM sharp). So, when I was put on Ovcon 35 (birth control pill) when I was 22, I had already had 10 years of an established, extremely regular natural cycle. I was put on the pill to supposedly control the spread of endometriosis that my gyn had found after I had to have emergency surgery to repair a ruptured ovarian cyst (he found the endo by accident in the process, and it was such a tiny amount, but he want to play it safe).
Anyway, fast forward to this last April, almost 3 years later. I stopped taking the pill and got my period right away. I had a second period more or less 30 days later (a little later than my natural 28 day cycle, but hey, I'd just gotten off the pill, so I could expect a little irregularity). Third period came 40 days later than the previous one, in early June (okay, no worries. It's a little weird, but the doc said to expect some irregularities...). Fourth period came in August. Called my gyno about it and he said not to worry. Um. But they're getting more and more spaced out, Doc. Shouldn't that be a sign that something is wrong?
I haven't had a period since. It's been 3 months. When I went in for a pap in October, I asked my doc about it again and he shrugged it off, saying that I probably had irregular periods before I went on the pill and then being on the pill for those two years caused me to forget that fact.
WHAT THE?!
No, Doc, I had a freakin' DECADE of regular periods before I went on the pill. Now at the age of 25, I am in what appears to be MENOPAUSE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR ME. Can't something be done about it???
"Only if you want to get pregnant." The world's most sensitive male gynecologist said to me.
AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!
I'm so mad right now, I could just cry. I'm seeing my women's health specialist next month and I'm going to raise the issue with her if I don't hear from my ovaries in the meantime. I'm so sick of not having my period... I mean, some women do nothing but complain about their period, and I have to admit, I was one of them. But lemme tell ya, as soon as you stop having it for no good reason, you start to feel like you're a malfunctioning weirdo who is not fit to call yourself a woman.
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-12 12:20 pm (UTC)four words:
Date: 2003-11-12 12:51 pm (UTC)Second opinions have saved lives and sanities. Mr. Sensitive has just proven himself to be a disinterested quack, and no longer deserves your trust or patronage. Ask the front desk for a copy of your medical records and move on.
Holy crap that would piss me off. Good luck at your specialist next month.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-12 05:09 pm (UTC)Second: if he is not a private practice, you report him. If he IS a private practice, you report him anyway, and file a complaint at his office. His job is to give you the best care possible. He does not do this simply to spend lots of time between women's legs, since he obviously can't get a girlfriend himself. This is unacceptable for a doctor in any position, and frankly, I'm fairly certain that in some states, it can get his sorry arse fired.
Third: get a new doctor. See if you can find somebody through your local feminist bookstore or Women's press if you have one, and if not, see if your local University Health Service has some resources for you.
Hopefully you can find somebody who actually cares about the meaning of Women's Health. Good luck, and rock on!