Just need to know if anyone else has experienced this...

[sashamae.livejournal.com]

I have written before, but I am really getting concerned about my current condition, so I am writing to see if anyone else has been through what I am going through...I know there are some girls out there that have written about similar experiences, and I am hoping that somebody can give me an idea of what might be happening with me. I am going to Planned Parenthood this week, since I do not have health insurance.
Here is my history:
I am 30 years old, overweight, never had any children. I have been menstruating since I turned 13 and I have always had bad cramps-I used to vomit from them and sometimes I still get nauseous from my cramps. I have very heavy cycles, lots of premenstrual issues: moodiness, anxiety/depression, fatigue, intense cravings, bloating, body aches, the whole kit-n-kaboodle...and my cycles have usually lasted between 5-7 days. I was on the pill for about 8 years-maybe more-until last year (early 2002) when I went off for a few months because I lost my prescription and I couldn't afford to buy any pills during that time. Right before I went off the pills I had switched to a new pill (from Ortho tricyclen to Alesse). When I went back on I was having bad stomach pains from the Alesse, and it was so uncomfortable that I went back off of them after a couple of months. Then came March this year. I decided that since I wasn't very good at taking my pills in the past that I would try something new...something more convenient...the Nuvaring. After a few days of being on it I had full blown panic attacks/anxiety and I was a wreck...I went off the Nuvaring after 2 months of usage-anxiety wasn't getting better, so I went back on antidepressants, which I hadn't needed for 2 years! The last birth control I took was in May of this year-Alesse as emergency contraception-my boyfriend and I had an "Oops!" I found out online that Alesse can be used as emergency contraception, so I used it. Any other time that I have used Emergency Contraception, I would have a couple of irregular cycles, and then I would be back on track...but 7 months later I am still all screwed up!
Whats been going on for 7 months:
In addition to the heavy painful cycles, I have been having longer periods with a week of spotting 1-2 weeks before my "normal" period begins. Last month I got my period on the last week of November-no week of spotting before that-so I was getting excited that my period might be getting back to "normal." Then last week I spotted for a day-I felt like I was going to get a full period, but it just ended up being one day. Then yesterday I got my period again-no warning cramps-which is odd, I usually know when my period is coming because I have cramps, but not this time. I didn't get any cramps until today. Very abnormal. And now I have had 2 periods in a 3 week span and one day of spotting between. I have been a little stressed, but I would say my stress hasn't changed dramatically from how it has been for a couple of years. Some days are worse than others, but no huge change. I was going to Acupuncture for this issue but I wasn't able to go for a couple of months so I haven't had enough treatments to make a difference. I have been wanting to start doing acupressure on myself, but I am not sure if that could change my period even more.
My feeling is that this might just be endometriosis and dysmennorhea but I am hoping somebody else has experienced this. I really don't want to be on birth control again, but I am sure I will have to. I can't afford the type I want-the nonhormonal IUD because its $300 to have it placed, and thats so much more money than I can afford right now! Anybody here have an idea of what could be going on? Has anyone else gone through this? Does it sound like I totally screwed up my body and it will just be awhile before its regular again? Does it seem like its just stress and I am just changing because I am older now? I am absolutely going to see someone this week about this, but I just wanted to have an idea of what I am looking at here.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

Comments

[samwitch54.livejournal.com]

I would definately get it checked out. My mother had the exact same experience and it turned out to be cysts. Better safe than sorry. I wish you the best of luck.

[sashamae.livejournal.com]

Wow, thats two replies telling me that it could be cysts. I will definitely call Planned Parenthood today-they were closed on Monday. I hope to get an appt this week! Fingers crossed. Cysts aren't very serious are they?

[samwitch54.livejournal.com]

It depends. NOt to scare you but my mother had to get a hysterectimy. But it totally depends. I've had friends in which they had the same problem and either had to have surgery or be on birth control or take hormone shots. It all depends. But, it's worth looking into.

same things happening to me...

[xcontortx.livejournal.com]

but i refuse to take the pill, I have Ovarian Cysts AND Endomeitriosis but it sounds like your aymstoms are beacuse of cysts, get a sonogram, if you cant do that take black cohosh root, and rub flax seed oil where your cysts our before you go to bed and cover with a hot compress

Re: same things happening to me...

[sashamae.livejournal.com]

Would I have particular symptoms with cysts? I had a severe pain in my left side of my abdomen-sort of near the center of my belly and it lasted a week-back in August. It was a weird pain because it wasn't gas, wasn't a muscle strain, and it wasn't kidneys-it was in the front, and it just throbbed for a week...and then went away. I had my period that week, too. But I went to the doctor then and he gave me Naproxen. He said that sometimes the inflammation of the uterus could radiate to the surrounding tissue and cause pain/inflammation. I didn't really buy it, this pain was awful. But I haven't had it since. I really have to get into Planned Parenthood. I am going to call today and see if they can help me. I really don't want to get on birth control. Pills didn't really help my cramping and they didn't really make my flow lighter-they just made it come on a certain day and made it 4-5 days. That was just convenience, not comfort!
Thanks so much for sharing. I will let you know what I find out from Planned Parenthood!
Take care and have a great holiday season!

Re: same things happening to me...

[xcontortx.livejournal.com]

you too and that pain sounds EXACTLY like a cys whenever i get my period i get pains like that where my cysts are on my ovaries on my right side