New here, wondering why

[poemi.livejournal.com]

Yesterday I started my period and I had an extreme episode. It's happened to me once before and I'm wondering if anyone knows why, or what I could do to prevent this.

I woke up from terrible (TERRIBLE!!) cramps early in the morning. This was only about a 5 hours after I started bleeding. I went to the bathroom and started to faint and overheat. Luckily I got myself out of the bathroom and onto the couch before my vision went completely black.

Then I got extremely nauseous. I didn't let myself vomit because I had taken ibuprofen only about 20 minutes before and I reeeeally didn't feel like letting those pills come back up. It also made me really hot and sweaty, so I went through this whole ordeal naked save for my undies.

I went through this fainting and nearly vomiting for about 2 hours until I finally could take some naproxen and pass out properly.

This happened to me once before about 4 years ago.

Could this be because I'm not getting enough iron or something? I just recently stopped eating meat and I think maybe I'm missing some vital stuff in my new diet. It was really really awful, I definitely don't want to deal with that next month.

Comments

[carideo.livejournal.com]

I would go to your doctor, that's not normal. A simple blood test can tell you your iron levels. I'm assuming last time this happened to you it only happened once?

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I don't have insurance and I really can't afford to go to go. Yeah this is only the second time in my life it's happened. I feel like the first time it was worse, but that might just be because this time I kind of knew what was going on.

[poemi.livejournal.com]

oops 'to go to go' that last to go should say 'to the doctor' ha

[t4-flirt.livejournal.com]

i would make an appointment to see an ob/gyn RIGHT AWAY.

fainting and blacking out are NOT common period problems, especially since you're nauseated and cramping as well.

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I don't have insurance right now, and it would be way too expensive for me to even go to PP. The first time it happened I did go to the doctor and she told me nothing was abnormal.

[sunsplash.livejournal.com]

You can mix ibuprofen and naproxen? I thought you weren't supposed to mix anti-inflamatory stuff?

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if you're supposed to. At that point I didn't really care. I knew the naproxen would make me pass out and that was all I was thinking about.

[sunsplash.livejournal.com]

I love naproxen for that. Even the over the counter stuff, after about an hour I just go to sleep. It' so nice. I feel sad for people who don't have that sort of reaction to a pain relief drug. It's nice to sleep while the pill does it's magic! :)

Hope you are feeling better soon, sorry I don't have any real advice for ya...

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I'm fine now actually. I was fine after I woke up from my naproxen induced nap yesterday. Which makes the whole ordeal even odder to me...

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

That used to happen to me, too. When I would get one of these "attacks", before I knew what to do about it, I would just try to knock myself out...I would usually take two or three extra-strength Advil plus a Gravol tablet. That would usually be enough to knock me out for a few hours, and when I woke up, the relief was incredible -- the pain was totally gone. I thought I was in heaven.

I asked the doctor about that when I went to see her in October, and she told me that's normal. What happens during these attacks, according to her, is that your uterus is totally contracted and working overtime to try and pass these clots. Now, the key to getting through contractions (or even extra-bad cramps) is relaxation, right? But you've been through one of these attacks, and you know as well as I do that relaxing when you're in that condition is damn near next to impossible.

So. It's an endless cycle. Your uterus is contracting like a mofo, so you should relax. But you're in extreme pain, so you're all tensed up. Which makes the contractions/cramps worse. Which can be helped by relaxing, but you're in too much pain, so you tense up even more, and so on and so forth.

But when you knock yourself out, you sleep. So your body is in a relaxed state (albeit a chemically induced one). It gives your uterus the opportunity it needs to relax itself.

Made sense to me, but I'll still happily take my five days' worth of Advil if it means I can avoid it altogether. :)

[poemi.livejournal.com]

Yeah during the episode I kept trying to calm down and breathe deeply and stuff. I tried stretching, but nothing could make me less tense about it. (for a little bit standing up seemed to help actually)

It definitely makes sense that passing out helps.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean about the standing seeming to help. I don't know if you can relate to this at all, but whenever I have an attack, I feel like -- if I could only walk around, I'd be okay. But I can't, cause hey, I'm too busy blacking out.

Honestly, just thinking about the pain now makes me want to curl up in a little ball. Whenever I get my period I always hold my breath until the third day is past (my attacks ALWAYS happened on the third day). I'm holding my breath as we speak, because tomorrow is day 3...but like I said, since I started my Advil regimen I haven't had a single problem. *knock on wood*

I really hope the Advil thing works for you, because I REALLY know how bad it is. I don't think there's much worse pain in the world (and yeah, I think that would include childbirth).

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I wanted to be walking around too, but yeah, you really just can't.

I've never given birth, and I think it would hurt pretty freakin bad, BUT at least there's a damn good reason for it!! With this it's just torture.

I hope you don't have an attack! My first day is always the worst for me.

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

I take naproxen and just for future issues, the label says "DO NOT TAKE WITH ASPRIN" but for what reason, I can only imagine.

[miss-francon.livejournal.com]

I used to have this problem, but it was on a fairly regular, monthly basis. I was put on birth control to even out my hormone levels for it. For others that this happens to and it is a regular thing, go to the doctor instead of just dealing with it. It will make you feel so much better to get it worked out.

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I know for some people it's a regular occurance, for me it's not. The same thing used to happen to my roommate every month. I'm just confused because it's not normal for me.

[moonlitdorian.livejournal.com]

I know it's expensive, but you should really see a doctor about that. It sounds severe enough that I'd be concerned.

Also, if you're worried about your diet, pick up some multivitamins. Then you'll know you're getting everything you need.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I've had that happen to me about half a dozen times. The last time it happened, it was severe enough that my roommate wanted to call an ambulance.

Believe me when I say that I feel your pain. I would get excruciating cramps, be nauseated, get hot and sweaty (and then go ice cold afterwards), and black out. I would want to vomit, but like you, I wouldn't allow myself to because I didn't want to bring up the pills I had taken.

The doctor I went to see after the last episode (in October) put me on Diane-35, a combination birth control pill. I had such bad side effects that I had to stop taking them.

Anyway, she advised me that what could very well be causing these episodes was that my blood was clotting (I was passing clots during these attacks). She told me that what I could do is start taking ibuprofen the day before my period even started, and then take them regularly all the way through my period. She had an idea that not only would this stop the attacks, it would lessen the likelihood of me having cramps (which has always been an issue for me).

Lo and behold, after I started doing that, I didn't have any more of those terribly painful (and scary!) attacks. I usually take two extra strength Advil the day before my period starts, and then for the five days of my period I take two extra-strength Advil twice a day. It has helped me more than I could ever express.

Of course, if you're really worried that there's something physically wrong (and there's always that possibility, of course, although I have a feeling it's something like my case, because you sound JUST LIKE ME), by all means head to a doctor. But, if you have no insurance and you really can't afford to see one, try what I suggested. It certainly won't hurt you...and it might actually help you as much as it's helped me!

Good luck.

♥

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I was afraid of scaring my roommates! Although this time I did remember to leave the bathroom door unlocked incase I did need help (the first time I locked the door and when started to faint and my mom busted the door down to get to me.)

I'll definitely try the ibuprofen thing. I was clotting like crazy when this happened. I usually do the first day of my period. Although I'm never really sure when it's coming, I guess I'll start taking it when I have my monthly pre-period hissy fit :P

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about not knowing exactly when you're going to start. I usually have a ballpark figure (well, I don't know if it's TMI, but I usually know that the day before my period starts, I can't even lie on my bed on my stomach because my boobs are so sore!) LOL. So that's my signal to start popping the Advil.

So yeah. It *definitely* worked for me, like a charm. :o)

[---bulletkisses.livejournal.com]

ive had this before..
well, i get migrains mixed with these symptoms..
basically, i got my period that morning had really bad pains anyway,
went to college and had a piece of chocolate for breakfast (haha worst idea ever i was in a hurry tho!) and next thing i know i got the most horendous sharp pain in my head and the cramps got to unberable stages.. i was blanking out and almost fainting, but i lost my vision and was being sick everywhere and i just went home and basically slept for hours.. it was horrible..
but like i said, im pretty sure mine was a migraine.. i only ever get them ocassionally though.. id say go to the doctor and describe it, my doctor just gave me really strong headache pills. x

[redbeka-rose.livejournal.com]

If you have a local Planned Parenthood they generally charge by income. I am not sure in your area but the one near me does general gyno stuff too...

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I have plenty of Planned Parenthood around (I live in NYC) but it takes about a month to get an appointment.

[redbeka-rose.livejournal.com]

It can't hurt to contact them and get the appointment scheduled. I have found them to be very flexible in cases of emergency. Also, the one near me has walk in days, you might want to check that out too.

Or not sure what NY law are like, but here in Maine if a hospital is non-profit they are required to provide charity care. If you take a look around and make a few phone calls you might find something in your area.

Good luck

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

Well a month is probably better than waiting until it happens again.

If they suspect that something more serious is going on, they'll generally try to be helpful in getting you the proper care.

[dindin.livejournal.com]

You should be able to find a health clinic through your county/city/state for little or no cost. You need a proper diagnosis.

[aplaceinthestar.livejournal.com]

I've had the same problem twice. I was losing extreme amounts of blood, which I think added to the problem, nausea, cramps so badly that I couldn't even stand up. I blacked out both times -- and both times in the shower. Last time, my fiance tried to make me go to the hosptial, but I knew there was no point, they'd just give me painkillers and tell me to sleep. I skip the hospital bit by taking a Vicodin (which knocks me out), and going to bed for a few hours.

Though, luckily (?) I know why. I have a major problem with reoccurring ovarian cysts. When I get like that, I know it means I have a major cyst and I need to start taking hormones again.

I advise going to the doctor as soon as you can. If you have cysts, you'll probably need hormone pills to regulate your cycle and stop the episodes. Regardless, it's something you should be concerned about.

[acaule.livejournal.com]

the same thing happened to me 2 months ago...it sucked because i was in a public place, and it took a little while to get home. i just wanted to get into bed and be alone. it doesn't help to have people staring...
my fiance thinks that they just all thought i was hungover or something...i wish!!

[poemi.livejournal.com]

I was so glad to be at home when this happened. Sometimes I work at 7 am at my job, alone in a cafe. I can't imagine what I would have done there.

[erica-freak.livejournal.com]

I used to get that nearly every month, it wasn't nice at all :o( My sympathies...

The doctor put me on a couple of different things (mefenamic acid, then vioxx) to see if they'd help, which worked to start with but kind of lost effectiveness over a few months, I started fainting again.

Anyway I am now on normal everyday contraceptive pill (microgynon) and it's so so much better, I hardly ever black out like that anymore and don't get cramps much at all. So go to the doctor, there are things that can be done!

If you don't want too much by way of meds, I'd suggest making sure you eat properly and don't spend too much time standing up, that seemed to help me a lot. Don't do anything remotely stressful during your period, I would always get fainty/vomitty if I went running for example. If you're going to have to be working in a cafe have a good breakfast beforehand and try to avoid shifts during your periods... bad for the pocket but better for health I guess...

Hope it gets better, it sounds like it's only an occasional thing but take care of yourself... :)