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menstrualhutFirst time poster here. A bit of history and then I have some questions:
I got my first period when I was 11, about a month before my 12th birthday. I hear that's young, but that's the age my mother started so I wasn't worried. The first two times were in consecutive months, like clockwork. A little cramping but not too much. Then, I would go six weeks or longer without a period, and anyone I asked said it was just my body regulating itself. My periods got further and further apart, where I could actually go on summer vacation in May and come back to school in August never having had a period. It was great for swimming season. But when I did have a period, the cramping was so painful that I actually passed out in the hallway my freshman year of high school. I would have chills, fever, cold sweats, vomiting. I was so pale that I actually turned green around my hairline. Eventually, I did see a doctor for it early in high school, but all she gave me was some pill that knocks me out for about 12 hours straight. Which is great if you've got 12 hours to do nothing.
Because I was so irregular, I had no way to plan for them, plan trips, anything. I was either constantly overprepared or not prepared at all when I started. This got worse and worse until I started college.
In college, I was terrified of living with another female because I'd heard of cycles synching up. I had no desire to have a regular period if that kind of torture was what I had to look forward to. It never regulated, and eventually my mother decided that I should probably see a doctor for something completely unrelated (panic attacks). I talked to the doc about my cramping and vomiting, and she asked if I was regular. I told her it wasn't uncommon for me to have two periods 3 weeks apart or go six months without even a little spotting, and she suggested a pap and birth control. This was Christmas break of my sophomore year of college. I had actually just lost my virginity a few weeks earlier so I'd never been to a gyno before. I didn't want to go on the Pill because, if my period was that bad when I did have one, why would I want to have one every month? But we scheduled it for that February (she was a very busy doctor). While I was waiting for that appointment, I started a period in January that caused dizzyness so severe that I fainted three times in 30 minutes, gaining a gash in my forehead and six stitches.
Between seeing the doc the first time and going back for my appointment (which didn't happen because I started my period the day of the exam), I met my now-fiancé, and as our relationship became more intimate, birth control was rapidly becoming a necessity on two fronts.
I'm on birth control now, have been for right at three years in April. In those three years, I've struggled to find a Pill that didn't throw me completely out of whack. First was Yasmin, which was awesome in the cramps department and the fact that it's a diuretic so I didn't retain a lot of fluid. But it made my nipples very sensitive 100% of the time, to the point that using a louffah was out of the question. That was the only problem I had with it, but it made life in the bedroom very awkward. "Oh, baby, oh yeah, oh wait, my nipples! Don't touch!" My poor fiancé thought I didn't want anything to do with him! So I switched to Ortho Tri Cyclin, which helped with the sensitivity, but made my cramps come back a bit. Then I switched to just straight Ortho Cyclin, and that's what I'm on now. Well, I'm on Sprintec, the generic.
Things were good on Sprintec until the last few months. About a week before I start taking the inactive pills, I start having increased nipple sensitivity, and, while I'm a chronic migraine sufferer from way back, I always get a migraine the week before, week of, and week after my period. I may not get another one until I'm back to a week before. Last night, a migraine started up (on my period right now), along with cramps, cold sweating, chills, paleness, dizzyness, vomiting, everything that happened before I went on the Pill. Things have been getting progressively worse recently, like I said, and last night was horrile. So I decided to ask all you lovely folks for some advice.
So, my questions:
1. Has anyone else (who actually read this all the way through) ever experienced symptoms like what I described before I went on the Pill? If so, what did you do about them? Should I be checked out for endo? I'd never heard of endo until about a year or so ago, and I've heard that the only way to test for it is through a biopsy.
2. I've been checked for anemia numerous times, and while my iron content is a little on the low side at times, no anemia. Has anyone heard of any other kind of blood disorder that may cause such symptoms?
3. Should I look into other forms of birth control? I've heard the patch can cause migraines, and since I get them already I don't want to go that route. The shot kind of freaks me out though. While the idea of not having periods sounds awesome, that can't be good for your body. What else might anyone suggest?
4. Finally, does anyone think it's a possibility, because of how out of whack my system is naturally, that I may not even be able to have children? I mean, I know that as long as I ovulate, pregnancy is a possibility, but does it sound feasible that my body just doesn't work right?
Thank you do all who read that. It feels good to hav a place to voice these kinds of concerns. =)
I got my first period when I was 11, about a month before my 12th birthday. I hear that's young, but that's the age my mother started so I wasn't worried. The first two times were in consecutive months, like clockwork. A little cramping but not too much. Then, I would go six weeks or longer without a period, and anyone I asked said it was just my body regulating itself. My periods got further and further apart, where I could actually go on summer vacation in May and come back to school in August never having had a period. It was great for swimming season. But when I did have a period, the cramping was so painful that I actually passed out in the hallway my freshman year of high school. I would have chills, fever, cold sweats, vomiting. I was so pale that I actually turned green around my hairline. Eventually, I did see a doctor for it early in high school, but all she gave me was some pill that knocks me out for about 12 hours straight. Which is great if you've got 12 hours to do nothing.
Because I was so irregular, I had no way to plan for them, plan trips, anything. I was either constantly overprepared or not prepared at all when I started. This got worse and worse until I started college.
In college, I was terrified of living with another female because I'd heard of cycles synching up. I had no desire to have a regular period if that kind of torture was what I had to look forward to. It never regulated, and eventually my mother decided that I should probably see a doctor for something completely unrelated (panic attacks). I talked to the doc about my cramping and vomiting, and she asked if I was regular. I told her it wasn't uncommon for me to have two periods 3 weeks apart or go six months without even a little spotting, and she suggested a pap and birth control. This was Christmas break of my sophomore year of college. I had actually just lost my virginity a few weeks earlier so I'd never been to a gyno before. I didn't want to go on the Pill because, if my period was that bad when I did have one, why would I want to have one every month? But we scheduled it for that February (she was a very busy doctor). While I was waiting for that appointment, I started a period in January that caused dizzyness so severe that I fainted three times in 30 minutes, gaining a gash in my forehead and six stitches.
Between seeing the doc the first time and going back for my appointment (which didn't happen because I started my period the day of the exam), I met my now-fiancé, and as our relationship became more intimate, birth control was rapidly becoming a necessity on two fronts.
I'm on birth control now, have been for right at three years in April. In those three years, I've struggled to find a Pill that didn't throw me completely out of whack. First was Yasmin, which was awesome in the cramps department and the fact that it's a diuretic so I didn't retain a lot of fluid. But it made my nipples very sensitive 100% of the time, to the point that using a louffah was out of the question. That was the only problem I had with it, but it made life in the bedroom very awkward. "Oh, baby, oh yeah, oh wait, my nipples! Don't touch!" My poor fiancé thought I didn't want anything to do with him! So I switched to Ortho Tri Cyclin, which helped with the sensitivity, but made my cramps come back a bit. Then I switched to just straight Ortho Cyclin, and that's what I'm on now. Well, I'm on Sprintec, the generic.
Things were good on Sprintec until the last few months. About a week before I start taking the inactive pills, I start having increased nipple sensitivity, and, while I'm a chronic migraine sufferer from way back, I always get a migraine the week before, week of, and week after my period. I may not get another one until I'm back to a week before. Last night, a migraine started up (on my period right now), along with cramps, cold sweating, chills, paleness, dizzyness, vomiting, everything that happened before I went on the Pill. Things have been getting progressively worse recently, like I said, and last night was horrile. So I decided to ask all you lovely folks for some advice.
So, my questions:
1. Has anyone else (who actually read this all the way through) ever experienced symptoms like what I described before I went on the Pill? If so, what did you do about them? Should I be checked out for endo? I'd never heard of endo until about a year or so ago, and I've heard that the only way to test for it is through a biopsy.
2. I've been checked for anemia numerous times, and while my iron content is a little on the low side at times, no anemia. Has anyone heard of any other kind of blood disorder that may cause such symptoms?
3. Should I look into other forms of birth control? I've heard the patch can cause migraines, and since I get them already I don't want to go that route. The shot kind of freaks me out though. While the idea of not having periods sounds awesome, that can't be good for your body. What else might anyone suggest?
4. Finally, does anyone think it's a possibility, because of how out of whack my system is naturally, that I may not even be able to have children? I mean, I know that as long as I ovulate, pregnancy is a possibility, but does it sound feasible that my body just doesn't work right?
Thank you do all who read that. It feels good to hav a place to voice these kinds of concerns. =)
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no subject
Date: 2006-03-31 03:18 pm (UTC)RE: 4
I wouldnt give up on it. until youve actually tried to concieve, and gotten examined specifically for it or researched it, never give up. I thought i couldnt. That my body was so out of whack, but ive researched and measured and tried FAM and i believe theres always chances. Besides, when that time comes, if you try FAM you can see where and if your body needs help and there are tons of remedies for it(medical and natural). ♥
no subject
Date: 2006-03-31 03:28 pm (UTC)Thank you for taking the time to read and reply. I appreciated it.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-31 07:29 pm (UTC)Another method to consider is an IUD, copper or hormonal. Generally speaking if you're getting menstrual migraines, it's from the change/drop in hormone levels - an IUD will not have this change; also the Mirena which is hormonal is Progestin only. Generally its the estrogen which is problematic for migraine sufferers. IUDs are long term; they're good for 10 and 5 years respectively, and I believe they should also help alleviate heavy period problems as well. Again, a basic google search will get you started.
It doesn't sound like you're getting the best gynecologic care you should. If you live near a city, find a teaching hospital and see an ob/gyn there, one who specializes in period problems if possible. Teaching hospitals generally have the best doctors.
Once you've done a little research on your own and have a new doctor, really sit down and discuss your entire history with her or him. There's a lot here that strangers on LJ cannot help you with,but a quality doctor CAN and SHOULD. I'm sorry you haven't had much success so far, but there is help out there if you seek it out.
Good luck.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-01 12:35 am (UTC)Have you had your thyroid checked? And another thing to have done would be an ultrasound, to look for fibroids and ovarian cysts.
Provera (the birth control shot) works really well for someone. For others, it doesn't work at all. I was on it for six months and bled the entire time. Other women can be on it for years without having a problem. The biggest risk with Provera is bone density loss, but it's minor and can be counteracted with supplements.
The problem with your migraine history is that pretty much all hormonal medication can cause migraines. You could try the NuvaRing, because it has less hormones - I've never been on it, but I've heard good things about it, so if I were you I'd mention that to my doctor.
Another pill I'd recommend you to try is a minipill, or one that only contains progesterone. I did better on that than I did on the regular estrogen/progesterone pills.
I had a horrible experience with the patch (allergic reaction), so I can't recommend it to anyone! :) An IUD is another option, but most of the endo sufferers I know have actually gotten worse after having an IUD inserted.
Finally, it's impossible to say what your chances are of being able to get pregnant. Some women have perfectly normal periods and seem perfectly healthy, and are still infertile. Some women have highly irregular periods but get pregnant very easily.
So, my recommendation: find an excellent gynecologist (preferably one who specializes in laparoscopic surgery for endo) and talk to him/her about your concerns. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me or join us over at
Good luck!