Period every eight weeks
Aug. 9th, 2007 01:27 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
pengie.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
menstrualhutHi, I'm new here, and I'm wondering if maybe somebody can share some advice with me.
Um, just some background: for about three years I had menstrual cramps of varying strength every day, which typically doubled or tripled around the time of my otherwise normal period (always on time, 5 days, not very heavy). My mother's gynocologist said it was normal and put me on Estrostep FE, which made me nauseated and unmotivated, but they did stop the daily pain. I stopped taking the pills after a year and a half and haven't been on them since early 2006. The cramps came back, hit a high point (sharp, jabbing pain) for about a month, and then suddenly stopped. Now the only time I get cramps is before I'm supposed to get my period.
I say "supposed to" because around the time that the pain stopped, I stopped getting my period every month. It now rolls around every eight weeks, on schedule. The really weird thing is that I still get period symptoms every month--I just don't bleed 50% of the time. This started in October of last year (I actually got my period then, and did not get it again until January--so three months), and after then it's been every two months like clockwork. Right now I'm suffering through cramps, fatigue, and headaches, but I bled last month, so I won't be seeing anything tonight or tomorrow.
I really didn't think anything of this at first, and neither did anyone else, but I mentioned this rather offhandedly to a coworker on Tuesday, and she asked "is something wrong with one of your ovaries?" I didn't have a very positive reaction to that. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before. So I'm planning to schedule an appointment as soon as I can find a gynocologist covered by my health insurance, but I thought I'd ask here first to see if anyone else has been through a similar situation, and what they found out.
I guess the thing I'm wondering is this... could my previous pain/cramping have something to do with what's going on now? The first gyno I went to was just a generally unhelpful person, and basically dismissed my complaints of pain and poor reaction to Estrostep as completely normal. I went to Planned Parenthood last year instead, and they were really helpful and friendly, but around the time that I went was when my pain stopped, so they couldn't really suggest I go get an ultrasound or anything.
Like I mentioned, I'm not taking any medication. My mother had endometriosis to the point of requiring surgery, which was what I initially feared, but like I mentioned, the first gyno I went to just couldn't seem to give half a shit about what I was feeling or what ran in my family.
Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated. If anybody else has gone through something similar, please let me know--I have no idea how to explain this to the next doctor I go to, and I'm afraid I'm going to get the same apathetic reaction I got from the first one.
Um, just some background: for about three years I had menstrual cramps of varying strength every day, which typically doubled or tripled around the time of my otherwise normal period (always on time, 5 days, not very heavy). My mother's gynocologist said it was normal and put me on Estrostep FE, which made me nauseated and unmotivated, but they did stop the daily pain. I stopped taking the pills after a year and a half and haven't been on them since early 2006. The cramps came back, hit a high point (sharp, jabbing pain) for about a month, and then suddenly stopped. Now the only time I get cramps is before I'm supposed to get my period.
I say "supposed to" because around the time that the pain stopped, I stopped getting my period every month. It now rolls around every eight weeks, on schedule. The really weird thing is that I still get period symptoms every month--I just don't bleed 50% of the time. This started in October of last year (I actually got my period then, and did not get it again until January--so three months), and after then it's been every two months like clockwork. Right now I'm suffering through cramps, fatigue, and headaches, but I bled last month, so I won't be seeing anything tonight or tomorrow.
I really didn't think anything of this at first, and neither did anyone else, but I mentioned this rather offhandedly to a coworker on Tuesday, and she asked "is something wrong with one of your ovaries?" I didn't have a very positive reaction to that. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before. So I'm planning to schedule an appointment as soon as I can find a gynocologist covered by my health insurance, but I thought I'd ask here first to see if anyone else has been through a similar situation, and what they found out.
I guess the thing I'm wondering is this... could my previous pain/cramping have something to do with what's going on now? The first gyno I went to was just a generally unhelpful person, and basically dismissed my complaints of pain and poor reaction to Estrostep as completely normal. I went to Planned Parenthood last year instead, and they were really helpful and friendly, but around the time that I went was when my pain stopped, so they couldn't really suggest I go get an ultrasound or anything.
Like I mentioned, I'm not taking any medication. My mother had endometriosis to the point of requiring surgery, which was what I initially feared, but like I mentioned, the first gyno I went to just couldn't seem to give half a shit about what I was feeling or what ran in my family.
Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated. If anybody else has gone through something similar, please let me know--I have no idea how to explain this to the next doctor I go to, and I'm afraid I'm going to get the same apathetic reaction I got from the first one.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-09 01:44 pm (UTC)1. Bring this summary that you have written for us with you to share with the DR.
2.Insist on an ultra sound. (If they find nothing then great at least you know)
3.Mention the possibility of genetic endometriosis.
4. Beware of HBC (hormonal birth control)if not monitored carefully it can cause significant liver damage which just leads to other health issues.
I don't mean to scare you with that last one just talking from experience
no subject
Date: 2007-08-09 02:20 pm (UTC)I will definitely print out this text and bring it in. I have a very hard time explaining myself in person.
An ultrasound would probably be a good idea, even if it finds nothing--I just need to find out if it's covered by my insurance. Ughhh.
Thank you.
I hope this helps
Date: 2007-08-11 09:14 pm (UTC)I'm going to be posting about it on here once I'm a member but I'll give you the short and sweet version of it for consideration. What I do is every month I take time to sit outside and bleed into the earth. I also changed my diet to limit dairy and during menstruation and to include vitamins and a lot of greens at all times. And daily exercise really helps also.
Why would this have an effect on our bodies? Well, simply put we are what we eat and we do what we think. For a long time I felt really uncomfortable with being a woman. I had been given a great education on sexuality early on, but never really felt adjusted or confident with my experiences as a woman. Changing how I feel about myself and my body allowed my qi(energy) to flow more freely and to work with me instead of against me.
These suggestions may not be the answer for you but I wanted to provide them in case they can be of any help. I hope that you are able to get some relief soon! Bless you, beautiful woman!