Le book de Lizz.

[6runner6.livejournal.com]

Hey, I just joined. I thought I could maybe/sometimes be of help. And sympathize with everyone who gets horrid cramps!
I'm Lizz, work in OB/GYN [yep, that doc], have a cat, BCP=Ovcon 35.
I only get my period once every 3-4 months. I take my pills continuously, leaving out the placebos. Yes, you are allowed to do that. Is wonderful for those who have beastly cramps, heavy flow, etc.
My question: do any of you, who are in HS, get to stay home from school bcz of cramps? I was NEVER allowed. And I would be seriously nauseous.
OK, that's my book for now.

Comments

[ellison.livejournal.com]

Really?? It IS okay to just take the pills continuously? But then, is your period just totally unpredictable and you have no idea when it'll come? Does it come on its own every 3-4 months, or is that every 3-4 months, it's good to take the placebo pills? I would be nervous about not knowing when to expect it. But not having to deal with it more than 4 times a year sounds awesome. Is it okay for anyone or only people who get super awful cramps? Sorry for all the questions. This just interests me!

I'm sorry you were never allowed to stay home. My mom let me stay home whenever I chose to because of awful cramps. She'd get me a hot water bottle and once she even got me blackberry brandy. In fact, sometimes I'd have burnout days where I just didn't want to go to school, and that was okay with Mom. Sometimes we went out to lunch together, and sometimes we just watched soap operas. I have the coolest mom in the world, though. Well if you ever have a daughter, I'm sure you'll let her stay home if she has awful cramps!

[6runner6.livejournal.com]

When I take the pills continuously I take 3 weeks of the "active" pills, ditch the placebos, 3 wks of active, ditch placebos, 3 wks of active and then usually I take the placebos, and get my period that week.
It's easier to do this with monophasic pills, like Ortho-Cyclen. It has one level of hormone throughout the whole pack (except placebos). Pills like Ortho-Tricyclen (triphasic) have different level of hormones each week (then placebos).
Anyone can take their pills this way. Mostly recommended to those with anemia (and have heavy bleeding), horrid cramps and probably other reasons I don't know. :)
Since I work in a gyn. office I am able to get my pills every three weeks. I don't know if a pharmacy would allow that; but it doesn't hurt to ask.
AND, I'm not a doctor so it's best to check with your GYN doc first.
Whew! :)

[humaazul.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school, I would get cramps so bad I could not move. When I had the chance, I would curl up in a ball and cry. My mother knew this, and would allow me to come home whenever I needed to. She was very sympathetic because she had similar cramps. She put me on the pill and still pays for it.

[isolt.livejournal.com]

same for me. my mom was really understanding, too. I had to take vicodin my cramps were so bad, but vicodin makes me queasy, so I was useless either way. I wound up coming home from school a lot.

My mom was also really good about understanding when I was stressed out and really needed a day off because of that, even if I wasn't sick. She didn't care how often I went to school, really, as long as my grades were good :)

[kizmet.livejournal.com]

When I was in highschool (4 years ago), my cramps were very bad...the first day of my period would hurt so much I could barely walk, and my mom refused to let me go on the pill b/c I was too young. So if it fell on a schooldate, Id miss. Nothing would help with the pain. My mom would let, because all the women in my family had severe cramping until their first child or till they hit their 20's.

One day, everymonth. The attendance lady probably knew. LOL

[vangie.livejournal.com]

i've never stayed home from school on account of cramps, but i think my mommy would let me if i needed to. i've skipped class sue to cramps, though. it's one of very few perks at an all-girls school.

[resilientpewter.livejournal.com]

I was routinely sent HOME from school because my cramps were so bad that I would throw up. the school didn't want to deal with me :o)

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

My dad was the one who decided if I stayed home or not (my mom left for work before the sun rose). He didn't want to know if it was a "female" problem or not. If I felt sick, I stayed home. No matter what the reason for the sickness. I had chronic strep infections up until college (when I took an antibotic regime to put it into remission), so I stayed home from school a lot anyway. It was easy to slip in a day if the cramps happened to be on a school day.

A friend of mine wants to try skipping placebos, but she's not sure her insurance will cover the extra pack or two needed a year.