IUD -> heavy periods

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

I got my paragard IUD back in November. I love it love it love it... 3 weeks out of the month.


Since getting my IUD, my periods have been SO HEAVY. For example, yesterday morning i reinserted my Diva Cup after my shower around 8am, got home from class around 6:30, and I had overflowed a little. No big surprise. I go out to dinner, come back, and by 9:30 it's ready to overflow again. No problems overnight, but I reinsert it again around 8, go to class, and by 12:30 I've already overflowed!

Not only am I astonished at how much I'm bleeding, I'm getting a little angry about it. The whole reason I got my Diva Cup a few years ago is because I didn't want to be using pads any more. Now I have to use them in conjunction because I never know how heavy my flow will be day by day.

Also, my lower back and abdomen rebel, and (I apologize for the tmi detail) my 'droppings' are on the verge of diarrhetic. Altogether very unpleasant. Last night, for the first time in my life, I filled up a hot water bottle and alternated it with my back and abdomen.

The lady who inserted my IUD told me to take Ibuprofen early to a) avoid such cramps and b) reduce the amount/duration of the bleeding. I've been taking 400mg 3 times a day (with meals when possible), and judging by my experiences, I fear what would happen if I didn't!

(EDIT: I did know when I got it inserted that heavy periods and cramps were possibilities.)

Anyway, short of gorging myself on bananas and potatoes and living in a hot bathtub, what else can I do? I wouldn't even mind prolonging the bleeding if I can reduce how much comes out at a time (though my boy and my vag might disagree!)!

Thanks for any suggestions, sorry for the rant-ish backstory

Comments

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

I can sympathize. When not on hormonal contraception, I'd overflow a menstrual cup in an hour or two. I'd fill that and saturate a maxi pad in three. I never did find a better way to deal with the amount of bleeding, though I did switch to hormonal methods to try and stop the pain associated with my periods. (More traditional hormonal methods did not really work with this, so now I have a Mirena.)

I would suggest increasing your ibuprofen dose. The standard OTC dose is 400mg, so that should be safe to take every 6 hours. (My NP had me on 800mg every 6 hours. I won't say not to do this yourself, but I would suggest checking in with a health care provider before doing it.)

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

oh, dur, I should learn to read my medicine bottles. or do math. I take 2 200mg tablets, not 100mg tablets, so I'm already taking 400mg 3 times a day... I suppose I could stop into the PP to get professional advice on how much I should have.

I don't think I handled hormones very well when I was on various forms of the pill (but then, I could never remember to take it consistently) AND I got my IUD free during a PP promotion, so I'm really weary to take it out and try the Mirena. Uber-poor college student and all :(

Thanks for the Ibuprofen suggestion, I'll talk to PP about dosage...

[archangelbeth]

I take 400mg (2 200mg ibuprofen pills) every 4 hours (while I'm awake; if I don't wake up in pain in the night, I don't take any), if I need to control major pain. Yeah, this probably exceeds 6 pills in 24 hours; it's only likely to be required for a day or two, and is within my risk tolerances. (I agree that checking with a doctor would be a better course of action than my laissez-faire guesstimation!)

I forget what I was taking for my tooth, before the root canal. I just know it wasn't working enough. O:(

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

FWIW, a couple of NPs I've seen about My Lovely Uterus have advised that the highest safe dosage (though this would fall within prescription doses, not OTC) is 3200mg. Again, I'm not trying to encourage folks to self-medicate at high doses, but it seems that you'd be unlikely to top 3200mg taking 400mg every 4 hours.

[anni-hilation.livejournal.com]

My GP also told me to stock myself full of ibuprofen, taking up to 4 200mg tablets every 6 hours to keep the cramps at bay (800mg is the standard prescription Inuprofen dosage). That works trememndously well for me, but like the above poster said it's always best to check with a doctor before starting a regimen like that. I've also heard taking B vitamins can help make your monthly flow less severe.

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

Also, your icon is one of my favorite Magritte paintings :)

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

It's one of mine too. :)

[h0rsegurrrl.livejournal.com]

I can also sympathize. My first few ParaGard periods... gosh, I didn't know there was that much blood in my body. The good news is it you're close to the six-month mark, so it should be getting better pretty soon. The typical settling-in time is six months before the bleeding becomes closer to your natural periods. Keep taking the ibuprofen, try some raspberry leaf tea for the cramps (I highly recommend it) and it should get easier pretty soon.

[nakedfaery.livejournal.com]

After 3-6 months it should settle somewhat. My first few periods with the Paragard were heinous.

[jessicka-harlot.livejournal.com]

I can totally sympathise aswell!

I was told my periods would be heavier after getting my IUD but I wasn't prepared for the horror! The cramps were evil too..I remember waking up in agony one night convinced I was having a 'miracle baby' because it was so bad. I was on my hands and knees panting enough to wake my Mr up! He was very confused hahaha!

I ended up aenemic but I'm happy to say..6 or so months on it's a LOT better. I'm so glad I have mine now. Hang in there honey! xx

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my first few paragard periods were unbearably heavy. They got better though...so there's hope!

[elephantus45.livejournal.com]

The ibuprofin should help to lessen the amount you're bleeding too if you take it for a few days before hand.

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

good to know, now that I've figured out that my periods are a LOT more regular than they were before my year of hbc

[quietmusing.livejournal.com]

Personally 800mg of IB prophen sometimes is the only thing that works for me. Otherwise, exercise exercise and exercise. The more I am in shape the easier it is for me to deal, the month I am a bum I pay for it with cramps. Also just think of the upside. Just imagine this period without a cup. That thought makes me exstactic when I have to deal with the blood.

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

Now that you mention it, I think that my last two periods weren't QUITE as horrible, and that's when I was taking a yoga class twice a week. The class has since ended and my resolve to keep practicing has been overrun by sleep and homework, and poof, horrible period.

More motivation to do yoga! Thanks!

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

also, yes. Hooray for the cup. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to use it with the IUD, but I'm glad I figured out -why- it's "dangerous" (a practice that i completely avoid), and can use it. I can't imagine how many pads i'd go through in a day!

[fabrabbit.livejournal.com]

Hi im getting an IUD soon and im worried I wont be able to continue using my cup, what is the "dangerous practice" that you avoid?

Thank you

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

Some people (I do not comprehend how they do this) pull the cup out or down a lot before breaking the seal. This can cause a lot of suction and can lead to complications. I always break the seal before pulling down at all.

Also, when putting the cup in, make sure you don't catch the strings between the cup and the vagina wall, that can hurt. All the talk about 'strings' makes a whole lot more sense once you have your iud, i promise.

Also, totoro <3

[fabrabbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

Im pretty confident with my cup, ive had it over a year now, i always break the seal first before taking it out, by sliding my finger along the side of it then i wiggle it out, I never just yank it out, so hopefully ill be fine.

Also YAY Totoro :)

[extraneousrooot.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I totally feel you. This is my second paragard period and while I love the IUD itself I have NEVER had flow like this before. I sit there staring at the toilet, impressed with myself.

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

hahaha, that's one way to look at it!

[imnotyourstarx.livejournal.com]

if you like everything about having a iud except for the periods, perhaps you should consider switching to a mirena iud. its very similar, except it has a very small amount of hormones in it. (i dont know if thats the reason you decided to get a paragard instead, but i think thats the most common reason.) ive had a mirena iud for about 9 months, and i never have a period. its lovely!

[lynxypoo.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I don't really like the idea of hormones, especially in the long term. I didn't have a very good experience with pills earlier, so I decided to play it safe and avoid the Mirena. *shrug*