Blood in the middle of an HBC pack and Ephedrine.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

Does ephedrine contraindicate oral contraceptives?

I'm asking because I began taking ephedrine yesterday in a "stacker" with aspirin and caffeine to help me get over a plateau. A few years ago, I lost a lot of weight (90 lbs.), and now it's beginning to creep back on -- I can't lose it, so I'm turning to ephedrine for temporary relief.

I am in the middle of my birth control pack with about a week and a half left. I have not missed a pill this month, and I have taken the pill within a two to three hour window of every dose. I have only had sex three, maybe four, times. That was at the beginning of my pack.

This morning, I woke up around 10AM (roughly 16 hours after my dose of ephedrine), went to the restroom, and there was blood on the tissue paper. It was unlike the usual blood I see.

Typically, my blood is a vibrant, dark red that wipes onto the toilet paper in streaks, like a really concentrated water color. Today, it contained a lot of mucus and the blood was pretty clumpy. The clump was about 2 - 3 inches in circumference.

Does anyone have any guesses at what this could be?

I take a pregnancy test between all of my pill packs because I usually skip my period. Roughly a week and a half ago, I took a test on my third urination of the day (I wake up to pee a LOT in the early morning), and the test was negative.

Comments

[applefaerie.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can think, and it's likely just trying to reason it out and not actual *science*, is the ephedrine having sped up your metabolism may have given your body a kick in the pants and ushered the hormones out quicker? I know, not likely, but that's probably how I'd rationalize it to myself.

I would, however, check with my GP by phone and ask if there's any reason for you to be concerned, considering you have added a... new medication to your regular routine.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

That's definitely a thought. It seems rational enough, but, without medical knowledge of how the body processes all of these chemicals in conjunction, I'm just not sure. If the same thing happens tomorrow, I'll cease the ephedrine immediately and call my gynecologist.

[applefaerie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just don't know enough about how the hormones work and/or interact with OTCs of the reasonable but somewhat sketchy nature.

[archangelbeth]

I'd also check with a doctor -- and, if you can't lose weight, even with exercise and/or good diet, I'd strongly suggest that you insist on getting checked for thyroid issues and insulin resistance, two things off the top of my head that I know can mess with weight issues.

(For thyroid, you want to get your TSH, free T3, and free T4 tested. If your TSH is above a 3, squint. If it's above 4.5, that's where it might be useful to get replacement thyroid hormone (aka levothyroxine, aka Unithroid or Synthroid) and see if you feel better.)

[archangelbeth]

Also, if you have clotting that is larger than a golf ball... That's in the potentially dangerous side of things; call the doctor immediately if you're getting more than one of those.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

It wasn't really the size of a golf ball -- the whole thing was about that size, not as round, but the majority of it was mucus. There was only a little bit of blood in there. It was enough to freak me out because I don't normally have spotting.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

Well, I have been able to lose weight, but I've been rather anxious and depressed lately, so it's very inconsistent. The amphetamine-like effect has elevated my mood, which may help me when it comes to consistently working out.

I'm getting health insurance soon and I do plan to get a thyroid panel done. I may get it done sooner if I can find a clinic with reasonable prices. I was diagnosed borderline hypothyroid as a child. The thing is that ephedrine can seriously contraindicate thyroid issues, so right now I'm seeing how I respond to the ephedrine. So far, everything is good, I'm just very curious about this.

[archangelbeth]

If you were borderline as a child, you're almost certainly hypothyroid now -- the TSH range considered "normal" has been contracted from a top range of 5 or 6 down to 4.5, and is recommended by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists to be a max TSH of 3.

Hmmm... According to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ephedra.html
- "Ephedra may increase serum levels of thyroid hormones[.]" I wonder if that means that it's interfering with the body's use of them? Or if it's causing the thyroid to make more? Oh, that's better... This link says that it's dangerous with hyperthyroid. Which would make sense, if it's helping kick the thyroid into producing more hormones...

If this is helping you, with a history of borderline hypo and depression, I'd really get that thyroid panel done. (Have I seen that icon over at thyroid already? O:> ) I have no idea if this is likely to "burn out" your thyroid further if it's already slacking off.

[sleepykelvina.livejournal.com]

I agree with the above. You need to check with your doctor. You're really revving up your cardiovascular system and that alone could cause some adverse effects.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

Well, I monitored my heart yesterday with a blood pressure machine. There wasn't a difference in anything -- not even my pulse. My stats are normally 100/60bp with a 70HR. I'm going to work out tomorrow and I'm going to monitor my cardiovascular response with the machine they have in my apartment's gym, and monitor how long it takes for my heart to calm down.

The main reason I'm taking it because I don't sweat. Well, I do, but it's very rare. I have to work out for about an hour and a half before I get even a little bit dewy. I'm hoping the thermogenic effect will aid my exercise.

[bachlava.livejournal.com]

Typically, my blood is a vibrant, dark red that wipes onto the toilet paper in streaks, like a really concentrated water color. Today, it contained a lot of mucus and the blood was pretty clumpy. The clump was about 2 - 3 inches in circumference

I get big mucus-y clumps with bits of blood at random times - always have, on HBC or off it. If it was huge and mostly blood, it might be cause for concern, but it might also just be one of those weird discharge-and-breakthrough-bleeding things that happens sometimes, even if you've not experienced it before. Changes in weight can affect the endocrine system, so the losing and the creeping back up may be involved - or it may just be a random variation (this coming from someone whose natural cycles are regular only in their irregularity). I've noticed that even on the pill (triphasic), I do tend to get this more frequently mid-cycle, around when I "would be" ovulating.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

Thank you; that's very reassuring.

[soiseztohimisez.livejournal.com]

It's also possible that it's not interfering with your hormones, but just thinning your fluids in general. Aspirin is a blood thinner, and I *think* ephedrine tends to thin out mucus... perhaps everything's just a lot more fluidy? This is not an educated medical opinion, clearly, so keep an eye on yourself like everyone's saying and if you experience unusual pain or an excessively heavy flow then I'd see a doctor.