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Menstrual issues update
Oct. 2nd, 2002 01:02 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
tigerfemme.livejournal.comI had my appointment with the gyn last night to discuss my lengthened cycles and the physical/emotional problems they seem to be causing. He did a quick internal check, the "pressing from inside and out" thing to check ovaries and uterus - he said, save the Pap smear for February, and that there's nothing wrong inside. "Get dressed and go wait in my office; we'll talk," he said.
So I did, and when he got back I said "Wanting to say this, is strange for me, but I feel like I should apologize for being a hypochondriac! It's just that this extended PMS is driving me nuts physically and mentally!" Now, it's really unlike me to say I think I'm being a hypochondriac - years dealing with doctors and fibromyalgia has taught me this - but I'm very comfortable with this doctor; he takes me and I'm sure all of his patients seriously; doesn't pooh-hoo problems as "all in your head."
He pushed a pamphlet on PMS/PMDD across the desk at me. He noted that I'm not a hypochondriac; that this is very real stuff. Apparently, according to him, what's happening is that my cycle seems to be going from 28-29 days to about 35-37 days, my ovulation is happening later into the cycle, and my hormones are thus out of whack. He says this can affect all sorts of brain
chemicals that influence mood and physical health too, like seratonin and epinephrine. (I didn't know about the latter playing a factor in all that. I also know that seratonin is a major influence on fibromyalgia symptoms.)
He said there's two ways to go here..."There's a pill called Serafem..."
I gave him a look. (I used to work in a psychiatric hospital and then a psych crisis unit, you see.)
"Well, actually it's Prozac," he continued.
I grinned. "I know. You can say Prozac, I have no problem with Prozac." *laugh*
"Ok, so there's that, and there's also something by the makers of Zoloft; it's a pill you take only during the week or so you're having mood-related issues." I said that was very interesting; I've never known an antidepressant that you could take "every so often" like that.
I also noted I've had my experience with antidepressants when they were trying to rule out "clinical depression" as a cause of my pain - it was a savvy psychiatrist that figured out the true issue, by the way - and I didn't like the side effects of any of the antidepressants/antianxiety drugs. They made me hyper, caused weight gain, just made me feel "off." (I didn't mention the sexual dysfunction and the fact they killed my ability to write creatively - the former is a known side effect, the latter doesn't make sense!)
He said "Ok. You don't have to do that or many any decision on it any time soon. The other option is a low-dose Pill." I told him I'd prefer that if I took anything. He said "Ok. There's (Ova-something), I'll write you a 'scrip for that that you can hold on to or use right away." I noted I took Desogen during graduate school, but that's likely not a low-dose pill. He said "oh, actually it is," and wrote me a scrip for that. He agreed, though, with my wanting to first try treating all this natropathically if possible. He said B-vitamins are key, especially B6 since it's a diuretic (I'm doing that already), and "green tea."
I gave him another (bemused) look. :) "Green tea? Really?"
"Yes. It's in my mug right now." He showed me his Viagra promotional mug and grinned. "It's not Viagra in there. It's green tea."
I said "I hope it's not Viagra unless you expect to see your wife REAL SOON." *giggle* (This guy has the best sense of humor...is also understanding, listens well, takes time with his patients, is very competent medically, and is so good at exams - he's gentler than any female gyn I've had, and I joke to myself that he's an expert at the "pinch-free Pap smear.")
Anyway, so that's the deal. I hope to stay off the Pill but the option is there, at least. I'm trying the natropathics first - putting another drug into my current "arsenal" isn't really what I want, nor is taking another hormone (I already take thyroid hormones). I'm crossing my fingers I can avoid that.
So I did, and when he got back I said "Wanting to say this, is strange for me, but I feel like I should apologize for being a hypochondriac! It's just that this extended PMS is driving me nuts physically and mentally!" Now, it's really unlike me to say I think I'm being a hypochondriac - years dealing with doctors and fibromyalgia has taught me this - but I'm very comfortable with this doctor; he takes me and I'm sure all of his patients seriously; doesn't pooh-hoo problems as "all in your head."
He pushed a pamphlet on PMS/PMDD across the desk at me. He noted that I'm not a hypochondriac; that this is very real stuff. Apparently, according to him, what's happening is that my cycle seems to be going from 28-29 days to about 35-37 days, my ovulation is happening later into the cycle, and my hormones are thus out of whack. He says this can affect all sorts of brain
chemicals that influence mood and physical health too, like seratonin and epinephrine. (I didn't know about the latter playing a factor in all that. I also know that seratonin is a major influence on fibromyalgia symptoms.)
He said there's two ways to go here..."There's a pill called Serafem..."
I gave him a look. (I used to work in a psychiatric hospital and then a psych crisis unit, you see.)
"Well, actually it's Prozac," he continued.
I grinned. "I know. You can say Prozac, I have no problem with Prozac." *laugh*
"Ok, so there's that, and there's also something by the makers of Zoloft; it's a pill you take only during the week or so you're having mood-related issues." I said that was very interesting; I've never known an antidepressant that you could take "every so often" like that.
I also noted I've had my experience with antidepressants when they were trying to rule out "clinical depression" as a cause of my pain - it was a savvy psychiatrist that figured out the true issue, by the way - and I didn't like the side effects of any of the antidepressants/antianxiety drugs. They made me hyper, caused weight gain, just made me feel "off." (I didn't mention the sexual dysfunction and the fact they killed my ability to write creatively - the former is a known side effect, the latter doesn't make sense!)
He said "Ok. You don't have to do that or many any decision on it any time soon. The other option is a low-dose Pill." I told him I'd prefer that if I took anything. He said "Ok. There's (Ova-something), I'll write you a 'scrip for that that you can hold on to or use right away." I noted I took Desogen during graduate school, but that's likely not a low-dose pill. He said "oh, actually it is," and wrote me a scrip for that. He agreed, though, with my wanting to first try treating all this natropathically if possible. He said B-vitamins are key, especially B6 since it's a diuretic (I'm doing that already), and "green tea."
I gave him another (bemused) look. :) "Green tea? Really?"
"Yes. It's in my mug right now." He showed me his Viagra promotional mug and grinned. "It's not Viagra in there. It's green tea."
I said "I hope it's not Viagra unless you expect to see your wife REAL SOON." *giggle* (This guy has the best sense of humor...is also understanding, listens well, takes time with his patients, is very competent medically, and is so good at exams - he's gentler than any female gyn I've had, and I joke to myself that he's an expert at the "pinch-free Pap smear.")
Anyway, so that's the deal. I hope to stay off the Pill but the option is there, at least. I'm trying the natropathics first - putting another drug into my current "arsenal" isn't really what I want, nor is taking another hormone (I already take thyroid hormones). I'm crossing my fingers I can avoid that.
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