any connection?

[frankie4.livejournal.com]

 In a few weeks it will be one year that I stopped taking the pill and switched to a copper IUD.  For the last few months, and I feel like it is getting worst and worst as time goes on, I am noticing hair all over my body that has never been there or the fine hair is getting thicker.  My face, neck, chest, shoulders, stomach and hands have way more hair on them then ever before.  Most of it is fine but some is dark and coarse.  It is really starting to get to me.  I do not take any medicines now that I am off the pill.  I was wondering if coming off of the extra hormones that I was on could have anything to do with all of this hair.  Is that even possible? Thanks

Period Cramps Treatment

[mousebebe.livejournal.com]

This was actually something I started wondering about during my last couple of periods, and I decided y'all might be the best people to ask!

During most of my periods, I get cramps. They're not (usually) bad enough to interfere with my normal life, but they can be uncomfortable and distracting. I don't like taking painkillers for this, partly because I don't like taking medication more than I have to and partly because they're just not that terrible. The one thing that does work well for me is heat. If I'm home, I'll grab this microwavable hot pack we've got and curl up with it (or a cat, if I can get him to lie in the right spot and not shove a paw against my uterus). The problem is that I can't do this at work (no outlet for an electric one, don't feel like jumping up every half an hour to microwave the thing again) or out with friends.

The point of all this: I noticed these, http://www.amazon.com/Thermacare-Menstrual-HeatWraps-8Hr-Boxes/dp/B0028AD6U6/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285341341&sr=8-1, and some other similar things not designed for cramps but still designed for muscle pain. Has anyone used these or something similar? Do they really work? Wouldn't the glue stick to the hairs in that area (at least if it's not shaved/waxed off)? Basically, would they be worth shelling out for?

Thanks in advance!

Bartholin gland cyst, part 498402

[xx-socold-xx.livejournal.com]

I wish I kept track of my other entries about this, but alas, I didn't. Maybe some of you remember anyway. Back in July, I had a bartholin gland cyst turn into an abscess and I had to go to the ER to get it drained. They didn't do anything but drain it and pack it with gauze, so in August, it came back again. I went to my gynecologist to get a word catheter put in it to hopefully put an end to it, but the cyst wasn't big enough so it was just drained. My gyno told me to let them know when it came back again, and I would have to wait for it to get a bit bigger so they could properly insert the word catheter. Well, the day before yesterday, I noticed it was coming back. :( So unless this thing goes down on its own (which I REALLY wish it would, but I doubt it), I will probably have to go to the gyno at some point next week and have my "surgery".

The only thing is that I'm a full-time student and go to class Monday-Thursday. I have no idea when I should go see my gyno. Ideally, it would be nice if I could get my stuff taken care of on Thursday afternoon, so I have the rest of Thursday, Friday, and all weekend to recover so that hopefully I won't miss any class. But, that may not happen. Has anyone had a word catheter inserted for treatment of a bartholin gland cyst? I know last time when I just got it drained, I was really sore and felt miserable afterward. If I got it done on say, Tuesday, is there a possibility I could still make it to class the next day, or should I be giving my body some time to recover afterward? I'm just trying to figure out when I need to schedule this. :\

And what about aftercare? Do I need to do anything special? Can I take baths? 
Should I be doing anything right now, besides hot sitz baths and the like? 
I need some words of advice and comfort, especially from anyone who has had this done before. I'm really nervous.