the infection that WILL NOT GO AWAY

[sumrandomnutt.livejournal.com]

Here I am AGAIN, VP. I feel like I post here constantly now!

Backstory: I was diagnosed with chlamydia, which I could've had for quite some time undetected. I was treated with a single dose of Zithromax. Abdominal pain went away but brown discharge began. Was treated with a 7-day supply of Flagyl.

The brown discharge didn't stop, so today I went back to the doctor. First she said that it could just be spotting from my bc (Ortho Tri Cyclen lo), but I've been on it for over a year and considering the recent infection I doubted that. She did a pelvic exam/swab(which definitely hurt more than usual) and said my cervix looked "irritated." When I asked what that indicated she said she wouldn't know until the lab results came back.

Given the brown discharge, the exam pain, and the irritated cervix, I am of course terrified that I have PID. I don't know what I'm looking for in this post, really...I guess just some support, with maybe a little bit of "Could it be anything else?"

Thanks in advance, as always, for your wonderful feedback and assistance. Sad as it is to say, y'all have always seemed much more concerned and informative than ANY of the professionals I've seen!

IUD Insertion and Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

[descent2madness.livejournal.com]

Hello all!

I was wondering if anyone had used red raspberry leaf tea prior to an IUD insertion to help with cramping? I FINALLY have my consultation two weeks from tomorrow (I've been very anxiously waiting since February) and I've been thinking about picking up some RRL tea at the health food store tomorrow to start drinking leading up to my period/insertion that will HOPEFULLY (everyone cross your fingers) be this May. I'm a tea lover and from what I've read, RRL tastes pretty much like regular old black tea so I'm contemplating substituting it in for my usual morning tea and then bringing an iced bottle of it to drink through the day.

Anyone know how much I should drink in a day to help with cramping? I've never tried it before and I've read anywhere from 3-8 cups a day online! Also, has anyone ever mixed it with another tea? I have some other black/green/herbal loose leafs hanging out in my cupboard that I might mix in just for flavour/caffeine content but I wondered if that would reduce the efficacy of the RRL tea. Thanks for the input!

x-posted to iud_divas

Edit: also, mods, feel free to add tags as my internet browsers are being uncooperative and won't allow me to at the moment.

pregnant and abnormal pap smear

[nicolexisxdead.livejournal.com]

background: I am almost 20 weeks pregnant and I had a pap smear that came back abnormal about a week ago. I'm 22 years old. I originally posted this in the "pregnant" community and some nice person referred me over here.

X-posted from pregnant.

I had my colposcopy today. Unfortunately, it wasn't "nothing" like I had been hoping. My pap results came back positive for HPV and I guess I have "Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions". The doctor said on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being cancer, my pap results were a 2. So he did the colposcopy and had to take about four biopsies. I won't get the results of the biopsy back for 10 days! I will have gone crazy by then.

( questions )

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

menstrual problems

[shellyday.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone,

it's been a very long time since i visited this community or posted, but the information and advice given is always so excellent!

Here is my problem:
i'm 28. i have horrible periods, primarily menstrual cramps that are sometimes debilitating, although the bleeding isn't super heavy.
Over the past year or 2 i have started to get some mild cramping about a week before my period actually starts.
I also have very sore breasts, probably 9 out of 10 cycles that start about a week before and go away within a day or two of starting bleeding.
i have a fair amount of moodiness which seems worse around ovulation.
i have been told that i have endometriosis and was prescribed Yaz, which i took for about a month (this was about a year ago), and got scared by side effects (moodiness, anxiety, no sex drive, and finally restless leg symptoms). i have a female partner and so am not concerned about birth control.
My primary reasons for wanting to "do something" about these symptoms has been the menstrual cramps, but then recently, i've begun having vaginal pain. i use the Keeper (menstrual cup) for my period but it has become too painful to take it in and out. I started using organic tampons and they are painful to take in and out too. I don't usually enjoy vaginal penetration during sex.
Then this past period i had a new pain near my left ovary that was during when i was bleeding and in addition to my usual menstrual cramps, but was more sharp and hurt more when i pressed on it.
The final weird thing that has happened is that my breasts, for the first time ever, hurt still on the end of my period, i'm on the 6th day.
i also get a headache at the end of every period, every cycle, for a few years now.

I have a primary care provider who i see and had an exam with in February, but i don't feel like she really listens to me and wants to put me on the pill again. i'm worried about side effects, but also ready to try something since my symptoms are all so weird and negatively impacting my life. i'm also concerned that i may be estrogen dominant but am not really sure what this means or what it means for my health care options. i've also used natropathic doctors in the past and may be open to this option but am discouraged by the out of pocket cost.

i would really appreciate any thoughts, advice, or words of encouragement that anyone has to offer.

thanks in advance :)

Lost condoms, abortion and ECs?

[shamrocks.livejournal.com]

Hi VPers! Its been years since I've been active on VP, up until recently, when I came straight here when I needed answers and opinions about a recent decision I made to have an abortion. I'm pretty sure my current situation is a fairly unique situation - I couldn't find anything in the archives - and its so ridiculous, it seems completely unbelievable considering all circumstances.

( Read more... )

Ovulating on pill

[factorywannabe.livejournal.com]

So I've had this brownish discharge for about a week or so while on the pill. I hate this pill with a passion because it doesn't work in my opinion and I have breakthrough bleeding every month. I'm seeing a new doctor on Friday for a new HBC, but I've been wondering: can a pill not be effective for the treatment of PCOS and still make me ovulate? Is it just my ovaries having a hissy fit and making me breakthrough bleed?