Heavy bleeding, huge clots and other such unpleasantries. :(

[lives-this-life.livejournal.com]

Hello, lovelies.

I'm pretty much an unhappy panda over here. Supposed to be working right now, but trying so hard not to cry. I don't really have any friends that I can get ahold of right now, so I'm posting this both to see what you wonderful people think, and maybe to (ugh, so pathetic) just ask for a few kind words.

Backstory:

I just turned 31 (literally just, my birthday was two days ago) and I am over-weight. I know those are two things that contribute to my current misery, which is why I mention it. I have a family history of endo (mother and grandmother) and my mom has apparently had all sorts of issues with ovarian cysts and thyroid crap. Don't really know specifics, she just said I should get my T3 & T4 checked out.

So. For the last year, my period has been stupidly irregular. I went like... four months without having a period at all, then the last three periods have been really, really, really heavy. Not only that, but I've been passing huge clots, about the total volume of a golf ball, sometimes even a little more, ranging in color from black to bright bright red to a dark ruby color (best I can describe it). There occasionally is bits of white-ish or pale-ish tissue in the clots as well.

Then in about mid June, I started bleeding... and about a month later, I still haven't stopped. I went and saw my doctor and she said that it was my age and my weight, and that overweight girls just have horrible, horrendous periods. Honestly, I'm not really sure I liked this doctor, because she seemed pretty judge-y about weight and I felt pretty terrible about myself when I left. I've tried to lose weight and I just don't seem to be able to stick with a weight loss program and I already feel terrible and undisciplined about it without having doctors shame me, too.

Anyway, tangent over with. I'm basically needing to change a heavy overnight pad every three to four hours, because it's totally soaked. And I'm passing these huge clots, pretty much at least one an hour. I've also had some pretty obnoxious pain, it's too high to be in the vagina, I'm pretty sure it's in my ovarian region. I was trying to explain it to my boyfriend and the only way I could describe it was extreme soreness and sharp, stabbing pains in my ovaries. It's on both sides.

My doctor did order an ultrasound and a blood draw, both of which I had this morning. It was a pelvic and trans-uterine and let me tell you, that was all sorts of uncomfortable. She had some trouble locating my right ovary, but she tells me that she did eventually find it. "You still have both your ovaries, right?" <-- NOT what you want the ultrasound tech to be asking you. I was trying not to cry when she was moving the probe around, especially when she was getting pictures of the left ovary, because it hurt so much. I went to work (totally should have taken the day off) and promptly dropped a clot the size of the palm of my hand, and super thick, when I used the toilet. And now I'm sitting at my desk, trying not to cry because my pelvis hurts so much, stressing about getting my results.

So... that's my story, what do you think, m'dears? :/  Should I relax and not worry so much, because it's probably just my age (and accompanying changes in horomones) and weight? With my family history, do I have real cause for concern? I understand that there are folks in this community who suffer(ed) through WAY scarier things than this, but this is scary to me. :( So, any kind words too, would really be appreciated. *hugs to all*

EDIT: Just heard back from the doc with my results. Ultrasound was clear/normal, no cysts, thyroid and prolactin levels were normal. I am anemic from bleeding for so long, and she said that the reason for the insane-o heavy bleeding is just because I have a really thick endomitrial right now and that there really isn't any particular explanation for why it is that way. She had prescribed Provera (10 mgs for 10 days) for me to try to stop it after my last appointment and while that slowed it down, it didn't stop it, so now she's going to up the dosage with 20 mgs for 14 days, to see if that stops it. She also wants me to grab an iron supplement called Slow FE and take it twice a day, but I've heard that iron supplements can constipate you. I've heard that something called pure iron, is better. Any suggestions for that? Oh, and a women's multivitamin.

Thank you for all the kind words, folks. I'm not worrying quite so badly anymore now that tests came back without bad news.Heavy

not preggo :(

[torsornin.livejournal.com]

Damn. I want a baby - sometimes more than others - this month my hormones were screaming at me to have one

stoopid period

It started this AM at 11:30 *curses a blue streak*

The PMS has been WORSE this month than ever  lasting OVER a week- even being like preggo symptoms (from what I have heard) - oh and my period was a few days late - lending me hope that I might be

OMG my nipples hurt so bad I can hardly stand to wear a bra for this whole week! - then last night my whole boob started hurting, with crampies and a tough time at work lately, my legs hurting, the clumsies and dumbsies this past week (ditsy was an understatement that is NOT me)

all my friends even my hubby were raising up their eyebrows asking me if I was preggo - I *knew* I wasn't - but I wanted to be - more than anyone knows. Hubby is the least sympathetic person on the planet for anything be it a paper cut or a death of a pet  or anything inbetween - so cant call him and whine and expect sympathetic noises.

so here I am a hormonal disappointed mess, crying, with no one to call and whine to - so you wonderful people will hopefully put up with me and hand me virtual chocolate and tissues :(

I am so crushed about this

Newcomer to BC-When to Start Alesse?

[gummi711.livejournal.com]

 I apologize if this seems a commonly asked question, but I felt this was the best place to ask.

Hello! I am Victoria, 17 years old, and about to start on Alesse. This is my first time using BC, and the reason for my starting it is due to some unpredictability in the way of when my period comes, and also cramps. It's nothing dire, but I figured I might as well give it a shot. Of course, there is also the factor that my long-distance boyfriend will be coming back in October, and I want to make sure that everything is hunkydory by then.

My main question is when should I start on it? Does it matter? My doctor didn't give any suggestions, more a "decide what's best for you" answer, and the pack suggests either the first Sunday after my period starts, the fifth day, or the first day. My period started this last Sunday, making my fifth day today. I'm just generally unsure of when to take it, and how it will affect my use of the pill, if at all. I might start taking it the first day of my next period, if I'm still unsure by dinnertime today, just because I get pretty anxious about stuff like this. 

 

I'd really appreciate any advice from Alesse users or just BC users in general. I'm nervous about starting on BC, especially since I can't ask my mother for any advice (she's not entirely supportive, because she sees it only as a contraceptive and doesn't know about or approve of the boyfriend). 
 

Thanks in advance!
 

Hormonal Birth Control

[inutsuki.livejournal.com]

Hello all! I've been on the combined birth control pill for approximately the past 6 years - I'm now 20. I started in part because my periods were horrendously irregular and I had debilitating cramping, but the primary reason was because of my acne. It worked beautifully at the time and saved me from having to go on accutane.

Fast-forward 6 years and I'm now suffering from migraine with aura, and had a nurse shout at me for being on the combined pill. I'm currently doing a trial run off the pill - stopped at the end of my last cycle 2 days ago, aaand now I'm bleeding again, so not looking too good! I've been prescribed vitamin A for my acne now anyway because I had some that was cystic.

So to my questions! First off, does anyone have any information regarding the increased risk of stroke when a woman with aura migraines is on the combined pill? I'm a third year medical student, so technical links are fine! Second question, what should I expect coming off the pill? Should I keep trying or give up? And finally, is the progestogen only pill useful for acne?

For the record, I do plan on asking my GP, so definitely not looking for concrete medical advice. I'd just like some background information before I close off the avenue of combined birth control.

(Note: I'm not sexually active, so at this point it isn't a concern being off the pill in that respect.)

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I'm also hypothyroid if that's relevant.

Seasonique Birth Control

[chipper-kipper.livejournal.com]

So Im on the seasonique birth control and have been for about two years, at the beginning of the three month pack that im on  now I was sick and ended up throwing one of my pills up.  Now Im having my period 4 weeks early.  Can I skip the rest of my active pills and go striaght to the non active kind of in a way of tricking my body then start my new pack?