Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, please)

Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, I'm very sorry you're going through this. Two of the options you have really sound scary for a 35 years old woman! I've also heard about instances of depression with Depo. I've a Mirena IUD for a year now. I'd had some unpleasant symptoms with the Pill, but not the Mirena. I barely have any periods now, just some spotting for 2-3 days. Of all the options you have, I think it's the best one you have.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, I'd also like to suggest Seasonique. I am on LoSeasonique (started about 10 months ago) and it has really worked for me. Before I started, my periods were extremely heavy, always lasting a full week or more with cramps that would leave me basically incapacitated. At first on this pill, my periods were completely irregular, tons of spotting that would last for weeks at a time and range from very heavy to very light. I was very frustrated. It took a few packs (about 4-6 months or so) to achieve the desired effect from the pills but it has been so worth it.

Of course, there are side effects. My sex drive has gone down (TMI?) and I had slight weight gain but that could also be due to changes in my lifestyle since starting the pill. Now, 10 months after having started, I haven't had a period in about 4 months. And no, I'm not pregnant. I will just barely spot for a day or two and it's over. I should also mention, I take my pill at exactly the same time each day (have an alarm set to wake up and take it) and I think that has greatly reduced a lot of the side effects for me.

I hope this information is at least somewhat helpful. It may be worth discussing this option with your doctor. Best of luck to you, I know how miserable this can be.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

I used to have crazy heavy flows and irregular periods. Once I started birth control, everything subsided considerably...pretty much to normal!!! It's soooo much better. I don't know if it could be as simple as that, but I hope you are able to find some relief.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy: I am so sorry that you are going through this! My mom (in her late 40's) was having similar problems and was presented with essentially the same information. She skipped the hormonal options since she is at increased risk for blood clots and had an ablation. It helped for a short period of time but the bleeding came back. You can also get pregnant after an ablation although it is not common. She then had a complete hysterectomy, which solved the female side of her problems but led to an array of others. It's a long and complicated story, but essentially the doctor nicked her bladder with the catheter during the surgery which has caused severe pain and inflammation of her bladder/abdomen. She's on a variety of drugs/treatments, none of which seem to make her feel any better.

Anyways, I would first get a complete blood work-up to check for clotting disorders (DVT patient here) and then try Mirena first. If that didn't work for me then I'd get a hysterectomy. It is extreme, and you are young but ultimately that should solve the bleeding problem. If you change your mind and decide to have children you can adopt if that is something you and your husband are interested in.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy I am sorry to hear you are dealing with this. I have struggled with finding the right birth control for me (I have PMDD) and it seems like you have to just do trial-and-error...some will make some women gain weight, some will be fine, some ones will cause some people to feel nauseous...
I am on the Mirena right now and am really liking it. A few things
1) The insertion is a bit painful. I'm sure your doctor will go over this but it is best to have someone drive you home after your appointment because you may feel a little woozy. Also you may want to make sure you have a doctor who has done multiple insertions, as there is a possibility of a serious problem (really really really rare)
2) You may have periods, you may not. It's kind of weird, mine are different month-to-month. The first month with my period on the Mirena I had really really bad cramps (like I couldn't move, had to get painkillers, etc) but after that I was totally fine/no major cramping.
3) My periods have gone down a lot (sorry if this is TMI) but one month I had a lot of clotting. It turned out to be nothing serious (maybe a cyst?) but was really scary.
Anyway, it can definitely reduce bleeding, and I've found that for me the side effects are really low, which is good because with different versions of the Pill (I have tried...4 or 5?) I had weird side effects. Plus, it's always in there so you don't have to really think about it, which is nice.
**hugs** to you
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, my blood sister (I'm gross eh?)

Mirena

I'm having one soon as wedding is over (don't want to risk possible weight gain just now)

Same probs as you.

If you don't get on with it, it's easily removed.

Mirenas now last longer than before, so get one of the newfangled ones.

Love,

Dr Gross
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, I had this problem - it started in my early 30s (I'm 37 now). Not only was I bleeding very heavily, but I had periods that would last for weeks at a time - up to two months of heavy bleeding, with maybe 2-3 weeks in between. I ended up severely anemic, and my quality of life was horrible.

After checking for more serious problems (there weren't any), my doctor gave me pretty much the same choices you got. (although I cannot take oral BCP because of my migraine history)

I chose the Mirena, and it is one of the best things I ever did. I'm not one of the people who stops getting periods altogether, but they're less frequent, shorter, and more like spotting than an actual period. I'm no longer anemic, have so much more energy, and my quality of life is a million times better.

The insertion hurt, but not too much. I had it done in the morning and was fine to go to work in the afternoon.

I haven't had any side effects - unless you count the much lighter periods, but I'd call that a benefit! Some people do have side effects, but it's easily removed if the Mirena doesn't work out for you.

Like you, I wasn't ready for a hysterectomy. It's major surgery and, while I have 3 kids and don't want any more, the finality of a hysterectomy was not something I was ready for.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, I just want to add my hugs and positive experience with the IUD. I've had mine for almost 5 years and it is great! Hope that whatever you decide to try works quickly so that you feel better asap!
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy~ I had similar issues throughout my teens and early 20's with added infertility. I ended up having an exploratory surgery where they found lots of cysts and endometreosis. They removed as much as they could and then put me on Lupron which basically throws you into menopause. It was 6 months of hell, but it worked for a couple years. After I had my son, my bleeding got crazy again and then I had Lily. Everything is totally messed up again even while on the pill. I'm looking into Mirena at this time. Due to my high miscarriage rate, I don't particularly want more children, but the thought of a hysterectomy is still unpleasant.

Good luck. I do hope you're able to find a good option.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

I'm sorry for what your body is making you put up with! It sucks and there's no other way I can think to say it.

If you end up with an IUD, I would not recommend the copper (Paraguard). I've had mine for about a year and a half and my periods are MUCH heavier and my cramps are sometimes debilitating. I'm sure your OB-GYN wouldn't put you on the copper IUD as it's pretty well known that it can increase flow and cramping, but just wanted you to know if you're doing some internet research.

I have heard good things about Mirena. It's a pretty low dose of hormones from what I know.

I would avoid Depo. I haven't met anyone that didn't gain a significant amount of weight on it.

I hope whatever you decide to do works for you.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy - I have not read all the other posts, but wanted to tell you my story. I am 42 and for many many years had the same issues as you are having now. I even went as far as to tri-cycle my birth control pills just to avoid as many periods as possible because they were so incredibly painful and heavy. 2 years ago I had had enough and decided to talk to my gyne about a more permanent option. I went through a number of tests (uterine biopsy, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) and it was determined that I had uterine fibroids and pelvic congestion syndrome. My Dr. also suspected endometriosis. We discussed hysterectomy because I was 40 years old and was childfree by choice. My Dr. was hesitant at first, but finally agreed that it would be the best option. Because I was only 40 at the time and did not want to go into menopause, I opted to keep my ovaries, and my cervix. I did A LOT of research on the surgery and this website: www.hystersisters.com was a lifesaver for me. I chose to have a Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH) and I can honestly tell you that it was the BEST decision I have ever made! After my uterus was removed it was confirmed that I had endometriosis AND adenomyosis, in addition to the fibroids and pelvic congestion. Because it was laparoscopic my scars are minimal and I was back to work in 4.5 weeks. And, OMG, I had forgotten what it was like not to be in severe pain all the time! It has been amazing to be pain-free and not have a period for almost 2 years now (April 8 is my surgery anniversary).

I'm not suggesting that this is the answer for you, if you are inclined to try something more conservative, but I just wanted to share my experience and let you know that the big H surgery is not as scary as it was in the past. I do not, for one minute, regret having my
surgery.

Also, I wanted to add that if you keep your ovaries, you do NOT need hormone replacement, until you go into menopause naturally and choose to take them. It doesn't make sense to remove your ovaries if they are not the source of the problem.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. :wink2:
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Yuck yuck yuck, hugs, cause what you have sounds awful.

I've spent years on the pill, only to come down with more frequent "fem" infections down there. Finally, my doctor switched me to the nuvaring, because it's a lower dose and came recommended for females with problems with the regular pill. I now use it with probiotic supplements because I just happen to be someone prone to those types of infections. I'm not saying that's what's going to help you, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Otherwise, if I were in your shoes, I'd go with an IUD. There's no need to go into early menopause at this point.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, you poor thing - you must have been exhausted for so long!

My choice would be between cycling continuously on the OCP (and having a withdrawal bleed every 3 months or so) and Mirena. What I would prefer about these is the reversibility of them. Obviously Depo wears off after a few months but it can be somewhat unpredictable how an individual woman will react and then you're locked in until it works it way out of your system.

At your age I would NOT NOT NOT consider a hysterectomy. Save that for later. Much later. There are other, far less drastic options for you.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

God you guys are great. I was just stewing and stressing and I kept thinking that posting such a private thing on here was just stupid but... all the research was contradictory and scary and the options just aren't great and...

Depo... my main fear is that I'm stuck with it once it's in me.

And it didn't occurr to me that if I didn't like the IUD I can just get it removed. Which is such a relief. And my doctor is talking about Mirena for the IUD. I'm not excited about the insertion, but really? Who is?

I think what I am going to do is the IUD first, if it doesn't work then move forward with other options.

I've been exhausted. Gaining weight because I have no energy to burn. Missing work. Missing life. And the ICK factor has been so high plus all the pain that comes with it... for weeks without end.

And I was unconcious for 15 minutes in the ER from blood loss and scared the crap out of my husband, plus you know... I didn't exactly enjoy the feeling. Not to mention the confinement afterward to bed rest.

I just want to feel better. And from the information here, and from what I've been reading on my own... I think I'll try the IUD.

I am prone to depression AND migraines AND I'm a cloting risk due to family history. All things you guys reminded me of so Depo is out.

Just have to make sure that the clotting isn't going to be a problem with the IUD and I can talk to the MD about that on Monday.

You guys really helped me make this decison. Each post gave me something to think about and to research and look up and talk to my husband about. And helped me evaluate how I felt about each option.

Plus just having my feelings are fear validated, if nothing else, is a huge comfort. I've been feeling scared and alone in this (despite the husband... but he's a guy, ya know??) and you guys really made that just go away. Which is huge.

Thank you for letting me ask for help. And for giving it. I just really appreciate it.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Looks like you've already made up your mind based on the other excellent advice posted, so I'll just agree with everything everyone else wrote - I would try the IUD first cause it's easily reversible and (I think?) a lower dose of hormone than the Depo. You can move on to the more aggressive things if that fails, but it's best to try the least aggressive thing first.

The main thing is...even though none of the options sound good and the surgical options sound really scary...it is not worth it to live the life you are living. I don't know if you mentioned how long you've been living with this, but it sounds like you will really be a new person once this problem is solved and sometimes we can't even imagine how things will change if we've been dealing with something for a while. If it takes a procedure to solve your problem and some risk and overcoming the anxiety of having something done, it may still be very much worth it in the end.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

I'm glad we could help, and I don't think you'll be disappointed with your decision! Insertion of the IUD only hurts for a second, but it's an intense second. Definitely premedicate with a good dose of ibuprofen and tylenol about 30 minutes before your appointment. I would check out the "iud_divas" group on Livejournal if you have an account there...lots of people have shared their IUD stories with that group.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, I haven't had the chance to read most of the follow posts to your OP, the husband wants the computer so I'm gonna have to keep this short.

But, I have had the Mirena IUD for five years and I looooove it. Seriously, it has been no hassle whatsoever. No periods up until the last 6 months or so as the hormones wind down, and those aren't really periods, more like such light spotting I just need a pantyliner for a day or two. And I used to have heavy periods. The IUD stopped them in about three months completely.

The insertion was painful, I can't lie about that. I nearly passed out. But, it was completely over in about 30 seconds and no residual pain for me- just like BAM OUCH oh wait, now I'm totally fine. It was weird. But certainly do-able. I also took a bunch of ibuprofen beforehand because those kill my cramps pretty good, and thus I didn't really have any cramps after the initial pain.

If your OBGYN thinks the IUD might be helpful, totally go that route first IMO, it would be worth a try. I've known a few people who didn't do well with it, but they had pre-existing ovarian cysts, both of them. And it's really darn easy to take out I guess. As I shall be finding out shortly in fact :tongue:

Good luck. That sounds like sheer hell, frankly. Painful periods suck anyway but that sounds debilitating and awful :(sad I hope whatever you try works on the first go!
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy ~ HUGS!!!

Sorry to hear about your health concerns. I wish I had some advice and insight - but not sure about this issue.
It sounds like some of the PSers here have lots of experience in this area.

I just wish you all the best and good luck!
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

PSers are amazing. I should have just posted earlier. Having you guys talking to me gave me the impetuous I needed to stop avoiding this, because it's not going away. Is it crappy yes. But you guys helped me find the strength to just do what I had to do.

I passed out during the biopsy I had a couple weeks ago. So if you all say it's painful, I'll take a vicodin and some tylenol. I pass out from any pain and then I keep passing out. Love having neurocardiog genic syncopy. It makes pain, anemia and sometimes just standing up so much more complicated.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

I only have one piece of advice, and it's indirectly helpful (but IMO VERY helpful... Depends. yes... *that* depends. I don't have any incontinence issues but those things are amazing during insanely heavy periods, especially overnight.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Just to post a caution about the IUD.... my friend across the street here has a 5th child she conceived with the IUD. Her IUD actually penetrated through the wall of her uterus into her abdomen and formed a scar tissue ball there... when she started feeling pregnant the US confirmed it and found the IUD... after she had the baby she got her tubes tied and they removed the IUD.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy|1296884909|2843741 said:
PSers are amazing. I should have just posted earlier. Having you guys talking to me gave me the impetuous I needed to stop avoiding this, because it's not going away. Is it crappy yes. But you guys helped me find the strength to just do what I had to do.

I passed out during the biopsy I had a couple weeks ago. So if you all say it's painful, I'll take a vicodin and some tylenol. I pass out from any pain and then I keep passing out. Love having neurocardiog genic syncopy. It makes pain, anemia and sometimes just standing up so much more complicated.
Click to expand...

Gypsy, I think you've made the right choice. Just one word of caution - vicodin actually has tylenol in it, so don't take more tylenol with it. However, you can supplement the vicodin with ibuprofin. I hope this does the trick for you and you start feeling better soon.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Whew Jennifer. Okay. Advil and Vicodin it is. :-) and a hubby as a driver.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Don't mix Acetaminophen (Tylenol) with Vicodin please!! Take Ibuprofen instead. Most people can take up to 800 mg without any problems. Most over the counte ibuprofen's (Advil/Motrin) are 200 mg each pill, so it shouldn't be a problem to take 4 200 mg. pills. But check with your doctor
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

A former client of mine had endometriosis and found some relief from the Mirena IUD (more than anything else including depo and bc pills).
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy -- A friend of mine was in a very similar situation in her 30s; I know it wore her down physically and emotionally so sorry you're in the same boat.

Because your stories are so similar, I wanted to ask if you'd had your thyroid tested lately? My friend did BCPs for a year, which helped quite a lot with the gorefest, but then ended up with an endocrinologist who suggested thyroid issues could be at the root of her troubles.

Sure enough,her levels were whacked...she stopped the BCPs and started thyroid meds ( ~ 10 years ago now), and she's been "good" since.

If you have a normal thyroid, I'd probably vote for the Mirena too.

[Although as someone with weird off-and-on reproductive health issues that overlap with highly stressful times in my life, I always put in a plug for exploring evidence-based alternative/complementary medicine as well. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine has given me great relief when Western testing/scans found nothing "tangible" to fix. Cortisol and other stress hormones can really do a number on our reproductive ones...lots of "mainstream" journal articles on this!]

Good luck finding a resolution!
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

It is is good idea to take an antiinflammatory medication (Ibuprophen or aleve) about a half hour prior to insertion as they stop the prostaglandins that cause cramping. I used to have IUDs and found this helps a lot!
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Ask your doc about a medicine to "soften" the cervix! My doc had me take one with ibuprofen about an hour before insertion, and mine wasn't nearly as painful as the stories I've heard. I think I actually documented it on PS somewhere...

Also, I will say I was feeling kind of tender for about a month after insertion. Just very aware of it, if that makes sense. So let yourself go through a few cycles before you decide to remove it - it often gradually gets better, so if you don't get better in the first month or two, give it a little longer.

*hugs*
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Gypsy, from my own personal experience, go the hormone route. Even if you don't want them. Even if there are risks involved (as there always are when we mess with Mother Nature). I was experiencing the same stuff, although perhaps not quite as badly. I went on the pill for about 7 years. Once again, I was regular and normal.

If it does not work, if what you need is the operation, you must weigh the quality of life you're having now (and the health risks associated with your continuing issues) against not being able to bear children. You can always be a mother; giving birth is only part of the package. Don't completely discard this option as a 'never' scenario.

I feel for you, having been there; and I hope you can find real relief.
 
Re: Okay... I give in. I need advice. (No men allowed, pleas

Hi Gypsy,

Has your doctor identified what is causing these symptoms? Could be fibroids, endometriosis or even a polyp could cause these symptoms. It sounds like this has become really dehabilitating for you.

I'd would want a definitive diagnosis. And I agree with your husband,that at 35, you don't want drastic solutions.

Blod
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top