View topic - So, health-related question
Also, potentially a TMI, men beware, there's lady problems afoot~
wooh that ended up way longer than I meant it to be.
I'll keep this thread updated; if they continue throughout this week I'll make an appointment. x_x I guess I should also keep track of when and everything, too..
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Okay, so, it's kind of a long story, but I want to give as much information as possible.
Basically, my periods are periods from hell the first day and a half - I'm bedridden with cramps, nearly throwing up (and if I didn't have such an aversion to vomiting, I'm positive I would) from the pain, and just.. it's awful. The later days aren't nearly as bad but it's still a really unpleasant experience.
I've been trying to get checked for endometreosis, actually, but insurance and stuff are stupid. I haven't even been able to get actual birth control, but after reading that some birth controls can make some periods/cramps WORSE, I'm kind of afraid to actually go that route, too. No, I am not sexually active.
Anyway, we'll flash forward to my most recent period. I was in tears. Literally, on the floor, crying. I haven't cried from pain in over a decade. I'm not saying I'm TOUGH by any means but I have a pretty decent pain tolerance, perhaps because of these ridiculous periods, lol. But.. yeah. I was unable to even move for a good hour; I was curled up in a ball just weeping. Miserable. I actually wanted to go to the ER, but it cleared up enough for me to grab some OTC painkillers and ride it out.
The rest of my period ended without issue. It may have been a tad shorter than usual but I wasn't actually keeping close track; it's winter break and my days sort of ran together. Anyway, a few days later, I was sitting at home and ... suddenly, period cramps. Nowhere near as painful as the last one, not by far, but a dull ache was indeed there, and it lasted for a few hours, until I went to bed. The next night, the same thing. It's been almost nightly and it's .. directly where my uterus is, where the pain is, so I'm pretty baffled because I'm clearly not on my period and I won't be for over two weeks, still. After a week of cramps. I've never cramped outside of my period before, either.
I know I should see a doctor about this but again, insurance, money, etc. This is not something I have a lot of choices on and if it's something minor, I literally cannot afford to go. Does anybody have any ideas what this could be, at all? I googled the symptom "cramps not during periods" and found fuckall. :c
There is literally zero chance that I am pregnant because I am not sexually active. A penis has never been anywhere near my vagina.
wooh that ended up way longer than I meant it to be.
I'll keep this thread updated; if they continue throughout this week I'll make an appointment. x_x I guess I should also keep track of when and everything, too..
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I have had what felt like period cramps before when I wasn't close to my period. It can be ovulation, gas, constipation, etc. So I wouldn't panic about it. But you should check with a doctor just to be safe, especially since your periods are so bad.
If you do not have health insurance or money, see if there is a clinic near you. Clinics like Family Planning and Planned Parenthood give women exams, birth control, STD tests, and more. And it's all free or low cost depending on your financial situation. I've been going to Family Planning for about 12 years now, and I have never paid them anything. So someone there should be able to take a look down there and see if everything looks ok while still staying within your budget.
You can also talk to the doctor about birth control while you're there. Birth control pills can make cramps worse, but that is not the norm. They usually make periods more regular, lighter, and shorter. Some pills can even make you have only four periods a year. So doctors often give birth control pills to girls who have really difficult periods. Just be aware that it can take some time for your body to get used to the pill, so you might have some unpleasant side effects at first. But those side effects usually die down after about three months. There are many different kinds of pills too though, so if you still have bad side effects after three months or if the side effects are so bad that you can't even stand it for three months, go back in and talk to the doctor about trying a different pill.
If you do not have health insurance or money, see if there is a clinic near you. Clinics like Family Planning and Planned Parenthood give women exams, birth control, STD tests, and more. And it's all free or low cost depending on your financial situation. I've been going to Family Planning for about 12 years now, and I have never paid them anything. So someone there should be able to take a look down there and see if everything looks ok while still staying within your budget.
You can also talk to the doctor about birth control while you're there. Birth control pills can make cramps worse, but that is not the norm. They usually make periods more regular, lighter, and shorter. Some pills can even make you have only four periods a year. So doctors often give birth control pills to girls who have really difficult periods. Just be aware that it can take some time for your body to get used to the pill, so you might have some unpleasant side effects at first. But those side effects usually die down after about three months. There are many different kinds of pills too though, so if you still have bad side effects after three months or if the side effects are so bad that you can't even stand it for three months, go back in and talk to the doctor about trying a different pill.
You should really get checked for Endometriosis, when you get the chance.
It sounds like what my mom went through and she had it.
She let it go too long and had to get her ovaries and 90% of her uterus removed.
I have the same symptoms down to a T and plan on getting checked myself soon, since it's hereditary.
I, like you, just haven't had the chance to.
So I think your want to get checked for that is a legit one, and you should do it as soon as you're able.
It sounds like what my mom went through and she had it.
She let it go too long and had to get her ovaries and 90% of her uterus removed.
I have the same symptoms down to a T and plan on getting checked myself soon, since it's hereditary.
I, like you, just haven't had the chance to.
So I think your want to get checked for that is a legit one, and you should do it as soon as you're able.
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I am going to warn you: the only way to diagnose endometriosis is through exploratory surgery, which can be expensive if you don't have insurance. Even if you have insurance, expect to pay several hundred dollars, if not several thousand, out of pocket. Any other examination will be guesswork at best, because it's impossible to detect the abnormal tissue growth through an ultrasound. An OB/GYN might be able to feel abnormalities through a pelvic exam, but again, they can't confirm it unless they do surgery to check it out.
I would try birth control pills first and see if that helps (because even if you have endometriosis, that is about the only course of treatment, aside from Lupron shots--which put you into temporary menopause). Try a monophasic pill first, as they tend to have fewer side effects and contain only progesterone (so if it is endometriosis, you won't be getting the extra dose of estrogen, which feeds the endometriosis). I'd also have a pelvic ultrasound done to check for ovarian cysts.
I would try birth control pills first and see if that helps (because even if you have endometriosis, that is about the only course of treatment, aside from Lupron shots--which put you into temporary menopause). Try a monophasic pill first, as they tend to have fewer side effects and contain only progesterone (so if it is endometriosis, you won't be getting the extra dose of estrogen, which feeds the endometriosis). I'd also have a pelvic ultrasound done to check for ovarian cysts.
Wow guys, I'm sorry, I not only forgot about this thread, but I totally missed the posts you all made until today when I decided to update my situation. x3;
Grape - Yeah, I know, it's quite hard to diagnose. :( I was supposed to get an ultrasound and a few more tests done to check for that (apparently they didn't know it was impossible to see!) or ovarian cysts, but at $800 for the service and being uninsured at the time, that was a no-go. I do have some insurance now, and I do plan on checking it all out soon.
I also still haven't had a chance to check out birth control. I actually had a huge lecture from my mother about how she DOESN'T want me on BC at all. At all. she wants me to use condoms and spermicide. I'm seriously baffled. She's afraid of side effects (there's a risk of heart attack and I already have a heart condition) but holy SHIT. I'm also 23, so, it's also not her decision. Soon, I guess.
Vitu - Yeah, the hereditary factor is really scary. I have two aunts that don't have uteruses, at all, due to endometriosis. What really worried me was that I looked all the symptoms up online, came up with that and just "really bad periods," and then my mom mentioned that my aunts both had it and fdshlfhsdlkj.
Llewellyn - I was thinking it was gas or otherwise, too, but it was pretty frequent and I never passed any gas, and everything else was pretty regular. I felt the same pain today, and it got worse and worse.. lo and behold, my period is here. :| I just took like four painkillers, though, and I seem to be okay for now.
Maaan. I should really get to Planned Parenthood, as well as the doctor again. I nearly cried just driving home from class today. :( I took a hot shower and popped a bunch of painkillers, and I should be okay this month, but wow.
Grape - Yeah, I know, it's quite hard to diagnose. :( I was supposed to get an ultrasound and a few more tests done to check for that (apparently they didn't know it was impossible to see!) or ovarian cysts, but at $800 for the service and being uninsured at the time, that was a no-go. I do have some insurance now, and I do plan on checking it all out soon.
I also still haven't had a chance to check out birth control. I actually had a huge lecture from my mother about how she DOESN'T want me on BC at all. At all. she wants me to use condoms and spermicide. I'm seriously baffled. She's afraid of side effects (there's a risk of heart attack and I already have a heart condition) but holy SHIT. I'm also 23, so, it's also not her decision. Soon, I guess.
Vitu - Yeah, the hereditary factor is really scary. I have two aunts that don't have uteruses, at all, due to endometriosis. What really worried me was that I looked all the symptoms up online, came up with that and just "really bad periods," and then my mom mentioned that my aunts both had it and fdshlfhsdlkj.
Llewellyn - I was thinking it was gas or otherwise, too, but it was pretty frequent and I never passed any gas, and everything else was pretty regular. I felt the same pain today, and it got worse and worse.. lo and behold, my period is here. :| I just took like four painkillers, though, and I seem to be okay for now.
Maaan. I should really get to Planned Parenthood, as well as the doctor again. I nearly cried just driving home from class today. :( I took a hot shower and popped a bunch of painkillers, and I should be okay this month, but wow.
The risks are very, very low if you don't smoke and you take care of yourself. If your doctor knows you have a heart condition, he/she will monitor you closely while you're on the pill, so it's not like you're going to die if you take it.
If you're 23, you're right--you get to call the shots. There's always Planned Parenthood for free or low-cost birth control, too.
If you're 23, you're right--you get to call the shots. There's always Planned Parenthood for free or low-cost birth control, too.
That's almost exactly what happens to me every month. My doctor put me on birth control for a while, because instead of regular cramps I get them in my lower back and sometimes it makes me faint, but I stopped and switched to just taking an 800 motrin. It can really help but you have to make sure you keep it in your system completely for at least the first day or two. Cause if you forget to retake it, the pain comes back and you have to wait a half an hour for the medicine to start working. And even then you're never sure if you can stomach it and keep it down.
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My periods were similar to yours. I was missing a lot of school because of the pain. & I didn't have any kind of cycle to speak of. I could go months without having one, & then it show up again. & there was no sex to speak of, either. So it wasn't like I could've been pregnant.
So my doctor put me on birth control pills & holy crap. Did it help.
I was on the same brand, Yaz, for about 7 years.
Regulated my cycle & helped a crap-ton with the cramps.
But, last year, they came out with a generic for it, so I started to take it 'cause it was $30 cheaper. But it didn't work like the old pills did. The cramps came back & I wasn't able to get out of bed due to the pain from the cramps.
So i'm back on my old pills again. & Everything is fine.
Anyway.
As far as I know, the only birth control that can make things worse (temporarily) are those uteran implants, & the pills that make it so you only have 3 periods a year. Regular pills shouldn't have that effect. It may take a couple of months for you to notice a difference, though. & you have to take them every day.
Also, ever think you could have ovarian cysts? They come & go & can cause a lot of pain. Ultra sounds can check for those.
So my doctor put me on birth control pills & holy crap. Did it help.
I was on the same brand, Yaz, for about 7 years.
Regulated my cycle & helped a crap-ton with the cramps.
But, last year, they came out with a generic for it, so I started to take it 'cause it was $30 cheaper. But it didn't work like the old pills did. The cramps came back & I wasn't able to get out of bed due to the pain from the cramps.
So i'm back on my old pills again. & Everything is fine.
Anyway.
As far as I know, the only birth control that can make things worse (temporarily) are those uteran implants, & the pills that make it so you only have 3 periods a year. Regular pills shouldn't have that effect. It may take a couple of months for you to notice a difference, though. & you have to take them every day.
Also, ever think you could have ovarian cysts? They come & go & can cause a lot of pain. Ultra sounds can check for those.
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My periods are very similar but, my pain and sickness tends to last for the first few days and each day it lasts for hours, I can't do anything on my period. But, it first started only on the first day but as time went on, it started to happen the other days. Some can't figure out what it is, and say some women just get worse periods than others but, it doesn't hurt to get checked out since you have insurance.
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i had periods like that for a couple years, and then it went away. If you're underweight, or a tiny girl, that might be the problem.
As for cramps when you're off your period, it could not be your uterus at all. If you eat a lot, it could just be light gas-build up pain. They feel very similar.
As for cramps when you're off your period, it could not be your uterus at all. If you eat a lot, it could just be light gas-build up pain. They feel very similar.
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Your description of how severe the pain is worries me. If it is endometriosis, like you think it is, that's really something that needs to be diagnosed right away- check with your insurance provider and see what your coverage is for tests and surgeries. Also, don't rule out the ultrasound just yet, even though endometriosis can't be diagnosed by ultrasound, uterine cysts or problems with the fallopian tubes can.
Wow! I meant to post in this so much sooner. I actually thought I had.
I really appreciate all of the input and everything. I actually have better insurance until October, too, so I'm super motivated to get everything checked out.
Drazil - I am actually "average," leaning more toward overweight. So underweight is not a problem haha. It might be gas, too. I haven't changed my diet but the cramps seem to have stopped.
Also, this period - almost no pain at all. I was a tad dizzy but would anemia do that? I'm borderline anemic most of the time and I know that periods can cause mild anemia... hmm.
I will say, my mood was all over the place. I blame my period for that. So I either get excruciating pain or a two-week depression. :s
I really appreciate all of the input and everything. I actually have better insurance until October, too, so I'm super motivated to get everything checked out.
Drazil - I am actually "average," leaning more toward overweight. So underweight is not a problem haha. It might be gas, too. I haven't changed my diet but the cramps seem to have stopped.
Also, this period - almost no pain at all. I was a tad dizzy but would anemia do that? I'm borderline anemic most of the time and I know that periods can cause mild anemia... hmm.
I will say, my mood was all over the place. I blame my period for that. So I either get excruciating pain or a two-week depression. :s