posted April 03, 2012 09:35 PM            

There usually are ways to figure out what is going on but it's often expensive and you have to find a doctor that actually listens to you which seems to be a rarity if you were born with a vagina.

Endometriosis can only be determined with a laparoscopy (surgery which is pretty minor but expensive). And although not 'curable,' birth control pills WILL help endometriosis if that is the problem. Sometimes having a child will help for a while, too. The pill will help keep the endometriosis from growing with every menstrual cycle.

Adenomyosis can usually only be determined with an MRI which is expensive. I'm lucky my doctor agreed to give me an MRI last month which is how I was diagnosed.

Fibroids and polyps can usually be seen with a sonogram but if you want them removed that's surgery again which is expensive.

posted April 03, 2012 10:14 PM            

I actually wish I hadn't toughed out so many pains and headaches/migraines, too. I don't like taking it so often - I've got too much into the habit again - but what finally had me buying a new bottle was exercising my calves too much, just before my mother's birthday in 2005. They hurt with every step, and I was walking around trying to find a birthday present.

posted April 04, 2012 02:00 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by T:
FQ & teasel, so glad you are laughing along with me!

and how about those newborn baby sized blood clots you pass a few times a day for the first few days???

Yay!

love it!!!

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My Ladies!!! Have you beautiful women heard of the Time of the Month Tiger??? She is angry and OTT hilarious!

posted April 04, 2012 11:36 AM            

It is quite nice to vent about for a change with women who know what it's like.

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quote:

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Remember, love can conquer the influences of the planets....It can even eliminate karma.

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posted April 04, 2012 05:23 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by MoonWitch:
I was told a year or two ago that I was just "unlucky" to have heavy periods.

There usually are ways to figure out what is going on but it's often expensive and you have to find a doctor that actually listens to you which seems to be a rarity if you were born with a vagina.

Endometriosis can only be determined with a laparoscopy (surgery which is pretty minor but expensive). And although not 'curable,' birth control pills WILL help endometriosis if that is the problem. Sometimes having a child will help for a while, too. The pill will help keep the endometriosis from growing with every menstrual cycle.

Adenomyosis can usually only be determined with an MRI which is expensive. I'm lucky my doctor agreed to give me an MRI last month which is how I was diagnosed.

Fibroids and polyps can usually be seen with a sonogram but if you want them removed that's surgery again which is expensive.

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I was going to mention something similar, because I was also told I'm one of the "unlucky" or "unfortunate" ones a couple of times and sent off with a prescript. for pain relieveer and a look like..."Welp! Sucks to be you!" and a hint of "I think youre exaggerating."

It's like even the doctors don't even care or don't believe you or something. Mind you, I had a female doctor at the time too. She must have had light easy periods because I don't think she took what I was saying seriously.

For awhile I thought I had endometriosis. Many years ago I had a sonogram done to check for fibroid tumors or any other abnormalities and it came back clear and everything looked normal and fine.

So they just send you away with a prescript. for high dose ibuprophen and that's that. VERY frustrating that nothing seems to be done about this....or it's not taken seriously or looked into enough (that's how it seems anyway).

& yes, because you have a vagina, it seems your problems arent taken as seriously and you are shooed off and left to deal with it and suffer through. Imagine if men had to go through this? I bet there would be such an uproar and we'd never hear the end of it. But we, as women are so used to feeling like we have to be quiet about out "woman problems" and so we just suffer and deal with it.

Not in this thread!

posted April 04, 2012 08:53 PM            

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Originally posted by charmainec:
My period pain makes me want to climb the walls. It's the one time of the month I dread! Sometimes it's so bad I feel like ripping out my uterus.

Besides the excruciating pain, there's the fever and vomiting. The pains last from about six to twelve hours. You have no desire to eat or drink anything nor do you want anyone touching you because it feels like the pain is pulsing through your entire body.

Anti Inflammatories didn't help. My period pains became bad after I turned fourteen going on fifteen.

Docs suggested to go onto a contraceptive.. hell no! What good will that do? It will make you get your periods less or not at all but it's NOT CURING the problem docs!

One doc told me usually such severe period pains disappear after a woman has a baby. I don't have kids so I don't know how much truth is in it.

Then there's the herbal route, proper diet and excersize. Been there, done that and doesn't help. Bleh.

So, I sympathize women who endure this every month. It puts you out for the first day or two, affecting work, school etc because you need to take that day off. I dislike when people say, "Take a pill and you'll be ok." BS! No one knows what it's like unless they experience or witness it and a popping a pain killer doesn't help!

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Pain alone I can handle, but the fever, vomitting, shivers, cramps, cold sweats, vision blurring etc is what does me in.

When I almost passed out from the pain last to last time, it worried me greatly ad I went to see the gynaecologist. She suggested a routine ultrasound and it came back normal. The only explanation she could give was, "it"ll go away when you have a kid". Also got the contraceptive thing but don't want hormones messing up my system. I now take Dicyclomine+Paracetamol combination [anti-spasmodic + anti-inflammatory] and it does help a bit.

Also the pain killer bit...the cramps ease off but the pain doesn't magically go poof. It is still there, albeit a bit lowered in intensity.

quote:

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Originally posted by teasel:
I stopped taking tylenol between the ages of 19 and 30, because I was concerned about the amount I was taking for my regular knee pain (that would stretch up the leg into my thigh and down into my ankle and foot) - and it didn't help with my period pains. I would be stuck in bed for days. :/ I can only take liquid medication, and couldn't find anything stronger that way.

I actually wish I hadn't toughed out so many pains and headaches/migraines, too. I don't like taking it so often - I've got too much into the habit again - but what finally had me buying a new bottle was exercising my calves too much, just before my mother's birthday in 2005. They hurt with every step, and I was walking around trying to find a birthday present.

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I also have migraines and old sports injuries in both knees(menisci). I know I have to take a t.d.s. dose of Ibuprofen+Paracetamol for almost 2.5 days/month so I tend to avoid taking painkillers as much as I can. The migraines I can handle a mild or moderate one but a severe one tends to knock me down. I just tide over the knees, because the pain resolves itself in a couple of days. I wish there was a drug that didn't kill my liver but I make do with I have

quote:

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Originally posted by T:
So they just send you away with a prescript. for high dose ibuprophen and that's that. VERY frustrating that nothing seems to be done about this....or it's not taken seriously or looked into enough (that's how it seems anyway).

& yes, because you have a vagina, it seems your problems arent taken as seriously and you are shooed off and left to deal with it and suffer through. Imagine if men had to go through this? I bet there would be such an uproar and we'd never hear the end of it. But we, as women are so used to feeling like we have to be quiet about out "woman problems" and so we just suffer and deal with it.

Not in this thread!

Thanks ladies.

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From this thread now it seems like a common way of work...give enough painkillers to knock you out and that's all.

For women who have already given birth and/or do not wish any/more children, there is a procedure called Endometrial Ablation which is an outpatient alternative to a hysterectomy.

And no T, we won't suffer in silence here. We are all tigresses here, hear us ROAR!

And in a lighter vein,

posted April 05, 2012 12:56 AM            

If I hadnt started my period tonight, I'd probably talk more about it. There are some more things i wanted to touch upon from other people's posts. But I think I'll hold off and have a glass of wine and suffer...and annoy people here on the boards for now..

posted April 05, 2012 01:45 AM            

all u girls are fine examples of strong women

posted April 05, 2012 11:12 AM            

I hope that works, it's been years since I had a period (due to babies) and they're pretty bad even after children (possibly worse.) I take 3 aspirin (alternating with 2 panadene and codene) with 2 beers with sleep but I can't keep that up every month.

posted April 05, 2012 04:53 PM            

Twice I was told that would help and it does seem to. It's something some of you here might want to try to do also.

posted April 05, 2012 05:14 PM            

Just did a google search and AH-HA!

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Killer cramps? Try this!

Menstrual cramps are the bane of every cycling girl’s existence. But for many of us, they don’t have to be.

That's because there's a simple way to lessen or even prevent menstrual cramps altogether. What is it? Take one to three ibuprofens (such as Advil, Motrin and Nuprin) on the three days before your period. (If you take more than one, space them out throughout the day; don't take them all at once.)

This little trick works because ibuprofen helps prevent the production of "prostaglandins", the hormone-like chemical that causes the pain from cramps. If you don't let prostaglandins build up, you don't experience the pain they cause!

Even better? You won't be taking more ibuprofen than you usually do for your cramps since, most times, you don't have to keep taking ibuprofen during your period because you won't have any pain to treat!

If you take ibuprofen once cramps begin, it's too late. While there may be a mild pain-relieving effect, the prostaglandins have already been produced, so it's not nearly as effective.

Doctors know about this little trick, but sadly only a few take the time to tell us gals about it. This is yet another way moms can help generations of daughters by passing along this simple and effective tip!

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posted April 08, 2012 09:40 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by T:
I'm officially in love with you FQ.

If I hadnt started my period tonight, I'd probably talk more about it. There are some more things i wanted to touch upon from other people's posts. But I think I'll hold off and have a glass of wine and suffer...and annoy people here on the boards for now..

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Aww, T

I wanted to reply to this but then everything went bust. How are you feeling now?

posted April 08, 2012 09:42 AM            

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Originally posted by Venus:
^i also have a platonic crush on FQ..

all u girls are fine examples of strong women

on another note im currently doing a period forecast for the month of July in an effort to book a vacation in Greece, how precise do you think i can be! i count 29 days from first day of period..

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Aww, thank you Venus

I used to do the whole marking the calendar thing and it's usually off by a day or two for most women. Nowadays I rely on tapping into primal instincts