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Focusedpoetgirl · Apr 22, 2003

Hi ladies...I'm new to the boards, but I've been lurking around reading for a while. I feel like already know some of you just from reading your posts!!!

I have some personal questions that I would like to ask you ladies, as I have no close females to talk with...

First of all, I am 21 years old, and I have never seen a gyno, and the time has come where I have to. I'm having problems with my periods, and also some other problems that my regular doctor feels are hormone related. My periods are a nightmare. I have severe cramps - often so bad that I feel like I can't stand up straight, and there are MANY days that I stay at home in bed because of the pain. I bleed very heavily, to the point where I am having to change my pad at least once an hour for the first 4-5 days (I bleed so heavy that I am afraid to wear tampons - I don't trust the protection). It will slack off a little (I change about every 3 hours) on day 6-7, then on day 8, it stops completely...until day 10 when it comes back full force for 3-4 more days. It's like clockwork every month. About a week after the bleeding finally ends, I start having a honey colored discharge - no odor, it just looks nasty.  I have that for 3-4 days.  My primary doctor wants to have the gyn put me on birth control, and actually has suggested that we stop my periods for 3 months to see if that solves some of my other problems (hey, not having a period for 3 months sounds good to me!), but I am nervous about going on the pill. Oh, since I forgot to mention it, I guess this would be a good place - I am NOT sexually active. I've heard so many stories about how the pill makes you gain weight, causes mood swings, among others...it just makes me nervous about going on it for some reason. I don't tolerate most medications very well, and I guess I'm afraid this is going to be the same way.

And of course, having never been to a gyn, I am terrified. My appointment is on May 5, and I have to fight myself every day to keep from picking up the phone and "postponing" it. I know everyone says it is over before you know it, but that doesn't seem to calm my nerves. I know of people that go to her that have told me how sweet and gentle she is, but again, not calming the nerves! Can anyone tell me what to expect? I mean, I know for the most part what is going to happen, but I want to really know what to expect!

I'm sorry - I know I sound like the biggest baby in the world, and I probably truthfully am, but I don't have anyone that I can talk to about this, and I am scared. I'm scared of what's going on with my body, what this new gyn experience is going to be like, what she's going to find, and what she's going to do about it!!!

Any advice or pep talks that you guys have, I would surely appreciate!!!!

Miyu · Apr 22, 2003

When I was on the pill, I didn't have any problems with mood swings or weight gain...in fact, my moods were less eratic while on the pill.

I HATE having an internal exam...it is unpleasant...but it sounds like what you are going through is pretty unpleasant, too...and well worth going through a few minutes of unpleasantness in order to relieve days of it...

It's kinda like the dentist, in a way...I don't like dentist appointments, either.

kikiana · Apr 22, 2003

Well i've never been to a gyno, but i have had experience with period problems. Mines slightly different to yours but basically i would only get mine every 6 months or so! And when i did get them they would be a bit like yours..very heavy and last for a long time. My doctor put me on the pill to regulate my cycle and it has helped alot...not only are they lighter but they dont last as long...usually 5 days and maybe 1 or 2 days of heavier bleeding. There are lots of different types of pills, i never had trouble with gaining weight with the one i'm taking, and its actually helped with period induced acne. So if they want to put you on the pill i would suggest asking about the side effects and maybe ask if you can get one that doesnt make you gain weight. The only thing i have had trouble with is worse pms...because i never used to get it before. Recently i heard of a new pill they bought out that actually makes you lose a little weight! Something to do with assisting with water retention...i think it was called Jasmine (some of them have funny names..the one im on is called Diane lol)

Good luck

IslandBreeze · Apr 22, 2003

The pill CAN make you gain weight, blah blah blah...it just depends on the person. But drug companies are required to explain ALL POSSIBLE side effects--it doesn't mean they will happen.

Gyno appointments are nothing (as far as I'm concerned). Your doctor will do a breast exam, and a pelvic exam. And ask a lot of questions. The pelvic exam isn't bad at all--although some people claim it is. The doctor will insert a lubricated, gloved finger inside your ****** to feel around and make sure everything is okay. Then doc will insert a speculum into your ****** to open up your cervix. RELAX! It's not that bad, although it CAN be cold at times! Then the doc will lightly scrape your cervix to gather some cells for tests. Wa-la! It's all done! Be sure you answer all of your doc's questions HONESTLY. And if you have ANY questions, write them down ahead of time so you remember them!

IslandBreeze · Apr 22, 2003

The *d words aren't bad! They're just medical terminology!

ZiSunka · Apr 22, 2003

The GYN exam is completely painless. There's nothing to be afraid of.

It's scarier to think that you are having this awful problem and not getting treatment for it!

Don't be afraid, just buck up and do it, for yourself.

IamThatHero · Apr 22, 2003

I would do my best togo to a Christian GYN... one who looks for options other than the pill. I really am not for the pill used as a cure all. A doctor should be willing to get to the root of your problem and fix it from there. For some the pill does really help and I think that's great. (Especially when it's someone who's single and not sexually active... where there is no chance of the pill causing spontaneous abortion). But... I just want to share a little of my own experiance. For me the pill was a nightmare. I gained weight and it caused my to go into deep depression... when the doctor put me on anti-depressants to counter-act the effects of the pill I was able to think straight and asked myself why in the world was I taking the pill when it did that too me. I stopped the pill and the anti-depressant at the same time and never had another problem with depression since (It's been 7 years now). The pill also made my PCOS symptoms worse. If you don't know what PCOS is or would like to learn more about it... check out http://www.pcosupport.org ... 10% of all women within child bearing years has PCOS. Read the symptoms they list.

IslandBreeze · Apr 22, 2003

Great! I'll share MY experience, too! I'm on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, and have been for three years now. My periods are very light (where they were nearly as heavy as yours before), I have very little cramping (before I took at LEAST a day off a month), and it's worked great for birth control! I haven't noticed any significant weight gain, depression, or other bad side effects!

kikiana · Apr 22, 2003

@IamThatHero

That's really interesting, because i have alot of PCOS symptoms, and they have made me have 2 ultra sounds to check if i had, it but my ovaries came up as normal. So they just stuck me straight on the pill...but there was one time i talked to another doctor about all my sypmtoms and she said i probably do have PCOS and just because i dont have the cysts on the ovaries doesnt mean i dont have it..but she didnt bother diagnosing it for sure and just said stay on the pill to deal with the symptoms.

Memory's Flame · Apr 22, 2003

Ortho-Tri-Cyclen is the only one that really worked for me... I didn't gain weight, I didn't have mood swings and it regulated my period; and made the flow much less...

Although the first time I went; I was so scared!! It was very akward, but now my doctor is one of the coolest ladies I know! She is very friendly and makes it seem not so uneasy...

Hope I may have helped a little bit!

LifeInYou · Apr 22, 2003

My cousin had severe problems with her period as well, the doctors also put her on the pill to help regulate it and I believe it worked well. Don't be afraid to try it, it definately sounds better than what you are going through now! Good Luck

IamThatHero · Apr 22, 2003

Today at 12:09 PM kikiana said this in Post #9

@IamThatHero

That's really interesting, because i have alot of PCOS symptoms, and they have made me have 2 ultra sounds to check if i had, it but my ovaries came up as normal. So they just stuck me straight on the pill...but there was one time i talked to another doctor about all my sypmtoms and she said i probably do have PCOS and just because i dont have the cysts on the ovaries doesnt mean i dont have it..but she didnt bother diagnosing it for sure and just said stay on the pill to deal with the symptoms.

It's true that you dno't have to have the cysts to have PCOS. The thing is... with PCOS "cystic" is a misnomer. The cysts aren't actually true cysts... they are eggs that are trying to mature... several eggs with try to mature at the same time and then none of then can mature... eventually they burst and the acids or whatever it is contained in them can cause cramping (which can be severe, but is not dangerous). So... you only have the cysts when during he time in a cycle where an egg would be maturing... most of the month you may not show anything. And then there is the fact that cycles vary with PCOS... some women have really heavy long periods... some just have none... and there is everything in between. Fertility is a big problem with PCOS... because of the way the eggs mature it's rare to ovulate. I had to use a fertility drug to get pg with my son. Now I've been on Metformin (Glucophage... which is a drug for diabetes... with PCOS often the insulin doesn't work right... this causes many of the symptoms of PCOS and causes a chain reaction that affects the reproductive system... the drug helps with all of this) for a few years and my periods are normal and I think I may actually be ovulating.

lucypevensie · Apr 22, 2003

I had no probs on the pill, myself, except for one time when one doctor prescribed on that was too strong for me (she wasn't a very good doctor anyway). Other than that, no weight gain, mood swings, blah blah and all that.

The actual appointment is not as scary as you fear it will be. Just think, those people do that kind of stuff all day long every day. It is so routine for them.

I think you will be happy you did it.

Pray before you go in the room! Also if you could bring a sister or a friend to sit in the waiting room that's kind of reasuring (for me it is anyway).

layne · Apr 22, 2003

I agree that the exam the gyno will give you is pretty painless and it doesn't take very long. It's more important to get this problem of yours out of the way even if it does mean a bit of pain. Compared to the cramps you're getting with your period, the exam is nothing. There's also a condition called endometriosis, which can be the cause of severe abdominal pain. I have endometriosis, and without the pill, my periods are very painful, and the rest of the month can be too. I am sensitive to drugs as well, and I find no problem or side effects from taking BC.
Here's a link if you're interested:
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/faq-faq/women-femmes/14e.html

kimmee · Apr 22, 2003

I was going through the same thing,untill the doc put me on the pill. i was bleeding very heavy to the point where i was going though 6 tampons in a hour the first 2 days or so. its not healthy, infact you can become enmic(sp) dont worry about the gyno there is nothing to worry about. no pain. Keep us updated!

Amy · Apr 22, 2003

When I had my first gyno appointment, I just told the doctor - this is my first time, so I don't know what to expect. She was very nice, she explained everything to me before she did it, and also kept me "updated" on what was going on while she was doing it. It wasn't scary at all.

LightHearted · Apr 23, 2003

My sister had much of the same problems that you've described, and it turned out that she had endometriosis. You may want to look into it, or ask your doctor about it. Here's the definition:

Endometriosis
The presence of endometrium elsewhere than in the lining of the uterus; causes premenstrual pain and dysmenorrhea

JillLars · Apr 23, 2003

I am on ortho-cept. The only side effects I have had from the pill were a little bigger mood swings during the first couple months (I cried really easily, but that coulda been from stress too), and decreased sex drive, but since you're not sexually active, you don't have to worry about that one.

I used to have awful cramps where I couldn't hardly walk...I still get them every few months, but for the most part my cramps are very light, and my period is light for about 4 days. I didn't used to be able to wear tampons, but I have been using the new "pearl" tampons, and they seem to work a little bit better for me.

Make sure you go to the ob-gyn once a year, and if anything abnormal is going on. Better safe than sorry. The exam is not pleasant by any means, but it isn't too bad, I've been through worse (just hope they don't order an internal ultrasound, eeek, those are awful). Good luck with everything!

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