I need advice please.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-13-2003
I need advice please.
9
Sun, 06-20-2004 - 12:38am
Hello guys, I am in pain and at my wits' end so perhaps someone could offer a little help or support. Ever since I began my period, I have suffered from extremely painful, debilitating cramps, vomiting, etc. I was put on a series of pain meds for a long time. Eventually, my stomach became sensitive and I developed ulcers and bleeding. So then, docs put me on the pill (5 diff kinds) all of which I had SEVERE depression ( i don't mean moody, I mean near suicidal here folks). Also pleasantly, I have IBS and take Prozac for that. SO recently I have been taking Bextra for my cramps and it has been working, but lately it is starting to irritate my stomach and am afriad it is close to bleeding again. AND I was just diagnosed with a ruptured ovarian cyst and told to go back on birth control. I Just cannot handle being a woman anymore. It is either bad pain or bad depression. What would you do? Please give me advice I am only 20 yrs. old and am tired of all this trouble.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Sun, 06-20-2004 - 6:11am
Oh my gosh, no wonder you are tired of the woman thing. Who wouldn't be? Your situation sounds very complicated and medical. We have one member of this board who has a bad case of IBS, but hers isn't complicated by the feminine issues. We here can certainly relate to the problems with depression and complex medication that is never quite right. Have you checked some other boards that discuss these kinds of issues. I've sure that at your age you don't want to deal with issues around hysterectomies.

I'm sure that there are women out there who have dealt with at least some of your problems who could give some advice. Have you tried a second medical opinion? Have you tried alternative healing modalities like acupuncture? I've heard of people having amazing results with hypnotherapy. Sometimes the therapist can give your body healing suggestions. I don't know if there are any nutritional options, but you could look into that.

I had a bad disease 10 years ago that doctors couldn't cure. But I kept trying and after 2 and a half years I found a doctor who had the answer. So all I can say is to keep after it. Try different things and talk to different doctors. It's the people who are willing to try something different who usually make the breakthroughs.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

MariaC

Avatar for legs2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 06-20-2004 - 10:35am
You are handling a lot right now. I can hear your frustrations. I can even understand your frustrations. For my depression alone, I have tried 9 different meds, with none working. I now am trying, as you are, to conquer other medical problems.

But love that you say "I am only 20 years old"

You are right to be wise enough to say "only." Not every twenty year old knows it is an "only."

What does that mean? It means that you are going to fit here perfectly. It means that you get that life is a long process, you understand. It means that you want and desire life to be more than the sum of its parts. GOOD FOR YOU!!

At "only 20" you have the capacity to heal. It may not feel like that yet. But you are taking right and proper steps to help yourself.

Coming here will help. You never know who will post to you. A fellow young person, a grandmother, a elite athlete (that's me! *wink*)...but know that here you will alays find someone who understands some part of your struggle. Someone who will support you no matter your circumstances.

Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.

Take care,

Lisa-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2004
Sun, 06-20-2004 - 10:40am
I sent you a reply on the gynecology board. You might want to check it out!

Chris


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Mom to furangel, Chelse
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Sun, 06-20-2004 - 2:12pm
Have you been to the IBS board? The gyno board is a great place, but also the IBS board may be able to help with ideas for how to deal with medications that irritate your stomach, etc.

The link is:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhibs

Good luck!

MariaC

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-21-2004
Mon, 06-21-2004 - 11:10am
I hope what I have to say is helpful to you and perhaps other females reading this board. I began having debilitating menstrual symptoms with onset at age thirteen. I was often so sick I could not attend school, not to mention the mood problems that went with it. At fifteen, I began struggling with depression, and although my mother was studying to become a counselor, she did not see the signs. I became engaged to a wonderful man at seventeen (and I am proud to say we are about to celebrate eight years of marriage) and began taking the birth control shot Depo Provera, as well as Prozac, soon before the wedding. After three rocky months while my body adjusted to the Depo, my menstrual cycle stopped and the Prozac helped my mood stabilize.

For eight years I took the Depo and have been on and off several antidepressants. I now have a successful dosage of Effexor and recently went off the Depo to try the new Ortho Evera patch. Boy was that a mistake! I was quickly diagnosed with IBS and all of my menstrual problems returned. As soon as I could, I returned to the Depo and now my system is much better with the help of Prilosec. I hate for this post to sound like an add for medication, and I'm no doctor, but I have found a comfortable combination and am feeling better, emotionally and physically, than I have since I was thirteen. Depo is not for everyone, but I am grateful for its common side effects. If anyone wants to discuss this further, please feel free to contact me at lyndahuddleston@hotmail.com. Hopefully this information will benefit someone on this board.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Mon, 06-21-2004 - 7:55pm
you sound like me! in fact, one of the other people on the board called me and told me to look for your post because it was something like my problems. i am 24 and have severe ibs(d) and have always had trouble with "girl stuff" as well. sometimes i can't even tell what it is that is starting to hurt- all i know is that the middle section of me doesn't work. i told my mom that i want a return because i am defective merchandise :) i too am on prozac and have been for about 10 years. i think it is amazing, and one thing i can say is don't go off of it and if you have to do it slowly! i have taken at least 7 pills (including the new patch) and they make me bloated and depressed. i finally realized that whatever good it was supposed to do was not worth the effects and gave up on that. i don't have bleeding in my stomach and i don't know about that pill, but i would go to the doctor (who i am sure is like your best friend). for pain, i have always been afraid to take stronger things because they make me nauseous so i have always been addicted to tylenol extra strength and am actually realizing that i need to take it easy and cut back. i don't know about your ibs, but the type i have a great gasrto that i found said is connected to female stuff and i have some stuff i take now and any kind of relazation therapy is good for me too. email me more about your tummy- what kind of ibs- and i can probably give you alot more advice. not sure anyone wants to hear the gross details on the board, so we can talk more then!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-13-2003
Mon, 06-21-2004 - 10:12pm
Thank you everyone for all your responses regarding this. I am a college student, and it is very hard for me to find people to talk to about this who understand and don't think I"m just a whiner. As of right now, my IBS and mood are under fabulous control with Prozac and I feel really great. I have decided not to try the birth control pills my gyn wants me on because while they may lessen my cramps, I have no will to live, and I can't sacrifice my happiness, you know? I have decided to try and see if when I get my period (which only happens every 6-8 weeks) if I can go to the minor care unit of the ER and just get an anti-inflammatory pain shot. After that, I will be fine the rest of the week. A bit pricey, but it's better than having ulcers in my stomach from swallowing pain pills.

Let me also add, I feel I have had hormone-related mood problems my entire life, starting at puberty and worsening when I take any hormones. DOes anyone else feel this way?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Wed, 06-23-2004 - 12:51am
i totally understand the hormone related mood problems- in fact, my depression was diagnosed around the same time i started my period as a kid now that i think about it. the good thing is that we can recognize that is what is happening to us and hopefully prevent it from getting worse or affecting others- at the very least know what is going on. i know chocolate always helps me :) and exercising, fresh air, listening to my favorite music... those are all good for my hormone mood issues. good luck to you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Wed, 06-23-2004 - 7:33am
Wow! I would be sick of being a woman too. I had a friend who had problems very similar to yours and she was put on the needle (once every 3 months) called Deprevera (sp?) and it stopped her periods and helped with her cycsts. The only draw back for some is that it can cause weight gain but only in a small percentage. Perhaps you can ask your doctor if it is available or would help in your case.

Good luck and keep us posted.