Boy have I got problems...can you help?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Boy have I got problems...can you help?
20
Sat, 08-16-2003 - 5:18pm
Okay, it has taken me awhile to overcome this and not feel so ashamed where I can finally talk about it and now I'm here begging for any advise you can all give me. Heres the story and I apologize if it gets long.

Approx. on June 28th I took my last BC pill and got my period. (My decision to stop the pill was because through experimenting myself, I had discovered it was causing my hormonal migraines monthly and it wasn't stopping my spotting...which is the reason I was on it to begin with to stop the bleeding!) Then in July I got my period 1/2 week early. Which isn't unusual for me. When not on the pill I'm never regular. Then August comes and WHAM! Last Saturday I had one of the worst mood swings I've ever had in my entire life! It was aweful! I don't even remember what set me off, but I just blew up at my poor dh. I swore at him like never before and threatened divorce! Ladies, it was terrible. All the while, deep inside, I knew it was wrong, but I honestly could not stop myself. Then a few hours later, 15 minutes before we are to leave for a wedding, I get the most aweful pains in my lower abdomin! So bad that no matter what I did, I couldn't overcome it. Not laying down, standing up, crunched over, or sitting. The pains were so bad I thought that something was terribly wrong with me. I took 4 tums and 4 ibeprofren and left for the wedding. Slowly it went away. Took about 45 minutes. Then Sunday I get my period and I was pretty much okay. But Monday...whoa baby look out again! Its a feeling that is so hard to explain. Its all consumed in my head. Its kind of a pressure feeling along with heat and a feeling of bursting! I'm at work, not wanting to be there, not liking ANYONE around me, and wishing they would all just disappear! Knowing I was like this and afraid of how I would react if I communicated with anyone, I just kept to myself and did my job. Believe me, it was HARD! Since this day, I've been doing fine. During this time I still workout, drink plenty of water, pretty much do as I normally do. HELP! I've decided that if this happens again I'm making an appointment with a OB gyn. My girlfriend today recommended one to me and I think I'm going to call him. I'm not happy with the doctors in my hometown and this one is only 30 minutes away in the same town that ds goes to school in. I'm thinking that if this happens again, I also need to call in sick at work. I really shouldn't be around people when I'm like this. Seriously ladies, I can totally understand how crimes can occur when a women is PMSing. Its an aweful feeling that is so uncontrolable and very scary! Oh and another thing. Since being off the pill I've also discovered I'm allergic to latex....hhhmmmmmm.....but dh ordered some that are latex free so we'll see how that goes. Okay, I'm a mess, I know. I've resently heard of a natural type of drug called "Serenity". Has anyone heard of that one and do you have any info on it? I'm not crazy really! Only one or two days out of the month!

 

<

Pages

Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 4:44pm
{{{Tweety}}}

I'm so sorry to hear you're having such ups and downs and physical discomfort along with it. I agree 100% with everyone else here - get yourself to a dr. pronto to find out what's going on and get some relief. I also agree that you'd probably be better off not introducing any other kinds of meds, natural or otherwise, until you see her/him to avoid masking symptoms. No judgments about any medication that you might be prescribed - do what you have to that is safe and effective. There's no reason for you to feel that you need to be absent from life for a day or two every month - you have so much to offer and to contribute, I know I'd miss you!

Your DH has been with you for a long time - he's probably more worried about why you've not been yourself rather than upset that you went off on him. Keep the lines of communication open - as you say, he's a good guy and will try to understand and be supportive in his way.

Don't ever be embarrassed about talking to us here - we're a support for each other in many, many ways. Why not about this subject, also?

Hugs,

Donna



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 9:16pm
Hope you get some answers from your doctor, Tweety. That sounds terrible! I used to get horrible pains in my abdomen (went to emergency room once) so I got on the bc pill. The pill seemed to cure the horrible pains.

I'm sure your dh understands, especially after you thanked him. I can only echo what the others said & I will keep you in my prayers!

Hugs,

Kat

Katherine (Kat)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 10:11pm
I used to get really bad pains when I had a cyst on my ovary. The pill made it go away. Do you know if that's what you had?

Rhonda

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 7:35am
I don't think so cause the pain was way below my ovaries.

 

<

Avatar for free2beme482
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 8:36am
Lori,

What is BCP?

Catherin.

Avatar for free2beme482
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 9:17am
Dear Tweety,

It seems that lots of us have been through the meat grinder with hormone issues. My perimenopause symptoms have been exceedingly variable. I've always had issues with PMS and they have become progressively worse as I age.

About 5 years ago I was on a witch hunt for a doctor that could help me out and there were none in my area that would help since I was still ovulating. (I'm still not sure why that had anything to do with it.) DO find a doctor who is sympathetic to hormonal issues that will help you and don't give up in your search until you find what you need. I recently learned that there are psychologists that help with this issue as well.

I never did find a sympathetic doctor. Now my hormones have shifted to a more manageable state, but it was over a period of years for that to happen. I too went through the rage stage, the crying stage, and the 'totally jarred - hit by a Mac truck' stage. It is not fun and I would recommend getting whatever support that you need to make this transition more manageable.

Catherine.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 9:44am
Big hugs to you, Tweety. Yes indeed, make that appointment - and don't wait until "next time" since you might have to have tests and give samples both during and after your period. You're going through hormonal changes that *can* be dealt with, that the right doctor should recognize. You don't have to live with such mood swings, spotting, migranes and unpredictable periods. I've got yet another book that helped me understand more than a few things about the years leading up to menopause - the author, a GYN (maybe OB, can't remember), covers physical changes, why they're happening, the outward symptoms including emotional... and most important, what can be done. See link at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553380311/qid=1061213853/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-5450710-9018559?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 . (In reading the reviews, ignore the woman who gave it one star - the book didn't miss the point as she claimed, *she* did. It covered the things she said it lacked in such detail, I don't see how she missed them.)

At my most recent appointment, my doctor switched me to a lower estrogen dose of BC Pill. My bloating and mid-month spotting stopped, and I didn't get a hormonal headache this month (in fact, I didn't get my period this month). Doc, who's pretty informed about HRT and characteristics of menopause, said he prefers prefers lower estrogen pills these days, especially for his patients who are in their 40s. The years before menopause can be worse than menopause itself, since hormones just don't turn off overnight. Find a doc who's informed about it.

Cussette

C

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 9:54am
Birth Control Pill.

I've read that docs will prescribe a low-dose estrogen BCP to help with perimenopausal symptoms before ovulation stops entirely.

I read your post with my jaw hanging open - that local doctors wouldn't consider doing anything to alleviate your symptoms because you were still ovulating. Those doctors are not with the program, still in the "old school" of women's medicine. I've read on the 'net and in the one book that I loved how symptoms can indeed be addressed, even while you're ovulating. I don't get why some docs choose not to be enlightened.

Cussette

C

Avatar for free2beme482
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 11:36am
Tis true! Where I used to live in NJ there were no doctors that would help with perimenopausal symptoms and I visited with several doctors. It was most frustrating!

Now I have found a doctor that is totally sympathetic, on the other side of the country, and now that I've dealt with the issue 'au natural'.

One thing I found that helped was progesterone cream. In fact it was recommended by someone who used to post on this message board, Kevinsmom. The results surprised me! You might find the string of messages in the archives.

Catherine.

Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 1:10pm
BCP = Birth Control Pills. I take them to regulate my cycle.

Lori

Pages