This is topic Medical knowledge needed: The perimenopause and period thread. Men: TMI alert in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.
So I have a lot of questions about perimenopause. To start at the beginning, I strongly suspect I'm in it, but to get it verified would, it would seem, require a test for levels of FSH, and that test may or may not be available here. I'll find out. But meanwhile, from what I've been able to glean from various sources on the internet, it would seem that hormone balancing, whether through natural or prescription means, is only advised if the symptoms are severe enough. Is that correct? Well, billions of women have gone through it for thousands of years before pharmaceuticals were all the rage, so I guess I have a hard time seeing it as absolutely necessary anyway. But the question is - for what reasons and at what point would I need to see a doc about it? Or is it just about if the symptoms are bad enough?
[ February 03, 2006, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
How old are you, Quid?
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
How old are you? How old were your mom and sisters when they went thru menopause? Have you had any female surgeries affecting your female organs, or had any illnesses that could have affected your female organs in the past?
I'm heading off now to round at the hospital, I'll bbiab.
Did I use affect/effect correctly?
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Dang, I got beaten! Also, what symptoms make you think you have it? Be specific.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I"m 37. My sister had her last period at 36, but she was on the pill for a year until then, and just prior to that, she was pregnant with my nephew. My mother hit menopause at 40, as did her mother. In other words, I'm at about the right age for our family. Already thought of all that.
Surgeries: only laparotamy to find out what the heck was going on. Which leads into:
Illnesses: well, only if you count extremely painful and extremely heavy periods my entire life up until about 6 or 7 years ago, when I was diagnosed with sleep disorders and started on CPAP. Then my periods became rather normal and relatively not too painful. More recently, they've become significantly lighter and the pain is getting worse again, plus I'm starting to get extreme moodiness. Other than that, I have not been diagnosed with any reproductive illnesses.
I do have a history of hormone imbalances and have been told I don't ovulate regularly, if at all, if that matters.
Edit to add: they've also become more irregular, but not enough for conventional diagnostics that I've encountered, which seem to indicate it's not enough if it's less than a week. It's only 3 or 4 days. But still.
Vaginal dryness on ocassion.
The thing that really gets me is the length of my periods. I've never - in my entire life - ever had periods shorter than 4 days. As a teenager and young adult, they were typically 10-14 days, sometimes as long as 35. It's only since CPAP that they finally crawled down to 4-5 days. Now, a day and a half. Seriously. For me, this is really really not normal.
[ March 13, 2005, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
So what are your symptoms? I'm looking for changes in frequency, duration, hot flashes, etc.
What medications or Sri Lankan home remedies do you take?
How accurate are the pregnancy tests in Sri Lanka?
[ March 13, 2005, 08:44 AM: Message edited by: Theca ]
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
wow, that seems awfully young to me. My mom is almost 50 and still mestruates.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Medications: none, except for pain killers for headaches, migraines, or cramps.
Sri Lankan home remedies: none, currently.
Pregnancy tests - I have no idea. I haven't seen any home pregnancy tests here, but I'd probably have to ask the pharmacist for it. I just had my period a few days ago, so in theory, that would say I'm probably not pregnant, although I am aware of women who do bleed during pregnancy, so I don't discount it entirely. However, I've also been told that I don't ovulate regularly (something else that "runs" in our family - I have an aunt and a cousin who are both infertile due to not ovulating) so if I can get pregnant, it would be very difficult. If.
Hot flashes: that's really hard to tell. I'm hot pretty much all the time, especially the last three months, but the rains didn't start until the last week or so, so we had non-stop heat (above 30 celsius every day, usually by 9 or 10 am. Uhm, about 85F.) I also get hotter when I eat spicy food, so we've cut down on that so I'd be more comfortable. But I've also been hotter than the rest of the population for a good decade or so. And yes, I've had thyroid tested dozens of times, and it always came back normal. But hot flashes - well, I am hotter at certain times during the day than at others, like the afternoon from 2-4 is the worst. But then, if I take a cold shower, I feel better.
Frequency. I'm going to leave out teenage and young adult years entirely. That would just complicate matters. Unless you want to know about that, too? If so, let me know and I'll add info. Since CPAP, they've been at 23-34 days apart, consistently for 6 or 7 years. Lately, it's become 21-28 days apart.
Duration. As stated above, after CPAP, was 4-5 days long, but has since gone down to a day and a half. Flow is also much, much lighter.
Cramps, back pain, headache, nausea much worse again since before CPAP. Have started vomiting with more than half my periods in the last year.
Anything else? Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Kama, it's nature's way of chlorinating the gene pool. My parents are second cousins, and third cousins, and third cousins once removed, and third cousins twice removed twice, and fourth cousins, and fourth cousins once removed, and . . . Well, to sum it up, I'm related to myself in 49 different ways that I know of. The benefits of doing your family history. Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
GAH! Innocence scarring . . .
Thank you for the warning, at least . . .
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
I know I was warned, but I couldn't help myself. Definately too much detail... Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
c'mon, beatnix, you're really creeped out by this? Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Well, menopause before age 43 is considered abnormal. It's called premature ovarian failure. However, most women DO go through menopause about when their mom and sisters do, so maybe early is somewhat normal for you. I'll look that up.
Of course, you are NOT in menopause. You think you are in perimenopause, which is the 5 year span of time around the stoppage of menses where the periods become more irregular, the moods can be more fluctuant, the hot flashes can start, etc. There is no test for perimenopause that I know of. Your FSH should be normal, still. OTOH, given your hot environment and lack of air conditioning, it is hard to say if you are having hot flashes. Usually hot flashes have a more definite starting and stopping point. Any ladies here experienced hot flashes to describe what they are like?
As far as seeing a doctor, it never hurts to go and talk to one about your moods, periods, hotness, etc. Blood tests can always be redone. I don't know anything about medical care in Sri Lanka though. As far as treatment, if it is perimenopause, it is too early for hormones, I'd say. Antidepressants are very helpful during perimenopause and even help with hot flashes.
The only reasons to be on hormones nowadays is supposed to be for symptom relief. There are other treatments for osteoporosis. We haven't proven hormones help with anything else and may cause harm. However, in someone with premature ovarian failure or early complete hysterectomy for whatever reason, we DO suggest hormones. It just isn't natural to lose estrogen at your age, so once you DO go into menopause, you'll be more likely to have severe symptoms of menopause. Furthermore, you still have a looong life ahead of you and being without hormones for so many more years than ordinary women places you at a much higher risk of osteoporosis than ordinary women. Yeah, once early menopause is confirmed then I'd usually suggest hormones till age 50 or 55, then a slow, slow taper over six months to get you off them. This is assuming you don't have breast cancer, heart disease, or a terrible family history, you'd have to go over that with a doctor in great detail if you do.
Menstruating women need a total of 1000mg of calcium daily from diet and pills combined. Any sort of oral calcium will do, except I don't recommend the viactiv chocolate chew because each piece has 20 calories. Menopausal women need at least 1200mg per day. Keep that in mind.
[ March 13, 2005, 12:52 PM: Message edited by: Theca ]
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:It's nature's way of chlorinating the gene pool.
::will be stealing that quote::
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Theca,
How much and what sorts of foods to get that amount of calcium?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Theca, thanks for the information - it helps.
We have no history of breast cancer, and the only heart problems in the family are in people over the age of 80, so I don't really consider that a problem either.
I also appreciate the warning about osteoperosis (did I even come close to spelling that correctly?). No one in our family has ever had it, so at least I'm not high risk for that, but I'll still pay attention to calcium/magnesium.
One more question. I have been told that my estrogen levels are too high (not recently, but in the process of the ob-gyn trying to figure out why my periods were so violent), and that's possibly what caused all my period problems for all those years, although really, they don't know that for a fact, it's really because they couldn't find anything else wrong with me. With estrogen levels being too high combined with early perimenopause (yes, still theoretical, but still) and then menopause, when they drop, is that why the more severe reactions?
I'll also admit I don't like the thought of going on antidepressants (again), but if they'll help, well, I might just have to suck it up and do it.
Thanks, Theca. You're a mountain of information!
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I don't know anything about the high estrogen level, but if you are used to a high level than just coming down to a normal level could cause symptoms. I never heard of that, though.
As far as foods with calcium, I usually tell people to read labels. Milk, cheese, yogurt, stuff like that, if you use OJ get the kind with calcium added. Problem is most of my patients are either very overweight, diabetic, or lactose intolerant so I don't like telling them to add calcium rich foods. I usually just encourage them to figure out how much calcium they already get by reading labels and then I encourage them to add calcium by tablet to add up to 1000-1500mg, depending on the patient.
Quid, just by being a white female with early menopause you are at increased risk. I assume you are white. I also assume you haven't been on steroids or been a smoker, those are risk factors too. Caucasians and Asians have the highest percentage of osteoporosis. Has your mom been checked for it? You might not even know that she already has it.
[ March 13, 2005, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: Theca ]
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yes to caucasian (locally, we're called pinkies!) No to smoking, drinking, illegal drugs, or steroids.
I have not asked my mother about osteoperosis - we're not, shall we say, on talking terms. I'm basing the opinion that she hasn't been diagnosed with on the family grapevine where no secret remains that way for longer than thirteen minutes. That and the fact that she's under medical care for oh so many other health problems, so I kinda assume they would have picked up on it had it been there. My grandmother is 89, still alive, and shows no visible signs of osteoperosis. My other grandmother died a few years ago at 92 or something, also with no visible signs of osteoperosis.
Dairy. I'm allergic. I can tolerate yoghurt and the occasional cheese, but that's my limit. I actually have about 3/4 cup of yoghurt every day for breakfast (along with my bran cereal. Sigh). Other than that, I get my calcium from my veggies. We don't have prepared and packaged food like in North America, so pretty much everything has to be cooked from scratch. Cuts down on the processed food nutritional problems, for sure.
Reading labels here is useless - there are no laws in place regarding even the order of ingredients, never mind silly little things like fat content or fibre or that sort of thing. Labels also don't always come in English - Fahim has to translate for me (laundry detergent instructions - that was hilarious!)
Also, I have not yet found a local source for vitamins and minerals. Health food stores like you're used to do not exist here. I do, however, have a lead on such a store and will check it out as soon as I can - it's about a half hour or so away.
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Only good way to tell about osteoporosis is with a dexa, or bone density scan. Osteoporosis is a hidden disease. By the time the person has lost 2 inches of hight, hunches over, and has a hump in their upper back, the damage is severe and long-standing. If your mom's doctors are too busy chasing her other medical problems and haven't checked a bone density yet, then nobody knows if she has it or not. Of course, you can't just call her up and ask. I'm just sayin. Family history is often learned far too late for osteoporosis prevention, cause the next generation often already has bone loss already. The heel/wrist bone density is ok for screening but I highly recommend the hip/spine bone density instead. Nobody cares how dense your heel is. We DO care how dense your hip and spine are. We screen people in America at 65 and medicare covers it, and I check women AND men in their 50s if they have risk factors. I have checked women in their 40s on occasion.
[ March 13, 2005, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: Theca ]
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Okay, this is a weird one, I think.
Ever since I started on the Depo, I've had frequent and sometimes very drastic fluctuations in my temperature (or in how I react to the external temps maybe). I'm used to that, I just dress in layers so I can add or strip as needed.
However, in the last year or so, I started noticing that my feet were itching something terrible, mostly at work or while out running errands, and always the sole or the outer edge. Tried Benadryl creme and hydrocortisone, no luck. Tried antifungals, no luck. Tried plain old body lotion thinking it was a dry skin issue, no luck. My sister made up a foot soak with some essential oils, I thought it was working for a while but not anymore (either I was deluded or it's stopped working).
AS I've been paying more and more attention to it, I think I've narrowed it down to when I have my feet confined within closed up shoes for more than about 2 hours, so I'm thinking that my feet are just sweating enough to cause this. Nylons and dress shoes seem to be okay for avoiding it while I'm at work, but I can't always go around in heels. Oh, powdering my feet or changing socks mid-day on days when I have to wear loafers or gymshoes doesn't help either, at least not so far.
So two questions: first, does anyone else have this happening to them, and second, any suggestions on how to deal with it?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
So much for hoping for the quick and easy answer! Fine, I'll do my own homework . . .
In all developed countries with ageing populations, thinning of bones due to loss of calcium is a major public health issue. As bones thin, risk of fracture increases. Osteoporosis, the thinning of the bones to the extent that they become porous and brittle, and vertebral fractures give rise to the familiar loss of height with age and to the painfully familiar bent-over posture of many elderly people. In addition, bones can become extremely brittle with age, sometimes breaking and causing serious injuries—hip fracture is a particularly devastating example. Thus, measures to promote bone health are important throughout life, to promote bone growth in the young and reduce bone loss later in life.
Dietary recommendations have focused almost exclusively on increasing calcium intake. Increasing calcium intake is not wrong in itself but, in relation to bone health, its undue pre-eminence over reducing sodium intake, increasing vitamin K and potassium intakes, moderating protein intake, increasing physical activity and adequate sun exposure is a serious error in public policy.
Calcium is naturally lost from the body in urine, gut secretions and sweat. The key to avoiding bone loss is to ensure that calcium absorbed from food balances out with calcium loss. Otherwise, the body will take calcium from bone to maintain the level needed in the blood.
In the typical North American and European diets, calcium loss is equally driven by high sodium (salt) and protein intakes and low potassium intakes. Variations in these three components can cause daily calcium requirements to range from 240 milligrams to over 2,000 milligrams .
Generally, 600 to 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day from calcium-rich foods, plus smaller amounts from other foods and supplements, will provide an adequate intake. The following are recommendations for healthy sources of calcium with explanations of the benefits and adverse effects of certain foods on calcium levels and bone health.
Ideal Sources for Calcium For an individual trying to improve calcium balance, fruits and vegetables are the best foods, as they are rich in potassium, which reduces calcium loss. For example, 100 grams each of red peppers, bananas, oranges, and leafy greens will boost retained calcium by about 40 milligrams per day—enough to reverse a one percent loss of bone calcium per year. A daily pint of cow’s milk would have a similar effect for the average person, but only about half the benefit for individuals with low calcium absorption—those who are at particular risk of osteoporosis.
The ideal foods for bone health are those that are not only high in calcium but also reduce calcium loss. Low oxalate (oxalates are natural substances that bind strongly to calcium) and calcium-rich dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard and turnip greens, and spring greens are the best example. Some vegetables such as spinach, purslane and rhubarb are also high in oxalate, which hinders absorption of their calcium. Dark green leafy vegetables provide about 150 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams in raw weight. While many modern cultivated foods are sadly much less rich in calcium than the wild plants with which we evolved, green leafy vegetables are an exception and therefore of particular importance for modern humans.
Human use of dairy products is a recent and unnecessary development: a diet low in salt and rich in vegetables, fruits and root crops provides the best path to healthy bones. Dairy foods increase calcium loss as well as provide calcium. For example, cheddar cheese causes a net calcium loss in high-risk individuals, and cottage cheese causes calcium loss for most people in general. Foods such as meat, fish and eggs have a strong adverse effect because they are low in calcium and also cause high loss; foods that are low in calcium but also reduce losses, such as peppers, bananas and oranges, provide everyone with at least a modest boost.
Almonds, carob and molasses each provide about 250 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams. While these foods are too concentrated in either calories or pungency to consume in large amounts, they can make a useful contribution. They will also provide alkali to boost blood pH.
Some tofu is highly salted and is high in calcium only if calcium has been used in making it. Tofu can therefore vary from substantially increasing calcium balance to substantially decreasing it. The calcium content of tahini is also highly variable. The amounts of calcium and sodium in these foods should therefore be checked on the labels and not taken for granted: for a reliably beneficial effect on bone health there should be at least as much calcium as sodium.
Calcium-fortified foods or calcium supplements provide a further convenient source of calcium. If phosphate intakes are low (unusual for vegans), calcium phosphate may be preferable to calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate should always be consumed with meals. If stomach acid is low, something other than carbonate should be used.
Overall, it is hard to imagine a food more supportive of bone health than leafy greens. In addition to being abundant sources of calcium, they also protect and strengthen bone by raising blood pH and providing vitamin K and vitamin C. Vitamin K is particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy. One hundred grams of leafy greens or broccoli per day may halve risk of bone fracture. Leafy greens are a good source of plant carotenes, which meet the body’s needs for vitamin A safely and naturally. Green leafy vegetables are also high in folate, which is highly beneficial to general health. Using the green stuff instead of the white stuff also avoids the adverse effects of dairy fat on cardiovascular health.
Our prehistoric ancestors got enough calcium every day from plants. Their high intake of vegetables, fruits, roots and flowers also provided abundant potassium, magnesium, vitamin K and vitamin C, all in quantities far above modern norms. Salt was notably absent, as were dairy products.
Plant Protein Adequate intake of protein is essential for healthy bones. If protein intake is inadequate (less than 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight), the body will lack the building blocks for muscle and bone; and growth hormones, which stimulate muscle and bone building, will decline to undesirable levels. Consuming less than the recommended amount of protein in order to reduce calcium loss is therefore a false economy. Although protein excess is more common than protein deficiency in Western society, individuals with a low calorie intake, such as the very old, are particularly at risk of getting insufficient protein.
The choice of protein source can make a great deal of difference. Overall, most plant protein sources (fruits, vegetables, legumes and many nuts and seeds) have a positive or neutral effect on calcium balance. A person trying to increase protein intake using meat or fish, for example, will lose about 25 milligrams of calcium from their body for every 100 grams eaten. In contrast, a 100-gram portion of beans (by dry weight) has an approximately neutral effect on calcium balance while providing the same amount of protein.
There are a wide variety of plant-based sources of protein. A cup of soymilk provides about eight grams of protein. Wheat is higher in protein than rice and potatoes, and using nuts and seeds rather than oils and fats will boost protein intake. Nuts which are high in monounsaturated fat, such as almonds, filberts and cashews, are ideal as they will also promote cardiovascular health. Almonds are the most beneficial for bone health as they have the most positive effect on calcium balance.
Some highly processed plant protein sources, such as certain soy protein isolates, actually have an adverse effect on calcium balance due to a loss of beneficial minerals and an addition of sodium during processing. Highly salted nuts also have an adverse effect.
Speaking of Salt Simply reducing salt intake by half will substantially reduce calcium loss. In typical Western diets most salt is hidden in processed foods such as prepared meals and fast foods. No food with more than 0.5 grams of sodium per 100 grams should be a major part of the diet.
If you use salt, substitute one of the widely available low sodium alternatives, such as LoSalt, containing at least twice as much potassium as sodium by weight. Use low sodium bread or consume bread less frequently, as bread is a major source of sodium. Use herbs and spices instead of salt and salty pickles. There are often similar products in terms of taste with very different salt levels.
Get Vitamin A From Plants, Not Retinol Retinol (pre-formed vitamin A) is found naturally only in animal products and makes bone loss more likely. Some dietary supplements and fortified foods contain retinol or related compounds (all beginning with “retin”). Low-fat and skimmed milks in the U.S. are usually fortified with retinol, undermining and possibly overturning the benefit of their calcium and potassium content. On the other hand, plant carotenes allow the body to make as much vitamin A as it needs without risk of adverse effects. Good sources of plant carotenes include carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, red peppers, and dark green leafy vegetables. One hundred grams per day of any combination of these will easily meet vitamin A requirements.
Spend Time in the Sun Vitamin D is important as it facilitates the absorption of calcium from the intestines. Sunlight causes a chemical reaction in the skin that generates vitamin D. A daily 15-minute exposure to the sun when it is well above the horizon is ample to boost vitamin D stores to ideal levels while avoiding damaging sunburn. However, during winter at high latitudes, vitamin D stores may substantially decay. Plenty of sun exposure during the summer will provide sufficient stores for three to four months of winter, but if such sun exposure is not possible or the winter is more prolonged, either take a mid-winter holiday somewhere sunny or take 10 micrograms of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) per day.
Lose the Caffeine Limit or omit caffeine consumption. Caffeine has been shown to reduce calcium absorption, especially when consumed at mealtimes. Low caffeine and many non-caffeinated herbal teas provide a tasty and healthful alternative.
Exercise! Finally, don’t forget physical activity. Just as exercise helps to build and maintain muscle, it also helps to build and maintain bone. As well as benefiting bone, these recommendations will benefit overall health. Increased potassium and calcium intakes and reduced sodium intake strongly promote lower blood pressure and reduce risk of stroke and kidney disease. Increased calcium and vitamin D appears to reduce risk of colorectal cancer and may also reduce risk of breast cancer. Increased vitamin D may also reduce the risk of prostate cancer and auto-immune diseases. Increased consumption of foods rich in plant carotenes is associated with reduced risk of cancer.
(Quick derailing post because I have utterly nothing useful to say about the real topic )
I think it's pretty terrible that any women feel necessary to warn men off when talking about their more unique bodily functions. I mean, even if most of the men you know wouldn't be squicked and thread titles like this are mostly in jest, that's still...I dunno, kinda sad.
Continue as you were. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Hey, Zotto!, I understand what you're saying. Unfortunately, enough men have complained and whined and made comments in other threads such that I already know that if I don't warn them off, they'll whine, complain, and make more comments in this thread. At least they can leave the thread alone this way. I guess I'm just kinda tired of them being squicked out, even if it is in jest.
Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
*grin* I understand, Quid. And (to make sure you know) I wasn't trying to be critical of your choice of thread title; it was more just an observation, though I'm not sure it was particularly necessary to post. Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Call it a sad commentary on our ability to be squicked.
-Trevor
Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
*patpat*
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Quid - can I elbow in on your thread and ask my own perimenopause questions? I can? Thanks!
Since Theca is here, or will probably check this thread, this seems like a good place.
I'll be 44 this month, and I have definately been having what I consider to be perimenopausal symptoms.
About 10 years ago I had a major surgery for an endometrial tumor (benign) about the size of a canteloupe, they said, that had completed engulfed my right ovary/fallopian tube. So that came out. At the same time they took some cysts off my left ovary (the only one I have left at this time). I didn't want them to do a total hysterectomy because I was still young, and they would have taken my ovaries too, causing instant menopause at that time.
Now I'm about ready for it to all be over with! My periods have gone from very light, very regular 4 to 5 day flows to 12 to 15 day heavy flows with lots of clotting. I always feel bloated and feel a pressure that resembles that downward heaviness you have when you're pregnant.
My last pap came back with endometrial cells and they did a uterine biopsy but everything was fine. I don't think I've had a totally "normal" pap test in 10 years - always have to do a follow up.
Am I getting near the end -- full menopause? Or should I go ask a doctor to take all of what I have left out? I don't have any mood swings (that I recognize) or any hot flashes or anything. I'm pretty religious about taking my vitamins and calcium and eating healthy.
My mom when through menopause with nearly no symptoms at all, in her mid-50's.
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Goody Scrivener, I hadn’t connected it with starting birth control, but now that you mention it YES. It’s like my internal thermostat is suddenly out of whack. I’m shivering while wearing sweaters one day and overheating in short sleeves the next and the room is at the same temperature. And my feet itch. Although for me it’s the tops of my feet.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Farmgirl - of course I don't mind! Elbow your way in, no problem. There's lots of room!
Zotto! - no worries. It sounds like I interpreted it pretty much the way you intended it. (I have to admit to being curious about your name, though, and where it comes from.)
I have questions about the long post Shan did about calcium and bone health (thanks muchly, Shan). When they say green leafy vegetables, are they including things like cilantro, parsley, dill, mint and other dark green herbs? As in, does it include everything edible that's dark, green, and leafy? If it does, then I'm happy.
I'm sure I'll have more questions later, but that's all for now. Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
quote:It’s like my internal thermostat is suddenly out of whack. I’m shivering while wearing sweaters one day and overheating in short sleeves the next and the room is at the same temperature.
dkw, mine is more like every 5 minutes or so, without having moved from my chair! And I'm completely convinced that it's the Depo doing it to me, although the doctor says he's never heard of it being that extreme. What can I say, I'm unique! LOL
And last night after coming home from Mom's with my poor feet trapped in leather for almost 6 hours, I unconsciously rubbed my poor left foot raw... lots of neosporin and a Kerlix wrap today. Unfortunately, that's probably going to hold in the heat too, which means I'll continue to be itchy.
(which reminds me, I better put Kerlix back on the shopping list, I think I only have one roll left)
[ March 14, 2005, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: Goody Scrivener ]
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
You didn't mention the full name of the Depo you happen to be taking, but I found an article you might want to read.
There are some links halfway through the article that may be of interest to you.
Or, if I'm completely off-base, I'll be happy to delete the post and keep my nose out of women's issues.
-Trevor
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Trevor, yep that's the one I'm on. I do have some of those side effects (hair loss, weight gain, some achiness, and I've wondered about the depression at times). I think I've seen the site that the article references - the one with the 35 "horror stories" - and it's amazing the list of evils these women are attributing to the medication. I'm so glad I'm not them!
Now gitcher nose outtta the girls' thread! Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Oh, so that's where my nose is. Kewl.
-Trevor
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I was just making *that* appointment with my OB/GYN today. And they said that Yasmin http://www.yasmin.com/index.html is now the leading pill globally. I've had several friends switch to it (independently of each other) and all have had rave reviews compared to the side effects they had before. It uses a slightly different (patented I believe) form of progesterone, called drospirinone, that is different than any of the other pills, shots etc. (to my knowledge) It is *wonderful*. I have been on Depo, and Ortho-tricyclin and Yasmin is the gentlest on my system. The only downside is that it is a daily pill. But for the lack of side effects I feel it is worth it.
AJ
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Farmgirl, I don't know how close you are to menopause. Having one ovary can make menopause occur a bit earlier, I think. Did the doctor ever do an ultrasound, btw? I wonder if you have fibroids, those can cause excess bleeding and bloating. Those are benign. If I were you, I'd have a talk with your doctor. You may need an ultrasound, or just a good pelvic exam to start with to look for fibroids. Alhthough I seem to recall you go yearly for your gyn checkups. I suppose you aren't due for one yet. In any case, birth control might make your periods a lot shorter and lighter again, if the doctor doesn't feel any workup is needed first. Did you tell your doctor about the long heavy periods? Has he ever checked you for anemia? Hysterectomy is certainly an option but the doctor would probably try non-surgical things first. I'm not even sure your insurance would even pay for that unless you try other things first.
[ March 15, 2005, 12:41 AM: Message edited by: Theca ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Theca - thanks
It is about time for my yearly. I did not tell him about the extra long periods last time, although I complained about it getting heavier and heavier and he just shrugged it off. He was seeing me at that point due to spotting between periods. That has since become just one long period.
Anemia - everyone in my family has trouble with anemia, which is why I am diligent about vitamins/minerals as supplements.
I don't think I could agree to go the birth-control route -- that would be, uh, just too tempting. Abstinence is a lot easier to maintain if you worry about getting pregnant.
But I will make my yearly appointment and now ask my doctor about fibroids (and maybe read up on it some to see if my symptoms match) and ask about an ultrasound.
I have a good ob/gyn, but now my insurance is making me get examined first by my primary care physician (G.P.) and only use the ob/gyn under his recommendation.
Farmgirl
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
If you called the pcp's office and said your periods were 12 days long and very heavy and you really wanted referral back to your Gyn, many pcps would just say ok and make the referral without seeing you first. Depends on the doc, of course.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So I saw a gynocologist at the leading hospital in this country, and she was worse than useless. I did, however, get a pap smear (normal), mammogram (normal), and internal ultrasound (normal) done on my reproductive organs. She would not talk to me about perimenopause. She would only talk to me about a. You know you're fat, right? I'm a doctor, I have to tell you you're fat. It's my duty as a doctor to make sure you understand you're fat. You need to exercise because you're so fat. You need to stop eating junk food because you'll get fatter. You're really fat. and b. her religion problems (she's a Muslim married to a Christian, and she had to make sure that I knew that, and the fact that she's lost patients because of the fact that she's married to a non-Muslim. Huh. Are you sure it's not your lousy bed-side manner?
Anyway.
Hot flashes are very distinct (in other words, I definitely get them), but drinking a cup or a cup and a half of soy milk a day helps tremendously with keeping those at bay, plus the soy milk helps a lot with the dizziness and lightheadedness.
The cramps during my periods are even worse than they were before. I'm now at the point of, with painkillers (400 mg ibuprofen, 100 mg tramadol every 8 hours) lying on the couch and whimpering. The pain killers do help - the cramps would be much worse otherwise. The dizziness during my period is so bad that I can't even so much as walk to the bathroom by myself - Fahim has to help me. (I am so lucky he works from home.) I can't eat solid food during my period anymore - I'm on jello and soups. Anything else makes me so very nauseous. Headaches with a dozen hot stuffed dense cotton pillows in my head make it so I have almost no room for thought processes. Insomnia is worse, but I suspect that's just because of the pain. And, um, yeah, I think that's probably about it.
My cycle has changed further. My periods are down to 18 days apart, sometimes as long as 21, except during the months I skip bleeding, in which case it's about double that. Sadly, even when I skip bleeding, I still get all the pain. But it seems to last for less time than when I do bleed.
So, yeah, that's all.
You may return to your regularly scheduled HatCracking now.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
<-- not a doctor or medical professional
but that sounds REALLY not good, or normal, to me. Is there any way you can see another doctor? Maybe the next time you take a trip out of Sri Lanka?
*sympathy hugs*
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks for the sympathy hug.
It's over. It lasted about a day and a half, and now I'm fine again. Um, what I experience may not be normal, but my periods never have been, they've almost always been hell, and I've had a lot of gyno's checking me over, checking hormone levels, checking everything, including doing exploratory surgery to find out what the heck was wrong, and there was never anything to be found.
I've been asking around for referrels to decent gynacologists, and I've received a couple, so it's time to check them out. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I know it's a horrible experience you had with that gynecologist, but your description made me laugh while wincing nonetheless.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yeah, I know. And it has amusement value. (Why me? Why me????? )
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Yikes. *gentle hugs for quid*
Hang in there, sweetie.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So*. An update.
That fake period that I thought I had? You know, the one with all the symptoms but no bleeding? Well, it turned out that I had a real period two days after that one ended.
Whymewhymewhymewhymewhymewhymewhyme???????????
So I found a couple of sites with forums that are specifically for early perimenopause, ie those who get it before the age of 40. Yay! Information that actually applies to me!
I did a bunch of research, and you know that whole HRT scare a few years back that made 65% of the women on HRT quit because of increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and that other nasty stuff?
It turns out that that doesn't apply to women on HRT before the age of 50. Those who suffer (and I really do mean suffer with all of its nasty connotations) from perimenopause have much more of a medical need for HRT. To prevent osteoperosis, shrivelled sex organs, and other stuff. I have a migraine right now. We were out today shopping, and the heat, dust, too much sun and whatnot have done me in. That's my way of saying that I'm having a difficult time remembering the specific health benefits for someone like me taking HRT.
Anyway. I did a bunch of research, learned about natural vs. artificial, and where estrogen vs. progesterone are necessary, and all that nice stuff, and today, while out and about, decided to see about tracking down said hormone pills.
The first pharmacy we went to - downtown at the big *cough* mall was our first stop. Their selection was way, way better than what I see at the pharmacy in our neighborhood. Still, the pharmacist didn't understand the request. At first, she thought I wanted birth control pills. Then she thought it was for conception purposes. Menopause just didn't make sense to her. Probably that whole "but you're still young" thing. At any rate, I had a long list of acceptable drugs, both UK and US formulations, and she had none in stock. But she did recommend two other pharmacies that had even better inventory.
One of them was just up the road. The other one, much much larger and much much better, was a ten or fifteen minute drive away.
We went to the one just up the road.
We ended up talking to the manager. I say we because Fahim naturally has to get involved and translate nearly everything into Sinhalese. I love that man! Anyway, with the list I had, the manager found two. That they had in stock. He grabbed them - we were in the back room with him - and showed them to me. I took a look and picked the one that looked the best. We bought their entire inventory. Two packets, each of 28 pills - 14 days estrogen (2mg) followed by 14 days estrogen (2mg) and progesterone (10mg). Femoston by Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
More important, bioidentical hormones.
I've been on the pill a whole lot, and had some pretty bad side effects. That's why I wanted to go with bioidentical. They're supposed to have fewer side effects, more easily metabolised.
I took my first one today. I know, I know, I'm supposed to start it on the first day after my period. That was two days ago. I think I can risk it.
Anyway, the theory is that I could be feeling better in a matter of days to weeks. Here's to hoping. Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I would like to hear more about various birth control experiences, but I don't really want to start a thread about it. My period is dumb and comes and goes wheever it damn well pleases, usually much more frequently than I'd like. I get horrible cramps that feel like my back is about to split in two, and I get nauseous. And I have, seriously, the worst mood swings on the face of the earth. I've been fighting with everyone for the past week, and my period ended three days ago. But the irrational feelings didn't.
Not to steal the thread, I just figured as long as hormones and such were being discussed...
-pH
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
Sounds like some hope for you, Quid. I don't want to sound ignorant, but what does "bioidentical" mean?
Good luck with that!
As for the pill, pH: as a teenager I had HORRIBLE cramps, that sometimes had me laying on the floor in the H.S. bathroom (yuck!) because I couldn't move and I was vomiting from the pain. I didn't want to take the pill at that age though.
When I got married I started it and the cramps went away, the length of my periods shortened by 2-3 days, and they were more regular. I don't know that they helped the mood swings any, but I have found through the years that various vitamins help me with that (particularly B-6 for me, I seem to be low on B-6).
One side effect of the pills was that they had emotional effects on me - I went into a kind of depression, not the deep depression where you can't get out of bed, but the kind where I really didn't care too much about the things I'd cared about before. I didn't even realize I'd been depressed until I went off the pill to try & get pregnant - and felt like I woke up for the first time in years. I don't know about the more recent formulations (sounds like I'm a hundred years old!), but you do have to be careful about what kind you get and monitor how the hormones affect your moods. They were great for the physical problems though!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
pH, the problems I had with the pill & the shot (depo provera) were things like increased migraines, bloating, weight gain, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and things like that. But that was starting in the early 1980s, and since then, there have been a lot of advances with the hormone formulations, so you can get much lower doses of hormones that don't have as many side effects.
However, it seems, from the research I've done, that the hormones used for the bcp are crapwhat'stheword synthetic hormones, which can, for some people, increase the side effects they experience. It would seem that I would be one of those people.
And that answers Jenna's question. Bioidentical means that, chemically, the hormone is identical to what our body produces, so less of a chance of side effects. The estrogen in the pills I have is bioidentical, but the progesterone is not, however, the progesterone metabolizes into bioidentical progesterone after it's taken, so it theoretically amounts to pretty much the same thing.
pH, are you currently on the pill to control your oddly behaviored periods? Or is it something that you're considering doing?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
The mood thing is a big deal to me, along with the physical side effects. I went on the pill when I was sixteen because my periods came every other week. But I gained a lot of weight, and I turned into CrazyPsychoPregnantWoman(tm). One night, I came downstairs and shook my father awake at three am and told him that we were out of chocolate cookies where are the chocolate cookies GO TO THE STORE NOW! Fortunately, my father, having already dealt with pregnancy hormones four times, didn't get upset. I also for some reason would get horribly nauseous at the thought of tuna fish. This was a pill called lo-something. Lo...I don't remember.
Two years ago, I started the Patch because my periods were all crazily irregular again. The Patch didn't give me the desire to shoot up the store because they were out of pickles, but I did have this insatiable need for fast food. All the time. For every meal. And besides that, it made the skin where I put it sore, and it got really dirty and gross by the end of the week, no matter how much I washed it.
My periods only last 3-4 days now, though.
Mostly what I need is something that won't make me eat uncontrollably and that won't make me prone to crazy freakouts. I already take antidepressants, so I'm wondering if maybe that could help with the depression (a lot of women get depressed on the pill, especially for the first three months).
-pH
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yep, those don't sound good. Mine were long and extremely painful with a lot of really bad pain.
Have you been to a doctor recently to try a new formula? There are dozens if not hundreds and theoretically, there ought to be something that would work for you. It's also possible there's something else going on, like endometriosis or other things like that. Have you had ultrasounds and all that from gynos? I'm going to change the thread title to try to attract more medically knowledgeable people into here. I don't know a whole lot about that other stuff because it was never my problem. There was nothing physically wrong with me that anyone could figure out except that my hormones were out of wack and I had hell periods.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I doubt it's endometriosis. One of my friends was just diagnosed with that, and I don't think my pain is nearly as bad as hers; she had to go to the emergency room earlier this week, and that's how she found out.
To tell the truth, I've only been to a gyno once, when I was sixteen, and she didn't do a PAP smear or pelvic exam because I freaked out and started crying, partly because it hurt. I'm very shy about "down there."
But my friend who had to go to the ER is going to find a new doctor soon, so we might go together. I'm still going to severely freak out, though.
-pH
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: I doubt it's endometriosis. One of my friends was just diagnosed with that, and I don't think my pain is nearly as bad as hers; she had to go to the emergency room earlier this week, and that's how she found out.
Just FYI, endometriosis can run the gamut from "no symptoms" to "unbearable." It's definitely a range.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: I doubt it's endometriosis. One of my friends was just diagnosed with that, and I don't think my pain is nearly as bad as hers; she had to go to the emergency room earlier this week, and that's how she found out.
To tell the truth, I've only been to a gyno once, when I was sixteen, and she didn't do a PAP smear or pelvic exam because I freaked out and started crying, partly because it hurt. I'm very shy about "down there."
But my friend who had to go to the ER is going to find a new doctor soon, so we might go together. I'm still going to severely freak out, though.
-pH
Listen to CT about the endometriosis. I've known a few people with it who had the full range of symptoms.
About being shy - honey, trust me on this. The vast majority of us are. I hear that after having given birth to a few kids vaginally, it changes, but I haven't experienced that, so I can't confirm. I don't like the pelvic exams much at all, but they're a necessary evil.
Another thing is that the more you stress about the exam, the more it hurts. If you can find a way to relax, it will go a lot easier. If it's really bad, talk to the doctor about taking a muscle relaxant first. I have no idea if that would be a good or bad idea, which is why I'm saying talk to the doc.
Find yourself a female doctor if you'd be more comfortable with a woman - I am, but ketchupqueen isn't - and tell her about your discomfort. If she's any good, she'll calm your fears. Get referrals from friends or other women, if possible.
But seriously, if you're having problem periods like that, you need to get properly examined. It could be anything and quite possibly easily fixed.
A friend of mine had problems with her period, and ended up having a 13 pound cyst removed. A little extreme, but seriously... Get yourself to someone competent.
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
My doctor's office has a ceiling of acoustic tiles. One tile in every examining room has been painted by some artistic staff member - pictures of nature, trees and streams and flowers, with little fairies thrown into the scene for interest. The painted tiles are directly above the "chair" - so when you lay back you can focus on this little picture and it takes your mind off ... things. I really ought to tell my GYN how helpful those tiles have been.
Everyone hates it, especially the first time. It becomes easier to ignore the discomfort and embarrassment after a few kids, by mentally disconnecting; but it never really becomes easy or "commonplace". Just, as was said, "a necessary evil".
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
Man, some exams are worse than others. Like anything that requires manually reaching my cervix. >.<
Relaxing does make a huge difference. Anything from the medical professional's demeanor to lovely tiles on the ceiling can affect that. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
My current OB/GYN looks me in the eye and talks about other things as much as possible during my cervical exams. It really helps.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I think the doctor I went to just didn't think it was all that necessary. She saw that I was completely freaking out and was just like, "Uh....here! Have some birth control!" When I went on the Patch, my pediatrician didn't think an exam was absolutely necessary because I was only 18 and not having sex. But now she says that since I'm about to turn 21, I should really have one.
I feel so bad for my friend; she said, "While I was in the ER, it was really embarassing. There were just SO many people all up in my business."
-pH
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
quote: I doubt it's endometriosis. One of my friends was just diagnosed with that, and I don't think my pain is nearly as bad as hers;
What CT said *points up*
I had severe endometriosis, and had absolutely NO pain whatsoever. They only discovered it when looking for something else.....
Farmgirl
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Unusual periods can be caused by a myriad of different things (a few of them scary, most of them not), so it's always a good idea to see a doctor about them.
I've been on birth control several times to regulate my periods (when not on them I tend to have one every 2-4 months) and now I also appreciate the preventing pregnancy side of them. It does take a lot of experimentation to find what works for you. I had to switch pills several times because of undesirable side effects (like nausea) and then had to switch to a non oral method (because taking them raised my cholesterol a lot - like 60 points).
Pelvic exams aren't fun, but I don't think they're that horrible either. My doctor didn't see a need for me to have one done until I was sexually active (at 24). Find a doctor and talk to them about it beforehand. Find one that you are comfortable with.
So, yeah, go talk to a doctor. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:I feel so bad for my friend; she said, "While I was in the ER, it was really embarassing. There were just SO many people all up in my business."
Yeah, I've yelled at people for that. Seriously. I don't care if they all look the same and you've seen hundreds. You haven't seen mine and I still deserve to have some privacy and respect. *shudders*
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
If you need to take anti-depressant for perimenopausal mood swings or PMS there is some good news. Mood swings associated with PMS are a direct seritonin effect, this mean that SSRIs work immediately. There is weeks of lag time before they take effect. This means that you don't have to take them all the time like you do for depression. Taking them when you are experiencing mood swings is enough.
Of course its harder when your body isn't following a predictable schedule.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I'm one of those folks who has zero modesty left, I really don't care what a doctor or nurse sees, because I know they aren't thinking "OOOH! look - she's naked!" They are looking with professional detachment, and it doesn't bother me one bit.
I will echo the endo statements already made and verified - some people have no pain, some people have severe pain. There is also a sneaky little disorder called adenomyosis, which is abnormal growth in the uterine wall, I had it as well as endo, and it can cause irregular as well as painful periods. Then there's PCOS. Had that one too.
One thing this thread has done is remind me that as soon as I get done with chemo, I need to have a bone density scan done. My gyn scheduled one a year after my hysterectomy as a baseline, but I cancelled the appt. and never re-scheduled. *wince* Bad idea,I know. I really need it done, my grandmother had problems with osteoporosis and I'm a white female who had a complete hysterectomy before 30.
Posted by Stasia (Member # 9122) on :
Speaking of privacy and respect...I feel the need to share a story along those lines. I probably shouldn't since I don't want to scare pH away from going for an annual exam...that and I don't really know any of you.
When I was a student, I went to the student health center for my annual exam, because it only cost $15. The doctor said, (I was already in the stirrups), "So today we have the medical students in the clinic and they're going to come observe this procedure." She wasn't asking me. She was telling me.
My reply was, "Ummm. WHAT? Ummm. No. Absolutely not."
And then she gave me a snippy, "We ARE a teaching clinic, you know."
To which I replied, "I don't care."
Then she didn't say another word to me except to tell me she was finished, but at least the medical students stayed out in the hallway during the exam.
While I understand the need for medical students to observe things like that, I couldn't believe she was actually offended at my request for privacy. I might even have reacted better if she had told me BEFORE I was in the stirrups. You can't just spring that on someone and expect a positive response.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
pH, I had to go to the ER at 17 for an ovarian cyst (it was like cramps times ten plus major nausea), it was about midnight, and just the most embarassing terrible experience. So I really feel for your friend.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Oh, Stasia, that's awful. At least she didn't pressure you to do it. I know I would've been mortified.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Stasia, that's terrible! My first pediatrician was a man, and one day when I was maybe thirteen and went in for my physical, he brought someone with him to observe. Fortunately, she was a woman. He asked if it was okay. And when it came time for THAT part (which was not nearly as embarassing or scary as the gyno, although I was much younger too, and that probably had something to do with it...plus it wasn't invasive like the gyno), he left the room, and she looked, instead.
I can't believe that your doctor would be so insensitive! But student clinics can be like that; the doctors just don't seem to care that much.
-pH
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Stasia, that's also against the rules in most places, teaching clinic or not. She should not have tried to pressure you into it; you're always allowed the right to refuse to have students present.
When I was going to an OB/GYN at a "teaching hospital", there was an address update form you had to check at each visit, and there was a box on there to check that said, "I prefer not to have medical students present during my visit." There was also a sign up notifying you that you had the right to have an assistant or nurse present (doctor was male) and that you had the right to ask medical students to leave.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
When I've been to the teaching hospital I was always asked ahead of time if I would allow someone to observe. I usually say yes, because I know they gotta learn and like I said, modesty in the medical setting is not a big issue for me. That said, I have never had a gyn or OB exam in a teaching hospital and I would definitely be uncomfortable with a roomful of people watching me get a pelvic, and I think the doctor was very rude to Stasia. Sorry you went through that.
I've never, ever been examined by a gyn without another female present in the room, unless my husband was present. Even when I was examined by a female doctor, she had a nurse present. My gyn had a very small practice and if both his nurses were busy he'd grab his office manager and she'd come in the room with us. I don't know if that's just common policy or if it's mandated somehow, but I know that through all my years of exams (and there have been many, since I've had so many complications and three pregnancies) never was I alone in the room with a doctor when I was undressed.
Posted by Stasia (Member # 9122) on :
Needless to say, I didn't go back there again.
I'm sure part of my mortification was that I was very young and had only had one annual exam before this incident (this was over ten years ago when I was an undergraduate) because I think that if a doctor asked me now I'd probably consider it as long as s/he asked first and didn't try to bully me.
I've had a lot of different doctors since then (I've been averaging about one new insurance company, or lack thereof, per year since then) and all of them have been very good about privacy and making sure I felt comfortable.
Posted by Kitsune (Member # 8290) on :
I went to this free clinic place to get birth control when I became sexually active. It's a place that keeps things confidential, and I didn't need my parents permission or signature or anything. They give you free stuff, like birth control, condoms, pap smears, pregnancy tests, and blah. It's pretty rundown, though.
The main doctor there is a male doctor. The first time I came in (I was 15) and asked for birth control pills, he said, "You know, birth control isn't a free ticket to have as much sex as you want. You don't to be a slut, now do you?"
As rundown as that place is, I still expected some kind of professionalism. Sigh.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
As long as we're asking questions, I've got one. I am a 24 year old, white, non-smoking, rarely drinking female. About a month ago I experienced some dryness and discomfort during intercourse. When I had my annual last month, the doc checked under the slide and said everything looked "the best I've seen all week."
Now I've gotten a note in the mail saying my Pap needs to be redone. How worried about cervical cancer should I be? My boyfriend and I have both had other partners before, so I most likely have HPV. OTOH, I'm a worrier and tend to gravitate towards the worst case scenerio. Any thoughts?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
What about if you get yeast infections, like, a lot?
Even if I just end up falling asleep in my jeans for like, a short nap, BAM! Yeast infection the next day.
If my pediatrician has to put me on an antibiotic, she always writes prescriptions for two diflucans, too. And I usually have to take one a few days later, and another at the end of the antibiotics.
Avid, you had your exam a month ago, and they JUST told you to have it redone? That seems weird to me.
-pH
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I was supposed to get my test results last week, but I was training a new employee and couldn't make it. They mailed it to me after I missed the follow-up.
Good call about the yeast infections, though. I am prone to them. I hope it is something simple like that.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
These new wetprep pap smears are so good, they pick up more stuff than the old ones. So there are more false positives. I would get it redone, but I wouldn't worry.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Wetprep pap smears? Whatever they are, it's a safe bet they're not available here.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Thanks, Theaca. I'm with quid, though. What is a wetprep? I remember the doc spraying something on a piece of cardboard, so I suppose that's what it was.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Oh. I actually meant thinprep, not wetprep. It's when the pap is put in a jar of liquid instead of being spread on a slide. So if they sprayed a slide, it was the old kind. I didn't know those were still being used.
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/?ID=1053 This is what it looks like, but it is no longer just being studied, it is being widely used around the US.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
On the bright side, if they used the old one, it could just be background noise from the fixative making it abnormal. I'd much rather have the slide acting funny than bits of me acting funny.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Ummm. I just got my period for the third time in six or seven weeks.
Does somebody mind me emailing them about this?
-pH
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
pH, you can e-mail me if you want, but you need to go see a doctor.
You use the school clinic, right? If you don't want to go there, there are other options.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Okay, realized that it has been three times in FIVE weeks.
I don't wanna go to the school clinic because the nice lady doctor is never there. It's always the creepy man who says you have gonorrhea of the throat or an anyeurism.
I do know where the nice doctor's regular office is though, so maybe I could call and ask them where I should go, or if she can just see me herself.
-pH
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: Even if I just end up falling asleep in my jeans for like, a short nap, BAM! Yeast infection the next day.
Why is that, do you know? It seems weird to me that sleeping in jeans is different than wearing them all day. I've never had a problem with it.
--Mel
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I have no idea. But I can't sleep in my jeans/underwear. Maybe because you move more when you're awake? Because I think the reason it happens if you fall asleep in your jeans and underwear is that you don't get enough air or something.
-pH
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'm really prone to yeast infections, too. It's a pain in the butt. I've been off sugar for about a year, and I still get them... I have to go to great lengths to make sure I don't get overheated, because that just makes it worse. You have my sympathies. Posted by Miriya (Member # 7822) on :
Hmm I don't get yeast infections but my daughter did. I find that if she takes an acidophilus supplement regularly, it reduces the frequency significantly. This is the good bacteria in yogurt, by the way. My daughter takes the supplement because she can't eat yogurt (allergies).
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I eat yoghurt (with bacteria, as opposed to gelatin) every single day, and have for the last year. It's the only form of friendly bacteria we can get here. It's helped me some, but not enough. Don't know why.
pH, I've just learned that low progesterone relative to estrogen can cause wonky periods that are short, frequent, and hellish, so when you see a doc next, make sure you get your hormone levels tested. Hopefully you can get this taken care of now rather than waiting decades like me. And I'll be making sure I get mine tested the next time I see a doc, too.
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Already thought of all that.![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
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)![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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![[Frown]](frown.gif)
But it seems to last for less time than when I do bleed.![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
(Why me? Why me????? ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)