Since Boo was six weeks old, I've been on the mini-pill. My cycles got pretty regular again (though not as regular as before). It was fine up until January or so. That's when Boo decided not to nurse so much.
Now he's only nursing once or twice a day. My periods are also coming closer together, lasting longer, are VERY heavy, and are very painful. The latest cycle started eighteen days ago, lasted twelve days, and now I started again. And by very heavy, I'm talking soaking through a super heave tampon AND a maxipad in about an hour and a half.
My iron level is typically very low, so I've been taking vitamins the help keep it up. It seemed to be working, but now I'm tired a lot again.
The solution seems obvious: I need to be on stronger pills. But Boo is still nursing some, and I don't want that to stop. And I have very unpleasant side effects from other hormonal birth control anyway.
So should I stop taking them altogether and do something else for birth control, or should I try something else?
(I'd just go ask my doctor, but I have no insurance and don't have an extra $50 for an office visit at the moment.)
[ April 25, 2005, 01:29 AM: Message edited by: Boon ]
Posted by Mama Squirrel (Member # 4155) on :
Can't help...but feeling very lucky to be one of the few not to have periods while on the mini-pill. Of course, it would have helped the stress level if the doctor had told me it was possible I wouldn't get it. I actually took a preg test a couple months after Mooselet was born because I thought I was preggo again.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
That sounds like something that would make me stop taking it, to me. I can't even take the mini-pill, so I don't know what to tell you.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
I suggest you call your doctor and ask for a phone consultation. If you're an established patient, or one for whom s/he's written prescriptions for and you have concerns about said prescription, I would think he'd answer your questions without charging you for an office visit.
Good luck. Birth control issues can be tricky.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I want to give you medical advice, but I have none nor am I qualified to give you any but I have some other type to give you, the kind that comes from working with people with no insurance:
Using your access to the internet, try finding a free clinic in your area. Your local hospital usually has a help line that can refer you to these places. There is always help for people who can't pay. This really sounds like a serious problem that needs attention, Boon. Let me know if you need help finding a clinic and I would be more than happy to find you one.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
What about Planned Parenthood?
Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :
Boon,
The mini-pill is a progestin-only product. The other BCs you refer to have a combination of an estrogenic portion AND the progestin portion. Right now, your cycle is out of regularity and the longer-than-normal and too-frequent periods are a result of this hormonal imbalance. In fact, the minipill might be making it worse. After your delivery, your body might not have had enough time to reregulate its cycle.
You need to check with a doctor! Planned parenthood is an excellent idea if you can't see a doctor!
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Okay, I talked to a doctor friend, and she advised me to stop taking the minipill immediately, and to start the regular pills tomorrow (double dose for 1 day, then regular dose from then on). The theory on that is that the regular pill will help my current cycle stop sooner, and give me a break before the next one. (I'm pretty sure that's the reasoning.)
This advise was meant only for me, and should not be construed as advise for anyone else.
After the one month supply of the regular pill runs out, I plan to discontinue it and switch to a barrier method. Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
Good luck. I hope things work out for you.
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
You could use barrier method and the pill just to be on the safe side, during the transition. Or, more specifically, use condoms because a diaphragm may not fit right after the birth of a new child. But then, I don't trust diaphragms anyway. My my had like 4 of us while using them.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Okay, I obviously have to be more specific. We'll be using IVF along with the pill for the next month, then IVF and condoms.
Now, I bet you all really wanted to know that!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
What's IVF? All I can think of is in-vitro fertilization.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
My bad. I meant VCF. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Okay. I even dictionary-searched onelook for IV?, but found nothing resembling birth control except IVH, a French acronym for abortion, and I knew that didn't make sense. VCF I know.
That sounds like it should work then. Good deal. But if your problems don't get better with the new regimen, or you get bad on the pill, please go to PP! They say you're supposed to get an appt. in 24 hrs or less.
[ April 20, 2005, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Be aware that VCF (like most spermicides) has a relatively high failure rate. In combination with another method, you are probably safe. But I would not (again) rely on it alone.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Yes, that's why we'll be using it in combination with other stuff. Thank you for making it clear though.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I'm doing good, so far. The ick stopped yesterday afternoon, and the cramps went away soon after. So far, so good.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
All I can think of is in-vitro fertilization.