Pain Med's induced Menopause
Hi there, I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has experienced what I'm going through? I'll explain: I am 44yrs old, My husband and I have been togeher for 20yrs., he "shoots blanks" so I went off any sort of birth control about a year into our relationship, a few years (maybe 8 or 9) I began to suffer from Endometriosis and really heavy bleeding, I had Laparoscopy, and they removed some scar tissue. I had total relief after this procedure. Not long after, I re- injurded my back(herniated disc) and I now suffer from Chonic Nerve Pain or what they call a "failed back surgery",. A year or two of trying every pain releif procedure/drug/therapy with non of them bringing relief, my doctor put me on Methadone, a very, very high dose- 80mg/3 times a day, well I basically turned into a walking zombie, lost my memory and my periods ceased. About 3 yrs into it, Sex started to become very painful, my doc said it was probably the drugs drying my vagina (I really have to be careful and drink lots of water because it was sucking the moisture right out of me!).
That was 5 yrs. ago, and I finally said to myself and my doctor-enough is enough! In 2 month's I cut 75% of my dose, I feel so much better! The withdrawls were awful and lasted well into a month though! Sex is still really painful and getting worse. I purchased K-Y Moisture Beads, and they help a bit.
About 4 wks ago I had strep throat and it didn't seem to want to go away, so my doc put me on antibiotics and of course I got a yeast infection, I did the 3 day "Monostat" balls, and after the first dose my Ovaries (mainly my left ) started really hurting, the next day I was haveing a nap and I couldn't sleep because of the deep acheing and the occasional stabing pain. The aching on both sides is still there even after the yeast infection meds. I've even got lower back pain, the kind you experience before your period, and my boobs are a bit sore! Does this mean I'm getting my period back?? I am going to make an apt. to see my doc. Does anyone have any feed back??
God that sounds awful! I can give you a non doctors 2 cents worth but thats probably all its worth. There is a special type of doctor who does pain. DH saw one and they have a wide range of things they do to resolve pain. My thought is that you need to talk to a new doctor to get a second opinion. Your first doctor might be doing exactly the right thing but having an expert who does nothing but pain issues could open up your eyes to new ways to deal with this. There are things like Tens Therapy. Non Narcotic Nerve Drugs, Numbing injections and maybe surgical solutions. Ovaries that are painful should be checked out asap!
Ok, outside of that you might want to talk to a new doctor specifically about sexual issues. I'm not sure what kind of doctor? We share lubrication issues. Mine are due to hormone problems and I'm still working on this but in the meantime there are good lubricants that we have made a regular part of our sex life. Have you ever done a hormone panel? It sounds almost likes yours have pooped out and maybe the answer here is to talk to a doctor about HRT? For me its made life a lot better. The whole anger, bad moods, memory shot thing got old really fast. HRT is a daily rub of some cream and I'm much more "good to go" then I've been in years.
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." ~ Janis Joplin
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