[imported_BingChiLing]

I've been seeing several doctors in the past year and none of the doctors that I see seem to be very concerned. I have been on on birth control pills since I was 16 because of a blood problem but I stopped in Oct 05 bc I no longer had health insurance. When I got insurance agian I was going to wait for my next period to come before taking them again. I never got my period. Instead I got 2 UTIs within the same month and have gained over 40lbs since Nov.

In July 05 I started seeing doctors because My periods became very light (almost like it was just spotting) and lasted for only one day. I'm always tired no matter how much sleep I get and what I do throughout the day. I have an increase in gas problems. I look like I'm bloated all the time. I've taken several pregnancy tests (urine and blood) and all come out negative. I've tried water pills incase I was retaining water. I tried taking my birth control pills again and it didn't work. Doctors I've seen seem to think it could be normal and show no concern. I don't feel normal. I'm a generally petite thin framed girl and so is the rest of my family, and I keep gaining weight each week and am very overly emotional at times.

I'm very tired of being dismissed as if there is nothing wrong with me. When I feel like there obviously is something wrong with me. I couldn't be getting menopause at the age of 25, right? One doctor gave me thyroid medication which I took for a month and still didn't help only made me even more emotional. Please give me a clue as to what it could possibly be so that my next doctor's visit I am more informed. Thank you.

[AFemaleProdigy]

It sounds to me like your hormones are out of balance. Taking birth control changes your body's delicate balance of hormones. Each woman will react to the birth control differently. Some women will experience side effects for a short period of time and some for over a year after discontinuing. If you have taken birth control for a long period of time, your body is now "programmed" to operate at certain hormone levels. When you stop taking the BC, your body has to level out the hormones and return to "normal". This can take a VERY long time. Since you started taking BC at such a young age, your probably not familiar with the symptoms of periods that your body would have normally produced. So this would make them seem very strong and abnormal to you. Your body's hormone levels are slowly changing. As they change, they will make you have abnormal periods or none at all, moodiness, weight gain or weight loss, cravings for sugar and carbs, acne, cramps and/or water retention. Your doctors know this and that is probably why they are not showing any concern. The fact of the matter is that when your body has to balance out it's hormones, there's nothing you can do but wait. When I stopped taking Depo Provera after 5 years of use, it took years for my cycles to get back to normal!

Did your doctor give you a thyroid test before giving you thyroid medication??? He should have. You should not take anything unless you know you need it. Trust me on that. I have had my thyroid tested twice during my ordeal with Depo. Some of the symptoms you are experiencing can be an indication a thyroid problem, but you need to be tested for that before taking medication.

If you are still in doubt, you can request a hormone panel. This will test your hormone levels to see if the are too far out of balance, in which case you can look into hormone therapy.

Oh... and it is not a good idea to stop and start birth control like that. If you decide to start again, you need to stay on it long enough for your hormones to balance out. That is why you probably did not notice any benefits from taking it the second time.

But my honest opinion is that it's just going to take time for your hormones to level out and your cycles to get back to normal. I feel for you. I really do. I went through the same thing, but much worse. My hair started falling out!!

[imported_BingChiLing]

Thank you

Thank you very much for your response. It would have been nice for the doctors that I've seen to explain this to me. It does make a lot of sense now.

I did get tested for my thyroid level but it wasn't abnormal...only close to being too high. So the doctor gave me the thyroid medication anyways in case it would "help." The medication only made me more irritable.

But your explaination makes me feel more informed so that when I do make my next visit, I feel that I have firmer grasp on what is going on.

Thanks again.

[imported_adc_wife]

Hi. I just want to tell you that you are not alone. I have the same problems so I went to the doctor and after several test, he told me that I had PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome.) I told him him about about my mood swings, not having a peroid for months, and my weight gain, and he said that all of those is because my body doesn't prevent enough estrogen. I hope that helps you.

[donnal9884]

hi,im having the same problem at the minute,i have had at least 2 periods in 3 years my problem started after i had my first son by emergency ceaserean,and still managed to fall pregnant twice after with having no periods,i have also mentioned this to the doctors on several occasions and they havent seemed concerned,i have eventually managed to request an ultrasound scan being done and im getting sent for one,but the same as yourself ive had my thyroids tested and are normal so it might help for you to request to have an ultrasound beind done,hope that helps.

[Lily]

have u ever heard or thought of going to those chinese herbal dr, they might help u.

[26LEENOPERIOD4]

I Hope You Get This

I AM 26 I HAVENT HAD MY PERIOD IN 4 MONTHS I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A PITUATRY GLAND TUMOR I TOOO GAINED WEIGHT EVERY WEEK I GAINED 40 POUNDS IN A YR GO TO A NEROULOGIST TELL HIM ANY PROBLEM YOU ARE HAVING AND I MEAN EVERYTHING EVEN IF YOU THINK THERE NOT RELATED OK I PROMISE ITLL PAY OFF IF YOU WANT TO READ UP ON IT YOU CAN GO TO MYSPACE UNDER EMAIL ADDY lifelearnfromit*yahoo.com you can read up on the disease hope this helps

[mel28]

28 and having the same problem....

i also have the same problem and have been seeing my regular doctor and can get no answers what so ever. i havent had a period in months and i keep gaining weight, short of breath, taking naps often grrrrrr its irritating because it unexplainable. i have taken pregnancy test and negative. idk whats going on. i was on the depo for but got off nov 06 and was on it for 6 years but i was good to have a regular periods up until 4 months ago and jan will be my 5th month without a period its creeping me out i'm soooo lost and have no idea what to do or whats going on