[LanaBear]

UGH... Posting this in gyno to encompass birth control, periods and my uterus, lol.

So, I had my annual pap this morning. I've never once in my life had anything odd during my exams or paps.

While my Dr was examining me, he asked me how my periods have been. I told him, like clockwork, every 23-25 days, however they've been quite a bit heavier the last year than they have in the past and don't even ask me about PMS because it is horrible. I dread life at certain points during the month.

He looked up at me while he was feeling around and told me that my uterus was extremely large and wants to get me in for an ultrasound. Which, yeah, probably explains some things. Bad back aches, heavy bleeding, painful sex at times, etc.

So then we started talking about PMS/PMDD. He recommended that I start taking a low dose pill for 3 months to see how it affects my PMS. I told him that wouldn't be my first option because I got my tubes tied for a reason, to get off birth control... He asked me if I didn't get my tubes tied would I still be on the pill. My answer with no hesitation is Yes. As much as I didn't care for them, I would still be on them. I never wanted to take my chances with any other option, knowing I do not want anymore kids, I don't even want the chance of anymore kids. He told me he would like me to try it but to get my rear back in and see him if it doesn't help.

So... I walked out of the office with 3 months of BC... It is sitting hear, on my desk, staring me in the face. I'm still just kind of dumbstruck by my visit anyways. I'm worried over the whole uterus thing. I'm not even googling it because next thing I know, it will say Death by Uterus or something of the same. I'm mad about the prospect of even contemplating going back on the pill, even though I've had a tubal. Stupid hormones, stupid body, stupid uterus, lol.

I don't know what to do at this point. Try the pill and improve my PMS/PMDD? Try the pill and risk another go around of a drop in my libido? UGH... I just don't know.

[Mes T]

Ugh, I started typing out a response along the lines of DON'T TAKE THE PILLS, but if they're only for 3 months? And could potentially make your periods a little easier?

What I don't understand though is how the "beneficial" effects of the pills would continue once you stopped taking them? That's my biggest question.

I think giving you the BC was an easy out for the doctor, which is why I bet most doctors hand out the pills in the first place. There could be reasons that explain your increase in flow, like diet or some kind of recent lifestyle change, that your doc may not have had the know-how to investigate.

[LanaBear]

Yeah... I adore my Dr, I do, but I was just blah, when in there, I didn't really know what to say. I think he is saying, try them for 3 months, if they help, continue, if not let's try something else.

I will probably know more after my ultrasound which is May 17th. Or, I'll have a lot more questions for him. I know a lot of it is due to diet and lifestyle changes, but... not sure how any other changes would help. I keep myself on a pretty restricted diet which we discussed and he didn't feel that was an issue. He is thinking my weight loss over the last few years has more to do with it than anything else.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

In my opinion the pill definately helps reduce the blood flow of your periods, as well as PMT, just some back ache instead of ahhh back ache stomach, ouch, grrrr, moody...

But, I've been off the pill myself for 16 months, and one thing that always works for me is , knowing what's going on, breathing deep in and out, water, water and a walk...It seems to work... enough to get through it.....

Does your stomach get bloated as well?

[Mes T]

Oh if the pills help and then he'll want to continue them, I'd definitely suggest not taking them in the first place! You had your tubes tied... is he offering a "free" reversal with these packages of pills? You know what I mean? All that just to go off birth control, and now to go back on it again just to alleviate a few symptoms?

I think your heavy flow might reduce on its own with time, especially if weight loss had something to do with it. Maybe allowing your body to adjust on its own, naturally, will work just as well.

I know what you mean about not knowing what to say when actually there at the doctor's. I'm like that too and I mentally kick myself every time.

Can your flow or PMS be quite crippling? As CW suggested maybe there's something you can do for mental health purposes like.. taking a long walk or a nice bath or whatever, may work just as well as friggin' pills yet be cheaper and healthier.

[LanaBear]

I've never really bloated until the last couple of months. Now it is incredibly noticeable, to me anyways. At certain times I feel like a cow about to give birth.

I do try to consciously make myself aware of my moodiness, but, sometimes it doesn't work all that well. Hubby will ask what is wrong and I turn and look at him exorcist style, I'm sure, and say "Nothing". I do, more than anything, HAVE to run everyday now. If I don't get a good 4 miles in, I just, I can tell that not doing it has an effect on my moods. I read a lot and I'm teaching myself to knit. Anything to keep my brain from going overboard.

I guess it is all up in the air until we find out why my uterus has all the sudden decided to have its own life and grow.

Anyone have an enlarged uterus and know why? LOL

[CHANDLERS WISH]

It is common to have an enlarged Uterus, your cycle is normal, so that's a good sign, you will have to wait for the ultrasound Which they only do naturally to make sure it's not cancerous but in usual terms, it is normal to occur from 30 years of age...or from an operation there.

But, I asked if you were bloating because you said that it hurts when you have sex, also you've had alot of stress..

I know you hate the word IBS but, often stress brings this on, it affects your cycle, it affects, your uterus that being that it tilts, or enlargens sometimes and it definately bloats your stomach and makes you think you are pregnant when you see that tummy

So, in the meantime, I would suggest you stick to greens, fish, chx, no dairy if possible or spices for a week or two and just see if that all calms down....

[LanaBear]

I have had a lot of stress. LOLs, you know me too well. I'm working on it though. Just too incredibly busy with stuff.

I'll go with the greens, lol, NO FISH, you know I don't eat anything out of the water, but I'll do the chicken and I do very little dairy anyways.

Don't think it is IBS, but I'll have to do some research. I'm extremely regular.

[ItsASecret]

What I don't understand though is how the "beneficial" effects of the pills would continue once you stopped taking them? That's my biggest question.

It alters levels of present real hormones, sometimes the change up can get things back into gear quite quickly hence only 3 months worth of pills.

There could be reasons that explain your increase in flow, like diet or some kind of recent lifestyle change, that your doc may not have had the know-how to investigate.

Absolutely. They could mention diet or increase some exercise and so forth but they are not nutritionists so they are not going to sit a patient down for an hour going over 100's of food item menus that *could* help. They just give the general info and if a patient wants to follow it they can look into it themselves.

Your tubes are already tied up, the birth control part is already taken care of. The pill will not affect the effectiveness of your current protection. Tubals are already far more effective than any pill. As for birth control it is not satan in a box, be careful some bloggers will report things of the like lol, they are designed for a specific purpose. Doctors can take advantage of that purpose for other symptoms because of the way the pills work, they are not made to make a person think they are nuts, they are not there to make you feel like a pile of garbage, they are not made to eliminate sex drive or orgasms and so forth (again as so many bloggers may report). They have a purpose and those pills do help other symptoms and at times 3 months is plenty of time to see a result and why a doctor will throw the option on the table and give a prescription right there instead of thinking it over and waiting another 2 months for a new appointment.

Thing is if a person is terrified, mortified, horrified, distrusting, or downright uncomfortable with pills or anything given by a doctor they simply will not take them. Entirely up to the person a doctor can only write a prescription down, if you do not take it to the pharmacy there is nothing he can do to make you. Problem from that is going back to the medical doctor and saying no I want something else but nothing medicine related (I am not saying you will do this Lana as you may be up for other alternatives rather than BC). The docs are trained to treat in a flow chart fashion, you present with X Y Z you are going to be treated as such. Try one thing and if it does not work something else is often tried, no big deal medicine prepares for those outcomes. If a patient tries it all then at least they tried and maybe be up to some ol' fashioned luck to help them out.

[LanaBear]

Thanks IAS for your response...

I'm still thinking and still on the fence. My biggest concern with getting back on the pill is the sexual libido issue. I don't want to go through that again, not in a million years. I've done a lot to overcome that aspect of my life. I'd like to think that maybe now that I'm more aware of that, that maybe it wouldn't be that big of a problem, but, I don't know.

I'm not making any decisions right now. I'll talk to my Dr again on the 17th after I have a couple weeks to just go over everything, etc.