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The Period from Hell

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Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Wall o' Text warning.

I am, as the topic implies, on the period from hell. Just about a month ago, I started on treatment for PCOS, including metformin (insulin control), spironolactone (water pill that treats hirsutism), and ortho tricyclen lo, to make things all nice and scheduled. Or so I thought (dum dum dum!).

Halfway through my first pack of ortho, while I'm still in the light blue pills, I start my period. I think, "Oh, this isn't abnormal to have an irregular period for the first few packs. It'll be over in a couple of days, and I'll continue on." Or so I thought. It's now been three weeks of near constant excruciating hip and back pain (possibly unrelated), insane cramping, which is very abnormal for me, heavy bleeding (going through super plus tampons in two hours, like clockwork, or less), and general irritability and malaise. I've had periods longer than this before (once it was two months long), but it wasn't heavy at all. I could wear regular tampons and only have to change every 8 hours.

Guys, I'm totally at a loss. I start a new pack of pills in 5 days. I feel physically ill all the time now, and I'm emotional, tired, and weak-feeling. You'd think that if I trooped it through 3 weeks, I can troop through 5 more days, but I'm not sure I can. I know that the spironolactone can mess with your period, but I hope it's not like this every time. I don't think I could handle that.

I just needed to get that out. Has anyone who's been on the same, or nearly the same, treatment plan had the same problems? Any words of wisdom? Suggestions? Help!
05/22/2011
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Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
GO. TO. THE. DOCTOR. STAT!

Seriously, you're actually losing iron and becoming dehydrated with all that going on, and you need to let your practitioner know what's going on.
05/22/2011
Contributor: SexyLilPixi SexyLilPixi
Pretty much the same thing happened to me years ago on Desogen. It just didn't stop until I stopped the pill. Hormones have never agreed with me in that way, unfortunately.

It is crucial to go back to the doctor asap with something like that going on & feeling like you do.
05/22/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Please make an appointment with the same doctor who prescribed these meds to you, as soon as possible, Annemarie. Often if you call your hospital and say "I need to see Dr. [Jones], when is he next available?" they'll try to tell you he's booked for a few months, so if you ask which is the next walk-in day when he's staffed, they'll tell you a day within the next 3 or 4 business days. You can probably explain your situation and they will be able to find a way to get you in on the next business day, really.

That still has you waiting in misery, I know, but you need an adjustment in your medication (almost certainly), and the doctor needs to know that his/her preferred combination of drugs had a really terrible side effect, so he can warn the next person who sets out to take them. And you need to see your own doctor, not just the next guy available, because he knows your background, knows why he chose the drugs he chose, and will know how best to replace them.

To cure the short-term, Chilipepper said you're losing a lot of water and iron and she's right---take a multivitamin and drink a lot of water. This should help with your fatigue, a little bit. You also might want to pick up some Pedialyte (balanced electrolyte for when babies get dehydrated, and it's available in most grocery stores by the baby formula and baby food). I've seen this prescribed when people have extended bouts of diarrhea, to replenish some of the body's lost stores.

Does the bleeding stop or slow down if you take a bath? If so, spend time in the bath, or at minimum laying down this weekend while you wait for your appointment. A heat pack if that helps you, and an ice pack if that helps you. Do you have a roommate to help you out a little bit?
05/22/2011
Contributor: Sex'и'Violence Sex'и'Violence
Go to the Doctor, stop using the pills until you get in to see him.
05/22/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by Sex'и'Violence
Go to the Doctor, stop using the pills until you get in to see him.
DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, just STOP a medication unless you are having a severe allergic reaction. Medications build slowly into your blood stream and need to be weaned out just as slowly. With medications, such as the metformin, I would say this is especially true because it could have some serious effects on your blood sugar levels. 13 years in the medical field (in pharmacies and working closely with doctors and nurses), I know that the advice for stopping medications are OFTEN to wean. It could be that you could just stop some of those, but unless you clear it with your doctor, I wouldn't recommend it.

That said, tomorrow, at 8 a.m. (or whenever they open), call your doctor's office. Tell them that you started this regimen of medications and that since you have been menstruating heavily for three weeks. Tell them that you don't know if it's going to stop at any point, that you're feeling lethargic and that it's painful. Tell them that you would like to either have YOUR doctor call you or that you would like to be seen THAT day. They'll likely get you in.
05/22/2011
Contributor: ss143 ss143
Call your dr asap they are the best person for advice and to tell you whats going on. If you cant get into the dr go to the er especially since you are bleeding so heavy its best if you get seen and they will be able to check your iron and hydration. Good luck to you and feel better
05/22/2011
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
I'm not too worried about anemia/iron deficiency. I'm on prenatals--yeah, I know, prenatal vitamins and birth control? MAKE UP YOUR MIND!-- which have 28 mg of iron.

I will call my doctor's nurse on Monday and see what can be done.

Thanks for all of your suggestions!
05/22/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by BBW Talks Toys
DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, just STOP a medication unless you are having a severe allergic reaction. Medications build slowly into your blood stream and need to be weaned out just as slowly. With medications, such as the metformin, I would say ... more
I was JUST going to say this. Many meds should not be withdrawn without medical approval.

Also, if you are still feeling bad, fatigued, dehydrated, in pain and still bleeding, an ER visit may be in order. You really don't know what is happening to cause these symptoms and the ER will call your doctor and treat you.

You need medical help ASAP. Please go to the ER if you are still going through a heavy flow tampon every 2 hours or less. In fact, pads are a better idea if you are in pain. A pad soaked in less than 2 hours usually requires immediate medical attention. DO NOT go to a "take care clinic" they do not have the staff trained or the equipment to deal with issues like this. Please see the ER right away.

Please take care of yourself.
05/22/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Annemarie
I'm not too worried about anemia/iron deficiency. I'm on prenatals--yeah, I know, prenatal vitamins and birth control? MAKE UP YOUR MIND!-- which have 28 mg of iron.

I will call my doctor's nurse on Monday and see what can be done. ... more
Most of that iron in prenatals is not absorbed at all and only lies in your colon for bacteria to grow on. I have worked in Woman's Health and nobody, whether pregnant or not, needs this much iron from an artificial source.

You are still bleeding heavily and the prenatal vitamin does nothing to treat the real issue. Prenatal vitamins do nothing to protect the lining of your uterus or prevent dehydration or pain. They don't even prevent anemia. Please see someone right away.

If this were myself or one of my daughters, we'd be in the ER right now. Please take care of yourself. Your doctor or one of his partners is On Call 24 hours a day. There is NO reason to wait until Monday. He makes a bazillion dollars and knew he'd get phone calls on weekends, please either call him NOW or visit the Emergency Room.

This is really worrying me.
05/22/2011
Contributor: kinksters kinksters
yeah, i hope you've heeded the above wisdom an seen a doc by now. if not, go.
05/22/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Update?
05/23/2011
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Update: The bleeding backed off a bit throughout the day yesterday, by the evening hours, I was just a bit over normal, and now I'm back to normalish (6 hours on a S+) and the pain is manageable.

I think I've determined the issue: NSAID pain relievers causing bleeding. One of my meds warns against them due to causing excessive bleedingg, and I didn't heed it, and took some Aleve for the hip pain. I haven't had any NSAIDs today, and there's no ridiculous bleeding. Could be post hoc ergo propter hoc, but, I think it's likely. (I'm not a doctor, I just play one on TV.)
05/23/2011
Contributor: BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
Quote:
Originally posted by Annemarie
Update: The bleeding backed off a bit throughout the day yesterday, by the evening hours, I was just a bit over normal, and now I'm back to normalish (6 hours on a S+) and the pain is manageable.

I think I've determined the issue: ... more
Three weeks is still a long time and a trip to the doctor would probably be a good idea. But yes, all NSAIDs thin the blood. I think the only thing you might be able to take is Tylenol, which is a pain reliever and fever reducer, not an anti-inflammatory.
05/23/2011
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Quote:
Originally posted by BBW Talks Toys
Three weeks is still a long time and a trip to the doctor would probably be a good idea. But yes, all NSAIDs thin the blood. I think the only thing you might be able to take is Tylenol, which is a pain reliever and fever reducer, not an ... more
Yeah, I've been sticking to Tylenol, but even 1500 mg (3 OTC pills) does nothing for me. I'd be afraid to take 4 at a time.
05/23/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
I would say at least a phonecall to your doctor is a good idea, now while it's the work week. You don't have to go in, but just mention over the phone you've been bleeding for three weeks and ask if that is normal, or if something should be done.

(I guess the people in the medical community probably would say you need a full-blown appointment, but I'm self-insured, and I try to avoid emergency rooms no matter what, and I like to take advantage of phonecalls before making an appointment if at all possible.)
05/24/2011
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I would say at least a phonecall to your doctor is a good idea, now while it's the work week. You don't have to go in, but just mention over the phone you've been bleeding for three weeks and ask if that is normal, or if something should ... more
Yeah, that's the plan. I wasn't able to get around to it today, but, I will call my doc. I'm not self insured, but things are tight right now, and $25 copays add up quick. That was the main reason why I didn't go into the ER... it's just too expensive and would stress my family out like mad, when things are already stressful enough around here.


In other news, I believe my period is done! Woo-fucking-hoo! Right on schedule too, with 3 days left of the sugar pills, which is where I had usually stopped when I was taking it awhile ago. I'm guessing that the bleeding-like-mad part was the NSAIDs and perhaps the last wind of the period. I'll ask my OBGYN.


Thanks so much guys for all of your support and advice! I love this community.
05/25/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Annemarie
Yeah, that's the plan. I wasn't able to get around to it today, but, I will call my doc. I'm not self insured, but things are tight right now, and $25 copays add up quick. That was the main reason why I didn't go into the ER... ... more
Congratulations!

It's probably worth a word to the doctor for the sake of the next patient (s)he puts on your medication cocktail, then---(s)he'll know to warn against taking NSAIDs while on the other stuff. A little word of warning could save somebody else the same amount of misery, and a good doctor would want to know.

But mostly, congratulations on making it through.
05/25/2011
Contributor: ss143 ss143
Im glad to read you are doing better. Take care and take it easy
05/26/2011