I'm new with a question...

Hello
About a month and a half ago, I visted my gyn to talk to her about a hyterectomy. The reason I was interested in getting one was because I have such heavy periods that are painful and I'm so tired the week before, during and a few days afterward. Basically I just feel terrible for about 3 weeks a month. It was next to impossible for me to go anywhere or do anything for about 3 days a month because I bled so heavily that I needed to be close to the bathroom.

I have MS, so she was hesitant to do the hysterectomy because the meds they use to put you to sleep during surgery can play havoc on the CNS and cause an exacerbation.

She did lots of tests and nothing showed except that the lining of my uterus is very thick and I have cysts on my ovaries. So at the ripe old age of 43, she put me on birth control pills.

Now, every two weeks I spot or have a period. Today my emotions are topsy turvey! I feel like crying over nothing I actually feel gloomy or as if something bad were going to happen. I know it's my darn hormones...Plus I'm just tired and feel unmotivated. There are so many things I need to do, but I want to take a bowl of ice cream to bed with me and eat, watch TV and sleep.

Fatigue is a terrible symptom for me w/ just the MS, now add having the hormone roller coaster ride every 2 weeks is about to put me over the edge.

The pain is MUCH better! My periods are nothing like they were. (no heavy bleeding)
I don't want to call my gyn because I don't want to go through anymore tests and I feel like I haven't given the pills a fair shot yet.
I've heard that it takes about 3 months to get regulated on BC pills.

Anyone w/ experience? Can you share?

Thanks in advance
Jingle T~

[DianaB]

You need to stay in contact with your doctor until you get the pills figured out. It sounds to me like you need to be on a different kind of pill. Sometimes you have to try some different ones to figure out what's best for you. Call your doctor's office and explain what's been going on and see if you need to come back in. They might be able to prescribe something else without you having to go back in for an appointment.

[Ponyup]

I think she should speak to your doctor about possibly going on a pill where you don't have your period every month.....it's really helped me. I've been on yaz now for just over a year. it took about 6 months for my body to get used to it, but now it's great. Depo might be a good option for you also, you get a shot once a year & have no periods. But their are a lot of risks with depo so you should talk it over with your doctor. In my experience it takes about 2 months for my body to settle after I switch pills, but then it's great.

[Lindsey]

When I first started birth control pills it took about 3 or 4 months for everything to become regular. It's also possible you might need a different dosage. Most likely, your doctor put you on a pretty low dose of hormones. I was taking a very low dosage with the first pills I tried, but I found that if I didn't take them at the EXACT same time every day, if I was an hour or two late, I would start spotting within the next couple of days or even have a full blown period, so my doctor ended up switching me to a higher dosage of hormones. You also might find a change between triphasic and monophasic pills.
If you're really concerned, talk to your doctor again. You might want to wait it out a few more weeks to see if it improves.

[judy]

Have you checked with your MS specialist? He/she may have some information about how the meds are affecting you.

My daughter has MS. My prayers are with you.

[Janet]

Nothing I can really add here, you've been given some great advice. I just hope you can start feeling better and those monthly's not quite so bothersome.