OT- The Pill

[goinback]

Has anyone ever had success using the pill to regulate an awful cycle? Mine is so awful. I am in pain two weeks out of every month, and then it lasts about 10 days. I just had a physical, and everything is normal "there", but I am thinking about asking the doctor to put me on the pill if it would help. Thanks!

 

[T. Lynn]

That's the reason I went on when I was younger. Really bad cramps, puking, long and heavy.

I use to go to school and the nurse would say "your that girl, your going home". I felt so wanted...

Anyway, it was the best thing I did. Years later I still have no more cramps, last 2 days max and very minimal.

 

[wishspirit]

I used to get bad cramps to i would double over in pain as well as really heavy bleeding and for about 10 days, which made me worry about anemia. Went on the pill (perscibed for my acne) and it made it ALOT better! I still have cramps which are sometimes painful, but nowhere as bad as before as well as lighter bleeding and for no more than a week. Ask your doctor which is the best pill to go on, cause some are better than others when it comes to this kind of thing!

Best of Luck!

 

[magiclj]

As a teen I had terrible cramps, so I went on it then. After kids the cramps went away. My husband got fixed so I went off after the second child. About five years later I had terrible pain when I ovulated. From that point until my period came, the kids could not even sit on my lap. Sometimes I could barely walk. The pill worked great. I am still taking it. Lighter more regular periods and no pain.

 

[LaDolce]

Yes, the pill will help with all of that - it did for me. But you should also ask about endometriosis. A lot of what you mentioned are symptoms - believe me, I should know. A lot of endo patients control it with the pill and it helps for a long time. Endo isn't a fatal disease, it's an autoimmune issue - just a condition where your body creates lesions that cause you pain and bleeding. But it goes undiagnosed in tens of thousands of women a year. Hopefully you don't have it - just something to keep in mind. I suffered through years of bad cramps and crazy periods because a lot of doctors aren't as educated as they should be on endo. I just don't want to see other women suffer. Hopefully, whatever the case, the pill will do the trick for you

 

[goinback]

Thanks guys! I think I will talk to my doc about it. I had not considered the possibility of Endo. I will mention that too. One more question...does the pill help with crabbiness?

 

[Hedy]

Thanks guys! I think I will talk to my doc about it. I had not considered the possibility of Endo. I will mention that too. One more question...does the pill help with crabbiness?

Somewhat (however, I'm on the pill for PCOS, so it's possible the control of that is helping my mood). There's a new Pill called Yaz that claims to control PMDD, that might be an idea.

 

[tlbwriter]

What kind of exam did you have? A physical exam will tell you if things are structurally normal, but it doesn't address hormones, or the possibility of endometriosis or fibroids, both of which can cause heavy, painful periods. BCP really helped with my fibroid issues.

 

[jocotter]

Both me and my daughter successfully used the pill to regulate our periods and lessen cramps.

 

[spima3]

Well, I guess I'm the exception here. I have been prescribed BC pills off and on throughout my life, different ob/gyns. For actual birth control as well as mentral issues.

I hated them. I felt worse on them then I did without them. Headaches, breakthrough bleeding (the whole time I took the pill), nausea, bloating, just overall felt like crap. I was always told, give it time. For actual BC, 9 months, I felt like crap the whole entire time.

I preferred the problem to the solution!

lori

 

[azgal81]

I had horrible cramps the pill has lessened them although they aren't gone completely but it's better. I was usually fairly regular sometimes a week or so off but it also helped with that. There are many many brands of pills as well the doctor will put you on the best fit. I would try it!

 

[cepmom]

What kind of exam did you have? A physical exam will tell you if things are structurally normal, but it doesn't address hormones, or the possibility of endometriosis or fibroids, both of which can cause heavy, painful periods. BCP really helped with my fibroid issues.

this is very timely for me! I just had a pelvic MRI this morning...I found out last month that I have a fibroid that is the cause of my abnormal periods. Looking into Uterine Fibroid Embolization so the interventional radiologist ordered the MRI. Also considering taking BCP instead...good to hear that it helped you

OP ~ did your Dr do an ultrasound to make sure there were no fibroids?

 

[CinRell]

My doctor put me on the pill for that reason YEARS ago. I have PCOS which causes very irregular periods and a tipped uterus that causes BAD cramps... I've been on Yasmin.. it clears up my complexion AND regulates my period and keeps cramps a bit better than they were.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have had all the problems that the OP mentioned. I tried different Pills but I kept getting awful headaches. My doctor put me on Lybrel. It is new and not advertised yet. It stopps you period completly (after about 3 months). I have not had a headache or cramps or any of my normal things. I also had to have a larger bra for that time of the month and I haven't needed it since.

 

[4Seasons]

My daughter had to be started on pills a couple months ago because of almost constant periods. They would only stop for a few days, then run the gammit from spotting to full flow for weeks. Not only that but her moodiness was awful.

Within 2 days of starting her flow stopped, within a week her moods drastically improved.

 

[penguincrazie]

The pill can do that, but you should really see why your cycles are that way. Not sure how old you are or where you are in life (re: children, etc.). I had aweful, irregular cycles my whole life. Well I never paid too much attention to it until I needed it to get pg! Turns out, I have PCOS. It took us over 3 yars and a few losses to have a baby. I wish I had looked into my cycle more when I was younger and got a hold of how my body worked before.

For me, the pill worked great while on it but when I came off it I didn't get my period for over a year! It just threw my hormones all out of whack!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[tlbwriter]

this is very timely for me! I just had a pelvic MRI this morning...I found out last month that I have a fibroid that is the cause of my abnormal periods. Looking into Uterine Fibroid Embolization so the interventional radiologist ordered the MRI. Also considering taking BCP instead...good to hear that it helped you

Yes, it has been very helpful. I still have painful cramping sometimes, but definitely not to the extent that I had before. And I don't feel like I'm bleeding to death every month...

 

[girli565]

I went on the patch, hated it. i got massive migraines, was bloated, felt nauseous all the time. I look back at pictures from that time and I was always pale. When I told my doctor about this she changed it to the low hormone pill, that was even worse!! I stopped taking everything and a few months later had an ovarian cyst burst, went to the hospital, found out there was another cyst and then was referred to my doctor.

I went to a new doctor and got prescribed the Depo-Provera injection in order to stop ovulation so I won't get another cyst. It's administered every three months and stops your period. I've been on it for almost 2 full years and it's been wonderful. I did gain some weight but it's nothing I can't lose when I diet. No cramps, no pain, no period (some break though bleeding the first few months but then nothing). It's been wonderful!!!

 

[bubba]

I also had excruciating periods - doubled up with cramps, vomiting, very heavy flow for several days. I went to my family doctor when I was 17 and he recommended I start the pill. I was on for 2 months then all of a sudden woke up one morning and couldn't breathe. Being the stubborn person I am, I got up, got ready and caught the bus to go to university (about 80 minute trip) Got to the station, got off the train and started walking to school. Went about 1/2 a block and decided it just wasn't happening and I turned around to go back. I called my mum from the train station, she picked me up and took me to ER. Turned out I had developed blood clots in the deep veins in my legs which then detached and found their way through my bloodstream to my lungs. The doctor figured that if I hadn't gone straight to ER after arriving back in town, I could very probably have died. Needless to say, I came off the pill and haven't looked back. I'm not trying to dissuade you from taking the pill - after all millions of women use it with no problems at all. Just be aware of the risks. There are reported incidence of between 15 and 30 blood clots per 100,000 women on the pill. Talk to your doctor, get ALL the information before you make your choice.

 

[rigs32]

I'd go into the appointment ready to discuss ALL your options - pill, patch, depo, and even the Minera IUD. I was on the pill and I didn't respond well to the hormones in my bloodstream - moody, weight gain, etc. Depo caused me to bleed almost all the time.

My gyn suggested I try the Minera IUD and I love it. It has a small amount of hormones that stay within the uterus itself and function like the other methods, but locally. The insertion was not fun. BUT, since then I have no cycle. For the last 5 years I've had no period. I had horrible cramps - unable to work a day each month cramps. And now, every three or four months I'll have a twinge of discomfort. Easily handled by OTC pain killers.