birth control dilemma

buckeyegirl

buckeyegirl

Cathlete
Well, I'm having a BC dilemma of sorts.

Short history -- have been on and off BCP over the years. Had a hard time finding one that didn't cause breakthrough bleeding, borderline high bp, and mood swings. Currently using condoms - they are tolerable, I guess. Also, my mother had breast cancer at the age of 56.

My problem is that my periods are almost more intolerable than the bcp side effects. I feel good for 2 weeks out of the month, and then after I ovulate and until I start, I'm a bloated bitch from hell with migraines. I'm nasty to my family and feel like shit until I start. THEN, my periods are horrible. Feel like I'm in high school again. I'm very crampy with 2 pretty heavy days.

I really need a break. My conundrum is..I'm nervous about the potential breast cancer risk, the high bp and possible worsening of my migraines.

Any ideas? I really don't want an IUD - besides, they have hormones as well, don't they? Have heard nightmares about the nuvaring. The last pill I was on was Yaz - hated it.

ACK! I know I'll talk to my doctor about this - I'm not expecting medical answers on here. Maybe just some "been there done that" or "here's my miracle answer for you, Heidi!!" ;)

Heidi
 
Heidi,

I don't have a miracle answer for you but you are not alone. I have been struggling with different issues but a similar frustration. When not on BC, I get a migraine at the beginning of my period and another at the end. I've been on several different types of BC and the NuvaRing is fabulous, I love it BUT I get chronic yeast infections on it (sorry for the TMI!) and I still get a headache before and after my period. If I don't take the ring out for the fourth week in an attempt to avoid the migraines, I get horrendous breakthrough bleeding. When I use it as directed, my period is very light and manageable. What sort of horror stories have you heard about the NuvaRing? Other than the yeast infections, I love it.

I was on Micronor (both brandname and generic) and not getting my period at all and no breakthrough bleeding was fabulous but I got a lot of tension headaches (almost daily some weeks) AND the most horrible acne on my shoulders and back ever. I finally switched back to the NuvaRing this morning and I'm seriously thinking that I'll just go ahead and get my tubes tied and deal with the two migraines I know I will get. I'm soooo frustrated I just don't know what else to do.

So no good answers for you but I hope that you find something that works. I hear the Mirena IUD is supposed to be fabulous (the last female gyno I saw used it herself and was a real fan) and is supposed to reduce bleeding over time since there is a hormonal component but there are nonhormonal IUDs as well. IUDs have come a long way recently. Good luck!

Lisa
 
I know you said no IUD's, but I have the paraguard IUD and I love it. It is non hormonal. And good for 10 years. However, its not going to help with the PMS issues at all. I did have heavier periods and cramps when I 1st got it (about 7 yrs ago) but that calmed down after a few months. Every few months that will still happen, but I chalk that up to nature, not the IUD bc it isn't every month. I don't know how old you are, but maybe it is the beginning of menopause. I've no experience with that, but I hear your body sometimes gets way out of whack beforehand. Maybe talk to your Dr, see what s/he can suggest. Possibly non hormal BC and then some herbals or even prescriptions to help with the rest.

Just my $.02

Nan
 
Thanks for the responses - I am 42 so may be seeing the glimpses of menopause although my periods are exactly 28 days apart. So, still very regular, just getting more horrible:mad:

Regarding the nuvaring, I guess I was just doing what most people do and searching/googling bc options and came upon some horror stories about the Nuvaring - horrible mood swings, weight gain...etc. It just looked controversial, I guess?

Hell, I don't know. This female stuff sucks sometimes. Men are lucky not to have to deal with this (although not so lucky being innocent bystanders to some of the side effects though:p)

Thanks for your input. I just need to have sit down with my gyn. Good luck getting an appt within the next 6 months, though! :(

Heidi
 
I have the IUD Minerva or something like that, is good for 5 years and I love it, not periods, no mood swings, not migraine, I have 4 kids and I wanted to get the tubs tight when I had the last one almost 5 years ago, but the doctor did recommend the IUD. I'm fine I don't miss anything .
Good luck...
 
Well, maybe I should rethink the IUD...I just did some researching, and it looks promising. Only thing that worries me is that I do have some uterine fibroids (noted at my c-sections over 10 years ago)

Guess it's time for a phone call to my doctor!
Heidi
 
Heidi,

I don't have much advice on BC, I stopped taking bcp 20 years ago and IUDs are a disaster for me.

I don't know if this will help but a few years ago my periods started to get really heavy, erratic and my mood 2 + weeks out of the month was ..... well, lets not even go there. I had migranes so bad that I ended up in the ER several times because they thought I had a stroke and my formally low blood pressure went unusually high for me.

As you may know, last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of that I went through a radical change in diet and what do you know - now almost 1 year later, my periods are less bothersome, my blood pressure is back to 110 / 65 and I haven't had any migranes in the past 8 months. Another bonus was that my chronic sinus infections are now gone too.

You may want to check out Natalia Rose The Raw Food Detox Diet (it's not all about raw food BTW) and Detox for Women.

I think the biggest one if you are concerned about your breast cancer risk is eliminating dairy and processed soy products and cut out alcohol. There is no safe amount of alcohol.

HTH
 
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I just got off BC pills also. I have a marker that indicates increased issues with blood clots so my doc wanted me off the pill. My gyno. recommend the IUD and I'm leaning towards it. Right now I used a diaphram and I'm kind of waiting for my periods to normalize before I do anything. BTW, I also have fibroids, but not bad ones.
 
hiitdogs said:
Heidi,

I don't have much advice on BC, I stopped taking bcp 20 years ago and IUDs are a distaster for me.

I don't know if this will help but a few years ago my periods started to get really heavy, erratic and my mood 2 + weeks out of the month was ..... well, lets not even go there. I had migranes so bad that I ended up in the ER several times because the thought I had a stroke and my formally low blood pressure went unusually high for me.

As you may know, last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of that I went through a radical change in diet and what do you know - now almost 1 year later, my periods are less bothersome, my blood pressure is back to 110 / 65 and I haven't had any migranes in the past 8 months. Another bonus was that my chronic sinus infections are now gone too.

You may want to check out Natalia Rose The Raw Food Detox Diet (it's not all about raw food BTW) and Detox for Women.

I think the biggest one if you are concerned about your breast cancer risk is eliminating dairy and processed soy products and cut out alcohol. There is no safe amount of alcohol.

HTH
Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head here. I also believe some many health related issues can be resolved through diet. If I feel generally crappy, my nutritionist is the first place I go. She has helped me through numerous issues such as recurring UTI's, cronic fatigue, stomach pains, etc.
 
I had similar problems with migraines and generally feeling like crap 2 weeks out of the month. BCP brought it down to one week a month, but that is still like losing 25% of your life. My dr. recommended an IUD and I was really unsure at first. Well, he put it in 4 years ago (Mirena) and I am a completely different woman. I went from 2-3 migraines a month to 2-3 migraines a year. I haven't had a period in 4 years. I really have to say that getting an IUD was one of the best things I have ever done for quality of life.

I understand your reluctance based on the history of the IUD, but it would be great to be open to finding out more about it.

Good luck,

Shayne
 
NRG Woman said:
I had similar problems with migraines and generally feeling like crap 2 weeks out of the month. BCP brought it down to one week a month, but that is still like losing 25% of your life. My dr. recommended an IUD and I was really unsure at first. Well, he put it in 4 years ago (Mirena) and I am a completely different woman. I went from 2-3 migraines a month to 2-3 migraines a year. I haven't had a period in 4 years. I really have to say that getting an IUD was one of the best things I have ever done for quality of life.

I understand your reluctance based on the history of the IUD, but it would be great to be open to finding out more about it.

Good luck,

Shayne
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Shayne,

My dr. is recommending Mirena and I'm really leaning towards it. Did you have PMS symptoms prior to the Mirena, for example feelings of sadness, crabbiness, cramps, bloating? If yes, did Mirena help with PMS symptoms? Thanks.
 
For those of you with IUDs, what are the differences between Mirena v. Paraguard? Why did you choose the one you did?
 
pixiesis said:
For those of you with IUDs, what are the differences between Mirena v. Paraguard? Why did you choose the one you did?
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Mirena is hormonal and good for up to 5 years. I didn't pick this one based on my Dr recommendation b/c BC pills give me ferocious headaches. The Paragaurd is non-hormonal and is good for 10 yrs. I asked my Dr what happens after 10 yrs? Does it magically stop working at 10 yrs and a day? He said no, but after 10 yrs they are harder to get out, theorectically it could stay in forever.

Nan
 
For those of you who have Mirena, have you already had a child? I liked the sound of Mirena but it was recommended for women who have already had a child. When I talked to my gyno, he recommended the Micronor instead because I haven't had a child but that didn't work for me. I'd rather get an IUD than a tubal but I am totally tired of the problems with the pill and stress of making sure I don't forget it day-to-day. I don't have the same problems with the ring that I do with the pill and I think that has to do with the consistency of the hormone release.
 
I got the Mirena about a year ago and LOVE it!! I have almost NO period at all - about every third month have some cramping that only last a day. It's really great. The only way I can tell that it is that time is I tend to get a few small pimples. I was really hesitant with the IUD as a option several years ago - but after talking to my Dr and reading the information on the Mirena - I wish I would have gotten it sooner.

I did the depo shot 5-6 years ago - and loved it while I was on it -except I gained 35 lbs! UGH!!! I am very happy with the switch and love it.

ETA - I tried the ring for a few months - and it was ok - but... ummm... was noticable to partner and odd if you ask me.

I am 41, have two kids and the Dr said that it would probably help with me with menapause issues as I get older - so this one would last til I was 45 - then get one more and be done with it. I am really liking that idea.
 
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lrayburn said:
For those of you who have Mirena, have you already had a child? I liked the sound of Mirena but it was recommended for women who have already had a child. When I talked to my gyno, he recommended the Micronor instead because I haven't had a child but that didn't work for me. I'd rather get an IUD than a tubal but I am totally tired of the problems with the pill and stress of making sure I don't forget it day-to-day. I don't have the same problems with the ring that I do with the pill and I think that has to do with the consistency of the hormone release.
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Yes I got mine when I had my last baby, almost 5 years ago(4 babys) this coming January I've to go to change it..
I'm not planning on having more b-bs so I'll get the Mirena, 5 more years..
 
I'm on the Nuvaring and I absolutely love it!! My PMS symptoms only last a day at most and my period is about 4-5 days long and very light. I've been on it for a year and haven't experienced weight gain, YI's, or moodiness (knock on wood!!) and my BP was restored to normal after being on the ring for a month (I was previously on Yaz and hated it. It raised my BP to something crazy like 150/90!!!!).

My doctor also recommended the IUD but I haven't had kids yet so I probably won't choose this option. Also, the 1st method of BC I tried was Depo and it scared me when I stopped getting my periods. Not because I bought into the whole you-need-a-period-to-be-healthy idea, but because I always wondered what if I was that 0.01%? It just made me paranoid!
 
BuffyR - yes I had terrible PMS before I got my Mirena IUD. I was crabby, crying, and often irrational. Sometimes I was so out of control angry/emotional and I would know it was irrational, but the feelings were so intense I couldn't react any differently. Not only could my family/friends not stand to be with me, I couldn't stand to be with myself.

lrayburn - I have never had a baby and my doctor recommended the Mirena. They needed to "sound" the uterus to make sure it would be big enough for the IUD and it was, YAY.

morningstar - Yes, I haven't had a period since May 2005, and consequently none of the migraines that go with it. I do have about 2-3 migraines per year still, but from where I was I am just fine with it.

Be forewarned TMI coming up. For those of you thinking of getting the IUD that have not had a baby, be forewarned it HURT!!! My uterus was so swollen after the insertion that it was swollen almost out of my body. I was actually icing in a place that I never thought I would ice. That lasted a couple of days. Even with that I think it was one of the best decisions I have ever made and next May when my 5 years are up I plan on getting a new one. You really can not put a value on no longer losing a week and a half of your life every month to PMS symptoms and migraines. I am so grateful to be able to have such a wonderful device to get my life back.

Shayne
 
Mirena was one of the best things I've ever done!

The only hormone in it is progesterone, and the effects are minimal compared to estrogen.

I have a weird bend in my uterus, so I actually had to get sedated in the hospital for the insertion--but it was worth it!!!!!!!

Many aspects in life can be improved with healthy diet, but if it doesn't help then see an actual doctor.
 
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