My girlfriend has had a little bit of a history with heavy periods.
But she's had it under control for a long time using birth control implants (Mirina).
And it wasn't until a few months ago that she started having, what she calls, some of her worst ever PMS episodes ever.
She's experiencing heavy bleeding to the point of needing to wear jeans to bed, headaches, irritability, weakness, & "feels like something is being ripped out of my uterus."
Do any of you have experience with this & can you help me/us?
She's going to visit her doctor of course - but she'd really like to get down to the bottom of these PMS issues & I told her I'd help.
Side note: I suppose there is a small chance I've passed Lyme/Cos onto her? We've had sex & many times without a condom.
Sorry if all of this was tmi - but I figured you gals have heard it all by now Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Just a guess, but I would say it could be from the implants. These new drugs and implants are pretty dangerous from what I've heard.
I hope she can get to the DR right away.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Hi canefan,
There is a strong possibility that she may have a parasitic infection. Parasites can be passed back and forth when having sex. Menstrual problems are listed on the Humaworm symptom list. Also prostrate problems are listed for the men.
I used to get heavy bleeding and migraines with my periods. Really think this is a strong possibility for your girlfriend.
Gael
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
P. S.
Also agree with Lymetoo that the implants could be a problem. Would consider that as well as the parasites.
Gael
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
In general birth control has been the solution for her though. So it's hard to see it as the problem (though I understand where yall are coming from)
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Then go with the older birth control pills.
I know a young girl who has had terrible problems from YAZ. Damaging stuff.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
I agree that the birth control pills may not be working as well. She definitely needs to see her gyno. She may just need to switch brands.
You may want to seriously consider using protection.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
Yes, needs to go to the gyno and get checked. She should be going every year, anyway.
Also, may want to get her ferritin checked. This happened to me, and I had an ultrasound, and found polyps. Very common,
and 99% of the time, cancer free- I had an outpatient procedure done, and all taken care of-
if it's endometriosis, it's best she know, and that can be fixed, too. Not always easy being a gal!
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Definitely have the birth control switched.. If she.still has alot of pain have her try evening primrose oil or borage oil.. Works very well on regulating hormones and helping with heavy bleeding and cramps. Also consider fibroids as a cause of heavy bleeding.. An ultrasound may be helpful.
Posted by jackie81 (Member # 27031) on :
I had this as well and I was diagnosed with estrogen dominance. i now take supplements to lower my estrogen and things are beginning to get better now. Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Gluten really messed with my monthly cycle. Gave me bad PMS, severe cramps, migraines, and occasionally I'd have an ovarian cyst (exquisitely painful).
As long as I remain gluten-free, I have no migraines/cramps, minimal PMS, and have not had a single ovarian cyst since going gluten-free.
Accidental exposure (even airborne) to gluten causes my progesterone to plummet to zero, which effectively causes me to become temporarily estrogen dominant until the gluten is detoxed from my body.
Symptoms manifested by accidental exposure (even airborne) include migraines & cramps with any monthly cycle within the following 6 weeks (or more, depending on how much gluten I got).
I also usually will get a few days of diarrhea, nausea and heavy feeling in my stomach from accidental gluten exposure (even airborne).
Also, it might be good to research any estrogenic compounds in diet/environment (many chemicals, soy, and other foods, etc. are estrogenic), and try to reduce those as much as possible.
Furthermore, I don't know what the life expectancy of the implants are, but perhaps hormone fluctuation is a sign of a problem with the implants?
Glad she is consulting an OB/GYN, but they don't always have all the answers... E.g., I had to figure out the gluten thing all on my own.
Posted by FamilyFive (Member # 37206) on :
Has she been examined for endometriosis? This is most likely an ob-gyn issue not a lyme issue. There are several dx that include heavy periods and PMS symptoms. She really needs to get to an appt sooner rather than later.
She also may be anemic from all the blood loss. An iron supplement would help.
Posted by lax mom (Member # 38743) on :
Mirena messes with your mood bigtime.
I had horribly heavy periods and PMS so bad that I felt like I was going nuts each month for a week. My periods seemed more like hemorraging (sorry TMI). So, I needed an iron supp, like Family Five suggested.
I had the Novasure uterus ablation. I no longer have periods nor the horrible PMS. However, it's permanent and I was done having kids.
Her Gyn needs to rule out other problems.
Posted by lax mom (Member # 38743) on :
My PCP recommended Vitex to level out hormones.
Posted by MamaBear11 (Member # 25116) on :
I had extremely heavy periods just like you describe your girlfriend suffering from. I was not on any birth control at the time, but my GYN put me on a low-dose birth control pill (norethindrone) and that has made ALL the difference for me.
I rarely get an actual period anymore, more like some occasional spotting. And while the spotting isn't exactly regular, I'd gladly take irregular/unpredictable spotting & wear a pantiliner every day than have to deal with those can't-leave-the-house periods!!!!!!!
She should definitely talk to her GYN about this to see if something more serious is going on or if she should change her birth control method. Good luck to her!!!
Posted by OtterJ (Member # 30701) on :
I finally had a D and C because I had very heavy periods with a lot of pain. I also had several growths removed-- these get started due to hormones and can also cause heavy periods. I had a niece who tried Mirena with crazy mood affect and she quit. Definitely agree with seeing Gynecologist as soon as possible.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Thanks for all the help
Posted by didogs (Member # 40101) on :
I agree she should see a gyno. I had similar problems and had fibroids. Hope she feels better soon
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Please let us know what her doctor has to say.
Posted by cozynana (Member # 34270) on :
I remember reading a list of Lyme symptoms and very heavy periods were one of the symptoms. Personally, I was anemic because of my heavy bleeding. I finally had a needed hysterectomy and no more periods, yea!!! Didn't fix all my health problems, but helped with that issue. I am no longer anemic.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Please only consider hysterectomy as a last resort. We are told of the benefits but never enlightened of the long term effects. Please read the information found on www.hersfoundation.org
[ 04-21-2013, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: lululymemom ]
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Ok - her doctor changed and put her on NuvaRing
And now Jason (me) is lost again lol
So what's this do & any of you gals have experience with it?
Of course I google it and get unreal hits about the dangers and lawsuits, etc
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
It's an alternative type of birth control that puts the hormones where they are needed, instead of getting processed through the liver first (like with regular birth control pills).
I have not tried it.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
When you (medicine) mess with the natural order of things it can present problems and possible dangers.
I would still consider the possibility of an infection and try some herbs. Heavy bleeding that you describe isn't normal.
It is a dilemma, but perhaps good old fashion condoms would be much less harmful. I know...a bummer, but.........
Gael
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I still say OLD FASHIONED birth control pills would be safer. I guess there's no money in that.
correction .. yes, condoms would be the safest .. but perhaps not very effective!
Posted by Rivendell (Member # 19922) on :
Endometriosis.
the PMS, not sure. Is she in her late 30's or early 40's? Sometimes the early syptoms of menopause can kick in at that time. And the Birth Control pills might help that.
Maybe lyme makes it worse too, don't know.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
I've been on NuvaRing for about 2yrs now. It's really helped me to regulate heavy and irregular periods.
I've had no side effects with it. When my doctor prescribed it she said that it had the lowest amount of hormones because it is administered locally.
I also did a google search and found all kinds of craziness. Seems like people were willing to blame everything on their RX NuvaRing without much thought.
For me the symptoms were so bad, I was literally bleeding out (about transfusion level), passing large clots, bleeding all the time... I was miserable.
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We've had sex & many times without a condom.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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