Topic: Heavy Painful Period, Considering Birth Control
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
This is two related questions.
The first is that my period this month is horrendous. I believe I'm in my last month of treatment. I recently stopped muscle relaxers I had been taking for 18 months. Well, I got hit by a big old red brick starting Sunday. My period has been incredibly heavy and painful.
Anybody have increased flow as they got healthy?
I'm also, for the first time considering birth control if this time of pain persists for multiple cycles. Anybody post-Lyme treatment go on the pill and have good reactions?
I've always been against the pill for myself. But I've been out of work 2 days now, am on such a high anti-inflammatory that I can hardly hold my head up. I've been virtually pain free until this hit.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
My daughter is not post lyme. She has been sick for 3 years treated for lyme since Nov. She did have horrendous periods. Acupuncture and herbs helped the cramps and her periods are not heavy anymore.
Posts: 488 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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JillF
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posted
I really don't like birth control. Both the pills and the patch do a job on me. I'm much happier off of them.
And, although I've been told it's impossible, each time I've gone back on the pill/patch, I gain about 30 pds within 3 wks. I really don't think my eating habits change at all (and the past 2 times I started was after marriage and my husband says my eating habits did not change) but the weight just continues to creep up.
Posts: 1485 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
Hello,
Have you done a candida diet? the nystatin, or the diflucan, or strong herbals for candida?
I had painful periods from lyme, but also when the candida was out of hand. Nysatin, and a good probiotic with multi strains and higher count of good bacteria really helped.
Trish
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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I'm not sure . . . the one thing I wonder about is what BCP's do to hormone levels in the body. By artificially altering them...would that help or hurt overall? I don't know.
I was on the pill for many years but stopped taking it a couple years ago, and my instinct, every time I think about it, is to not go back on, but it's not based on any facts, just a gut feeling.
Alison
--------------------
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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Linda LD
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Member # 6663
posted
I don't want to go back on birth control either--and it feels like doctors REALLY push the birth control.
I also gained weight and couldn't lose.
Have you had your thyroid looked at too? Being hypo can make your periods heaver. Sometime your bodies immune system goes nuts and will go after your thyroid while looking for the Lyme.
L
Posts: 1171 | From Knoxville, TN US | Registered: Dec 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thank you for all the advice.
I am on a strict anti-candida regiment - diet, probiotics and diflucan. I'm also on synthroid.
The Lyme really appears to be gone. I've had painful periods all my life, but I've also had Lyme since I was 12.
I hate the idea of birth control...it just never seemed right to me to alter hormones in that way...but I spent the last few days thinking longingly of those commercials for Seasonale....1 period every 3 months. We'll see how the next few months go. Maybe this was somewhat of a body de-tox.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Just to add to this; the one time I had candida really badly was when taking the pill. I had to stop it was so bad, and my doctor (female!) refused to believe that it was the pill that caused it. Strange that it went away as soon as I stopped taking it....
I now have to endure an extremly painful ovulation each month but at least thats only for about seven days rather than the non stop itching & pain of thrush!
I'm coming back as a man next time around!
Posts: 229 | From United Kingdom | Registered: Jul 2005
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Lyma Bean
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Member # 1914
posted
Another possibilty- endometriosis. My LLMD sees this in a lot of his patients. I wound up having a total hysterectomy because of it. I know there are a lot more traetment options now. May want to see your ob/gyn?
Good Luck and Take Care....Terri
-------------------- Posts: 1405 | From Plano, Texas | Registered: Dec 2001
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suki444
Unregistered
posted
It is not a good idea to take the Pill if you have Lyme according to Dr B.
I have bad periods too and found that I am slightly high in testosterone...Dr B said it would normalise with treatment however.
or nattokinase, or lumbrokinase ... They naturally clear fibrinogen, which affects hypercoagulation. Or you could go the route of prescription heparin.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thanks for more thoughts and suggestions. I will consider all of them, as I have about a month before I find out if this is going to be a routing problem for me.
Suki - I appear to be post-Lyme now. I'm expecting to stop treatment this month. This is really the only remaining pain.
I wouldn't do anything related to this without seeing my ob/gyn. I would also go back to my pain specialist, because I know he has a lot of experience with endometriosis. Although, my understanding, was that endometriosis is basically treated with pain killers, anti-depressants (to regulate seratonin not for mood), the pill or hysterectomy. Are there better treatments out there?
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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Kara Tyson
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 939
posted
If you would consider perm. birth control, you can have the lining removed from your uterus.
I had it done for other reasons, but it was originally for women who were having heavy periods at menopause.
It is wonderful. I still have the hormones, but no period (even better than my tubal).
-------------------- Kara Tyson Lyme Disease Support Group Of Alabama--MobileChapter Posts: 6022 | From Mobile, AL | Registered: Apr 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thanks Kara. I'm not ready to consider anything permanent. Still have a dream of a family on the horizon.
I do know I'm never using Sulindac for the pain again. Ugh...I've felt sick ever since using it. It's like it killed my gut in 4 days.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I have been on abx for almost two years and there have been months when I have had terrible periods: clotting, excessive bleeding (almost dangerously so, I thought), etc. There has been some pain with the clots, but not unusual cramping. There is no question, though, that my periods have been affected by the disease/treatment.
Posts: 307 | From Byfield, MA | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
"Females experience an exacerbation of their LD symptoms before or during their menses, while pregnant and with oral contraceptive hormones"
I just read this in When to Suspect Lyme ..John D. Bleiweiss, M.D. so thought I'd paste it in here.
Cheers,
Alison
--------------------
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
I can really relate to painful periods however taking the birth control pill is not treating the root cause. In addition, it can have lots of negative side effects - some know some unknown.
If the pain is intolerable I take a pain pill. I'm also looking a balancing my hormones, addressing thick blood etc. to get at the root cause.
IMHO I wouldn't consider taking anything on a daily basis, especially synthetic hormones, if I didn't have to. The pain pill you take when and if you need it. The birthcontrol pill has to be taken on-going.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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timaca
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Member # 6911
posted
Aniek~
Something to also look at if your periods are heavy....your CBC and ferritin levels....i.e. how are your iron stores?
I ended up severely iron deficient due to heavy menses (maybe due to lyme). So, look at your CBC AND get a ferritin level.
A ferritin level should be over 50 ng/mL in order for your body to have sufficient stores of iron (so says my iron disorders doctor). He wants my ferritin at 100ng/mL before I stop taking iron.
Good for you for getting over the lyme! May we all be so fortunate! Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
An update. Although my Lyme really seems to be gone, I'm still showing high antibodies to salmonella. The salmonella has caused a reactive arthritis that caused inflammation of my sacroiliac joints (lower back).
I also started a new round of physical therapy yesterday focusing on lower back and hips. I have some extremely tight muscles in the area. Also, portions of my lower spine and pelvis are out of alignment.
Together, these could be the cause of the intense pain. Hopefully treatment of both of these will reduce the back pain with my cycle.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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JillF
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5553
posted
For painful cramps, Midol works wonders for me
Motrin also works well for any pain
Those are the best over counter drugs for me in general
Posts: 1485 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Well, I'm *supposed* to be moving through menopause, but danged if I didn't start a period this week, my third week on antibiotics and Mepron! Since I haven't done more than spot a bit for more than a decade, I am flummoxed. My doctor, here in CA, specializes in women's medicine and Lyme, so I ought to get good info from her when we talk next. So odd that I have a flow this week and here you are talking about it. I had a bit of cramping for several days before it started, but light. Definitely talk to your doc. And good luck with the family plans.
-------------------- trying to figure it out Posts: 16 | From San Jose, CA, USA | Registered: Sep 2005
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Aniek
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Member # 5374
posted
karieo,
When I started artemisinin to target babesia, my period got very, very heavy for a couple months. So maybe it has something to do with the mepron?
Thanks for the good wishes. I need a second date with somebody first before real family plans though...
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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livinlyme
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Member # 3773
posted
Aneik, I cant go into this my history of problems are too in depth.. but I would reverse some of my previous decisions and one would be to avoid BC.. I think the treatment for Lyme while I was on it helped more than any of the other pills the MD's gave me to help the symptoms.. I.E. arthritis. menstral pains and bleeding, endometriosis, IBS, chest pains, etc. like i said my list is far too long to go into it.. but I would treat the Lyme and watch symptoms start to fad out..as for the bleeding: I bled more when on treatment but I had less pain and less clots...I beleive that the Lyme causes a build up of the uterine lining which causes malfunctions of the menstral cycle..
I also believe that Lyme is a nasty bug that is responsible for many ailments of ones failing health... I dont have one body function that I can say it has not hit at one point or another.. I am tired and weary of fighting this blasted bug and the Medical and political system that condemns those who are afflicted with it ..
I am back and disgusted with all of this and I am rejoining to fight this and I will not Quit this time.. I am a "lifer" in this battle as my body has told me so many times. I can not deny the need to get the word heard! I would give the treatment time before joining the other symptoms treatment portocal they will put you on.. it delayed my menopause which I would be so grateful if I never had another period again til i die! As it is I'm slowing stopping and it may take years..
-------------------- "Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it." Posts: 1389 | From who knows, who cares, but somewhere over the rainbow | Registered: Mar 2003
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5dana8
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Member # 7935
posted
I also have had long heavy painful periods.Don,t know if lyme related. a moist heating pad helps alot, I know the pms and heavy period really chew up a large chunk of my month.Praying for early menopase S.P? best wishes dana
Just wanted to add I've suffered from painful periods since they started. The pain is less (significantly) for me if I take Standard Process Calcium Lactate and Calsol. Dosage is determined for me via muscle testing.
Also, Meir Schneider's self healing exercises are helping with stiffness, circulation, and much more. I encourage you to go to his website, self-healing.org.
It sounds like you're bout with lyme is probably under control, but there are still some remaining imbalances for you. Maybe more detox is needed?
Someone was telling me just today there was an article in the NY Times about the toxins produced by bacteria in our bodies. Apparently, these by-products are just as harmful as the infection!
I wish you much luck and continued success! Keep us posted.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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livinlyme
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posted
5dana8, I had a uterine ablation and that helped get it under control for almost 2 years now.. it is edging towards more flow than it was but it is still not as bad as it used to be.. nothing near ..they were hinting on a hysterectomy.. and Dr.S. said you take that out you have no shelf for your bladder and develope bladder problems.. God made women the way he did for a reason.. start gutting themout and they are a wreck..
I listened and avoided the hysterectomy by having the ablation preformed .. I am hoping it will get me to menapuase..(44 so I have a few years to go, but mom went through it at age 41 so...????) after over 17 years of heavy bleeding it was nice not to have to buy 2 40 count boxes of plugs and 48 count box of pads..
I am down to what I was buying when I was a teen... which is within normal costs for this every month cycle.. They treated me for many years for PMS and endometriosis... the ablation (burning of the lining) was a quick temporary fix and it is lasting so far,,, still only spotting with clots over 10 days, but not heavy diblilatating flow where you had to change every hour and it lasted 10-15 days and never went away for long.. some months it never stopped.. hormone therapy never helped much, it made me bleed more!!! LOL Linda D
-------------------- "Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it." Posts: 1389 | From who knows, who cares, but somewhere over the rainbow | Registered: Mar 2003
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