Ladies what to do????

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:25 pm

I feel like I'm allergic to everything. I believe the root of my problems is my birth control pill, been on it for almost 17 years and wish that I'd never started taking it to begin with. I'm very angry at myself for trusting the doctors that taking the pill would be good for my bone density. I think taking them got me a diseased gallbladder, now no gallbladder, and possibly the CC Now, I just want off of them but don't think I will ever have a cycle on my own and fear the night sweats acne, more mood swings etc. I'm sleeping so terribly now and am a hot MESS….Please excuse me, Sorry for TMI. I know the little colored pills are a problem for my system. Wish I knew what the right thing was to do and had someone to talk to about it.

janet · Post by **janet** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:51 pm

OH DEAR I AM SORRY THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOU. PILLS.... SOMETIMES I TOO WISH I NEVER TRUSTED DOCTORS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO STOP TAKING THEM?
I HAVE BEEN THRU THE MENOPAUSE, AT LEAST IT IS NATURAL. I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS IS GOOD TO TALK TO.
YOU WILL GET BETTER AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL PASS.
HAVE A NICE SLEEP WHENEVER YOU CAN, AND CARE FOR YOURSELF, RELAX.. YOU WILL SOON ENJOY ALL LIFE HAS TO OFFER YOU.

I WILL SAY A PRAYER FOR YOU.

MARIE

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:55 pm

Thank you so much!!! I'm so scared to stop them but feel i must see what I feel like without those synthetic hormones in my body. I fear the rebound of my body adjusting but believe I must try.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:15 pm

Hey there Martha

the frustrating thing about MC World - there is no black and white answer, there is every colour of the rainbow and lots of grey murk!!

What to do is a personal decision, there is a myriad of options, and what you can do or not do depends on various things such as;
- family history
- medical history (hypertension, thyroid etc etc)
- have you had children or not - do you plan on having more children
- are you approaching menopause etc etc

I have had digestion issues my whole life, (had 3 x bowel surgery before age 25 and 'IBS' since then) and also have Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome.

When i could no longer take contraceptive pill (mostly because of hormone side effects as migraines etc, the IBS and digestion issues were 25% of the basis for changing) I swapped across to the implant. (upper arm lasts 3 years each time)
for all the people that have no issues with the implant, there are just as many that do have issues.
I had no issues whatsoever with the implant.

I did find that my digestion struggled when there were hormonal fluctuations (pain, inflammation, barely able to walk) having the implant and hormones balanced definately made the digestion less reactive, and gave me the minimal symptoms so i could work, run a business, travel overseas for work, spend 3 weeks stints working offshore on an ocean exploration project etc.

keep in mind that if there are ongoing issues with digestion your bodies ability to absorb medications in tablet form is reduced.

A bit like all the variables of MC and what treatments may work, research all the options, suss out this forum and other IBD forums to get some feedback.

Is there a womens clinic, community health centre near to you? In Australia, womens health clinics are free for birth control and papsmear type appointments, the doctors are the best! (so far the doctors at these clinics have known more about MC than any GP i have been to)
they can look at your medical history and give you fantastic advice about the options that may suit you.
they see about 10-15 patients a day just for womens health issues, they have the most up to date information.

Hope this helps...

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:22 pm

Thanks Gabes! that gives me a lot to think about. I have no idea what it will be like but I just feel like I need to find out how my body will respond. I'm incredibly nervous. I have never had children and don't think I will be able to but would love to have a body that could feel more in balance with it's own natural rhythms. I'm new to the whole MC journey and have no idea how my poor body will handle such a drastic change. I appreciate your kindness and insight. You're the Best

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:27 pm

Dont be nervous,
ponder and research options for a bit, give your body time to adjust to your modified MC eating plan and time to heal.
dont feel you have to make a decision right now and get it right...

In MC world, there is a fair bit of trial and error to figure out the best options for you. Only embrace changes when you feel up to it.

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:31 pm

Thanks Gabes

Heady · Post by **Heady** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:03 pm

Oh dear, decisions decisions. Life is full of them... One at a time as Gabes suggest.
I was on the pill in my 20's before I had 1st son in 1989 and never went back to them. I hated the way they made me feel and was afraid of messing with Mother Nature. I have been experiencing hot flashes for 13 yrs now and don't remember the last time I slept thru the night! It is hard! My mother was a breast cancer survivor & my MD didn't want me taking HRT.
You need to do whatever and whenever it is right for you! Do some investigating and make an educated decision as Gabes suggests and you will feel confident in whatever path you choose. Hugs

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:07 pm

Thank you much! Wish i had a clue. Appreciate all your support and kindness m

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun May 04, 2014 7:49 pm

I am 60 and entered menopause at 50 and was determined not to take hormones. I took BC in my 20's also off and on for almost 10 years. At 55 and no dr had helped my MC and I was sick of the menopause symptoms (I had them all) I went on synthetic hormones, a patch... low dose. Immediately took away the menopause symptoms but I had breast pain...symptom of too much estrogen. Dr. said that was the lowest dose and shrugged her shoulders. I found a new dr. who would help me with bioidentical hormones and the proponents of bioidentical feel that they are chemically identical to what our bodies make (synthetic are not) and are compounded exactly for you for exactly what you need and will protect you from cancer etc. I love them. I take estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. They are formulated exactly for me at the exact dose that I need. Very low doses. No breast pain and no menopause symptoms. It's this same doctor that is helping me with the adrenal fatigue and I think finally we are getting somewhere! I take cortisol and I think it is even helping MC!!!! It's taken awhile to find the right dose and I appreciate him going slowly.

Pat

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Sun May 04, 2014 7:51 pm

Thank you so much Pat I appreciate your reply, I've had a terrible day of D and am so exhausted and scared. I just don't see the end of this.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun May 04, 2014 7:56 pm

Have you tried immodium? It helps while eliminating the food triggers.

Pat

MarthaE · Post by **MarthaE** » Sun May 04, 2014 8:02 pm

I'm allergic to the lactose and blue dye #1 in imodium and the red dye in pep- too, still on one entocort and have terrible side effects taking it, irregular heart beat, rash, acne, sweating, body aches, hair loss, numbness in hands and feet and it's obviously not enough to help. I'm allergic to corn eggs soy dairy wheat gluten fructose chicken too many things and I'm so hungry lol geeze sorry

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun May 04, 2014 10:57 pm

Martha
some of those symptoms are Mast Cell/Histamine related, have you tried some OTC H1 and H2 meds??

Healing Hugs,
it feels full on at the moment, be assured that things will get better.

Heady · Post by **Heady** » Sun May 04, 2014 11:03 pm

Don't be sorry. You're suffering. We all have times of desperation. This may be redundant....are you keeping a detailed diary of meds,foods,BMs & reactions. You mentioned in your first post about "little colored pills being a problem for your system" then later listed that you are allergic to colorings? I have used Imodium Advanced, it has no colorings. When did all the side effects you listed begin? Keep in mind that stress can be a major factor in controlling MC. Take a deep breath. One step at a time. One day at a time.
During my 10-15 trip D days I had a wheat bag on my abs & a heating pad on my back for the pain. I tried to relax by taking a lawn chair into my bathroom & painting my nails. I sat in warm baths with Epsom salts(heals the butt too)to relax with a book or music & candles. I drank 1.5L of warm filtered water a day. Hang in there. Tomorrow is a new day!
note to myself...
"On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good".