Girls' Friends & The Pill
 

Re: Girls' Friends & The Pill
 

Honey, my entire life is one giant PMS episode :rolleyes: !

When I was younger and used to get ferocious cramps, I found that a hot water bottle against my tummy or going out for a run would usually calm things down.

I took Calcium/Magnesium supplements through my last ummm.....

I don't think it helped the pain that much, but I noticed that I didn't get ANY crying spells! That's a big plus in my book! :)

I will be taking it from now on.

Well, I've never had any real problems, mine only lasts about 3 days. Yes, you can hate me now ;)

But I did have to go on the Pill for my endio, so now I only have 1 day of wicked cramps pre-visit. I usually eat ice cream with some chocolate syrup and send TKE209 out for some pizza. That usually makes the cramps go away or at least make them seem better, lol :)

Midol Menstral helps me get through the worst of the pains....I also use hot compresses on the stomach, taking long naps, etc

Ask your doctor for a prescription of Naproxen. It works wonders! :)

I usually get cramps and tenderness in certain areas. I usually just get lots of rest during that time and also eat chocolate (ok, so I use any ecuse to eat chocolate!! :D ).

i get tons of cramps. sometimes i cant even sit up straight. i go through crying spells and have a tendency to turn into a real bitch.
i would go on the pill, but my mom will get scared and think it means sex. i could not tell her. but she finds out almost everything. i never know what i can keep from her. but since i am 21, do i have to worry about keeping stuff from her? last year, i got busted on a few big secrets cause it was revealed to her in a dream!!:eek: :eek:

anywho, i hate my monthly visitor. although it becomes your best friend after you start having sex!:p
other symptoms for me include bloating. when i put on jeans, i start crying cause they wont fit. i think i am getting fat. i also get major headaches.

okay before the pill.....
i would have a HORRIBLE day the very first day my "friend" would come and visit. I could NOT go to school, and I would stay in bed ALL day long. I would pretty much cry all day too because it was so painful for me. I would even get like diarhea, and even throw up sometimes. After that, it would be so long, like a week, and heavy too!:( :mad:

after the pill.....
I take a motrin or so just because i hate any kind of pain- but its not really any issue. It last about maybe 4 days, and its light to regular. The only problem i have had is that i used to spot when i started on it, and it freaked me out:eek: but now i know its normal at the beg. and also, there have been two months, but not in a row that i havent even gotten a period. However, i know that for one of those months it was during finals and I was very concerned about my statistics class. OH, and I have also gained tons of weight.

I really want to go off of them, and see if I can lose weight, but I dont want to have to deal with the pain of those AWFUL cramps. I would rather stay the way I am. Is there any pain killers that are great for cramps? Even if they are prescribed? That way I can talk to my doctor about it since other pills dont work for me

Yeah. Ditto.

When my lovely friend comes, my blood sugar plummets and I basically just end up fainting. I've fainted at Plymouth Plantation, Bradless, my junior algebra class...had to get carried to the nurses office for that one.

But that stuff is wonderful. Just take it before you should get the cramps and all that..Whew.

Its a lifesaver.

Oddly enough the medicine I take for my ADHD helps my PMS'ing, I'm never EVER as bitchy as I was when I didn't take medicine. Plus my BC helps with my cramps. I realize this solution isn't one everyone would use but hey, it works. ;)

Naproxen didn't help me. :( I had to go on orthotricyclene.

Now I'm fine. Yeah, occasionally I cramp up, usually the first day, but it's a lot better than throwing up and being bedridden for a day or two.

What do I use for cramps? Carrots! For some reason they make the cramps go away. :confused: And a heating pad is nice as well.

PERIOD PERIOD PERIOD!!!! MENSTRUATION MENSTRUATION MENSTRUATION!!! It's a natural part of our lives...don't be afraid to say it!

When I was on the pill...I was on Ortho and Loestrin and I gained almost 20 pounds. I finally found one that I liked in Desogen. It made my period lighter and more tolerable.

When I got cramps, Extra Strength Midol worked great. Then again a shot of something worked great too.

Recently I've been getting gassier everytime I get my period. I've been having a hard time determining if it's just gas or cramps. That's how bad it is.

OTW - you crack me up!!! You're the best because you just made me spit out my Sprite laughing! lol

I usually don't even feel cramps, but when I do, I over-dramatize them and I watch TV all day and eat icecream.. horrible, but I do it and I like it!

When I am about to get the monthly visit from Aunt Flo (okay my PERIOD), I go ravenous on sweets. During the visit, I need a constant supply of chocolate. I have never been on the pill, but was nearly put on it by my gyno after I missed a few periods (thankfully, I wasn't pregnant) two years ago to bring them on. I am scared to go on the pill because of the risks involved.

http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/monalisa.gif http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/flash.gif http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/pyth.gif http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmili.../pinkieone.gif

I used to get killer cramps BEFORE I ever went on the pill. Now I still get cramps occasionally, but they're very minor. Instead, I get killer migraines. Other than that, my "visitor" doesn't affect me too badly.

I'm lucky enough not to have physical PMS symptoms, but for a week before TOM arrives I'm pretty much a bitch from hell.

On the first day, it feels like someone's dog is using my uterus for a chew toy. :( If I don't take a lot of Advil, I end up lying in bed, curled up in a little ball, alternately crying and threatening to call the hospital so they can do an emergency hysterectomy.

I tried Vioxx once. It's supposed to be the new drug of choice for cramps. Didn't do a damn thing. I wound up lying in bed, curled up in a little ball, alternately crying and threatening to call the hospital so they can do an emergency hysterectomy.

I've never tried using the pill, and I don't want to start now because Mr. aephi alum and I are talking about starting a family soon. Which, unfortunately, also precludes the hysterectomy.

If this is what cramps are like, I can't wait for childbirth... epidural, please :p

Okay-
Let me just tell you about a litte thing called the NUVARING!
It is a miracle!
You place it inside your vagina, leave it there for 3 weeks, take it out, have a 2 day period with mild cramping and then next week put a new one in!
YEAH! No remembering a pill everyday or anything. you can look it up on the internetFAQs about Nuvaring
It is wonderful.
AS far as Naproxen goes- it is great, it is also available without a prescription in the form of ALEVE!

Before I got on the pill, it was miserable...cramps, throwing up, gas, and it was pretty heavy. At my first exam, my doctor declared that the fact that I had been going through this essentially since Day 1 was insane, and put me on the Pill (Alesse, she picked it because weight gain isn't a major side effect like it is for Ortho Tricyclen), and I haven't had a single cramp since. I was never overtaken by PMS, but the cramps were more than enough.

Re: Girls' Friends & The Pill
 

But be careful with the Naproxen! That stuff is famous for not doing good things to your stomach( in the way of ulcers). Just a quick FYI. :)

My cramps aren't that bad-sometimes they come and sometimes they don't, but when they do I relieve them by yelling at the Mr.
Ok not really-I eat chocolate, take Advil, and lay around in my fat pants. Then I'm usually ok. :D

I'm on the Pill, and luckily didn't ever gain weight. The only thing is, I've gone off the Pill before, and when I go on and get off my cramps are so horrible!! Theres alot of tears, anger at the Mr. and heating pads involved.

[color=navy blue] I am taking Alesse too and I absolutely love it. I know a lot of women take Ortho b/c of those trendy commercials, but Alesse is a winner as far as I'm concerned. I have never had ANY cramps, PMS, or any other period drama. On the other hand I never had any of those problems before BC. The other great plus is a really light period of 3 days or less. [/color]

Well, I never gained weight when I was on the pill either, but my cramps and flow were a lot less. I recently got off the pill, cuz my bf read some stuff about scary side effects, and my flow is seriously out of control. My cramps didn't come back too bad, but they're still a lot more noticeable than before. I usually curl up on the couch with a heating pad in my sweats, and eat food that's really bad for me. That's the only good thing about having your period, it gives you a good excuse to eat ice cream and chocolate and cookie dough.

Hmm... I tend to crave salty foods, like crackers and fries when I have it.

I never gained any weight on the pill. Why is it that some people did?

im on depo provera, for about 2 years, before I went on it, I had hirrible cramps, and cried it was the worst!

But not I only slightly cramp about 3 days before my next shot it due, which is every three months,. which means 4 times a year I am kinda tense.

I love Depo provera, I have not had a peroid in TWO years, and yes it is heathly. when you over use your ovaries and uterus every month by having peroids you riase the level of have cancer, plus I don't have to buy pads and/or tampons! I love the person you invented Depo!, he/she is my hero!

:D


Christia

I used to be on Depo too!!! You're right it is the best thing ever!!! Only bad thing though, is if you go off of it then get back on, you might, at least did, bleed for a long time (like 3 weeks straight) before shutting down again and then you spot for awhile. I couldn't handle it so I quit. I'm also down with the french fries thing too.

Im to afraid to go off, I did not have insurance or money to pay for it, but I called a friend in AZ ( I live in GA now) who sent me the money, I paid her back, but hey, I was desperate!

but right before Im due, I have the same PMS graving, salt, chocolate (i hate chocolate the rest of the year) fast food, but that's it

Christia

off topic, some of my chapter sisters have a joke "I Love my PMS" meaning I Love My Phi Mu Sisters.

that's really funny!

One of my best friends is on Depo, and while she said it was cool, she gained a TON of weight.



What is all this scary stuff people are reading? and where did it come from?

The pill can have some bad side effects, but that is why the docs ask you about your medical history (and sometimes your family's) and make sure you're not at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, blood clots and things like that. :confused:

I think he read something about people using it have a higher risk for cancer. I didnt read the info, so I don't know exactly what it said. I wasn't really worried, but I told him I'd give it a try.

Re: Girls' Friends & The Pill
 

Jeebus, everything gives you cancer nowadays!!!

I have some cramping during the first day of my period, but nothing at all after that. I usually work out extra hard and it either makes the pain go away or takes my mind off of it.

I have never heard of eating chocolate during the cycle. I probably wouldn't try it though because my skin gets really oily right before the period, so if I am not constantly drinking water I break out.

lol no kidding!

just to be a nerd, i took out the 'Patient package insert' to read on this, and while pills could have possible side effects, the risk for them raise considerably if you smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, have or have had clotting disorders, heart attacks, strokes, angina petoris, and certain types of cancers. That's why I guess they check on medical history, take blood pressure & all that good stuff.

It does say that taking the pill can have some non-contraceptive benefits including fewer pelvic infections, and fewer cancers of the ovary and the lining of the uterus, so I guess it kind of balances out? :confused:

Pretty much anything you do has *some kind* of risks nowadays... are there any for the shot or patch?

I hate the Pill and I hate my period and I wish I could have a hysterectomy.

I went on Ortho-Novum in January of my frosh year because I got bad cramps - to the point that I wouldn't want to go to class. My period was also always so excited to see me that I had to tend to it almost every hour - not fun during, say, a lab class.

It immediately helped my cramps, but I gained 35 lbs in a semester - it was horrible. I only had one pair of jeans at school that still fit. :( After about four months, it stopped working and my cramps were worse. My doctor switched me over to Tri-Phasil, which works okay - mimimal cramping, but I get so moody. Lee started staying away from me once I got to the last week of pills because I was so mean to him.

Right now I am off the pill, I went off during finals week because I missed 5 days of pills. I have lost almost 15 lbs (since coming home May 16) and feel so much better, which considering what has been going on in my life, is amazing. I am going to see how bad this next period is and then decide whether I should go back on it or not.

Another vote for Alesse! I have not gained any weight, but actually lost some. My period is only 3 days and hardly there at all!

I get sooooo tired right around when I start & when I'm on it. I usually take a day off of work because I seriously cannot function. Does this happen to anyone else?

I love Alesse! I haven't had a single problem with it.

Please read and respond to my question about Alesse on the other thread!!:D

I hope that you feel better. I went to my doctor complaining about cramps and she told me to avoid chocolate and alcohol, and put me on anaprox. It worked. I don't even take anaprox anymore. Now I only have one bad day and Tylenol or Advil alleviates my cramps. Maybe getting older help.

I was on orthotricyclen for 5 years before finally switching to something else. I loved orthotricyclen because it helped with my skin (no breakouts) and my period was lighter, but I gained so much weight! I'm on the patch now and I love it. Granted it does nothing for my skin, I don't have PMS like I used to and I don't have to remember a pill every night. For those concerned about it falling off, IT WON'T. It does hurt like crap peeling it off every Sunday, though. That thing sticks like duct tape. As for cravings, my friends know when I'm on my period because that's the ONLY time I'll eat hamburgers and fries or chocolate.