The more and more I think about it, the more I feel that women should strongly look into whether unnaturally stopping your menstrual cycle is a good thing. Would you stop yourself from urinating? Would you stop yourself from having a bowel movement? Would you stop yourself from sweating? So unless you have to, why would you stop your menstruation? Again, I know first hand what's it's like to have a very heavy flow and I mean very heavy. I know it's tempting to want to just get rid of your menstruation so that you won't have problems with a heavy flow, or have concerns about soiling your clothes, or losing so much blood that you need a transfusion, with problems from fatigue from losing a lot of blood every month, taking iron pills so that you can replenish the iron in your body that's been lost, etc. All of those are real symptoms and real reasons to consider using a birth control method that you think will help you deal with the blood flow.
But I want you to ask your doctor whether taking birth control is in fact exacerbating your symptoms or whether taking this birth control will cause other more permanent problems?
I was on the Patch. And during a presentation where my radiologist and I were presenting on uterine atery embolization or uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), I asked him that same question and he said anything that has hormones in it will cause an imbalance of estrogen in your body which causes your fibroids to grow. Anything means food, birth control pills, and anything else that is known to have added hormones in it.
Some birth control has more estrogen in it than others he said; some have none and some have a lot. Some of it just depends on the strength of the birth control you use. So check with your doctor about whether the birth control you use is helping or hurting you and make sure you know the long term effects of stopping your menstruation. Again, in the sidebar of this blog are books on the subject of menstruation and birth control. Take a look at them and purchase them if you want facts about either.
Thedy B
Thedy B
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Menstrual Cycle or No Menstrual Cycle -Pt 2
In my prior post, I discussed the different types of birth control and my personal opinions about the birth control options I knew about. One of those birth control methods would cause a woman not to have a menstrual cycle. For women, like me, with uterine fibroids who have heavy menstrual flow, this has been presented as a viable option and it may be. However, I expressed my opinion that I didn't feel it was right for me and my reasons for saying that.
After publishing that post, I came across some books on whether women should use birth control products that would eliminate their menstrual cycles. I also found some books which discuss carcinogens found in tampons, allegedly deceptive marketing campaigns for feminine products, and the like. I recommend reading these books to determine if not having a period, using tampons, etc. is really in your best interest. I have put the recommended books in the sidebar of this blog. Check them out.
Thedy B
After publishing that post, I came across some books on whether women should use birth control products that would eliminate their menstrual cycles. I also found some books which discuss carcinogens found in tampons, allegedly deceptive marketing campaigns for feminine products, and the like. I recommend reading these books to determine if not having a period, using tampons, etc. is really in your best interest. I have put the recommended books in the sidebar of this blog. Check them out.
Thedy B
Symptoms v. No Symptoms
As I mentioned in previous posts, I was able to monitor or track my menstrual cycle by using a menstrual cycle calendar. We were checking to see if the uterine fibroids I had were staying the same in size or growing and if enlarging, whether they were causing any symptoms. My doctor told me that some women who have uterine fibroids do not have symptoms at all and no problems at all. These women essentially live normal lives with the fibroids. So the big question for my doctor and I was: am I one of those lucky women?
From the menstrual cycle calendar, I was able to see that initially my menstrual cycle was as it always was. It came when it normally came. The bleeding was pretty much the same. The cramping, moodiness, tenderness and bloating were the same. So I thought that was good. Everything is regular. After six months of using the calendar and noticing no big changes, we stopped using the menstrual cycle calendar. I thought I was one of those lucky women.
Indeed, though I was diagnosed as having uterine fibroids some eight months or so previously, my medical condition had not started to change. Unfortunately I did not remain asymptomatic. In my next post, I'll tell you more about the symptoms I started noticing.
Thedy B
From the menstrual cycle calendar, I was able to see that initially my menstrual cycle was as it always was. It came when it normally came. The bleeding was pretty much the same. The cramping, moodiness, tenderness and bloating were the same. So I thought that was good. Everything is regular. After six months of using the calendar and noticing no big changes, we stopped using the menstrual cycle calendar. I thought I was one of those lucky women.
Indeed, though I was diagnosed as having uterine fibroids some eight months or so previously, my medical condition had not started to change. Unfortunately I did not remain asymptomatic. In my next post, I'll tell you more about the symptoms I started noticing.
Thedy B
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Menstrual Cycle Calendar - How long?
The menstrual cycle calendar made me curious to see the patterns in my menstrual cycle. Would the fact that I had uterine fibroids affect my cycle? If so, how?
My GYN told me to track my menstrual cycle using the menstrual cycle calendar for six months so that we could see these patterns, notice any irregularities, and determine if I had irregularities, what they were? Was my cycle heavier? Was it longer? Did the distance between the cycles get shorter or longer? When did I first notice the irregularities? How long has the irregularities been going on?
The answers to those questions would reveal the signs and symptoms that the uterine fibroids were increasing in size. So I used the menstrual cycle for six months to help me and my GYN discover whether the uterine fibroids I had would continue being asymptomatic. I'm really glad that I could track my cycle and give specific information to my doctors. So yes, I do recommend getting a menstrual cycle calendar.
My GYN told me to track my menstrual cycle using the menstrual cycle calendar for six months so that we could see these patterns, notice any irregularities, and determine if I had irregularities, what they were? Was my cycle heavier? Was it longer? Did the distance between the cycles get shorter or longer? When did I first notice the irregularities? How long has the irregularities been going on?
The answers to those questions would reveal the signs and symptoms that the uterine fibroids were increasing in size. So I used the menstrual cycle for six months to help me and my GYN discover whether the uterine fibroids I had would continue being asymptomatic. I'm really glad that I could track my cycle and give specific information to my doctors. So yes, I do recommend getting a menstrual cycle calendar.
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Menstrual Cycle Calendar - Help or Hurt?!
Using the menstrual cycle calendar definitely helped. I like using the menstrual cycle calendar because I was able to predict when my periods would begin. I was able to predict when they would end. I could tell when my pre-menstrual symptoms would begin as well like moodiness, for example. So I like the predictability factor.
I was also able to determine the extent of my bleeding. Yes, I liked tracking it, for some odd reason. I think knowing satisfied my curiosity, calmed my anxiety from not knowing, and made me feel somewhat on top of my physical health.
I also like the fact that the menstrual cycle calendar helps you determine exactly when and if your symptoms have started to change. Don't you hate it when you go to the doctor and they ask you, has anything changed since your last visit and you can't really remember? Suppose you say "yes, some things have changed," then the nurse or doctor will likely ask, "well when did you first notice the change in your symptoms?" Typically, the honest answer is, "I don't know!!!!!" What I want to say is, well, it wasn't like I was blogging or journaling at the time and said, hey, new symptom! Let me mark this date down in my calendar as the day my menstrual cycle decided it wanted to act up! LOL! It always acts up! (:-)" With the menstrual cycle calendar, I could instead show my doctor, this is the day(s) that I noticed the change. I could also show her how long I had noticed the problem.
So in my opinion, the menstrual cycle calendar helps and I'd recommend at least looking into one if you think you might be having cycle problems. So I'm glad my GYN recommended it. Use your doctor's advice on whether using one will help you or not. I'm not a doctor (:-) but I certainly know it helped me answer all the questions that I needed to answer about my menstrual cycle. Plus, I saw no disadvantages to using a calendar.
Thedy B
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Menstual Cycle Calendar
My GYN had me track my menstrual cycles after I found out I had uterine fibroids. The object of using this menstrual cycle calendar was to see when my menstrual cycle began, when it ended, whether the bleeding was heavy, normal or light, and to see the distance between each cycle.
Growing up I had had painful cramping during that time of the month. Eventually as an adult, my menstrual cycle normalized. My menstrual cycles were always regular in that they came at the same time. From time to time, I'd just put a note on my regular calendar of when my menstrual cycle began and when it ended.
A menstrual cycle calendar is different. The menstrual cycle calendar I used had all twelve months on it lined up in rows with 31 days acting as each month's columns. It looks like that so you can see your cycle's patterns on a monthly basis side by side. Each day of the month was essentially a box. There are instructions on the calendar which tell you to note the day of the month the cycle begins and when you note it, color in the box to denote the extent of the bleeding. The way you colored in the box showed how heavy your menstruation was.
This menstrual cycle calendar helped me and my GYN determine if my menstrual cycle was affected by the uterine fibroids. I'm not a physician but as a patient going through this, I do recommend getting and using a menstrual cycle calendar if you notice that your cycles and/or your bleeding is not normal. In the next blog, I'll tell you the advantages I saw from using a menstrual cycle calendar.
Growing up I had had painful cramping during that time of the month. Eventually as an adult, my menstrual cycle normalized. My menstrual cycles were always regular in that they came at the same time. From time to time, I'd just put a note on my regular calendar of when my menstrual cycle began and when it ended.
A menstrual cycle calendar is different. The menstrual cycle calendar I used had all twelve months on it lined up in rows with 31 days acting as each month's columns. It looks like that so you can see your cycle's patterns on a monthly basis side by side. Each day of the month was essentially a box. There are instructions on the calendar which tell you to note the day of the month the cycle begins and when you note it, color in the box to denote the extent of the bleeding. The way you colored in the box showed how heavy your menstruation was.
This menstrual cycle calendar helped me and my GYN determine if my menstrual cycle was affected by the uterine fibroids. I'm not a physician but as a patient going through this, I do recommend getting and using a menstrual cycle calendar if you notice that your cycles and/or your bleeding is not normal. In the next blog, I'll tell you the advantages I saw from using a menstrual cycle calendar.
Thedy
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Patch or Uterine Fibroids?
As I said in my previous blog, I was on the Patch. The Patch was my preferred choice of birth control to use so that I could use Accutane, a very strong medication for the treatment of severe acne. I was on the Patch for a couple of months I believe.
I'm not sure how long afterwards that I noticed it but I did notice it: break through bleeding or spotting. When I should have been off my period, I was experiencing spotting. I was told spotting sometimes happens with using the Patch (again, consult YOUR doctor on any of your symptoms and get proper medical advice). Spotting had never before been a problem for me. So it was a good chance that since I also had never used the Patch before, that the two were linked. But my GYN and I weren't sure whether my spotting was from using the Patch, from possibly not putting the Patch on the day I needed to replace it, or whether it was coming from the fibroids. I was hoping that the spotting was from using the Patch and not from the fibroids. My hope was that if I stopped using the Patch, then presumably, the spotting would stop too. So I was advised to temporarily stop using the Patch just to find out. Consequently, I also had to stop using Accutane, which was clearing up my acne. (see my first blog on this story).
The results: The spotting did stop after I temporarily stopped using the Patch so I discontinued using the Patch completely. Though the spotting stopped, my GYN still wanted to make sure that my menstrual cycle was otherwise regular and that the uterine fibroids I had were still asymptomatic, so she gave me a menstrual cycle calendar.
I'll tell you more about the menstrual cycle calendar in future blogs.
I'm not sure how long afterwards that I noticed it but I did notice it: break through bleeding or spotting. When I should have been off my period, I was experiencing spotting. I was told spotting sometimes happens with using the Patch (again, consult YOUR doctor on any of your symptoms and get proper medical advice). Spotting had never before been a problem for me. So it was a good chance that since I also had never used the Patch before, that the two were linked. But my GYN and I weren't sure whether my spotting was from using the Patch, from possibly not putting the Patch on the day I needed to replace it, or whether it was coming from the fibroids. I was hoping that the spotting was from using the Patch and not from the fibroids. My hope was that if I stopped using the Patch, then presumably, the spotting would stop too. So I was advised to temporarily stop using the Patch just to find out. Consequently, I also had to stop using Accutane, which was clearing up my acne. (see my first blog on this story).
The results: The spotting did stop after I temporarily stopped using the Patch so I discontinued using the Patch completely. Though the spotting stopped, my GYN still wanted to make sure that my menstrual cycle was otherwise regular and that the uterine fibroids I had were still asymptomatic, so she gave me a menstrual cycle calendar.
I'll tell you more about the menstrual cycle calendar in future blogs.
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Patch v. Other Birth Control methods
As I mentioned in my first post, I found out I had uterine fibroids while being treated for acne. Before I really delve into my uterine fibroid story. I have to talk about how birth control played a role in my discovery. As I mentioned previously, I had acne that I was treating with Accutane. The makers of Accutane required that I use some form of birth control. For me, abstinence is the first preferred choice of birth control, and the Patch is second on my list. But when I was told that I had to use a different form of birth control other than abstinence, I choose the Patch after considering all of the other then forms of birth control.
I choose the Patch for these reasons: The Patch was easy for me to remember when to replace it. I only had to remember to replace the Patch every week. It didn't require me to take any birth control pills. It didn't require me to take a pill daily. I hate taking and especially swallowing pills! Plus, I don't like the potential side effects with taking birth control pills, such as weight gain, blood clots, etc. I also don't like pain so I decided not to use Depo-Provera, the birth control shot. I don't like needles either: though I will tolerate both pills and needles if I absolutely have to, I will avoid them if possible. I also didn't personally like the idea of using a diaphragm with spermicide or really using any foreign instrument in my body. That's just me.
And though I hated having a menstrual cycle, I liked having a menstrual cycle. I know, I know: that makes no sense but I just don't feel comfortable using a birth control product that completely stops your menstruation I believe as a side effect of taking the product. I personally think that that's unnatural. Plus, to me, that birth control product is too new. I personally don't feel it's been tested enough and that we really know the total consequences of stopping our cycles. Again, that's just my personal belief. I'm not making a legal assessment of this product. Plus, I could use the Patch and stay on Accutane which again was clearing up my acne.
So those are some of my reasons for choosing the Patch. But it turns out, the Patch and my body didn't like each other.
But talk to you doctor and find out the right birth control products for you. There are plenty birth control methods out now. I recommend researching the issue first. If you are interested in learning more about birth control methods, check out this site or use the google search box on this blog and google the term.
Thedy B
I choose the Patch for these reasons: The Patch was easy for me to remember when to replace it. I only had to remember to replace the Patch every week. It didn't require me to take any birth control pills. It didn't require me to take a pill daily. I hate taking and especially swallowing pills! Plus, I don't like the potential side effects with taking birth control pills, such as weight gain, blood clots, etc. I also don't like pain so I decided not to use Depo-Provera, the birth control shot. I don't like needles either: though I will tolerate both pills and needles if I absolutely have to, I will avoid them if possible. I also didn't personally like the idea of using a diaphragm with spermicide or really using any foreign instrument in my body. That's just me.
And though I hated having a menstrual cycle, I liked having a menstrual cycle. I know, I know: that makes no sense but I just don't feel comfortable using a birth control product that completely stops your menstruation I believe as a side effect of taking the product. I personally think that that's unnatural. Plus, to me, that birth control product is too new. I personally don't feel it's been tested enough and that we really know the total consequences of stopping our cycles. Again, that's just my personal belief. I'm not making a legal assessment of this product. Plus, I could use the Patch and stay on Accutane which again was clearing up my acne.
So those are some of my reasons for choosing the Patch. But it turns out, the Patch and my body didn't like each other.
But talk to you doctor and find out the right birth control products for you. There are plenty birth control methods out now. I recommend researching the issue first. If you are interested in learning more about birth control methods, check out this site or use the google search box on this blog and google the term.
Thedy B
Friday, March 21, 2008
About Fibroids - My Personal Story
I found out I had uterine fibroids. I had been going to my general practitioner and getting regular examinations done, thinking everything should be as it always has been. My general practitioner never saw or mentioned fibroids to me and I had been going to him for years!
How did I find out? I had a severe case of acne. I had been dealing with acne pretty much all my life. My dermatologist and/or I had tried just about everything except for Accutane. (For a more detailed blog on my struggle with acne, and my treatment for it, check out my blog on victory over acne). Last ditch effort: I decided to use Accutane. The makers of Accutane want to ensure you don't get pregnant while taking the medication because of severe birth defects that occur as a side effect of taking the medications and getting pregnant. So to be placed on Accutane, you had to essentially be on birth control. To get birth control, I choose to go to a gynecologist. The gynecologist required that I do a full examination. Accutane required, among other things, that I go to the GYN every month to do pregnancy tests. So I stopped going to my GP and started using the GYN exclusively for examinations. It was during one of those routine pap smears that my GYN casually mentioned I had fibroids. Not one but three to be exact! They were small but tangible.
I was devastated. What? Fibroids! Why? How? Why didn't I know? Why didn't my general practitioner tell me? How big? What do I do?
I didn't know I had fibroids at all. My cycles were pretty regular at the time so I had no cause for alarm. Because the fibroids were asymptomatic, my GYN said I didn't need to do anything. She said all we needed to do is observe them to see if they remained asymptomatic. According to her, many women have fibroids and don't even know it. Many women have fibroids and the fibroids simply stay asymptomatic. So I was hoping and praying for the best. I can just go on with no problems. Unfortunately, I didn't stay asymptomatic.
To continue reading my personal story, keep coming back to this blog.
How did I find out? I had a severe case of acne. I had been dealing with acne pretty much all my life. My dermatologist and/or I had tried just about everything except for Accutane. (For a more detailed blog on my struggle with acne, and my treatment for it, check out my blog on victory over acne). Last ditch effort: I decided to use Accutane. The makers of Accutane want to ensure you don't get pregnant while taking the medication because of severe birth defects that occur as a side effect of taking the medications and getting pregnant. So to be placed on Accutane, you had to essentially be on birth control. To get birth control, I choose to go to a gynecologist. The gynecologist required that I do a full examination. Accutane required, among other things, that I go to the GYN every month to do pregnancy tests. So I stopped going to my GP and started using the GYN exclusively for examinations. It was during one of those routine pap smears that my GYN casually mentioned I had fibroids. Not one but three to be exact! They were small but tangible.
I was devastated. What? Fibroids! Why? How? Why didn't I know? Why didn't my general practitioner tell me? How big? What do I do?
I didn't know I had fibroids at all. My cycles were pretty regular at the time so I had no cause for alarm. Because the fibroids were asymptomatic, my GYN said I didn't need to do anything. She said all we needed to do is observe them to see if they remained asymptomatic. According to her, many women have fibroids and don't even know it. Many women have fibroids and the fibroids simply stay asymptomatic. So I was hoping and praying for the best. I can just go on with no problems. Unfortunately, I didn't stay asymptomatic.
To continue reading my personal story, keep coming back to this blog.
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