i posted this in random thoughts yesterday but thought it might be more appropriatte here. i went to the doctor yesterday...have a sinus infection. but you know how they take your pulse and blood pressure? mine are WAAAY up to the point of hypertension and VERY unsafe. ive been on birth control pills for YEARS AND!! smoked. i also have a bulge on one of my legs and my doctor suspects i have a blood clot from the pills that is effecting my heart. i called my mom that night and she said there is a HUGE history on her side of the family with stuff like that. that's how my aunt (her sister), died at age 35...without ever even knowing... my my gramma (her mom) at 65..... i started the pill when i wasnt even having sex, cause i get HORRIBLE!!! periods with blood clots and being bedridden for 2 to 3 days every month. they pill took that away. BUT, it's NOT worth my life!!! so, i flat-out just stopped taking it today. what are some other GOOD treatments for horrible cramps? and what do you think about my blood pressure, heart rate and clot? i already talked a bit to tarabelle and she was a BLESSING!!! but i would still like to have more advice/opionins. thanks a bunch!! im just scared and shaken.
I dont really know anything about your condition, but I thought you had to be over the age of 35 before having to worry about negative effect of smoking on the pill. I was a smoker (just quit a few months ago) smoked a pack a day, sometimes more and when I went on the pill the doc lady told me not to worry about it because of my age. I only stayed on the pill for a few months though and havent taken it since then. I would advise you though to atleast make an effort to quit smoking since that increases your heart rate and I think has an effect on blood pressure as well. That is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself right now......I know it sucks. I didnt want to quit smoking either, but I just had too. If you wait untill you are ready, then that day may come too late. Maybe your doctor could prescribe you pain pills for your cramps since you cant take birth control anymore. I dont know anything else to suggest, I have been fortunate and have never had a period cramp a day in my life. Anyway, my thoughts and wishes are with you interval......
for cramps I find that if I eat a lot of bananas (potassium) and don't drink too much coffee and eat at least 3 times a day and I don't eat meat-all of these things have cut down on my cramps. Also I get a perscription for 800 milligram ib profin and start taking it 2 days before my period. Mines really short though so I don't know if that makes my cramps worse than other peoples or easier.
Muscle Relaxers work wonders for cramps. Cause really when you think about it...it's just your muscles down their cramping up right?
Heating pads or heat patches, Interval... make 'em your best friends! LOL I too have horrid periods (as ya know) and heat can do wonderful things. Sorry to hear that the pill isn't working out for you - you're right, it's not worth your life.
what about other types of birth control that might help with periods? like that seasonal stuff, or depo? Other than that, yeah... heating pads, pain killers, and tea are what I used to treat my mensturation pains (I had horrible backaches though, but sometimes could barely get out of bed or stand straight). Stretching can help too, so long as you're ok to be moving around without severe pain (usually after the pain killers for me). Make sure you move around at least a bit, not just lay in bed/on the couch... it always made it worse for me in the long run.
I had severe cramps before the pill, too, tho I was only out for 12-18 hours, not a couple of days. The absolute best thing I ever had for them was a muscle relaxer that was prescribed for me after an accident -- I went to the hospital to document that I was having back pain, not knowing whether it was serious or just sorta bruised, all they could do was prescribe something to take the pain away. I only used a couple for that, then saved the rest for cramps. It didn't make me functional, in fact it left me in a blob-like state yelling at the boyfriend to change the tv channel because I couldn't lift my arm, but I was feeling no pain & was able to think (unlike with the opiate pain relievers I've used). Anyway, the muscle relaxer I used was Carisoprodol (http://www.erowid.org//pharms/carisoprodol/carisoprodol.shtml for links to more info). No doctor has prescribed anything better than prescription strength Aleve to me for cramps, but since yours are so much worse & you can no longer take the pill, hopefully they will work with you a bit more... Good luck.
Nope. It is a larger risk in older womyn, but the pill mixed with cigarette smoking is NEVER a good idea. When I was younger, in the late 70s and early 80s my doctor wouldn't even prescribe the pill to smokers of any age. You need to talk to the doctor about the possible clotting, high blood pressure ect. It is NOT something to treat at home. My step mother ended up hospitalized for weeks with a HUGE clot almost the length of her leg. She had to be on blood thinners for years, she had surgery, and has to take aspirin every day, and put on specially made compression stockings before she gets out of bed every day. This is treatable, but needs to be take seriously. If your doctor seems to blase about it, please see someone else. Blessings and healing
For the cramps, an NSAID like aspirin, motrin aleve is the best. Warm compresses on your belly and narcotics if it is severe enough. But you NEED to have a doctor address the other problems as well.
i AM not sure about the cloting and the cramps, but I know that when you have high BP Depo is always better. It's the estrogen that causes your blood pressure to go up, and Depo is a Progestion (sp) only BC. I had problems with high BP at the end of my pregnancy, and it carried on after I had my child. My Dr would only give me the depo as BC. But it can have some awful side effects. Like I bleed all the time, never was off my pierod. But for some ppl, it's different. Most ppl don't have a pierod what so ever. But long time use can make it difficult to have children later. NOw I know this is not a proven fact, but I have seen it happen to many ppl.
I don't have any advice for you, but I just wanted to wish you luck and offer you hugs...I hope that you start feeling better and that everything is just fine. Much peace.
