Need Imput about Health

[Cutecurlz]

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> I am a female with CF, just turned 38 yrs old. I am having some health concerns and need advice. #1-I've been on birth control for 2yrs now (Marvelon21) and for the last 2-3 months it seems to not be working. I'll get my period when I'm supposed to, then a week after I start the pill again...I'll bleed some more. Also since January every month I get about 2-3 cold sore outbreaks(family doc says I'm stressed) There's stress and then there's stress, I think it's more than that. also lately I just don't feel like doing much of anything. I don't have the energy to go to work (I hate it there anyhow) I just don't want to do nothing anymore. It's like I permenantly have the BLAH's and I don't know why. I'm not really taking anything for my CF except for the enzymes(Ultrase MT12) and the vitamins and I am in pretty good health...well except for all these recent changes. Anyone have any ideas or reasons why this is happening? And any ideas what I can do to change it?

 

[JazzysMom]

Are your running fevers at all? The cold sores & lack of energy would indicate possible virus. This might also be messing with your period. I dont use hormonal BC so I dont know if you can have that type of reaction to it for it to be that. How has your weight been? Are you feeling ok other than the fatigue? Junky in the lungs etc!

 

[Cutecurlz]

Thank you for your reply. I am not running any fevers. I am taking Valtrex for the cold sores. My wieght has always been good(5'5" 145lbs) I feel ok other than the BLAH's....I had a really bad cold a while ago and I can still hear junk come up when I cough, CF doc says it's ok tho. So I dunno what's wrong or what to do.

 

[laurabay17]

Just one guess...if you hate it at your job, there's one good stressor right there, which may have gradually taken over and run your body down. Never underestimate stress. It's hard enough for us to go out there and work and maintain our health , but if it's a job that gives you no enjoyment at all, I could see that taking it's toll eventually. I used to work in tourism (very stressful, didn't like it) and always had stomach problems, laryngitis, etc. As soon as I left, so did my symptoms. Granted it took awhile to figure out something I would like doing, and I did have to go back to school for it. As far as the birth control issues, i'm not sure, I've been on Minovral for years myself. I'm sure someone will have advice, though.

 

[Scarlett81]

Besides what some others said-

You sound alot like me, and I say that b/c as soon as I started taking Birth Control I chanegd alot. Maybe that's the problem? I mean, we need these meds, especially birth control but they do mess wiht our hormones/emotional balance major.
I started the Depo shot when I got married and was on it for a year-it ruined my existance for a year. So I stopped it. Now I'm on the Nuva ring, and it has gotten better. But my doc feels that birth control and me just don't work too well. I have emotional issues to deal with anyhow, and the extra hormones don't help.

I would definately talk to you GYn about other choices. See what else is out there for you. I didn't think there were any other choices for me until I went to the gyn and told how unhappy I was.

And if you have any feelings you need to get out, make and appointment and talk to a therapist. Doing that was the turning point for me.

No interest in your work-no energy, stress related sores-somethings up. It could be hormonal, could be emotional or both. But you don't have to live with it neccesarily.

 

[thelizardqueen]

Well despite being on the pill and getting your period more then once a month might mean that you have to change your script to something stronger. I used to get my period 2-3 times a month on one pill I was taking, and all I needed to do was take something stronger. Talk to your doc about that. The blahs could also be from the pill too. I got really cranky on one pill I was taking and had to be switched.

 

[coltsfan715]

I wanted to say I had the same problem with the BC and spotting/ slight bleeding when I wasn't supposed to be on my period. I started taking the BC pill - Miracette when I was 18 for severe cramps. I had taken it for about 4 years when I started having a "mini-period" every week or so. It would last a day or two of spotting here and there and would go away and return whether I had missed a pill or not.
I talked to my OB/GYN about it and she said that when you are on BC for extended periods it can thin the linning of your uterus and make break through bleeding and spotting more common. She switched me to a pill with a high level of estrogen and the problem has gotten somewhat better. She switched me first to Estro-step, which worked for bleeding but not cramping (for me anyhow) then she switched me to the Ortho-Evra patch. I have been on that for about a year now. It works well, though I still have minimal break through bleeding the week after I am supposed to have my period (when I say minimal - it is barely there but just enough for me to notice).

Lindsey

 

[anonymous]

I agree that the patch is the best to stop the bleeding in between periods. It stopped mine.

But question to Lindsey, where do you put it? I have mine on my butt and at the end of the week it looks gross, like an old band-aid. not the most attractive

Sue 24w/CF

 

[Momtana]

You might be a candidate for the IUD. Laura

 

[coltsfan715]

Yeah I am having issues with that too Sue. I alternate sides on my rearend/hippish area. I tried the stomach/bikin line area and the skin there was so sensitive it was too painful to remove (I have an adhesive allergy). Putting it on my rear doesn't cause too much of a problem other than it is always trying to come off. A friend of mine used to put hers on her back/shoulder area (in winter mainly) she said she had a hard time with her shirts sticking to the adhesive and the dirty bandaid look there too, so I have never tried that.

I did read in the pamphlet thing though that you can remove the adhesive that is around the edges of the patch with baby oil. I have not tried that personally, but maybe if you do that and remove the adhesive around the edges it won't look so bad at the end of the week.

Lindsey

 

[littledebbie]

I second the thought on the IUD.

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>littledebbie</b></i>

I second the thought on the IUD.</end quote></div>



I third it....I love mine. Well as much as you can love something stuck up your vagina by someone other than your husband! ***SORRY THAT WAS CRUDE***

 

[Momtana]

Melissa - it's in your uterus!

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Momtana</b></i>

Melissa - it's in your uterus!</end quote></div>


I realize that.....but you must go thru the vagina to get there LOL!