Do you have a good one? Do you prefer male or female gynecologists? And did your periods get really awful when you passed the age of 25? Did anything help?

For boys and girls: do you find yourself getting tongue-tied and embarrassed with your doctor? Is he or she easy to talk to? Does he or she listen to you?

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Answers

Oh, man, Jeremy has a theory -- he thinks the doctor didn't ask me if I was sexually active or using birth control because he assumed (because of my haircut and the way I dress) that I was a lesbian.

I think Jeremy may be right, and now I'm trying to decide if I'm offended, and in what direction.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I started getting killer cramps (orders of magnitude worse than ever before, enough to render me unable to get out of bed for two days, even on massive doses of ibuprofen) about 3 months before my 30th birthday. I went to the nurse practitioner for a pelvic exam, and she put me on the pill. I didn't have too much weight gain or moodiness after the first 3 months on it, and my periods got easy (yay!). It wasn't until a year later that I figured out that the sudden change in cramps was probably in part a side effect of starting to take Allegra for allergies (increased menstrual pain is a reported side effect). If you take that for allergies, you might try switching.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I am so lucky. I have always had as wonderful a time as I possibly could during my yearly pelvic exams. I'm also lucky to have always seen a woman doctor or practioner.

When I first started taking -the pill- I had periods much like you're descirbing. I felt weak and nauseous all the time and had cramps that felt like a dump truck was repeatedly running over my my lower back. Within a few months, though, all was swell.

Then I started getting migraines (of which I have one this morning. Lovely). After a few years I finally decided to ask about it (I'm a convenient wimp at the doctors. I conveniently forget about all the things I'm afraid to ask about.) Anyhow, I was getting too much estrogen from my pills and they put me on a pill with very little estrogen with the option of switching to one with no estrogen if it didn't help. It's helped...just not entirely.

Anyway. Yeah, I'm incredibly lucky. Incredibly. Perhaps you would have an easier time if you looked into going to a "community clinic" type thing. I'm sure your "yearly income" excludes you from their less expensive services, but with a nice donation I'm sure they'd help you out. There doesn't seem to be quite so huge of a waiting list and they are most always run by women.

Who wouldn't be intimidated by having a man poke around at their goodies with lots of metal and plastic? And no PAP? Hmph.

Jackie

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I understand about the pill, I have tried four different kinds and each time I become as emotional as I was when I was pregnant... it is not a pretty site. The excuse I was always given was my weight, doctors use that for an answer instead of trying to solve a problem, because 73 pounds less I still get cramps so bad I can't stand up.

Maybe there are some herbal remedies for cramps, or maybe even acupuncture.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I've (almost) always gone to Planned Parenthood for my pelvic exams: the doctors are ALWAYS women, the nurses are wonderful, and they are much more thorough than the private doctors I've been to. It only takes a couple of weeks to a month to get an appointment and, more importantly, they don't rush through your appointment.

*Even if he assumed that you were a lesbian, your doctor still should have asked about your sexual activity.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I had excellent luck at Planned Parenthood for years, back when I could barely afford to see a doctor at all. You can get an exam plus all sorts of tests done for under $70, if I recall (that's Texas, of course, it may be different elsewhere). If you qualify for their low-income category it's even cheaper. They will ask you a battery of questions about your sex life but they never asked me anything improper.

If I had an HMO that wouldn't let me see a gynecologist for six months, I would be on the phone with that insurance company, yelling and screaming regularly. That's just not right, especially if you're having problems. I would also complain about that particular doctor.

By the way, I switched from the pills to the Depo shot and no longer have to worry about bad cramps. The Depo shot is kind of a crapshoot -- you don't know if you're going to end up with a real mess or with no period at all. I don't really have a period anymore. I think this is wonderful. I can't believe more women don't try this, but many have the same response as my sister: "It's not natural to not have a period." Maybe, but it's sure a lot easier on me. No cramps! No tampons! No PMS!

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I can't stand my OB/GYN. He's also the doctor who delivered me, and for some reason I am hesitant to find another doctor. My worst story is that 2 years ago, during my annual checkup, he told me I was FAT. Not that I wasn't perfectly aware that I had put on weight, but I didn't need this guy to point it out to me. I stuttered out something about drinking alot of beer in college, and not getting enough exercise. But its not like I put on 100lbs. or something, since I had been there last! I wasn't at any medical risk from the freshman 15.

I really can't stand the guy. He never, never looks you in the eye. Always stares at the ceiling or the floor. I think I am going to make the big break and find a new doctor, as I have recently got new health insurance, and it is perfect timing.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Yeah, that's why I was offended. It made me wonder if lesbians get really lousy medical care. He was really rushed and uncomfortable with me.

I always got good care from the nurse practitioners at UCD and UCLA student health, and from Planned Parenthood. It pisses me off to have to PAY to see a gynecologist when my office is paying for insurance, but that's plan now ... particularly since this doctor told me I didn't need to come back for another two years.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Beth, You doctor sucked... I suggest a second oppinion. I know it is a pain in the butt, but this guy sound incompetent. You really should not be in that much pain... so I suggest planned parenthood. At least they will give you a full exam and with breast cancer in the family history you should get a mamogram.

I don't mean to scare you, but it is better to be safe than sorry. I say this because I had a jerk for an OB/GYN and he ignored all my signs of endromereosis(sp), and later of cervial cancer. I did get a second oppinion and was glad that I did.

Doctors are not gods they work for you! I intervew my doctors, before they touch me. Sorry about lil rant sore subject. Good Luck!

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

As a nurse and woman I have to say that what you have written is frightening. Find another doctor - try a nurse practitioner - go to a Planned Parenthood clinic - whatever it takes. what you are describing does not sound normal and the doctor you describe sounds like his liscense should be taken away. On a lighter side - as a younger woman I had terrible cramps - thought they were normal - eventually got pregnant - then found out labor pain was actually no worse than the cramps I had been having. Lter I was diagnosed as having endometriosus and was sucessfully treated. This did take changing doctors once. The doctor I ended up with is male though I would prefer having a woman. GET ANOTHER DOCTOR1

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Beth! Get a different doctor! That guy isn't a gynecologist, he's a shoemaker. That really frosts my butt. You have a serious situation, one that constitutes an emergency visit. Make your appointment call under those conditions, and you should get a better call-to-visit ratio. (Hey, if they are gonna screw us around on routine visits, we have to take radical measures to get our health care.)

I've gone to Planned Parenthood and had different experiences, good and bad. It all depends, but never tolerate a doctor that treats you badly, whether your feet are in the stirrups or not. Sometimes you need to make a list of problems and take it with you, so you don't forget the details. It's easy to blank out when your feet are in the air!

I had a doctor when I was a kid that was indifferent to expressions of pain, so it was no surprise when I went to him for a pelvic that he ignored me when I complained that the metal speculum was really cold (his office was like a freezer). So, the next time I went in, they took me to the office and told me to strip and put on the nice paper towel thingy. I just waited. When the doc came in, he said, "Why aren't you undressed?" I told him I wasn't getting undressed until he warmed up the speculum, that the damn thing was too cold. He said that no one else ever complained, and I told him, "Drop your pants and bend over -- I'll show you how cold it is." He told the nurse to warm up the speculum. And after that, I never went back to him for a pelvic.

Yep, I was a little pissed off. Some doctors forget that their patients are their *customers*, dammit. It's up to us to demand decent treatment. I'm less hostile these days, but no less insistent about my treatment.

Better luck next time, Beth. And please do something about that badger.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

In my late teens I used to get cramps so bad I would literally have to *crawl* though the drug store to the aisle where the Midol was! Not too long after this I got into herbal remedies, and found that LEMON BALM (which was growing ALL OVER mom's yard) makes a very soothing tea that seems to smooth out the cramps in my abdomen and lower back. My little sis (also with bad cramps) swears by the stuff now. Just pick and rinse a handful of leaves, steep them in boiling water for 5+ minutes, strain and drink. (If you plant it, consider a container as it WILL take over comfy garden spots).

The pill helped my cramps and my acne. Ortho Novum was my favorite, before Planned Parenthood stopped offering that one.

As for gynecologists, I had a GREAT male doctor in Indiana - the only man I've ever seen for this area. Very informative, helpful and friendly, which was a relief after the bitches at Planned Parenthood of Franklin, IN who looked at the number of partners I'd had and told me, "You'd better be careful; someday you might find Mr. Right and he's not going to want to marry a slut." I don't know what I told her (definitely not the earful she'd get from me these days), but I remember feeling terrible about myself for months because of that comment.

Planned Parenthood in Oakland, California is MUCH better. I highly recommend spending some money and seeing them despite your health insurance. We all know that HMO's are less concerned with your health than they are with spending as little as possible per patient. Sounds like your "doctor" is in the business man's pocket. Seek out an explanation and a real Pap smear at a place that will be willing to see you yearly (every two years is crap! Do you know how far along cervical cancer (for example) could get in 2 years? I lost a cousin to that, and it seemed to eat her up in just months!).

And try that Lemon Balm tea in the meantime.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I don't have any problems with my periods and never have had any (knock on wood), but I think if I had been in the kind of pain you've been in for years, I would have found some real help with it a long time ago, one way or another, even if I had to pay for it myself.

Is there any kind of system with your HMO for filing complaints about the treatment you go there and how long it took to get an appointment? I mean, you could have had cancer or something and they would make you wait for months to see a doctor when you're in severe pain, and then when you finally see a doctor he doesn't do any real tests?

It does not sound right or normal at all, in fact it sounds like MALPRACTICE, and I think such treatment should be documented - think about all the other women who also are having to deal with this jerk!

As for the male-female thing, I used to have male doctors in my twenties and didn't have any problems dealing with them, but then, I didn't have any problems with my periods either, so there wasn't much to discuss when I would go in for BC pill appointments.

Now I would prefer a female doctor, and my daughter knows some very good ones here in the City, both at Kaiser and at Children's, so if you would be willing to come into the City to see a doctor and are on Kaiser, I could get that name for you, or the one at Children's (which is now Pacific Presbyterian, I think).

Anyway, good luck finding better care. I never go to doctors at all unless I have symptoms of something, but my daughter has had some major problems with her periods and with a cyst, which is why she knows the two good female docs right now.

Judy

http://www.judywatt.com

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I've found that most Kaiser doctors are a bit rushed, and a lot of them don't seem to care what your problem is. I did see a very nice (female)OB/GYN in Davis a year or so ago, and I actually got the appointment about 2 _hours_ ahead of time. Although I know that's not the usual story. (I have found that I get much better service at Kaiser when I go in and make an appointment in person. They seem to notice you and not be as willing to just blow you off to your face.) I would also second a vote for depo. Good stuff, although there is the risk of becoming fat & depressed. Or of _really_ wacky cycling, especially when you stop using it.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I've been really lucky with my GYN care over the years, ending up with various doctors who listened and were gentle and easy to talk to. Even a male doctor that I just got by chance at a clinic and liked so much that I went to him for years after he started his own practice.

I've just changed doctors because we moved and so far like the new ones. But I'm having a little problem because of the way they filled out the paperwork and the way my insurance wants it to be filled out.

I'm pretty good about asking my doctor about stuff even though it's hard. I just get so obsessed about it and upset about whatever the problem is that it's easier to tell this person about my problems, no matter how embarassing or if they don't seem interested.

I wasn't always this way - my mom was sort of a Christian Scientist and never took me to the doctor for anything short of coughing up blood, so it took me a long time to feel okay about things like calling up the doctor because I've had the flu for 6 weeks or something like that. It helped that when I was in college there was this campus health center that you could just go to if you felt the need, and they were always nice and helpful and encouraging.

I'm really amazed that the doctor didn't find fibroids, and really pissed off that he didn't work with you to figure out what this thing is. Even if your female parts are in perfect order, it could be something like irritable bowel disease (I'm just guessing here) and he should help you figure out a solution to this problem. I know it's hard for you, but I hope you'll go back and demand help. This isn't normal.

I've also been lucky in that I've never had bad cramps, probably because I was on the pill for about 20 years. After I turned 40 I started having weird irregular bleeding and gave up the Pill because it wasn't controlling that, but my GYN started me on Provera which I take for part of the month. It keeps a lot of flow from building up and leading to problems. I don't see why the hell your doctor can't give you something like this. Email me if you want more details to use as ammo with him.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Let me iterate that your doctor gave you a wholly insufficient answer, and problems of that magnitude are not normal. Go somewhere else, Planned Parenthood or any women's clinic that takes donations. It's heartbreakingly typical of male doctors to be so dismissive of a "female" problem.

I just went and signed up for an exam myself, and set up the additional trip to the x-ray department for a mammogram. Thanks for motivating me.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Beth, Had a freakshow experience about a month ago. I started bleeding heavily two weeks before my period was scheduled to start. (At the same time, I had become sexually active after more than two eyars of celibacy. Hoo boy.) And I had monster cramps. All my menstrual life I have had reasonably regular periods that were very very light.

So, two days after this bullshit started, the bleeding became frightening. And G. dragged my ass to the emergency room. (He admitted later that he'd been checking my heart rate and monitoring my bp and that I looked really pale.)

Being in the ER with so-called female trouble with a new sexual partner (no matter how wonderful an individual, and he is) is nerve wracking. When said partner is critiquing the ER staff and your explanation of your symptoms -- eek! (Moral here: just see the doctor, don't bring one with.)

So. At any rate ER doc had to be talked into giving me a pelvic. All he did was confirm that the blood was from my uterus (quote: wow, that's a lot of blood) and then offer me birth control to make it stop.

Oh, and I got an analogy that compared my period to *mowing the lawn*.

At any rate, I left pissed as hell. Still leaking copiously, still cramping.

Spend a good part of the next week trying to see a real Gyn. WHat I discovered: Don't just talk to the receptionist. Ask to speak with someone else. Usually there's a nurse practioner around. If there's a nurse line ttype thing with your hmo (mine has one) describe your symptoms and ask what you should do. They'll tell you you could do this you could do that. Mine actually recommended an ASAP appointment. If you don't have one: lie. Say that someone else recommended you come in. Immediately.

And then, if they turn you down, move on to another office.

I was lucky in that I was switching ob/gyn's. I would not see my old one for this-- too cursory and too little opportunity to talk. I got a wonderful woman who listened carefully, took what was going on in the context of my total health.

In the absence of recurrence, we chocked it up to, ahem, reawakened hormones. But I have another pap smear next week.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I don't care one way or another for any gynecologist. What I mean is I don't prefer one over another. I guess since I have had 3 kids that it makes a difference. Believe me, you get used to jumping up on the table for an exam and after a few times it doesn't seem to 'baring'. I guess the only thing I dislike is when they check my breasts...ya know worrying about whether or not your nipples will get hard. How embarrassing if they do! Good thing Docs know it is only a functional thing.

My periods are HORRIBLE. When I am not on the pill. Let me say that I LOVE the pill. Love, love, love!!!! When I am on the pill my periods are only 4 days long and very light. The only bad thing I get is the headache from hell. ugh. I would rather have that than the flow from hell and the cramps to match.

I never get tongue-tied when talking to a doctor. They porbably don't like me though because I am usually overly informed. They get over it. I never leave that office until I know they answered my questions to my satisfaction. I am just bossy that way.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Wow. That freaky geyser blood (see Nita, above) thing happened to me, too.

After three days of huge chunks of me falling out, me bleeding through a pad and a extra-super-duper tampon in five minutes (this was at work, when I was on a conference call with a client -- the perfect time for that "uh-oh" feeling -- so by the time I could get to the bathroom, I had a blood stain the size of a large pizza on the back of my overalls...something no sweater tied around my waist was going to cover, so, since I'd taken the bus to work, I had to stay seated until someone could give me a ride home), and being bed-ridden with cramps, I finally called my general practitioner (who's actually really great), and she sent me to a nice woman gyna (when I called to set up the appointment, she (the gyna) spoke to me about my symptoms, and then I heard her tell the receptionist, "this woman is hemorrhaging, and I want her in here, stat" (she actually said "stat"!)).

So I went in right that very second (my roommate drove me because I was too dizzy with blood loss), and the same thing happened to me as it did to Nita: I said, "I'm not over-reacting, right? This isn't normal, right?" and the gyna said, "No, that is a LOT of blood." So she checked to see if I'd had maybe had a miscarriage (no), then checked my blood (nothing wrong, other than extreme anemia). So, since everything else looked normal (other than the Niagara Falls blood-letting thing), all she could do was put me on the pill, which is apparently what is done for any and all unexplained female problems (something I find exceedingly freaky, but whatever). Since the pill makes me really crazy (depression, heightened sense of smell, blablabla), she only put me on for three months, until "I was back on track." And, strangely enough, it totally worked. That was a year ago, and, while I do have my usual heavy-duty-rock-and-roll period, it's NOTHING as bad as it was that day.

Even so, I still carry around five thousand tampons and mattress-sized pads whenever I'm going with the flow (which I'm doing right now, actually...Beth, are you my alpha female?), just in case the flood gates open again.

It is so scary being a reproductive female! Then again, from what my mother went through with The Pause, that doesn't look like much of a treat, either.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

You will all be happy to know that I called the advice nurse at a different facility, the one where I have the September appointment scheduled. I liked her very much. She concurred that my symptoms aren't normal. She also assured me that the pill he prescribed was the one used most often to help with cramping and heavy bleeding, which was good because he certainly didn't give me any such assurance.

She gave me two options: come in this week via urgent care if the pain gets really bad, and/or give the pills a try until my September appointment (different doctor) and use that appointment as a follow-up.

And she yelled at me for not having a mammogram sooner, so that's happening in September, too.

(I did call Planned Parenthood, but they won't give new patients an appointment -- it's walk-in only. Since I was last there in 1993, I'm a new patient. That will be a last resort, because who has time to sit in a waiting room?!)

Evany, I think there are a couple of other online gals on the same schedule. It must be that whole armpit sweat thing. Mmmmmm.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

while i'd just reiterate what everyone else has said (the pill zaps cramps, planned parenthood is worth the bux) i've read in a couple of magazines that taking lots of calcium (1200-1500 mg a day, which is actually not lots of calcium but what women are supposed to get) helps cramps and PMS. supposedly you should take some magnesium to go with it. i admit this didn't really work for me -- the magnesium made me nauseated and so did the calcium if i forgot to take it with lots of food and water -- but my cramps are caused by an IUD so it's different. if you don't take a good multivitamin, though, start, i swear it'll do wonders for you.

fyi, if cramps are not your problem then i highly recommend the IUD. it's amazingly low-hassle. it doesn't make you fat and weird. insertion is iffy but i was up and about in an hour or so. the weirdest part was hanging out in the recovery room with all these girls who'd just had abortions, all chatting away, but that's another story.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Here's a page of gynecological horror stories.

http://www.wizard.net/~barton/gyn/index.html

sdn

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Just wanted to say I used to have *terrible* periods with cramps that would keep me on my back for 2-3 days at least, and then hobbling around for a week or so every month. Ugh. I've been on Ortho-Novum BC pills for a year, and it's been great. Now I only have my period for a total of a day and a half (!!!!!!) and it comes at exactly the same time on the same day of every month. I love this stuff. Ahhh.... Glad that you found a good doctor Beth.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

Beth, that's dreadful. I'm really glad you've found somebody else to go to - that guy sounds like a complete dick. There's no way that sounded like a proper examination, especially considering your symptoms. I go to the local clinic every six months for more pills and get far more attention and questioning than that, and I have the most hassle-free periods in the world.

Bloody doctors. How patronising and crap, to tell a woman that being in huge amounts of pain for a few days every month is normal! Bugger that for a game of golf, can you imagine a man accepting as normal a situation like that? I'd speak to his superior about your visit with him - there's no telling what serious symptoms of his patients he's missing out on finding.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

The pill worked for me in the case of cramps and long gushy periods. not that they were as bad as my mother's. Yours sound like hers, Beth. Unfortunately, when they got real bad they gave her a hysterectomy. I guess when they can't figure out what's wrong, they drug you and if that doesn't work, haul it out. I also tried the Shot, whatever its called again, but that made me a weeping mess with a brely existant period. I've also had pills that didn't work (re: child #3). Now I'm off the pill, my sex drive is back, and I feel like I immediately lost 5 pounds. Of course, the cramps are back too. i have found that the cramps & flow lessened after I had kids.As for Doctors, I've always had a normal pap, and after gong every year for a good 5 or 6 , the dr said I could switch to every 2 since there was no problems. The only "horror" story has more to do with childbirth, though. I'll spare the details, but I came away from child #2 with a lasting pain that one doctor said would go away, and when i said it hadn't he just shrugged it off. I switched drs. This one actually listened, but he figured it was a stretched ligament because of where the pain is. Told me to exercise more & stretch. Guess what? Still hurts! I'll never be a waitress becasue I can't stand for long periods of time without a throbbing pain! Or sit for a long time either. Hmmph. So beth, it seems you have to scream loud and often to be taken seriously.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

My ob/gyn was great all throughout my pregnancy and I think I'd go back when/if I have another baby.

But.

At my eight-week postpartum check-up, laying on the exam table with my feet up in stirrups, he asks if I'd been using tampons. I told him I hadn't and he went on to say how embarrassed he was. While he had been stitching me up from the epiosotomy - eight weeks earlier - he had left a roll of gauze, um, inside.

Nothing came of it, so we brushed it off. If something had, though, you could bet we would have been all over it.

Ick.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

I have had great luck with gynos. My current one is a wonderful earth- mother type. I do prefer women. Uh, doctors. Not that there's anything wrong with that. You know what I mean.

The main reason I'm posting is to reiterate what someone above said: I love my IUD. Love, love, love it. With the Pill, if I happened to take it just a couple hours later than usual, I'd get a bonus period two days later. Which meant I had two or three periods every month. All my panties are ruined. But with the IUD, I'm back to my usual cycle (35-37 days, not a measly 28) with no mess inbetween. My periods now last a whole week instead of the 4 days they lasted on the pill, but I can handle that.

Insertion was painful (the literature I was reading as I waited in the exam room with the paper dress on listed one of the possible side- effects of insertion as "fainting," which was my first clue), but aside from a little cramping that afternoon, it's been trouble-free. And I don't even have to think about it again until 2009. I feel like getting a big "I *heart* my IUD" bumpersticker.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

I've only had one male doctor and that was for a colposcopy I had done. I was extremely nervous but he was really good at explaining everything that he was going to do before he did it and answering my questions even though I think I asked the same ones at least three times.

My last doctor through my HMO (all previous docs were university health care people or military) was a complete and utter dick. He didn't do my gyno exams but everytime I came in he asked me if I had kids and then asked me why not. He's was this 70-something old fart and I hated him with a passion. This was through my hubby's health plan and we just had to see a doctor on my new health plan and I picked a woman. She was pretty good. I don't know if I'll stay with her since she wasn't awesome but I've found that, by and large, women just seem to be more compassionate and down to earth.

As for birth control. I just went off the pill. Mostly because it was too much of a hassle to get all the necessary paperwork transferred up here to get ahold of some pills when I was without health insurance. (By the way, what is up with insurance companies making you go *every* month to buy pills instead of giving you several months worth?!) Anyway, it has helped me regain my sense of emotional stoicness that I was sad to lose when I started the pill. I'm just not one of those people who weeps over AT&T commercials... until I went on the pill, that is. The pill also totally killed my metabolism and I gained a lot of weight.

I'm now trying to decide what method to go to. The chemical methods just don't appeal to me. Anybody use the diaphragm?

One last thing, a friend of mine was on Depo and turned into a raging bitch. She was naturally a bitch but after she started taking it any little thing would make her turn on a dime and lash out. She didn't even notice it either. The moral of the story is: don't stop at one thing if it's not working for you.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

I used a diaphragm for a couple of years. It was all right (although I secretly never trusted it). It started to hurt after a while, though. That might have meant I needed a new one, or maybe something else was going on. It was a big huge pain in the ass, but so is everything, right?

I haven't tried depo provera because I once got a really bad hair cut from a stylist who was taking it, and part of the reason I got such a bad hair cut was that she was too busy bitching about how she had had her period continuously for six months to notice that she was making me look like one of those skinhead girls.

Someone mentioned vitamins. I would like to heartily second that recommendation. Back when I just had NORMAL bad periods, I was vitamin girl. B-6, 200 miligrams (sustained release or spread out over the day, 50 mil at a time) starting on the 11th day of your cycle -- you'll have no water retention whatsoever. Calcium and magnesium every day helps with mild cramps and general bitchiness, although I have no idea why. (Taking magnesium also makes me indifferent to chocolate.) Iron, of course, for anemia and general malaise.

But none of that has done a damn bit of good lately.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

You women are icky.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

A Male Ob/Gyn has always seemed liked something of an oxymoron to me. I mean, what the hell could a guy ever REALLY know about periods, pregnancy and what it feels like to be a woman from a physical stand-point. I mean, sure, the clinical understanding is probably all there, but there's just something in me that makes me curl up and go "ew" at the very thought of a male Gyn, even though my mom apparently had a very good one when she was younger and he was the doc who delivered me.

I've never been to a male Gyn and I probably never will unless I'm totally desperate. My first Gyn was a woman at a really wonderful all-women's health clinic. After I moved to DC I started seeing a nurse-practitioner gyn and I've never had any complaints about gyn appointments -- not even Pap smears are all that bad and they've always asked me all the right questions.

IMHO the attitude that Beth got from the doc she just saw is just WRONG, close to criminal. I'd get me a new gyn and forget about this weirdo. He's obviously not going to take care of you and that's what the docs are supposed to do: take care of your health. They don't have to be your best bud, but they do have to care enough to make sure that each patients' health is at least in good working order.

I wrote a lot more stuff in an email to Beth, but I might as well add a little bit here -- don't forget to consider alternatives to medication and drugs that can muck about with your body chemistry as much as whatever problem you've got. For some folks, a switch from tampons to pads,from commercial period products to organic ones, or a change in diet can make a huge difference.

Here's a few URLs, from the folky-crunchy side of me:

http://mumm.org -- the Museum of Menstruation http://gladrags.com -- GladRags http://critpath.org/~tracy/spot.html -- The S.P.O.T http://onewoman.com/redspot/ -- The Red Spot

Cheers

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

Corrected URL -- I went a little bit overboard with my -m-s

It's http://mum.org not mumm.org

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

I had an IUD for 15 years and loved it because I didn't have ot think about birth control at all. I didn't realize it was the cause of my seriously long/painful/plentiful periods, however. I finally had it taken out and went on the pill and now I have these lovely tiny periods, one day long... Yay. I do get migraines, though, and I think it might be related, even though my dr. says not.

Re doctors... Beth, some HMOs (including mine) now let you self-refer to any gyn of your choice, is there any chance that yours is one of those?

Good luck.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

I had a male GYN when I was in high school and I saw him occasionally when I was in college, because he was my mom's doctor and I apparently inherited every single reproductive problem of hers except for endometriosis.

He's the best gynecological surgeon in town, but now that he's got all my mom's bits out already I'm not sure why she still sees him.

He's technically competent but he's just clueless about the vague "stuff" we go through. I don't even know why *I* went to him for so long, I guess because I didn't know better.

When I was 17, he told me my ovulation pain was "impossible" (even though he knew I was fibroid-y) and put me on the pill. He then failed to make the connection when I gained 60 pounds in 6 months.

When I had a biopsy and cryosurgery for dysplasia, he told me that neither procedure would be very painful. He was right about the biopsy, and full of shit about the cryosurgery. I cried all the way through it (freeze cervix for 10 minutes with liquid nitrogen, thaw for 20 minutes with a lamp between my legs, repeat freezing), and all he could say was a bewildered "my wife had this done..." He couldn't even acknowledge that I was in pain. I don't think it would have hurt anything to tell me to take a little ibuprofen beforehand.

I went back to him 3 months later for a follow-up PAP (clear) and stopped seeing him. I've stuck to Planned Parenthood since then, the ones in North Texas seem to mostly use female nurse practitioners or PAs, but the whole experience really made me dread going at all, for fear the next time will be as unpleasant. As a result, I haven't had regular PAP tests, not as frequently as I should under the circumstances.

That's what gets me, that they don't understand that even unsympathetic behavior stays with us and makes it a lot harder for us to keep up the basic maintenance we need.

Thanks to the discussion here, I've had my feelings about PP mostly validated and I'm going to go in ASAP for a PAP test. I feel bad using up resources meant for women who don't have the insurance or resources to go to a GYN practice, but I'm willing to pay whatever they want to get decent care.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

Beth, your doctor story made me cringe. Why do otherwise outspoken women have so much trouble talking to doctors? It drives me crazy! Anyway, I'm glad you called the advice nurse.

As for birth control, I highly, highly recommend Norplant. It's covered under many insurance plans (it cost me $5) and lasts for five years, and it is THE most effective form of birth control currently available. More efective than having your tubes tied. The key is to have it inserted by someone who has had a lot of practice with it - done right, it doesn't show at all. And like Depo, one side effect can be easier periods or no periods at all! (Though I didn't get that lucky) The problem with the shots, besides the fact that you have to get a SHOT every few months, is that the hormones spike, then drop off. With Norplant, it's the same constant level all the time.

And it can be taken out before the five years are done, if you decide to get preggers!

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

Oy! Evany, your experience does sound spookily similar. Especially the overalls part. I was wearing denim overals. I was grateful because they were a) baggy (even tho that is gross) and b)absorbent -- also gross, but I was less likely to mark anyplace I sat down. I mean, at least the friend I was visiting was blind, right?

I find it really scary that medicine still looks at the whole collection of symptoms and ailments that can happen with women's reproductive systems, and instead of looking for a cause or explanation, they want to just make the symptoms stop. Either throw hormones at you or yank the whole thing out.

On the birth control subject: This is the second time I have been on Depo, and I really like it. I'm one of those people who gets no period. I'm trying to be careful with the weight gain, and I've lost 15 or so pounds this summer randomly anyway. (I'm hoping that 15 or 30 more will trot after their friends and get lost.) I first went on it because my job had me travelling all the time. I had no sense of time or routine and was even more spassy about taking them regularly than more normal tendency. (And you just can't set a little watch alarm to go off, because then, there you are giving a presentation at 2:00pm local time, but 5am Pill time) and say Oops! excuse me! I'm not ready for children.

I've heard lots of guys and guy docs (including G.) spout this thing at me about how women gyns are often less um sensitive than male ones. But the thing is, I know more women that have had positive experience with women gyns than men.

I think it's not so much that the men don't have a uterus and therefore aren't as knowledgeable. I think it's that they tend to get overbusinesslike-get in there, get it done, babam.

Argh. I dunno.

But I'm back on Depo now, so I shan't be bleeding at all for a long long time. ANd if I am, Dr. Patty Chang is my go to gal.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

I don't think Depo turned me into a raging bitch, I think that happened independently. Anyway, I've been off of it for about 6 months now. I do agree that the hormones 'spike' with Depo. I basically had a few weeks of spotting (and maybe a light 'real' period) every three months, starting a week or two before I was due for a shot.

The only real downside I've found is that it is taking forever to get back to normal. It's actually gotten me thinking I should go back on it (especially since I seem to have actually gained weight since I stopped).

I do have to say I saw a female OB/GYN a few years ago who was very snippy, and treated me like an idiot because I was asking questions (about side effects of Depo, actually). I wouldn't see her again if I could help it.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 1999

Hey now.

Gotta step in. First: is everyone aware that tampons cause cramps? This is one thing that not many people believe when I try to tell them. (pardon me if I'm speaking slowly and with little words) But basically, tampons not only soak up the red stuff, but they rob your groovy vaginal walls of the good healthy lube-like stuff. That's one reason that cramps can be intensified.

Second: Depo is good in some ways, but sucks in another. I get my period CONSTANTLY, so I always have to be ready. Has anybody ever heard of the Keeper? (http://www.thekeeper.com - go there now) It's super-convienant and very easy on the underwear and on the cramp situation. Plus, if you have it w/ you, that's it. No more five hundred tampons in your purse with three hundred pads. And you can change it super-often if you need to. And so,

Third: Does anybody else read these posts with alarm? We, as women who are birth-control conscious, have little to no choice in the matter. As someone said earlier, drug 'em or cut that bitch right out. That's very scary. If men got castrated every single time they had a "male" problem... well... ya know, ya'd hear about the "controversy". But with us, it's common and accepted. Birth control choices right now just suck. You either rely on barrier methods which aren't as effective as one might hope (the snap of a condom break sends shivers down a spine), or you get hormonal methods which mess with your periods, your emotions, your hormones, everything. Does that worry anybody else?

Okay, I'm done. *grin*

-- Anonymous, July 31, 1999

Oh, yes, I ranted about that last one in my very first journal, when I realized that almost every woman in my office had had a hysterectomy. There is a lot of information out there about the number of unnecessary hysterectomies performed in the U.S. See Gynalternatives.com and the very directly named No More Hysterectomies.

And I agree that tampons seem to make cramps worse. That's why I've rediscovered pads after avoiding them like the plague for (oh, man) 16 years. But I still can't stand to wear them when I'm out walking around. Blech.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 1999

Sacramento must be notorious for bad ob/gyns. I've only found one that I've been happy with, and that was because she handled my miscarriage in the emergency room. I keep wanting to switch to her but I'm too chicken to ask my doctor for a referral for fear of hurting her feelings (how idiotic is that!)

Anyway Beth, she's in the Sutter medical group and her name is Elizabeth McClure... she's extremely popular and I'm not sure if she's accepting new patients or if you can even use Sutter but it might be worth checking out (and I'm going to call my doctor on monday and request to see her next month, as well.)

:)

-- Anonymous, July 31, 1999

Regarding Emily's response: Actually, they are trying some of the same methods of birth control for men as they have used for women, allowing for differences in biology. What they've discovered, generally speaking, is that the male reproductive system is considerably less robust than the female. Tinkering with male hormones to interrupt sperm production tends to produce (1) breasts and (2) infertility. Basically, until recently, once you shut off the male reproductive system, it stayed shut off.

As for what happens when guys have problems ... actually, the default solution is essentially the same. Male problems tend to occur later, that's all, and tend to be fairly uniform: prostate enlargement or prostate cancer. For benign enlargement, they stick a balloon in and inflate it to squish the tissues, then pull the balloon back out; think of it as the male equivalent of the D-and-C. For other problems, the default solution is prostate removal. For seriously aggressive cancers, the solution is prostate removal AND castration, to stop the production of hormone-dependent cancers. Like a complete hysterectomy, only with no possibility of feeling any sort of physical sexual arousal ever again. (Doesn't matter if the triggers for most arousal are in the brain if the body can't possibly respond.)

As far as being tongue-tied goes ... well, it depends. Less so after a few bad doctor experiences. After all, the doctor has no chance of helping you if you can't tell him/her what's wrong.

As for male vs female docs ... eh. Depends. If I've got to have the glove, in some ways I'd rather have women doctors (smaller fingers), in some ways men (they know what the Glove feels like). If I had a urological problem, I'd definitely rather have a man, though. For general problems, actually, I prefer women. They seem to listen better than the men. Overgeneralizing broadly, of course. But in my limited experience, such is the case.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 1999

Regarding the previous: I forgot to mention that a lot of the difference is also that women tend to have more troubles during their reproductive years than men do. Men tend to start having problems, then die soon after, so the extent of problems gets hidden.

That said, women still get more hysterectomies than the problems they have should warrant. I've never understood why, even in male-dominated medicine, that would be the default answer.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 1999

Beth,

I know I'm a guy, but I would also suggest that you get another opinion. It sounds like you have pretty serious cramping, and the thing that bothers me is its length and severity.

It sounds like the gynecologist you saw is of the "women are supposed to have lots of pain and agony related to their menstrual cycle, so there's no reason to do any serious exploration of their histories or bodies." Let's just do a hysterectomy. YIKES!!!!!

He didn't do a Pap? He didn't do anything other than talk to you about prescribing the Pill? And he just said, "It will probably get worse." Nothing to be done or investigated, basically. Sheesh!!

Please do get a second opinion. Doctors graduate from the top and the BOTTOM of their classes. Gaston

-- Anonymous, August 01, 1999

first, what an asshole!

second, i cannot use tampons for the first two days or so. since the first day i have cramps so bad i can't walk anyway, the last thing i need to do is pop in a plug! i've switched back to pads too, unless i'm going out for dinner or anyplace that involves a lot of walking. i've also read too many things about "clogging the pipes" and i've switched to 100% organic cotton non-chlorine bleached products. unfortunately, the people who make the natural stuff, seem to not be aware of the wave of pad technology in recent years - so no wings or channels or anything. *sigh*

and as for natural remedies for cramps, my naturopath gave me these drops and they are fabULous. the label says... piscidia and cimicifuga. at least i think that's how the last word is spelled. i take a few drops and the cramps are gone for HOURS! it's very very cool. and no drugs! yay!

oh and hey, what's that cute line from clueless "surfin' the crimson wave"? i'm there too ladies. wierd.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

Yikes! Beth, I'm glad everyone else already encouraged you to get a follow up- what a wretched experience. anyway- there really are several very good options for painful periods that don't involve the pill, surgery, or suffering patiently until menopause. Check out naturopaths in your area- they really are licensed, accredited doctors and there are so many ways in which they can help encourage your body and hormones to get back to normal- herbs, vitamin therapies, acupuncture, low dose plant-based hormonol creams, etc. Most importantly, they work really hard to figure out WHY you're getting cramps in the first place- because it actually is not normal for a woman of any age to be experiencing pain with her period. I've been a pharmacist for a naturopathic clinic for several years, and the doctors at my office not only helped me with the whole rabid badger thing, they completely resolved a very scary precancerous cervical condition I had a couple years ago, without surgery or painful cryosurgery stuff. Anyway- just my two cents, for what it's worth. Oh, and women- If you are on those Depo-Provera shots, your doctor should have informed you that it was first used to chemically castrate sex offenders, and the research isn't all in yet on its long term effects on women- something to be aware of. ~erika

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

I'm coming in a little late on this discussion but just read Beth's entry about the badger (very apropos!) and the forum answers now. Beth, your description of your experience with that horrendous ob/gyn sent chills down my spine, especially because I've heard almost the same horror story from other people. It's classic: "your cramps and bleeding are normal, but if you can't handle it, we'll just pop that uterus right out." Unfortunately, a lot of doctors get taught this shit in med school, even these days, even the women physicians.

I noticed that a couple people mentioned endometriosis but not in any detail. Beth, what you're describing sounds like a textbook case of endometriosis. I would recommend that you hop down to your local library or bookstore and look for a couple of good books. Living with Endometriosis by Kate Weinstein (sp.?) is an older book and isn't quite up on the current treatments, but it has the best list of possible symptoms of endometriosis I've ever seen. It was the book that led me to suspect that I had endo. Overcoming Endometriosis and The Endometriosis Sourcebook are more recent books that primarily consist of articles that previously appeared in the Endometriosis Association Newsletter, not as well organized as Weinstein's book but definitely more up-to-date. The association can also help out with information. Their address is 8585 N. 76th Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53223; (414)355-2200; endo@endometriosisassn.org; www.EndometriosisAssn.org.

Different types of birth control pills are often used to treat symptoms of endometriosis, but they don't work for everyone. I strongly suspect that many women who complain to their doctors of painful periods and are put on the pill actually have undiagnosed endometriosis. The typical treatment for diagnosed endometriosis these days are surgery (I know, it sounds scary, but usually it involves a laparoscopy, which leaves only a tiny scar (about 1 inch or less, often hidden inside the belly button) and is performed on an outpatient basis). Then surgery is followed by a six-month course of drugs, usually GNRH inhibitors which stop your periods completely during that time period. Once the six-month medication is finished, a lot of women go back on the pill but others find that they can manage without it, especially if they start implementing diet changes and working with holistic medicine, herbs, etc. I myself had the surgery and the GNRH inhibitors almost ten years ago and have not needed anything stronger than Aleve since.

If you read up on this and start to suspect that you have endometriosis, or if at your next doctor's appointment it is strongly suggested to you that this is the case, I recommend trying to find not a gyn but a reproductive endocrinologist to treat it. While some gyns have a good understanding of endo, a lot of them are 10 to 40 years behind the times. A reproductive endocrinologist is far more likely to see and treat endometriosis frequently and to be up on the current surgical techniques and medications.

Obviously this is my pet subject, having suffered with this disease myself, and it's what I know most about. You could very well have something else--for example, it could be fibroids. It's clear that the jerk (um, doctor) didn't do a thorough exam so he might not have felt them, and sometimes they're small enough or in such odd places that no doctor feels them, which is why your doctor should have done an ultrasound to doublecheck. You should definitely have a Pap smear to make sure you're not developing some type of cancerous condition. That doctor was extremely irresponsible to treat you like nothing was wrong. Menstrual pain and excessively heavy bleeding are always signs that something's out of whack. Women have been fed a big fat lie by modern society that it's just something we have to learn to live with.

My two cents' worth on female vs. male doctors may sound like heresy, but although I generally prefer female doctors, I do not seek them out. I have been misdiagnosed by women doctors. I have been given incorrect medical advice from them. I have had women doctors be condescending to me. I have some nasty horror stories about what I went through trying to get diagnosed, and they involve almost as many women doctors as men. The reproductive endocrinologist who treated my endometriosis was a man. I owe my sanity and my health to him.

My personal philosophy is I don't care if a doctor is male or female, American-born or an immigrant, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Arabic, etc., etc. All I care about is if they know exactly what they're doing and if they treat me like a human being. After what I went through, I no longer put up with shit like you got from that doctor. I walk out and I never ever go back to them again. Yes, HMOs make it damn hard. It's a pain in the butt to fight for an appointment for a year and then get that type of shabby treatment. But don't settle for that. Find yourself someone else who knows what the hell they're doing.

Sorry for ranting but this pushed one of my major buttons. Hope some of the info helps.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999

I don't get my annual exam (both a physical and the gyno stuff) from an OB/GYN... just the same registered nurse/whatever that I usually go to. She's wonderful - better than most doctors I've been to. The best thing about her is that she takes time and asks all sorts of questions which relieves me of having to bring things up. And often her questions remind me of something I would have forgotten to mention.

On the lesbian issue... when I was in college, the doctors at the student health center would routinely ask, "Are you sexually active? Do you sleep with men, women, or both?" I think all doctors should do this! Who you sleep with definitely can affect your health, and having the doctor always ask upfront (in a series of other questions) makes it not a big deal.

Depo Provera: I nervously started Depo almost 6 months ago. I had heard all sorts of things about the possible side effects, etc, but made an informed choice to give it a try. I'm very glad! I have little to no bleeding during my periods, although the other symptoms are still there (bloating, PMS, etc.). I haven't noticed any weight gain. The one side effect I've noticed is a little more intensity to my PMS... but I am aware of it, so I can see when I'm doing it, so I can say to myself "I'm upset, so I should deal with this problem later after I calm down" instead of overreacting to other people.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

wow, a horrible but horribly familiar story of a jerk in a medical uniform. Glad to read that you're trying someone else.
I too have fairly heavy periods, and severe cramps. Recently I have also started getting migrains along with the first few days of my period. So far I have been lucky with my GYNs. most were female, although two years ago I participated ion a medical study testing a new birth control (a leave-in cervical cap). This was when I was uninsured and needed a new exam, pap, and maybe go on the pill. the study would do all those things for me for free, plus pay me a totall of over 200 bucks. all in the name of science! plus it wasn't any chemical or hormonal fiddling about. Anyway, the GYN was a 70-year-old man, and althougf it was a little funny to look down and see his balding, age-spotty head between my knees, he was gentle and explained everything he was about to do, so I have no complaints.
Regarding regular vs. irregular periods. Women (in industrialized nations) nowadays have MORE periods MORE regularly than at any earlier time in history. We begin menstruating sooner and stop later than women in the past used to. It may be partly related to better nutrition and more sedentary lifestyles, hormones in food, other things.. but the idea that one should menstruate like clockwork every month from age 14 to 54 is misguided. I'm not saying that not mentruating, a some on Depo do not, is completely normal.. but there is a little more leeway in our bodies than we usually take.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999

Just thought I'd toss this out there: I went in for my Pap Smear today. I've been on Depo for a month, and I've lost 12 pounds (on the scale, I was all, ok, now slide that weight over another 50 pound notch, oh, ok, i guess not.) with no effort on my part. I feel fine. More headaches than usual, but I'll chalk those up to weather and the heat. But Dr. Chang said that I had a polyp on my cervix, which she removed after the smear. It wasn't there when I went in for my Bleeding Incident a month ago.

So what do y'all know about cervical polyps? Should I fret?

-- Anonymous, August 06, 1999

Beth--make sure your next OB/GYN checks for endometriosis. Brenda sounds like she knows what she is talking about. Oddly enough, I happened to pick up a magazine today (August Mademoiselle) and it has a very large, very informative article about endometriosis. I read it, then got on the computer to browse around. I came upon your page and it was like I was reading the article again. I urge you to have this checked as soon as possible. Pick up the magazine, at least. As for not speaking up around doctors, you have to understand (although you don't have to like it) that they are usually scheduled so tightly that the only effective way to see all of the patients is by the now-popular 20 second exam. YOU have to make sure that they hear you. Do not let them leave the room unless you are satisfied that they understand your problems. If this does not work, I strongly suggest you see another physician and/or report him to the licensing board in your state. For my own funny OB-GYN experience (although at the time I was not amused at all).....I have a medium-sized tattoo on the inside of my calf. During my first visit to my ob/gyn, he noticed the tattoo and remarked that it was "neat". (I believe this is doctor-speak for "Why on earth do these people do this?) Anyway, the visit went fine and I appeared on-time for my next yearly appointment. I got on the table, freezing in my disposable paper gown, and waited for the dreaded visit. My doctor entered the room (with nurse), asked me to lay down and do the ever-popular "scoot, scoot, scoot your bottom down". So, I scoot and I lie down to let him do his thing. The nurse lifts the gown so he can have a good view, and he looks down and promptly shouts "WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT?!?" Now, from my position, I cannot see what he is looking at. All I know is that my GYNECOLOGIST has apparently seen something so horrible that it is scaring him. Luckily, the nurse noticed my panic and quickly informed me that he was speaking about my tattoo, not the area in question. He apologized and I sat there after the appointment was finished and watched him write in my file: "Tattoo on right inside calf". Hopefully, it won't happen again this year (appointment is next week!) Hope everything works out for you.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 1999

I go to a female ob/gyn (in palo alto, and i live in santa cruz, but she's worth the drive) because of a semi-similar male doctor at camp story... i'd be happy to put you in touch - your guy sounds horrible and abrupt and dismissive.

a friend of mine was feeling terribly, terribly tired, for months - unable to leave the house sometimes. she'd just moved, and just married, and after seeing three male doctors who invariably told her she was just depressed from all the change, she saw a female doctor who tested her for thyroid problems, which turned out to be it exactly, and she was medicated immediately, clearing up the problem. male doctors - ick.

and re the pill - they have REALLY, REALLY mild ones now that don't affect your weight at all and actually cut your period down to next to nuthin' AND apparently are suspected of helping reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. nordettes - ask about those.

-- Anonymous, August 10, 1999

Last week I had a physical with a female doctor. She saved the best for last. She asked me to stand then pull down my underwear. She grabbed down and said "Turn Your Head And Cough" I became fully erect and turned red. I cried my eyes out for a whole day.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

Please take my URL off the board but continue to show my letter. I forgot to tell you to keep URL private.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

Please take E-Mail address out of public display. My mom is the actual owner of the address but I have permission to use it. I appologize for any inconveinence.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

What e-mail address do you want me to display? You have to provide one.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

I think it is fair to say that you are SO busted. Excuse us while we cry, collectively.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

Cried your eyes out? Seems to me that would've been the perfect oppurtunity to look the doc in the eye and with a sly grin try out that "Heyyy. How you doooin'?" line that Joey uses on Friends.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

Wow, I just finished readin all of the previous posts and I was shocked at what some women have to go through. I have similar problems to some of the other women. I have awful peroids with heavy bleeding and terrible, awful cramps along with the ever lovely nausea. I literally am lying in bed for days, and I can't move . I have been to my doctor and my gyn, and have been put on a bunch of different birth control pills and perscription drugs. Nothing has worked and my gyn said something about going onthe depo shot. I am only 17 and from what I have read about the side affects, the shot isnt looking all that appealing. The only reason that I actaully found this site was because my grandma told me about her friend who had endometrioses so I decided to look it up and found this. I dont know anything about it, is it possible to have it when you are 17? I have had bad cramps like this for about 5 years, and am wondering what can be done. The doctors say they can't find anythign wrong. The problem is that with my gyn, to get an appointment you have to wait like 5 monthes because she is so booked. It is almost as bad to go to a male, but I have been to one before (for my first visit)and have vowed never to go back to one again. I live in Canada, so I dont know if things are the same here as they are in the States. But if you have any suggestions, I would really appreciate them. I really can't stand these cramps anymore, I almost failed my gr 9 and 10 yrs becasue I missed so much school.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001