Well crap [life]

[vawitch]

Though you may well have some info from your SO's or family member's experiences...
I've been gaining weight steadily over the past year; thought it was due to stress. For a short time, I was binge-snacking (and realized it, & stopped). But no loss of weight. Otehrwise, my life-style & eating habits haven't changed.

Then I recalled - my Mirena IUD (aka hormonal BC)... BCP can cause weight gain (never a prob for me, but)...pops online... YUP!! weight gain is common, and the amount (15 in 1 yr) is well within what I was reading on a couple of different boards.

so... no I don't know what to do. While no period and thus no killer "a mule-kicked-me-in-the-gut" cramps has been great, the weight-gain is sucking. I'm back to my pre-kid weight, which is about 15-almost 20 lbs over what is the *max* weight for my height; which seemed to be a happy-weight for my body to maintain (the max suggested weight = sustainable weight).

I cannot do the Pill - not cuz of similar problems, but cuz the stupid medical establishment (insurance) won't pay for an extra 1/2 packet/cycle of BCP, since my cycle isn't anywhere near 28 days long - my body WILL overwrite in in less than a year's time. Nuva-Ring was nice, except the killer-cramps still appeared (no diff than when not on anything, I might add; just knew exactly when I'd be visited). Looked at the Nova-sure/Esure (ablation); but ob/gyn said I could still have killer cramps, even w/ little-no bleeding.

Suggestions?

Comments

[seagull2eagle.livejournal.com]

Well huh... o.o I've been gaining weight too, but I put it down to desk job. Never even once thought of the Mirena. The no cramps is just the most awesome thing ever, though, so man what a hard choice!

I was able to get some of the weight back down with more exercise and veggies in my diet (neither of which I do regularly), but once I was off that (it only lasted about three months), it started creeping back up again. I've been meaning to try that again and this time try and stay with it (should be healthier for me anyhow).

I'll ask my doctor if she has any ideas, and if she's got anything good, I'll let you know!

[thedooz.livejournal.com]

If the only reason you wouldn't do the pill is insurance I would say try planned parenthood. I have insurance Through techno but do all my female stuff through planned parenthood. They allow you to buy as many packs at a time as you want and will prescribe extra packs for the year if you have cycle issues or take them back to back. I (for instance) take orthonovum 1/35 three packs straight and then have a period, so they prescribe me 15 packs for the year or something like that. Their pills sell for $20-$25 a pack so are still reasonable considering insurance prices. I know the one year I bought through a phamacist instead they wouldn't even sell me the pills before 28 days were up and a couple of times I was goign on vacation or was going to be out of town. OBNOXIOUS. I went back to a pill PP carried. Anyway, thats my htought on the matter. :)

[hellsangelcurse.livejournal.com]

I'd talk to you OBGYN about a pill with a lower does of progesterone.

I had a problem with weight gain when on pills with a higher level of it, and my mother (she's a Physician's Assistant) confirmed that a higher does of progesterone are a common source of weight gain.


Hope this helps.

[okami-myrrhibis.livejournal.com]

The problem I have w/ BCPills, is that they're designed for the "average" cycle of 28-30ish days. My cycle since shortly after starting my periods @ 12, has been 34-37 days - a full week+ longer (which means my son was born a week early vs 3 days late).

So w/in 6-13 months (was on 7 different pills in 3 years, both mono-phasic & tri-phasic) my body overwrites the Pill-induced cycle - which means I don't get my period for 1-2 wks into the next pack - which means my fertility peak is when the pills are going lower or are non-existent...
Ironically, when on the NuvaRing, which is 1 steady localized dose, no weight gain that I recall, and periods occurred w/in 3 days of it coming out after being in for 4 wks.

But yea, it looks like another trip to my gyn...sigh..thanks for the feedback!

[hellsangelcurse.livejournal.com]

Might I recommend asking about Seasonale then?
It is a pill, but extends the time between periods to 3 months.

[cheyannew.livejournal.com]

The drawback to that, though, is that it may affect the cycle in other ways; our cycles were never "normal"; ie while mine was only 4 days, it was horrifically heavy BUT on clockwork a normal timed cycle, whereas hers is 7+ days of sucky yet controllable bleeding and monster cramps BUT is not on a clockwork normal time schedule (. Anything that further screws with her cycle might backfire terribly.

Just my 2 cents.

[okami-myrrhibis.livejournal.com]

Actually, my cycle is quite regular. w/in 2-3 days of the "expected" day. hence the 34-37 day cycle.

But my body appears to be insistent on THAT being it's cycle. Like I said above (I think, repsonding via mail); was like 6mo to get regular @ 12 y/o; throughout teens & 20s; upon giving birth, you hear about how "body changes" - that wasn't one of them. my P was back 2 mo after giving birth, BF full-time, and I think w/in 2 cycles of it returning, was right back to pre-preg length, heaviness & pain-level.

The only thing, hormonally, that hasn't seemed to have side-effects per se or get over-written, was the Nuva-Ring. My body seem to accept it, but it... moved, at inopportune times, for lack of better word. Just a week of mess/pain/etc has gotten old.

[vermilionbird.livejournal.com]

I had horrible weight control issues with the Depo-Provera shot. My Dr. denied this, but with every injection I would gaine 7 pounds ovrnight and they wouldn't go away. When Hubby had a visectomy, I stopped all birth control and lost 20 pounds in 3 months without changing anything in my life.

I have the most horrible cramps and my doc suggested taking ibuprophren for a solid week before my cycl and it cuts the intensity of the cramps and reduces the flow. Maybe you should let your body rest by going off BC for a couple of months and then try BC again.

Is a tubal something you would consider? Some time they can do it liperscopically (msp) and you wouldn't miss near as much work and most insurance policies cover them. you would still have the cycle, but you could control the pain otherways.

[okami-myrrhibis.livejournal.com]

When I was on Depo (2 shots/6months) - I had 15ish lb weight-gain, and libido went to shit. Ironically, that's a "problem" w/ the Mirena, but not for me (yipee, now I just need someone LOL). Only time I know for sure libido went in the toilet was the Depo - I didn't even *think* sexy thoughts. Plus, I personally feel (and based on several infertility-board discussions at the time), that the Depo exacerbated my fertility problems (a couple types run in family: can't get preggo (me & mom) or can't stay preg (sis & grandma))

If pregnancy was the primary factor, I'd do a tubal. But given that I've had 1 pregnancy, and *maybe* 2 uh-oh/was I? in 17 yrs of sexual activity, incl 3 yrs actively trying to conceive - that ain't a problem. BC is for trying to have less than 8-day mod-heavy periods, and killer-cramps (as in, every 2-3 cycles now, I am missing a day of work, for the past 3 years - it's been increasing in OMGOuch frequency). Which sadly, I'm not aware tubals due anything for.

Ibuprofen doesn't do much except when it's moderate cramping; 600-800mg on the OMG cycles. But ty for the suggestion. More info to think about & discuss w/ the Dr.

[cheyannew.livejournal.com]

Your OBGYN is on crack of he says ablation = cramps still...
Well, partly on crack; a large # of women who get it (and you better be good goddamned sure you want it by the way because the procedure SUCKS and your pain tolerance isn't as high as mine, so I imagine it'll suck more for you) have a reduced flow and reduced cramps. Some lucky ladies, like myself, never have another period. Yeah, not a drop, no cramps, no nothing.
You will want a 2nd & 3rd opinion. I went through 3 docs before I settled on the 3rd, who not only spared me having to have a hysterectomy for my condition, but also treated me like an adult despite my age, etc.
And if you go for the Ablation, there's a number of ways to do it, NovaSure as well as others; I forget offhand which method I had, it was years ago. You'll go in in the morning, get put to sleep, and they will perform the following (at least they did me): Laproscopy to eliminate any signs/possibility of endometriosis, tubal (because you are required to have that done if getting ablation as your body cannot handle pregnancy and it creates a GREATER chance of ectopic pregnancy, so they remove the choice from you.), D&C (where they scrape the lining of your uterus) and the ablation (which my husband referred to as "filling you up with gasoline and lighting it").
When you finally wake up, they'll likely ask you what your pain is to figure out what pain meds to give you, it'll be an hour or two before they release you after you wake up. This is a VERY invasive procedure and any Dr who tries to rush you out can eat a dick and die, IMO. I had mine done on a Thursday, and took Friday and Monday off. I STUPIDLY drove on Sunday and learned why they say NOT to after C-Sections. DO NOT DRIVE 3 days after this if you get it done LOL IS BAD. But again, my pain threshold is different than yours; I was still in pain but could cope, especially as I was in Tech Support at the time @ Mythic and sat most of the day.
They also say there'll be no hormonal wonkiness as it keeps your ovaries intact, etc. I'm not 100% sure of that, as I have noticed some oddities since they used an egg beater in there and so on.
I'm currently detoxing with the Reset thing my company offers; it's low-glycemic and so on, and I've lost 1/2" on my waist in less than a week, so if that works for me, I'll let you know. You can't afford the initial reset kit per say but if the low glycemic stuff works, I'll let you borrow some recipes. It'll be good for Kian, too.
So, in closing (hello long-windedness much??), check into the ablation IF, and only IF, you are 210% sure you NEVER want another kid EVER EVER EVER. The choice will be removed from you. And that sounds all keen and such, but it hits you afterwards, the finality and reality of it. I actually had a small breakdown after I woke up because the drugs were throwing my system off and it hit me I was now NEVER able to have another (Yes, I know, having the 2 I did nearly killed me but I DID in theory have a choice to you know.. miscarry another 4 times or whatever). So if you're completely sure, then I suggest finding another doc or 2 to discuss it with and get other opinions. Even if you like your doc, sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
So, research research research, and did I mention MORE research.... Google is your friend and you need to read *EVERYTHING* you can about this, from Herbal remedies you could try, all the way to absolute final surgical procedures like ablation. Under no circumstances do I recommend a Hyst unless it is seriously a last ditch thing. You think your body's hormones're screwed up now, just imagine how they'd be without a major organ in ya ;)