Women.. I've got a TMI question

lemon629

If you aren't opposed to birth control, you should seriously consider it. Even on just the pill you get lighter periods and can even set it so that you only get it every few months. I do not have insurance either, but there are LOTS of options. There is PP, a local women's clinic (usually cheap or free) and even walk-in clinics. There are lost of low-cost options. You can also check if your state has expanded medicaid. Lots of states have and anyone who is low income can qualify, you no longer have to be a parent.

My town does not have a PP or a women's health clinic so I go to a a walk-in doctor for $50 a visit. I only have to visit once a year and my pills are only $20/month. Totally worth it for lighter periods! I have endometriosis and get ridiculously heavy periods and now it's way better.

I was on the pill, and it didn't help. My periods are also very irregular and it still was even with the pill. I was 8 days late last cycle, 4 days early this one. Annoying... also, the closest planned parenthood to me is in Charlotte NC somewhere, at least 30 minutes away and it's not possible to get there for me. I have a certain insurance that covers birth control only, but everything else I pay out of pocket, like the doctor visit itself. I have a script for the pill, but I won't take it anymore since it didn't help and what's the point of adding hormones and screwing up my body more? (I'm also dealing with autoimmune diseases).

I can't even afford 20 a month to be completely honest.. It's pathetic! I'm glad it works for you though, because endometriosis sucks. My doctor at my last visit suggested I get checked out for that because it sounds like I could have it as well, so I asked if he'd like to pay for me to go to the specialists and he chuckled. Thanks Doc. He didn't offer much insight since he's a pcp, not a gyn.

Unless you have a grandfathered plan which is rare, the Affordable Care Act requires that well woman visits be covered with zero deductible.

KseRz

So your logic is that it's better not to know? :huh:

Basically.












Anyway. This post got a bit off topic.
I don't appreciate being mocked for saying I'm poor. I'm in a very hard spot financially and in every way, actually, in my life and I'm doing the best I can do. The closest planned parenthood is over a half hour from me and I have no car. But, I've said that before.

Your being mocked because you asked a question that would be best answered by a medical professional. People responded with such and your response to that was that you are poor. So instead of responding with what you have done to seek medical advice (which you just explained here) you simply dismissed the others giving good advice because you cant afford it.

Well guess what? Male *or female if your health is that important to you, you will find a way to get it done instead of coming up with excuses. Good luck on your journey and hope the unlicensed foreign doctor giving exams for free in the alley way work out for you.

ETA: * changed of to or

TheVirgoddess

I'm just going to add, it's not that I don't WANT to do the exercising, it's that I don't want the clotting and heavy bleeding afterwards. It's so crampy I cry... I never WANT to do the exercise LOL, but I push through on normal days, but the clotting, severe cramping, and all that... yeahhhh..

Ibuprofen lightens your flow temporarily - so I pop two about an hour before I exercise, so I don't have that "gush" (sorry, that was nasty) in the middle of my workout. I actually feel better after my workout than before. My periods are also ridiculously heavy and miserable (so much so that I have a doctor appt tomorrow).

My advice is to do what feels good for you, and don't push your body too hard. Shark Week sucks!

TiffanyJole

Sorry for the TMI, just no where else to ask :blushing:

Not true.

Exercise as much/little as you feel comfortable with, but discuss this with your GYN. There are treatments available and you need to make sure this is not a symptom of something serious.

No insurance and I am poor

In Cali we have "planned parenthood" It's where qualified low income residents can receive free health care services, birth control, pregnancy tests, lab tests... You should see if you have something like that where you live.

Also, I'm pretty sure that these services should be free for low income residents with the new health care reform...

MyChocolateDiet

I would say, try a different birth control pill. Obama made those free for women, so you don't have to worry about cost on those. The pill is what helped me. I would cry and scream from the cramps I would get. I am now on the shot and I love it! Look up different options for doctors in your area that are willing to help you financially.

:noway: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

PinkyFett

I would say, try a different birth control pill. Obama made those free for women, so you don't have to worry about cost on those. The pill is what helped me. I would cry and scream from the cramps I would get. I am now on the shot and I love it! Look up different options for doctors in your area that are willing to help you financially.

:noway: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

My thoughts exactly.

jigsawxyouth

Those of you that have a heavy, horrible period, do you still exercise during that week?

I used to, but it led to more heaviness, cramping, and a lot of times, bad clotting and I've since stopped even thinking about doing much at all during this week. I've always had bad ones, but used to push through it, but is it really worth it if THIS is what happens? I don't know what else to do besides just stay away from my treadmill, but I feel guilty. Exercising, even just going grocery shopping while it's that time of month, I come home and it's just awful.

I don't even know what's causing these issues, I've never had clotting before my 3rd baby was born.. he's 9 months old now and the past 6 months, I've had heavier, crampier, and clotty periods than I have in my life.. It just worries me.

Sorry for the TMI, just no where else to ask :blushing:

Since I've had my son, I have the exact same thing. Terrible cramps, clots, heavy flow. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with child birth, and me being overweight.
I stopped using disposable pads and tampons years ago, and opted for cloth pads and a menstrual cup. Using the cup saves the embarrassment of leaking through your workout clothes (it got to the point I had to stop wearing any workout pants that were not black because I would easily sweat/leak through a cloth pad or disposable tampon), you buy one and it lasts for years, and you don't have to worry about TSS like with tampons.
Now- depending on where you live, schedule an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood. You don't have insurance? No problem! They go by a pay scale. When I was a waitress making 2.13 an hour with no insurance and tip dependent, and living on my own, my exams were only 19 bucks. Birth control, which can help make those Evil Dead-esque periods more bearable, were 15 dollars a pack.
Ten years later, and I'm much more financially sound with insurance, I still go there for my exams/birth control. Anything I have to pay out of pocket is still really affordable.
Shoot me a message any time you need pointers or motivation to get your move on when you're sharking!

MyChocolateDiet

Okay OP. You have permission to NOT workout when it's really bad. There are a bunch of other days in the month. Your body is not a calendar. If you wanted to workout 3 times a week every week but find shark week intolerable, just workout 4 times a week the other weeks and skip shark week.

I'm not going to address the other issues because you already stated Dr.'s visits are not for you.

Hopefully in two weeks you might feel like going the 30 minutes to the clinic and then telling them your symptoms, all of them. They might have some ideas based on your situation. To help you afford solutions. Whatever those may be. Or at least once you know what the deal is you can start looking for other solutions. Sometimes hospitals let you finance certain treatments. Through their own financing. There are a lot of alternatives but it might be hard to see solutions right now with your current circumstances but maybe in a week or two you will feel like working on this problem. Maybe mark your calendar to revisit this problem at that time.

jigsawxyouth

I also have heavy periods. I've been informed by my doc, in my case, it's age and it gets worse before it gets better in terms of approaching peri-menopause. With that said, I just purchased a DivaCup in the hopes that I'll be able to workout during my next cycle. I've heard anecdotally that it reduces cramping. What I'm most excited about is it's capacity because mine are so heavy I can't even wear tampons anymore. The super-plus ones are damn near falling out within 20 minutes or so because they are soaked at that point - so going to the gym wasn't an option as I feared the 'mishap'. I generally opted for a nice walk when the weather cooperated. At any rate, I'm looking forward to the DivaCup and we'll see how that pans out. I'm hoping it will allow me to hit the gym the week of.

Bottom line, if you are in pain, I say do what you can, but don't stress too much if you can't. Weight loss is 80% diet anyway. If you stay in your macros, you can still hope for a loss, even if it's a smaller one than usual.

I just retired my Diva cup that I had for 8+ years after I had my son, I freaking LOVED it! I would easily soak through a pad AND tampon...
I recently bought the Rainbow size 2 (too big, even though I'm 30 and have a kid!) and ended up having to order the Rainbow size 1.

cadaver0usb0nes

Do you take birth control? I used to have really bad periods and once I went on birth control I don't get any cramps anymore. If its really heavy bleeding and you have clotting I would go to the doctor to make sure everything is ok.

smantha32

I usually feel cruddy enough to blow if off for a few days. Some people prefer to work out through it.

healthylifeforme

Sorry if someone already addressed this as I didn't have time to read all the responses. Have you tried going on birth control and instead of taking the one week that is just sugar pills, you start a brand new packet of pills and therefore skip your period all together? My doctor recommended this for me and it works fabulous. You can do this for several months or even years at a time. I haven't had a period in forever and it is wonderful. You would of course need to go to your doctor, or since you don't have insurance, a clinic of some type and get a RX. Since birth control is now free, it wouldn't cost you anything to get your pills every month or so. BTW, I still have some cramping and bloating, but it is nothing like what it used to be. Hope this helps.

laurenawolf

But let's get real here. People are trying to help you. They understand your situation and are giving you advice based on that. You keep shooting it down or making excuses.

Couldn't agree more. Good luck OP.

ElyseL1

for me it makes it better so yes i always exercise when im on my period

MyChocolateDiet

I have never skipped a workout due to this. I've had to stop midworkout due to severe pain and not move for a minute, then start back up slowly. I also had a pretty serious condition that I had to have taken care of, though. I know everyone is different.

As for your underlying cause - you need to stop making excuses and go. You have the internet so you can surely do a google search to find free health care in your area. when they run tests and find whatever it is, then they will be able to help you find what you need to do to get it taken care of.

No money and no insurance is not an excuse.

Don't you think I've done this? The "free" clinics, you have to go to orientation type deals and get approved for a type of Medicaid, which I got denied for because I'm not pregnant or disabled.

Some places are for these specific reasons. Other places have different goals. Try the closest one and then when you tell them you've been denied before ask them if they have any ideas where else you could go for your specific issues. Alternately, try going to your local library and finding something called the Rainbow Book. It will outline specifically what the aim of each place actually is so you can avoid the ones that are just for pregnancy or disability. Even if you have to start with ones that won't work for you and you already know that, this time ask for the next step.

ValGogo

Apparently exercise is good for relieving cramps. I found it to be so. But the heavy bleeding, well, that's just a pain in the butt.

ruqayyahsmum

on day 2 and 3 not a chance as i bleed very heavy but because of the large clots they kind of umm block things

doing a squat and having everything gush out really put me off. waddling out the door as a patch spreads on your shorts is not a good look

oh and get your thyroid levels checked if you can, you might need them adjusting. under active thyroid is known to cause heavy erratic periods. mine where haywire and they had me on mefenamic acid( i dont react well to transexamic acid ) and tested me up the wazoo. when they were ok they told me my thyroid meds needed increasing again as my tsh was too high again and was the cause of my 6 month long period

kgeyser

What town do you live in? I'd be happy to do a search for clinics that might be able to help you.

HeidiMightyRawr

My advice would be to go to your doctor or gyno, explain the problems you have and hopefully they'll help you find a solution. Heavy flow on certain days of your period is normal, it's not normal to have it so heavy it's interfering with your life and things you want to do. Also as it's changed since your 3rd baby, it's not like this is normal for you. Honestly, I would try my very hardest to go this route and try and get a solution.

If you don't want to do this, or you're unable to find a solution then maybe not doing vigorous exercise for the worst affected days is the best for you. Could you do some light exercise to keep active, extra walking or something like that? If you're just exercising to be healthy or lose weight, it's not the end of the world if you miss it for a few days IMO while you're at your worst. In the meantime you could just concentrate on diet, walking for travel, keeping active in general (not necessarily workouts) and I'm sure you'll be fine.

redmagpie91

Going to the doctor should be a no-brainer. No one is mocking you for being poor, they're mocking your excuses. I live in a very small town in the middle of Montana and live 45 miles away from the nearest clinic. Guess what? I still go because I have made it a priority to not get pregnant and to have lighter periods. I also am well under the poverty line and do not qualify under the AHA for insurance. I still somehow find $50 a year to shell out for a doctor visit. Even if it was $200 I would still do it because it's important to me and I can sacrifice elsewhere for it.

YOU decide what is important to you. Sure some clinics require medicaid but some don't. Plenty don't in fact. Also, your situation may have changed since last time. If you have no spouse that works and no job yourself then you should easily qualify.

Again, you need to check and see if your state expanded Medicaid. It used to be that you had to be pregnant or disabled, but most states JUST changed that to include low-income adults.

Being poor is NO excuse to sacrifice your health or even your comfort. Find a friend with a car. Use the inter to your advantage. Call around and don't stop until you find a place that can help you. There is always a way to find birth control or else 14 year olds wouldn't be able to get it. I am not being mean, but seriously, STOP making excuses and just go to the doctor.