Options for pain at TOM

Okay,

This is one of those TMI posts but I am in need of some suggestions.

I have PCOS and had very painful periods until I went on birth control pill many years ago.  I went off the pill before surgery and have been reluctant to go back on for several reasons: fear of weight gain and concern that it really won't work for birth control due to malabsorption.  I haven't wanted to consider an IUD as my body couldnt tolerate any metals when I had earrings and my mom has lupus so I am concerned about having a foreign body in me and it possibly triggering an auto immune disorder.  Separating out what I should use for birth control, I am seeking SOMETHING I can take for these bad cramps.  Tylenol is not cutting it and I have taken my leftover loratab at night over the last few months (never used much of the loratab post surgery).
It is getting worse each month as is the beeding.

So, any suggestions regarding what you now take for pain?  I took tylenol and have a heating pad on me right now which isnt a great combo when it is 95 degrees outside. LOL.
I know I am lucky as many of you deal with chronic pain issues.

Thanks~

Jennifer 

 
You could call your GYN and see if they will prescribe you something for the pain that's not an NSAID.  

I went off the pill prior to surgery for the same reason, malabsorption and Lord knows at my age the last thing I need to do is get preggers lol.  I get the Depo shots now again (was on them previously) and that HAS helped with the cramping.  Also, I don't get a period every month now.  

The longer you are on the Depo, the more your periods essentially decrease and go away and the cramping and pain goes away with them!  There have been times where I have right before my next injection, spotted for a few days and that was my "period", and it only happened about every 3 months.  That might be something you want to consider both for birth control and period relief.  Mine were super-heavy and the cramping and pain was almost unbearable, and I don't have PCOS, fibroids or endometriosis.  There was many a time I had to take off work because of flooding and cramps. . . . .soooooooo glad I'm not dealing with that now!!!!

Hope you feel better!!!

I don't have this problem anymore since I've gone through the change!!

But, I used to take something called "Ponstel".  You need to start it as soon as you know you are going to start your period for it to help.  If you are very regular and know the date, you could start a day early.  It really helped mine.  It was made by Parke-Davis I think.  This was over 15 years ago so it may not even be on the market anymore.  Also, I'm not sure about taking it with the sleeve, if available, you might need to check with your WL surgeon.

Linda

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I will plan on talking with my primary care physician about options. I stopped going to my gyn after she made me feel badly about my weight. I should find a new gynecologist yet keep putting it off and have been relying on my PC physician. She is wonderful but is not that familiar with RNY and post op needs.

I may resort to taking the pill again. I am going to google Ponstel Linda and also talk with the physician I work with for suggestions. I just do not think I can take this pain much longer and am also concerned about my risk for anemia. The joys of being 40....too young for menopause and too old for babies (I think!).

Jen

Jen, I googled it and I think it is a NSAID.  Your surgeon might let you take something for a short while and take a stomach medicine along with it if you really need something more to help you out.

Hope you can find some relief.

Linda

I use Midol complete, it still has the properties of Midol but is tylenol based, not sure if it would even help but may be worth a try

 Hang in there. I too have PCOS and it can be difficult I could not tolerate the birth control pills either. You really do need to get a good GYN, mine prescriibed me Tylenol with codeine for my TOM due to not being able to take NSAIDS. The first couple of days are really brutal and my heart goes out to you. 

When I was heavier my periolds were very hit or miss now they come every month and last month I had to take a week off work due to the amount of pain I was in.. Follow-up with a good gyn and best of luck too you my cyster..

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I took tylenol with codeine when I was a teenager (it was over the counter when we lived in England at the time) and it helped a lot. I will talk with my physician and figure something out.

I am on the mend....

Jen