It's yet another "Thread for the Ladies"

[KarenInWA]

I am still not on D, although that won't be for much longer.  My latest egfr was 8!!!  I am getting my fistula placed on Monday.  I have been on the pill for a while because my body loves to have periods, and w/o the pill, it tends to go every 21 days and bleed for a week at a time.  I have been on Aranesp shots for just over a year.  When on the pill, I have a very predictable, 28-day cycle.  I have never, ever skipped a period in my life.  I appear to be skipping one now.  I don't know what to think about this!

Do I start my new month of pills on Sunday?  Or should I just skip?  Will I have to start D before the fistula matures?  My neph is trying to buy time with new Rx's.  I still work FT, still get hungry.  Although, today the appetite has been elusive because I've felt a little crampy, despite not having Aunt Flo here in all her glory.

Thoughts?

KarenInWA

[jbeany]

Normal periods?  What, exactly, are those anyhow? 

Seriously, stress messes up periods in a healthy woman.  Add in the chemical and hormonal changes we get from ESRD, and we haven't got a chance at following a calendar.  I've never been on the pill, so I'm not sure what to suggest on the "to skip or not to skip" question, but don't think it's any reason to rush into D any sooner than you had originally planned.  Perhaps call your ob/gyn and see what he/she thinks on the pill schedule.  If you can't get through, I'd go with the Brits best advice - "Keep calm and carry on."

Or my version - "Keep calm and carry chocolate."

[Jean]

Being on the pill was one of the most wonderful times of my life in regard to regularity. However when they took me off because, # 1, I was too old and #2 because I smoked, all hell broke loose. It was not 2 years later when they did a hysterectomy, rather than let me bleed to death. Now, you have all the stress of ESRD and all the other chemical imbalances it gives us, but I am not sure what the Dr. will decide. You really need to contact your neph I would think.

[TexanSummer]

Is there any possibility that you could be..........?? Just askin....that was the only reason I ever skipped while on the pill. Sorry if I offended you with that question...it wasn't my intention

[KarenInWA]

Is there any possibility that you could be..........?? Just askin....that was the only reason I ever skipped while on the pill. Sorry if I offended you with that question...it wasn't my intention

Not unless it was an immaculate conception! 

I have absolutely horrible luck with "men" and "dating".  I've sworn both off, because really, what's the point?  Other than a friend from way out of town who will be visiting me in less than 2 months, I won't have anything close to a date for a long, long, long time.

[onestronglittlelady]

I would talk to your doctor about the pill. Many medications are removed during dialysis. About a year before I started dialysis Aunt flo was on her own time, and very unpredictable. Also it would skip around and sometimes the plane wouldn't actually land, just kinda circle the runway then leave. I had the tubes tied years ago so I haven't been on any birthcontrol. After starting dialysis Aunt Flo has become a problem, as it is worse than it ever was before. Also my Neph said not to take Midol anymore. I'm thinking some Jack and Coke might help with the cramping. Hope things go well for you at dialysis.

[jbeany]

You might ask about a Mirena iud as well.  Mine hasn't done a thing for "regular" but it makes the periods so light and far apart that I don't care at all.

[jeannea]

I took the pill because it was the only way to keep things regular. Apparently your kidney is involved with estrogen production so those of us with ESRD are really never regular. But since I started dialysis I stopped the pill and I haven't had my period in 2 years. Yours could stop. Now of course there's the issue of birth control but I haven't even had a date in so long I don't worry about it.

[rsudock]

I have always taken the pill to regulate my period but even while on D my period has stopped altogether, even with taking the pill. I have now stopped taking the pill altogether. My gyn says that it is okay to keep taking it if I want and that the pill would still protect the eggs, and it is not hurting me either not taking it. I just got sick of taking another pill that isn't really necessary anymore....b/c if the D is stopping us from having periods that probably means the body is not releasing an egg any longer right??? Otherwise I am really taken a gamble right now!!! EEEkkkk!

xo,
R

[jbeany]

Uh, yeah, HUGE gamble!  I've lost track of names, but there's a long post on here from a woman whose doc told her couldn't get preggers while on D.  Seems like it was a boy.....

[KarenInWA]

Well, Aunt Flo is paying her monthly visit, it's just more cramping than Flo-ing.  Not happy about that since it has sabotaged my appetite! I ate lunch today hours ago.  Now I'm thinking of making myself eat some Cheerios and have some apple juice.  Fistula surgery is tomorrow afternoon.

I will continue taking the pill like I have been doing.  Kinda silly since I live a sex-less existence, (not happy about that, but I live in the Seattle area, where men don't like independent women, or sick women) but I like regularity when/if I can still have it.

KarenInWA

[Riki]

I wish mine would stop.  I'm not regular, and never have been.  It seems to jump around and show up when least expected.  I don't have any warning either, so it just shows up when it wants.

I've said more than once that I'd gladly trade that for being able to pee again.  I'm hoping that I'll be like my mom, and when I'm 50, it stops dead.  I've only got about 15 more years to wait.. *L*