stopping your peroid?

[Lillupie]

hello fellow ladies,
 I was wondering on dialysis at what point did you stop your peroids? I have been on dialysis since 2007 and for the first time I am missing my peroid. I have not had a peroid since December 20th, and I am on birth control pill. I started taking birth control November 2th. I just dont get it. Why am I now all of a sudden not having any more peroids?!
If dialysis is starting to work in my favor, good!

Lisa

[Desert Dancer]

Hasn't happened for me yet. With my luck it never will.

[KarenInWA]

I wasn't on dialysis for very long (7 months) but my period was regular while I was on it. In fact, my PCP put me on the pill continuously just so I could avoid, and the damn thing still came around every 3 months! Now that I have had a transplant, I haven't had a period since I was in the hospital (9 weeks ago) and I am currently NOT on the pill. Our bodies can do strange things sometimes.

Maybe your body is just reacting to being on the pill? I know that doesn't make sense, but nothing does when you have ESRD and are female!

KarenInWA

[Rain]

Your body is maybe reacting to the pill.

I know over time my periods have become shorter and I do take the pill.  Instead of 7 days I'm now down to 4-5 days.

[Cordelia]

Well, I don't want mine anymore. I'd be happy if I didn't have mine anymore, ever.

I did not have a period for about 3-4 months before going on dialysis then it returned 4 months after starting dialysis and it's never stopped since and that was just over a year ago that it returned and it returned with a vengeance. My periods are always very heavy  (it's like a CSI scene--a murder scene        ) and the PMS is terrible. I blame  the heavy bleeding on the heparin.   The nurses tell me the heparin is out of my system with a couple hours after dialysis, but I don't believe it.  I never had bleeding problems before dialysis ever.

My only other guess is that I've maybe become pre menoupausal but then I would blame that on the dialysis that threw me into that     

In a nutshell, dialysis has screwed me up internally when it comes that time of the month.

I've had every exam under the sun below the waist to rule out "other problems"  and there is no other explanation, no risk of cancer, nothing....so I just blame it on the dialysis     

Lisa, is there a chance you could be pregnant? I've heard of some women getting pregnant while on the Pill because antibiotics  had an effect on the Pill to be not effective. (Don't know how common it is, but I've heard it can happen even while taking the Pill)

Sometimes stress too can cause a period to be missed. There are so many reasons. Could be dialysis too, there's so many things that could cause not having a period.

[rsudock]

why the heck hasn't any doctor studied this???  I mention it to my doc all the time...published and read by mass females on dialysis...guess it's not flashy enough for New England Medical Journal!   

[Marina]

When  I  started  dialysis,   I was  told  my  periods  would  stop   in  a  few  months or  so.     I  so  looked  forward  to  that  day.........   6 ½ yrs  went  by  and  nothing,  I  still  had  my  period  every  month.

[Cordelia]

Being a female on dialysis sucks          

I do know men have problems on dialysis too, the side effects of dialysis for both sexes can be soooo frustrating!     

[Desert Dancer]

why the heck hasn't any doctor studied this??? 

It could be because 'women's issues' are at the very bottom of the priority list if they're there at all, and that's in nearly all fields of research. 'Male' is the norm, the baseline. It's assumed that results for men can be merely extrapolated to women and yet researchers are always shocked when that doesn't work. Go figure.

[Deanne]

I had a Mirena IUD put in a several years ago. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and got horribly sick every month with my period. Vomiting, diahrrea, cold sweats, migraines, incredible abdominal pain. I started noticing that whenever I caught any kind of bug, like a cold or the flu, it was *always* when I had my period. Since I had my periods medically discontinued, I've only had one or two colds. I know there has to be a connection.

[lmunchkin]

hello fellow ladies,
 I was wondering on dialysis at what point did you stop your peroids? I have been on dialysis since 2007 and for the first time I am missing my peroid. I have not had a peroid since December 20th, and I am on birth control pill. I started taking birth control November 2th. I just dont get it. Why am I now all of a sudden not having any more peroids?!
If dialysis is starting to work in my favor, good!

Lisa

Lisa, you are just too cute, girl!

When  I  started  dialysis,   I was  told  my  periods  would  stop   in  a  few  months or  so.     I  so  looked  forward  to  that  day.........   6 ½ yrs  went  by  and  nothing,  I  still  had  my  period  every  month.

Iam so with you on this.  I don't have this disease, but I so very much understand this! 

I had a Mirena IUD put in a several years ago. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and got horribly sick every month with my period. Vomiting, diahrrea, cold sweats, migraines, incredible abdominal pain. I started noticing that whenever I caught any kind of bug, like a cold or the flu, it was *always* when I had my period. Since I had my periods medically discontinued, I've only had one or two colds. I know there has to be a connection.

I had early signs of endemetriosis in 1992 and they did an Ablasion on me and no more periods!!!    So glad I missed all those sicknesse you experienced! Bless your heart,  they say it can be almost fatal if not treated in time.

lmunchkin
 

[jbeany]

Well, I don't want mine anymore. I'd be happy if I didn't have mine anymore, ever.

I did not have a period for about 3-4 months before going on dialysis then it returned 4 months after starting dialysis and it's never stopped since and that was just over a year ago that it returned and it returned with a vengeance. My periods are always very heavy  (it's like a CSI scene--a murder scene        ) and the PMS is terrible. I blame  the heavy bleeding on the heparin.   The nurses tell me the heparin is out of my system with a couple hours after dialysis, but I don't believe it.  I never had bleeding problems before dialysis ever.

It's the heparin.  It doesn't matter how fast the heparin is out of your system.  It makes you bleed more while you are getting it.  The nurses are full of it.
They all say it will stop.  It rarely does for most fertile women unless the anemia is completely out of control.


Options include the pill (especially the kind that limits periods to 4 times a year), the Mirena IUD, ablation, and a partial hysterectomy if you really want to be extreme.

Mine got so heavy from the first month of D on that I had to buy adult diapers to wear to the center once a month.  If you are having anemia problems too, don't live with it.  Get a gyno to treat it.  Nephs are useless for this.

[Cordelia]

Jbeany, thank you so much for confirming my suspicions......I wondered, always wondered if it was the heparin......

I have been thinking seriously of an ablation or a partial hysterectomy like you mentioned........

It's something I have been thinking about a lot lately and am thinking of eventually getting a referral for a ob/gyn like you suggested......preferrably a female!     

I agree, they're full of baloney!!!!

[jbeany]

I'd highly recommend the Mirena.  Lasts 5 years, takes only 5 minutes to put, never needs to be thought about.  I barely felt it.  Doesn't stop periods for most, just lowers the volume by huge percentages. It's certainly an easy option to try at the beginning.  The hormone dose is so low it's the first one like it approved for diabetics. It takes about a month or two of frequent spotting before it settles into your new, low-flow routine.  Well worth the wait!

[Lillupie]

I had early signs of endemetriosis in 1992 and they did an Ablasion on me and no more periods!!!    So glad I missed all those sicknesse you experienced! Bless your heart,  they say it can be almost fatal if not treated in time.

lmunchkin
 
o

What is a ABLASION?? I think I want that too. No more peroids. I thinkthey are gross. I feel like I got ripped off. They told me too it is rare to have a peroid on dialysis, and here after + years on D, Im still stuck. Well up until December.

Lisa

[lmunchkin]

It is where they go throuh the vagina to the uterus and cauterize the whole uterine wall.  When it heals, it leaves scarring, thus "less" to "No" bleeding. Mine was done with a lazer but they may have other ways of doing it. 

I had early signs of endrometrosis and my child bearing was complete.  I too use to have irregular periods with very heavy bleeding.  This worked great for me!  I did not want a hysterectomy, so that was my only other option and I picked right!!!!

I have never had hormone problems in my life, Knock on wood!   I was 38 when I had it done.  So I was way past my bearing years.

If you are considering this, I would go on line maybe, and see if you can read up on it.  Surely, it will be on Web MD or something!  I have no regrets about it Lisa.  Only one thing I would advise, is that you have it done in a "Hospital" same day surgery.  I wouldnt have it done in a doctors office. Its just to risky!

lmunchkin
 

[Cordelia]

A friend of mine had an ablation done and she had to have a 'biopsy' done prior to having surgery. She had it done in a doctor's office and she said it hurt really, really bad. That, IF you have to have a biopsy, request to have it done in the hospital and be knocked out for it.

[KarenInWA]

I may  be wrong,  but I think an ablation can only be done when there is a reason to do it. Meaning, when one has endometriosis, an ablation can be done to fix the problem instead of hysterectomy. If there is no endometriosis, than an ablation would achieve nothing because there is nothing to be removed (ie, scar tissue, etc). I wish we all could be ablated and live in non-period bliss!

KarenInWA

[Lillupie]

I wish we all could be ablated and live in non-period bliss!

KarenInWA

AMEN TO THAT!!

[Cordelia]

Then I guess I'll go to option B and have a partial hysterectomy     

Next hurdle would be then whether or not they would even consider surgery like that pre transplant?     

[jbeany]

A friend of mine had an ablation done and she had to have a 'biopsy' done prior to having surgery. She had it done in a doctor's office and she said it hurt really, really bad. That, IF you have to have a biopsy, request to have it done in the hospital and be knocked out for it.

No, you can have the ablation done to end heavy bleeding as well.  Of course, they aren't going to suggest it if there are easier options that work for you, but the heparin mess certainly qualifies as a reason to have the treatment, especially with the constant anemia as a side effect.  Any woman with cramps or bleeding heavy enough to affect her daily activities won't have a problem getting one.  The laser version is supposed to be more effective for long term results, but the original version, which is essentially putting boiling water in to burn the walls of the uterus, may be easier to schedule, since more docs are trained in it/have the equipment.

[lmunchkin]

I may  be wrong,  but I think an ablation can only be done when there is a reason to do it. Meaning, when one has endometriosis, an ablation can be done to fix the problem instead of hysterectomy. If there is no endometriosis, than an ablation would achieve nothing because there is nothing to be removed (ie, scar tissue, etc). I wish we all could be ablated and live in non-period bliss!
KarenInWA

Yes, KIW, that was the case back then, but not sure about now.  I could have had the hysterectomy, but choose not to due to the recovery time.  I was a single parent and I needed to work.

But Lisa, I think given your ESRD, they would probably ok yours if you decide NOT to have children. Also, I knew of a girl that had this done in one of those outfits that is like a clinic. They did her and she died not due to the procedure, but the unsanitary instruments used. Plus, found out afterwards, that 2 weeks prior to her having this done, a young boy died in that very place for T&A removal went home and two days later he died of meningitis. They discovered it was also due to unsanitary practices. The place was shut down immediately.

Play it safe, go to a hospital.
lmunchkin
 

[Cordelia]

A friend of mine had an ablation done and she had to have a 'biopsy' done prior to having surgery. She had it done in a doctor's office and she said it hurt really, really bad. That, IF you have to have a biopsy, request to have it done in the hospital and be knocked out for it.

No, you can have the ablation done to end heavy bleeding as well.  Of course, they aren't going to suggest it if there are easier options that work for you, but the heparin mess certainly qualifies as a reason to have the treatment, especially with the constant anemia as a side effect.  Any woman with cramps or bleeding heavy enough to affect her daily activities won't have a problem getting one.  The laser version is supposed to be more effective for long term results, but the original version, which is essentially putting boiling water in to burn the walls of the uterus, may be easier to schedule, since more docs are trained in it/have the equipment.

Yup, the Heparin is such a huge hassle!     

[Lowilson]

Imy period stopped 6 months before Started dialysis. Prior to stp it was erratic for about 8 months. I was very anemic.

[Riki]

I've said it a million times, but I'd trade my period to be able to pee again in a nanosecond.  I don't tend to have heavy periods, and I never did.  They generally only last 3-4 days (although, I'm currently on my eighth day of this one).  I'm 33, and have been on dialysis almost 8 years.  I don't see me ever being healthy enough to have kids, so I wouldn't mind having some kind of medical intervention to stop my periods.  I do have issues of low blood pressure when I'm on my period, and nurses kinda freak when your bp drops suddenly while you're on the machine. *L*