On the Ring
Speaking of human reproduction...
So, as I mentioned a little while ago, my doctor switched me from the Pill to the Ring. I wrote a little about it here as well, but I haven't talked about it much since then.
Well, first of all... I think I am in a hell of my own design. First for following directions, and then not following them. *sigh* (You guys might want to get out a pen and paper to follow this.)
See, the instructions said that I should insert the ring on the first day of my period. That sounded weird, since the "off" week for the ring was supposed to be your "flow" week. So, already you're messing with the cycle. Oh well, I followed the instructions. I had my period that week, and then shortly after that we went on vacation.
Now, I wasn't keen on having my period while we were on vacation, so I figured I'd "stack" the rings. Normally you do 3 weeks on, 1 week off. But you can stack it so you go 3 weeks on one ring, 3 weeks on another ring, and then 1 week off. In theory this lets you skip a period. I've done it before with pills - just skipping the placebo week and go straight into the next pack. It's not a foolproof skip, but usually I just got some spotting and that was it.
Well, while we were on vacation I had spotting almost continually. It was really bad the week that I was supposed to have my period back before I started using the ring: the third week of the first ring (which would have been the fourth week of my old cycle.) Then, on the week that was supposed to be my new "flow" week, I put in a new ring... And was still spotting. Argh. So much for skipping while we were on vacation.
Anyway, we got home, and the spotting continued. Then, on July 29th (which would have been my old flow week, I started my period. Well, wasn't that dandy. I still had one week left on the second ring. So, I had to manoeuvre the ring and a tampon which had to occupy the same space. (It wasn't a huge deal, until I went to pull out the tampon. That usually sent the ring flying across the room.) I started wondering what would happen when I took the ring out.
On August 5th, it was time to take the ring out and do the one week off. Woo, open the floodgates! Suddenly I was getting cramps and bloating and amazing amounts of blood... Like my periods used to be before I went on the Pill.
I started to worry about my iron levels, so we went to Ray & Jerry's for plonq's birthday dinner and I ate some chicken liver pate. :)
Last night was the night to put the new ring in. Since Monday, the bleeding has tapered off a bit, so I'm hoping that putting in the new ring is the finger in the dike. (lol, pun not intended.) I know that the crazy long period was basically my body saying "HOLY CRAP WTF" and trying to get back on course. There, there, little hormones... I won't try anything fancy for a while now.
On the plus side for the ring...
1) No issues with it "in use." (That cavern is deeper than it looks!) plonq hasn't even noticed it.
2) A noticeable reduction in migraines. I've still gotten a few, though. I could call at least three of them "heat" migraines - they only come on when I'm overheated or overexerted, and go away after spending a night in an air-conditioned room. Two other migraines were recorded, and only one of them was severe enough for me to make special note of it.
So far, it's a success. :) I'm sold, provided the whole Never Ending Period thing goes away. (And no spotting would be nice too. I'm tired of washing underwear.)
So, as I mentioned a little while ago, my doctor switched me from the Pill to the Ring. I wrote a little about it here as well, but I haven't talked about it much since then.
Well, first of all... I think I am in a hell of my own design. First for following directions, and then not following them. *sigh* (You guys might want to get out a pen and paper to follow this.)
See, the instructions said that I should insert the ring on the first day of my period. That sounded weird, since the "off" week for the ring was supposed to be your "flow" week. So, already you're messing with the cycle. Oh well, I followed the instructions. I had my period that week, and then shortly after that we went on vacation.
Now, I wasn't keen on having my period while we were on vacation, so I figured I'd "stack" the rings. Normally you do 3 weeks on, 1 week off. But you can stack it so you go 3 weeks on one ring, 3 weeks on another ring, and then 1 week off. In theory this lets you skip a period. I've done it before with pills - just skipping the placebo week and go straight into the next pack. It's not a foolproof skip, but usually I just got some spotting and that was it.
Well, while we were on vacation I had spotting almost continually. It was really bad the week that I was supposed to have my period back before I started using the ring: the third week of the first ring (which would have been the fourth week of my old cycle.) Then, on the week that was supposed to be my new "flow" week, I put in a new ring... And was still spotting. Argh. So much for skipping while we were on vacation.
Anyway, we got home, and the spotting continued. Then, on July 29th (which would have been my old flow week, I started my period. Well, wasn't that dandy. I still had one week left on the second ring. So, I had to manoeuvre the ring and a tampon which had to occupy the same space. (It wasn't a huge deal, until I went to pull out the tampon. That usually sent the ring flying across the room.) I started wondering what would happen when I took the ring out.
On August 5th, it was time to take the ring out and do the one week off. Woo, open the floodgates! Suddenly I was getting cramps and bloating and amazing amounts of blood... Like my periods used to be before I went on the Pill.
I started to worry about my iron levels, so we went to Ray & Jerry's for plonq's birthday dinner and I ate some chicken liver pate. :)
Last night was the night to put the new ring in. Since Monday, the bleeding has tapered off a bit, so I'm hoping that putting in the new ring is the finger in the dike. (lol, pun not intended.) I know that the crazy long period was basically my body saying "HOLY CRAP WTF" and trying to get back on course. There, there, little hormones... I won't try anything fancy for a while now.
On the plus side for the ring...
1) No issues with it "in use." (That cavern is deeper than it looks!) plonq hasn't even noticed it.
2) A noticeable reduction in migraines. I've still gotten a few, though. I could call at least three of them "heat" migraines - they only come on when I'm overheated or overexerted, and go away after spending a night in an air-conditioned room. Two other migraines were recorded, and only one of them was severe enough for me to make special note of it.
So far, it's a success. :) I'm sold, provided the whole Never Ending Period thing goes away. (And no spotting would be nice too. I'm tired of washing underwear.)