Anonymous said:Hi everyone! I’ve been dealing with an issue for two and a half weeks now and was hoping someone could help me out. I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but I stumbled upon this site through Google. So, here's the deal: I'm reading posts here saying this girl also experiences pain when urinating... Does anyone know if there are any pills or anything else for painful urination and frequent trips to the bathroom??? Specifically, something available over-the-counter without a prescription! I'm worried it might be kidney-related since this has been going on for a while and I've been dealing with a cold during this whole period too. Please, if anyone can help, I really can't stand this anymore. Thanks in advance!
Why try to avoid a doctor or a prescription? Is it just because you're embarrassed that the pain while urinating might be a symptom of something more serious?
I deal with PCOS myself, so my hormone levels are basically a constant roller coaster. That said, I haven't really noticed any connection between those fluctuations and feeling dizzy. Mood swings? Absolutely. Dizziness? Not for me.
I never claimed that painkillers are any less harmful than birth control pills. My point was simply that your assumption—that they are inherently worse—is flawed. You can't just equate the two. Of course, taking medications processed by the liver frequently will cause damage, especially when there are other options available. For heaven's sake, Ketorolac isn't the only pill on the market. There are dozens of alternatives. But even if it were, if a woman takes one tablet once a month for pain, that single dose in a 30-day window isn't going to cause THAT much damage—unless, of course, there is already an underlying issue like liver dysfunction, but that's beside the point right now.
As for Yasmin, those carry the risk of hepatic adenomas too. No matter how low the synthetic estrogen dose might be, consistent daily use over several years eventually takes its toll, unfortunately. It affects some people, while others remain unaffected. Furthermore, liver adenomas don't always show up on standard liver function tests. My own blood work looks perfectly textbook, yet my ultrasound shows a liver with damage comparable to a 70-year-old alcoholic.
So, I’ll conclude by returning to the previous post I quoted: birth control pills aren't the solution to this problem. definitely 👎
electricpanther17, I’m dealing with something very similar. I actually experience two distinct types of vertigo. The first kind just hits me out of nowhere—that intense sensation where everything starts spinning, though I don't lose consciousness. The second type happens during my period; I start seeing white spots and feel like I might pass out, which seems directly tied to blood pressure fluctuations occurring right during and after my cycle. I have gone through every possible diagnostic test, including those specialized vestibular evaluations for balance, and the only thing they found was some issues with my cervical spine and vertebrae pressing against the arteries in my neck. Unfortunately, none of the therapies I've tried have managed to resolve it. 😢
Angela Wright said:For you, the best option would be taking some birth control pills to balance things out and reduce that bleeding; you can only sort that out with a gynecologist. Birth control will definitely solve your problem (both the pain and the bleeding will go from needing maxi pads to just tiny liners), and they cause less liver damage than the painkillers you have to take.
Your assumption that pills are a definitive fix for that issue is incorrect.
Some women experience bleeding and pain just as much while on the pill as they do without it—I know this firsthand because I went through it with Diane-35, Celexa, and Tri-Sprintec. My pains while on birth control were so intense that I ended up in the ER every single month for analgesic injections. I also know two other women whose conditions didn't change at all despite being on the pill.
And the idea that pills are easier on the liver than analgesics is a myth. In reality, there are analgesics processed by the liver and others processed by the kidneys. It’s all clearly stated in the medication leaflets, and one doesn't necessarily have to take those that pass through the liver. BUT, birth control definitely impacts the liver—which is why regular liver function tests and check-ups are mandatory. 🙄 Because of the pills, I developed over 50 adenomas on my liver. They didn't even show up on my blood work, only appearing later on an ultrasound, and they were a direct consequence of the birth control. From what I've heard, at the same endocrinologist here in New York City, five other girls came in shortly after me with the exact same liver diagnosis—all resulting from birth control. So, your conclusion simply doesn't hold up.
ironsurfer10 said: Look, if she tested positive for HPV, there's a high probability you passed it to her. You really should go get screened.
And even if you didn't pass it to her, you definitely caught it from her. Most men don't show any symptoms or changes at all. Basically, if you were having unprotected sex, there's a huge chance you're carrying the virus right now.
For at least the next year, stick strictly to condoms. That gives your immune system a fighting chance to clear the virus so you aren't constantly catching it back from partners or passing it on—especially since there isn't a cure for men.
Why wouldn't she just give it to her? The results belong to the patient, not the doctor. 🙄 If it absolutely has to be part of her official medical record, she can just make a copy—she just needs to ask for it. Unless, of course, she’s just being difficult for the sake of it. 😉
By the way, aren't HPV tests for men somewhat unreliable? I read somewhere that there isn't even a test yet that can guarantee a negative result because the virus can essentially "hide" from detection. Does that mean even if you get a negative test, there's still a chance you could be passing it on?
I’ve been following this thread, but isn't that usually handled over at Mayo Clinic? I went through the whole process a few years back—I actually requested all the swabs myself, including the HPV test, and everything came back negative, by the way 😁. My doctor at the local community health center sent me over to Mayo Clinic with a referral, and they took the swabs there. I had to personally carry the test tubes over to a building right behind the main clinic in the courtyard, since they can't just send them internally within the hospital system. Has the protocol changed recently? Is everyone heading over to Arlington now?
dustyhound5 said:Eating clean while you're pregnant is honestly such a game changer for fighting off breakouts.
Plus, why even stress about it? Instead of getting worked up over a few spots, shouldn't we just be happy that having oily skin basically means we won't have to worry about wrinkles when we're older? 😉 😁
Maybe when we're actually old, we can start making some money hawking anti-aging creams... haha...
I don't really fit into that category... I have dry skin. It’s always been that way, so now that these breakouts have started happening because of my PCOS, I'm struggling. It feels like every single acne treatment out there is formulated specifically for oily skin. 🙄 Just for comparison, my mom has oily skin—she’s actually never dealt with a single pimple in her life—and now that she’s in her fifties, she doesn't have a single wrinkle. Meanwhile, I seem to have more wrinkles than she does. 😲
So, here we go... I’m telling you my experience, and you’re telling me I’m wrong? Do you actually know me well enough to dictate what works for my body or not? 🙄 I already explained quite clearly that while dietary changes can fix skin issues for some people, for others, it’s purely hormonal. If that approach works for you, great—but it certainly hasn't worked for me. 🤷 I get that you’re thrilled about that book, and honestly, go for it, but it’s pretty rude to claim that your sudden discovery is the absolute truth while dismissing everything everyone else is saying. 👎 I mean, surely my OB-GYN, endocrinologist, and dermatologist know more about my skin condition and hormone levels than you do, or some random author who wrote a book. Besides, being on the doorstep of my thirties, I’ve practically tried every fad diet out there—cutting out common triggers, drinking kale smoothies, wheatgrass shots, and all that nonsense—so I definitely know the difference between a dietary fix and a hormonal one (and plenty of other women on this forum are dealing with the exact same thing).
Like I said, good luck, and I hope the change in diet actually helps you. 👍
Lap banding is far superior to ballooning when you consider both durability and the overall impact, so I’d highly recommend going with lap banding instead.
My mom actually works on that specific team, so I have some firsthand insight into how it all works. 😉
What you’re saying might hold water for some people, but when it comes to hormonal acne, I don't think it applies. From my own experience, none of those specific foods have had any impact on my skin whatsoever. I don't mean to discourage you, but after following all that advice, I found myself cycling through dairy-free, meat-free, and even chocolate-free diets, only to eventually realize what was actually happening—something my dermatologist later confirmed. There is a massive distinction between hormonal breakouts and simply having acne-prone skin. I'd suggest heading over to the Skincare > Facial Care section of the forum; there’s a dedicated thread there where this is discussed in much more detail. That said, feel free to try cutting out a few of those items just to see. If they happen to be your personal trigger, you might just clear things up.👍
My blood was drawn this morning, and my cortisol level came back at 884, which is just 84 points above the upper limit of 800. They ran a full panel along with all my other hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. I’m definitely going to ask for a retest. I finally managed to catch up with my doctor today, but she didn't mention the result at all. It's likely for the exact reason you pointed out—that the increase needs to be significantly higher to be a concern. I wasn't entirely sure if this slight elevation was considered negligible or if it actually signaled something specific. Thanks for the insight, Sandra Richardson82!
It sounds like your digestive tract might be the culprit, especially since you mentioned the bloating and gas. I deal with intense, sharp pains in my lower left side as well, and I haven't received a definitive diagnosis either; however, during a colonoscopy, they found a particularly difficult bend in my intestines, so I suspect the pain flares up specifically when things are moving through that section. Honestly, I find it strange that your primary care physician didn't refer you to a specialist, given that there are so many more possibilities down there than just ovarian inflammation.
I just got my blood work back today, and aside from low estrogen, the only thing out of whack is my serum cortisol, which came in at 84—well over the limit. I did a bit of digging online, but I couldn't find anything definitive, other than the fact that this is an adrenal hormone and having too much of it can lead to severe depression, hallucinations, or even schizophrenia. It also says that elevated levels are caused by stress, which feels incredibly strange to me since I’ve been practically stress-free for the last month. My doctor won't be able to see me until next week, so if anyone here could give me some insight into what this actually means or if it's something I should be worried about, I'd really appreciate it.
crimsonhound28 said:Honestly, those red blotches just kind of showed up out of nowhere. I used to be able to handle a drink just fine—well, aside from the headache the next morning 😬— but then these spots started appearing, even after just a tiny bit of alcohol. Now, weirdly enough, I feel better... like I can have a drink without breaking out every single time. It's pretty strange, I guess..
crimsonhound28, you and I should probably start a club for people with shared problems.😁