Posts by cosmiccyclist412

Cattley said:That was a nice way for him to put it. You should definitely get an ultrasound. My only concern is that he didn't really address why you're feeling so wiped out or getting winded just walking up to the second floor. Honestly, even your dentist won't have the answers you need. Please listen to me: stress shouldn't be the first thing we blame for what you're going through; that’s usually the last resort. It could be anemia or something else entirely. Go see a primary care doctor. If they seem stumped, ask for a full panel—just a routine checkup to look at your liver enzymes (which is standard before starting birth control anyway), kidney function, and thyroid levels. So many women suffer through various symptoms because people dismiss them as "just stress," when it's actually something fixable, like a thyroid issue. It happens all too often because people assume young women can't be sick.

Back when I was dealing with PCOS, I went through all sorts of tests. Everything always came back fine, including my thyroid levels, though I think one specific marker was slightly elevated—I can't quite remember which one.

Usually, everything looks perfect whenever I talk to a doctor. When I request blood work or other tests, they tell me my results are some of the best they've ever seen, yet no one ever explains why I feel the way I do. For instance, my dentist told me yesterday that she couldn't possibly know the cause of my issues and that it must just be stress. (It’s just one more reason why I’ve never been a huge fan of using public health clinics.)

As for the fatigue, I'm actually feeling better now. Ever since the doctor confirmed I wasn't pregnant, I've felt a hundred times better. Maybe it was panic, or maybe just the pressure from college... who knows? But everyone loves to say, "It's just stress."

alexxx said:The first one I had was at 11 weeks and lasted about 6 days. What's the big deal?

I'm not entirely sure. But he mentioned it might be an issue, especially if there's any pain involved.

I stopped by my OBGYN today, and they told me I’m definitely not pregnant. Apparently, home tests are super reliable, and since my period came through, there’s nothing to worry about there. It was a bit strange, though—I expected them to run an actual lab test just to be sure.

They ran some blood work, and everything looks perfect, according to the doctor. The only tiny thing was that my right ovary looked a little thicker than usual.

As for that dark, chocolate-colored spotting, they said it's just old blood finally shedding, which is totally normal.

The main concern for the doctor is that my cycle lasts six days and has been consistent since I was twelve. They gave me a referral for an ultrasound and suggested we manage things with birth control—I assume they were referring to PCOS.

It seems like all these symptoms are being chalked up to stress or "excitement." Honestly, I have no idea where that's coming from.

I also saw my dentist about my gums, and they gave me the same diagnosis: it’s all stress. They put me on some antibiotics and gave me a referral for dental X-rays to see if I need to visit a periodontist afterward.

Thanks so much to everyone for the help, the advice, and just listening to me. After today's appointment, I feel a lot lighter.

Edward Green said:On the very first day you notice a delay, I wouldn't recommend taking a test right after downing a six-pack or anything else that heavy. 😁
The sensitivity level for home tests is usually around 25 mIU/mL—at least that’s what the box says for most brands, if I’m remembering correctly 😕. During those first couple of weeks, hCG levels basically double every two days. After that, the doubling slows down before eventually leveling off. By then, we aren't talking about 25 or even 50 units anymore; we're talking thousands. Any test would pick that up easily, even if you had just swallowed a whole lake. 😁

We'll see what the doctor says tomorrow. Honestly, I'm hoping it turns out the way you described, because at this point—sad as it sounds—I think I’d actually prefer dealing with an illness rather than a pregnancy.

Edward Green said:If you’re four months pregnant, there isn't a single pregnancy test on the market that won't pick up that hCG, even if you've been drinking water like it's going out of style.

Well, I certainly hope that's the case!

True, though theoretically it could happen around April, since there was an incident at the start of July...

I felt some nausea yesterday, though I didn't actually throw up—it was just that intense urge to gag.

My period isn't even late, and I already had one earlier this month; my cycle has been all over the place lately, since it shifted from September 4th to coming again on the 30th. My PMS symptoms started right before that period, but the discomfort didn't let up once it ended. The weirdest part is the abdominal pain; it’s so sharp that lying on my stomach is impossible, and it feels like I can't even take a full breath. On top of that, my gums have been bleeding constantly. Even though I'm treating them, they seem to be getting more painful and inflamed every single day. Granted, college stress kicked in right after my period finished, but it feels strange that it would hit me this hard. I've always been pretty laid back and don't get worked up easily—honestly, even the idea of a pregnancy wouldn't rattle me much—but I'm still hoping that isn't the case, as it's the last thing I need right now.

George Peterson said:I don't think you're pregnant, but there's a whole laundry list of things that could cause what you're describing. It might just be seasonal fatigue, chronic sleep deprivation, or stress—and scurvy is pretty unlikely. Unless you were taking massive doses (like a gram or more) for a long time and suddenly stopped, then maybe.
Beyond seeing an OB-GYN, it would be wise to visit your primary care doctor to check for anemia and lay out all your symptoms (the fatigue, weight gain, easy exhaustion, bleeding gums...). Let us know how the results turn out.

I took another test today, and honestly, I'm panicking. I can't wait until Monday to see my doctor—it was negative again. Though, I did drink a lot of water beforehand, so I worry I might have diluted my urine too much.

On the other hand, I've felt nauseous all day, though I can't tell if it's real or just in my head. My stomach is incredibly bloated, and walking actually hurts—sometimes it's right where my ovaries are, especially on the right side, and other times it's in the middle, below the belly button. I also have some white discharge. Walking wears me out completely; once I stop, I can barely catch my breath. I live on the second floor, and even climbing the stairs is a struggle! My stomach seems to be taking on a slight round shape, though that's hard to judge since I've never been particularly thin. My head is pounding too, but usually, an Advil takes care of that.

Massive doses of what? I was taking Vitamin B capsules all summer, but this started in mid-September, right around when my college coursework became super stressful. Since then, I've put on a few pounds (I haven't used the scale, but I can tell by my clothes), and I feel terrible—sluggish and just wanting to be alone. Ever since my gums started bleeding (I highly doubt I have anything serious like scurvy, especially since I've always had perfect teeth and take great care of them) and the abdominal pains started, I've been leaning toward pregnancy because everything else seems linked (like my breasts feeling larger, though they've always been on the bigger side). My periods are usually regular, but my last one was strange—thick, dark brown, almost like cream, but that was only on the first day.

I am totally confused. This is all I can think about. I really hope I'm not pregnant; I could deal with anything else, but if I am, I just hope it isn't long-term.

I have a gynecologist appointment scheduled for Monday, and I'm really hoping things turn out just as positive as Edward Green suggested.

Edward Green said:You might be dealing with a hormonal imbalance—which seems likely since you mentioned untreated PCOS. Your gums could be bleeding due to inflammation. That fatigue? It could be low blood pressure, anemia, or just the change of seasons. Plus, stress can throw everything off, leading to digestive issues, headaches, or a weakened immune system.

I used to have PCOS, but my doctor eventually told me it was fine and that I’d essentially outgrown it, even without specific treatment. To be honest, I'm not even sure how that happened.

My blood pressure is normal, and I don't have anemia. There’s definitely some stress in my life, though I suspect the seasonal shift is playing a role too. It feels like this autumn stretch is lasting forever, though.

Regarding the condom mishap: I've already had two periods since then and have tested twice. My most recent test was two weeks ago, right after my last period.

I thought so, but I’m starting to realize that even the experts at unknown aren't always 100% reliable. I've always relied on morning urine tests, and they immediately told me I wasn't pregnant. But if those results are actually right, then I can't explain the physical changes I'm experiencing—and I know I'm not just imagining them. For instance, my gums have been bleeding, and I had this brownish discharge during my last period. Everywhere I look online, it says those are typical side effects of pregnancy. Fatigue, weight gain, headaches—sure, I could write those off as something else, but this?

Well, it looks like I’m the only one taking this seriously.

I’m not expecting any specific answers; I just wanted to see if anyone else has gone through something similar. I've been feeling so anxious about all of this that I’m actually counting down the days until Monday!

8472, thank you. I really want to believe it's just a shift in my hormonal cycle—that’s what I’ve been telling myself—but there's just so much going on. To be honest, the stomach pains and bleeding gums are what really throw me for a loop, since I’m super diligent about my dental hygiene and have never dealt with this before. Most of the symptoms I'm experiencing look exactly like early pregnancy signs, though my period hasn't changed. Even my complexion seems worse lately. I’m honestly just hoping I’ve been overthinking the whole thing.

I know this topic has been covered a thousand times before, but since I can't get an appointment with my OB-GYN until Monday, I figured I’d reach out here to see if anyone has gone through something similar.

About three months ago, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. To be honest, he lied and told me he was using a condom. I spiraled into a panic the next day. I bought a pregnancy test just a few days later, and it came back negative. Shortly after, I got my period right on schedule—it was totally normal, so I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, some time later, a condom broke during sex. Once again, I panicked, but once again, the test said I wasn't pregnant. I've taken a few more tests just to be safe, and they’ve all been negative. My period in August was also regular, though it arrived ten days early this month (my cycles are usually pretty irregular). It lasted a normal amount of time, and nothing seemed unusual, except for a bit of thick, reddish-brown discharge on the first day that felt almost creamy, before the standard flow started.

I thought things were settling down, but lately, I’ve been noticing what feel like classic pregnancy symptoms, which makes me wonder if my periods haven't actually meant anything. My breasts have been swollen and sore; the tenderness has eased up a bit recently, but they definitely look larger. I am also dealing with constant exhaustion. Even right after waking up, I just want to sleep. Basic daily tasks feel like marathons now—just walking up a flight of stairs is tiring, let alone standing for long periods at the gym. Everything just wears me out in ways it never used to. I’ve noticed some weight gain too (though maybe that’s just because I’ve been eating more lately), and I’m dealing with intense bloating, like I’ve swallowed something heavy. I get heartburn frequently and sometimes feel like I can't catch my breath. For years, I've always slept on my stomach, but lately, that's become really uncomfortable. On top of that, I’m dealing with gas, headaches, irritability, and increased hunger. For the last week or two, my gums have been bleeding and quite painful, which has never happened before. I’m also feeling lower abdominal pains similar to my period cramps, and sometimes it feels like something is rolling around in my stomach. On one hand, I could blame all of this on stress, as I was dealing with some major issues at college back when this all started in September. But I’ve always been a pretty laid-back person, so it’s strange that stress would hit me this hard. I was also diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago, but I never finished treatment because I couldn't handle the medication, so I often worry that getting pregnant might be difficult for me.

What do you think? Is it possible I'm just imagining this whole thing, or could I actually be pregnant? I'll have everything cleared up by my doctor on Monday, but I’d love to hear if anyone has had a similar experience. It would help me know which direction to lean in, because I’m barely sleeping and the stress is really getting to me.