Posts by Thomas Roberts9

melloworca6 said:I don't get their logic either, but fine. They’ll consciously put a patient at risk just to avoid writing a referral or a prescription. Personally, I’d just walk away; people like that don't even deserve the title of "doctor."

They don't need to be coddled. That’s exactly why they act this way—because most people just back down because they don't want to be rude.

Honestly, everyone acts so polite, as if a patient won't end up suffering because they didn't get the specific medication they actually need! It's just absurd.
I stopped by the pharmacy the other day looking for Ketoral. I've used it for years, but the woman behind the counter told me she couldn't give it to me without a prescription. I tried explaining that I'm heading out on a trip and desperately need it since my pain levels are unbearable, especially since my doctor is out of town in another state. Unfortunately, not through any fault of her own, she couldn't do anything else except offer me Neofen or Buscopan. I already know Neofen doesn't work for me, so I ended up taking the Buscopan. Good grief, the amount of money $7.75 I wasted on it... it wasn't even worth it. And Ketoral costs a full $4.00!!!! So instead of getting the one thing I've relied on for years, I'm forced to pay double for something that does absolutely nothing for me... but no! Apparently, Ketoral might "irritate the stomach" too much! 😲😲😲 I mean, how are you supposed to stay calm when someone tells you that you just have to endure agonizing pain because, heaven forbid, a little pill might be slightly hard on your stomach lining? It's ridiculous... what kind of system did we build? 👎👎👎

Morgan Hughes81 said:Yeah, a few other women have told me the same thing, you know how it is, some people deal with it and others don't, and apparently, if your uterus is tilted slightly like mine is, then when all that blood flow starts pumping, it just creates this extra pressure that leads to those intense pains. But I still don't get it, because when I asked her, she was just like, "Well, if everything is normal and your tests are clear, why would you be in pain?" and that was it... that was the only answer I got. And then she suggested that Neofen stuff, so now I’m sitting here popping four or five pills a day and still waiting an eternity for them to actually take effect. The worst part is that on the first day, I can barely even manage to swallow a pill because I spend the entire day stuck in the bathroom, and lately, the pain has been so bad I’ve actually been throwing up. My grandma even tried giving me some of her back pain meds, but those were even worse for me...

I suppose taking four or five Neofen is still better than popping one or two Ketoral or Brufen pills, isn't it?
Well, alright then... she is a doctor, so I suppose she must know best. ☕

I am telling you—just head straight to your primary care physician and ask for something for the pain... it seems like luck just isn't on your side with that gynecologist of yours.

melloworca6 said:If you ask me, these whole recipe restrictions for pain meds are a joke. Stronger painkillers are what people actually need; these new rules haven't accomplished anything except making doctor's offices more crowded and forcing patients to argue with physicians just to get a damn prescription.

And besides, who can actually tell my intentions when I show up begging for a script? Am I there because I'm in genuine agony, or am I just someone looking for a little pill fix? In my opinion, they’ve made a bigger mess of things with this policy. Now most people are just getting hooked on a handful of weaker pills instead of being able to take one effective dose.

So much of our healthcare system (and the country in general, really) is just one giant cluster****.☕

Morgan Hughes81 said:So, back when I was over at Dr. Miller's office and asked if she could recommend anything for these cramps because they were just twisting me inside out, she basically told me there isn't any real cure for it at all, and that my best bet was just to go pick up some Advil... she didn't really offer anything else more substantial, which is honestly so frustrating...

Are you serious????
That’s quite a lot to deal with... next time you see your primary care doctor, please do tell them that you need something specifically for pain management. If they happen to ask—though they probably won't—you might suggest mentioning that your period is coming up soon; since you have to schedule appointments ahead of time with an OBGYN, you likely won't be able to get a prescription in time. My own family doctor didn't ask me anything, but when I went in to get a referral for something else, I mentioned how absolutely agonizing my cramps are and how I'm practically rolling around on the floor in pain, asking if there was any pill that actually works fast. She ended up prescribing me some ibuprofen granules. They're alright, I suppose, though I still prefer Ketoral, even if it takes two whole hours to finally kick in.😢 😢

Or, perhaps next time, you could just tell your gynecologist that you already tried the Advil and it did absolutely nothing, and maybe then she might feel inclined to prescribe something a bit more potent.

Brandon Carter said:I actually managed to sort out that issue with Nimesulide. Because of some anemia, I had to get a blood transfusion about three years ago. While I was at the hospital, they stopped my cycle a few times because it wasn't good for me to lose any more blood while they were trying to replenish it. After I got discharged, they prescribed Yasmin to make sure my cycles didn't get too heavy again. For the first four months, I was literally screaming from the pain during my period; I was pacing around the house like a madwoman. Just to be clear, I never used to have pain like this before. It got so bad that no painkiller or tea helped one bit. I actually walked into a pharmacy in tears, explained everything to the pharmacist, and begged for anything just so I wouldn't lose my mind. She recommended Nimesulide. Within about ten minutes of taking it, the pain was gone and I slept like a baby. Aside from killing the pain, Nimesulide also helps with inflammation, almost like an antibiotic effect. Thankfully, I haven't had those issues in quite a while, but I always keep some Nimesulide on hand just in case. 🙂

If that's the case, I have my doubts about whether you can actually get it over the counter here in the States. Standard stuff like Voltaren or Ketoral usually requires a prescription regardless of how long you've been using them, so I can't imagine something like this would be any different...☕

Jesse Wilson17 said:He didn't really say what it could be, but honestly, it just faded for a bit and then came right back :/ It won't go away completely... feels like those creams aren't doing much at all, either :S

Which cream did you end up getting?
I would suggest applying it twice a day and continuing the routine for a few days even after the patch clears up. If we are dealing with microsporosis, it tends to linger a bit longer than one would hope, so staying consistent with the application is essential. I personally felt as though nothing was changing for nearly three weeks before it finally began to recede...

I’m honestly not quite sure what that entails, as I haven't had the chance to use it before.
And regarding what the doctor mentioned—what kind of possibilities were they considering?

To looks quite a bit like ringworm to me. I actually dealt with a similar spot on my lower leg once after coming into contact with a cat that had it. You don't necessarily need to have a pet at home to catch it; it could have just been a neighborhood cat or dog brushing against you, or perhaps you were petting someone else's pet and ended up with a little scratch. It really isn't anything to lose sleep over. My suggestion would be to check in with a doctor so they can prescribe an antifungal cream—if memory serves, something like Lamisil—and then you just apply it once or twice a day, continuing for a few days even after the symptoms seem to have cleared up.

Of course, I'm just basing this on how the photo looks, so I can't say for certain that's what it is. Either way, please do see a doctor so they can get you some proper medication. There's no need to panic.☕

cosmicsurfer49 said:I’ve been relying on 600 mg ibuprofen to deal with my period cramps. Yeah, I know—that’s a heavy dose. But honestly? Every once in a while, they actually give me a bit of relief. Just a tiny window of it, though. And because these pills are so strong, half the time they just make me feel even worse and end up making me throw up. It feels like they only work for a few hours before the pain comes crashing back anyway. It’s like the medication just delays the inevitable, leaving me totally useless for the next two days.
My cycle always starts incredibly early, and it’s been painful since I can remember. For the longest time, I was popping massive amounts of standard over-the-counter pills because they actually seemed to do the trick. For the first two or three months, every single pill worked wonders. But then? My body just got used to them. They stopped being effective, which is how I eventually ended up escalating to these 600 mg ones.
Now, I’m slowly trying to wean myself off the pills altogether. I’m basically attempting to just ride out the first day if I can, mostly because I’m out of ideas at this point. I’ve tried everything—different herbal teas, tweaking my diet—but nothing seems to touch the pain. I’ve realized that if I just stay in bed, bundled up in a warm blanket without any meds, everything usually settles down by the next day. No more debilitating pain preventing me from actually living my life.

My doctor prescribed those granulated ones to me as well; they are decent enough, though I still experience occasional bouts of discomfort in my lower abdomen while they are working.
Ketoral is definitely the most effective option for me, even the 50mg version, although it does take about two hours before I actually start to feel the effects. 🙂

Jason Morgan said:Of course you will. 😉

Personally, I usually reach for three, 😬 though I only do that as a one-off when the pain hits hard enough to be debilitating. Otherwise, I try to stay disciplined. But if the flare-up lands on a Monday morning, I don't exactly have the luxury of staying home to suffer through it; I have to function.

Alright, I think I'll give that a try, especially since Ketonal has honestly been my saving grace in the past. Thank you so much. 👍

Jason Morgan said:says this:

I've been cycling through Voltaren, Ketolac, and for the last few months, mostly Advil.
During that first day and a half of my period, I’m basically incapacitated. 😁 It isn't a joke—if I don't take two pills at once and then a third one a few hours later, I actually feel like I might pass out from the pain. I am effectively out of commission for two full days.
On a monthly basis, I probably take maybe four or five Advil or Ketolac tablets and nothing else, but I noticed yesterday that my digestive system has become quite sensitive to them. I start getting this low-level nausea that radiates from my stomach downwards whenever I take them.

Has anyone actually managed to find a substitute for this constant pill-popping? And please, spare me the "try a heating pad" or "take some magnesium" suggestions, because those don't come anywhere close to the efficacy of actual medication. I need something—even if it takes longer to kick in—that can at least offset part of the dosage I have to swallow just to remain functional. I should mention that physical activity, staying sedentary, food, sex... absolutely nothing has changed the intensity of these cramps in the last 12 years. They are always exactly the same.

I completely agree! The pharmacist recommended some tablets starting with N (I honestly can't remember the name), and recently I was taking 600mg Ibuprofen granules; I’ve tried Voltaren and Neofen and all sorts of things, but Ketonal capsules are definitely the best for me. Almost all of these medications take about two hours to start working (not to mention how I spend those two hours tossing and turning in bed from the pain 🙂).

Is there anything, anything at all, that works faster? Would it help if I took two Ketonal at once? (In my logic, it won't, I'll just be taking a double dose I don't actually need).🤔

Kate Foster12 said:There were rumors that belly dancing helps manage the pain. Have you ever tried pills? Because—well—I’ve been on Yaz for eight months now, and I still get cramps. Not as bad as they used to be, but enough to break out in a cold sweat. Honestly, when the pain hits, just wrapping myself in a blanket helps. 😬

I once threw up after taking two Voltaren Rapids. It knocks me out—I fall asleep, and two hours later, the pain is just gone... 😁

I don't believe any of it! No exercises, no pelvic tilts, no whiskey, and certainly no magnesium... when it hurts, it truly HURTS.🙂

Grace Lewis6 said:while I was out at the vineyard and working on my ribs, they suggested I might be overreacting, 🥳

I’ve actually dealt with something quite similar myself... thank you so much for sharing this information.😘

From what I can gather, there isn't an active discussion going on regarding the Light Clinic. I did try asking about it over in the thread focused on medications and the American healthcare system, but I thought I would reach out here to hear from anyone else who might have thoughts, even if you haven't been following those other topics lately.

So, I am curious to know how satisfied you all are with the services and the pricing at the Light Clinic.
I am increasingly considering scheduling an appointment there, though I am still feeling a bit hesitant since my finances aren't exactly where I'd like them to be right now—which I suspect is a sentiment shared by many of you—and honestly, it feels like the hospital hasn't been taking my concerns very seriously, often just running a quick check and sending me home despite my insistence that something isn't quite right.

Thank you all in advance. 😍

Samuel Morgan40 said:Topic: "How satisfied are you with the healthcare system?"
You should feel free to start a separate thread about that specific clinic; in fact, we don't even have one yet, and I suspect it would be quite useful for swapping stories.😉

That sounds wonderful, thank you. I'll certainly do that. 🙂
(I was worried I might have missed an existing thread somewhere and didn't want to end up getting 'reprimanded' for repeating it 😉)

I haven't spent a great deal of time reading through everyone's posts here, but speaking from my own experience, I find myself somewhat satisfied with certain aspects of my care while being profoundly disappointed by others. For instance, I am dealing with an eye condition that leaves me with no choice but to undergo a corneal transplant; until then, I have to rely on wearing semi-rigid contact lenses. My condition has taken a sudden, sharp turn for the worse, yet the doctors at the hospital have insisted that I am simply imagining the severity of it—not to mention the indignity of having a frantic intern yell at me, as if she could possibly understand the reality of what is happening inside MY eye 😲

Because of this, I was wondering how satisfied you all are with the services and pricing at the Light Clinic?! Naturally, I am asking only if anyone here has actually been there...
I am seriously considering scheduling an appointment there, as it feels more and more like the hospital isn't taking my situation seriously enough 😢

Sarah Castillo74 said:I know this has probably been asked five hundred times already, but here we go again 😁
If I took my last pill on Friday, and then had a seven-day break, do I start back up on Friday or Saturday?
Personally, I’d say Saturday, but I’m not entirely sure 😁

You always start back on the same day of the week... so if you took the first one on a Saturday and the last one on a Friday, it means you start again on Saturday. ☕

vividfalcon5 said:Good evening. I’m not entirely certain if this is the most appropriate thread for my specific issue, but I’m hoping it’s the right place to seek some clarity.
Regardless of how trivial the question might seem to some, I have a strict policy against messing around when it comes to medication, so I figured I would ask.

I recently consulted with my gynecologist regarding some irregular menstrual cycles. My timing is all over the place—sometimes it's every two weeks, sometimes two and a half, occasionally three—and the PMS symptoms I deal with are absolutely miserable.
The doctor prescribed Logest tablets and instructed me to start them on the first day of my period. However, my cycle typically begins with some brownish discharge mixed with a little blood, and the actual heavy flow doesn't kick in until the following day. Should I begin the regimen as soon as I notice that initial brown spotting, or should I wait until the clear, heavy bleeding starts the next day? I don't want to miscalculate this since I'm not an expert on the mechanics of it. 🙄

Thanks in advance! 😉

Bryan Diaz said:Koala, I found that my period started out pretty much the same way back when I was taking Logest—and honestly, even after I stopped altogether. I just kind of assumed it was the start of my regular cycle.

That is exactly what I asked my doctor, and he told me to just wait until the actual bleeding begins... So, based on what you all are describing, I think I'll wait until that second day when the full flow starts, since most of these packs say you can start anytime between the first and fourth day of your cycle, so waiting an extra day shouldn't be an issue at all.

urbanharbor13 said:Hi there.
I have a problem/question.
Last month, my gynecologist wrote me a prescription for Logest because I wanted to start on birth control pills.
After taking them for about a week, I started having stomach pains and cramps. I thought it might be some kind of inflammation, so I went to see a different gynecologist since mine wasn't available. He did an ultrasound, and everything looked fine.
I thought maybe it was something with my bladder, so I went for tests, but those also came back normal.
The pain lasted until I finished the entire pack and got my period.

I started the second pack ten days ago, but the pain returned a couple of days ago. I’ve stopped taking them for now. I don't have an appointment with my gynecologist until Wednesday, so I wanted to ask for your opinions—has anyone else dealt with similar issues?

It seems highly probable that you're experiencing side effects, essentially just your body having a poor reaction to that specific formulation. Perhaps it might be worth trying a different brand to see how your system responds?🤔

Andrew Walker24 said:Hey ladies! Figured I’d drop my experience with the pill here, specifically Yasmin. Been on them for 3 years now, haven't even taken a break yet, and my OBGYN hasn't mentioned anything weird. Started using them mainly to deal with PCOS, but they basically became my birth control too. Honestly, zero issues otherwise—weight is steady, libido is still a solid 5/5. BUT when it comes to my skin... I never had acne before, but these freaking cystic breakouts are killing me. I seriously expected the pill to give me baby-smooth skin, but here I am, 3 years in, still praying they'll vanish. Anyone else dealing with these deep ones while on Yasmin? I just want them gone. My face is literally full of scars from trying to squeeze them out since they don't work. Thinking about hitting up my doctor to see if she can switch me to something else that actually clears things up.

Yasmin worked wonders for me!! My skin was absolutely dreamy... 😍
Look, you can always ask your doctor to prescribe something different, though you should probably keep in mind that changing things up carries its own set of risks. For instance, I was on Yasmin for years before switching to Loestrin because the price of Yasmin suddenly spiked. Switching to Loestrin absolutely tanked my libido and left me feeling incredibly irritable—it was a nightmare. I went right back to Yasmin immediately, but even then, it didn't feel quite right anymore.
So, just be honest with your doctor about what's bothering you and let her give you her professional take. Regarding the pills themselves, I think they can be amazing for your complexion, but you really have to find the specific formula that clicks with your body. If Yasmin is perfect for everything except those persistent breakouts, maybe ask your doctor about adjusting the hormone levels; they usually have a better handle on those nuances than we do.
Good luck! Please let us know how it goes. 👍

rowdyotter65 said:I’m going to post this here—even though I know there’s already an open thread about Diane 35.

I was taking them for about a year straight. I finally stopped at the end of November, and my period came back totally normal right after I quit—but now, this current cycle without any pills, my period just isn't showing up. It was supposed to arrive on December 21st; if I had just kept messing around with the pills, I probably would have gotten it by then. At that time, I was dealing with some pretty intense PMS symptoms, but nothing regarding the actual period itself. I actually went in for an ultrasound on December 29th, and they told me both ovaries look clear—they basically said the period will come, just not anytime soon.

How late has yours been, and how much of a delay is considered normal?

For me, everything actually became perfectly regular once I started the pills, so I’m probably not the best person to offer advice... but if the doctors said it will come, then you likely aren't pregnant. Just try to be patient...🤷

vivideagle90 said:Two quick questions:

Regarding weight gain from the pill—does it happen because the medication spikes your appetite and you end up eating more, or do the hormones themselves cause direct weight gain?

Second thing, I’m planning to go get my birth control prescription this Monday. It’s my first time, and I don't want to wait until next month, but there's a chance my period might actually start this Monday. Will my gynecologist be willing to write a prescription without an exam if I happen to be on my period? From what I've read, you usually start taking them on the first day of your cycle. I’ll bring my blood work results, and I'll ask the doctor about any other requirements when I go in for the referral.

Some people claim that’s how it works, though I can’t say I personally agree since I gained quite a bit of weight on Diane 35 without even increasing my food intake.
Essentially, birth control often causes the body to retain water, which leads to that feeling of swelling. I won't try to explain the biology too deeply because, if I'm being honest, I'm not entirely certain myself. I only experienced the weight gain back when I was on Diane 35, and since I was younger then and the internet wasn't nearly as saturated with medical info as it is now, I never really looked into the specifics.

vivideagle90 said:Two quick questions:

Regarding weight gain from the pill—does it happen because the medication spikes your appetite and you end up eating more, or do the hormones themselves cause direct weight gain?

Second thing, I’m planning to go get my birth control prescription this Monday. It’s my first time, and I don't want to wait until next month, but there's a chance my period might actually start this Monday. Will my gynecologist be willing to write a prescription without an exam if I happen to be on my period? From what I've read, you usually start taking them on the first day of your cycle. I’ll bring my blood work results, and I'll ask the doctor about any other requirements when I go in for the referral.

Well, if it is truly your first time taking these, you really ought to go in for a checkup. In fact, it isn't just a suggestion; it's actually mandatory. I don't recall exactly how it worked with my first pack, but I know I had an exam, though I don't think they sent me for extra testing. Back then, things weren't quite as strictly regulated regarding pill safety, so maybe it wasn't as much of a requirement as it is today.
Regardless, please do see a gynecologist. Perhaps you could coordinate with them to get the prescription now and schedule the physical for as soon as your period ends, while having your blood drawn immediately...
We shall see. Best of luck!

melloworca6 said:She’d only have a panic attack when she was on the pills anyway. Even without them, she’d still be feeling that stinging sensation.

Thomas Roberts9 is just sitting there. No context. Just a name. What’s the play here? [User] says:
Feeling pretty down now that I’ve finally taken over this thread—was stuck at the doctor's office for a while.Blood is fine. The levels went up slightly again, but he basically told me to stop asking about them. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled. I know my skin is going to break out and get all greasy again, but whatever. It is what it is. 😢

Maybe your face will calm down too. My daughter has been dealing with nasty acne issues herself. She ended up on birth control because of it, but she had to stop taking them after years of use due to some vascular problems. Her skin looks fine now, though. Whether it stays that way, who knows? But her face has been clear for a few months already.

I really held onto that hope myself, but after I stopped my medication back in February, my skin just completely fell apart through August, with new breakouts appearing almost daily.🙂 Then, about two months ago, I started the pills again, but now I'm facing the same dilemma of having to quit them for the same reasons... plus, I have seborrheic dermatitis, which seems much more manageable when I'm on the medication. So, I suppose I'll have to focus on my diet and try to cut out sweets; even though I don't eat anything particularly greasy or heavily spiced, I've always had a bit of a weakness for chocolate. Who knows, though—maybe things will stabilize by the time I hit thirty, much like what happened with my little sister, who saw everything clear up once she entered her thirties.

I know this isn't quite the main topic, but I truly wish you all the absolute best in this coming 2011, especially regarding your health and hopefully with far fewer headaches.👍