So I started TOM in early November. It continued until a few weeks ago when my Dr. put me on birth control. I started again! On Tuesday she told me to stop the pills for a week, and then start again. I went to the ER Sunday because I had to 'change' every 20 mins and was in horrible pain. The ER Dr. and my Dr. agree it is because of my weight. I am not even near my highest weight, and have never had a problem like this before. Has anyone had problems because of their weight? I'm not looking for medical advice, I know we can't give it. I go back to the Dr. next week and will hopefully get some answers! Thanks Ladies!

Sara

That's BS, get another opinion.

You should not be bleeding like that. If you have never had a problem like that before and your doctor still says it's because of your weight, find a different doctor. I know that being overweight can cause a lot of problems, but I hate it when doctors dismiss overweight patients without checking for any other causes.

I agree with Annie, get a second opinion. If you were changing every 20 minutes and in horrible pain and that was out of the ordinary for you, there's an issue that needs to be addressed. I had a similar thing happen a few years ago, I had an ultrasound done to make sure everything was ok. Did they give you one at the ER? You'd know because they have a "wand" with a camera on it they use.

I have to agree- did they test for ANYTHING else? Just to say "oh it's your weight" is ridiculous IMO.

I'd see another doctor NOW. What if you are having some issue that could be worse without proper medical attention?

Yeah that is PURE BS...no. Get a second opinion.

To be honest, it sounds like the pill that you were on is not compatible with your body or your body needed more time to adjust. Women frequently will have their periods affected by the pill in various ways. Some women will spot, some will have their periods start early, or even stop all together. It really depends on the pill this particular pill might not be for you.

I was on Trinessa at near 300 pounds and I had a lot of problems with that, not because of weight mind you. I was really sick, monthly was irregular and heavy, I remember having cramps way before my period would start...Now I switched to the non-generic Ortho TryCyclen and it took like 2 months to get my system used to it and it is like night and day. The non-generic is awesome for me, I have very few issues, and different experience completly. That is why OBGYNs tell you to come back two to three months later for a checkup to see if the pill is working with your system.

What bothers me is that there are so many women on birth control in all shapes and sizes. There might be something going on, but what pill was it exactly? Can you visit another OBGYN and see about other options for you? There are other ways to control hormone and birth control that might be a better option for you. Exploring the issue, I think anyhow, is important.

Are you seeing a gynecologist? I would recommend seeing someone else! I am 5 foot and weighed at my highest 265 and I never had that... has your dr ordered an ultrasound? Ohhhhh I get so frustrated when things are blamed because we are OBESE.

OH, forgot a question? How long have you been seeing your regular doctor? Is this someone new or someone you've been going to for years? After my son (who is now almost 16) was born, I didn't want to have any more kids. I was 20 with two children and even then my husband and I knew if we had more, we'd never be able to send all of them to college. So I went on the Depo shot, it took until I moved here to Tennesse from Chicago for a doctor to inform me, being on it for years at a time was NOT good for my body.

I found this out because I started bleeding after a vigorous evening with my hubby, I mean bleeding to where the bed looked like a murder scene. It was unreal. I went into my doctor here and he ordered an ultrasound. Turns out I had some scarring that had opened up and the depo was working like a massive hormone machine, making my ovaries churn like butter. I"m married to a pretty awesome guy, he volunteered to get the snip, but what I learned from that is we know our own bodies better than anyone else, even a doctor and as women we have been blessed with our "gut instinct". Follow it, you posted here because you feel something isn't right. I'd lay odds at Vegas you're dead on. Don't let stupidity of "learned men" force you to question your own judgement.

Turns out life doesn't always work the way you think though, I have three kids now. We adopted our teenage daugther three years ago and they are all going to college. HAHAHA The game plan you have isn't always the one life has for you.

Definitely go to another doctor! In fact... Find a female doctor if you can! Trust me, having cramps and constant bleeding is nothing to sneeze at. Honestly... Just my uneducated opinion here... It sounds like you may have ovarian cysts or uterine polyps. Please go to another doctor and get an ultrasound taken... And don't take that damn pill again until you know what's going on!

Lots of s for you... And let us know what happens, okay?

I have been having a similar problem since July. My cycles got highly irregular for the first time in my life ever and in October my period just never left. The last month of so I have been having severe cramping, similar to contractions. I have been seeing a Dr and have an ultrasound scheduled this week. I would suggest you do the same. I have been overweight most of my life and have always had regular cycles up until the last 6 months.

Total b.s. - what mechanism do they propose this being from your weight? (Sure you might have extra estrogen stored in fat cells, but they are totally blowing you off).

If you are adjusting your pills, be certain to use another form of birth control (if you need to) while doing so. Any chance you could be pregnant? No method except abstinence is 100% perfect.

Greetings!

I don't know if this is relevant, but I was watching Discovery Health last week. There's a show some of you might be familiar with called Mystery Diagnosis. On this last episode, they actually told the story of this girl with similar symptoms: profuse bleedings and severe abdominal cramping. It turns out she had endometriosis.

I would definitely see a gynecologist before you believe anything about your suffering being directly caused by obesity.

Could be fibroids. They can cause severe bleeding. I would definitely get an ultrasound. No one should have bleeding that heavy.

Thank you all for answering! So I woke up today and the bleeding has almost stopped! I believe my Dr. was thinking that since I lost 50 lbs or so in '08 and then gained it back last year that it was the weight change, not just my weight itself, but I have done that before without this happening. My TOM became really irregular after I got the stupid Gardasil shot in March. I skipped April, May and June, then skipped August, September and October to start in November. Needless to say I refused to get the rest of the series and wish I hadn't done it in the first place!

Sweetcakes- All they did at the ER was a CBC and a pelvic. She said everything was normal, aside from the fact there was a lot of blood. I've been seeing my Dr. since 2004, and she is normally a great Dr! I have a hard time finding medical professionals I am comfortable with, so I am super glad to have her.

Jacquie-It's generic Ortho-Cyclen, not the tri-cyclen. It seems to have worked for now, and I have had no other sife effects from it, luckily.


If it doesn't start again I am going back next week to see if she would do an ultrasound, just to be on the safe side. Also, not a chance at pregnancy, unless I was like 15 months pregnant My Dr. is a Family Practioner(?) so she does all my GYN stuff as well, but maybe I'll start to look for a specialist if things keep up.

Thanks everyone and I hope you have a great week!

Sara

Please continue to keep us updated so we know how you're doing