no boys allowed in the room!!!!

I went on it because of ovulation pain and the contraception was a bonus, stayed on it for years but changed brands a whole lot of times because of unpleasant side-effects, now I'm single and not needing the contraception so I thought I'd come off it to See What It Was Like

(i.e. not have the one remaining side-effect of migraines on the off week, also suspected it wasn't good for my mood problems - but my mood doesn't seem much better and apparently I still get hormonal migraines even now I'm not on it. but my periods are a whole lot lighter, which I wasn't really expecting)

Surprised so many other people have ovulation pain! When I told my doc I was sent for a scan to check for cysts/fibroids, so that might be something to be aware of. Didn't find any conclusive evidence, which is good but at the time I was just noticing I had most of the symptoms of PCOS so in a way it was like, well, cyst symptoms and no cysts, now what?

I have a lot to say abt this but gotta wait til after class. Basically roxy otm re zombie but it depends on how emotional your baseline is. Will explain later!

I went on the pill for birth control and off when I wasn't in an LTR that would lead to comdomless sex, then off again for good a few years ago bc I had been on for so long I wondered what life/me/my period would be like without it plus planning to try to have a baby.

Off bcp, my period was much heavier and my libido was much more present. My face broke out more. Maybe more PMS but it's hard to say what is coming off the pill and what is getting older, not to mention the years of fertility nonsense which is basically dump trucks full of hormones.

I'm not sure what my post-baby plan will be. I don't want to go back on the pill. I don't want more children. Sometimes I wish I could have a twofer c-section and hysterectomy bc I would love to be done with my period, too, but only in fantasy land where such a contingency wouldn't arise bc of a major issue (or make recovery more difficult).

i have a few min before i have to leave so why not

Will the PMS be better or worse? Will the period itself be more or less painful/messy (I has fibroids)? Will aspects of my libido which I miss (TMI) return?
**all answers IME**
worse (but the drudge sirens genuinely help as a warning and the crying doesn't really bother me much)
more (i don't have fibroids, but definitely + painful, + messy)
yes (feel like my old self again!)

In sum, the transition off was a nightmare, but there were other things going on at the time so I blame the confluence of events more than anything. Overall, glad I stopped (after many years on hormonal bc) because I feel like my old self again in a number of positive ways.

Thank you, LL! It is helpful to hear that yeah, some stuff may be worse, but that there can still be an overall benefit. Honestly if the fibroids make it too hard for me to be off BCP, then it is probably time to do something about them directly.

I was thinking the other day that were money no object, I would manage my PMS by checking into a nice hotel for two nights all by myself, drink wine, eat cheese and room service, watch bad TV, cry in the shower, have a massage. Maybe I will just try to re-create this environment at home as much as possible.

I have long argued that a woman directed modern Red Tent set up would not go amiss.

I've been on it for about a decade and thinking of taking a break from it, but yeah, kind of interested yet worried to see what'll happen. It's made most things way better.

I was a wreck on the pill. Gained a lot of weight, craved greasy food, sex drive disappeared, made me moody. And the side effects from stopping taking it were not pleasant. Massive hair loss, depression, horrific acne. I'd never go on it again.

it's funny how varied the side effects are. i had so much better control of my emotions and better skin! i feel kind of neutral about going back on it though. or i just don't want to go to the dr to get it.

Next month I shall be having an Rx-free Mexican BCP experience; will report back. Wonder if I can get Nuvaring OTC here? Maybe that would be a good transition from BCP to no hormonal contraceptives?

I did that and the transition was still tough, but as I mentioned there were other factors involved. Ultimately it wasn't that big of a deal, just kinda uncomf/ shitty for a while.

Gah I have a big yellow bruise on one boob from being walked into by Young People who were taking up the entire sidewalk walking 4 abreast (do you see) and there was nowhere else to go plus I was walking briskly towards a bus, and it hurts, and also kind of itches cz I guess it's a bit swollen and bra seams are digging into it. These appendages are so inconvenient amirite

I don't know why I'm telling the internet this, no. I felt like venting and who else could I tell this to? Sorry, thread.

No apologies needed on this thread! Yesterday I went snorkeling and the spouse mentioned afterward that "we should get you a BCD" (buoyancy control device) and I'm all "I'VE GOT YOUR BCDS RIGHT HERE BUDDY" *grabs boobs* *lols at self*

<3

god i hate it when people walk even 2 abreast down a sidewalk

^^

everyone should walk single file always

Yeah this is def the thread to talk about boobs!

boobs are always walking two abreast

ha

well, usually anyway. /downer

i knew that was coming *sad trombone*

sometimes i feel like im walking 4 abreast

*looks down top*

Never mind.

i have this crazy bra that hoists my boobs way up and ridic OUT to the side like almost under my armpits (also it's pointed like a 50's maidenform)
whenever I wear it i feel like i should put flashing lights on my shoulders so i dont knock anyone over

ok the mental image i have of that is very lol

it includes the drudge sirens on the shoulders

*THIS VEHICLE IS RE-VER-SING! BEEP BEEP!*

and little flags like you tie onto the ends of lumber

lololol
omg

like a cockeyed pug

but boobs

totally

also dying irl

I lost a bunch of weight recently and what little boobs i had have gone with the weight and I had to downsize my bra and it sucked.

:(

i'll ysi some of mine

tbh i was gonna ask but it seemed inappropriate ;)

lol

I would offer you some of mine, but they are currently serving as a flotation device so y'know I need them so as to not drown and stuff.

calling carl a: I forget in which thread you mentioned the 8 minute meditation book, but I dled the kindle version and am going to give it a go. I am notorious for giving up a meditation practice within 7 to 10 days; can we be meditation support buddies?

Which week are you on?

Namaste and all that shit,

Q.

anyhow this is related to the no boys thread b/c I have got to do something (or many things) about this hormonal roller coaster situation. It is affecting my daily life in a not so good way.

I did not mention that book! I don't even know what you're talking about, but meditation has been suggested to me to deal with high risk pregnancy-related anxiety so I am interested.

q, how so?

also if you have trouble concentrating on meditation, i recommend incorporating a smell element (essential oil under yr nose, incense, something). it helps me get in the mood.

oh huh, I thought it was you, carl! Lemme search to see.

LL, I tend to be kind of perfectionistic when starting new things, so the minute something because "not perfect" (schedule change, on missed day, etc.) I tend to abandon efforts entirely. See also: yoga, learning Spanish.

I need accept that in these cases, "some" is better than "none" and "good enough" is just fine.

I like the smells idea, thank u for suggesting.

Your meditation phrase: the perfect is the enemy of the good.

perfectionism is self-defeating behavior -- once you start to look at it that way, it doesn't look so perfect.
(this not-news brought to you from the person who cried during her second drum lesson because she was frustrated)

Oh it was Jaq who was doing the 8 minute meditation thing! Jaq, are you here? CALLING ALL JAQ!

xpost that would be perfect for me, except that I would worry that I had not chosen the perfect meditation phrase.

It's funny, because I'm not like this in all areas of my life--as an editor, I would frequently coach writers who were charged with rewriting something horrible provided by a healthcare professional with "just make it better, it doesn't have to be the perfection you would have created had you started from scratch!"

it takes effort to retrain yr brain
give it time! and effort. and practice.

this is the big lesson i have learned this year btw, so it's not like i'm comin atcha from some high place
i have to remind myself of this every single day.

it is good to know I am not the only one! Thanks, LL :)

A tall woman just sat across from me in this coffee shop to study her "Explaining Psychological Statistics" book. Quincie, is that you?