# A question for the women. May be TMI. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 3, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189 "2001-01-03T03:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/21 "2001-01-04T06:05:49Z")
Sorry, but I have no advice really to offer you, **Kricket** but please get to a doctor soon and let us know what is going on. You’ve got me worried sick! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2001, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/22 "2001-01-04T11:19:08Z")
Question from one who doesn’t know: wouldn’t there be a high likelihood that an over-the-counter pregnancy test would give a false positive what with the Depo-Provera in her system? (In other words, echoing everyone else, “go to the doctor!”) ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2001, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/23 "2001-01-04T12:40:16Z")
A-level Biology to the rescue. Pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotrophin. It’s a hormone that’s produced by the foetus after it implants. There’s no way you’d have it floating around your system if you didn’t have an implanted foetus. ---
**Author:** ![AKAmame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@AKAmame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AKAmame)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2001, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/24 "2001-01-04T13:15:14Z")
Um, Tansu, (Hi!)I believe you can get a false positive with some tests if you’ve taken aspirin recently (or so the disclaimer on my home test said). But Kricket? Do the test. Go to the doctor. Why wait? Neither your health nor your peace of mind are likely to improve in the interim. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/25 "2001-01-04T21:32:41Z")
Took the litle test and no pink line. I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I guess that just gives me other things to worry about. And what are Cortisol levels? That is something else I haven’t heard of. I just wanted to let you guess know what I was up to, and I will be back later. Once again thank you all. It is so nice to know that people care. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/26 "2001-01-07T06:36:36Z")
Thanks for the update, Kricket. Please let us know what else you find out. I hope it’s nothing! ---
**Author:** ![single\_files](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@single\_files](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/single_files)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/27 "2001-01-07T12:38:29Z")
It was so weird reading this, because I seem to have something very similar. My doctor is chalking it up to an ovarian cyst, but I am having trouble buying that explanation because I have always had cysts and they didn’t act like this. I have the breast swelling and tenderness thing too, and rare periods that are painful but not very productive. My last cycle was six months long, but the doctor swears I am not menopausal. I also did a pregnancy test, even though sex is a pretty rare occurance in my life. Right now they have me on birth control pills, which so far haven’t helped anything except to put a few pounds on me. I had already put on weight through the middle, so this is not good. I guess all I really wanted to say is Good Luck. I’ll have to stay tuned in case you come up with something that I haven’t thought of. ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/28 "2001-01-17T02:22:51Z")
Well, after having seen the doctor today, all I can say is that I must be out of my f\*\*\*\*\*n mind. There is nothing wrong with me you see. They did a pelvic, and an ultra sound. Found nothing, and then told me I needed to exercise because there is no reason I should have put on twenty pounds in three months. Go take water pills, and here is a script for Motrin. We think it is adhesions from prior surgeries, even thought you had a surgery to remove those and was still in pain two weeks later at a post-op check baffling the surgon who said the pain should have been taken care of and if that wasn’t it he doesn’t know what is. Oh, yeah, here’s another shot so you can gain another 20 pounds and we can make you feel like shit the next time you come in. And then get this. I am telling you that you will probably never be pain free. Now that I have told you that your mind will work differently, and your body will learn to accept the pain you have been dealing with for over a year now. See how easy that is? Sorry guys. I am a little upset right now, but I said that I would keep you all posted. I feel like shit. I know that there is something wrong with me, I shouldn’t be losing my hair, gaining weight, and having acne like I am. And the pain in my side. I did check out the Cysters thread, but I don’t have any cysts, so I don’t fit there. I fit in Taters disease thread, and probably always will since I am done dealing with doctors. Obviously this isn’t life threatening, and I have lived with it this long, so I am done with it. Now, how easy was that? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/29 "2001-01-17T02:43:39Z")
Kricket, First get off the depo-provera. It can cause weight gain, hairloss, and acne and it seems like these all got worse after you started it, if I read your post right. Then get a second gyn opinion for the pain. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/30 "2001-01-17T02:47:06Z")
Kricket, hon, did they do the blood test for menopause? The turkeys. Yes, get a second opinion. And a third, if necessary. Because you are NOT out of your mind. No way, no how. Scotti ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/31 "2001-01-17T02:51:47Z")
101 reasons to love modern medicine… My heart goes out to you, I have an odd and negitive reaction to medical science immedietly and it gets worse when things like this happen. Go get a second opinion. Remember that we care about you. Kricket, I know I’m a complete and total stranger, but if you need to talk my e-mail is posted. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/32 "2001-01-17T02:57:41Z")
Sorry to hear about your wellness frustrations Kricket ☹ The crappy winter weather doesn’t help either…I say head for Old Chicago and have some tasty beers (of course thats my answer for a lot of things…) I’ll get the first round 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/33 "2001-01-17T03:30:31Z")
Kricket, please see a different doctor. You shouldn’t have to live with this pain, and it’s ridiculous that your doctor would even say that. You need a doctor who is willing to work with you, to help you, because this one doesn’t seem to be cutting it. :shakes head: I cannot believe he told you that your body would adjust to the pain. What a jerk. Ugh. {{{{{Kricket}}}}} Here is a good page about the side-effects of DP: [http://womenshealth.about.com/health/womenshealth/library/weekly/aa050200a.htm](http://womenshealth.about.com/health/womenshealth/library/weekly/aa050200a.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/34 "2001-01-17T03:34:37Z")
**Kricket** , I am so sorry to read that you are feeling so bad. Please consider the wise advice to seek 2nd, 3rd and even 4th opinions. My mother had a similar experience to yours. [sub][sup]\*DISCLAIMER: THE STORY I’M ABOUT TO RELATE DOES NOT MEAN I THINK YOU MAY HAVE A TUMOR![/sup][/sub] My mother had this piercing pain that started at the tip of her pinky and radiated up her entire arm. She went to the doctor and he couldn’t find anything that would be causing pain like that. She suffered for a while and then decided to see another doctor. He couldn’t find anything, either. Over the years she had x-rays, blood tests, MRIs, you name it, all of which came back negative for anything. And EVERY doctor she saw would start asking her questions like, “How is your marriage? Do you and your husband get along? Do you have problems making friends?” They all pretty much implied that whatever it was, was in her head or that she was using it as a means to seek attention. Fast forward **20 years** to when she dislocated her elbow playing tennis. She ended up having to have surgery, so she asked her doctor if, while she was under already, would he take of a couple off moles (Cindy Crawford wasn’t big at that point - LOL). He said, “Sure, and while we’re at it, want me to do some exploratory surgery on your finger?” OF COURSE!! Well it just so happened that there was a group of med students in there observing the procedure and when the surgeon opened my mother’s finger he told them all to come get a close look and relish it because they’d probably never see another glomus tumor(!) again in their entire careers, that’s how rare they are. Again, I stress, I’m not saying you have a tumor or that this should give you any cause for alarm. The moral of the story is, sometimes doctors just don’t know and it turns out the patient was right all along - there **is** something causing the pain, it’s not in your mind!! Take care of yourself, sweetie, and report back and let us know how you’re doing. {{Kricket}} ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/35 "2001-01-17T03:39:22Z")
Kricket, dearest, get yourself to a reproductive endocrinologist. Believe it or not, you don’t have to have ovarian cysts to have PCOS. It’s one of a constellation of symptoms, any number of which can pop up. It may just be the depo provera, but with your history of gestational diabetes and the sudden weight gain around the abdomin, acne, and hair loss, it sounds like your hormones are completely out of whack. Even if it’s not PCOS, a repro endocrinologist should be able to help you sort things out. At the very least, see another gynecologist. There’s no reason for you to suffer like this. Poke them until they figure out what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/36 "2001-01-17T03:40:22Z")
Go and find yourself the best people in the specific area of pain you can find. Regular doctors have knowledge nowhere near as deep as some people, and insurance will more than likely pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Erika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@Erika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/37 "2001-01-17T03:49:13Z")
{{{Kricket}}} I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to deal with that sort of crap. Don’t give up on this–there’s clearly something that’s not right, and you shouldn’t have to just live with it. ---
**Author:** ![LazarusLong42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/38 "2001-01-17T03:53:23Z")
IANAD. I have some experience in biology and anatomy, though. But before you read any of this I say: **Get a second opinion from another doctor**. Please, hon. OK. My first thought on reading through your list of symtpoms was a thyroid problem. A weight gain of twenty pounds is inconsistent with three months of pregnancy, but consistent with hypothyroidism. I checked [online](http://www.aace.com/clin/guides/thyroid_guide.html) for thyroid problems and came up with the following symptoms: fatigue constipation **weight gain** memory and mental impairment dry skin and cold intolerance decreased concentration yellow skin depression coarseness or **loss of hair** **irregular or heavy menses and infertility** hoarseness **myalgias** (that is, muscle pain). goiter hyperlipidemia reflex delay, relaxation phase bradycardia and hypothermia (slow heartbeat, low temperature) **ataxia** (unsteadiness/dizziness) myxedema fluid infiltration of tissues I’ve bolded the symptoms which you have directly described, taking slight liberties with ataxia; I’d have to see you when you’re lightheaded to be sure. In other words: You definitely are having reproductive problems. You may be having thyroid problems. The two may be related. **If you possibly can, see an endocrinologist**. Good luck finding out what’s wrong. And don’t give up; something _is_ wrong, and it’s their job to figure out what. {{Kricket}} LL ---
**Author:** ![Poison\_Ivy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7cd45c/32.png) [@Poison\_Ivy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poison_Ivy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/39 "2001-01-17T04:13:10Z")
Kricket, I just wanted to echo what everyone else has said about finding a doctor who will take you seriously. You know the saying “familiarity breeds contempt”… that goes double for some doctors. It seems like they would rather chalk it up to being “all in your head” than seriously stepping back and reconsidering your whole case from the start. I was on Depo Provera for a year, just for birth control purposes, and in the first 6 months I gained 40 pounds (all around the mid-section) without any significant change of diet or activity levels. Toward the end of the year, I was constantly ill with various colds or stomach bugs, I could hardly bend over to reach my toes because of the swelling in my abdomen, and I was depressed to the point of breaking into tears at the drop of a hat. I know that Depo is extremely useful for a lot of women, but I had to stop taking it (and ANY birth control with high levels of progesterone) because it made me so ill. I think that many doctors seriously underestimate the side effects that Depo Provera (AKA Psycho Provera!) can cause, because they think that eliminating the menstrual cycle will cure all of a woman’s ills. :rolleyes: PLEASE note, I do not mean to paint all doctors with the same brush here, but I know so many women who have heard the “all in your head, get used to it” theory that you can’t help but wonder… Kricket, I know that I am a newbie and we don’t know each other, but my heart goes out to you and I hope you feel better very soon. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189/40 "2001-01-17T05:16:53Z")
Kricket, sweetie, please, please, please get a second opinion at least. These problems you are having are not in your head–they are very real. Any reputable doctor can see that–please find one! I beg you, Kricket, don’t let this go. Please do something about it now. You are not crazy and you do not have to live with this pain. There are people who can pinpoint what is wrong with you and your doctor is obviously not one of them. You know you can e-mail me any time you want–please do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-women-may-be-tmi/48189.md?page=3)