Congrats Java!
You know I love you wimmins. But I’m just getting gladder and gladder to be a gay boy.
Another vote for depro here.
I sure dont miss my period. I only spot the week before my shot is due, and no more cramps that make you wish you wetre dead.
Soda - someone else mentioned that Depo is not recommended for anyone who wants to have children in the next 5 years, so that lets me out on that.
Swiddles - I’m quite happy with carbonyl iron - it doesn’t give me any problems at all. In fact, I found out the factoid about the ferrous forms being mild poisons when I went looking for the difference between the two.
Cyn - have you checked with your gyne about this? You may have fibroids like I do - they tend to develop in women in their 30’s and although they don’t always have symptons, heavy bleeding and cramping can occur.
Medea’s Child - tell your mom that you know someone who’s been on both ends of the spectrum. I didn’t even have cramps until the past ten years (and made the mistake of looking down on people who took off when they had their period) Now I take a sick day off every 2 or 3 months because of the pain and other symptoms. (Karma will get you!) And I have had cramps so bad I almost cried. I take Vicodan for them now - a prescription I had left over from a tooth extraction, because I didn’t need them after the first day. That’s right, I have cramps every month that hurt worse than an abcessed tooth.
MsWhatsit - go to the fabric store and get a couple of yards of plastic tablecloth material. Put this on your bed when you’re on your period, and you won’t ruin your sheets. I put a cheap blanket and sheet over it to make it more comfortable. Of course, this won’t help if you have really unpredictable periods.
OY, the pain I have suffered with periods…OMG, the pain. I have had them so bad in the past I have literally had dry heavs (sp, pardon me I am not 100% here) and buckled over like someone has put some kind of death probe in my uterus. I am talking to the point where you would almost rather be dead because the pain hurts so bad.
However, I haven’t been on birth control in years. In part that I am not dating, part that I smoke and also that I hate the weight gain that comes with it.
Now, I am 32, and have noticed over the last few months my period is becoming less and less, to a point of wearing tampons for a day and switching to pantiliner for a couple of days then nothing. I am kind of hoping, in some odd way, that I am going through early menopause as I don’t desire to have children. Oh and besides, I hate the monthly hell! Maybe my body finally realizes I don’t want children and has made up it’s biological mind that it will stop this monthly insanity.
Watch next month I bleed through as bad as some of you ladies since I put it out in the public…knowing my luck 
Wow, this thread has taken off… it really is amazing how many women there are out there that have these kinds of problems.
I know many have mentioned Depo, but I was put on BC pills because I have PCOS, and I don’t have a period when I’m not on anything. Besides, I’m hoping to try to have kids in a few years, and I heard the same thing as Zyada about not using Depo if you plan on kids in the near future.
My boyfriend went out and picked up iron supplements since I’m still on this nightmare period, and I’ve been getting weak and woozy.
magdalene: I still have that “blood clots the size of oranges” echoing through my mind. Thank you ever so much.
My work here is done. Congrats on the job!
I remember passing clots the size of chicken eggs after giving birth… and I remember that while they gave me BIG pads, they also gave me newborn diapers to wear as pads for the first few days.
I hate that sudden gush feeling… ugh… you feel like someone just poured about a cup of warm jello into your underwear… :::shudder:::
I don’t want to hijack this thread, but I’d like to give a differing opinion on Depo. While it did stop my periods completely, it also made me feel totally asexual. I LOVED it for the first year, after that, the utter lack of “femaleness” drove me to bits. When I’d rather do dishes than have sex, it’s time to change the formula, I say. I stopped taking it after another six months, and it took me ANOTHER 18 months for it to work it’s way out of my system. I know this is a “horrific periods” thread and not a “birth control” thread, but I thought I’d drop my dime, FWIW. For those that use it and love it, I congratulate you. For me, I’ll stick with my IUD. Easier periods, no hormones.
No, Depo is not a great option for everyone. I was told to get off the shot at least 18 months before I wanted to get pregnant. Which will be in two years or so, and until then, I’m happy. After childbirth, I’m thinking hormonal IUD. Supposedly, you bleed less and it contains the lowest doses of hormones and it affects only the uterus.
I do want to stress the tranexamic acid. Here it’s called Cyclo-F (Cyclokapron in the UK), and it does reduce bleeding by 40%. I don’t know about the cramps though, but at least it’ll prevent you from becoming anemic.
There are some things man was not meant to know! *LOL
Testy.
I just started on Depo-Provera about 1 month ago… I’m a bit nervous about the spotting etc., but my periods used to be so bad I won’t miss 'em at all!
Nice to be reassured so many people like it.
Can I copy your notes? I musta missed that class.
I’ve fallen into this thread. It’s a warm, viscous fluid, too thick to swim in but too thin to support my weight. I’m desperately trying to claw my way out past astro, matt_mcl and Testy, but I’m not strong enough…I can’t reach…oh god, I’m drowning…drowning…
…
What surgery did the doctor tell you about for fibroids, a hysterectomy or a myomectomy? May I direct you toward a book? It’s called “The Hysterectomy Hoax.” Here it is at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385468202/qid=983311360/sr=1-2/ref=sc_b_2/103-3006334-7659865
Unfourtunatly, it’s out of print 
but I suggest you look for it at a local library. My mother went through the same things you are describing, and was told by many doctors that there was NO CHOICE but to have a hysterectomy. She found a doctor willing and experienced in giving myomectomies, and now she has better periods than I do! Light to medium bleeding, lasting only a few days.
Sorry, but this is just a little crusade for me. Fibroids are benign tumors on the uterus, right? Would you remove your whole arm if there were tumors on it, or would you rather have just the tumors removed?
Anywho, at least ask your doctor about a myomectomy, maybe get a second opinion. Myomectomies don’t leave you sterile… [/soapbox]
Before I started on the pill I wouldn’t get my period for 6-10 months and then I’d get my period for two weeks straight, and I could’ve sworn that there was more than a bucket of blood I lost in those two weeks. Funny thing is that I’m not anemic, but the reason why is probably because of the rarity of the occurence. I’m on Allesse right now but I have to get a new prescription so I’ll probably be switched onto something stronger. :rolleyes: At least I’m not always asking people for quarters all the time every 6 months like I used to. Damned vending machines in the bathroom only having regular when Ultra lasts about two hours tops sometimes…
Congratulations, Java!
I never get my period. Well, almost never. The last day that I had it was sometime in the first week of January. Before that, I didn’t have it for almost 7 months. I don’t know if I should be relieved, but I am. (No, I have no idea why I don’t get it. I’m not on any form of birth control, either.) On the rare occasions that I do get it, I’m on bed rest. I can’t move. I cry, and moan, and hold my tummy wishing I could reach inside and dig my uterus out. I have prescription meds for my cramps, but they don’t seem to help. I can’t eat so, like TechChick, I’m stuck with dry heaves (which really suck). Being a woman can be so horrible sometimes.
Congratulations, Java!
Reading this thread, I realize how lucky I am to only get headaches and stomachaches with my (irregular) period. Although they can be pretty bad, they’re nothing next to what some of you have to endure. My hat’s off to you all.
I started Saturday. My back hurt like hell, I had cramps from hell, and I felt like hell.
It’s now Wednesday. I’ve changed every time I’ve gone to the bathroom, and I’m in both a “super” tampon AND a maxipad, and I’m still gushing.
The sad thing is, I can’t have kids and this is a useless exercise in pain.
Robin
::lashes herself with a wet noodle::
Congrats Java!!!
Robin