Cramps

[JohnAlex]

I'm still getting them.  After 8.5 months on T, I still get cramps.  I've have a problems with cramps my whole life, and I keep going to the doctor about it, and it seems like they don't think it's a big deal (I've seen different doctors about it).  but it's a big deal to me when it's extremely painful.

I get cramps about once a week now. usually right before my shot, since I get my shot weekly. but now I'm getting them after my shot. which doesn't make sense.

And basically I want to know what I can do to get my doctor to realize it's a big deal to me to get these cramps to stop.

[Simon]

I keep going to the doctor about it, and it seems like they don't think it's a big deal (I've seen different doctors about it).  but it's a big deal to me when it's extremely painful.

I can't say for 100% certainty but I'm thinking the doctors aren't taking you very seriously because they're thinking you may be using it as a ploy to get a hysto, and especially a hysto covered by insurance.

I would do my best to find a trans friendly Gyno and explain your situation and frustrations. If they see no signs of endometriosis or PCOS they're probably going to write you an Rx for extra strength Tylenol. What tests have they performed on you thus far?

Keep fighting for yourself and don't give up.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Over two years on T and I still get cramps. 

[Schuyler]

Simon has good points. Especially if you haven't had a hysterectomy, a GYN would have a better chance of knowing and ruling out the causes than most other doctors.

And definitely be an advocate for yourself. If you need to, your next appointment, bring support. A friend, a family member to speak on your behalf. It might just help.

[mm]

I feel for you JohnAlex as I get cramps every month before and the first few days of my monthly; they gives me bad dysphoria every time.  My dr has given me meds that work to a point.  I don't want to take any hormones. I can easy see your problems of drs not taking you seriously.  I know even cis girls have problems getting drs to take there monthly cramps seriously even when they are out of school a day or two every month.  I would say keep good records of your a pain, etc and try to find a trans friendly GYN, hopefully you could even find one that would do a hyster for you.  Good luck

[aleon515]

It would be something I might change endos over. You know I don't think the doctor has any business not taking your seriously. If there is a ploy going on, which I don't think, than the doctor him or herself is not going to be hurt by this. The doctor is not supposed to act to protect the insurance company (or the NHS), although the later makes a bit more sense. Honestly, some doctors actually code so that someone is covered by insurance.

--Jay

[JohnAlex]

I can't say for 100% certainty but I'm thinking the doctors aren't taking you very seriously because they're thinking you may be using it as a ploy to get a hysto, and especially a hysto covered by insurance.

I would do my best to find a trans friendly Gyno and explain your situation and frustrations. If they see no signs of endometriosis or PCOS they're probably going to write you an Rx for extra strength Tylenol. What tests have they performed on you thus far?

Keep fighting for yourself and don't give up.

Well my previous doctor did not know I was trans and neither did I dress masculine when she was my PCP. She put me on birth control, which helped a little but not completely. then she told me to just use a heating pad. which did not work AT ALL.


I have never had any tests done at all.

My current doctor kept thinking that once I got adjusted to the new T hormone levels the pain might stop.

[JohnAlex]

It would be something I might change endos over. You know I don't think the doctor has any business not taking your seriously. If there is a ploy going on, which I don't think, than the doctor him or herself is not going to be hurt by this. The doctor is not supposed to act to protect the insurance company (or the NHS), although the later makes a bit more sense. Honestly, some doctors actually code so that someone is covered by insurance.

--Jay

I don't have an endo and have never seen one people. My regular doctor prescribed me T.

[aleon515]

I don't have an endo and have never seen one people. My regular doctor prescribed me T.

Then maybe you should find another doctor who might take this seriously. Sounds very unpleasant.

--Jay

[spring0721]

Then maybe you should find another doctor who might take this seriously. Sounds very unpleasant.

--Jay

Yeah I would 2nd this...you NEED to get a second opinion....especially if am I undertsanding that you get cramps a week before your shot AND after? Or have the cramps just changed from being before to after now? If it's both, that's not normal to have cramps for two weeks every month.  I would really encourage you to go to a specialist not just a primary care physician.  I wish you luck

[spring0721]

It would be something I might change endos over. You know I don't think the doctor has any business not taking your seriously. If there is a ploy going on, which I don't think, than the doctor him or herself is not going to be hurt by this. The doctor is not supposed to act to protect the insurance company (or the NHS), although the later makes a bit more sense. Honestly, some doctors actually code so that someone is covered by insurance.

--Jay

This is very true also, if you have a good doctor they will bill with a code that may not be your exact diagnosis just to get you what you need since insurance companies won't cover things as readily anymore.  So really the doctors are and should be on your side, unless a)they aren't very knowledgeable or b) they are tired of their job and don't care any more.

[aleon515]

A GYN, and we know how much fun that is not, might make sense. This could have no relationship to T. It might, but maybe it doesn't. This could be a separate issue. The complication is that you are taking T.  Finding a trans friendly GYN is something I might be able to do with the help of a fantastic trans center, but hard to do on your own. But still you have an ongoing issue. Certain conditions, like endometriosis have severe cramps as a symptom.

--Jay

[spring0721]

A GYN, and we know how much fun that is not, might make sense. This could have no relationship to T. It might, but maybe it doesn't. This could be a separate issue. The complication is that you are taking T.  Finding a trans friendly GYN is something I might be able to do with the help of a fantastic trans center, but hard to do on your own. But still you have an ongoing issue. Certain conditions, like endometriosis have severe cramps as a symptom.

--Jay

Yes very true, also it could be a plethora of things. I'm sure this is NOT the case with you, but my mom was getting severe cramps every month and she ended up having a tumor on her uterus. Just don't play around with your health.  Better safe than sorry, so while going to a doctor may be unpleasant it could really help you in the long term. Please take care of yourself.

[Felix]

I know this is an old thread but I'm just now getting to it and I feel it is an important situation to discuss. Other people will encounter it.

Before I really understood that transpeople aren't exactly an average part of american society I would tell my gyno when I was having extreme cramps or abnormal bleeding. Before I was out of the closet she was very curious and asked me to make a chart of how my periods were day to day and month to month.

Once I came out as trans she stopped asking me to fill out those charts and seemed offended that I was still doing so. She made explicit statements about how I was wrong and how I would be a female until I was dead and that if I thought I was hurting or bleeding too much that wasn't going to get me what I want. It was a shock. I was not at the time angling for a hysterectomy, just actually had pain and way more blood than normal.

Going on T (lol after leaving that cruel individual and switching to a gyno who is a normal person) didn't help right away. It got worse before it got better, and I had an ovary get infected and burst. Then the other one felt like it was doing the same thing, and the pain was crippling, but apparently nothing was wrong. I don't know what happened, but I also know that we as a demographic have not been studied enough that any professional should be able to contradict our accounts of our experiences so somberly and surely.

[Natkat]

even when my gynocolist has alot of trans patients he didnt belive me when I said I still had period pain even when I wasnt bleeding. he said its an illusion I think im to get period so my body react like this.. but im not sure..

the pain got alot better on T, before T I had to eat alot of pills. But i still tend to get pain somethimes who is simular to when I had period so I really dont know..

[ford]

Ugh, I'm worried about this. I'm on a really high dose of estradiol (bia birth control) to control crippling cramps from endometriosis. Pre birth control it got to where even prescribed vicadin wasn't curbing the pain. I want to believe T will stop it outright, but 'it gets worse before it gets better' sounds really really bad.

Fortunately we do have a trans-friendly gyno in town, although I haven't seen her yet. I'm interested to see what she suggests in terms of starting T.

[aleon515]

We have trans friendly ones here but i think it is probably hard to find one. Unless you are going from a list somewhere.

--Jay