This is mostly health-related (some 'female health'), so if that kind of thing squicks you out, you might want to skedaddle on out of here. I don't really expect advice really...I just think it'll help me to type this mess out.

For the purpose of this, you should know I'm an adult and I've had my period for years upon years by now. About four months ago, I started a new birth control pill. I don't take it for its main purpose as I'm not sexually active - I take it because I have menhorragia (sp?) and horrible cramps and it's supposed to take that away. So for the first three months I was taking this new pill (I stopped the other one I was on bc it stopped working) I was on cloud 9 because I didn't have a single period (something the Dr said could happen). And then the fourth month came and I started spotting for about a week straight and then started having something more of an actual period for all that it was still light. Problem is, I've been having a 'period' for about 2 weeks straight now, complete with cramps every damn day. My mood is shit (I have depression so this is making it worse) and I'm even more tired than normal. I'm going through tampons like a blood-crazy mofo, and all you other girls know they're not cheap!

So I made an appointment with my gyno and asked my boss to find coverage for me because the only appointment they had was near the end of my shift today unless I want to wait until the end of October. Long story short, boss couldn't find coverage so I had to cancel the appointment. I have no idea why the hell she couldn't just sit at my desk and answer phones/open doors for a couple hours. This was kind of important and I thought she cared about her employees before, but I'm questioning that now. So anyways, I don't know where I am in this situation. The girl I talked to when I cancelled the appointment and tried to get another was a complete airhead...didn't give two shits when I mentioned pain, bleeding, emergency. So I guess I'm going to have to call back. Or I might just waltz right in there and start bitching, because that's about where my mood is right now. It's much harder to ignore an angry woman in person than one on the phone.

Okay, so if my female issues weren't enough of a problem, my auricular rosacea (Google, bitches) has decided this would be a wonderful time to flare up. I have a painful mass slightly under and to the rear of my ear, on my neck by my jaw. I'm 95% sure it's a lower ear infection. I barely slept last night because it was painful and I couldn't lay on it, even though that's the side I generally sleep on. Now I'm waiting for a call back from my regular doctor to see if she can just send through a prescription of antibiotics. I told the nurse over the phone about my scheduling problems with work, how I work every day, and I doubt I can get coverage for an appointment. She's going to talk to the doc for me.

So in the meantime I guess I just get to sit here at work, miserable and in pain. Isn't life just fucking wonderful.

tl;dr: In pain from female problems that are lasting too long and an ear infection flare up and my boss doesn't give a shit so I can't get coverage to even go to the damn doctor. FML.

Update: Taking super powerful antibiotics now. It's apparently an infected lymph node, not an ear infection...although it could be both. Dr says I should feel better in 2-3 days but I have to take this giant horsepill twice a day for 10 days. It's making me super sleepy and headachy right now. And of course I'm at work. But I also stormed into my gyno's office and the nurse got me an appt in a few days so we'll see what happens then.

I don't know where you live, but can't you just take a day off if you are/feel too sick to work?

Well, I do have my occasional cramps and I have heard about different ways to approach them... 1st: start taking ibuprofen (or whichever pain killer works for you) at least one day before you start to bleed. to have get them to a high level before and keep it there for 3-4 days. (I hate taking so much pills.) 2nd: get more magnesium which should prevent cramps -> eat bananas and other magnesium-rich foods!

Okay. next paragraph :D I'm not a big fan of tampons either and I'm starting to like the idea to get myself a menstruating cup (but I always remember the idea when I already start bleeding lol) - names are (here in europe) MeLuna, Lunette, RubyCup and DivaCup. Don't know if that is somehing for you, but you should look it up - some girls are even saying they don't have cramps anymore after using them, well... I'd have to test that.

And last but not least: Not an expert on the rosacea one but try to use mild cosmetics for cleaning/toning/creaming (no alcohol! and no nature extracts which have a high chance of irritating your skin)

Yeah, I could take a day off if there was someone who could come in to cover. But no one ever comes in. I've heard about those cups...not sure if that's something I'd trust, but I may look into them. I already use super mild cosmetics (and no makeup at all). Thanks for the post.

But um. What if you get into an accident and break your leg on your way to work - do you still have to show up? Oo

Yeah, the cups do sound weird and I'm not sure if they are going to work for me (not going to specify that further xD), but with the right consulting (and if it works out) you will only spend some money, probably less than 20$, for ~2 years

For what it's worth, I've been using DivaCups for over ten years, and I swear by them. I've saved so much money, and I'd never even consider switching back. I've never had one leak on me, and you can leave it in for much longer than you would a tampon, so I find it's significantly more convenient, too. That being said, everyone's body is different, so it's no guarantee it'll be an ideal fit for you, too - but it certainly could be worth a shot.

Added note: I don't know who would try and claim that menstrual cups help lessen cramps, though. I can't even imagine what someone would think the connection would even be. The cup just chills out in your vaginal cavity collecting blood; the cramps come from your uterus, y'know, shedding its lining. They're entirely separate. Could just be a placebo effect, if someone believed it would help? I dunno, but it's not true.

I think I'd be expected to yeah. eyeroll They'd be 10 kinds of screwed if anything ever happened to me.

My thought on the cups though, and this is probably gross as hell lol, but...when you take them out, isn't it super messy? Like...I just imagine this little rubber cup and...eew. blushlol

- I had almost lethal Menorrhagia 10 years ago... I lost so much blood that I was severely anemic. I was also put on birth control pills, but it didn't work at first. What you described is what happened to me. I went through about 5 different birth control pills before I found ones that regulated my period and didn't cause massive headaches. I would just have bad cramps every few months with heavier bleeding.

When you go to your gynecologist, ask about switching pills. It might make a few times before you find the right pills.

Another option is an IUD, which is what I'm using now. Since being on the IUD for a year, I've had no periods and no cramps. It lasts 5 years, so it's the lowest maintenance thing you could get. Though, I would not recommend it if you're planning to have kids in the next few years.

This is only my second kind of pills, so I guess I may have a ways to go then. I'm not planning on having kids ever, so an IUD might be an option. I'm not sure about them though...I've heard horror stories about tearing and about women having sex with them in and problems happening. So I don't know...but I will look into it.