November 24, 2009

Week One on Spiro

First week on spiro is coming to a close. Have I noticed anything?

Well, I'm late. My cycle usually ranges from 23 to 30 days with an average of 27, but I was expecting it the day after I started on spironolactone and it still hasn't come. 32 or more days is a little unusual. I'm not relishing being in a state of suspended PMS. I doubt spiro can work that fast but I'm such a hypochondriac that it's all I can think about. The endocrinologist warned me irregular cycles might be a symptom, and if it bothered me, I could go on birth control pills as well. A lot of what I've read says that irregular cycles more often manifest in more frequent menses, rather than absent ones. Either way, it bothers me. I hate not knowing what's going on inside my body.

I might very well drive myself crazy going on this stuff.

I'm also more thirsty. I'm drinking more water than I ever had the urge to before. (This is good, it's a diuretic, so I don't want to get dehydrated.) It's possible I'm peeing more, too, but that's also one of my own personal PMS symptoms so I can't be sure.

Another fun thing is I'm getting minor abdominal cramps that have nothing to do with feminine workings. They're more akin to the types of cramps I used to get when I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in college. The thing is, so much of that is caused by stress that I don't know if I'm just freaking myself out or if this is another side effect. Am I on a path to a whacked out digestive system again? I think I'd rather live with the hair.

The thing is, I know I do this to myself. I angst about my health, which makes things worse. After the eighth grade, I spent the summer lying on the couch, my stomach a mess, and I was afraid to go to sleep in case I didn't wake up again. I was tested for parasites and all sorts, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. So I don't trust my own reactions--I'm usually just being a big chicken.

Research doesn't help me. The medical sites provide information, but they're not meant to assure you the medication is right for you or that you shouldn't take it. That's why the side effects lists are so scary. A lot of people who post about spiro in forums have negative stories to share. I think that's making it worse for me.

I just need to relax, think positive, continue watching my body, and realize that I am doing this by choice. I can stop at any time, but I cannot be too afraid to give it a real try.

Anyway, I'd wanted to talk a bit about spiro in general, for the benefit of those who might be hearing about it for the first time. I think I'll do that in the next couple of days.

Now I'm going to enjoy the Monday night sit-coms and try to not think about this anymore. :)

4 comments:

Sophie said...

“Am I on a path to a whacked out digestive system again? I think I'd rather live with the hair.”… Hm :))) Some of us have to live with both ;)

Bless you, I just want to give you a big hug after reading this post. I think all this stress is the reason for me to switch my mind off and pretend I don’t really see a doctor twice a month and I am not really taking a super ”powerful” drug… Otherwise, I’d be going through same stress before every visit.

By the way, if i had a choice between your med and mine - I think I'd stick with mine.

Do you think one week is enough to see the effects? Also, remember that the menstrual cycle can be affected by stress and tension.

Abdominal cramps sound familiar but I think that might be something to do with stress plus I am a celiac so… That’s just an everyday thing for me…

I will e-mail you about how I got rid of my own hypochondria (not totally, of course, but then again, my body is generous enough to give me enough to be busy with to make more up ;) ) and on the cysters, I posted about my todays control visit.

Allerleirah said...

I used to live with both, but I had been getting so much better.

Yes, switch my mind off, that's what I need. Stress will cause all the side effects I'm having.

I've called the endo just to hear from her that this is all okay and it really is too soon to be seeing side effects. We'll see what she says.

Becky Frame said...

When I was on spiro, it regulated my periods, which were irregular before I went on it. I took spiro for about a year and a half, and I saw very little difference in hair thickness or growth rate -- I still had to shave every day and sometimes twice a day -- and it caused me to have pretty horrendous anxiety attacks on a regular basis. Wans't worth it for my situation at all. But I hear it works for other people, and I hope it works for you. It's primarily used as a diuretic, so that's probably why you're a lot more thirsty. Good luck, dear.

Allerleirah said...

Thank you. :) It's so hard to know what to expect because it sounds like everyone has different response to it. But you won't know if you don't try, right?