[Clesylafabada]

SO I am at a total loss right now... my sex drive always returns towards the end of my "pink week" and lately any time my husband and I have attempted sex it winds up hurting like crazy towards the "end". Seriously, I don't know how else to explain the pain other than it feels like "rug burn" inside me. Does that make sense? Like far up 'there'... It's driving me crazy and it makes me feel like shit when I have to stop him... especially when he's getting close, ya know? Trying to convince him that it's not his fault (because I really don't think it is) is getting harder and harder each time. This has happened the last 3-4 times we've had sex.

And it happened again last night... I am overwhelmed and depressed today because I can't shake the shitty feeling. :'(

[ChexEcodece]

The only real way to diagnose endo is through laporoscopy. My dr suggest we go in to find out and if there was any, then remove. Though the testosteone is worrisome - that is a normal indicator of PCOS. And talk about a bitch to deal with both of them.

Lo, I made Mr. Friday drive me to the ER each time I've had cysts rupture. Worst pain of my life. I seriously was begging for my dr to just take the damn things out so I didn't have to go through it again.

[sadgpokx]

Do you have a gyno? I'd call and ask for advice. My guess would be that they'd want to run some labwork to check your hormone levels. I know there are creams and whatnots they can prescribe if you are experiencing dryness, or they might advise you to try a lubricant.

[Clesylafabada]

I don't have a "gyno" but my MD is familiar with my "issues"... so to speak... last time we checked my hormones my testosterone was high and estrogen low, we've been trying to normalize that with low dose B.C. And I'm taking a low dose thyroid medicine because my thyroid is a little hyperactive, so I hope that isn't effective it, too. :/

I'm going to call her next week and set up an appointment... I'm tired of this and I'd like to have some normal sex with my husband FFS

[sadgpokx]

Not sure I follow what's going on with your thyroid -- what medication are you taking, if you don't mind my asking? I have Hashimoto's (an autoimmune disorder that causes hypothroidism) and have been on medication since childhood, but have never noticed that it had any effect on my sex life aside from being too tired to bother when my levels were really off.

[Clesylafabada]

Oh man, I can't remember the name of the thyroid medicine, levox-a-something?... I don't think it's effecting my sex life but with my body (since it's being a jerk right now) I never know. That's why I brought it up

Hypothyroidism runs in my family and we're really just trying to normalize those hormones because it's effecting my weight a lot. I'm wondering though if the changes in my diet and increased exercises could effect my "lady bits"...?

[lrUyiva1]

While I believe your MD has your best interests in mind, I also believe that your next step should be finding and speaking with a gynecologist. She (or he) would be able to address your concerns and conditions with more expertise than a general practioner (or us).

[sadgpokx]

Levothyroxine -- the generic version of Synthroid. Or Levoxyl, which is a brand name for the same thing. I used to be on that for a number of years, but some people do not respond to the generic version, for whatever reason, which was the case with me, so they made me switch back to Synthroid. (Which sucked, because it's like six times more expensive!) Thyroid stuff is tricky. The medication is so tightly titrated that a little difference can have a huge effect. It's probably worth asking your MD to check your TSH level if he/she is going to do blood work anyway.

I was thrown because your previous post said your thyroid was "hyperactive," which isn't the case with hypothyroidism. Your thyroid is actually under-performing, that's why the TSH level is too high, it isn't uptaking the hormone as it's supposed to in order to regulate your metabolism properly.

Sorry you're having to deal with that on top of having sexual issues -- like I said, I've been managing thyroid issues since childhood, and sometimes it's just really frustrating. You go along for quite a while and everything seems okay, and then you just go wonky and they can't figure out why. Plus it can be difficult to try and make yourself understood to a physician who isn't an endo specialist -- it isn't until I started seeing one that I could make anyone understand that I know when I feel best and what range I'd like my TSH in.

[Clesylafabada]

Levothyroxine -- the generic version of Synthroid. Or Levoxyl, which is a brand name for the same thing. I used to be on that for a number of years, but some people do not respond to the generic version, for whatever reason, which was the case with me, so they made me switch back to Synthroid. (Which sucked, because it's like six times more expensive!) Thyroid stuff is tricky. The medication is so tightly titrated that a little difference can have a huge effect. It's probably worth asking your MD to check your TSH level if he/she is going to do blood work anyway.

I was thrown because your previous post said your thyroid was "hyperactive," which isn't the case with hypothyroidism. Your thyroid is actually under-performing, that's why the TSH level is too high, it isn't uptaking the hormone as it's supposed to in order to regulate your metabolism properly.

Sorry you're having to deal with that on top of having sexual issues -- like I said, I've been managing thyroid issues since childhood, and sometimes it's just really frustrating. You go along for quite a while and everything seems okay, and then you just go wonky and they can't figure out why. Plus it can be difficult to try and make yourself understood to a physician who isn't an endo specialist -- it isn't until I started seeing one that I could make anyone understand that I know when I feel best and what range I'd like my TSH in.

I knew some of what I typed sounded wrong... My brain is a little scattered today :s Thanks for your support and understanding. It's so frustrating to have your body seeming to be working against you, so it's nice to have people to talk to about it.

[Clesylafabada]

While I believe your MD has your best interests in mind, I also believe that your next step should be finding and speaking with a gynecologist. She (or he) would be able to address your concerns and conditions with more expertise than a general practioner (or us).

I'm going to ask my MD about referring me to someone, hopefully it's covered by my insurance!

[lrUyiva1]

I can't imagine that it wouldn't be, but I don't put anything past insurance companies! If needed, the gynecologist might even be able to refer you to a sexual health doctor, who would be even more prepared to get your body back on track (that's less likely to be covered, though).

[Chito]

Yeah, I second the call for a good gyno.

[sadgpokx]

I hope it's covered, too! Tully is absolutely right -- much as I respect GPs, if I have something that I really want to understand and have dealt with, I go to a specialist. I'm practically collecting an entire set! Currently includes a dermatologist, ob/gyn, rheumatologist, endocrinologist and an ENT!

If you ever want to vent or chat about stupid thyroid crap, I'm here. I can talk about thyroid disorders for hours on end.

[Clesylafabada]

Thanks guys

[Clesylafabada]

... I don't know where else to post this and I couldn't find any threads that covered this subject... so...

... shortly before my wedding (almost 5 years ago) I began having "plumbing issues" and it began to severely affect my sex-life/libido with my husband (bf at the time, duh). We went from having sex roughly 2-3 times a week to a dry spell of about 2-3 months (while I dealt with a nasty case of vaginitis and then the worst periods I have ever had in my life! (3-4 in a row that were... let's just say... GROSS). I wanted nothing to do with sex. I didn't want to be touch, caressed, kissed, etc. I know it affected my husband and I still feel horrible for it. I have since been working with my MD to "normalize" my periods (because I have a hormone imbalance and thyroid issues) and my sex drive has sort of returned, for the first few days after my period anyway.

But sex is becoming painful... as in penetration has become irritating to my lady-bits. And I'm finding it really annoying/angering. Mostly because we used to have GREAT sex. Serious, it was awesome... even "normal" vaginal intercourse was great... I felt very lucky. But now, well, I don't know if it's me or what... but it's hard to describe. The only way I can think of is "disappointing" or "frustrating".

Help?

[Appeselve]

Probably not relevant to you but if you use condoms, could you have developed a latex allergy?

[Clesylafabada]

I'm on b.c. and my husband's childhood cancer made the likelihood of him ever "fathering a child" highly unlikely.

Although, I do have a bit of a sensitivity to some condoms.

[Chito]

It's the pill. I promise. If that is what you are using.

[Clesylafabada]

It's the pill. I promise. If that is what you are using.

Really? I was hoping that it wouldn't be... but I guess that makes sense.

I'm just so frustrated. I wish there was something I could do.

[TerriLS]

Perhaps there is a different birth control pill you can take where you won't have these reactions?