I have some health worries that I'd like some advice on?!


Question: I have some health worries that I'd like some advice on?
Beware this is going to be long. Anyway before I go into details I'll clear some things up. I'm 16 years old, female, from Australia, never travelled overseas (just in case you start listing things like rabies, the rabies virus isn't in Australia thank gawd), I don't drink, smoke or do drugs, I take chromium tablets and I haven't ever had sex.

The first thing that is troubling me is my hormones. I'm almost 17 and first got my period at 12. I know it's supposed to be irregular for a while but it's still not regular. It's ridiculous. I still get discharge before but I can skip one or two months despite getting discharge. I haven't had it since before Christmas actually I think I've skipped the last 2 or so. It's getting ridiculous as I said before because I go to school not knowing if I'm going to get it or not.

When I do the cramps on day one is unbelieveable. Only on day one and occassionally day two the rest of the time I'm fine. Is that normal? I have to eat light and take painkillers so I can't function. There have been times where I've wanted to either cry (and that's a big thing for me I hardly ever cry, if I do I'm either super hormonal or something really bad has happened), vomit or just sleep. I've even had to go home early from them. Usually the painkillers work, it's just a drag having to take them. As well as this I tend to get quite hormonal to the point of feeling isloated (even if I'm sitting with friends so the feeling isn't warranted) and even suicidally depressed. I tend to have long dark hairs around my areola. I cut them off scissors and it isn't that big of a deal because it's not like anyone is seeing it but me. My question is: Is that normal or is it a hormone problem? I also put on a lot of weight around my middle when I hit puberty (at around 10). I crave sugar like I don't know what. It's really strong (the cravings) and I tend to eat sugar a lot it's like my brain is screaming "SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR!" at me. I'm overweight because of it and when I get hungry I get really moody and even shake a little.

I have some breathing troubles too. I have viral asthma but I have no treatment for it because I have a nasty intolerance for asthma inhalers (they make me violently sick). I get coughs and colds a lot in the wintertime which lower my immune system. Last winter I had a cold (well I think it was more of a mild flu, I had a fever, coughing till I was dry reaching, sneezing, blocked nose, aching all over, tired etc). I would practically suffocate if I tried to lie down. I had this for about 6 weeks. The doctor said my body wasn't fighting it because of the cold but 6 weeks? Really?

I also don't sleep well. I'm one of those kinds of people who it takes a while for them to completely settle and it make take me an hour to fall asleep but I can get to sleep by 10.30 pm wake up at 6.30 pm eat a decent breakfast (two large slices of wholemeal toast and orange juice) and by even 9.45 - 10.00 when I'm at school I'm so tired I could fall asleep and it's only 2.3 hours after I've eaten.

I have some habits which aren't healthy and worry me. I bite my fingernails, I tear my own hair out (it's not to hurt myself it's a habit and I mostly do it when I'm bored sometimes I can wake in the morning to find huge clumps of my hair on the carpet), when I get dry skin I also tend to scratch until it's bleeding and scabbed. I've even scratched my hairline till I've found blood on my fingers. It hurts but I can't seem to stop myself and I don't want to hurt myself.

I had epilepsy as a small child and have since been in the clear but I've been afraid lately that I've been having minor seizures. My arms can jerk sometimes (I've even dropped pencils), I can feel as if my knee joints lock and I can't walk or I just fall a little with no warning. There have been more specific times like waking up then for a few minutes (I don't know how long because I'm not aware of anything). I sit with my legs crossed, staring straight ahead, not aware of where I am, what's going on around me or anything, my fists will grip and ungrip something like my pyjama pants or my blanket. As I said I'm not aware of anything and when I come out of it, it seems like hours (it's probably only a minute or two) and when I start to snap out of it I'm real slow and feel disorientated and I don't remember sitting up or pulling the covers off me.

I also have sleepwalking problems which make me tired and afraid to go on things like school camps (friends houses fine because they're friends and I know they're going to be nice about it, I don't trust classmates quite as much.

Any advive? Sorry it's so lon

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Don't apologies, it's your health and it's definitely important.

It sounds like you've got a few different things going on here and you really need a good thorough GP who will listen and help.

With your periods, unfortunately it's normal for some people to be irregular. My periods were never regular, I'm 21 and got mine when I was 13. I have an IUD (I wouldn't recommend it) but another form of birth control such as the pill, the mini pill or the depo injection can help regulate or pause your period all together. A lot of people who're on birth control aren't on it for the contraception factor but to help regulate periods, help with PMS and other annoying things! My GP said that no one should ever have to put up with the PMS symptoms I was (they're similar to yours). I think it's worth looking at.

Do you have a family history of extra body hair? If yes, then that's probably the cause, but if not then it's worth looking else where. There are two things that come to mind, one is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and the other is Endometriosis.

Your body is probably struggling with the other things you're dealing with and this is compromising your immune system. You need to look after yourself, take a multivitamin and vitamin C, eat lots of fruit and vege, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.

The sugar is an issue for most people. I was meant to be on a sugar/gluten/dairy/meat free diet for 3 months. I'm gluten free and red meat free, but the sugar was sooooo hard! I lasted a week.. Try to remove one thing a week, so for the first week cut out all fizzy drink, then second week take out all lollies and fizzy etc. Replace them with sugar free fizzy and chewing gum and lots and lots of fruit. We've become addicted to sugar, so it's going to be hard to remove it, but do your best. You'll feel a lot better when you do.

It sounds like you might also benefit from speaking to a counselor. Having medical issues can really pay a toll on your mental health which then takes a toll on your physical health, it's a never ending circle.

I hope this is somewhat helpful =]

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You should seriously see a psychologist- and that should not be taken negatively, I am not a psychologist but if you want a good shot at lowering your anxiety and stopping some of your compulsive behaviors. Do not see a psychiatrist unless you also see a psychologist- psychiatrist worries more about pushing meds (that I believe are more dangerous then they are worth mostly) and making sure you can still stand up straight without drooling in public. Psychologist only use communication. Not sure how people feel about them in Australia but honestly that is most likely the best advice I could give on being happy.

Birth control pill helps with cramps- but deciding to use those is its own decision on its own. I would actually suggest an illegal drug for your concerns of asthma, anxiety, and even epilepsy but I dont know if that is a good idea for you- based on your location.

As for your sugar addiction- if your body is not getting proper nutrients it will continue to be hungry, making up for what it lacks is very difficult. If you have not been exposed to a wide variety of foods several times- your body can have a hard time figuring out what exactly it is craving. But one thing is for certain whatever your body is craving comes with sugars in some form- so your body is receptive to sugars. That does not mean a bottle of vitamins will help either- vitamins are a poor substitute for fresh sources.



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