I started using NuvaRing in January and while I don't usually keep track of my cycles too closely I know that I should have gotten my period sometime during my "off week" which was May 5th to May 12th. My usual period lasts approx 4 days and is medium flow. This time it came on May 9th at night and was gone within 24 hours. It was also very light, it never did fill up a tampon even after leaving it in for the 8 hours max. I also had cramps before (which is normal for me) and after that day (def not normal for me), still today and it is May 15th. I'm also very tired and getting headaches a lot more often than normal, and I am getting pretty gassy and a little constipated (sorry, tmi!) which is also not normal for me. The reason that I'm concerned is because I had read that you can take NuvaRing out for up to 3 hours if you need too. (and i do because my husband doesn't like the feel of it). But I think 3 times I had forgotten to put the ring back in after because I fell asleep (stupid of me, i know)... So it was out for 7-10 hours each of the 3 times... Is this 24 hour thing something to really worry about? I'd like to avoid having to take a hpt especially because my husband and I are under a ton of stress and I'd like to avoid adding to it if possible... Thanks for all your opinions! ↓
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Name: cblack | Date: May 15th, 2008 11:49 AM
Sec84... If I were you I would take a test. If nothing else it will take away some of the stress of just not knowing. If you are not pregnant then you wont have to continue thinking about it (I know it can kind of take over everything, and make you think about it all the time). If you are pregnant, then you will want to find out soon so that you can get a doc appt setup so you can start taking your prenatals and things like that. I know what you mean about stress though. DH and I were definitely not trying when we got pg last year; I missed a week of bc pills on accident... it was a stressful week. :( Anyway, DS was born this past september and he has been the biggest blessing of all. We have grown closer as a couple, and have enjoyed the miracle that God sent our way, even though it wasnt when we expected it. I hope that you get the outcome you desire. Good luck... let us know how everything goes. ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 12:00 PM
Thanks for the reply... So I'm guessing that my little 24 hour episode is not something to just shrug off...
We have talked about having kids but in the future, right now we are not financially stable at all, which is why I really don't want to bring this up with him right now... And I can guarantee that's why I forgot to put the ring back in. He had left to visit his family (who live in another country) to get some financial help from them and I stayed behind to keep working, this 24 hour thing happened while he was gone so he has no idea. It just seems that as soon as 1 thing gets taken care of something else happens! Well thanks for listening to me vent for a minute! ↑
Name: Annabelle | Date: May 15th, 2008 1:26 PM
My husband doesnt like it either!!! how crazy is that, howerver i have stopped taking it out for sex becauase i am afraid i will forget to put it back in....I think it does say in the instructions that there is a possibility of pregnancy if you forget to put it back in, especially because sperm live for up to three days in your system I have heard (not sure if that is fact or not)...but I dont understand how it would be ok to take it out the week of your period if you would not be protected after three hours!! Now I am also starting to get heartburn a little....kinda nervous....I would take a pregnancy test though, just to be sure. ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 1:47 PM
I actually can't feel the ring at all during, but he really hated it! I was really hoping that someone would come along and say "don't worry about it, it's just a light period" but I guess that's not going to happen :( My last off week was during April 7th to April 14th so is it too soon to take a test? Or maybe I should just wait to see if I get a period next month? I didn't put a ring back in just in case... Thanks for all the help! ↑
Name: summerlove | Date: May 15th, 2008 1:51 PM
Hi, from personal experience, though I'm on the pill, I would recommend you wait until next cycle and see what happens. ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 1:53 PM
Do you mind if I ask what was the outcome for you? ↑
Name: Annabelle | Date: May 15th, 2008 1:58 PM
yes I would like to know too summerlove...I actually put my ring back in becaue i was told by a nurse that it would be ok till my next cycle so i could see what happens then...I hope she was right ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 2:01 PM
Yeah if I can put the ring back in until then I'd be a very happy camper! ↑
Name: kalokairi | Date: May 15th, 2008 2:17 PM
it could be that you got pregnant but it could also be from the length of time the ring was out. i know it messed up my cycle flows quite a bit when i did that and i seemed to be crampy all the time. considering you just started using the ring my guess would be that it is adjustment period time. it took longer than three months for me to adjust as well. not to say the possibility isnt there b/c of course it is but unfortunately you wont know until you miss your period or get a positive hpt. i actually stopped nuvaring because the cramping became constant some time 6 months after i started using it...it was like i was constantly pmsing. i dont know if this is helpful or not, but it was my experience. good luck! ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 2:21 PM
Thanks for the feedback kalokari! I had switched from the patch to the ring. With the patch I was actually throwing up each cycle because of the side effects but right away with the ring all the side effects went away until now. I always had period cramps DURING my period but that was it... And you have a good point, maybe i did just throw myself out of whack. Thanks again! ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 3:20 PM
I just wanted to let everyone know that i called my Dr. and she said to (obviously) get a preg. test... she also said that it's ok if I were to have the ring in now but if my test comes back pos. to take it out right away. So I guess I'll have an update for your guys soon. Thanks for the responses, you've really helped me to feel a little better about all of this. Whatever happens, happens. ↑
Name: cblack | Date: May 15th, 2008 4:08 PM
Sec... I promise things work out in the end. If you arent prego then sounds like you will just be waiting till your cycle gets back on course. But if you are prego then it will be ok... no one is ever completely financially ready to have a baby. You just have to change your livestyle some to take in the change. God will be by your side through it all... good luck on your test, and let us know what turns out. ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 15th, 2008 4:14 PM
That's what I've been thinking, that it will all work out. We may not be in the best financial situation but both of our families are and so far they have been very supportive of us with everything else in our lives! I decided not to stress about it too much... until I have to tell my husband about it if it's pos. Then I will stress out, probably a lot! ↑
Name: cblack | Date: May 15th, 2008 4:26 PM
I remember when I told my husband. We werent trying as I said before, and so he was completley shocked. At first I could tell he was upset, but not more than a few days after he was so happy. He would tell all of his customers at his job about the baby we were expecting, and was the most wonderful thing to me the entire pregnancy. He has said since DS was born that it was the best thing to have happened to us. :) It will all work out for the best, just be happy if you are that you have been blessed with a little one of your own, as so many women out there dont have the chance to have children. Keep your chin up :) ↑
Name: summerlove | Date: May 15th, 2008 4:40 PM
Hey girls. Well, here's my story, haha. Been having normal periods since I started the pill 1 year and a half ago. Now, in April, I had the stomach flu and got my period early and it was lighter and less days than usual. This month, it was due on May 5th and I only spotted pink/brown for 4 days. It went away and no real period. I went to my doc on Monday for pap and did a urine test, negative. Now this morning I felt crampy, like my period was going to come for sure. Well, I went to the bathroom a few hours ago and started spotting so was like 'woo hoo, period is starting'. And I usually start bleeding right away; however, I am (as we speak) only lightly spotting. :( So I don't know what's going on anymore. ↑
Name: Annabelle | Date: May 15th, 2008 5:04 PM
please keep us posted sec84...I am in your exact same situation except i took a pregnancy test yesterday morning with a BFN...I was told to test again in a week, but I would love to know what happens to you....r u testing tomorrow morning?? ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 16th, 2008 8:31 AM
Well I did buy a test last night after work... I am really a chicken! I am sitting here at my desk staring at the test like I'm scared of it! I don't know why but I'm scared to even read the directions and open the box. Am I so stupid??? ↑
Name: Annabelle | Date: May 16th, 2008 8:36 AM
You are not stupid at all!!!! I freakin shake really bad before I take one....I understand completely. You can do it...whatever is suppose to happen will happen. You should take the test so you can clear your mind of worry. ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 16th, 2008 9:02 AM
So I got my nerve up and took the test... BFN. So I'm not sure if I should wait and take another later on or maybe I should have did as soon as I woke up. Any ideas? ↑
Name: Annabelle | Date: May 16th, 2008 9:13 AM
Well, I have heard that you are suppose to use first morning urine so I really dont know....I have determined I am just going to wait and see what happens on my next cycle, but if you want to clear your head then test again tomorrow morning and if it is still a BFN then you can test again in a week....hope that helps ↑
Name: sec84 | Date: May 16th, 2008 9:16 AM
I think that is what I'm going to do, I'll give it another try tomorrow morning and if it's still neg then I'll just wait and see what happens next month... Thanks a lot to everybody! ↑
