What is happening to meee??!! ***TMI***

[Plinky]

I really don't know what is going on with me lately, I've had so many changes in my body...surely it can't just be age??

To give a bit of background...I had my son nearly 20 months ago. Went on the pill (Microgynon 20ED) for about a year then swapped to Levlen 30ED a few months ago (on doctors advice). I have now stopped the pill altogether.

A few months ago I started noticing the following:

*Very very dry, flaky & itchy skin 'downstairs' (this is my main problem)
Quite a lot of hair falling out
Several patches of dry/itchy skin on my face and back of neck
Really bad dandruff
Bloating (I seriously look a few months pregnant some days)

I used to have such oily hair (NEVER had dandruff in my life) and skin, and now its quite the opposite. DTD is extreeeeemly painful (even when we use lots of lubricant) - so much so that it can be months between doing it The last time we did I pretty much cried through the whole thing The skin down there is so fragile that every time I do #2, I bleed

I've been to the doc about it, she advised taking Fish Oil tablets to moisturise from the inside (haven't noticed any difference yet) and applying some anti-fungal cream. I'm also taking Yakult for the bloating, which has got a bit better. I had a blood test which has come back all ok.

I came off the pill hoping that perhaps it was hormonal and to let my body get its balance back - its been 2 months and no change as yet.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has suffered similar problems? Or any suggestions as to what I can try to help? I just don't understand why this has happened all of a sudden...

[Floweryfields]

It does sound hormonal to me, did they do any bloods?

[RhiChiChi]

Hmm.... no idea but sheesh I feel for you. You need to go back to your GP and them to run some tests. Like ausgirl said, could be hormonal??

[nickle730]

Apart from the pill have you changed anything else? Your soap or shampoo, laundry detergent? Any major changes to your diet?

I have a male friend who has in the last two months developed terrible psoriasis. He has never had it before and it is quite severe on his face, scalp, hands and (his wife tells me!!) his genitals (both the frank and the beans!). He is seeing a psoriasis clinic who have suggested it is caused by recent stress. Have you been particularly stressed lately?

[Plinky]

Thanks girls...ausgirl, they did do a blood test but I'm not sure exactly what they were testing for...but I remember her mentioning my iron levels. My suspicion is that its hormonal too...how can that get fixed? Its not like there is some medicine or cream I can use!

[Plinky]

Oops, sorry nickle730 I missed your post!

I have changed my soap, only on docs orders tho...to Aqueous Cream, and shampoo to a dandruff shampoo (only in the last 2 weeks tho). But the symptoms were happening long before either of those changes. No changes to my diet, if anything I'm probably eating healthier in an effort to try and fix whatever is going wrong. As for stress...I've been very stressed with work the past few weeks...but again, symptoms were there months ago. I dunno...