Fat in American Healthcare Part 2: Teenage Period Problems

TW: Fatphobia, Menstruation

 I didn't start my period until March of 1997. I had just turned 14 the December before and my mom was out of town. I kind of knew what was going on, but had to tell my dad because my mom was out of town. I woke my dad up and he went to the store to buy me some pads. 

I was in 8th grade and was happy and relived that I finally had gotten my period. I was one of the last girls in my grade to get it. My mom started asking the doctor about it when I was in 5th grade when I started "developing." The doctor said that it was probably delayed due to my weight and if I were to lose the weight that is should starts sooner.

Once I did start my period I my thyroid was tested because "She should finally be losing her baby fat." This started my epic journey of testing to see if there was another reason for me being fat. Again this was four years after being told I was fat. This went on for years, but my results were always on the lower side of normal. This meant that it wasn't my thyroid's fault I was fat it was mine. Fast forward to age 32 when I went to the doctor thinking I was pregnant, but leaving with a thyroid problem. (More on that later)

That happiness and relief was short lived when my periods became irregular and extremely painful. I would have a normal period one month, and then miss it the next. After I would miss a period I would have a 2-3 week period. I thought this was just my body's way of making up for missing it. When I started high school the cramping became too much to handle. I would white knuckle it through classes until one day in junior year it became unbearable and I went to the nurse. I ended up curled in the fetal position around a water bottle as my parents were called. My dad took me home and we went to the doctor the next day. At the doctor I had my first pelvic exam and put on birth control pills to regulate my period. I was also told that, again if I lost the weight, my periods wouldn't be so bad. 

I was on birth control from 17 to 25. Eight years. They worked for the most part. Making my period arrive every month instead of sporadically. They pain was always terrible, the flow was heavy, but I figured that was normal. I was able to function through the rest of high school and college.