Birth control: a thread. Please pull up a chair.
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I could continue to take the NSAID and still risk the allergy. I could switch the NSAID to one without dye -- but still risk the allergy.
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Or I could stop taking NSAIDS. That was what I did... I was young and healthy and I got a lot of chamomile tea. My friend sent a crystal.
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Remember how I said my cramps are bad? So... they're *really* bad. Kicking and screaming and googling "can cramps kill me" bad.
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The increased exercise, stretches, and chamomile tea wasn't cutting it. The crystal was beautiful, but didn't help my cramps.
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Three weeks later, I got a shuttle ride back to the clinic because I thought I might die from pain. I made out the elevator and passed out.
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The next thing I know, I was on a hospital bed and surrounded by nurses and doctors. I had passed out from the pain.
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Turns out that cramps might not kill you but they will make you pass the fuck out. But I digress.
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I was administered some drug while the nurses called my emergency contact to pick me up. I was drowsy and was asked to return the next day.
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Once that drug started wearing off, I took an NSAID right away. But then had to deal with the allergy, which was a different kind of pain.
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In short, I was in hell.
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I went back and my doctor explained that she could prescribe me the pill, which would likely eliminate nearly all my pain from cramps.
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I never wanted to be on the pill. For starters, the history of policing of women of color's bodies and reproduction made me resistant to it.
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My doctor (who was also a woman of color) seemed to understand this. We talked for a while and I went for it. I got on the pill.
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One month later, I had the first period I could ever remember without significant pain. It was unbelievable.
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The pill, which I wasn't taking for heterosexual sex that I wasn't having at that time, felt like a miracle to me.
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Yes, there were some side affects. And these can be very serious for some people. But I had a low dosage, and it was amazing for me.
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I couldn't take NSAIDS because of my new allergy. I couldn't not take anything because of the pain. But I could take the pill. Amazing.
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The pill was available through my school clinic/pharmacy for about $16 a year. And that first year, $16 was a big part of my budget.
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I had to ask if I could break up the payment into four $4 installments. The person that I asked personally gave me $20 to cover it.
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That person INSISTED I buy myself a drink with the extra $4, which I did. And for that, I'm eternally grateful.
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I wasn't a bad person. I wasn't an immoral person. I was just broke and trying to finish school. And trying not to die from pain.
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And then I graduated. And lost my health insurance.
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Through the miracle of federally- and state-funded clinics, I was able to continue to get my prescription for the pill.
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I say "miracle" even though birth control shouldn't feel like a miracle. Birth control is healthcare. That's all.
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I accidentally took an Advil few years after all this started. Turns out I'm allergic to a specific synthetic dye. It wasn't the NSAIDS.
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*womp womp*
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So I transitioned off the pill, now use NSAIDS again for my horrible cramps. But I'm grateful for having access to the pill for those years.
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Do I want a special birth control exemption for women who can't take NSAIDS? No. We're not special.
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Birth control should be available to any person that wants it, whenever they want it. For heterosexual sex. Or not. Even if they're poor.
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The idea that if you can't afford birth control you shouldn't be having sex is so fucking absurd to me.
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