Buckle in for a long post because I feel I need to put this down somewhere. In November 2015 I decided to stop taking BC pills. I had been taken those pills back to back (skipping the sugar pills) for going on 4/5 years, ever since I was diagnosed with having Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (or PCOS for short). I had always had really cramps during my monthly cycles, cramps that left me curled up and praying for the pain to stop. I was advised by my physician at the time that I could just take my pills back to back and never have a period, and thus not have to deal with that pain. That was an offer too good to pass up, and so I started doing just that. Flash back to November of last year and my decision to stop taking them. Partly this was due to a new job and the new insurance that came with it that would not take affect for a few months, leaving me without pills. The other reason for my decision was because My fiancé and I want to start trying to have our first child. I figured that now was as good a time as any to start trying. After so many years without a period, I had forgotten what it was like for me to have one, but I figured I could handle it. If I had known what the next few months would hold for me, I might have changed my mind. Since coming off the pills, each month has brought on a fresh hell for me. The first month was not too bad. It actually left me hopeful that maybe my body had changed and I could have normal periods like normal people. The next month brought the first wave of pain. It was pretty miserable, but I got through it. Then came the next month with pain that left me crippled for a whole day. All I could do was lie in bed and cry. The month after that I spent two days in excruciating pain. The pain was so bad this one around that I seriously considered going to the ER, because there was no way this could just be "period pain." By April, I had a new, frightening symptom. I spent the whole day before my period started feeling as if I were going to faint. I have never in my life felt so dizzy and weak before. The pain when my cycle did start was terrifying. I went to the bathroom at one point and the pain hit me so intensely that I could not get up from the toilet. It took everything in me to finally get up and make my way, hunched over, to the bathroom door to call for my fiancé to come help me. Again, I seriously considered the ER because something was clearly wrong. He led me to bed where I spent the rest of that day and the next with a heating pad, crying and praying the pain would end. I saw my new GYN at this time, who confirmed I had a fairly large cyst on one of my ovaries. I was told we would have to monitor it and, if it didn't get smaller, would probably have to do surgery. I feel like she brushed off most of my complaints though, lumping everything as "part of the condition." May brought no dizzy spell, but it did bring more pain with it. The pain lasted far longer than normal, persisting even after my "period" had ended. I called up my doctor again and had another evaluation that showed the cyst had ruptured, which she explained was probably why I had been in so much pain. I was told that it should be ok and that if the pain did come back then we would have to consider other tests. June was heavenly. I imagine that what I experienced in June is what all normal women experience: no pain and a light flow (sorry for the TMI). I really thought everything was going to be golden from there! Then this month came. Straight back to hell. The pain came back just as terrible as before. The worst part of this month has been that despite being done with my cycle, I have been in pain for almost a week now with constipation like I have never felt with before. I have had extreme pain on my left side consistently all week. I have already missed a day of work due to it. It is hard to focus on anything with this constant pain in my abdomen. I just don't know what else to do. Over the year I have spoken to several doctors and I feel like no one takes my concerns seriously. I do know that I am tired of this pain though. I just wish I knew what to do to fix it. I just needed to get this all off of my chest. I am scared that something serious might be wrong. I am afraid to go back to the doctor because I am afraid they will tell me my worst fears are true. I am praying answers will come soon.