r/IrishWomensHealth

Hi everyone. Basically what it says in the title. I am wanting to start a proper skincare routine for oily pimple prone skin. Right now I use a cerave wash and the AM moisturiser in the morning. I know I need to do more but I don’t know what and tbh google is confusing the daylights out of me. My pimples tend to always be on my chin which I guess is because that’s where I’m the most oily. Please can someone help me and explain to me like I’m a child coz I am so confused at this point.

Also if you have any products you’d recommend as part of the skincare routine I’d be happy to hear those too.

Thank you

Hey - looking for best recommendations for online antibiotics for UTI? I thought Lloyds do it online but they only do in UK not Ireland.

Hi, had surgery 7 days ago and due to have my first post op visit on the 13th. I am nervous as to what I will see and if the removal of all the dressings and tapes will hurt. I am also paranoid that there will be a smell due to having dressings on so long. Has anyone had any recent experience?

Hi everyone.

I’ve (28f) had a really rough few weeks and I’m really at my wits end on what I should do next. This might be a bit long so I apologise! (CW for bowel stuff if that grosses you out)

6ish months ago I started getting heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness/lightheadedness that I just pawned off on anxiety and maybe too much caffeine even though I’m not a huge caffeine user. It was a bit manky to deal with but it wasn’t impacting me too badly so my GP ordered a blood test and gave me the all clear. I’ve always had a lower heart rate so I also thought it was just a bit of that too.

I’ve really cleaned up my act in the past year. Lost 5 stone, stopped smoking, started exercising and eat 90% healthy. About 2 months ago I got a bad bout of constipation that lasted about a week but dosed up on fybogel and water and it resolved a little bit, bowel movements were a bit sporadic but tolerable.

Cut to now, I’ve been severely constipated for the past almost 4 weeks with minimal bowel movements. Again, started the fybogel and water, then moved onto the more stronger stuff. I’ve taken Dulcolax tablets, prune juice, sugar free sweets, dulcolax suppositories, glycerin suppositories, dulcoease hydrate and movicol to no avail. I really tried to push through it so I tried to book an appointment with my doctor but had to wait 2 weeks.

Last week I had a lot of dizziness spells and shakiness which I (stupidly) pawned off on the hot weather. It got so bad that I just had to sit down most of the day as I really felt I was going to faint. Last Saturday the pain and bloating was absolutely horrendous and it continued into Sunday so I went to my out of hours GP because I was fully sure it was my appendix. He tested my urine and said I had a kidney infection and to see my GP about investigating into my constipation. Managed to get an urgent GP appointment for the next day and he told me I actually didn’t have a kidney infection but I could keep taking the antibiotics if I wanted to. He also said the shakiness/dizziness was probably just anxiety.

By this point I was having a minuscule bowel movement every 2/3 days and the bloating and pain wasn't budging. My heart rate has been dipping into the 20s and staying between 35-45 when sitting down and maybe 50 if I’m moving around. I do exercise but I’m absolutely not an athlete.

Yesterday I was feeling really sick, short of breath and just super lightheaded to the point I could barely get off the couch all day. I was putting moisturiser on in the morning and noticed one side of my thyroid is fairly swollen. My husband made me go to the out of hours GP. He checked my heart and agreed it was very slow and told me that I have a mitral valve murmur (never knew about it so unsure of when it developed). Because of this and the abdominal pain he referred me to A&E to get both checked out.

Got to A&E and was still having shortness of breath, dizziness and the pain was so bad I couldn’t sit down on the chair properly. The nurse said that they’d want to check my heart properly first before addressing the abdominal issues. At 3am the doctor called me in and said I had IBS and prescribed me more laxatives. He said that I was too young to have heart issues and that it was just anxiety again. I asked about an ECG or anything at all but he wasn’t having it. I left in pain and just completely fed up.

I feel absolutely rotten today. Still no movement even with laxatives and movicol. Can’t get an appointment with my GP for another week. I‘ve got up off the couch a grand total of twice today and just feel so out of it and dizzy. What else can I do or do I just go back to A&E? I’m so sick of begging for the bare minimum and I feel so bad for taking up space but I can’t go on like this for another week. I’m so mentally drained. I’m worried as well because my sister has a pacemaker in as she collapsed a few years ago due to her heart rate being so low but she had to go private because of the exact same issues. It might only be something small but I really can’t take it anymore. I also can’t afford to go private and have no health insurance.

So sorry for the length of this but man I’m at my wits end right now!

Looking at getting a breast reduction abroad, but before I start the process has anybody been successful with the surgery as a medical card holder? Waiting list time etc

So my first ever transfer failed. We used the HSE free IVF programme and despite retrieving 10 eggs, we only got one embryo in day 5. It was my only chance. And it failed. I am so sad, ladies. I feel like a failure and I question if I will be ever able to carry my own child (38 years old, history of endometriosis).

Now we need to think about doing it a second time. The process was brutal, and I have to do it again. Shocking. This will be private and we are not rich, it’s something that will be very difficult financially speaking. We went with MFC, should I continue with them? Any clinics recommendations? (Dublin area).

I am facing a summer of baby showers (all my friends are pregnant or have kids) and family visits (my in laws have 2 kids)…and I kind of reject all of it. I don’t want to see anybody. I just want to be far away. I think I am very tired after three years trying to have a baby. This has taken over my life and I am just exhausted, but I don’t want to give up.

We can’t afford a third round, so all my hopes are in the second one and I am terrified if it doesn’t work either.

My IVF warriors, just want to say that we are so brave and I hope, if someone is going through it at the moment, it works, wishing you all the luck in the world!!!

I'd love for us to be able to customise our flair, or have flair for Counties and our various Conditions.

For me, that'd be: Donegal, Endo

I think it would help us feel more connected to each other.

Grma 😊

I’ve been suffering with physical health issues for as long as I remember, consultants have pondered multiple diagnoses but always meet a dead end. My quality of life is shocking. Initially was diagnosed with IBD/ulcerative colitis but this diagnosis seems to have been revoked. I’m 100% convinced I have some sort of autoimmune condition going on but just don’t know exactly what it is. I requested my medical records from the hospital to find out I’ve never had things like ANA or RF tested when getting bloods done…

I’m considering getting one of those extensive blood panels done with Randox Health. I believe they do a blood panel that tests for 200 different bio markers or something but it costs about €580…. A hell of a lot of money but I’m really desperate for answers or some sort of clarity. Unfortunately I have found my GP to be quite dismissive, constantly using my previous mental health issues (depression, anxiety, adhd, ocd, autism) as an excuse for my physical symptoms. Of course these diagnoses can have a knock on effect to my overall health, but I know my body, and something ain’t right folks. Chronic diarrhoea, chronic fatigue, often bloody stools, frequent infections (kidney, throat, chest, cellulitis etc), body & joint pain, polycystic kidneys, fluctuating weight, mouth ulcers. The list goes on but that’s just a few to highlight that it’s definitely not ‘just’ my MH.

Is there anywhere else that offers extensive health screening, specifically for inflammation and autoimmune conditions? Preferably that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg as I can only
Manage part time work due to my health issues…I really just need answers and to get some sort of plan in place to try have a better quality of life. I’m too young to be sleeping my life away.

Oh btw, I’m 27 years old. Idk if this is necessary but just in case someone has similar symptoms/family history to me and might be able to point me in right direction. In addition to my previously mentioned health issues, my mam has coeliac disease & diverticulitis. Then I have distant family members (aunts, uncles & cousins) with different diagnosis such as diabetes, ME/CFS, lupus. Just mentioning in case distant family medical history may potentially have an effect.

Rant over, sorry

I am trying to get them but since I have a prescription from a doctor who is officially registered and practices in Birmingham, England, some pharmacies are refusing ... Can someone help me ?

Hi all. So basically my whole life I have struggled with fatigue. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism as a young teen and have been on eltroxin since (I am 29 now). I have had a blood transfusion (2022) and 2 iron infusions (2022, 2025) - none made me fee any different or better.
I am currently linked in with the Coombe to trying figure out if how much blood I lose on my period could be contributing to the issue.
I take iron all the time and any time I do have blood tests I am told all my levels are good. B12 included. So why do I still feel like shit lol.
I have been depressed quite a bit in my life and was on Wellbutrin for depression for a few months last year and this seems to be the only thing that made somewhat of a difference. I felt like I could do lot more and didn’t feel like I had to go lie down as much. It did nothing for my mood and made me a lot more irritable so ultimately I ended up coming off it.

The mental health services did previously advise me to look into an autism assessment after doing an informal assessment because they cannot actually assess me for it, but it costs a lot and am not sure how an autism diagnosis would change anything at this point in my life.

I have been dealing with this fatigue my whole life, I don’t know what to do anymore, I don’t even know what it could be.

I am about to make a GP appointment to get my thyroid and blood levels checked again but it just feels like this never solves anything. I am feeling a bit let down as I have dealt with this basically my whole life. I have missed out on so much due to not having the energy to do it. My partner is always a bit disappointed when I say I’m going to bed at 8pm. I feel like I’m letting him down too. I struggle to get to work a lot too and a majority of my annual leave goes towards days off when I am feeling very tired.

I’ve not been told I have chronic fatigue, it’s just all I can describe it as.
I am no longer on any antidepressants and feel better for it. Currently all I take is iron and eltroxin.
Basically I’m just asking if anyone has experienced anything similar and if anything worked for you?
Thanks in advance x

Hey ladies just looking for some advice. I had a hysterectomy 13weeks ago and I do have a gynea appointment coming up soon but I’ve had such an awful time. The surgeon stitched my ovary to the incision site accidentally. I had it done vaginally and also my small intestine was wrapped around my ovary. This was rectified nine weeks ago but since then I’m in agony daily with ovary pain. When I see the gynea I’m requesting he remove the ovary but just checking has anyone had problems obviously not the accidental stitch but ovary problems after having a hysterectomy.

Hey!

My Mum (60) has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. A huge shock to us all as we were told the tumour wasn’t sinister but that’s a different story.

She’s due to have surgery in hospital next week and I’d like to do something to make her time in the hospital more comfortable. I unfortunately won’t be able to be there with her because I am 21 weeks pregnant & can’t be around her when she has the dye inserted.

What kind of things did you appreciate? I asked her and she said she wanted absolutely nothing just a phone call every so often. I have my grandads Padre Pio coin that she passed to me when I was going into labour with my first but maybe that’s a bit much. I’m definitely over thinking this but want to be practical in my approach to support her.

Hi,

We got referred to the Cork HSE fertility hub yesterday and I am wondering of a general timeline who has been through this lately in the Cork hub, how long from referral to first appointment etc? And general recent experiences. Thank you 😊

I'm 19f, and I don't have any medical issues that make it absolutely necessary for me to get my uterus taken out but i know for a fact I'm never going to be pregnant, I already don't want children but even if I were to change my mind I would only ever be willing to adopt and I'm worried that's not enough to get a surgeon to perform the surgery?

Is there any way I can get it done now or should I just wait?

For reference i am 20 years old - in uni so it’s not the best financial decision, but i also have Tuberous breasts disorder,meaning bras don’t fit they hurt not matter how much weight i gain there size or shape never change i will be stuck permentantly as an a cup at have narrow tissue that constructs the growth shape so they grow incorrectly in puberty . I
can’t have a cleavage i can’t wear open tops,it also means i wont be able to breast feed in the future. i have no idea on what to do or if getting a loan would be stupid but i have wanted them done since i was 16 and i wont regret it people that do are people that already have a nice C or B and get massive ones and realise they had nice ones before mine are like triangles and wide set anything is better then the alternative . so if anyone is familiar with this procedures where to go , financial or tips in general it would help.

Good morning, so I just had a consultation with my doctor after 2 failed frozen embryo transfer.

Suggested that we can a modified natural protocol but stated it might not make a difference since I had 2 successful implants in the past (1 MC and 1 live birth), that it’s more of an embryo quality rather than my lining.

Gave me go signal to do double transfer.

Can anyone give me there experience into switching to modified natural protocol please? I have 4 more embryos left.

Lastly, I haven’t had any ultrasound since last year, should I request for one? It wasn’t suggested during our consultation and I completely forgot to ask about it.

For context, we’re on IVF for MFI and no problem were seen on my side when we did testing 4 years ago.

Thank you in advance!

Not sure what flair to put this under.

I've just been recommended an Instagram account of someone I know who I see is offering pregnancy counselling on Instagram. They are not qualified, have expressed problematic/uninformed views in the past on Instagram around health and vaccination. I imagine this person could cause serious harm to a pregnant woman and their child.

Any idea where I could report this? They are not a medical professional so I don't think CORU would take the complaint?

I m starting my 2nd IVF cycle in a different clinic in Ireland that offers Access Fertility. I am having mixed feelings if we should get it or not.Because of my age, I will only qualify for the Multi cycle programme that costs about 10k for 2 IVF/ICSI cycles with unlimited frozen transfers. No refunds if no baby. It does sound good and I would be likely to be needing more than 1 round.

Anyone that went with them?Or chose not to and why. Please and thanks.

Hi everyone. I'm 34, had a baby last September and when he was about 12 weeks old I had my first gallbladder attack. It was horrifically bad, easily on par with childbirth. I've since had another 7 or 8 attacks. I've been to my GP and had a confirmation ultrasound so it's confirmed they're there and the cause of my pain. She's referred me to a private hospital for surgery but it's been months and I'm still waiting to hear back (I confirmed with the GP surgery that she definitely sent it and she even had an acknowledgement from the hospital that they've received it). She also told me if I have another attack to go to a&e. That was probably 5 attacks ago. I haven't bothered because if I take painkillers within about 40 minutes it'll have calmed enough that I can get back to sleep and it's always been gone in the morning. Practically speaking, going to a&e wouldn't be easy. I'm in too much pain to drive and the baby is asleep so my husband can't just get up and drive me. We don't really know our neighbours and family live too far away. I've always put it off because I can take painkillers at home and not cause any further hassle. He wanted me to call an ambulance last night. So my questions are, 1) is it reasonable to call 999 for an ambulance for this? It feels awful dramatic for a pain that I know I can get past within the hour and 2) what can a&e actually do for me? Beyond a painkiller I can take at home, would I just be submitting myself to a night without sleep (very precious with a 9 month old at home!)? Anyone's previous experience would be very helpful!