Anyone know what drugs were given for women in combat in the Middle East for menstrual suppression? A client served 8 years as an EOD (explosives ordnance disposal, for the uninitiated--as I was until recently!) and spent weeks out in the sand with her assigned unit. She was a Marine, assigned to Army units, as I understand it.
Anyway, they gave her a medication to stop her periods, that didn't work, and she says they then gave her a shot and that worked "great." She now would like to start a family and we both have some concerns about long term effects of whatever drug or drugs she might have received. She says she wasn't told at the time and doesn't think we can get this from the military. I'm respecting her wishes and not shaking that particular tree. There is some hirsuitism (pubic type hair around her umbilicus), if that clue is helpful.
Anyone here know anything, from the little bit of detail I happen to know?
I cast a highly skeptical eye that the military would prescribe her something to stop her periods simply because she was going to theatre. If they did, it would be at her individual request, not a requirement. If something like this were commonly occurring and/or a requirement, it would be covered by the media. I also had two women in my squad when I was in Iraq, we talked about everything, including menses during that year. One of them would have mentioned this if it'd been offered.
No one said it was against her will--not me, not her. I'm glad you and your two female soldiers were so close, I'm sure it made a difference in your experience. I also think it qualifies you for nothing more than your own experiences, and not a lot about anyone else's. Doubt all you want: have you interviewed my client? Probably not. Hmmmm.
Something else is giong on here. If she would have claimed to be a cook, a supply sepcialist or virtually anything else, it'd be easier to swallow. Her claiming to be an EOD tech already sets off the b.s. detector, as this is a very select community. Its hard to believe, given her time in service and job she did not make copies of her medical records upon separation; as this is repeated over and over prior to exiting service to do so. With her age and job, her older peers would also have also urged her to make copies as obtaining them at a later date, such as fifty years in the future when ailments worsened, would be difficult.
Really? "Something else is going on here?" I asked a simple stinking question. I'm getting the third degree. Do you not have enough to do in your real life? You can make that statement, but all it says is, you are drawing conclusions based on ... what? Your interview? Your PE? No. This girl was not into making copies of her medical records, I doubt she thought about it. She wasn't a nurse, as I assume you were/are. She didn't have a medical background and still doesn't. Nice to think we can all be as smart and forward thinking as you and I, but we are not. I don't know what her relationships were with "peers." From what I gather, she didn't have a lot of female friends, and few male friends. She was there to do a job, that's how she sees it, and, I presume, how she saw it. So she didn't think to do it, and no one suggested that she do it. That makes for something else going on here?
I'll give her the benefit of the doubt on having no medical records. But the fact that she "has difficulty obtaining her DD 214" raises even more questions regarding her credibility; especially given her length of service, chosen profession and implied deployments. Given her age, she served during the current age of electronic record keeping. Obtaining her DD 214 would not be difficult and would not take 8 months; its not like she's requesting records from the vietnam period.
**You'll** give her the benefit of the doubt? How kind and generous of you! This isn't your client and you are not in any position to be giving her the benefit of anything. I didn't say when she got out: she was 17 when she went in. She didn't know about medical records keeping then, and if possible she is less interested in that now. I'm not talking military records, I'm talking records, period. There are plenty of providers who don't "get" keeping good records, why should someone not in the profession understand it better? As for how long it has taken, I can't tell you how many variables there might be in getting mail delivered, from the DoD or anyone else.
Please keep us posted with updates.I don't really see how it is any of your business. I asked a question, I got a couple of good answers and a lot of hooey. If I thought those of you who provided the hooey were concerned for her well being or trying to support my ability to provide her with better care, I'd be thrilled. I'd be turning cartwheels and putting kudos all over the place. But this is so far off topic that I am truly sorry I bothered to pose the question. My mistake! This site used to be well focused and supportive and professional. I read several threads today (I'm sure someone is going to point out that with all the members and all the threads, I couldn't possibly have read a representative sample!). I am amazed and sickened by the tone of supposed nurses, furious at patients, advocating chemical and physical restraint (for example) and supported by other nurses! Whining because their patients don't treat them nicely enough! Really! I must be one odd nurse: I'm in it to treat patients nicely, not the other way around. And I treat other nurses professionally and directly, and I expect the same from them.
I'm not interested in hearing about how I am posting in a public forum and therefore should be expected to tolerate all comers. I don't. If you are going to be rude, intrusive, suggestive, accusatory or whatever, then you should expect a reaction from me, not the other way around! I think there are rules of decorum and professionalism that have been smooshed into the dirt, in this thread alone. How sad! Was there a "do you think she" or "could it be that"? No. Plenty of accusations and suggestions, beginning with the first (or so) response. All vets are "fishing." Okay, fine. I won't be asking for help again, not here. Thanks, but no thanks.
The situation you are posting about is so unlikely, that is the reason you are getting these kinds of responses. You aren't finding any "scholarly" articles about it, because they don't exist.
Rant about the forum all you want; with over three thousand posts, I'm sure others have felt similiar towards you.
Have a pleasant day and please keep us updated as to her situation.
(Yes this is a joke, :) ) 
chris_at_lucas_RN, RN
1,895 Posts
Please keep us posted with updates.I don't really see how it is any of your business. I asked a question, I got a couple of good answers and a lot of hooey. If I thought those of you who provided the hooey were concerned for her well being or trying to support my ability to provide her with better care, I'd be thrilled. I'd be turning cartwheels and putting kudos all over the place. But this is so far off topic that I am truly sorry I bothered to pose the question. My mistake! This site used to be well focused and supportive and professional. I read several threads today (I'm sure someone is going to point out that with all the members and all the threads, I couldn't possibly have read a representative sample!). I am amazed and sickened by the tone of supposed nurses, furious at patients, advocating chemical and physical restraint (for example) and supported by other nurses! Whining because their patients don't treat them nicely enough! Really! I must be one odd nurse: I'm in it to treat patients nicely, not the other way around. And I treat other nurses professionally and directly, and I expect the same from them.
I'm not interested in hearing about how I am posting in a public forum and therefore should be expected to tolerate all comers. I don't. If you are going to be rude, intrusive, suggestive, accusatory or whatever, then you should expect a reaction from me, not the other way around! I think there are rules of decorum and professionalism that have been smooshed into the dirt, in this thread alone. How sad! Was there a "do you think she" or "could it be that"? No. Plenty of accusations and suggestions, beginning with the first (or so) response. All vets are "fishing." Okay, fine. I won't be asking for help again, not here. Thanks, but no thanks.
And if this gets me edited again, so be it.