Alarms symptoms and conditions

I am so glad to know it is not just me! I've been on the pill since I was 16. Loestrin for almost two years now. I went on it originally to lessen the length of time I had my period. Each time I had spotting, I've been told it's normal and that it's just my body getting used to it. I found that if I took the pill an hour later then I took it the previous day that I'd start spotting. I felt like I was spotting ALL of the time! or like I was getting my period twice a month at least. I was told that it’s just my body and hormones adjusting.

Over this past summer I actually set timers on my phone and blackberry to take it at 11am every day out of fear of taking it 15 minutes late and starting spotting again. In October I skipped the brown pill week due to a vacation. I thought it was ok to do this. I started to feel depressed, tired all the time, like I was getting sick, I was anxious about my relationships, edgy and completely over emotional- I attributed that to stress at work and maybe just PMS, or again my hormones just adjusting. In November out of fear of getting my period when I shouldn't have it due to the time change, I actually switched the times of my alarms and started taking the pill at 10am. In December after finishing that pack, I actually switched it to noon with the start of my next pack. Then mid-month I started having a lot of spotting.. for over a week before I actually got my period. Again, I figured this was due to my switching times. Since then I haven't changed the times I take it, and I'm not due until Jan 26th and yet I started spotting again this weekend- and still am.

After reading these blogs I'm starting to wonder if EVERYTHING I've been experiencing is due to these pills. I had read an article last week that stated the low dose birth control pills cause a decrease in Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, B12, Magnesium. A Vitamin B6 depletion can inhibit the production of serotonin, which increases a woman's risk of becoming depressed. A magnesium deficiency is associated with insomnia, anxiety and depression. Since reading that article I've been taking a multi vitamin- Woman’s One a day brand, and have felt 200% better emotionally. The article also links taking pills and having an increased risk in cervical cancer and/ or dysplasia cells- Which I’ve had the cells, and had them removed about 6 years ago. I’m also wondering if my levels of Progesterone are low, and that’s why I’ve been spotting so much. These pills contain progestins, which block the action of natural progesterone. Low levels of progesterone are what make you start your period every month.

My appointment with my Dr. isn't until next month, but I will be sure to bring up that article and this blog and get my pills changed. I seriously can’t take this anymore.

Hello everyone
I am so glad that I ran across this page. I was on the NuvaRing, a little over a year ago & I only stayed on the ring for 2 months due to side effects, burning in the vagina, discharge..things like that. I gave it up along with all bc. It was the end to a long game of switch the bc, everything is making me crazy, lol. Well last month I went to my ObGyn and after almost a year of only 2 weeks between my period and heavy spotting..and no BC to blame it on, I was told that I have 3 fibroids and a small ovarian cyst. I was also told that we should try bc..to maybe help the spotting and other issues. I am really bad with the pills..I set alarms, keep them in the purse..still don't take them, Not to mention I get soooo sick with them. Did the patches and felt like I was crazy after a year and half..I mean leg pains, depression..damn near every side effect..you can think of. Dont want implant or depo so went back to the ring. Ne way the Dr. said that the issues I had the 1st time with the ring..could have been from a yeast infection or vaginal infection and that I should try it again.

It has been 2 weeks and and the vaginal issues are not bad..sometimes I feel a little something thats not normal..but I can deal with that. The emotional issues are my problem. I have been with my BF for 2 years..we have not had a rocky relationship, problems with cheating or anything else. Nothing more than the usual couple spat.. everything is good, well was good. I feel like an emotional time bomb..yesterday I started a huge debate over him not giving the average girl credit for being beautiful (which he tells me I'm pretty and sexy and all that good stuff!) and praising these women on tv and in magazines (which he didn't do, I asked him if he thought a girl was cute..he didnt want to answer, for fear it would backfire on him, but I told him it was ok..and then tore into him 4 no reason). I feel like I am not sexy enough..pretty enough, this was not an issue before. I feel depressed, I just made a huge to-do list for goals in life..was so hype about it..now nothing..its whatever. Everything is whatever. I have no mojo about ANYTHING. I don't even want to read..and that abnormal. I feel paranoid about things that were never issues..like is he cheating on me..& nothing has changed in his behavior to make me think this way! I am worried that by not taking the bc, I will suffer from my issues from before. I haven't been on the ring long enough to know if its gonna help my issues, like the crazy 2 week bleeding spell and having cramps, but in seeing how its effecting my mood..I don't know if I can wait to see! I feel bad..really really bad. I wish that BC did not have to be so crazy on your body! Its like damned if I do damned if I don't!

Thanks ladies for being so open and honest..good to know I am not the only one..or just making myself think something is wrong when its not..because there is.

samantha*OH

I was placed on Birth control pills around 16 because i have elevated hormones, and Birth control helped bring them back to normal, and regular my wacky cycles. Lately i just can never remember to take my pill, i have alarms on my cell phone and i still forget. I started Nuvaring last month and i have 1 more week on it and I've been having pains like needles in my ovaries and random cramps everyday. Also I've noticed my left kidney has been aching. My sex drive has because non existent. I can't believe have had these complications just on the first dose. I've noticed a lot of you are just now having the problems with the nuvaring, i wonder if they changed the formula?

100mg 2x daily for complex partial siezures.. Initially thought this was great after dealing with dilantin and feeling like a tired zombie. The only side effect I had was a chronic runny nose. I then started having low back pain, then nearly unbearable muscle spasms down the back of my legs. It was so bad I was setting alarms so I could take ibuprophen round the clock. I began having stomach issues from the ibuprophen, so I scaled back to only taking it in the am. Muscle spasms are now tolerable, but I've developed a new issue - I'm often dizzy and have random blurred vision. I waited 6 months to get my license back (after one minor siezure). Now I don't drive because of the side effects. I don't know whether cutting back the dose of lamictal would help, but I intend to ask.