Clockwork symptoms and conditions

I have noticed that I will get 1-3 zits around my mouth (hormone induced)right at period time on this medication - without fail; this isn't helped by the fact that I have my period 2x per month like clockwork on this pill. My period starts on the Monday of Week 2 and the Monday of Week 4. Never fails. Those have been my only 2 symptoms, but its not working for me. Loved Depo but have taken off weight and fear putting it back on.
Called my gyno today to switch pills.

If brevity is what you're looking for, you're not going to find it here in my response. After readying through all these posts, I'm relieved to finally know I'm not alone and I'm not crazy for the side effects I've had. I'm just one of MANY!! So, here's my story and my experience.....

I've been on Loestrin 24 for about a year and a half now. At first, I thought my doctor had given me the miracle birth control pill. Literally, I've tried everything on the market since I was 17 before I was even sexually active. I had periods lasting heavily for 7-9 days. You name it, I've taken it. I'm now 33. Immediatly after starting Loestrin 24, I was recommending it to everyone I knew. I started having periods that literally lasted half of a day and with minimal bleeding. Soon, like clockwork, I was only having periods every other month. Every other month has now turned into a period every 3 or 4 months. Sounds great right? Wrong! Just keep reading. And no, I don't worry about being pregnant and not knowing (you were thinking it weren't you?) because when you have zero sex drive, you can't get pregnant. I'll get to that soon enough.

My doctor put me on Loestrin24 because I was having severe migraines during the "inactive" pills on normal 21 active pill OC's. At first when I started L24, the migraines reduced to just painful headaches, so I thought it was working. And, my boobs did get bigger, which was a plus-no complaints there! Now, my big boobs get painful and soar once a month and my headaches have gone back to 3-4 day full blown migraines. After reading about the cerebral thrombosis, I'm seriously considering having a cat-scan or an MRI, if my doctor will refer me. The last migraine lasted 4 days. I was so nausious I couldn't even stand up. My eyes felt like they were going to explode and the back of my head at my neck felt like a knife was stuck in me. These have been the worse migraines I've had, being on Loestrin 24. The migraines are so bad and last so long that they've scared my husband to death.

I'M DONE WITH L24!!! The worse side-effect (for my husband anyways) has been no libido, not even an ounce. When I voiced my concerns to my doctor (I'm a newlywed), she said, "that's the most common complaint I get." Well,duh, why didn't she tell me this in the beginning when she knew I was getting married?????? For fear of losing my husband, I agreed to try the regular Loestrin and all hell broke loose. My face broke out like a pre-pubescent 13 year old boy, my face was so oily I was embarrassed to not wear makeup, and I was so depressed about the way I looked and felt that my self esteem was gone. Needless to say, feeling as ugly as I did, sex was the last thing on my mind. I didn't want my husband to see my bare face, let alone my naked body. So, with no hope in sight, I opted to go back to Loestrin 24.

Can I just say, "Big mistake, BIG" so said Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Looking back and after reading everyone else's postings, I too now know why I've gained weight. I thought it was because I'm in my 30's now and don't have the energy and metabolism I had in my 20's. But looking around to my same- aged friends, they aren't having any weight problems. Nor are they on Loestrin 24. At 5'8", I've always weighed around 125-130 pounds since I started college in the early 90's, but after being on this pill over the last year & 1/2, I've gained weight. The weight gain reached a whopping 153 at my max. I've been dieting so I'm now down to 142 but I can't seem to go lower. I'm still at least 12 pounds more than I normally weigh and I'm a very small-framed person.

The worse side-effect that I've had to deal with is the acne. Typically most OC's help your skin. Well, my skin is horrible now. I'm 33 and there are days/weeks when I feel like avoiding going outside because my skin is so broken out. Not just pimples, but cystic acne and it's an embarrassment!! Needless to say I've had to do a few rounds of antibiotics and had to spend extra money on topical Rx's for my face. Now I'm getting ready to have some laser treatments for the acne & facial melasmas caused by Loestrin 24. The melasmas have just shown up over night here and there, regardless of how much sunscreen I apply to my face. In addition to the breakouts on my face, I've also had problems with acne on my back, which I NEVER had until I started Loestrin 24.
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Other side effects include horrible, strangely bizzare nightmares. I didn't realize they were abnormal until telling my husband about them. Being a newlywed not wanting sex and having disturbing dreams and nightmares, he thinks I'm weird at this point!! I don't know that L24 has caused these, but I've read some other posts about nightmares, so I'm thinking there's a common thread here!

Another common side effect I have that others have mentioned is crying so easily. Seriously, I could get a Oscar for the performances! If there are any aspiring actresses, this is your pill! I've always been a sensitive person, but one shouldn't cry in a public shopping mall at the sight of a kid in a wheelchair.

When I'm not having the nightmares and weird dreams, I don't sleep well. This is probably due to the nightmares and racing heart that awake me from the dead sleep. They say when you're dreaming, you are getting the much needed REM sleep. Believe me, I'd rather not be getting any REM sleep than having nightmares like I've had.

And now for the sex chat. They say women hit their sexual peak in their late 20's and early 30's and I did. I couldn't get enough of it. It's probably why my husband married me. Now, the poor guy is deprived nearly completely of sex. Of course, this is not a bad side effect for me, because by not having the urge, means not worrying about getting pregnant like some of the other people who posted have had the unplanned incident.

And once again I'll mention the headaches and migraines. They've been so intense, that if someone hit me over the head with a cast-iron pan, it would feel better. Like I initially said, I thought I had found "the one", the pill that had rid me of my 7-9 day periods. The only good thing about this pill is the fact that I haven't bought a box of tampons in over 4 months.

If any of you reading this are looking to reduce your period if not, miss it all together, then this is your pill. If you are anorexic and looking to gain weight, this is your pill. If you need an excuse to not have sex with your boyfriend or husband, then this is your pill. If you need a reason to miss an exam or cut class because of a migraine, this is your pill. If your goal is to one day win an Oscar for drama, this is your pill. If you want to park in the "mothers to be" up close parking spots, then once a month you can. You'll be so bloated you'll look 3-4 months pregnant. I'm not even exaggerating here. I was once asked if I was pregnant. You know how awful this is...Urgh!!! If you want to feel absolutely miserable, then this is the pill for you. The initial tease of "barely there" periods and clear skin is gone before you know it! Beware! I had a lot going on in the first six months of taking L24. We were planning a wedding, working a lot of hours, so I thought all my symptons were initially stress related. Once the wedding was over and work calmed down six months later, nothing changed. Thanks to everyone who posted before me, I now know what has been wrong with me over the last several months. I wished I'd found this sight long before now!! The periods have hardly existed, but even something about that makes me feel weird. I just finished my last pack!!!!

And the last concern I would like to mention in regards to pills like Loestrin 24 and others that have so many active pills you rarely have periods or have them every few months, is the overall health concern. To all of us currently or previsouly taking Loestrin 24, we need to ask ourselves...what are we going to find out next about this pill? Once it's been out for 4-5 years on the market we'll start hearing more of the complaints, strokes, debilitating side effects and so on. I mention this because one other pill I took a couple of years ago when it first hit the market was "Seasonale" and it was great for the headaches and reducing my period. Now, look at all the issues with Seasonale and similar pills...several women have actually DIED from them. I have to ask myself as well as you all reading this...are we going to be the next victim to the FDA's quick approval of a truly dangerous form and method of birth control? Will my sex-deprived husband have to read my name in the obituaries in the morning paper because his wife died of a stroke?

I'm seriously contemplating getting off OC's all-together. These billion dollar pharmaceutical companies have sales reps with degrees in communications or business going around pushing prescription medications!! Rarely do you see a drug rep who actually has a medical background. These sales reps with 4-year bachelor's degrees are convincing our OB/GYN's who've gone to school and completed residencies for a combined 12 years, that these drugs are safe and okay for us to take. My grandmother had a stroke at age 32 yet, my doctor said I was not high-risk being on Loestrin 24 despite the family history because that's what the drug reps say. WTF??

Here's what doesn't make sense to me in regards to the FDA. The FDA takes 10 years to approve a surgery and disc replacement that has been successfully conducted in Europe for 15-20 years. Meanwhile doctors here were continuing to do spinal fusions. Look at these poor people who suffer daily. The new surgery finally approved has now helped 10's of 1000's yet people had to suffer for years to get the new procedure? Yet, the same FDA will throw new drugs on the market in a year's time? What is wrong with the FDA? Oh, let me guess, the pharmaceutical companies are tied to politics?? You bet they are It's funny what waiving a few million dollars around will do and how quickly it will get drugs approved. Read on for a good reference and publically documented "donation".

I have to ask the makers of Loestrin 24, is this drug going to be the classic example of an overly needed redlight at a treacherous intersection? Will we have to see multiple strokes and female deaths before pills like Loestrin 24 and others are pulled from the market by the FDA? They are quick to put them on the market at the waive of a few million dollars toward certain politicians, yet, it's like pulling teeth to get them banned. You think I'm joking? I was at the National Democratic Debate two months ago in Charleston, SC. There were 3 major sponsors: CNN (the host), You Tube/Google (Provider of video questions) and Allergan. Which is the odd one? Yep, Allergan, you guessed it. Allergan is a major pharmaceutical company who's biggest product is ironically, Botox. Coincidence? I think not.

I guess I've rambled enough, but one final comment and I'm done. If you are reading through these posts because you are contemplating Loestrin 24, please don't even consider it. Don't do it to yourself. And, if you are a drug rep for Loestrin, shame on you for selling/supporting a dangerous product!!

I took this BC for only a month...after just my first month I decided that this pill was NOT for me!!! I got my period like clockwork in my last week of the packet. This month I haven't gotten my period yet I STILL am experiencing the cramps...has anyone experienced a missed period after having stopped Loestrin?!?!?

Hi, I have been on Yasmin for 2 years now. I have ALWAYS been a very confident and outgoing person. For the past year i have had panic attacks regularly. I am very hot at night, I have trouble sleeping, yet my period pains are at a minimun and I have few symptons of PMT. (Mind you it is still bad enough to take codeine and paracetamol on the first day of bleeding).

Other side effects that I thought would clear up but which haven't are:- dark patches on my forehead and above my lip (doc said they would go, but seem to 'come' and go) and a very sore throat accompanied by swollen glands, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left side of my neck. My fingers are tingly and my joints are swollen. The Chest pains could be related to anxiety. I get a migraine 24-72 hours before I bleed, regular as clockwork now.

The worst is the mood swings and the depression, I just really don't recognise myself, tired and teezy all the time.

I was very happy for the first 3-6 months that I took Yasmin, but after that I have known I haven't been 'right', but my anxiety and depression have made me unable to make a decision or be focused why.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed on the site, it's great to know I'm not the only one.

I've been taking Yasmin about four years...and about a year ago, I kept remarking that I think Yasmin changed its formula because I experienced terrible water retention (at least 6 pounds every month) and psychotic mood swings two weeks before my period. Originally, I started taking Yasmin to restart my periods which I lost for 3 years, supposedly due to weight loss (I lost 40 pounds in four months). But after I gained 20 back, still no period. This is when I started taking Yasmin and within 30 days it gave me a period like clockwork. I was fine for a few years, though very reclusive, which I thought was my depression - I do have a history of it. Funny, while taking Yasmin, I attributed my moodiness to PMS not depression. Since February of 2007, I have gained 10 pounds and my breasts have increased a cup size. As a result, my gyno and my shrink decided I should take Yasmin straight through so I didn't get PMS, or a period for that matter. The only reason I'm not depressed anymore is because I take Wellbutrin and Clomipramine. So now I don't get the pychological symptoms anymore -- just the bloating, constipation, huge boobs (they were big before) and general annoyance. To think it could have been the Yasmin all along! When every doctor told me I was insane...getting older...body changing...bipolar! One I finish the last pill, I'm taking matters into my own hands and kicking Yasmin to the curb. I would seek a Dr.'s help, but I'm sick of them shrugging me off. I'll report back. *Fingers crossed.*

Hello everyone, I have been on Yasmin for a little over 3 years and have taken it consistently, exactly as prescribed. I had my normal period and about 3-4 days after I started my new pack of pills I've began to feel very nervous most of the time, feel like I've had an elevated heart rate, and a slight increase in appetite. Are these all side effects of Yasmin? I was a bit worried that maybe I was pregnant because this is me and my boyfriend's only form of protection but I've been on the pill like clockwork, we've been together using this method for over 2 years, and we had not been active since about a week before I had my normal period or even up until the time that these symptoms began. Someone please help ease my mind!!!

I am getting incredibly painful headaches, like clockwork every Tuesday during the week of my period. They last a day or two and then go away. They are so painful that I cannot move my head without cringing in pain. The headache is right behind my eyes and at the bridge of my nose. Has anyone else had this?

YASMIN did not work for me. I had every side effect it seems. Itchy groin, migraines, sinus pain, mood swings, major anger, sadness, bloating, weight gain, stomach pain, and I only took it a week. I am now 6 days late for my period and this is very unlike me who is 29 days like clockwork.

I'm on day 19 of this pill and it's been a crazy ride so far. Some info on why I'm on it and what it's been doing to me thus far:

I've been like clockwork with my menses from after I finished puberty till now... about 10 years total.
I'm 33 and not sexually active.
I missed my menses after a very prolonged stressful month and then proceeded to bleed for 17 days a month later.

I had an ultrasound and the results showed a 4 cm cyst on one of my ovaries, it being unique in that it's a cyst inside of a cyst.

After these results my GYN (as assigned to me by my HMO primary care doctor) suggested I go on the pill for 3 months to stop any more ovulation then do a second ultrasound to see what the current cysts state will be.

I am predisposed to migraines since I was 7 years old, so this was my only concern in taking this type of medication.

So far I've had 2 major migraines which I've toughed out at work.

The second of the two, yesterday, Day 18, was accompanied with feelings of high intolerance, anxiety, anger, panic (that this crap was happening), and this weird feeling of knowing who I am normally, but not being able to grasp any of my normal behaviors.

To my S.O.'s credit, he says this is what I'm like when I'm PMSing.

I really hope that this doesn't mess with my overall chemistry, as it's taken me a long time to get to know me and to start all over is not something I want to have to go through again.

I have been taking Yasmin for about 6-7 months due to abnormally long periods after the birth of my second baby at age 37. I also have a tumor in my uterus that might be causing painful intercourse, so the Dr. said to take it for three months straight and then have a period. In the meantime I have noticed severe sotmach cramps and diarriha (how ever you spell it) since October. Funny thing was that the first round I was suppose to take 2 months of Yasmin and at the end of the second month have a period, then do 3 months and have a period, but I noticed that on the 2nd month after I had my period (which I acutally stopped taking Yasmin since the white pill is only a placebo) and then started back on the next round of the 3 month cycle I started having real bad stomach cramps, etc. I am about to have my 2nd period of the 3 month cycle and I won't take the placebo and see if my stomach feels better. If it does, then I am stopping Yasmin. Another note, I take Yasmin at night and wake up at 1 am and 4 am like clockwork with stomach pain. I will keep everyone posted after the "placebo" period to see if my stomach gets better. I anyone has any similar symptoms, please let me kow. Tammy.

Hi everyone and Angela...
Diurex (that kindly Gypsi recommended) is a diuretic and helps combat water retention. I found it by the Midol in the feminine products section of the drugstore. I think they offered 2 different kinds... one for menstrual cramps and the other just regular. I got the regular. I still have some moon face but it is decreasing. Woo-hoooo! I only tried it after I was off prednisone so don't know if it interacts. I definitely had insomnia while on prednisone. When I did finally fall asleep, it wasn't for long... maybe 20 minutes or an hour at a time. I would wake up and be sweating like crazy on my chest... and for some reason I always seemed to wake up at 4am like clockwork!

Good luck kicking the Dr. Pepper habit. I was a Diet Coke addict... it was to me what coffee is to other people. Couldn't make it through the day without having one first thing in the morning... and then many more throughout the day. It will get easier. Besides the sugar, don't sodas have a lot of salt, too?

I am battling weight gain, too and I was only on the darn stuff for 3 weeks. I have been eating like a garbage disposal... all kinds of junk I would never even touch before. Today is my day to get back on track and stay there!

I am certainly no expert on any of this... just passing along my experiences. This is a wonderful website. Gypsi has helped me so much.

Best wishes!
sanndiego

So moody...about 1 week before my period, I feel 100% depressed. I cry for no reason, my mood will change from happy to angry/sad at the drop of a hat. I've been on desogen for about a year and my boyfriend has said there has been a noticable difference in my mood. I feel horrible about myself, my relationship, everything...and this feeling of doom is like clockwork - 7-10 days before my period. I'm switching.

I receive Zometa on Wednesday every 4 weeks. Every Monday, like clockwork, I get a fever of around 99.7 and feel like I have the fleu. I also feel achy and don't enjoy eating much.

I have been taking it for two months and my doctor is now taking me off it and putting me back onto ortho tricyclen (which I'd been on before for four years). I get heat flashes like clockwork, debilitating muscle cramps in my legs and feet, loss of sex drive, skin breakouts, diarrhea, headaches, problems sleeping, lower back pain and horrible stomache cramps...Basically, I constantly feel like I do when I have my period (and my doctor put me on the pill years ago solely b/c of horrible period cramps to the point of vomiting and going numb -- now, with Yasmin, the "medicine" is as bad as the initial symptoms).