Countless numbers symptoms and conditions

I'm glad I have found this site because as for most of you it has opened my eyes and answered a lot of mysteries about what is going on with my body.
As a 35 year old I gave birth to my first child in November 2007, gained all in all about 30 pounds in my pregnancy and like every one of you I was terrified if I was ever going to loose the weight. I am naturally athletic and slim so I was determined to lose it for all it took.
Within the first post-delivery month I have lost about 20 pounds, most of which was retained water and I felt great. In January 2008 me and my husband have decided on an IUD after debating few other options, this one had seemed the most logical and practical.
Because I have a heart defect and take meds for HB, I was never able to be on “the pill”, but my doctor has reassured me that Mirena is only localized hormonal contraceptive and that I will be fine. After 3 months and Mirena as my “companion” slowly but surely my weight was creeping up. It felt like never ending battle, me exercising, being on what I thought was a good balanced diet (with the occasional snack ) let’s face it, it’s hard work raising children and we need a chocolate reward here and there. My blood pressure as well took the upward clime not to mention a lack of sex drive and exhaustion.
After reading many posts on this and other websites about women with similar outcomes, me and my husband have decided to opt for other birth control options. I had my Mirena removed yesterday. My doctor was fine with my decision, she also didn’t think my symptoms were related to Mirena but admitted that she had several women come in with the same problem. She told me she has administered countless numbers of this contraceptive with many satisfied customers. And that is why we have options.
I am now considering the Para Guard IUD with copper, which is the same shape and size as Mirena IUD but without the hormones. I have decided I’d much rather have few heavier and longer periods, but be happy about my body and not feel bloated and tired all the time. It will take some time to loose the weight, but now what I’ll put in exercise and diet will actually show on the scale. On a positive note this morning my scale read 4 ponds less than yesterday, which gave me great boost. I know it’s only water weight but it’s a start .
Good luck to all of you on your search for the right birth control! May all of us be happy, healthy and strong, after all we deserve it! Amen

I'm 23 years old and I took Yasmin for about 4 or 5 years. I honestly loved it at the time, or so I thought. Basically, I got switched to Yaz because it was being pushed by my doctor's office and within 2 weeks I was the most miserable person on the face of the earth. Since I was going through a lot in my life I never even thought that my negative attitude was based on my birth control. I began to suffer from severe migraines, nausea, this strange rash on my face, and I gained a little over 20 pounds. I was on Yaz for 6 months when I finally realized that it was what was causing all my symptoms. The Sunday before my appointment, things got so bad that I was about 30 seconds away from killing myself or checking myself into an institution. I have since switched to Loestrin24Fe, and I can't say I'm in love with it, but I DO feel SO much better! Seems to have a few side effects of it's own, but as long as "killing myself" isn't one of them, sounds good to me! Despite thinking that Yasmin was great back then, I started to think back to when I felt my life had started to spiral out of control, and it's when I started the Yasmin. My migraines and over all aches, pains, and anxiety problems started then too! The 2 best years I had were 2 years I wasn't really actively using birth control. My last two relationships have ended in a fiery ball of flames due to the control Yasmin and Yaz have had over me. THIS PILL NEEDS TO BE OFF THE MARKET. It has ruined my life for the past 3 years especially and I can't believe that despite all of us screaming at the top of our lungs, no one is doing anything. All the drug reps keep saying "there's no "bad" pill everyone reacts differently" but HOW can you say that when so many women are this miserable on it? Do countless numbers of us need to die in order for this to be over?

I am a 18yr. old female. I have been taking avaine for 1 year this month (July 2004). So far Avaiane has treated me greatly besides the pregnancy symptoms- swelling breast, increased appetite, mood swings. I have had a regular period up until June---It never showed up, I must tell you I have waisted countless numbers of dollars because of pregnancy related feelings. I must worn all those who take this pill that feelings of depression causes an imbalance in your harmones, which throws the estrogen level off.