Estrogen symptoms and conditions

7-18-2008
I HAD THE DEPO LUPRON SHOT IN 2004 FOLLOWING A LAP. AFTER THE FIRST SHOT (A 1 MONTH) FAILED MY DR. GAVE ME A 3 MONTH SHOT, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING I HAD SEVERE JOINT PAIN, INDIGESTION, COUGH, DEPRESSION, DIZZINESS, HOT FLASHES PLUS A LOT MORE. AFTER 2 MONTHS I DEVELOPED A LUMP IN MY BREAST, MY DR GAVE ME ESTROGEN (THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE USED TOGETHER. I WENT ALMOST INSANE!!! NOW 4 YEARS LATER MY TEETH ARE GETTING CAVITIES IM 37 AND HAD MY FIRST ON AT 35.
MY JOINTS ARE VERY PAINFUL I LIVE ON ALEIVE AND IBUPROPHAN.
MY DOCTORS SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY JOINTS (GO FIGURE). TO AN ONE WHO IS THINKING OF THIS SHOT FOR ANY RX DON'T.

Hi all, I have had the Mirena since May of 08. I had twins in Feb of this year and was given the little plastic ring for birth control. That gave me TERRIBLE migraines. i hardly ever even have headaches let alone migraines. It was impossible to take care of twin infants along w/migraine pain. I really shouldn't be on estrogen anyway because of a clotting problem in my family. So my doctor recommended the Mirena. I wanted it anyway because I can't remember to take pills now, (I'm a little busy.) Since I had it put in I have been losing my hair in unbelievable amounts which my doctor attributed to my just having twins. My depression and anxiety meds are NOT working anymore. My fourth and fifth toes on my right foot are completely numb and stiff, almost like I have arthritis or something. I have NO interest in having sex w/my husband. But after taking care of twins, who does?? Just kidding. I am not very happy with this IUD, but have decided the alternative (being pregnant) is not a better option at this time. So, for now I will continue to be a bitchy, balding, arthritic, celbate mother of two. Good luck to everyone else

I discovered I had endometriosis in March 2000 at which time I had surgery to remove what was there, then the gyn followed up with the Depo-Lupron shots for six months. To help with the hot flashes, mood swings etc. My doctor put me on a very low dose of Estrogen which helped. I was having fertility issues before this and when I finished up the shots and the time had ran out and still had no period, my doctor put me on fertility drugs to give my body a jump start, and in April 2001 we found out we were pregnant, during which time my teeth started deteriating and by the time I have my second and last child in March 2003, I had to have major dental work done. I blame the lupron shot for this issue, apparently my calcium level dropped. I told my gyn about it and he said he had never heard of any such thing before as a side affect of the drug. I pretty muched laughed in his face and told him to advise future patients to increase the calcium while on the drug. Then recently I discovered like a lot of you that there are some really serious side affects from Lupron. Since this after having my last child I went on the Depo Prevera shot for 6 months, gained unsightly weight, so I got off of that and got my tubes tied in 2004, then by March of 2006 I knew my endometriosis was back full fledge and in June 2006 I had to have a hysterectomy. My only long term affects from the Lupron and Prevera shots is still trying to lose some of the weight and living in pain during every meal but due to the extreme affect it took on my teeth, I can not afford even with insurance to get all the work needed done!!!! If I had to do it over again, I would have had the surgery and then worked on getting pregnant immediately, because long term..... It isnt worth the "preventative" HaHaHa!!!!

All those interested in joining a Class Action lawsuit against the makers of Yasmin. Info available from
apopa (at) eden (dot) rutgers (dot) edu. Written out like this so it doesn't get blanked out. Please join - we need as many women as possible to get a case together.

I am a 54 year old healthy woman, and thought I was going nuts! I have been on Simvastatin for about 14 months and on a gradual overall decline...big black pms-like cloud over my head and unable to find anything to feel happy about (I have a GREAT life). Couldn't sleep, gained weight, heart racing (went on 24 hr monitor-nothing!), dizzy and feeling like I could pass out ON A REGULAR BASIS! Tingle down my left arm, heartburn constantly, stiffness in my neck, tingly hot feet at night, zero interest in sex, miserable. I had been taking myself off all the over the counter stuff and estrogen trying to figure out what was going on...then I started the online research on statins. My doctor told me there was no way that a statin could be the cause of my dizziness and problems. WRONG!!! I was having the same side effects as all of you and went off the simvastatin two weeks ago. Bottom line is that I already feel so much better, walked 2 miles with ENERGY today and am happy. Hoping that I will get back to my old self again. I will be taking the herbal approach to lower my cholesterol...never again this crap!

Possible ovarian cancer triggered by Yasmin.

You need to know this:

The present study suggests that circulating androgens and SHBG levels are *not* strongly associated with ovarian cancer risk,

although levels of fT may be associated with an increased risk among women diagnosed at relatively young age.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007 Jan;16(1):23-9

Free testosterone (fT)

Increased levels of estrogen stimulate ***increased levels of testosterone***and androgen (increased body hair).

Unlike all the other BC pills...

"Yasmin birth control pill is different than other traditional combined oral contraceptives.

Though it is combined of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (drsp), which has the unique properties than other progestin based pills available in the market. In other combined pills,

***progesin is derived from testosterone***

whereas in Yasmin with drsp, progestin is derived from spironolactone."

We need progesin to come from testosterone to prevent ovarian cancer. We have to LOWER testosterone.

If you have dry eyes...heads up! And get a pelvic ultrasound. If it shows cysts...while most are benign and common...some are NOT.

I took Aldactone for several years. Feb. 2008, my OB/GYN found a cyst on my left ovary (after I had a period at age 62). I asked to go to an endocrinologist for a consultation, and after he asked me several questions about what I could be eating to have extra estrogen, he stated that Aldactone can cause excess breast tissue in men and ovarian cysts in women. The aldactone also caused my beast to be tight and full and I had not idea where that was coming from. After I stopped the Aldactone, the fullness in my breasts went away.

I am thinking about going on NuvaRing. But after reading these posts i am very scared to do so. But i really need to get on birth control, i am 17 and i already have a one year old daughter and i don't need any more babies until after high school. I really don't know what to do guys! There are so many more cons than pros with the NR or that is what it sounds like, but maybe the women who use it and have little to no side effects just don't come on this site. Wow I'm so confused! Help!!

I have to say the nuvaring has been pretty good for me. I am so thankful not to have had any major side effects from it. For a very long time I was not given any Bc that had hormones because my mom had a stroke from estrogen in the BC pill. It was in the 70's and MUCH higher doses of estrogen were in the pill. But anything with estrogen was off limits to me. I was in the need of some form of BC after 10 years not being sexually active.My husband died of cancer and was not dating until 10 years later. I went for BC counseling and the doc. recommended the Nuvaring. yes it has a tiny bit of estrogen but sh was not worried. I also complained that my period was always so heavy I had to wear the depends underwear because if I didn't I would have to change a tampon or a pad every 8-10 minutes. And I had extreme cramps so bad they went down the front of my legs. She was like "have I got a deal for you'! Well... she put me on the nuva ring and had me change it every 28 days no break in between. Result: NO PERIOD! I love that woman. Ok on to the side effects...I had spotting for like 3 months here and there, The first few months I lost a clump of hair to the side of my part by my forehead..it grew back..I get leg cramps every once in a while and they are doosies (sore for 2 days after) If I forget to remove it during sex my vagina burns after. and yes I have more wetness in my vagina. My b/f jokes it is I just think about him too much! Ladies to all of you that have the terrible side effects my heart goes out to you. I hope you find the BC that works for you. Keep trying others there will be a good fit for you sooner or later.

This is a weight of my shoulders.
I have been experiencing many of the symptoms that have been posted here and cannot begin to tell you what a relief it is that I'm not alone. I have been using the Nuvaring for 6 months. Some of the pros were convenience, larger breasts ( I went from a full C to a DD), and more lubrication. My side affects were extreme leg pain, excessive weight gain (about 30 pounds), increased appetite, fatigue, head aches, irritability, heart rate increase, dizziness, gas, bloating need I say more? Last night I took it out immediately because I finally put all the pieces together. It's amazing to know that I'm not alone in all of this. The weight gain was so fast that I have stretch marks that are extremely deep and I have belly fat for the first time in my life it has sprung right on my stomach. I'm only 19 so this is quit concerning for me... I went from 165 to 195. I have stayed around 165 for 5 years and the fact that I put on this thirty pounds was extremely concerning. I am grateful I know what's the issue, and hopefully with more energy and a decrease in appetite, I will be well on my way to my old self.

Hey Everyone! I have some of the same side effects as most of you. I got the shot for my allergies on January 15. I literally had a non-stop period. My period would last for two weeks with an average of only 2 days in between the next period. I did not want to get put on birth control, so I kept hoping for my period to regulate itself or for the medicine to leave my system, but none of that ever happened. I went to see my physician on June 3. (That means I was on my period from January to June.)

I explained what happened to him, and he told me that he wanted to try medicine that is NOT birth control. He explained that the Kenalog shot, a steriod, probably interfered with my hormones. In order for a woman's body to function normally, she must have a normal balance of estrogen and progesterone. I had way too much estrogen because I was always on my period, so he put me on a drug called Provera (medroxyprogesterone) for seven days. I am happy to say that the drug worked, and I have been off of my period for SIX days so far! My physician also told me that it may take up to two months for my body to figure itself out and for my period to start again.

I hope this helps someone. Provera worked for me, so maybe it will work for those who do not want to get on birth control!

I have been on Yasmin for two months now. I got the month-long spotting and irritability in the first month. My female coworkers would make a joke out of it and say that I was "yazing-out" when I got moody. In the second month, I noticed my hair is thinning. Dramatically. I thought maybe it could be from stress at work. But, now after reading this site I see others have experienced hair loss too. I thought estrogen was supposed to work against hair loss? Ugh....

I started taking Yaz for about 3 months and couldn't tolerate the daily spotting and severely itchy skin from my knees to my ankles. I switched to Yasmin and though I don't have as much breakthrough bleeding, it still occurs daily a week BEFORE my real period. I have very little to no sex drive and I have to use Aveeno 24 hour anti itch lotion immediately after showering (I've lived in a desert climate for over 10 years now and have NEVER depended on anti itch lotion much less regular lotion since starting these pills). It was so bad a couple of nights that I took Benadryl to get through the night. After reading the posts from others, I'm thinking that I must have an allergy as I, too, have constant post-nasal drip in addition to the itching. I have also noticed more hair shedding but luckily for me, I have thick hair. The only benefit is I don't seem as moody as with other birth control pills and have kept my weight somewhat normal despite not exercising and overeating on the weekends. I am going to my PCP to change back to Ortho Novum although I dread the moodiness that comes with increased estrogen. Why can the drug companies come up with incredible drugs like Cialis but 30 years later, we still have @$#! for birth control pills?

Side Effects: Yaz -- daily breakthrough bleeding
Yasmin -- breakthrough bleeding 2-3xs a week
Both-- severely itchy lower legs, constant post nasal drip, hair loss, severely decreased libido, occasional leg cramping

I was on Yasmin since 2001. I LOVED it, it was great for me. At the end of 2006, I read about Yaz and asked my doc to switch me and so he did. I developed hives and cystic acne all over my face and back. It was terrible, and I thought it would get better but it got worse. So after 3 months of Yaz i went back to Yasmin. I currently have no health insurance and have been paying out of pocket for it. EXPENSIVE! but worth it. I never had any negative side effects while on Yasmin. It actually was beneficial for me, cleared up my skin, no more ovarian cysts, lighter periods and little cramping. For me Yasmin works great. Until I had to stop taking it 2 weeks ago, everything was rosy. I moved from NYC to Upstate NY, 300 miles away, and transferred my prescription for Yasmin. When it ran out last month, I called my doctor in the city to request a refill and he declined without me going to visit him for an exam since it has been over a year, which is ethical but BAD for me, because it's not convenient or cost effective for me to get to my doc 300 miles from here. So I went to Planned Parenthood and they refused to prescribe Yasmin for me because I checked the box in the health history that asked if I have ever had a history of headaches. I have gotten tension headaches for years but none in the last few years and they told me that because I checked the box they can;t prescribe anything with estrogen in it to me. I was so mad, I walked out without my exam. I called my doc in NYC and am taking the train down for an appointment this week. Unfortunately, I have to spend a month off Yasmin. I have been on one pill or another since 1993, so I know what works for me by now, and Yasmin has been a GODSEND. I am currently a disaster. I have developed severe cramping and bloating in my abdomen, which is normally flat as a pancake thanks to working out a ton, I am ravenous and want to eat EVERYTHING, I am moody and have developed a few large painful acne cysts on my face, and so far it's only been 2 weeks off, 3 if you count the placebo pill week. I want to kill someone. I am totally miserable. My mood was level all the time on Yasmin and I never had acne and my ovarian cysts had ceased. Did I mention that I am miserable? I am experiencing extreme fatigue as well. I am actually considering going to the county clinic tomorrow just because I can't take it anymore. I'd sooner take the morning after pill (which Planned Parenthood gave to me to take before they gave me a script for some stupid progestin-only pill) to trigger my period, which I think I am going to do, and order a month of Yasmin through an online Mexican pharmacy, just to get this nightmare to cease. I'm going to go do just that right now. I can;t take it anymore.

Some of you have been referencing severe upper abdominal pain, esp during the night, while on Femcon; this is likely gallstones, as that fits the description, and the pill increases your risk for gallstones because of the increased estrogen; talk to your doctor about this even if you have gone off of Femcon or hormonal b/c altogether. I have experienced this twice since starting Femcon several weeks ago. I am not a fan of hormonal contraception and experienced severe depression after 1 week on Mircette a number of years ago, and decided never to use it again. However, I am now considered at high risk for ovarian cancer which is why I am on Femcon, and my dr chose it knowing the history w/ depression on Mircette, and felt Femcon would be a good fit. Emotionally it has been a good fit, and i have had no problems in that respect- it really depends on how each person's body reacts to the specific progestin in whatever pill you are taking. However, digestive wise, I am not happy on Femcon, and will not be pleased if I have to have my gallbladder removed because of a month or two on it!

I'm 29, have been on birth control pills for 10 years, and switched to Yasmin about 2 years ago. I a small varicose vein in my right within 2 months of switching, but didn't think a relationship between my vasculature and the pill existed. I can now trace the entire vein from my right hip to my ankle. In the 2 years since starting Yasmin, my ankles and lower legs swelled heavily...but at very random times. It often began at the start of the 7-day sugar pill regime and finished by the time I started a new pack. I assumed that the estrogen withdrawal going into the sugar pills was too much for my body to handle and that the diuretic effects of Yasmin were obviously absent during that time. I also noticed leg cramping, heart palpitations, and I started waking up in the occasional hot sweat in a drenched bed.

So, after making sure that my heart and kidneys were healthy, my gynecologist prescribed continuous hormone Yasmin and claimed it as the "ultimate solution". For 4 months, I have skipped the sugar pills for each pack and started new packages immediately. I have not had a period since, and the edema has continued (still at random) and has become exponentially worse. In the last few weeks alone, the vein in my right leg has become massive, my legs are so distended by the end of the days on which they swellI that I can't fit into pants which are otherwise loose, I am noticing other large veins "surfacing", little veins are breaking everywhere, and I can now see most of the blood vessels beneath the skin in both legs. My primary care physician told me I have chronic venous insufficiency...a diagnosis I'm not okay with. I'm very worried...the changes and ensuing damage have happened way too quickly to be venous insufficiency. I am going to ween myself off of the pill, but don't know what the next step should be. Endocrinologist? Another OB/GYN? Anyone have ideas or similar experiences to share....

I am finishing up my 4th week on Femcon and it's been hell. I have polycystic ovarian disease and i'm used to taking bc, I have been for almost 10 years but recently started missing periods and having random breakthrough bleeding so my doc switched me to femcon since it's a higher dose of estrogen... I've had headaches, bloating, water retention, nausea, vomiting, severe acne, nose bleeds, mood swings, cramps, the heaviest period i have ever experienced, night sweats, heartburn, rapid heart beat, trouble breathing, fatigue and the list goes on... basically what everyone else has said i have had too. my doc won't take me off until i've tried it for 3 months but i don't think i'm going to wait that long... this is just horrible... it should be taken off the market. i'm going to look into filing a complaint with the fda about this pill.

Hi all, I've been using the nuvaring for about 2 months now. I had twin boys in Feb, and DO NOT want to get preg for a long time. I originally wanted the Mirena IUC, but my dr ended up having a medical emergency and is no longer practicing. Anyway, for my 6 wk checkup I got a male dr who "doesn't do the Mirena thing." I was so mad. My mom has had a pulmonary embolism from estrogen therapy before and I shouldn't be taking estrogen because of that. This doctor said that isn't a problem for me and I believed him. Now I'm having the worst headaches I've EVER had in my life. I am so dizzy all the time, I almost dropped my son this morning and did drop him the other day. I am unable to focus on anything or remember anything that i need to do. I'm also experiencing vision problems which ****** states could be a bloodclot in my eye. YAY, at least I have an AWESOME family doctor and he is going to see me asap tomorrow morning. I hope these headaches go away soon, I took it out today after what is now the 6th day of barely being able to keep my eyes open. I'm wearing sunglasses now so I can look at the computer!! Hope everyone gets their situations with this resolved and we all find something BETTER.

These posts do help a lot! I was looking at these because I am also on LOESTRIN 24 FE and have been for about 3 months and after having a very light but normal period, I had heavier bleeding and cramping during the first week of the white pills as well! I do like these pills because of the short period and little cramping but I have experienced some PMS symptoms like irritability and moodiness...I cry right before my period and that gets annoying for me and my boyfriend but I think every pill will have its own side affects. I switched to this pill because I was on OVCON 35 and have had terrible migraines for about 5 years until I figured out it was all the estrogen in my pills. After switching I haven't had a single migraine! MIRACLE!!!!! but I like this pill for the most part!

Hmmm.

My advice to all is to go see your doctor and discuss this with your doctor.
A doctor can help you much more than a bunch of postings over the internet.

I took Yasmin for 4 years and had no issues. I gained a little more weight, but considering everything else it did to help me with the PCOS, that is okay.

I took myself off of the pill for nearly 3 years because I was mad at my OBGYN for never being in the office so I stopped going.

I recently started the Yasmin again and I am glad.

Yasmin is mostly designed for women with PCOS or who need estrogen supplements. Yasmin is not for everybody. You should discuss this with your doctor to determine if Yasmin is right for you.

My daughter took Lupron as a 14 year old, perfectly normal teenager with the exception of endometriosis. She is now a 33 year old shell of the vibrant teen she was. She is bi-polar, maniac depressive. The changes in her were immediate and startling to say the least. I feel like it ruined her life. I have just started investigating the terrible side effects and was shocked to see so many other people whom lives it destroyed. If anyone has advice, anything to get help, please reply.

I am almost in tears finally knowing that I am not alone. I had the Mirena inserted in December 07. Over the past 16 months since then I have only had about 60-90 days (very few of them consecutive) bleeding/spotting free. I am cramping constantly at various intensity. At times, I wondered if I was somehow pregnant and having contractions because of the type of tightening I felt. I have been an emotional wreck as I see-sawed within minutes between congeniality and disgust. My sometime-y migraines happened all too frequently. My acne has increased exponentially. I gained 30 lbs! After each child I successfully managed to lose the weight yet maintain a modest, healthy few pounds extra as I embraced my motherly curves. Almost 4 years after my last child, I gained all of this weight during my Mirena saga. I have been living a nightmare!

I am 34 w/ 3 children (14,6,5). I thought this would be one less hassle for my already life. I have never felt so out of control of my health and well being as I have the past 16 months. I saw may doctor 4 times over the past year wondering what I should do. I took birth control pills for 3 months to control the spotting. I took estrogen for 2 weeks. He knew how much I wanted it to work and told me to wait it out if I could. I feel so betrayed. I kept asking him if this was normal. He told me that it would get better.

I can't lose a pound (30 occurring during the 15 hell-ish Mirena months). I am fatigued to the point of uselessness to my family. I am depressed and inexplicably anxious.

Thank you for sharing and letting me know I'm not crazy. I thought it was all in my head because I couldn't find any validation for my feelings. I have sneered and balked at the amount of trust and worthiness all too often placed on message boards, blogs, and websites. While I am still cynical, this site has renewed my faith and spirit in that each of your testimonies has resolved my indecision to have this shackle removed from my body.

I am overcome with so much emotion right now (possible Mirena related) that I am now speechless.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

First of all, Yaz and yazmin are two diff pills, yaz was approved a few years after yazmin b/c it held a lower dose of estrogen.

I am a female who had a bad reaction to ortho and the depo shot. I was turned onto yazmin about 4 years ago because I had bad reactions to the other forms I'd tried. I suffer from depression problems as well, and my doctor said that it tested well among people with my background. I loved it.

Anyhoo, the whole reason I am writing, is because I've noticed a pattern in all of the statements on this website: the women who had bad experiences w/Yaz or Yazmin, had good experiences w/Ortho Tricyclen and vise versa. I just find that so amusing!!!

Thank you for your time,

Mel

i have been on the ring for a week now, i havent had any side effects, yet. I had to get on the ring because the high estrogen level of the pill was making my hormons go crazy and creating nuts in my breats. After reading all the side effects i dont know if i want to keep using the ring. I have not had intercorse with the ring on because im scared its going to hurt me or my partner.... any help on how to avoid pain during intercose while using the ring??? will my partner feel the ring ??

I had a normal period at the end of my first pack and I missed my period at the end of the second pack and only gained 4 pounds. But i am overweight and have yo-yo ed with my weight for a long while now so i blame the weight gain on my eating habits. I have not experienced any of the other side effects. I am going to continue with the pill. I talked with my company's Phamacy Consultant and she stated every ones body is differrent and side effects vary. She suggested I take a pregnancy test to rule out pregancy so that I am not suppressing the estrogen hormone in case i am pregnant. but above all she said to continue taking the pill and she said as long as i have been following directions i should be okay and that even if I missed a day and took two the next day to make up for it, that I have enough of the med in my system where it should not make a difference. ( i never missed taking a pill ) so we will see as time goes on. what scares e is that i and my husband are very sexually active so I will also take her advice and take an at home pregancy test.