Evening primrose oil symptoms and conditions

I had mine removed this week - thank the lord above!!! However, it has been rough and be forewarned that I experienced horrific cramping and HEAVY bleeding for nearly five days. I also had terrible back pains and some pain down my legs as well as some mental fogginess. I only had it in about one month and had gained 3 pounds and outgrown my bras! So now, two boxes of tampons later, I finally stopped bleeding altogether about 24 hours ago and the cramping has subsided. I feel mentally clearer and, believe it or not, have some semblance of libido - my husband is thrilled!

I am exploring other options for managing hormonal changes in perimenopause - including evening primrose oil and am still doing lots of yoga (even during the pain periods I did lots of yoga to help me manage)...Mainly, I feel so betrayed by the doctors (two women half my age) who insisted my symptoms were "all in my head" - to those of you planning for removal I encourage you to tell the medical professionals you work with that you are NOT crazy and NOT the only one experiencing these side effects. I personally believe that many women get too much progestin in the Mirena (which is not Progesterone, either) and this, in addition to overloading our estrogen, is enough to make us completely insane and miserable. I say let nature work its course as regards my own perimenopause and to those out there using Mirena for birth control I managed to avoid pregnancy with little concern using natural/rhythm methods and condoms as well as a diaphragm, conceiving my two beautiful (now teenage) sons without any intervention from hormones except my own. I am going to do peri and menopause the same way here on out. !!!!

Would love to hear how long it took for weight and stomach fat to go away after the removal from anyone who has been there - I eat very healthfully and exercise daily so I knew the pregnant look I got after that month with the Mirena was not due to one too many cookies )as my doctor seemed to infer !

I switched to Yasmin after searching for help with my severe PMDD, I asked my doctor about it, because of the commercials I had seen stating it would help severe pre-menstrual disorder, instead I have spent the past month with the same severe symptoms that I was trying to get rid of, but worse I was having them every day; and it was not even close to the time I was supposed to start my period.

The worse side effect was I was down right mean!!! To my boyfriend, my kids, and anyone who would get in my way. Completely irrational, did not care about anyone's feelings but my own. I have also gained 5 pounds since i started it, and have had diarrhea, and severe heart burn. And I have only been on it for a month and a half.

I have been on Lisinopril for 2 days now (20mg). I do not like the way it makes me feel. I feel dizzy and my hands are swelling up. Doc says I had a heart attack and I was not aware of it. There has to be something better than this BP med... I think I am going to start taking Garlic pills.

I am a 49 year old male and took a 14 day course of Cipro for a UTI. By day four the souls of my feet were very sore, especially first thing in the morning but no other side effects. Mentioned sore feet to Dr after 7 days of Cipro but he did not believe it was from Cipro and had me complete the course. After 14 day course of Cipro feet were now so painful that I could barely walk on them especially after resting or getting out of bed. Also burning sensation on skin of feet and hands and some minor tremor. Saw a specialist and he immediately confirmed Cipro as the culprit and advised never to take that drug family again. Have since done the whole web search thing and discovered the whole saga of these drugs. Other symptoms have also appeared, some pain in middle of back, sharp pain in middle of back of both knees, hot and cold flushes, pain in left bicep, fingers that are very susceptible to joint injury and feelings of weakness and anxiety. Has been over three weeks now since I stopped Cipro and condition shows no improvement, may even be slightly worse. About to try a shotgun approach with treatment as there appears little documented evidence of anything conclusive on line. Starting course of anti-inflams (Voltaren) and these have already reduced the pain in my feet. Also magnesium and calcium supplements (theory goes that it may mop up any remaining Cipro and there is plenty of reports from sufferers saying that symptoms continue to appear for some months after stopping Cipro), Vitamin B6 (can apparently help with some types of nerve pain and tingling) and Fish Oil (omega 3's can help reduce inflammation). Not very scientific I know and can't be sure that all these are compatible with each other but am a bit desperate at this stage. Bracing myself for a three to six month recovery (just based on experience of many others). At this stage I am just hoping that damage is not irreversible as this appears to be a real risk. As everyone here will agree it is amazing how this situation is being allowed to continue. I could have stopped my Cipro on day two or three if I had been made fully aware of the risks and what to look out for. I am no expert by any means on this but from what I can gather Cipro and its relatives do nerve damage by the very way they work. It appears that anyone taking these drugs will inflict some nerve damage but for many it will not manifest to a degree that is a problem or at least a noticeable problem. So in some ways we are all sufferers, just to varying degrees. Another point mentioned often is that the symptoms may not appear for some months after the Cipro is stopped and therefore is not always associated with the drug. Also some say there is an accumulative affect with using the drug a second or third time. Symptoms may appear only after multiple use or symptoms may get much worse and more likely irreversible with multiple use. It's all scary reading. At this stage I am just hoping I can make a full recovery. Do damaged nerves repair themselves, does the Cipro eventually leech out of our systems .... I don't know. I will post in this forum again in a few months or sooner if I make a recovery.

I am 3 weeks post removal and I am still experiencing aches and pains throughout my body, still have the 10lb weight gain, some mood swings and extreme tiredness and some periodic bloating...I am fed up! I have 2 questions: Has anyone found anything about this hormone levonorgestrel and how long it takes to get out of your system? Second, if anyone knows of any suits against these people, let me know because this is really interfering with my life and with my children and my boyfriend!! This is ridiculous, I didn't know about all of this crap prior to getting the Mirena and wouldn't have gotten it if I did know, and I am still paying for it after removal! Please let me know...thanks!! : )

Hi All,
I got my Mirena removed 3 days ago. I felt less foggy and panic attacks seem to be much better. Also not as many sudden sharp pains from nowhere. I did start bleeding Thursday night. the belding is getting slightly heavier and I am now passing some clots. I am not feeling all that great today, but all in all extremely happier. I am trying to not do too much to make the bleeding worse. I am about to start taking some Evening Primrose oil along with the multi vitamin I already take. Hopefully that will make the crash easier. Good Luck to all.

Been a couple days since removal and it's funny I have noticed my skin clearing already and my appetite is a bit better. Yesterday I was a little depressed- well maybe more than a little- after reading about post removal crashes some women have experienced and generally upset about my decision to get the thing in the first place but I was also really tired and stayed in most of the day. The stress I was under in the past couple weeks wondering and worrying about what was wrong with me really took a toll on me. Plus I'm due for a period. I got a good night's sleep. Wasn't sure what to expect when I woke up this morning. So far so good. Going to try to get back to my normal routine. I think that will make a huge difference.
Oh, also bought some evening primrose oil and B6. Anyone doing the same? Or have any other ideas?

I have been off Yasmin for almost 2 weeks and the panic attacks are gone!!! I feel much better. I decided not to use another form of birth control "with hormones" until my hormones are balanced! The only thing is I am having HORRIBLE headaches, the muscles in my legs and arms are still aching and my mood swings are still there. I hope this ends SOON!! Right now I am taking vitamin B complex to see if that helps any.

So I'll refer to today as Hell Day, the day when all the horrible symptoms of my birth control pill attack me at once and I literally cannot take it. I had this exact same thing happen when I was on the nuvaring, and I stopped it immediately. I'm willing to sacrifice having 100% safe sex if it means I don't have to feel like I'd rather shove a knife through my brain than exist. It's only my second month of Yasmin, and I'm feeling more fatigued than ever before in my life. I feel so horribly depressed. It's beautiful outside and I was lying on the grass, thinking only about being DEAD. I'm not one to be depressed. The only other time I've felt this awful was my third month into the Nuvaring. I specifically asked my doctor for something that wouldn't make me depressed, nor gain weight. Well, I gained about 5 pounds that won't come off no matter how hard I try, and the depression is just getting worse and worse. I'm stopping this pill tomorrow.

Other symptoms included:
*Initially: a sharp breathing pain under my left lung
*Weird, small rash on my leg
*Would rather be in bed than do anything
*Overwhelming feeling of loneliness, questioning self-worth, etc.

HERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HORMONAL BALANCE AND HEALING COMING OFF OF YASMIN:

Hi Ladies-to Anyone who has been on Yasmin/Yaz, if you haven't made it to the UK site Sarah/Flowerbabies set up, I am re-posting here some recent posts I've made in what has helped me enormously after coming off of Yasmin.

After being on Yasmin from 12/2005-8/2006 here is a list of the side effects I experienced: Hiatal hernia, vision changes, congestion ears, chest pains, heart murmur, palps and bracycardia, ectopic (abnormally slow and skips beats), melasma, bronchitis, fatigue. B12/Folic Acid Deficiency. Elevated potassium.

Following months of suffering, I've been doing loads of research. These are most recent supplements/remedies I have introduced and am seeing benefits from:

Whole Vitamin Supplement* (Bioavailable)
New Chapter Organices
The best I found for bio-availability (one that your body can easily assimilate/integrate) is New Chapter Organics. This is also extrmely low on potassium, which was very important for me because I am one of the women who ended up with 5.7 on my potassium when normal ranges are: 3.6-5.2. So I discovered I am in a range that is considered unsafe/mild hyperkalemia and working to lower it.

Organic Evening Primrose Oil:
contains specialized nutriet gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has been show in scientific studies to support hormonal health and address symptoms of PMS and menopause.

Lignans:
highly studied and researched class of phytonutrient found in flaxseed studied by the National Cancer Institute and shown to possess impressive preventative properties-in addition to supporting hormone and breast health

Soy Isoflavones:
Plant phytoestrogens can help with symptoms of menopause and PMS in addition to supporting bone, heart and breast health.

Collodial Silver:
I also started for the first time taking Collodial Silver which has apparently been used for over 2000 years to boost immune systems. My sister, who has worked for and with a Naturopath for the last 5 years recommended this to me and she uses it with her own children. She is the healthiest she has ever been. After one month of using this, with a homeopathic remedy Pulsilla Negricans (for bronchitis like symptoms made by Boiron)-took this instead of anti-biotics, for the colds I have gotten every month for 5 months after coming off of Yasmin, this is the first month I haven't gotten sick!

Best Wishes to everyone in getting your body, spirit and your health back. There is nothing without health and from my experience, I will not be taking any pharmaceutical medications for the rest of my life if I can manage to do so. I've never been big on medications to begin with, but after this experience with Yasmin, and all the learning I am doing about the pharmaceutical industries and their partnerships with Doctors/Nurses, all the horrible symptoms and other problems that come with taking so many of these drugs , no thank you.

To be honest, sometimes, the lessons I am learning from having been on Yasmin, all the horrible side effects after being and having such good health has put me on a course to take personal responsibility for my own health and ways in which I can care for it without Doctors, prescriptions, un-healthy drugs that treat symptoms instead of cause. It is very empowering.

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject: Heart Health tonic, replenishing body fluids
Schisandra , liquid extract of dried ripe berry

I started this today and believe it or not, these horrible chest pains I've had for 9 plus months, mostly specific to the week prior to my mensturation and now more common, subsided. Strongly recommend it as a nutral remedy:

Actions: Nutritive. antioxidant. Adaptogen. Astringent. Expectorant and antitussive. Detoxifies, protects and regenerates the liver. Promotes production of body fluid. Allays spontaneous sweating. Calming sedative. Antagonizes stimulant effect of caffeine.

Uses: Support of healthy liver function, and treatment of hepatitis. Stomach and intestinal inflammation, chronic diarrhea and dysentery. night sweats and other spontaneous persperation. Neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion-caused by overactive adrenal glands) and sleeplessness. colds and flu. Dry coughs, weak lungs and asthma. To enhance physical performance in work and athletics. Dryness and thirst caused by fever.

In traditional Chinese medicine schisandra is said to nourish and tonify the kidneys, to replenish body fluids****, and to support the eyes. The anti-androgen in Yasmin can cause dry eyes***

Items
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:18 am Post subject:
Hi ladies-

Wanted to duplicate a posting here on results I am seeing from the herbal supplements a Naturopath recommended and I started in the last two weeks. As of last night, the experience of "palps" (which is feeling) the heartbeat and the arrythmia I was experiencing are gone! Needless to say, I am elated.
--------------
Available at Whole Foods* (you may need to have them order the Fem Rebalance or I am sure they are available through a Naturopathic or online:

Fem Rebalance made by Vitanica
and
Women's Phase I by Vitanica

They are specifically designed to for premenstrual and hormone balance support

Here are the ingredients:

Fem Rebalance (Indication that women with high blood pressure, who are nursing or are pregnant should not take this):

Licorice Root 200mg
Chaste Berry Tree 200mg
Rhodiola root-Rhodiola rosea 200mg
Borage oil powder 160mg
False unicorn root-Heloonias dioca 100mg
Vervain root-Verbena hastata 100mg
Sarsparilla root-Smillax medica 100mg
Wild Yam root-Dioscorea villosa 100mg
Black cohosh extract 80mg

Women's Phase I:
Again, not recommended for use during pregnancy and nursing. Dong Quai and gingko may potentiate anti-coagulant/anti-platelet agents

Vitamin E (as d alpha tocopheryl succinate) 200IU
Vitamin B6 as pyridoxal-5 phosphate) 25mg
Calcium 25mg
Iodine (from kelp) 50mg
Magnesium 75mcg
Chromium 100mcg
Borage Seet Oil Extract 150mg
Wild Yam root 100mg
Dandelion Leaf 100mg
Dong Quai root 100 mg
Passion Flower Extract 100mg
St John's Wort tops 100mg
Chaste Tree Berry 50mg
Chaste Tree berry extract 25mg
Gingko Extract (biloba) 15mg

Just know-that coming off of birth control or changes in our hormones have huge effects on our bodies. The Naturopath told me it opens up alot of inflammation in the body which causes susceptibility to colds and a host of other unpleasant side effects-like the heart palps for example.

I also posted to another link a listing of herbs and their benefits-many aid in PMS symptoms/menopause symptoms, inflammation, anti-spasmodic.

I am thrilled with the results in such a short time as the ND advised it may take a month or two, I am seeing results in only a week's time. Just moving beyond the arrhythmia and the palps is a tremendous relief.

Location: United States

Items
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:51 am Post subject: Benefits of Herbs and PMS and Hormone Balance
Hi Ladies-

As I referenced above, I've been on two herbal supplements recommended to me by a Naturopath I am seeing. I've only been taking them for a little over a week and seeing great improvements. If you see the herbs above, many of them are contained in the Fem Rebalance and Phase I support products by Vitanica that I am taking. I was struck by the fact that they were out of the Fem Rebalance initially and I had to ask that they hold 2 for me becuase when their order came in, they were out again as there were so many women who created a back-order:

Some herbs that are helpful with mentruation are:

BLACK COHOSH:
Antispasmodic and antirheumatic. Isoflavones ("phytoestrogens") bind to estrogen receptors and have mild estrogen like activity. Estrogen take a big dip during our menstrual cycle. Good for dull aching muslce pains (especially rheumatic and myalgic pains)-Low estrogen conditions like PMS.

BLUE COHOSH**:
Antispasmodic and antirheumatic. Uterine tonic. Used well for menstrual cramps and discomfort (especially "heavy legs"); excessive flow**

BUTCHER BROOM:
Antiinflammatory* tonic for veins. Reduces capillary fragility and permeability and tones sluggish venous system. Useful for Vein disorders related to oral contracptive pills, PMS**, certain menstrual disorders.

DONG QUAI:
Enriches blood, and promotes healthy circulation. Uterine tonic*. Increases DNA synthesis of uterus tissue and increases its regeneration. Regulates menstruation*. Antispasmodic. Anti-inflammaorty. Diuretic. Dilates coronary vessels and increases coronary blood flow. Harmonzies vital energy "chi". Particulary useful in cases of Amenorrhea (when period ceases) and dysmenorrhea: ***painful periods****

CATNIP:
Mild sedative and antispasmodic. Used well for menstrual maladies and nervous tension.

CINNAMON:
Warming, diffusive stimulant, with gentle astringent influence. Moderately stimulates entire nervous and circulatory systems. Warming to stomach and intestinal tract. Recent research shos several polyphenolic polymer compounds in Cinnamon bark enhance the action of insulin and improve glucose and fat metabolism. Useful in excessive menstrual bleeding*** among other things.

CRAMP BARK:
Balance sympathetic and parasympatheic nervous systems. Antispasmodic to stomach, intestines, uterus* and bladder. Useful for menstrual cramps**** and nausea*, sudden or irregular menstrual flow.

DAMANIA:
Nerve tonic and mild sedative. Promotes healthy menstruation* as well as a soothing tonic to sexual and urinary organs; purpoted to increase libido. Soothing diuretic and experctorant. Useful for nervous debility and anxiety. Sexual atony and lack of libido in women. Inflammation of sexual organs and urinary tract in men and women. Menstrual malaise and discomfort. Taken in hot water, it PROMOTES ONSET OF TARDY MENSTRUATION*. Helpful for emtional moodiness associated with PMS and MENOPAUSE.

FEVERVIEW:
Aspirin like action that relieves pain and reduces fever. Useful for headahces (especially migraines), arthritis, fevers, MENSTURUAL CRAMPS AND PAINS), stomachache and toothache.

GINGER
Heart tonic and warming circulatory and metabolic stimulant. Antispasmodic. Useful FOR PAIN AND CRAMPS*of stomach and bowel. Relieves stomach and intestinal gas. PAINFUL MENSTRUATION. Heart disease and poor circulation.

JAMAICAN DOGWOOD:
Nerve sedative, antispasmodic. Among many other things, useful for PAINFUL MENSTURAL PERIODS*

LEMON BALM:
Antispasmodic, mild sedative. Lowers fevers, antiviral. Useful in many things including nervous irritation, headaches, nervouse heart, nervous stomach and indigestion. Good for menstrual blues and emotions.

MURIA PAMA:
Soothing nervous system tonic. Antirheumatic. PMS*** and MENSTRUAL CRAMPS.

NETTLE:
Nutritive, alterative tonic. Antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, moderates allergic response. Useful for chronic inflammation, PROFUSE MENSTRUATION.

PASSIONFLOWER:
Calmative and sedative, allays nervousness and restlessness. Helps produce rest and natural sleep. Antispasmodic. Useful for nervousness, restlessness, worry and hysteria. *Nervous palpitationi or tachycardia of the heart or headache. PAINFUL MENSES.

SHATAVARI
Female reproductive tonic. Among many things including women's sexual libido, useful for PMS AND MENSTRUAL CRAMPING.

WILD YAM:
Antispasmodic. Relief of nervous system irritation. Abdominal cramps, pain and tenderness; spasmodic pain in uteris, cerix or ovaries; menstrual cramps***

YARROW:
Astringent, vascular tonice. Excellent for inducing sweat and lowering fevers, colds and flu. Passive bleading and EXCESSIVE MENSTRUAL FLOW.

J

RECOMMENDATION TO HELP HEAL YOUR BODY AFTER YASMIN

I promise I am not a salesperson! Following months of suffering, I've been doing loads of research. These are most recent supplements/remedies I have introduced and am seeing benefits from:

Whole Vitamin Supplement* (Bioavailable)
New Chapter Organices
The best I found for bio-availability (one that your body can easily assimilate/integrate) is New Chapter Organics. This is also extrmely low on potassium, which was very important for me because I am one of the women who ended up with 5.7 on my potassium when normal ranges are: 3.6-5.2. So I discovered I am in a range that is considered unsafe/mild hyperkalemia and working to lower it. 6.0 is considered Hyperkalmic (too high potassium levels in the blood and lethal.)

Barlean's Women's Formula for Hormone Balance*
I took Evening Primrose oil years ago and forgot just how helpful this was. Thish particular formula includes seeds from botanical flowers to include evening primrose, flax and phytonutrients.

Organic unrefined flaxseed oil:
the richest source of essential fatty acids, including alpha linoleic acid (Omega 3) and linolenic acid (Omega 6).

Organic Evening Primrose Oil:
contains specialized nutriet gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has been show in scientific studies to support hormonal health and address symptoms of PMS and menopause.

Lignans:
highly studied and researched class of phytonutrient found in flaxseed studied by the National Cancer Institute and shown to possess impressive preventative properties-in addition to supporting hormone and breast health

Soy Isoflavones:
Plant phytoestrogens can help with symptoms of menopause and PMS in addition to supporting bone, heart and breast health.

Collodial Silver:
I also started for the first time taking Collodial Silver which has apparently been used for over 2000 years to boost immune systems. My sister, who has worked for and with a Naturopath for the last 5 years recommended this to me and she uses it with her own children. She is the healthiest she has ever been!

Best Wishes to everyone in getting your body, spirit and your health back. There is nothing without health and from my experience, I will not be taking any pharmaceutical medications for the rest of my life if I can manage to do so. I've never been big on medications to begin with, but after this experience with Yasmin, and all the learning I am doing about the pharmaceutical industries and their partnerships with Doctors/Nurses, all the horrible symptoms and other problems that come with taking so many of these drugs , no thank you.

I've learned and am learning so much about my body, about homeopathic and natural herb remedies that its actually exciting. I avoided anti-biotics recently given another month of bronchial problems (5 months of bronchitis every month at the onset of my period after going off of Yasmin) with Pulsatilla Nigricans, which is a homeopathic remedy. In one day, my chest stopped hurting and the cough is subsiding! And I've done it without wiping out all the good bacteria in my body with anti-biotics. To be honest, sometimes, the lessons I am learning from having been on Yasmin, all the horrible side effects, has put me on a course to take personal responsibility for my own health and ways in which I can care for it without Doctors, prescriptions, un-healthy drugs that treat symptoms instead of cause. It is very empowering.

Good health and healing to everyone.
Jessica

hi kim123.
sorry i was not around yesterday,my youngest has just gone off to nursery school so has been a bit manic. as the Guest below seems to think we should not use this forum to chat (even though support is a MAJOR part of why people come to this forum) i will email you personally.

hi,guest 35696.
sorry if the above remark sounds rude,it is not meant that way. i understand what you are saying,that new people come here to find out if their symptoms are linked to yasmin and all they can find is personal chit chat and not a full list of symptoms,but i have no idea how to set up a forum for all the ladies here that find just chatting to other sufferers helps.this site and chatting to people on it literally saved my life. if you know how to do it then please let us know. a lot people seem to post side effects on the other page (yasmin forum) that is where i initially found all my symptoms.
once again sorry if the above sounds rude it really is not meant that way but i am passionate about this site and helping support the newcomers as they did when i was a newcomer and nobody understood me and how i was feeling. i am a computer idiot so have no idea how to start up a forum,if any of you ladies out there know how to do it please post on here.

To the lady with the sore breast... mine were agony pre menstrually and just plain huge the rest of the time. i agree with you saying that it feels like engorged breast like when you were breastfeeding that is exactly how mine felt. they were solid and shiny most of the time!!!
i have been off yasmin since june 06 and mine are much better now although i still get a little discomfort premenstrually but they no longer feel lumpy and hurt just with a t-shirt touching them.i used to cringe if my kids wanted a hug as they were so sore. apparently evening primrose oil is good for breast tenderness.

sarah

hi silke,
dehydration and anxiety are definately linked,when the body is lacking something it switches on it's emergeny mechanisms to survive so it is quite possible that valuable vitamins and minerals are used up in this emergency state. As yasmin has a strong diuretic effect it is not surprising that anxiety etc gets worse.As you were on it for so long i imagine most of your stores were used up a long time ago. i carry a bottle of water with me wherever i go,i am never without one! i drink at least 2.5 litres of water a day. like you i also take magnesium as it seems to help. i take evening primrose oil for pms,garlic pills for good blood circulation,omega 3,6,9 oil for the brain and nerves and calcium to balance the magnesium! it all seems to help me. The other thing that gets me through it all is the faith that i will be back to my old self and hopefully stronger than before. i am still having trouble with agoraphobia which appeared when my panic attacks came on but i am doing my best to get over with the power of positive thinking! I am hoping that now my periods have returned that nature will take over and get my body back to normal! the memories of this nightmare will take longer to heal though i think. best wishes to you silke,i really hope that the water and magnesium work for you and that you soon feel better than ever.

sarah (greetings from england!)

Hi,

I went on Yasmin when I was 19 for 2 years and never had any adverse side effects that I was aware of. My skin improved and people started asking me if I had lost weight alhtough I didn't change my diet/exercise regime (thanks to the diuretic in it). I went off the pill for 1 year, then went back on it 3 months ago, because me skin had been steadily declining, and being off the pill was the only connection I could make.

But this time, my skin didn't get any better. I've been getting large, very red, painful pimples unlike anything I've had before, and in random areas like my cheeks and even around my mouth and chin. I went on a minocycline, a mild antibiotic, for 6 weeks to help my face, and it got somewhat better, but whenever I would cycle, my face would seem to explode right on time with more of these painful pimples. I just finished the antibiotics and will not be taking them anymore since it didnt help that much, and I'm worried about the levels of Candida (yeast) in my body, which can also contirbute to acne and other health problems.

I'm starting to think that maybe now my body is just reacting differently to Yasmin then the first time I was on it. Although my skin in this last year that I'd been off it, I think I've traced these new, worse pimples to being back on Yasmin. And after reading posts here and on aphroditewomenshealth.com, I'm stopping Yasmin right now for good. I'm going to deal with my skin using natural methods.

Here's some suggestions for natural supplements that I've gathered from other posts to balance hormones and help adult acne in the process. I'm going to look into them right away.

Agnus Castus
Chasteberry (Vitex) extract
Progesterone Cream
Evening Primrose Oil

I've also started taking Acidopholus supplements to reverse the damage to the good bacteria in my body from the antibiotics, trying to keep the Candida in check. And I'm drinking 3-4 ounces of Goji juice a day, which is supposedly really powerful stuff for all kinds of health problems. One of my professors claims that Goji juice is the only thing that's successfully balanced her hormones now that she's going through menopause.

Hope this helps...Interested to hear if anyone else has had bad acne problems from Yasmin.

DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE IF YOU DONT HAVE TO. I too have experinenced all the negative side effects of lupron. Ladies!! We must stick together. If you have Endo, join a local support group. There are some in almost every town. Search the internet. You will find them. I just want to bring up alternative options that have helped me. Maybe they can help you too. Dont want to sound too new age but yoga has really helped my back pain. Also looking into Acupunture which has helped me before but unfortunitly is not covered by my insurance. (Even though its proven to help). My chiropracter is covered so she is trying to incorporate acupuncture and massage therapy. Evening primrose oil can help. For severe pain, I take Naproxin which helps me much more than than Ibuprofen. There is a convention every year on Endo, Im going to try to go. We must communicate and be vocal to our insurance companies and to the public. There is just not enough press about this female disease. I also found out that I have Hypothyroid, dont know if its
all related. Its all hormonal and would not suprise me.

Hello Ladies!
I am so glad to have found this site! As many of you will probably agree, it INSTANTLY reassured me that I wasn't going crazy or dying of some incurable disease! What I would LOVE to hear is how long it takes for someone to start feeling like they did PRE-yasmin, including the weight gain and bloating. I KNOW this is different for every woman, including how long they were on it, but it sure would help! Also, if ANYONE knows of a way to SPEED up the process, SING OUT!(SMILE!).

I, too, amy being treated by a femal OB-BYN, who totally denies any involvement with Yasmin for my problems. I'm working with a nutritionist to gain some relief from the continuing side effects(sweats, breast tenderness bloating and weight gain) as my gyno only instructed me to take Evening Primrose Oil, which is used for PMS-type symptoms!

Sigh!
Hang in there!
RioRita
PS - I remember seeing an email about the site for "curezone". I don't know if this is a supplement or not but plan on checking it out! I'm DESPERATE!

I did not see anyone posting with my problems so I don't know if they are side effects. I have been on Yasmin for 21 months taking the active pills only the entire time. I am taking it because I suffer from menorrhagea (unbearable pain during periods) and was unable to even leave the couch or bed for 2-3 days a month. Pain medication did not work and I bled so heavily that I had to change my super tampon every half hour. Sorry to be graphic but I want to make it clear that I am taking this for pain and as an alternative to surgery. Yasmin really helped at first. I had breast tenderness but my gyno told me to take evening primrose oil and it took care of that. My debilitating cramps were gone and I got my life back. My husband was so happy because now we could actually do things without having to consult the calendar. I have only taken the active pills this entire time so I should almost never have a period but I have been getting intense breakthrough bleeding lately. I used to get it only every 6-8 weeks or less but now it's about every two weeks or more often and I have terrible cramps, headaches and abdominal swelling prior to it. At least one day is heavy bleeding. This just started recently. The blood used to be really dark but now it is like my period used to be just not as heavy. I also have developed a sensitivity to dairy products (gas, bloating, diarrhea), headaches, crying jags, short temper, dark patches on my face, and my feet hurt. It seems like I just started to have side effects in the last four months. I also get quick sharp stabbing pains that make me gasp at different places on my body; sometimes on my thigh, sometimes my arm, etc. Has anyone who has been on Yasmin for *over a year* started to have side effects after having none? Breakthrough bleeding getting increasingly worse? Stabbing pains? Please let me know. Also, does anyone know of another BCP that stops your period? I am desperate because I really like this pill and I am terrified of getting an operation. I had suspected that my ailments were related to taking it and found this board last night. Most posters seem to be new users and all BCP's made me sick at first so that's why I'm asking for the experiences of those who have taken it for at least a year. Thank you.