First experience symptoms and conditions

Like almost everyone else on here, I seem to be having a really bad reaction to this birth control pill! I started taking it shortly after I gave birth to my third baby because there is absolutely no way I can handle any more kids right now! Soon after I started taking it I noticed a lot of weird things going on with my body. Just walking up the stairs gets me out of breath and causes my heart to beat rapidly. Sometimes it starts to beat like this just from driving! I am also constantly nauseous (like morning sickness nauseous), have daily headaches, have no sex drive, and have acne! Up until I started taking Yasmin my skin was like porcelain and I could literally count the number of zits I got on one hand. Now my face looks like a freakin pizza!

I also go through phases of being really depressed and really angry. These mood swings are even worse than the ones I had during pregnancy! I have 3 healthy kids, a beautiful home, an amazing husband, wonderful friends...but I still cry all the time and want to die. I know that I am extremely blessed so there is absolutely no excuse for me to be feeling this way!

At the time I had passed all these things off as my hormones trying to adjust after being pregnant, even though I have never had any of these problems before when I had my other two babies. I also noticed that this was the first pregnancy where I wasn't able to shed any of my baby weight. It seemed no amount of diet or exercise could get it off, whereas with my 2 other pregnancies all I had to do was eat healthy and use the treadmill everyday and was back to my normal size before I knew it!

Now I realize that none of these things are due to having my baby at all but due to Yasmin! However, I have never used birth control pills before so this is my first experience with them. Is it possible that this is just a brand that reacts badly with me, or do all brands have side effects like this? I'm trying to decide if I should switch to a different pill or just stop taking any all together and just be extra careful with my husband! Regardless, I will definitely no longer be taking Yasmin!

At 32 years old, this is my first experience with birth control and I have to say that I'm completely miserable. I'm eleven days into my first pack of pills, have been bleeding (like my regular period, maybe even worse!) since Tuesday, and decided this morning that i'm DONE. I'm taking this pill for contraceptive reasons only - and if I keep taking them, I won't need them anyway because my boyfriend will surely have dumped me. I'm moody, I'm tired, I have headaches, I can't sleep, my cramps are horrible today (and I've never had cramps in my life), and this out of control blood loss is a little concerning. I called my doc's office yesterday to see if I can stop abruptly, and they told me to finish the whole pack and THEN stop - but I cannot take one more day of this nonsense. My biggest concern with stopping midway through my pack is that I'll be really screwing up my cycle, but something is definitely already screwed up, so how much worse can if really get? Does anyone have any experience with just stopping birth control abruptly, and if so, what should I expect? THANKS!

I am in my early 40s and went on Loestrin 24FE 4 months ago. I have been very happy with it. it's been my first experience with BC and after the first couple of days, where I noticed I felt very moody, everything evened out and I have been fine. It doesn't even feel like I'm taking anything because I have absolutely no side effects. I take the pill every morning after breakfast. I know this medication is not for everyone, but I just wanted to put up a positive post to assure people that not everyone has a negative experience.

So I am reading all of the posts and Like the woman who posted on the 28th , I had and mirena after my 3rd child and then just this May after my 4th child. My first Experience with the Mirena was a little painful going in had 1-2 periods after and then not a period until I had it taken out. I can not say that it was or wasn't affecting my mood as my life was VERY stressful for many reasons. It was Placed in FEB of 2004 and then I had it taken out in June of 2006 because I felt like my body was rejecting it and I was totally uncomfortable and as soon as it was out I got my period. I thought this was normal and all my periods seemed Normal after that. My husband and I used condoms for the next few months for fear that I may be very fertile and then went back to our original family planning method. ( I had Never been on BC prior to the Mirena except for two months as a teenager for cramps) After having our 4th child, who was planned (3rd child was not planned that is why we decided on the Mirena at all) we were not sure if he would be our last and my OB thought I was too young to decide so another Mirena seemed like a good solution. I had it placed this may during my period and it was fine. I thought it was going to be just like the last one, I WAS MISTAKEN. I have had my period almost every 20days they are heavy and last about a week. I feel like my insides are falling out and I just got my period this morning and I had it two weeks ago. I have been unbearable to everyone in my Family and Ended my vacation today by storming off for five hours alone trying to deal my suicidal thoughts!!!! I came on the computer to search for a reason why I would have my period within two weeks of each other and founds this site. So much of this makes sense that it scares me. I have had a both experiences and am still trying to take in that my actions tonight may have been induced by my Mirena. Never would I have thought I would feel like this after my first experience but now thinking back maybe my coping skills with what was happening in my life then would have been better. As far as the weight When I had the first one Out I went from a size 14 to a size 6 (that at one point were big) in almost 2 months.... This time I have lost weight but I was also put on antidepressants which there side affect is weight loss!!! I am sorry if this is all over the place but my thoughts are all jumbled as I am trying to make sense of this.... I really never thought it was the Mirena until I read these Blogs!!!

I am 22 years old and this is my first experience on birth control. My doctor suggested Loestrin and I love it! I was really nervous to start on this pill because the complaints a lot of women have posted on here, but I figured I would give it a try myself. I used to suffer from awful, heavy periods with severe pain and now that doesn't happen at all! Now, periods are VERY light and short- only around three days! I maintain very healthy eating habits and go to the gym every day, so I was really nervous about the side effect of weight gain/ bloating but I haven't experienced either side effect! I also have a close friend who is on Loestrin too and she has no problems either. So if you are questioning whether you should try this, go for it! I'm glad I did! :)

I just started loestrin 24 fe this week and I have never had so much anxiety in my life. I'm 18 and this is my first experience with birth control. I was put on it to get rid of the depression I get with my PMS. I'm pretty sure I just had my very first panic attack. My breathing got heavy, I thought I was going to throw up but never did. I felt impending doom and I didn't know what to do to stop feeling that way. My mind has been racing constantly for the past 5 days about things that normally don't bother me. I'm worried about everything. This has been the worst week of my life. 4 day periods are not worth this.

I've been on Aviane for the past couple of weeks. This is my first experience with birth control and I'm 23. So far the only side effects that I have experienced are: slight irritation that went away, sparse small pimples, light spotting, and slight loss of appetite. I'm not complaining about these symptoms in the least. Each woman's body will react differently to each pill she's on. So not every woman will have the same experience with this pill as another may have, as obviously stated by the previous comments. In saying that, I don't think people should read these blogs and either (a) not choose this pill because of somebody else bad experience, or (b) expect these things to NOT occur when you get on a pill because most of the symptoms people are describing are listed in the information pamphlet that comes with the pills and are outlined by your Doctor before you start taking them. If symptoms are that severe, talk to your Doctor. It's not that this pill is "bad" or "no good" it's just not suitable for everyone.

Wow, it amazes me how many negative reviews this BC (birth control) received after doing a Google search and yet this RING FROM HELL is STILL on the market. And even worse, doctors who are prescribing it are CLUELESS. They don't give you the full extent of the side effects when you ask them about it. And when you don't ask them, they don't even tell you anything!

My first experience with NuvaRing was a positive one, or so I thought. I was on it for about 1 1/2 years, if I remember correctly. It cleared up my skin, made me gain weight (which is actually a good thing, considering I was always so rail-thin), breasts got bigger, didn't affect my sex drive...it basically took care of all the problems I was having before. However, looking back, I do remember gradually losing my mind, having dizzy spells, and depression. I don't remember why exactly I took the ring out, but I think it was because I didn't have insurance anymore to cover it. The experience of going off the ring wasn't too bad at all, from what I can remember.

NOW, just recently, approx. 9 weeks ago, I decided to give this thing a whirl for a second time because I mostly remembered the high points and I was dealing with acne breakouts on my cheeks when I turned 22 (which I never had before). I remembered how well it cleared up my skin last time, when I was dealing with mild teenage acne. Unfortunately, this time around, being on it for roughly 2 months, I didn't have such a great experience. Side effects came on strong immediately, and the worst I've felt. Like this one time, I was getting ready to sleep when suddenly, I felt like my chest was being sat on, like a sensation of heaviness or pressure on my chest and I could not inhale fully. I couldn't catch my breath if that makes sense. It lasted until I finally passed out from sleepiness. It was scary...also; I started to have acne breakouts as well, and developed rash acne AND 2 deep pimples that were large in size. This made me quickly remove the ring on the spot, even though I had just inserted 3 days ago. Other side effects included painful bloating, constipation, very bad cramps, negative mood, low sex drive, vaginal burning and dryness, occasional chest pinch or pressure, and zero motivation.

Also, quick question, has anyone experienced moments of complete stiffness or dazedness or whatever? For example, I remember I was eating a great meal and watching TV with my fiance when suddenly, I just started to slow down in movement. I just put my utensils down and placed my arms on my side, and my vision became out of whack. It went from blurry to clear, blurry to clear and I felt out of it and that something was very wrong with me. Like, I was spacing out hardcore. It was like being catatonic, but not fully. Not sure if this was directly related to the BC, but I've never experienced this before until I was on the NuvaRing...hmmm

Anyway, after taking the ring out about 4 days ago, I have experienced what seems to be yet a second withdrawal period (as well as headaches). And I just ended my "period" last week. Only had the damn ring back in for 3 days?? Now I'm concerned because I've read you can have side effects even while trying to GET OFF the ring? Such as hair loss, unrecovered sex drive, acne, and withdrawal bleeding which lasts for days to weeks. And I was only on the ring this time around for 9 weeks. I will keep you all posted on how long my withdrawal effects take to subside….

This is my personal experience with it and I think that the idea to directly penetrate hormones into our bloodstream with third generation hormones is just too much for us women to handle. Why is it that we women have to suffer through all this? Why don't men create a birth control for THEMSELVES and deal with it! After all, we can't get pregnant without a sperm so men should be on BC, not us! Grrrrrr…Sorry, another withdrawal side effect from getting off the ring (crankiness).

Good luck to all,
L.A.

I have taken Yaz for one month, and in the past week noticed my breasts got bigger by a cup size (for me that is too big!), i can't stop crying at night, i feel crazy and uncontrollable, and the cramping and bloating leading up to my first period on Yaz have been uncomfortable. this is my first experience on birth control, and i think it's for the birds. I don't even know if I'll ever try something else. Yaz has not been a gentle introduction.

I am twenty one years old and I started Nuvaring when I was nineteen and at first experience only one side effect, nausea. In the past two years, I have gained about 15 pounds, despite the t fact that I've been eating less and working out more than I ever have. But perhaps the worst side effect for me is migraines. I have had migraines since I was a kid but I would get maybe 4 a year. Since I have been on NR I get about two a week and the longer I've been on it, the more often I get them. I've had a migraine for the past four days. My main concern is that I love having my period regulated. Before I was on BC I worried constantly about when I would start my period. I never wanted to wear white or a bathing suit in case I would start my period randomly, which happened often. Now I am at a loss of what to do. I have to stop the NR because the migraines are making it impossible for me to function at school or work, but what about the periods?
In response to people's questions about IUDS, I have never used one but I do know people who have. At first it can be nerve racking because it has been known to fall out, but if you are using NR, you know it too can fall out. I'm going to try an IUD and look for a more natural way to regulate my periods. I encourage women to stay away from BC that is hormone based. It's very bad for your body, causing not only these side effects, but blood clots, tumors and cysts. There are other ways and I think we all need to look into them.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003, have been treated with Asacol ever since, and was in remission for nearly 5 years. I flared in December of 2007, and had my first experience with prednisone; I was on 40 mg/day for nearly 6 months. I gained 35 pounds, got the moon face, double-chin, tummy fat, muscle aches, extreme mood swings, excruciating headaches, night sweats, and UNCONTROLLABLE hunger. I, too, noticed the sensitive teeth, and now I feel like my enamel is really thin...almost see-through. Anyway, I've been off prednisone for about 5 months. The moon face went away for the most part, but my cheeks still seem a little chubbier than before, and my double-chin is a lot smaller, but still there. I've lost about half the weight, but only after joining weight watchers and working out 6 days a week. I feel like I can't lose any more weight to save my life. Does anyone have any suggestions? I never struggled with weight prior to taking this stupid drug. I'd appreciate any input.

It really is surprising that this drug is used. I had an episode when I was 18. My parents were out of town and I got a really bad migraine. I called them and they told me I should go to the emergency room. I went by myself and I don't remember what they gave me, but it must have been Reglan. With in minutes of the IV I got really nervous and agitated. I wanted to crawl out of my skin. I buzzed the nurse button like 3 times and after 10 minutes and no one came I panicked. I pulled the IV out and left the hospital. Crazy I know but I couldn't think clearly. I went home and after a few hours I was okay.

Well this brings me to 9 years later and to my most recent experience. I am pregnant and I got a really nasty migraine. I was puking, couldn't see out of my right eye. Since there wasn't anything I could take I called my OB. He told me I should go to the ER and so I went with my husband. They said they wanted to give me Reglan and Benadryl, since I didn't know that was what they gave my when I was 18 I said okay. With in minutes I was having the same reaction I did 9 years ago. I went nuts. I started freaking out. I told my husband I wanted to leave. I needed the IV out of me. My skin was itchy and burning. I was nervous, shaking, and having a hard time breathing. When I husband got the nurse she was really condescending. She was like, “Do you have a history panic attacks?” I said, "no." Then she got the Dr., who ordered more Benadryl. After about 15 more minutes I calmed down. This was an extremely unpleasant experience; I will never take this medicine again.

I was prescribed Loestrin FE 1/20 TAB for clotting and having menstruation more often than I should (once every two weeks or so). My first experience resulted in leg pain, after six days. This ended with a Doppler scan to check for blood clots. Well, that was cleared so back on to Loestrin I went. When I picked up my prescription I asked the pharmacist (yes I had already asked my doctor) during consultation about interactions with the other medications I take on a daily basis. Prednisone 10mg tablet and Armour Thyroid 240mg. I was told, not to worry, no issues. Eleven days after starting Loestrin again, I called my doctor because of nausea, vomiting, fatigue, indigestion (like I've never had before) and feeling "foggy." I was told these were "not typical complaints" that they heard. I then checked for interactions on line and found that both the prednisone and Armour Thyroid have interactions. With Prednisone it's side effects can be made more severe than they would be without the Loestrin (never had a side effect in the eight months I was on it, until the Loestrin). I experienced With the Armour Thyroid Loestrin binds to it, preventing the absorption of the thyroid medication. This explains all of the symptoms I was having. Please, beware that you must check on interactions yourself, do not rely on your pharmacist or physician to be aware of these.

i started taking Loestrin FE just under a month ago. i havnt gotten to the brown pills yet for my 1st period on it.
since i started taking it ive noticed that ive been pee'n 2 times as much as i normally do..
my gums bleed slightly when i brush my teeth and in the afternoons i get nauseas and light headed..i get really week and after a few minutes it goes away.
ive taken a pregnancy test and its came back negative (i took it today)
but idk

what do you guys think?
plz let me know

I've been on Lo24 for a few weeks now and don't like it at all. This is my first experience with bc and was put on it as a hormone therapy. I had a tubal ligation 11yrs ago and am a cancer survivor most likely starting perimenopause. Since my tubal my periods have only lasted 3 days, well let me tell you, with this pill it seems like i've had my period everyday since starting it. I have the tender breasts, bloating, weight gain, painful intercourse,and stomach hurts to the touch like so many others have described. I have stopped taking the pill a few days ago and I'm still bleeding. How long will it take for all these side effects to go away? I'm especially looking forward to the bleeding and weight gain to go away. I worked hard in the last year to lose 50 pounds and am very upset now that my pants are snug because of this damn pill. My gyno said there would be no weight gain, minimal spotting for a few days...nice to know they like to bullshit us. I wish I never started on this, lesson learned.

I am 20 yrs old and this is my second month on Loestrin 24 Fe. So far I have been experiencing a lot of the same problems everyone else has, no period, but constant spotting. I haven't had too many mood swings but I have noticed that I am a little more emotional than usual. I snap at my boyfriend sometimes over the smallest things. I even got a cyst for the first time! My sex drive has decreased greatly and I tend to be really dry whenever I do have sex with my boyfriend, and of course that is uncomfortable. This month I have noticed a brown discharge or maybe its just the spotting I am not sure. Also I missed one pill this month and I got a mild yeast infection without the burning or itching. This has really effected my sex life with my boyfriend cuz it seems like something is always wrong. I also thought I was pregnant since being on the pill but it was just a false alarm. Loestrin 24 is the first form of birth control I have ever taken in my life because I never wanted to get on it. I didn't think bc was natural or healthy because I felt like if God didn't want women to bleed or get pregnant, we wouldn't. But my boyfriend had talked me into it. Being that this is my FIRST experience, I am almost positive I will be getting off the pill. I haven't gained much weight, maybe about 3 or 4 lbs if that. This pill is horrible and I don't recommend it for anybody!!!!

This is my first experience using birth control and I wanted something with low hormones, just so that I was getting the protection and decreasing the lengths of my periods without messing too much with my body's natural chemistry. My OBGYN gave me some samples of Loestrin and I have been on it for about a month and a half. I immediately had the bleeding out, which is about every 2 weeks, with one of those times being my actual period. I also have had a lot of pain in my breasts that has yet to subside. Most alarming though is that for the past month I have because extremely irritable for absolutely no reason. I have snapped at loved ones and people I don't even know and its causing a lot of problems in the work place, because I am constantly in a bad mood. I finally took the initiative to see if mood swings were a side effect and I found this site. I really think that this is a major side effect that needs more attention because it is really affecting my life. I have decided to call my doctor and ask for another pill and I would not recommend this birth control for anyone. Thank you for your posts helping me see that I'm not crazy!

This is my first experience with the pill .I recently started taking Loestrin 24 Fe about 4 days ago due to being on my period for a little over 3 weeks. My Dr.told me to take double doses for the first 3 days he highly recommended it even though I'm a bit skeptical especially after reading everyones Horror stories about it. Ever since I've started taking them I have these really Sharp HEADACHES.. and extremely emotional. I Don't know if this is just normal or if it's signs of something possibly more serious. I've read a lot about blood clots and that's what freaks me out the most( I don't drink/smoke) Should I be alarmed?? Could it be just my anxiety.. I've been freaking out so much that I'm contemplating not taking it anymore someone help?! Any INSIGHT?????
Thanks!

I'm a 50 year old male, very active but plagued with hereditary induced cholesterol. My first experience with Lipitor was that it was a miracle drug for me. Unfortunately after taking continually for 6 months, I keep on developing muscle strains on my legs which forces me to stop playing tennis for a month. I also believe I ruptured my Achilles tendon about two years ago because of taking Lipitor.

Anyway, after stopping taking Lipitor, in just 3 weeks, my legs felt stronger and I'm pretty quick in my game again.

Another side effect is the aging effect it makes on my face. It sags, making me a lot older. Stopping my medication also quickly tightened my facial skin, making me look younger again. In fact , on the street I will know if somebody is on Lipitor even if nobody told me. The skin will be like very soft, double chin will be really sagging.

The problem is doctors don't believe this. When I tell them they dismiss it.

This is my first week on Loestrin 24 FE as well as my first experience with BC. I really hope my side effects go away, as I do not think I will be able to continue taking it if they don't. I have turned into a complete insomniac - can't sleep and I am tired the entire day. I have random headaches and a complete loss of appetite. I continuously feel as though I'm about to get my period - bloated, achy, moody - even though I just had it. I feel like I'm gaining weight even though I'm eating 1/4 of what I used to. I really don't know what to do. I was taking it at night, but figured I should try taking it earlier because my sleep cycle is completely off. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi all, I'll be finishing up my first week on Loestrin this Sunday. My OBGYN put me on this due to overlong periods and bad cramping. This is my first experience with a BC, so I'm a little bit nervous about it. For the past several days, I have been getting really nauseous. It's not a constant thing, one minute I'm fine and the next I feel like I need to dart in to the bathroom. I'm not too worried about any weight gain because that is something that I could probably use, but the nausea is concerning me a bit. I have to go back to the gyno sometime next week, so I can probably ask about it there, but reading the comments on this page has got me a little bit nervous. Should I try to wait it out and see if things get better, so should I quit while I'm ahead?

I have had the worst time on this pill...gained 29 pounds in less than three months. Terrible mood swings, depressions, nightmares and just a general dissatisfaction with everything in life. I am 28 yrs old, and this was my first experience with birth control pills...because of this pill, I am not sure I'll ever get back on any oral contraceptives. More than all the others, the weight gain despite my numerous efforts to regulate my weight has been the hardest for me to deal. As of tomorrow, I will no longer take this horrible little pill.

My husband was given a sample of this for a month-long bout of bronchitis and we are now thinking it has done permanent damage to his vocal chords. He only used it 5 times, got thrush (yeast infection) in his throat and is still hoarse after a week of being off of it. Does anyone know the history of this drug and has the word "class action lawsuit" crossed anyone's mind besides mine? I am amazed at the way pharmaceutical companies run the healthcare business in this country!

I don't want to go off on a rant here, but are people aware that a large portion of the FDA's operating budget is provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers? This isn't our first experience with this type of thing and I'm about to launch a grassroots campaign to educate the public. Maybe they'll stop believing all the marketing hype.

I'm thinking that the pharmaceutical companies ought to heed the Hippocratic oath - FIRST, DO NO HARM. Wouldn't it be a remarkably different world if they would take all the money they're spending on marketing and use it to lower the price of orphan and AIDS drugs? They keep saying that research is expensive - and advertising on every possible television show, radio and magazines is cheap? Hello? Are we going to be sheep or are we going to be citizens and hold these companies responsible for what they're doing. Thanks for letting me vent. Please contact me if you want to do something about this. And no, I'm not an attorney, but I'm a writer and I think I just found out what my first book is going to be about...

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!

Yes, the Clonazepam stops the panic, but it is NOT good for the general anxiety...it basically just knocks me out (very tired, weak, sick feeling). I am now hiking with my dog every day to burn it off by suggestion of my doctor. As I start walking I feel so weak sometimes I am afraid I will not make it back to the house, HOWEVER as I continue to walk the feeling eventually goes away (I carry my cell phone for security..although I really know I will not need to use it)! The more I walk, the better I feel! I have also found that no matter how deathly sick I feel, if I can just GET OUT OF BED, the feelings eventually go away throughout the day. I avoid all negative influences (movies, news, negative people) and spend a lot of time at church working on building my faith...it has helped me survive all this.

I am now on day 9 of my cycle and my recent "spell" seems to be over. I am 28 years old and this was my first experience with BCP. I never had ANY health problems before. Good news is, my test results have all come back.... my pap smear, blood work, and urine work all came back NORMAL. (I had a year of abnormal pap tests also. I had a yeast infection about every week!) It took a YEAR to get everything to come back clear again. I am not taking any medication regularly at this time.

The Vitamin B Complex does make me a little jumpy, but I have found I can work it off through some kind of cardiovascular exercise. In general I am feeling MUCH better. Just start out slowly every day, eat healthy food (no caffeine/alcohol, I carry apples, celery, and peanut butter with me everywhere), and KEEP MOVING. I also have some Valerian capsules and tea. "Celestial Seasonings" makes a tea called "Sleepytime" which has Valerian in it....seems to work pretty well.

All in all, my faith, my fellow women on this site, and a supportive husband has helped me through this disaster. It will only make you stronger in the end. God bless Medications.com for having this site! I feel it saved my life. I am praying for all of you...HANG IN THERE.
Virginia