Holidays symptoms and conditions

I thought that all the problems I've had the last 3 months that I've been on Yaz were unrelated....I thought between stress, IBS, my job as a teacher, and being a single mother, that all my problems are just stress. I've been on the pill for three months. I am taking the pill to help with adult acne and mood swings. I really think that it has helped both of those things. However, the last month I have noticed some symptoms and I think that maybe I can tie them all to yaz???? Here's the list:
Headaches
Weight gain
Muscle cramps
Extreme GI problems (worse than my normal IBS)
Blanking out (short time frames where I do weird things and I don't remember them). Is this a symptom? I haven't read about this one. I'm scared to death I have some mental disease or something! Anyone else have this problem? I am so scared that I've lost my mind and have gone crazy.
Night mares
Anxiety
Panic attacks (I think)
Abnormal heart beat

I was just wondering if any one else has expierecned the side effects I have. I'm not sure if they're from the pill or not so I'm wondering if anyone can relate. Now first I do get bad headaches and I know those are from this pill. My eye sight got slightly worse and I can't wear contacts well which again, are side effects from the pill. However, my "new" side effects are nausea, balance issues, I feel like my body swells when I get too hot (no I'm not pregnant), I also just feel so lethargic and tired all the time. I have no motivation to do anything, especially when it comes to being active. I'm not depressed but I'm getting there because of the laziness. I do have a few mood swings before my period but not often and I usually know they're mood swings and I'm being ridiculous. OH! Also I get this weird rash on my body, it's like a bunch of red blotchy spots when the sun is on me too long or when I get too hot. Does any of this happen to anyone else?

I was excited to learn that my doctor would allow me to get Mirena as I have never had any children. He said that it would be more uncomfortable but besides that there was no reason I should not have it. I was 22 when it was inserted and I still don't want children for a long time, if ever. I had been on NuvaRing since I began birth control but I was about to lose my health insurance so I thought this was the best bet. I started putting on weight and I attributed it to the fact that I had just lost a lot of weight and after a few months of getting too comfortable at barbecues and holidays, it was catching up to me. I got that pair of pants thinking it would just be til I got it back off. I started exercising more than I ever had and was eating well and nothing. I started getting down on myself. I tried to explain to someone that it wasn't the way I looked, it was how I felt. I said I never felt so heavy, like my body was dragging at all times, and I've been heavier than this in the past and didn't feel this awful. I kept attributing it to one thing or another, the worse it gets the worse I eat and now it is by my own fault. I was getting depressed around the holidays and usually love everything that comes with it, yet was happy to work this year. I've been avoiding everyone. I've had the worse cramps I've ever had. I can tolerate pain...piercings, tattoos, the whole shabang. I was literally doubled over that it would stop me in my tracks. I usually avoid painkillers as they give me nausea but even after taking muscle relaxers and ibuprofen I could barely function, in fact I was happy to try to sleep it off. I have been bleeding for well over a month now, when I usually only bleed for a few days. When I wasn't "bleeding" I was spotting which was actually something even less appealing. The only headache I've ever previously had were after wisdom teeth extraction and I now get headaches almost everyday. I'm rambling, but I could go on and on. I've been so tired that I drag all day but I can't sleep. It's been suggested that I might be anemic and I try to eat well and take vitamins and nothing is helping but caffeine which just makes my mood swings worse, and like I said I try to eat well. I don't drink soda and have a sensible diet (outside of the past few months getting worse and worse anxiety about my weight). I'm not a cryer and have found myself sobbing while "PMSing" if that's what you call it when you feel like there's no more "pre" because it's almost constant, and saying that I know these thoughts are absurd. A year ago if something was wrong I'd have taken aggressive steps to improving my mental health. I love everything in my life. I've got a great job and everything, but something just doesn't seem right. I heard a lyric that said something along the lines of, "Everything's right but something's still wrong." I actually found myself telling someone, "I'm not sad anymore. I've just accepted that I'll never really be happy...at least I won't allow myself to be for long." I just haven't felt myself in a long time. I've had the worst UTIs I've ever had, more than one but one that was almost enough to encourage me to have it removed then. Again, I attributed it to something else. I had been on vacation and since I had recently had it inserted thought it was natural, considering that a-little-more-frequent-sex-during-vacation-thing. I work with mentally ill patients, who seem to be comfortable saying just about anything that pops in their heads and they have commented, not only on my weight, but on my facial hair. I mean I don't have a mustache growing, but my normal peach fuzz is turning into peach furr. I've had absolutely no sex drive, none. Not to get too personal, but I usually thoroughly enjoy masturbating. I don't even enjoy that. I actually forced myself one day when I was feeling down, thinking my lack of it was affecting my mood due to hormone levels. That's about the only thing I want to occasionally do, again thought the lack of sex drive was due to body issues but now I'm not so sure. My man actually told me one day he thought I was being more aggressive at one point, but it was because as he was getting intimate I almost had to force myself to get it over with (nothing against him). He comes near me just to hug me or sit near me and I pull away. I know I've rambled and rambled and rambled. However, I just didn't put all of these things together. I thought this might all be in my head, stress, etc. etc. Just reading this gave me so much hope. Like I said, I've barely been said anymore. I've been able to say that I'm happy with a frown on my face...I know everything IS right in my life, but it hasn't FELT right in a long time. Thank you all for this. I will be sure to come back and note the aftermath when I have it removed. I don't have insurance anymore, but I am going to see what I can do about getting it removed as soon as possible. Just for a comparable point, last year at this point in time (pre-Mirena) I was at about 133 pounds. I had leveled out at about 140 and been steady for awhile. I had Mirena inserted last November and now, in mid-April, I am a little over 160. I will be calling my doctor today. I thank you all again, so SO much. I hope this helps someone else as much as it did me.

Having the Mirena fitted last August was the best thing I have done for ages. It has transformed my life. My periods are virtually non-existent. Still regular but very light & only last a day at the most. I used to suffer for 5 days, with cramping and flooding, sometimes finding it difficult to stand up with the pain. Now I have no pain at all. Also traveling was difficult to plan around loo stops. Holidays were a nightmare - especially with two nosy teenage boys around wondering why Mum was miserable again! The first few months my boobs were swollen but to be honest I quite liked them. No other side effects as yet. Thanks to the doctor who suggested Mirena.

I had the Mirena inserted July 2007. I thought the Mirena was the best invention ever! I have migraines so I could no longer continue taking the pill. My doctor and I discussed my options and we both thought the Mirena would be a good solution. I didn't want to have anymore kids but I was mentally ready to have my tubes tied. With the Mirena I would have lighter periods and no migraines and it lasted for 5 years. No remembering taking a pill every night. Sounded like a win-win situation to me. During the latter half of 2007 to early 2008, I gained 22 lbs. It appeared overnight (or that's how I felt). I blamed it on it being the holidays and eating too much. I increased my workouts, hired a personal trainer (not cheap) and dieted my butt off. I didn't lose a pound. Early this year my co-worker told me about this sight. She had the Mirena also. When I started reading the side affections that women were experiencing, everything started clicking into place. The weight gain. The hair loss. My hair grows like a weed. And I've been trying to grow my hair out for at least 8 months. It hasn't grown an inch even though I get my ends trimmed. The hair at the back of my head has broken off. It's shorter than the rest of my hair. I have ZERO sex drive. I'm moody (more than usual). I've made an appointment to have it removed Wednesday. I can't wait! I still don't know what I'm going to do about birth control.

To this day, I am not sure if Nuvaring is the cause of all my problems. But after reading about the side effects and finding many commonalities in my own experience, I took it out today and will not continue using it.

I've been on Nuvaring for the past year. Just before I started using it, I had an episode in the gym where my heart started racing very uncomfortably and I felt like i was going to faint after running. Two visits to the ER and numerous specialists' visits later, they concluded I have generalized anxiety disorder.

Over the past year since that incident, I've become much more anxious than I ever remember. I've gained about 20 pounds. I get headaches all the time. I'm CONSTANTLY tired, to the point where it doesn't matter how long I sleep, I still don't want to get out of bed. Most of the time, I don't want to have sex. I have spells where I feel like I'm about to faint (but never do). Of course, the doctors attribute this to my anxiety, and I'm pretty sure that's what it is since it doesn't seem to be anything else really serious.

Like I said, I don't know if the Nuvaring has had a hand in putting me through this ridiculousness, but I'm not taking any chances. I read somewhere the Nuvaring isn't good for people with anxiety problems because it just makes these problems worse.

At least if these symptoms continue for a while after I've stopped the Nuvaring, I'll know it may not have been it. However, every month I feel my best the week of my period. Coincidence???

I'm reading everyone's symptoms from the Mirena IUD and now I wish I never had it inserted. I had and IUD in for almost 6 years and had to trade it in for a new one. Not sure if my former one was Mirena because I didn't have bad side effects like now. In December I had the Mirena inserted and it was a very painful insert for me this time around as well. I immediately felt heavy cramping and couldn't stand up from the table it hurt so bad. I kept telling my GYN that maybe it was inserted incorrectly and she looked at me like I had 3 heads. She gave me Advil and told me to let it settle in. Needless to say I had some cramping for the rest of the day. 2 weeks later I got my first period following the procedure. It was normal, lasted about 10 days (longer than usual) and then went away. Yesterday, out of nowhere and only 1 week after it stopped, I experienced extremely red and heavy bleeding and clotting the size of my fist. I almost thought I was having a miscarriage or something. It's crazy how much cramping followed. I have been feeling strange all week, getting bad pimples on my face, gained a lot of weight over the holidays without really going overboard on eating, sex has been a bit painful and leaving pain in my lower abdomen. I've NEVER bled this much in my life. Not even after giving birth to two kids via C-section. It's pretty scary. I'm wondering if I made a big mistake. Never had problems like this with the last IUD. Leaving messages for my doctor but should I be worried???

terrible ab swelling bloat and pain swelling in different part of body but every thing seems to be on left side.Feel compression of all inside organs in abdomen.making wheezing and breathing not right.Depression - my Prozac didn,t seem to work any more now that I look back on it. I started taking lisinopril about 8 yrs ago.Lately started with headache but that went away as soon as i stopped drug. Luckily over the holidays I ran out of pills and stopped taking and about on the second day (three days after one of my emergency visits where they never find nothing even though I feel like I am dying.) I felt like my old self again .I felt normal. I was so happy Yet so mad at doctors. For getting treated like I was crazy after awhile.I found out about intestinal angioedema fro my pharmacist when on a whim asked about lisinopril .My stomach area is all still sore but not all swelled up .Oh I also had urinary problems Which I still Have off and on But I take Flomax even though i am female. Im going to get bladder scope next week and I know it has to do with compression for so long from angioedema from the lisinopril.

Thank you! I have been experiencing the same problems you all have posted! My doctor said it was probably stress from the holidays and my recent move and prescribed me ulcer medication. After 2 weeks I started to feel better, but not completely normal yet. For a while I went without coffee because I thought I developed an acid reflux problem along with the vomiting and stomach cramps and diarrhea, and I was taking prilosec as suggested by my pharmacist. Things seem to be getting better, so I bought Lactaid Milk and the last few weeks have been experiencing gas again. I was beginning to think it was my low fat low calorie diet with artificial sweeteners. I stay away from Splenda, because that really gives me gas problems, but sweet in low is okay. Tonight my husband and I went and got frozen yogurt, I took a Lactaid Ultra with it and about 30 minutes later I was cramping and on the toilet with diarrhea and vomiting. After reading this site, I realized Lactaid has got to be the problem. For now I am going to stay away from as much dairy and non dairy stuff I can and never use the Lactaid again. Hopefully things will get better and I can have small amounts of dairy from time to time. I am only 28 and I feel like I am having all kinds of digestive changes. Is this normal? Thank you again for your comments!

I have been taking Lisinopril for 11 months. I've had psoriasis for 18 years and never did I have an outbreak on my face until the past month! After reading and doing research I've found that Lisinopril can cause outbreaks. After reading all these blogs I realized I am not crazy! I though all my symptoms like dizziness,shortness of breath and muscle aches were all in my head. I want to reach out to those that have suffered with psoriasis like I have never to take this pill! It had truly ruined my holidays and is putting my job on the line because I do not want to be seen like this.

I will never take this pill ever again. I have been on birth control for over 10 years and I have never experienced anything like this. I have been on at least 6 different types and this crap is insane. I have been on it for almost 3 months and have gained almost 10 pounds in my stomach and waistline, I have constant cramping in my stomach for the last month, I will not stop bleeding for the last month although my period is not due for another 2 weeks, i lost my sex drive completely, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, dizzy spells. all of the above basically. I started taking it because I skipped my period using my regular birth control. by not taking the placebo pills and starting a new pack. I've been doing that for over 4 years and I have never had this kind of reaction to anything. No one should take this pill. RUN FROM IT! if your doctor writes it down... say no... and ask for something else. Because it should be banned. I don't think they tested this one enough. The FDA needs to look again at this pill.

Well I think that I have been the most dramatic person posting on this website.I have had the mirena since May 2007 and overall thought that it was the best thing in the world until I started putting two and two together. I have had bouts of major depression, hair loss with every combing, acne galore (Im 30 years old and have always been complimented on my clear skin), headaches,moodiness, been a recluse, no sex drive, when i did have sex it hurt my ex so bad that we just decided not to, and not to mention the weight.I work out twice a day on my bike, do weight lifting 5 days a week and do stomach exercises twice a day.All of this was done to my dismay because I have not loss a daggone pound. The straw that broke the camels back was when I went to see my doctor and he told me that I had to get a rx filled for bacterial vaginosis. (I don't have sex and haven't had sex in 6 months) so it couldn't have come from new or many sex partners(Im not that type of chick). He said that the hormone that the mirena delivers can make the normal bacteria in your body grow in excess. Well I just about lost it. I was so upset that I asked him to remove it. He told me that in order for them to do it I would have to wait until after the holidays. Well that wasn't good enough for me so I marched out of his office, drove home in a rage, and marched upstairs and snatched it out myself. I thought it was going to be painful but it actually didn't hurt at all. I haven't started bleeding as of yet but am prepared for it. The only good thing that I can say I will miss about the mirena is the absence of my period. I went the whole time without one. The thought of not having a period scared me as well. Regardless, this is my story and I know I went to drastic measures but i was extremely unhappy.

I took Wellbutrin 300 mg for two years before to quit smoking and for mild depression. After the initial (weeks 2-4) side effects of nausea, dizziness and headaches - I felt great. Not drugged and not overly emotional. I had been crying all the time and felt hopeless. I felt much better (and didn't want to smoke at all). I quit it for about 2 years and now I am back on Wellbutrin for the last 7 months. I started with Cymbalta - but hated the loss of sex drive (not able to orgasm - so who wants to have sex, right?) and felt drugged. So Wellbutrin was a welcome "old friend" I didn't have bad side effects with switching and have been pretty happy. EXCEPT for the one very scary side effect that I have experienced just a handful of times - but I really am curious if anyone else has had this HEAD TRIP WHILE DRIVING: It has happened when I'm on the interstate and/or bridge when I am driving at fast speeds, and my head feels whoozie all of the sudden and my brain seems to shift sideways - like on a roller-coaster, up and down, sideways - and I am amazed that my hands don't go with it and drive me into the wall! It takes intense concentration and wheel gripping to get myself where I can pull off the road. What the?? I don't want to ever experience this again - but it is so OCCASIONAL. The only variable I can think of is that I have not been faithfully taking the WB at the same time everyday (I'm more and more forgetful) and have skipped a day. Has ANYONE ELSE had a similar experience???

I have to comment on some of the Lamictal "new comers". I've taken Lamictal for 1 1/2 years. For the first 6 months, this was the miracle drug. As months went by, I began all of the same symptoms: fogginess, weight gain, short-term memory loss, NO libido, headaches, and nausea, to name a few. As of this moment, I am weaning off of the Lamictal. HARD to do. This is not a drug that can be "stopped" immediately. On my fifth day of weaning off, I am dizzy, tired, weak, irritable, and have vomitted. Only about 3 days left. I am starting Topomax after. I'm anxious to see if there is any difference. Especially the weight gain part. I went from 120 to 135 in one year. (I run and eat healthy meals.) I will continue to take Effexor, which, in 2 years, has had little or no side effects. My advice to anyone just starting to take Lamictal is to GO SLOWLY. My doctor had my doses increase so rapidly that I didn't really see if the lower doses would have worked. (I take 200mg.) The bottom line is to do what feels right for YOUR body, rather than a specified dosage. Best wishes to you fellow BP-ers!

I had been diagnosed in Dec 2007 with multiple blood clots in my lungs, I have never had blood clots before, after two c-sections, two pregnancies.
I was so short of breath thinking it was stress due to holidays and work that my doctor advised I should have a V scan of my lungs and that was when I was told both lungs were "peppered" with clots, I need immediate medical attention, I had to give myself Heparin in my belly for one week. I was off work for 3 months, I too almost lost my life, if I didn't have an angel on my shoulder which told me "something is wrong see your doctor" my children would be without a mother, my husband without a wife and I was in total perfect health. I pray and thank God every day for my life.

Im a 33 yr old stay at home housewifey. Ive been taking zoloft for 1 week and 1 day. It is a miracle drug! I feel so relaxed and nothing in the world bothers me. I however i did get a couple brain pains and couldnt sleep for about 5 days. I was taking zoloft in the afternoon but was told to take it first thing in the morning so it can help you sleep at night. I started taking it the the am and the past 3 days my sleeping has gotten better, i toss and turn a couple times. I do still feel very fatiqued but only in the mornings and then it disapears by like 10 am. Loss of appetite whitch is good because i can now lose the 25 pounds i have gained over the holidays haha! I feel was feeling depression the first few days of taking zoloft but now its gone. My stress level isnt that bad like it was. I do feel like im in a dream but in a good way. I feel like im on a happy cloud. I love taking my happy pill (zoloft) it is helping me ALOT!
I am a quiet person by nature and now i find myself taking up a storm!
I was terrified of the carpenter bees outside whitch we have a ton of. It took me 1/2 hr to get to my car to pick my son up from school just about everyday. And i sat in the car for almost an hour trying to get back in the house. Now i find myself getting into the car with no problem and no fear of them. I actually stood on the porch with the bee in front of my face talking to it haha, they do not sting but are extremly nosey insects!
Sex drive is still good so far.
Zoloft is working wonders with me. Its not for everyone as i read all the experiences from people , BUT ITS WORKING FOR ME!
Zoloft is working wonders!

Last week, I was prescribed to take Lasix, along with Klor-Don (potassium supplement) for Congestive Heart Failure. Also Levaquin for pneumonia.

I returned to doctor, to state that the Lasix was not having an effect on my urinary habits at all.

SO, the doctor prescribed 60mg Lasix per day, 30mg Klor-Don per day, with an additional 5mg og Lisinopril per day.

Now, everything I read about Lisinopril, is that it should not be taken with Lasix, or any potassium additive stuff.

Plus all the side symptoms that lead to my first prescriptions, are exactly the side effects of Lisinopril. How in the world would I ever know anything was working?

Also, my BP is 108/81. Doesn't look high to me.

Any thoughts? I watched my Dad wither away after being presented additional prescriptions when ones weren't working. To me, it complicated his problems. I'm not about to get into the same piss*** contest with doctors & prescriptions.

I took Levaquin for 5 days (500mg). By the end of that time I was having
extreme joint and muscle pain. Diagnosed for Pneumonia while I was
out of state over holidays. Upon going to my home doctor she immediately
knew this was the Levaquin and after 10 days of prescribed steroids I seem to be past this. THERE WAS NOTHING IN MY DRUG BOOK OR
IN THE INFO AT THE DRUGSTORE THAT ALERTED ME TO THIS SIDE
EFFECT. Please be aware of this. Also stomach bloat and pains.

I'm five months postpartum and quit the mini-pill a few days ago and started NuvaRing as soon as the bleeding started (yesterday morning). I have never felt so aggressive in my life! Perhaps it the combination of getting off one BC method and onto another, but this is awful! I feel angry toward my baby and my husband. Do I need a break or a new BC? Before I got pregnant, the pill made me feel even worse, crying all the time. Now I just feel volatile and mean.

My son is 4 1/2 years old and has been on Singulair since he was 2. We have been happy with the improvement we have seen in regards to his asthma. No more breathing treatments have been great. The last couple of years though he has continued to get severe headaches that put him out for at least a day with high fevers. The first time it happened was when he was 2 and he had a mild seizure with spiked fever. I haven't thought about it at all until he was due to get another headache and hasn't. We have missed some doings due to the holidays and walked out schedule. The timing and symptoms are seeming a little to coincidental. We have seen a hematologist and immunologist for his chronic headaches but no one knows why he is having them. He has even been admitted for them. His white blood cell count has been elevated with no known cause as to what his body is fighting. I think we will take him off of the Singulair for at another month and see if he gets anymore headaches.

Today is day 8 on Topamax. The only symptoms I've really had were the first few nights on it I woke up in the middle of the night but that has stopped. I had a few bad dreams but that has stopped. Drinks taste a little weird to me, but nothing like anyone else on here has described. I can still taste the carbonation at times. I just started taking 50mg today. I do 25mg in the am and I am going to take 25mg in the pm. For the previous 7 days I was only on 25mg per night. I have heard all this talk about weight loss on Topamax. That's part of the reason I am on it...to counteract the weight I have gained since I've been on Lamictal. Anyway, I haven't noticed a decrease in my appetite OR any weight loss at all so far. I was just wondering how long it took to start affecting you guys with the weight loss. Is there a certain mg you are on that it starts to affect your appetite/weight loss or a certain time frame or what? Any information would help. Thanks!

Hello,

I have just gone through a series of tests and a heart cath over the holidays. I have MVP and two other leaky valves. I have known about these since I was 28, I am now 62. I have had problems with the valves, skipped beats, faster beats early on in diagnosis. Just this Nov., I started with problems again, thus the tests were completed. They found Ven. Fib, fast and skipped beats, therefore putting me on the Toprol XL Tab SA. I have only been on this 7 days. New Year's Day, 4 days after the heart cath, I started with fever and chills, only to find out 2 days ago I have full blown strep throat. This makes me wonder if I had this before the heart cath was performed, as I had complete exhaustion,.... anyhow, I took myself to my family doc and she is taking me off of the Toprol and after reading all of your reports I am very glad. She treats me with herbs and has for years, until this episode, I have been very well, I am actually an energizer bunny due to her efforts! So I am working with her on herbs to build my system back up and support for the heart. I hope the rest of you can find a way to wellness that works for you. I know many people don't believe in herbs but I firmly do! Don't be afraid to try herbs if you can afford it! I am 62 and don't look it or act it, like I said until this episode and it truly makes me wonder if it wasn't the infection playing the biggest part. What concerns me is why that was not caught in the first place? Anyhow, take heed to your own body warnings, other people do not know what is transpiring inside of you, only you can know this. Thank you Doctor ** for keeping me well!

I had my MIRENA put in 2 months ago. Since then, even with the holidays, I have lost 11 lbs. (bringing me to 15lbs underwt.) I have had no appetite, acid reflux, extreme nausea, esophageal spasms, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headaches, and weakness. I am also still breastfeeding, so my once fatty milk now looks like water. My husband's starting thinking it was the MIRENA, because my body must think I'm pregnant again. I am going to the MD tomorrow to talk about have it taken out.

I was given Prilosec after an upper endoscopy confirmed GERD. Mostly my symptoms were a feeling like a swallowed a childes building block and it was stuck in my chest, along with heart burn. Prilosec seemed to help, but after about 2 months on it, I began to experience severe dizziness, anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, tingling hands and feet, occasional numbness to right side of body and was diagnosed with anemia. The dizziness was the worst for me. It got so bad, I thought I had agoraphobia, because the dizziness seemed to get worse when I went into stores or public places with bright or fluorescent lights. I thought I was losing my mind and my life. Christmas is coming so I had to force myself to try and shop. Ironically, because of all the hustle and bustle, I forgot to take the Prilosec that day and I was able to shop with very little dizziness! Before this, I would have to leave stores because the dizziness got so bad. My husband thought I went back on it the following day and said this would be the test to see if the Prilosec was the culprit. But, I hadn't taken it for the 2nd day and I was able to shop for almost 6 hours and felt like myself again! I know Prilosec was the cause of my feeling like I was going to die for almost a year now! I was about to contact a psychiatrist, it was getting so bad. Unfortunately, after the 3rd day, the heartburn got so bad, I had to take the Prilosec again and I feel awful again. Helped the heartburn, but all the horrible side-effects are back. After the holidays, I'm calling my doctor to see if she can put me on something else.

I started taking this BC pill about two weeks ago and after reading some of the posts I've gotten a bit nervous. It is the first pill I've ever taken. For the most part things seem to be going okay. I did feel a bit more emotional, but it's the holidays so I have to put the blame on both the pill and the time of year. I figure my body is just getting used to the pill. However, I have experienced a bit of an increase in appetite, which I am not happy about because I just lost around 20 lbs and have no desire to gain any weight back. I take my pill about the same time every morning, give or take 10 minutes. I have felt a bit nauseated on a couple of mornings but it doesn't last very long for me at all. However, yesterday I started to experience spotting/semi-bleeding. It's not a normal flow, but I am getting cramps as if it were my normal period. I don't want to have two periods a month, light bleeding or not. I figure I'll test it out for a few more months, give my body time to adjust. If the increased appetite and the mid-pack bleeding still happen after my third month I'll talk to my doctor. How long does the mid-pack break through bleeding seem to last for people?