June 27th
2008
4:58 PM
I cannot tell you how relieved I am to have found this site! I have been taking YAZ for just over 4 months. I started it to try to lessen menstrual flow, not for birth control as I already have my tubes tied. I am a former professional athlete and very in-tune with my body. I am currently 43 and had my tubal at 29.
I started having issues fairly early on, but they were gradual, yet intense. Two things showed up - memory loss and extreme mood swings. I started having difficulty remembering the simplest things and would forget parts of conversations had only minutes earlier. Then the mood swings started. I am a very stable person, even around my period. I began having suicidal thoughts for no reason at all. One day fine, the next day wanting to end it all.
I have put on 14# in the 4-month period, visible cellulite now on my thighs. Vaginal dryness, brown gunky, pasty residue after my period (which never actually stopped) and decreased sex drive.
I called the doctor and stopped taking them as of today after finding this site!
-- By repo1123 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
June 6th
2008
1:44 PM
I got a Mirena because after laparoscopic surgery to determine if I had endometriosis (none was found) and a D&C to check my uterine lining, my periods did not "reset" the way I was told (I was 42 at the time and they told me that I was not releasing an egg every month so the endometrium was shedding erratically). What I really wanted was a uterine ablation, but my doctor was so enthusiastic about the Mirena and had been the first physician to even contemplate endometriosis was a possibility that I went along. The first day was fine, but the second day I had such stabbing pain in my abdomen that I could not stand up straight or take a deep breath. It resolved before I decided to call the doctor or go to the er. Months followed of checking off that little calendar that I had had menstrual flow that day (MONTHS. I think I started actually having a WEEK without a period sometime after 12 months of having this thing in me). I did not go back to have it removed at that time because my husband had lost his job and therefore our health insurance. In the meantime I still have the symptoms I had before I'd gone in to see the doctor the first time (stabbing pain near my right ovary during my heavy days), PLUS constant bloating, fatigue, my hair has started falling out so bad I can see the thinning at the top of my forehead, acne no matter what treatment I use, and weight gain (~20 lbs, some I can say is probably my dietary changes since DH lost his job, but even with increased vegetables/no caffeine/decreased breads, no measurable weight loss). I had attributed loss of sex drive to the fact that I have almost always been bleeding since this was put in. In fact, I went for a thyroid test yesterday because I hadn't found this site yet. I'm sure it will come back normal. Once it does, you better believe I'm going into the doctor and have this removed. I am so angry. I used to weigh over 250 pounds and worked so hard to get down to the weight I was when this was put in and am so mad that I inadvertently did this to myself.
-- By annaline_39 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
April 20th
2008
12:48 AM
I've had my Mirena IUD for approx. 3-4 months. It's lasting for over 1 week. Also, yesterday and today I've had heavy bleeding and blood clots. I was a bit surprised to notice this considering the Mirena is supposed to lighten your menstrual flow. I have fibroids and my gynecologist inserted the Mirena to lighten the bleeding. However, my period is heavier now and lasting going in to two weeks. I left a message for my doctor to contact me so I can speak with him about this. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this
-- By eileenm | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
January 27th
2008
9:10 PM
I have been using the NUVARING for over a year. I have gained 12lbs because I am bloated all the time and want to over eat. I used to be active, fun and happy. Now I hurt all the time, my lower back aches like I am in Labor and my breasts hurt. Sex just grosses me out, which never happened on any other form of bc. I can hardly stand myself I am so cranky and tired.
I have a history of migraines (which I now realize began with my IUD which had hormones too. But nothing like the migraines with the NuvaRing.) The NuvaRing has seemed to worsen them and they last for weeks. Also, I barely have a menstrual flow and am depressed all time, no energy and am angry for no reason. My quality of life is awful and now I know why. After reading your blogs I removed the ring right away. My husband has made an appointment to ensure I never have to have birth control again. I want to be the happy, thin and pain free person I used to be! Now I have hope. This method of bc is not worth the problems it has cause me and my family...and my career. I am in "sales"...you can't be depressed and be in sales.
Thank you all for giving me hope with your honesty!! I thought I was going crazy.
Has anyone else had severe migraines last for weeks since starting the NuvaRing? Also, anyone here ever had the IUD??
-- By susannes | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
May 8th
2006
6:50 AM
Has anyone else had trouble with heavy and/or thick menstrual flow while taking this medication? I am 40 years old and have never had this problem prior to taking Toprol.
I have also experienced the feelings of lethargy, as well as rapid weight gain and bizarre dreams.
-- By spapaleo1966 | Reply | Private Message me
February 6th
2006
12:53 PM
Been on Advair for 10 months, and have gained 20 lbs since then!! Also experience sharp head pains, foot & leg cramps, short term memory loss, irritability and mood swings, increased menstrual flow, slow healing of wounds, etc. Main concern is rapid weight gain! I went to my dr today to discuss...she claims to be unaware of any of these side effects being related to Advair....she can't imagine weight gain as Advair is a powder that goes into just the lungs. My mid section is where I have gained mostly. After reading all the boards on different websites, I am surprised to see how many are experiencing the same side effects with Advair, & I am convinced that it is the cause. I asked dr to prescribe something else, & she did...asmanex & serevent....haven't tried it yet...but I now read that asmanex is also linked to weight gain. I feel so frustrated that I can't rely on my dr for this, & feel like I have to fiure it all out on my own. I'm scared to continue with these meds but I need something to keep my mild asthma under control....everyday. Can anyone recommend anything to me? Should I switch to non-steroid? Any feedback on Singulaire somethin similar? Any information will be helpful. Thanks!
Mona
-- By mona186 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
October 26th
2005
12:29 PM
Okay, today I picked up my new prescription that will enable me to get off Yasmin in four days, after a whopping three weeks on it (my last active pill is this weekend.) I hate this pill. I have not been on the pill in several years, at which time I was on Alesse (symptom free) after two other attempts at other pills. I have a history of fibrocystic breast pain, which means that my cyclical breast tenderness, swelling and pain is worse than the average woman's. About a month and a half ago I decided to start BCP again, and at my exam my doctor was about to prescribe Alesse but then suggested maybe I should try Yasmin, because it supposedly is a really good, mild pill for women with bloating and breast pain like I have and was comparable to Alesse as well. Supposedly, some special hormone acts as a diuretic.
Um, wow, how wrong he was! Day one and day two were actually fine. A little touch of nausea but that's all. Then day three and I started to notice the problems, which have been drastically increasing in severity each and every day since:
Breast tenderness has now turned into extreme breast pain and bloating.
Unbelievable fatigue.
Absolutely no energy (and I am an extremely energetic, healthy woman.)
Loss of sex drive (just what I need in a new relationship, right? Thankfully my boyfriend is extremely understanding.)
Foggy feeling in head.
Anxiety.
Turned my regular period (which I was in during my first week of active pills) into a full week of breakthrough flow that was VERY different from my normal menstrual flow.
Yeast infection (although that may be a relapse of one I had before I started this pill).
Depression.
Irritability.
No desire to exercise at all (I love to swim and I can barely drag myself to the pool!) I just want to lay around.
General "not right" feeling in my mood and head.
Cramps all month.
I called the dr's office at the end of week one about the breast tenderness but was intercepted by a nurse who insisted I give it a few months. I was willing to at the time but the other effects started to take hold after that and finally yesterday after three calls got my own doctor on the phone, who, after hearing my list of symptoms, didn't even argue with me and immediately wrote me up a new script for Alesse which I picked up today. I find the better doctors are the ones who accept that your body may not be adjusting well to a particular pill and willingly change your prescription upon request. That's how I found Alesse years ago, after trying to others. I was pretty much problem free on Alesse.
I cannot wait until this Saturday, my last Yasmin tablet!
-- By jodkor | Reply | Private Message me
March 18th
2005
11:48 AM
I was experiencing all the side affects and more PRIOR to taking this medication. What brought it all to light was having a menstrual flow since Jan. 10th and ending early March. I realize there will be side effects I have to deal with - also we must remember there are other factors involved - do we smoke, drink alcohol, eat processed foods, eat too much refined sugars, caffeine? Given the opportunity as I slept way too much prior to this drug, if one of the side effects is that I can't sleep - I'll have a valerian root tea at 8:30 p.m to be in bed by 9:00. Cut out alcohols, caffeine, etc. Should nauseau arise - eat smaller portions through out the day. Should constipation arise - increase water and a less fiber intake. We as individuals must try to find that fine medium to a balanced lifestyle and not depend on the doctors for all of our answers. Our bodies and chemical equations are extremely complex and will be for quite some time.
-- By midniterider000 | Reply | Private Message me
January 21th
2004
1:19 PM
I've been using Ovcon 35 for 2.5 mos. now. I don't like it. I was on Mircette at first, but it wasn't strong enough for me. I had constant break through bleeding--weeks at a time for 2 mos! So I switched. Since I've been on Ovcon, I have gained about 6-8 lbs. I can hardly fit into some of my jeans. I feel like I'm retaining a lot of water. Today, I'm in the middle of the 3rd week of my pack and I had my period. Not just spotting--it's a menstrual flow. I'm going back to my gyno and I'm going to ask to switch to Yasmin.
-- By jenniferreilly | Reply | Private Message me
March 3th
2003
2:58 PM
I take 24mg and when I started I had alot of the same side effects that are listed. I take it for depression and to "controll compulsion." I found that the more I ate (esp. a protien drink) before i took the meds the less noticable the side effects were. However, since i have been on this my menstrual flow has decreased to almost nothing. Since i started menstrating I have NEVER had anything out of the ordinary occur. No one can tell me if this is actually a side effect though.
-- By rosenylund12 | Reply | Private Message me
Yaz (2) Mirena (2) Yasmin (1) Loestrin 24 Fe (1) Toprol-XL (1) Gabitril (1) Levoxyl (1) NuvaRing (1) Ovcon (1) Advair HFA (1)
August 6th
2008
6:19 PM
I am so glad I found this site!!! I am 37 and I have had my tubes tied but I started taking YAZ to lessen the cramps and help with menstrual flow. What a bad choice!! I have had headaches for the past 4 days and I have only taken them for 8 days!!I am sick to my stomach and i feel so tired
-- By mshupp1970 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message meI will stop today. ..I was watching a movie today and it made me so upset I called my husband...If anyone has stopped taking them Please let me know if the symptoms stops!