October 28th
2009
10:55 AM
I haven't gone through to read all of everyone elses side effects yet but is there anyone who is getting migraines because of this thing? i feel like my head is going to explode and the come so frequently i have never had this problem before getting the mirena i have no clue on whether or not this is what is causing them but i am hoping so, that way i can get it taken out! i go through spurts of depression too but im sure that it is because of the mirena but i will admit i do love the no periods and that it has done its job in preventing another unexpected pregnancy i just do not think i will make it through another headache!
-- By maresag | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
July 23th
2009
9:16 AM
This is my less than 24 hour update from yesterday since I had my Mirena removed. I had my yearly appt. yesterday and explained to my dr. all the problems I've been having over the last year. I thought he would try to talk me out of having it removed but he was very sympathetic and removed it without question. So, I'm definitely relieved about having it out. I'm sure it will be a while before I will be able to notice any changes that I can directly relate to the Mirena coming out. But, I can tell you that my husband and I can already tell the difference during intercourse without the Mirena. It is so much more comfortable so, we are very excited about that! I requested Yaz for birth control since I've been on it before and never had these emotional issues while on it. He also gave me a brochure and DVD on the Essure which is the in-office permanent sterilization procedure. So, I'll be doing research on that to see if that will be a good thing for me to do.
Another thing, too, during my gyno exam, he found a lump in my left breast. I have never had any problems and definitely no history of any kind of cysts. I'm not blaming the Mirena but all of this is just way too coincidental. Now at 35, I'll be having a mammogram and ultrasound to determine what this lump is. I'm just praying hard that it won't be anything and definitely trying to stay positive. I'm just very relieved to have the Mirena out and I will stay posted as to any additional changes in the future.
June 15th
2009
6:28 PM
Just want to survey everyone and ask for responses for the following 3 questions:
1. how long did you keep your Mirena and if you no longer have it, why did you have it removed?
2. how many of you had your thyroid checked? who's came back abnormal? what were the levels?
(I'm a medical student doing research on this one since I believe the levonorgestrel affects our thyroid hormone. My TSH was elevated to 5.2 which is considered "subclinical HYPOthyroidism". This was mid cycle when my natural progesterone AND synthetic progestin were cumulatively high. When I had it rechecked 6 weeks later (around my period when any natural progesterone level is gone) it was normalized at 1.5. So I think that the P+P screws up our thyroid and can throw us into a high TSH and "hypothyroid state". The opposite effect may be true during menstruation and we can become HYPERthyroid for a few days... hence the really bad anxiety?!)
3. where is everyone from? perhaps we can have support group meetings?
-- By ameigh | Reply | (11) replies | Private Message me
March 5th
2009
8:22 PM
I've been on Yasmin for about three months now because I used to miss my periods, freaking out thinking I was prego which would be hell because I am only 19! My doctor recommended it to me. I was on it for about one week a long time ago and stopped because it didn't get rid of my acne and when I went back to her she said it would definitely be at least two months until it cleared up. Finally my acne is clearing and my periods are regular, I used to go two to three months without a period. So far everything has been great except horrible head aches and most importantly, MOOD SWINGS!! Wow. I just moved in with my boyfriend about a month ago and I snap him 247 for no reason> I pick fights like a drunken bar fly and I have been having spurts of crying almost every day and thoughts of suicide. I don't know what to do and I am unsure if it's just me or the BC? After reading all these horror stories I don't know if it's hurting me or helping me! I am afraid if I go off of it that my skin will break out like it used to and I don't want to confuse my body cause it's just starting to become used to it. What should I do? Right now I can't afford to go to the doctor again it was $200 just to sit with a new gyno for literally 3 minutes! I only work part time and I just want advice, because I don't have health insurance and it's not fun being me right now!! Please, any suggestions?
-- By vprymmer24 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
February 9th
2009
8:45 AM
This website had made me sane!!! I have recently become a crazy woman searching side effects of birth control like it was my job, it has taken up my entire head!.. I started nuvaring four months ago (first form of birth control ever) to help control my horrible pms and very irregular period, and it helped that out, HOWEVER, I have recently decided I would prefer the pms over these awful, AWFUL symptoms. Although little spurts occurred here and there, this month is the absolute worst. I have managed to gain 12 lbs in under a month ...(keep in mind I am a work-out freak and have made sure to burn as many calories as I take in each day simply because I just can't stop gaining the weight!) I don't fit into any of my clothes and I just do not like the way I look. It is as if my body has just gotten wider and larger. I used to love my body and now I cant stand looking in the mirror everyday. My eating habits are awful....I try to starve myself for periods of time because I simply cannot help myself when I enter the kitchen. I feel like a bulimic girl, without the puking afterward. My binges are DISGUSTING, I'm actually ashamed. The worst symptom of all, though, are the mood swings. I cry at the drop of a hat every single night, I'm 20 years old away at college, and last night I cried because all I wanted was my "mommy." That's embarrassing. Not to mention my boyfriend thinks I am absolutely nuts because I have "changed." When you tell a severely hormonal woman she has "changed" you better expect a shoe or the nearest object to fly at you, which is exactly what I did. I CAN'T HELP IT! I also have been having negative thoughts about life as a whole lately and have even entered the realm of slight suicidal thoughts, or at least thinking my life was worthless. I've been through too much with my cycle to stop it now (even though I feel like ripping this thing out ASAP) and have 2 weeks left before I can take it out FOR GOOD! If anyone has any feedback they want to share to keep me sane through these last 2 weeks PLEASE PLEASE share! Also, does anybody know how long it will take for me to get my life back?! =(
-- By clement6 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
January 2th
2009
11:52 PM
I started Wellbutrin in the beginning of December. Someone very close to me passed away and I developed severe anxiety with some depression. I took some control of it with simply taking Ativan, but the doctor insisted I get on something for depression as well. I didn't really understand why I need to take a pill when I was just fine before this event.... but ok, I agreed.
I was prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. I was optimistic about it. She said it might improve my focus, give me some energy back, had no sexual side effects.
I took it in the morning, and usually with at least something in my stomach. The first 3 days of taking it, I was severely unstable. I think if I didn't have my boyfriend, I would be dead right now. I would cry uncontrollably, for no reason, pace, have terrible anxiety... I remember going through my closet, throwing things around, looking for a belt, throwing a few on the bed and taking one and tightening it around my neck.. I then walked around and was looking for a place to hang myself.. Luckily my boyfriend got home because he had a bad feeling about what was happening with me... otherwise I, to this day, do not know what I would have done.
After the first 3 days... things sort of calmed down... sometimes I would feel "better" in little spurts the first week.
I also had my sex drive for the first 2 weeks and it was good. I still wasn't "happy" but the medication wasn't doing any significant harm.
In the 3rd week, I lost interest in nearly everything. I didn't want to step foot outside. I stopped talking to my family, stopped answering my phone, I would lay in bed for hours, thinking of depressive things. I began eating, a lot. Constantly. Which shocked me since it is supposedly supposed to suppress appetite. I stopped going to school.
In the 4th week, and last, things gradually, and then quite suddenly just went downhill. It started with me becoming very agitated, snapping at everyone. My mental clarity was out the window. When someone said something, it took me a long time to register it, if I ever did. Sometimes my boyfriend would look at me after saying something and I would realize, oh my god, he said something... I really didn't hear/listen anymore. I was brain dead to everything except these horrible thoughts of just wanting to die. As the days progressed in the 4th week, I became more and more depressed. If I had to describe it, I would say it was a mental breakdown. I would cry hysterically over nothing. Absolutely nothing. I couldn't think of a single reason. I would start to cry while brushing my hair, while eating, sitting, watching a movie... I would cry 20 or more times a day. I really wanted to die because I could not bear it anymore. I felt like this was the end and it was going to end.. I wanted to inflict injury on myself, but focused my thoughts on more "permanent" damage -- suicide. I became obsessed with buying a gun. I swear if I had one, I would not be here. I would hit myself, all over my legs, while sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. Days later my boyfriend would ask where the bruises came from because it would be in such a weird area that there was no way i walked into something... and I would tell him I had no idea, and I didn't..... until later I realized it was me, hitting myself.... I felt very depersonalized. I felt unpredictable and I felt that I was not sure what I was going to do next, I was afraid of myself and very paranoid. I lost my appetite and never wanted to eat, thinking of food made me nauseous. I felt sick to my stomach. My anxiety was through the roof. My mind wouldn't stop spinning with thoughts, repetitive... until eventually it lead to another breakdown.
With my luck, it reached it's worst around the new year when everything was closed and I couldn't get a hold of anybody. I desperately called mental emergency facilities but all they said they could do was commit me for at least 72 hours and I didn't want that. I just wanted this to end, NOW, not be trapped in another hell hole. My mental doctor was closed so I tried to see my primary care and he was too afraid to mess with anything and told me to double my ativan dosage (WHAT! Because of Wellbutrin, I went from taking .5 or less mg of ativan a day to taking 2mg or more and still, it barely did anything!), so I went to the ER, and they did nothing, except tell me that the only way to help me would be if I went to a hospital for 72 hours. I said NO. It is ridiculous to allow someone to get this bad, and to not help them immediately, instead leave it up to them, to either be placed in some state run down mental facility or kill themselves that day.
I got a hold of my doctor the next day and she switched it immediately.
-- By yellowdaisy | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
November 6th
2008
12:15 AM
I had the Mirena inserted on 06/19/08, a day before I was scheduled for my second back surgery. Yea, I maybe should've waited but it took me 3 months just to get an appt with my gyne so I decided to keep it. It hurt like hell. I didn't think much of it because it was birth control (just implanted). Well, the next day I had surgery and everything was fine. All the doctors new that I did have the procedure prior to surgery and said it would not interfere. Anyhow, I was sent home and ended up back in the hospital 3 days later from a horrible migraine. I had never had a migraine in my life and it very unlikely to start with symptoms at the age of 30. They thought it was a possible reaction to anesthesia but the more I think about it...I don't think so. All test were negative but I had a migraine for about 3 days. I was very depressed and in extreme amount of pain (from headache, not the back-- that part was actually a breeze compared to last time). I started with severe anxiety attacks to were I was (and still am) afraid to drive on the freeway. I have a feeling of uncontrol/ fuzzy- like I'm not really driving, just floating along the freeway. My skin is horrible. I have acne breakouts like crazy and am actually getting a "rash/small bumps" on the upper part of arms/shoulders. It's weird cause my friend has this same symptom and she has had hers for about 2 years. Anyhow, I have weight gain, some hair loss but have noticed more so hair growing on my face/chin. Headaches are still there (sharp, stabbing to forehead) but they come in spurts. I'm very irritable and my husband thinks I don't love him anymore because I don't want to have sex. (Whats the use of being on birth control if you don't want to have sex?) My breast are very tender to touch and I am very tired and dizzy at times. I have scheduled an appt for mid Dec to have it removed. I will update the status of symtoms. From what I can tell by reading all the blogs....its definitely this IUD.
-- By valsalinas | Reply | Private Message me
April 8th
2008
12:46 AM
I just started Femcon a few days ago and I am not sure if this is purely coincidental or not, but I have had mild heartburn, headaches and fatigue. I'll be tired during the day, but once night time comes around, i have spurts of energy. Is anyone else experiencing this?
-- By dawsonsgirl | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 31th
2008
9:45 PM
Okay, i am a 28 year old healthy woman. I have had a few anxiety attacks due to moving, new job, being a single momma and etc. But they are under control.
However, last month i started Yaz to help with mild PMDD which had developed after i had my daughter ( who is 2 now and awesome!!!). Well I thought it was okay at first then 2 weeks into it i started my period and bled for 2 weeks!!!! i have never had a period that long, i thought my blood would be low by then end of it. Well, i also had migraines, which i have never had before. Every morning when i woke up my head pounded. So, i have started the second pack and it has been awful, my lower back is hurting so bad, my anxiety is peaked and i am all shakey. Not to mention i feel like crying my eyes out. Oh and i have eaten 2 pieces of bacon today due to nausea. I couldn't believe it was the BC. When i was young i had taken Triphasil and ortho tricyclen. And i remember them being okay. But not this one.
So tomorrow my gyn. is putting me on Ortho-lo so hopefully it will work. I hate we all have to go through these side effects, but i guess that's how it goes. God bless everyone i hope we find some answers! :o)
March 31th
2008
4:29 PM
I have had Mirena for one month. I have been bleeding for 3 weeks. And now it has gotten really bad. I bleed through a super tampon in 3 hrs. I have never had periods like this. And all this blood! Where is it all coming from? I also have had almost daily headaches since it was put in. I really wish I would have looked into this more carefully. My husband and I have no insurance and have to pay for the birth of our 2 month old out of pocket. So I thought spending $650.00 on this would be better in the long run b/c it lasts five years. If this bleeding and headaches don't change, I'm taking this beast out and will pay $40.00 a month for the ring.
-- By kathryngomez | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 24th
2008
6:29 AM
I've been on Tri-Sprintec for a month and a half. My husband is going crazy due to my mood swings. Of course he gets the brunt of it compared to anybody else. One moment I am fine and the next I am yelling because I dropped the butter on the floor. Ten minutes later I've forgotten this instance and I'm crying for no apparent reason. I normally have normal to dry skin, and no acne (to very few) Lately my face is very itchy and I've had a lot of breakouts. I work in Law Enforcement, and have no problems with being straight forward and pushy, but lately I don't have it in me, I feel very depressed and a lot of self doubt. I also don't have a big appetite, I feel nauseas, and I do take the pill with food. I've also gained 10 pounds in the last month and a half. I don't know if this is a coincidence or if it's side effects from the birth control. I have also had a lot of headaches lately.
-- By tazeygal4life | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
January 10th
2008
9:43 PM
I am a 41 yo woman in good health. I started Toprol xl about 3 years ago for a heart palp that would happen maybe once a day, and occasional racing heart beat. I did great for a long time on 25mg once a day. Then about 6 months back I was switched to generic due to insurance issues - they only want to pay for generic.
It took me a while to figure out what was happening, but several problems started happening over the last few months that I am sure were from this generic drug. Suddenly I was having vivid dreams - fish swimming on the ceiling, cats with heads 5x too big! Worse yet, over about 3 months I gained 20 pounds with no difference in diet. And I was getting more and more tired. I started looking into what could be causing these crazy effects - I was only on Toprol and birth control pills.... well, it was not the birth control!
So, I decided to wean myself from the Toprol. I decided I prefer a heart palp and occasional racing heart to this!! I gave myself a couple of weeks of lesser doses, then 5 days ago I stopped it altogether. I am having some horrid "rebound" or withdrawal effects! Numb/tingling hands and feet, headache and - surprise! High blood pressure! I never, ever took this med for HBP, and I have never had HBP! I always had a nice, low blood pressure, even when 9 months pregnant! Now it's running around 135/93 - I work in a medical office, so I got one of the nurses to check it on Tuesday...she sort of freaked! She said she has seen much higher, but mine is not normal. So we have been checking daily, and it's staying up there. I am so mad to think Toprol could have damaged my body in some way so that my blood pressure may not stay messed up for life. I have read online that the rebound effects can last up to a month, even with a fairly low dose like I was taking. Does anyone know if a month is about right? If my blood pressure keeps this high, I suppose I will have to seek treatment at some point. Ugh!
On the plus side, I don't feel so tired. No vivid dreams since I stopped the Toprol, and much better sleep! I feel "clearer" mentally. I just wish the tingling hands and feet would stop - and the high blood pressure!
-- By ree | Reply | (10) replies | Private Message me
July 15th
2005
8:31 PM
Post your symptoms since stopping Yasmin!!!
Hey everyone it's Kay21 here and I just wanted to post my 3 month off Yasmin update. Because stopping the pill is a hard decision, I figured we should all post are updates here to help/support those who are planning to stop or who have recently stopped Yasmin.
I have been off of Yasmin since April 17. As some of you already know, I was experiencing horrible side effects while on Yasmin for 3 years (particularly stomach problems, vaginal dryness, muscle cramps, increased blood pressure and heart rate and anxiety).
The first 1 month off of Yasmin was okay. In fact, I felt the best I had ever felt in a while. My blood pressure and heart rate decreased and the migraines and muscle cramps went away. But when I hit the 2 month (8 week) mark, I felt HORRIBLE. I was severely depressed and anxious. I was crying all the time and felt a severe sense of DOOM! The physical symptoms also started to become problematic. The acne increased and I started growing more facial hair. The worse symptom, however, was that I started losing a ton of hair. I would lose stray hairs all day (probably about 200 a day). Since I have hit the three month mark, the hair loss has gotten MUCH WORSE! Now I am losing CLUMPS of hair all day. I have seen several doctors about this. Some say it's because of stress and a few (a derm, GYN and endo) say that hiar loss is common after stopping bcp. I have already loss about 1/3 of my hair.
I am also really concerned, because I have not had a period since April 22. So my doctor has put me on provera for 10 days to induce a period.
For those who have stopped Yasmin, what have your symptoms been (i.e. increased acne, weight gain, anxiety, etc.). Has anyone experienced hair loss? How long did it take to get a period???
Thanks...
-- By kay21 | Reply | (57) replies | Private Message me
Mirena (5) Yasmin (3) NuvaRing (1) Singulair (1) Femcon FE (1) Toprol-XL (1) Tri-Sprintec (1) Wellbutrin (1)
October 28th
2009
1:13 PM
I have a 15-yr old. She's been taking singulair since she was 7. These are a few of the things that I have noticed over the last year but ignored because I too, as many of you have, thought it was because she a teenager.
1. Stomachache .. she complained all the time. Thought it was nerves because it was usually before she went to a training session or game.
2. Restlessness.
3. Headaches.
4. Moodiness.
5. Tired. Fatigue. Weak. Even after she gets hours and hours of sleep. Figured it was because her schedule is whacked. We've had fights over her not going to bed at a certain time.
6. Menstrual cycle changed last fall followed by acne when as before she was perfectly normal with clear skin. Recently put her on BC because of her hormonal change. Blood tests showed she was normal. We tried it anyway to regulate her periods. Took her off of it after she had her period for 3 weeks straight. Probably won't put her back on BC since taking Singulair might be the problem.
7. Tired all the time. Falls asleep in class.
8. Lost interest in her favorite sport which she rocks at. Thought it was because of a 2-month down time due to an injury.
9. Several times, have seen signs of depression but when confronted she says no she's fine. Depression is probably from being unhappy with her appearance. Being on the pill made this worse.
10. Doesn't want to go to school. Whereas before not a big deal. Most kids don't like school, but lately, she talks about how much she hates it. Usually excited to start the new school year, this year not so much, more like dreading it and her attitude hasn't change about it.
11. We argued last week and it was the first time she screamed at me and told me she hated me. She's never done this before. Her thoughts and moods have been horrible but they come in spurts.
After reading everyone's experiences, I am taking her off Singulair. I know it's not an overnight cure and will take some time, but I just want my little girl back. I find it strange that this all occurred within the last year even though she's been taking Singulair since 7. Do you suppose it's in teenagers and puberty?
-- By nzcarter | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me