Vanity symptoms and conditions

Hi, I googled Yasmin as, like GM/Gabrielle, I have problems with hyperpigmentation on my upper lip and my chin (making me look like I have the beginnings of a beard and a mustache, highly attractive!!) I took Yasmin for about a year from 2002-3. I have surfed the net before at various points curious about Yasmin, but decided that I was just unlucky in taking Yasmin and it was one of those things. Having read all the posts here I am disgusted that this drug is available at all. Yes, we are all guinea pigs and yes, the doctors who prescribe this medication and others like it have no idea of the long term effects or maybe they are not really that bothered? How the hell are they made available anyway? Pharmaceutical companies literally get away with murder, to say nothing of their moral responsibility with regard to vivisection. As soon as I started to notice the pigmentation and connected it with the Yasmin I saw my doctor who immediately took me off it,warning me that it shouldn't get any worse but it may not go away. It does get worse if exposed to any sun, so I use a strong sublock and skin lightening cream all year round which thus far has only lightened the skin slightly (I live in the UK). I'm getting married this year and it will be a shame to feel self conscious about my skin, but having read these posts I feel so lucky to only have this to "worry" about - this is minor in comparison to life threatening blood clots. My grandmother died from thrombosis - maybe my vanity on this occasion has saved my life.

I used to receive a Kenalog injection once a year to treat my skin. It worked great. Best drug, nothing compares to it. After a few years it worked so great that I didn't have to receive the shot anymore.

This drug is far too helpful in the medical field for it to be removed because of its side effects. Never had a problem with getting a hole "in my butt" either... Not that I let A LOT of people look at my butt anyway. There's a reason why you're told what the side effects could be, if you don't like them then tell the doctor you don't want to take the medicine.

If you're a model, then have it photoshopped out... We know now that's what they do anyway. You give young girls bad impressions thinking they have to be perfect, when you're not.

I set out this morning to do some internet research on women's hair loss and I am SO glad that I ended up here. My hair has been thinning slowly but surely - most noticeably right at my hairline and I'm pretty distraught. I have no history of baldness on either side of my family and I know this isn't a genetic issue. Anyway, I ended up on the American Hair Loss Association website which lists birth control as a culprit (never considered this - I'm 28 and I've been on the pill for 12 years). This made me decide to look into the side effects of my birth control which just happens to be...AVIANE (I didn't even know the name - that's how aware I was.) This is starting to sound like beating a dead horse, but I was on Alesse for 10 years with NO problems whatsoever. From 2006-2008 I was put on a generic form because I was under military healthcare. They basically gave me whatever generic they had "in stock" that day so I didn't even stay on a consistent generic birth control, which is bad news. I just thought I was turning into a crazy, emotional bitch who hated life because I moved away from my home and family for my husband's military career. I actually learned to make peace and manage it...until the hair loss. Call it vanity but that's where I draw the line. This part is key: I didn't see the consistent hair loss until I got on a steady stream of AVIANE. Once my husband got out of the military, I went to a regular obgyn but opted for the generic form of Alesse (so the say) just to save money (at the time I still haven't put it together that it's the bc that's been making me unhappy.) I've been on just AVIANE since July 2008 and started noticing hair loss around September 2008, have seen no regrowth and I think it's getting worse. That search led me here and I am so glad it did - on top of the balding, the last few months I have been moodier than normal, have small fits of rage (that fade quickly, thank god), have been mildly depressed and unable to really enjoy life, I've gained about 5 pounds without a lifestyle/diet/exercise change, I've had more cystic acne (although daily exfoliation has helped this immensely) and lo and behold, 2 days into the placebo week and I feel GREAT. I have one more week on this month's pack - I'm making a doctor's appointment on Monday and I am DONE with AVIANE.

I can agree with so many of you who've shared your experiences - for about a year I felt more like 'the old me' on Wellbutrin, but in the last six months I've become progressively more fuzzy-minded. It scares me that there are times that I worry that I won't be able to finish a coherent sentence... like I'm speaking in slow motion waiting for individual words to filter through the fog of my brain so that they can be spoken. OK, it's certainly not always like this - and so far only my husband seems to have noticed, but I dread muttering the wrong thing in a business setting. Perhaps worse than this, in the vanity that is our present reality, I've seen significant hair loss from the top of my head - my squeaking clean pate is SHINY in the mirror and I hate it!!! It's winter now, but I can't wear hats all the time, and I just don't happen to work in a 'fashion forward' industry where I might hope to make hats a trend for all to follow. I will be weaning myself off of Wellbutrin and looking into oral and topical arnica b/c I'm nervous about trying Rogaine and begging stuck with that regimen for the rest of my life. The women in my family all have lovely hair; I'm 40, not 80!!

I am a 48 year old with 4 children. I am not showing signs of menopause at all. I have had increasingly heavy periods, sweats, headaches, mood swings, the whole nine yards so what the heck, I had mirena inserted today. My doc encouraged me to try it to see if my periods would get lighter or even stop. As far as side affects, I am already half psyco according to my daughters. I am still crampy off and on but I expected it. I just switched to this doctor because I was seeing satan who knowing I was very anemic from heavy periods let me almost bleed to death. I skipped two months due to low progestin but still built up the lining so when I was getting ready to have a period the third month, I went in for an ultrasound. The technician was wowed at how thick the lining was. She commented to me that I was going to have a really bad period when it started. My doctor did not advise me to do anything about it. He could have said to call if it went for longer than a week or to call if it was extra heavy but he didn't. My period was at almost three weeks and very heavy. I went to work on my birthday no less, and my potassium bottomed out as well as electrolytes. I felt so sick I went to lay down on the bathroom floor but felt nausea and cramps and thought I needed to use the toilet. When I sat down, I felt my arms and legs go numb. Out of vanity, I tried to stand and pull up my pants knowing I was passing out. I went down and ended up fracturing the fibula in my right leg. My friend knocked on the door and I came around and asked her to call the squad. After my 10 minute $750 ride in the squad, I was admitted to the hospital with a hemoglobin of 6. I stayed in for 5 days receiving 4 units of blood. Needless to say, I found the new doctor. My hemoglobin is now around 14 and I am starting to put weight on my leg. Hopefully, I am on the mend. I know there is a lot of negative response about the Mirena, but I don't have anywhere to go but up. I hope it works for me. If not, I will be on my way to the ER for an ablation.

I had the same steroid injection for tonsillitis this past January in both cheeks. I now too have noticed a large indentation in my right butt cheek. I was never informed of this possible side effect either. I would definitely be interested in pursuing a class action regarding the disfigurement of my previously favorite body-part. Had I been informed of such, I would have just had my tonsils removed!!

I've been on synthroid now for about a year. My dosage is VERY little (0.075). My doctor keeps running blood tests every 3 months and assures me I am within the "lower-end" of the norm, but I still feel tired, sleep deprived, wake up with night-sweats and I keep gaining weight...

I am only 24 and have just been told that I need to take this medication for the rest of my life, it\s pretty depressing. I keep asking if there are other ways to lose weight and feel more energized. He tells me that I need to keep taking this medication and has put me on a "sleep hygeine" routine where I go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

Does this "disease" mean I will always be overweight and tired for the rest of my life? I would like to know if someone else with more experience with this medication can give any sort of advice? Feeling a little hopeless about it and not really interested in complaining to my doctor anymore.

Thanks:)

I've just started using Loestrin 24 Fe in mid December and I'm in the first week of my 2nd pack. I only looked it up to find out what it's cost is. My gyn's office gave me 3 sample packs. Most times new BCs are not covered by insurance and yeah, I don't want to pay $50+ for a new fancy pill! ;) In searching I found this site and read the post. I find them very interesting and enlightening! Yesterday and today I've felt 'blah'. I attributed it to not getting my paycheck on time (that would set anyone off!) and having to rearrange some things. Well there's a lot more important things going out there than my vanity! lol But yet I can't shake the 'blah' feeling. After reading the post of some who are experiencing mood swings and/or depression...I'm starting to think about this pill. I've always had heavy and long periods with cramps, major headaches,fatigue, you name it I get it! After my first pack of L24 for the first time EVER I had a light 3 -4 day period. I did get my normal craps/lower back pain the first day but my second wasn't spent in the bathroom every 20 minutes changing a Tampax as in the past. So that part is great! I was told that I have fibroids and in November I didn't get a period and freaked out. Took a test and it was negative. My period finally came on Dec 1 and with a vengeance! I spotted throughout Dec--probably fibroid related (as that is common I'm told) so when my gyn gave me three sample packs of L24 I started them. It's only my 2nd pack so I will finish it and if I'm still feeling 'blah' I will go back to Trivora and my longer periods. I've always been acne prone as well so I don't know if my breakout is due to L24 or not right now. I will monitor. Weight gain has never been an issue while on any pill but in Dec I was 138 and today (I weighed myself after reading these post! women! ha!) I'm 143. Still in my normal weight at 5'9. I tend to fluctuate with an 8lb range and my appetite is the same--so far. So again I will finish this pack. I don't know if I can switch in the middle of a pack since my period has passed now. I do have a prescription for Trivora and I'm ready to use it should this persist! I'm 42 and I've dealt with my periods all of this time..It's no big thing. I just don't want to bleed in between periods--if it's fibroid related. I'll see my herbalist about that! You know the doctors and pharmaceutical companies seem to be in bed with each other. We've got wonder what is being put into these drugs to alter what our body is supposed to do naturally. But what's a girl to do! :)
Nanette

I am 22, I have Lupus and RA. I am on other meds too but I am more than positive that Prednisone has brought about my moon face and maybe my sleepless nights. I workout everyday and in the best shape I have been in my whole life but it sucks because I am only able to be this healthy because I am on all these meds including Prednisone. I probably would be using a walker. So basically its a choice of vanity(huge head) or good health.But I have asked my doctor to lower my doses. Was at 30mg, I am now at 20....hopefully I can get down to just 5mg and still be able to move my joints as freely as I do now

I am sorry to hear about everyone elses' story but I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has been negatively affected by this ridiculous drug. I too received the shot in my right buttock and shortly after noticed discoloration and a rather unattractive dimpling in that area. I too was never informed by the doctor or the nurse who administered the shot that these things could possibly happen to me otherwise I would never had agreed. I'm no doctor I expect the one I go to to look out for my best interests. I am seeking compensation from this doctor because vanity or not, I'm the one who has to live with this for the rest of my life.