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I'm not 100% certain that Alesse has been causing my major health...

Posted at 5: 2 AM on Sep 24, 2007 by music4me, #23821
I'm not 100% certain that Alesse has been causing my major health issues recently, but after going through all other tests, my doctor has suggested I stop taking it. I pray that it is the answer. I have been on Alesse for two years, (this past Aug 2007) but it was last March that I really noticed some of the typical impacts. Moodiness, lack of a sex drive (which I missed) and then the dreaded splotches. I had these dark type of circles appear on the top of my cheeks, which appeared overnight. I soon found out that any type of birth control can cause these to appear. Great. Just great. Then I had spotting between periods, which wouldn't be so bad except they came along with those tiny tummy cramps. This didn't add much fun to my current IBS issues. I'm diabetic (but have been for 30+ years) so it never impacted me regarding blood sugars etc. Then along came May. I had a bad bought with IBS one morning then I had the panic attack hit at the very same time. I've never hypervenatlated before so I had no idea what was going on other than I felt like I was dying, at home, and alone. For the first time ever, I called 911 and took an ambulance trip to Emerg. After being there for a few hours, they didn't find anything and I had calmed down. Since then, I've been experiencing on different levels from '1 - 10': - small tremors through my neck and should areas (they can worsen to the point that others can see me shake) - burning sensation in the same area - numbness in my jaw / face area - fullness in my right ear - lightheaded but not *dizzy* as if I'm going to faint - overall not feeling right as if my head is detached - weakness in lower body and legs - numbness in right leg and foot (not all the time, it comes and goes) - panic attacks when my digestive system kicks in - lack of an appetite - nausea (sometimes) - a few other items which I am too tired to think of.... When I try to sleep, as soon as I feel like I'm about to doze off, I have the symptoms flood over me big time and I'm 'shaken' awake. I can also been in a deep sleep, having a pleasant dream, when if feels like someone has grabbed the back of my neck/shoulders and has shaken me violently awake. I have to sit right up and bring my knees up to my chest and try to relax myself. Sometimes I stay awake all night. I have every test you can imagine since May, as this is ongoing with no relief. I have had a head MRI (made my tremor and head detachment feeling worse), Spine MRI, Chest CT Scan (bad reaction to the dye), colonoscopy (I'm convinced my IBS triggers the symptoms to be worse), heart monitor, blood test for thyroid (one of the first things since I'm diabetic), along with many other blood test. I have two in for Mercury and Lead poisoning, but the results aren't back yet. More and more I'm starting to believe that it's all attached to the birthcontrol, although I've been on it in the past without issues, and this time around it was just over a year and a half when these symptoms all kicked in. If this is all caused by the bc, I will be very relieved as this has been causing me a lot of grief. Thankfully I am able to work from home on my laptop, otherwise I would be out of a job. Getting up, showered and out the door is impossible. I had one good day last weekend where I was able to go out with my very supportive and adoring boyfriend, and we fed a few squirrels in a park. It's taken away my summer so far. I'll come back to post an update if I find that stopping Alesse has helped any. I wish everyone well!!!! Stacey
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Reply 10 months ago on Jan 08, 2008 by dsor, #3929

I have only been on Alesse for 5-6 months and have just recently stopped for a lot of the reasons you have listed. I would feel too warm, EXTREME nausea, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, feel like I had to go to the bathroom NOW, and just a feeling like my body was out of control. That started over 8 weeks ago. My doctor thinks I may have now have "panic disorder" (though I'm not sure about that) and is medicating me for that but I'm hoping now that I've stopped Alesse things will get better on their own. I stopped it in the middle of the pack which maybe I shoudn't have but I felt AWFUL about 5 days after couldn't stop crying and was having another "episode" at home in my bed (usually if I was lying down it usually stopped things from getting too bad) and felt like I might die. The only reason I didn't call 911 is I kept telling myself "this has happened before and it goes away." But this time instead of lasting for 10-30 minutes, it lasted for 3 hours! Very unpleasant (but the Canucks were winning!). I feel uncertain about starting another BC pill but the reason I got on them was to get control of my life because of very painful periods. Now it's just out of control and I have to work really hard to go anywhere cuz I don't want it to happen again. I barely made it home for Christmas and haven't gone back yet. I'm praying this'll all be over with soon... I'll do the same for you!

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Reply 6 months ago on Jun 01, 2008 by kaia, #8798

Hello my name is Tracy and in 2005 I had the same symptoms, exactly! Same test and nothing came back. I also believe it was from the pill.
Stopped taking it but got pregnant 3 months after. I am now back on it and thankfully have not had any symptoms like that in the past 1 yr &1/2 .
Hopefully you are feeling better, and it was pill related. all the best!

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