Alesse and cramps

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

I read a message above "by APAINTEDSMILE and I agree with Alesse being one of the least negative side affects...all birthcontrols are going to have a side affect.However Alesse Is one of the weaker Birthcontrol pills out there.
-I had lesser day periods(3-4)
- my period always came on thursday
-no cramps/acne due to pms
-didnt get pregnant while on the pill
My guess for anyone feeling they were going crazy on the pill is due to youre own hormone levels ..and its called PMS

However as much for Alesse as I am I went off for a week and became pregnant right away , aswell as my younger sister,she also took Alesse and is pregnant after being off for only a couple weeks b/c it is a weaker birthcontrol pill going off the pill for even a week there is a high chance of getting pregnant.But as long as you take it properly Its a great form of Birth control With very little side effects...

The person who would rather have highblood pressure then a change in youre cycle, thats crazy..THATS A BIG SIDE EFFECT.that affects youre health.once you start Alesse and you get youre period, you shouldnt get it 2 weeks later it'll just change the cycle to 21 days on the pill and 7 days or less off for youre period. give it a couple months atleast for youre body to get used to the new B.C

I started taking Alesse over a year ago. The first month I was extremely dizzy. I felt sick all the time, but I attributed that to my low tolerance for perscription meds anyway.

I thought everything was fine, until I joined a community on livejournal called "birthcontrol". After hearing stories from the other girls I decided to research my birth control on the web.

I always knew that after I had started taking Alesse that I seemed extremely irritable, depressed, bipolar, and my sex life was not fun at all.

My mom said it probably had to do with college, a boyfriend, and 2 jobs. But I knew deep down that the way I felt wasn't normal.

After a year of lack of wetness, lack of WANTING sex and difficulty achieving oragasm, depression, swinging at people when i was mad, crying all the time, TRYING to kill myself(something I had NEVER even thought about doing before) I decided to stop taking it.

I've been off it since september and I have been the happiest I have ever been! I want sex, I'm happy, I'm dont get violent when I'm mad. I'm great and I will probably not go back on this birth control.

Even with all the negatives there were some positives.

-Lighter periods that lasted shorter time.

-No cramps, and acne associated with PMS.

-My periods came on thursday and always on thursday.

-I didn't get pregnant.

I say give it a whirl. But if you find yourself depressed or sad or mad, get off it right away. It's really not worth the emotional pain I went through.

I'm on my 11th day of my period with no end in sight. VERY heavy bleeding, headache, the worst cramps I've had in my life, sore breasts, moodiness. This is only my first month on it, but definately not fun so far.

I have been on alesse for a little over a month. I have experienced very little side effects and have been happy with this pill so far. I experienced some break through bleeding for about a week in the first month and some breast tenderness but that is all. The plus side, my period lasted two a half days-with very little cramps. No weight gain or mood swings.