Yasmin and endocrinologist

I was on Yasmin from November 2005 to February 2007. I didn't have a period until June 2007, and have only had 4 periods since then (and one was medically induced). I have been to a gynecologist and an endocrinologist. I have had a battery of blood tests done and all have come back normal. I have some more coming up.
Before going on Yasmin, my periods were relatively normal. I didn't have a "set your watch by it" kind of period, but I did have a period every single month (just different times during the month). While on Yasmin, I can't name specific side effects that I noticed. Looking back, breast tenderness increased (and continues), increased propensity to headaches and fatigue, and weight gain were all present. It is going off of it that has really messed up my system. My doctor originally thought I had PCOS, but blood tests have come back normal. I was even convinced, because since going off Yasmin, I have developed some of the classic symptoms. I am at a loss as to why my cycle has not returned to normal.
I am so frustrated, and while it is nice not to have periods, I want to know that I am okay. I am wondering if my being on Yasmin is still haunting me.
Has anyone else had difficulties for such an extended period after coming off of Yasmin?

When taking YAZ there is only one question to ask yourself, do you feel lucky? Well do you? I am the fiance of the daughter of y_oung_a_american_z_ombie who was laid to rest on Aug 4, 2008. (See posting) She was misdiagnosed with pleurisy by what we thought was a trusted doctor, and passed away from a pulmonary embolism. I want all who are planning to take this drug or currently taking this drug to know that YAZ is a silent killer. Be aware that although you may tell your doctor that you are on YAZ your doctor should look at ALL the possibilities when making a diagnosis. God bless and watch over those that have perished at the hand of this crap and also to the survivors who are telling the true story of this "Wonder drug"

I'm 29, have been on birth control pills for 10 years, and switched to Yasmin about 2 years ago. I a small varicose vein in my right within 2 months of switching, but didn't think a relationship between my vasculature and the pill existed. I can now trace the entire vein from my right hip to my ankle. In the 2 years since starting Yasmin, my ankles and lower legs swelled heavily...but at very random times. It often began at the start of the 7-day sugar pill regime and finished by the time I started a new pack. I assumed that the estrogen withdrawal going into the sugar pills was too much for my body to handle and that the diuretic effects of Yasmin were obviously absent during that time. I also noticed leg cramping, heart palpitations, and I started waking up in the occasional hot sweat in a drenched bed.

So, after making sure that my heart and kidneys were healthy, my gynecologist prescribed continuous hormone Yasmin and claimed it as the "ultimate solution". For 4 months, I have skipped the sugar pills for each pack and started new packages immediately. I have not had a period since, and the edema has continued (still at random) and has become exponentially worse. In the last few weeks alone, the vein in my right leg has become massive, my legs are so distended by the end of the days on which they swellI that I can't fit into pants which are otherwise loose, I am noticing other large veins "surfacing", little veins are breaking everywhere, and I can now see most of the blood vessels beneath the skin in both legs. My primary care physician told me I have chronic venous insufficiency...a diagnosis I'm not okay with. I'm very worried...the changes and ensuing damage have happened way too quickly to be venous insufficiency. I am going to ween myself off of the pill, but don't know what the next step should be. Endocrinologist? Another OB/GYN? Anyone have ideas or similar experiences to share....

Hi ladies... I'm not surprised that you folks comprise most of the posting population considering the fact that this drug is prescribed to you. Well I'm quite interested in this drug and I do prescribe it to my patients however I am surprised at the magnitude of side effects listed here. I am based here in south-east Asia and I do prescribe Yasmin to my patients and I rarely here of these side effects. Perhaps this can be contributed to the fact that it (Yasmin) is available here under a different brand name however consists of the same chemical position. I am interested in the ones available in the U.S. Does anyone know how I may go about purchasing them. You can contact me personally on ****** thank you.

My daughter was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) as she wasn't getting her periods, and her testosterone was high (she is only 15). She is also developing dark facial and body hair. The endocrinologist put her on Yasmin because it has the least male androgens and should stop the hair growth and felt it was the best choice for her. He said that our goal is to preserve her fertility and stop the hair growth.

We started her on a quarter of a pill and will increase it over the next couple of weeks, due to the fact that a year ago she had to take bc pills for a couple of months to stop her flow (it went on for 8 weeks and was very heavy)... Everything she tried then made her sick. So we were concerned about that again. Unfortunately, she is having a terrible time with Yasmin, even at a quarter of a pill. She is taking it with her dinner, and still, it is making her sick to her stomach. She is lethargic, extremely emotional, nauseous (she even vomited at 4:00 this morning), bowel problems, very anxious, no appetite... and this is after a week of being on it. She is also having heart palps at night when she is in bed. I spoke with her doctor and he suggested we stick with it and her body should adjust with time. He feels that we don't have a lot of options with different pills because of the male androgens and the hair growth... Anyone have any suggestions?? I don't know how much longer we should stay with this... she has missed so much school because of this already and she looks awful. Thanks....

I have been taking Yasmin for 2 years now and the side effects are horrible. Up until the last 4 - 5 months, I never had any problems with the medication. All of a sudden I started having night sweats, mood swings, anger issues, and emotionally unstable. I went to the doctor and they thought I was going through early menopause. I am only 28 years old, so of course they did all of the necessary tests. After the results came back, I was told that it was not early menopause, but they thought I may be having secondary ovarian failure. I went and had a second opinion and was told that the problem was my birth control pills. Apparently this pill can completely stop your ovaries from producing the hormones that they have to produce. My doctor told me that one of the side effects of this pill is that is shuts the ovaries down in rare cases. Well I guess I am a rare case. I am coming off of these pills and in a few months I should not have any of these symptoms. I do not recommend this product to anyone!!!!!!

All I can say is that this posting has made me feel a bit less crazy... At first I loved Yasmin. I lost a sugnifficant amount of weight and felt very good about my body... 3 or 4 months into it I started having severe panic attacks. I had never had a panic attack before so it scared me even more because I did not know what was going on. I was having panic attacks on the subway ride to work. Many times people would move and sit me down and offer me water because I would turn white and start sweating. I thought maybe it was stress so I began to see a therapist... Which helped a bit but I did not want to take any other medicines that the doctor kept pushing on me so I stopped going. The attacks stopped but the emotional rollercoaster continued very much. I cry ALL THE TIME and get mad very easily. My boyfriend is very supportive of me and helps me get through the depressions and anxiety-- but I don't think it is fair for him to have to do that. More recently I have been getting "brain zaps" that make me a bit dizzy for a moment and then go away. It is very odd... I've also gone and been tested for every allergy ever because everything I eat gives me a stomach ache. I thought it was maybe because I was having too much caffiene but I stopped drinking that and the attacks stopped-- but not the depression and anxiety in general. I never really pointed to the BC until my best friend said she and another friend were having the same symptoms and we were all on the same BC... That said, I'm currently looking for one that doesn't make me insane!!! And doesn't make me gain weight... I can't gain weight or I will stop taking it. So if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!!!!!

I have been taking Yaz for almost one month now and I am noticing hundreds of changes. Originally this was prescribed to me for my extreme mood swings and sadness and a tendency towards ovarian cysts.
I have to start by describing my medical situation as after reading these posts I am growing extremely concerned about whether I should be taking this at all. About 4 years ago I had acne so bad that nothing would help. My Gyno put me on Orthotricyclin and a steroid, which I can't recall the name of now. I took that for almost 3 years, until I noticed my life was becoming full of depression and weight issues. I consulted the doctor about this, and since I had clear skin, I was ready to get off both pills. I said that no matter how much I tried to lose weight, I couldn't. He basically said that I was depressed because I was too fat and that I needed to keep trying to lose weight. Well, out of frustration, I quit the pill and the steroid. With the steroid you should come off slowly and taper, but I just took one month to come off and that was it. Of course, I got really sick, with all kinds of muscle problems and weakness, and had my first problems with ovarian cysts. The muscle weakness was from the adrenal gland having to all of a sudden work on its own, my new doctor said. Eventually, after visits to an endocrinologist and a cardiologist and a possible hole in my heart, I started to get better. This all finally was over about a year ago. In July of last year I moved in with my fiance (to Germany from Texas...a big change) and it was my first time to live with a guy. My body started to go crazy, as if it was working overtime to get pregnant or something. My hormones went crazy, I was an emotional wild woman. I had never ending cramps and finally saw a doctor in Germany about it. He confirmed my ovarian cysts were back in action. When I got to go back to the US for a visit, my doctor said that I should try Yaz, and gave me packs for free since I wouldn't get it without prescription in Germany. As soon as I started, my nipples became so sensitive they couldn't be touched. My emotions started to level out, but almost to the point of not caring about anything. I have had a few cramps, and spotting since last week although I am not due for another 5 days. My back pain is worse, and I have zero desire to have sex. I have a lot of itching, not only around my vagina but on my legs and arms as well. I do have a sense of sadness, and when I try and think about why, it always comes back to having taken the steroid and being in this position in the first place. And that I cannot get myself in the mood to have sex with my (now) husband. The doc basically said that I should take this only for 6 months to do what she referred to as a hormone flush. And that directly after that I could even try to have a baby. I am at a loss of what to do. I realize that this is kind of a complaining letter rather than a post of symptoms, but I have to talk somewhere.

Hi ipj!!

So you've experienced the "logic" of those gods in white with your magnesium levels too.... Here in Germany we have a sentence, that tells exactly how it is: "Two docs, three opinions..."!

I found another part of your post very interisting: You've said, that you went through a normal hormonal change in your late twenties, early thirties... Well, that's exactly where I am now (I'm 32) and my agony started in the age of 27!!! Well, and that was exactly the time where I started the Yasmin. I think that this was the biggest fault in my life, to start that poison and on top in such a "time of my life"...

I hear from many women in my age, who have different "problems" with their health which no one can really explain.... So I found it very interesting that your doc told you, that within that age a normal hormonal change is going on... Somewhat relieving for me!! (I'm going through very hard times again at the moment, 2 years OFF Yasmin!!)...

Something seems to be wrong with my thyroid which on top can bring the sexual hormones out of whack and so on... A really damn circle.... I hope I'll find a solution soon; had an appt. with an endocrinologist last Friday and got another bloodwork (hormones) done. I'll let you all know, when I have the results back...

Bitter RN,
I hope you did get my last 2 posts. They were pulled to the next site of the forum pretty quickly so I don't know if you had caught them... Thank you again for always trying to help!!

Dear ConcernedBoyfriend:
Well, I think everyone of us here can imagine what you and your girlfriend are going through right now... I felt and still feel so sorry for my husband, who had gone through this all with me (and has to do that now, after 2 years OFF Yasmin again...) and still thinks positive and is the only one, who keeps me going sometimes...

So I think the most important thing for your girlfriend is your love and care. First of all, please try to get her to STOP that poison thing immediately!! It makes me so angry to hear, what such young women have to go through because of this "wonder pill" from hell!!!! I think she has the chance to fell better much sooner than many of us here, because she's so young. Please, take the chance!!!

Who cares of a few pimples or oily skin, that's definitely not worth staying your whole life in such a constitution!! The pimples and oily skin and weight gain were my slightest problems within that agony... Some months I didn't care at all about how I might be looking... I just would have been thankful to be able to get out of my house again someday, even if I had a few pimples or such in my face... And before that nightmare I was such a health and look caring person (I've been a singer in a band for 15 years now....).

I hope your girlfriend will come to this site and see, what is doing all that to her and stop that thing asap!!! I wish you both all the best!!

Best wishes to all.

Silke

Hi Bitter RN!!

I'm so sorry, I misunderstood your last post. I thought you would post again over Sarah's forum so that we don't have to post here again (someone complained about our "personal chats" here a few days ago...).

The appointment for the bloodwork (iron levels, thyroid levels, etc.) was this morning. I think I'll get the results back about thursday next week... Hmmm, again a very long time to go on with those extremely weak muscles and that horrible tiredness....

The results of my hormonal test by my gyn a few weeks ago I had already posted here, but I didn't know the normal ranges then (they could'nt even tell me in the gyn's office, how they are.... Hmmm...). My gyn told me everything was fine with them, and another doc, to whom I had posted the results over the internet (www.cyberdoc.de. or something similar) told me, they were not ok at all... Wham! I think the docs even don't know by themselves what is right or wrong...

But I think if the bloodwork, which my family doc has done today, will not show anything, I'll ask him to send me again to the endocrinologist from two years ago whom was the second doc who believed, that my symptoms could have been caused by Yasmin and suggested to stop taking it (she even attested me this in her report!!). It hink she could perhaps be the one to find out anything about my still lasting hormonal chaos...

I realized some other very unusual changes in my body over the last hmmm, I think 4 weeks, ok, since my last period. It already started about 2 days too early and only with some kind of "spotting". This lasted for about 5 days until I was hit overnight with a full bleeding... I thought I was gonna faint because of that heavy bleeding. This heavy bleeding lasted even 6 days more until it slightly stopped...

Then I usually got terrible hurting breasts around 10 days before my period and also a very heavy discharge (normal color, nothing pathologic, just the normal ovulation discharge...). All those things didn't happen this cycle besides a horrible upcoming and increasing tiredness and weakness and dizzyness (that kind of dizzyness I had the first few weeks off Yasmin because of the hormonal changes...)....
I already wondered if I could be pregnant...... ???

Well, I'm also anxious to see the results of my iron levels. If it would be just that there would at least be a way to treat my symptoms... Well, and that muscle weakness had again gotten so bad after my period started again in August 2006... So I think there might be a correlation. I'll have to wait and see...

Thank you for caring bitter RN, I'll let you know the results as soon as I have them!!

How are you doing?? Hope you're still feeling better day by day...

All the best and read you soon!!

Silke

Sorry to those who are enervated by our personal posts, but please remember ladies, these posts have already saved some lives out there........

Silke-

What did the Endocrinologist say that the others docs did not and why won't the lawyers taken on suing the pharmaceutical company?

Did you report your symptoms to the Government and FDA?

Are you completely off of hormones and if so, what would you recommend to ease the transition? I've been sick-really sick now for the last 4 months since I got off it!

Dear bitter RN!! Thank you so much for caring about me and everyone here so intensive!! It feels good not bo be alone with all that sh....

Well, my gyn said, everything was ok with my hormones. But I must admit, that I don't really believe him. It felt as if he wasn't sure himself, if really everything is ok with my hormone levels... He sounded so unsure... I think that hormonal things should better be done by an endocrinologist and not just a "simple" gyn... And if you're testosterone level with 0,6 already is "low", well, then what is mine with only 0,37?? Hmmmm... I'm getting so angry again about all that "gods in white"...... :-(

I'm sorry, but I can't read that part of the testresults behind the number of Testosterone. They sent it to me over fax and the part behind "ng/..." is totally unrecognizable.

But they even only sent me a handwritten protocol and not the original results from the laboratory. So I'm gonna call them again this evening and ask about sending me the original!! Also the normal lab ranges are missing on this protocol, so I can't say anyhow what those numbers would tell me....

As I found out over google my prolactine may be a bit high, but my gyn said, it was pretty fine. Hmmmm... I really don't trust in any doctor after my whole story any longer I fear!! So I'll really try to get those results completely and see, what I can find out by myself or with your help bitter RN!!

The blood was taken on day 3 or 4 of my cycle. My gyn told me to come to him within the first week of my period, which I did.

The fact about your iron levels sounds very interesting!! Another thing, which my gyn didn't want to believe in and therefore didn't test! I found out that the tiredness, weakness, breathlessness I was experiencing the last few weeks after my heavy period and that heavy cold are definitely symptoms of low iron levels!!! And another thing: My finger nails look totally unnormal, and that happened also since I've been getting my first period in August!! They are so soft and totally bend, it looks completely unnatural!!! And that's the way they looked ALWAYS (during the last years), when I was in such a bad constitution!!!

I definitely have to get to my family doctor to get that iron levels checked finally!!! And please all the other ladies: One little thing you should do also!!!

That sore mouth can also be a symptom of low iron levels (as well as for hormonal imbalances). And you may wonder: I HAD THAT DURING THE LAST WEEKS IN A VERY HEAVY WAY!! My tongue and mouth, especially the gum and teeth hurt so much somedays, that I thought I had something serious and should get to the dentist........ Sounds remarkable, doesn't it!???

Again to kim and dejay:

Everything that bitter RN wrote here is so right!! Reading it I felt as if I had written everything by myself!! And 5 weeks off Yasmin isn't really long I fear!! Even if you had been on it for only 3 weeks. So please stay strong and keep looking forward to the next months, there will be better times I swear, all it needs is TIME and PATIENCE, please believe us!!

And in a few weeks or months YOU will be posting here by yourself for many other women, that everyone who told you, you'll be better, was so right!! That's how it was for the last 2 years now (that's the time I've been coming here nearly EVERY day now!!)

Best wishes to all of you!!!!

Silke

Guest 22505-

I really feel yasmin knocks peoples hormones so far out of whack that it takes a long time to get them back in check. I would say to get your hormone levels drawn (I feel the salivary tests are more accurate than blood draws, though there is controversy in the medical community about this.) I am talking from experience as my blood hormone tests came back "normal" but my salivary tests came back low. I have been working with my OB and endocrinologist who are finding me referrals on NATURAL hormone replacement. I have actually just started some natural replacement and feel like my symptoms might be starting to improve. I really feel like this is the first step though, get your hormones tested. You can order a salivary test online through ZRT labs by going onto www.salivatest.com. I ordered the hormone profile I This tests all of your basic hormones. You do not have to have a doctors prescription to order the test unless you live in california, but if you want to try to get it covered under your insurance you would have to have a doctor give you a diagnosis code. I just paid for the test myself and then showed them to my doctors when I received the reports back. Then you can work with your doctors to figure out where to go from there. The tests are a little pricey at 150.00 but have been totally worth it to me in understanding what was going on with my body. If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask me. Meanwhile hang in there, I have been off yasmin for 5 months now and things are still slowly improving, however I have renewed hope that this natural therapy is speeding up the process.
Bitter RN.

Hello All,
I'm responding to Silke's post(attached below).

Silke,

I found that "mainstream" doctors that I went to or spoke with were unable or unwilling to help me.Which is why I SPECIFICALLY did a search for a NATUROPATHIC endocrinologist. Please don't take this as a "blanket" criticism of all doctors. Some are more helpful than others. My current doctor has been incredibly helpful. I have had 2 periods since starting the hormone replacement cream 1.5 mos ago. I'm 49 and hadn't had a period in more than a year; I thought I was finished! As for the dehydration, it was explained to me that my adrenals were totally stressed out, and even though I drink a LOT of water, I was unable to retain in(even though I was bloated!) There are many supplements that can be taken to get your adrenal system under control; remember, they're hormones, too!

As for MY weight gain, he told me it won't come off on it's own, but with the continued supplements and hormone cream to get all of the hormone levels balanced out, it will start to kick in(soon, I hope!)

I simply did a search in my metro area for "Naturopathic Endocrinologist". Fortunately, this doctor was recently listed as one of the Top 100 Doctors in my region. I feel truly blessed to have found him. Write me directly and I will supply his website, which contains many helpful articles.

Blessings,
Rita
PS - I hope I answered all of your questions!

Hey Rita!!

Thank you so much for your post!! That sounds very interesting and could be a solution for many of us. But I'm really afraid of perhaps again not finding the right doctor, who finally admits that our problems (I'm off Yasmin for over 1 year now, and still not 100% back to normal life......) are connected and brought on by Yasmin...

Exactly as you told, my gyn told me last year around july (had a blood test done there) that my hormone levels are "pretty" normal, though they were at the edge of what's normal (totally low)..... But I know, that this is already enough (hormones at the edge of being too low) to cause severe problems!!

I feel a little encouraged now to go and search again for an endocrinologist who could perhaps help me, too. I also have to mention, that I still didn't get my period. I had only one normal period around easter 2005 after getting off the pill!! So there definitely IS a connection between my still lasting symptoms (sometimes dizzyness, a little anxiety, a little weakness and so on, though everything much lighter as it was last year!!!) and my hormone levels, which are obviousely still messed up.

Did your doc tell anything further about that dehydration and the effects of that diuretic in Yasmin?? I would be so thankful to hear, if he thinks that this stuff could have caused my very heavy muscle weakness and muscle aching during the last year (has eased up but is STILL not completely gone!!).

Well I think that the dehydration brought on by that diuretic is on the other hand causing a heavy loss of vitamines and electrolytes. That could be an explanation for the fact, that in my case (I guess many other women would say the same) the symptoms slowly increased over the years and always got a little worse while I had some illness like a flu or such or while I was working out (because of the sweating)...

Over summer 2004 I got weaker and weaker and after a heavy cold with fever and sweating over 3 weeks in october 2004 i broke down completely with muscle aches, weakness and dizzyness and many more symptoms......

Sorry, if my posts always get that long, but I'm still searching for reasons of my severe illness I've been going through and which has lasted for over 8 months (that were only the hardest months... There were another 12 months where I didn't feel really fit and already had problems....) and is still just very slowly getting better...

God bless you all!!

Silke

Hey Rita!!

Thank you so much for your post!! That sounds very interesting and could be a solution for many of us. But I'm really afraid of perhaps again not finding the right doctor, who finally admits that our problems (I'm off Yasmin for over 1 year now, and still not 100% back to normal life......) are connected and brought on by Yasmin...

Exactly as you told, my gyn told me last year around july (had a blood test done there) that my hormone levels are "pretty" normal, though they were at the edge of what's normal (totally low)..... But I know, that this is already enough (hormones at the edge of being too low) to cause severe problems!!

I feel a little encouraged now to go and search again for an endocrinologist who could perhaps help me, too. I also have to mention, that I still didn't get my period. I had only one normal period around easter 2005 after getting off the pill!! So there definitely IS a connection between my still lasting symptoms (sometimes dizzyness, a little anxiety, a little weakness and so on, though everything much lighter as it was last year!!!) and my hormone levels, which are obviousely still messed up.

Did your doc tell anything further about that dehydration and the effects of that diuretic in Yasmin?? I would be so thankful to hear, if he thinks that this stuff could have caused my very heavy muscle weakness and muscle aching during the last year (has eased up but is STILL not completely gone!!).

Well I think that the dehydration brought on by that diuretic is on the other hand causing a heavy loss of vitamines and electrolytes. That could be an explanation for the fact, that in my case (I guess many other women would say the same) the symptoms slowly increased over the years and always got a little worse while I had some illness like a flu or such or while I was working out (because of the sweating)...

Over summer 2004 I got weaker and weaker and after a heavy cold with fever and sweating over 3 weeks in october 2004 i broke down completely with muscle aches, weakness and dizzyness and many more symptoms......

Sorry, if my posts always get that long, but I'm still searching for reasons of my severe illness I've been going through and which has lasted for over 8 months (that were only the hardest months... There were another 12 months where I didn't feel really fit and already had problems....) and is still just very slowly getting better...

God bless you all!!

Silke

Hey Ladies,
I've been reading your posts of the last few days and feel compelled to write again((I posted last week). I have been working with a naturopathic endocrinologist for a little more than a week. He explained exactly what b/c pills do to your system; forgive me if this has been said before! Basically, the pills fake your body out into thinking it's getting PROGESTERONE, but in fact, it's getting PROGESTIN, which is a synthetic hormone. So, your body "thinks" it's getting enough, or possibly too much PROGESTERONE, so it begins making more ESTROGIN, which is one of the major culprits for many of our "ill effects" as he calls them. Yasmin, as you know, also has the diuretic in it, which actually dehydrates you and you really have a hard time catching up and getting rehydrated. I actually saw a "mainstream" female endocrinologist first and she said all of my hormone levels were NORMAL. When I saw my new dr., he said my levels were at the LOWEST end of what's considered normal, which is considered pretty bad by those that really understand these things. I encourage everyone still suffering to have your hormone levels tested; the saliva test is apparently pretty accurate, if not, a blood test works too. I' m now taking at least 15 supplements 2X/day in addition to progesterone cream to get my hormone levels back to normal. This is after having only been on the pill for 5 mos and OFF for 8 mos. The damage can be quick and unfortunately, long lasting without some kind of intervention. I'm feeling better already and the swelling and bloating is starting to go down. The weight gain is creaping downward but that's better than not at all! If anyone would like information on this send a general email and I'll respond personally.

Blessings.
Rita

I have been on and off all different types of BCP for the past 13 years due to endometriosis. I started taking Yasmin six months ago. At first, I thought that I had found a miracle drug, I was not having as many PMS symptoms and my cramps were not anything to complain about. About 3months ago my joints really started to bother me, I had severe muscle fatigue, night sweats, insomnia, extreme hair loss, absolutly no sex drive, no attention span,memory loss, and kidney stones.I went to doctors (endocrinologist,reumitoid specialist,oncologist). They did tons of blood work, they found that my symptoms were due to Yasmin. Yasmin has thrown off my hormones, and my thyroid is all over the place. Yasmin should be taken off the market .

Hello Ladies,
I haven't been able to get my emails through for quite some time so I hope this one does! I went to see a NATUROPATHIC Endocrinologist the other day who said it's amazizng that I'm even able to get out of bed after the "Ill effects", as he calls them, of YASMIN. I had seen a "mainstream" endo and she said all of my hormone levels were normal. NOT! I HIGHLY suggest that anyone still suffering, like me(only on for 5mos and stopped mid-July) that you see such a doctor. They will likely do blood work and saliva testing to see where your hormone levels are. Apparently, once you become "estrogin dominant", it's really tough to turn around. This is an ill-effect of almost all b/c pills he tells me. The difference is the extent of the damage.

Good luck!

Rita

Shari,
I am glad that you spoke with her gyn. and she is off of Yasmin.
I suggest, strongly, that she give her body a couple of/several months off of BCP to get the YASMIN out of her system. I am almost 2 months post YASMIN and STILL have many of the side effects, alot of the other ladies here are saying the same thing. I would hate to see her compound any problems by adding more hormones into her system. Being off of BCP will probably alleviate some of the weight gain as well (I lost about 12 pounds after stopping BCP/Yasmin altogether, most of it was probably water).
Since she gained 20 pounds, may be depressed and is having thyroid problems, you may want her to have a consultation with an Endocrinologist before starting any more BCP's, especially if she is young. A good Endocrinologist will most likely be a great help to you and to her now and in the years to come.
Good luck to both of you.

Shari,
Your daughters TSH numbers were high because hypothyroidism is made worse by oral contraceptives. I am hypothyroid as well, and through research found that oral contraceptives are actually contraindicated with thyroid medication. Estrogen binds with the thyroid hormones your daughter is taking and doesn't allow it to be used. Family doctors know little about endocrinology and didn't know I should not be on Yasmin. I had to do the research myself. It also sounds like your daughter hasn't stabilized on her meds and may need further advice from an endocrinologist. Ideally her TSH should be between 0-2 although the so-called normal ranges can go as high as 4. I doubt she will ever feel healthy if she continues taking Yasmin, or if she consumes large amounts of other thyroid-binding foods like soy or walnuts.

For some reason this didn't post when i first reported it, but I'd also like Yasmin users to be aware of serious side effects. I had a very severe grand mal seizure this month and was taken to hospital. I have never had a seizure before. My doctor was totally unaware seizures are a reported side effect of Yasmin, even though they are not common. My life has been completely turned upside down because of this. I had only started taking Yasmin 2 weeks prior to the seizure and there is enough evidence that Yasmin is to blame that my doctor ordered me off of it! I no longer take Yasmin but it's effects linger. I feel ill, I'm recovering from all the problems associate with a seizure (pulled muscles, bit tongue), and am not allowed to drive etc. Yasmin is not candy even thought doctors hand it out like it is!

Hi guest 18063!!!

Thank you so much for your post!! You spread the words that I'm feeling and you describe the same thing I experienced ("NO, the pill can't cause SUCH heavy symptoms, YOU JUST have a panic disorder", etc..... And deep in my heart I always knew, that it wasn't at all JUST me, because that's no way the person I am normally!! And I was right!!!).

Just ONE female doctor (endocrinologist) admitted, that the pill CAN really cause such symptoms and that the only thing I could do to find out, is try to get off Yasmin and see what happens!!! (And SHE was so right!!!)

You are absolutely right and it's so delighting to read your words and see, that we are really not alone and there is someone who understands what the docs are doing to us by NOT LISTENING and just looking at their lists or such....

You also wrote about that spironolactone in Yasmin; do you think that this perhaps could have caused the sometimes very heavy muscle aches and muscle weakness in my case (which was one of the worst symptoms besides the panic attacks and fainting spells during december 2004 to may 2005)?? Well, I know now, that Yasmin is definitely causing a lack of vitamines and minerals (especially b-vitamines and magnesium, etc.) and that this could cause such symptoms (and not to forget, that I had been taking that sh.... for 5 long years....). But I don't know how that spironolactone can affect your body....

Would be very helpful to hear from you again!!

Best wishes and big hugs to everyone out there!!

Silke

Hi Kath!!

Another story of Yasmin that brings me to tears while reading it... Could have been written by me!!

I went really through the same sh... as you described and none of the 100s of doctors I had to visit did make any connection to a medicine I had been taking... And everyone of them knew, that I was taking Yasmin, because you're always and everywhere (especially in the hospital, etc.) asked about that. But noone of them did anyhow think about a "simple bcp"......

The only thing I want to warn you about now is not to be despaired if your gyn doesn't see ANY connection of Yasmin and your symptoms. Because that's what happened to me with nearly every doctor I visited (I had been going through hell for about 1 1/2 years!!!). Only a female endocrinologist at last believed me and told me to just TRY and get off Yasmin, because she really admitted, that it was possibly Yasmin causing me this heavy problems!!

Getting off this drug immediately was the ONLY right decision I did and you can make right now!! And be aware of the case, that it can take a long time to recover and get totally off this drug in your body, but better times are ahead!!!

I wasn't able to work for about a year because of my Yasmin-illness. And since September 2005 I'm back again) I got off Yasmin in February 2005)!!! Today I'm still feeling not 100% healthy and fine again, but SO MUCH better than a few months ago!!!

Remember, you're not alone and everytime you are about to despair, please post here and someone will be there to help you to carry on, I promise!! I'm coming over this site nearly every day (like many others of women in Yasmin-recovery!), just to perhaps be able to help some women, like I was helped by the members here many months ago!!

Hang in there!! Big hugs and god's bless to you!!

Silke

<<>>

Oh dear, it makes me so angry reading such sh...... told by those "gods in white"........

If I wouldn't have had the internet and hadn't found many sites just like this site here, I think today I would be sitting in a mental hospital taking lots of medicine, antidepressants and god knows what else, perhaps not knowing who I am and what my name is any longer..... I'm so glad I found this site in January 2005 and all my problems finally seemed to be declared at once... And getting better a little step every month after getting off this terrible pill agrees with my decision not to take this poison any longer.....!!!!!!

No doctor I had visited was able to connect my very very heavy problems (for about december 2004 to March 2005 I thought that in a few days I was about to die!!! I'm not exaggerating!!) with this hellsent drug!! Only a female endocrinologist whom I had asked about an eventual connection of my symptoms with the possible side effects of a bcp mentioned that this could be the solution and I had just to try it out and get off this pill immediately. And damn, she was so right!!!!!!

So if I hadn't had the internet I perhaps some day around there would have ended my life by myself, because I had no hope any longer for many many months to ever get better cause no doctor could tell me anything about my problems......

Well, my blood pressure was not constantly very high but went up to about 170 to 100 when I was in stress or anxious (so it happened when I was brought to the ER on January, 1st...). That had never happened to me before in my life!!

The higher heart rate I had for about 4 - 5 months after getting off Yasmin. But remember that every woman is reacting different!! And I had been taking this Yasmin sh.... for 5 years!! The only thing that might help you and give some comfort until your heart rate goes down to normal places might be, to keep in mind, that it's not dangerous (I think you had been done many tests at many doctors before, and everyone of them told you that you're ok...!??). It's very unpleasant but doesn't do any harm to your body so far. That was the thing that helped me not to be too anxious about this symptom (ok, although this was not my biggest problem, there were much heavier symptoms I worried about than this...).

Not to mention, that I had been taking my pulse a hundred times a day, too... ;-)

But today my heart rate is always about 65 to 75 and everything about that has gotten normal again. Sometimes I have little heart palpitations again, but not too heavy and just for a short time...

Hope this helps.

All the best to you ladies out there, and keep us updated. This is the only thing that might help through those hard times!!!

I'll pray for a better and healthier new year for all of us!!

Silke

Hey ladies, Silke, Joanne and all of you out there suffering,

I recently went to a top notch endocrinologist after my gyne denied everything I complained about the yasmin. I asked him what he knows about yasmin. His answer " another form of bc out the the 35 brands available." I told him of my symptoms and he said it all makes sense. each body reacts differently and that it takes 6 months at least to get back in balance. I'm almost 5 months off yasmin. 1 natural period. My most severe side effects is weight gain and plummeting libido. Sometimes I feel the water retention will drive me mad. However some days are better than other which gives me some hope that I might still creep out of this unscathed in the future. Cheer up and keep your chin up everyone. There are better days ahead. Let's just support each other . As they say " all good things come to those who wait."
Sherry

Hi sherry and everyone else!!

No, my bloatedness didn't ease up at all!! I still feel like a waterbomb, some days less, some days more, but it didn't go away until now. I've started to note my weight every 2 - 3 days and also my bodyfat (bought a new scale therefor!!) to see, if the weight gain has at least stopped or if it still goes up and up... Well, at the moment it seems to have stopped thanks god!! I'm very careful about what I'm eating and how much. Excercising is still not possible for me because the muscle fatigue and breathlessness brought on by Yasmin is still very heavy somedays (especially shortly before my period should start, well, as though I hadn't one since easter this year......).

Well, it looks and seems as if this pill has ruined my whole body, especially the veins (my blood circulation isn't really good, I often get dizzy when I come up from sitting or kneeing which I didn't get before Yasmin!!!) and the connective tissue (I hope that's the right word in english....). I got cellulite all over my body, not only my belly and tighs but also on my arms and nearly everywhere!!! It looks really horrible!!! :(

Would be very helpful to hear, if that endocrinologist is able to help you somehow!! Please keep us updated Sherry!! I wish you best of luck!!

Someone wrote about some heat sensations - YES I had them, too!! Sometimes at one finger or sometimes even at one foot and so on. It just felt, as if I had put the finger or foot into some warm water. Did you mean that?? Well, this has eased up after being off Yasmin for about 5 months (now it's 8 months!!) and only comes up every few weeks for a short time. My MRI also came up normal (no MS or such...)! So it seems to be all this miserable pill, or the hormonal imbalance caused by it!!

HAIR LOSS: YES!! It definitely is brought on by Yasmin or the hormonal imbalance after getting off. Even some women who were pregnant get that hair loss shortly after the birth of their children and it goes away as soon as the hormones are back in balance again!! Don't worry too much about that!! It will get better and all your lost hair will grow back. Especially in an age of 21!! Be sure!!

PLEASE every NEW READER of this Forum go through all of the posts here, everyhting you are mentioning now has been written down in some posts some day here!! I swear!!

I read them all through in the heaviest time of my life and this was the only thing that helped me, not to go mad or give up and lose hope completely!! It's worth taking your time and reading everything here, I swear!! You'll be so much delighted after finding out, that you're really not alone with this shit!!!

Best wishes to all of you!!

Greetings
Silke

What about the bloating gals.
Silke, how is it going in that area. Did it ease up at all?
I'm going to see an endocrinologist tomorrow about this. hopefully he'll help me make some sense out of my body.
take care and i'll update.
Sherry

I was on Yasmin for a litle less than 2 years. I went off in April because of the same effects mentioned here. A month ago my sodium levels dropped dangerously low. I have been diagnosed with something called SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion). No matter how much salty crap I eat, my levels stay below average. I have an apointment with an endocrinologist August 8th. Could this have anything to do with Yasmin? I am a healthy 29 yr old or at least I thought I was. I now am in the doctor's at least twice a week to have blood drawn.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

I gave Yasmin two months. My endocrinologist recommended it since it usually doesn't interfere with medication. My gyni said it was the most popular birth control. I have to say I am so glad to have found this board. Certainly, every woman is different but it is great to have unbiased info out there.

The first week was great then I started having to get up to pee (that the diuretic effect). Then I felt fatigued sort of like I was getting the flu. Then came the intense hunger. Having hypothyroid, I usually have a low appetitie. I actually liked this side effect. I never ate more in my life! I didn't gain weight. I liked not being bloated but what I didn't like was the low grade headaches, spaciness/forgetfullness, acne, fatigue, low libido and then later chest pains and heart palpitations.

Now I am trying the NuvaRing. Ortho tri cyclen as well as OTC lo did not agree with me. I had mood swings, contact lense trouble and headaches. If NuvaRing doesn't work then I am getting and IUD.

Thanks ladies for your input.