Yasmin and struggle

WENDY.... IN UR POST ABOUT THE BLOOD CLOTS IN THE LUNGS.. WHAT WERE YOU FEELING THAT MADE YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL? THIS PILL IS A LIFE RUNNER....I FEEL FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU... ANYONE THAT EXPERIENCED THE ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS ON THE PILL... AFTER STOPPING YASMIN DID THEY GO AWAY?....

I have only been taking Yasmin for a week. I am a healthy 35 year old woman and had not taken the pill in over 7 years. It is so OBVIOUS and striking that only after a week I feel terribly depressed and anxious. During the weekend, my heart was racing, I was crying and depressed for no reason. My "status" on facebook said "I feel lonely" until my friend asked me if I was taking any meds and all of a sudden everything was clear. It is so clear that the cause of this severe malaise is Yasmin. Yasmin caused me to be severely depressed and anxious in only a week of taking it. I will stop it immediately. I am also very upset at the nurse practitioner because I specifically requested she choose a pill that wouldn't cause depression! urg!!!

These reviews are pretty scary to me ... I've been taking Yasmin for about 5 years. Late last year, I started getting what seemed like a full period (not just spotting) almost exactly two weeks into my pill pack. Then I'd get another full period when I got to the end of the pack, and I went ahead and took the sugar pills because I didn't want to mess around with my cycle (which I've done in the past, with negative results). My doc switched me to reclipsen for a month (which I've read bad things about too, but not as bad as Yasmin!). I've had NO sex drive for years now, which I've blamed on myself, but it's really affected my relationship w/ my fiance. It's hard because I just can't get excited. I loved Yasmin and recommended it to all my friends because it kept my water weight down. Last month when I went off of it, I gained about 8lb in just a few weeks. I attributed it to going on vacation and not exercising for a week (I normally eat very well and never miss a workout). But since then, the weight has stayed and is very slowly coming off. I'm a personal trainer and I never usually struggle like this. I've also been bloated and it seems like I have an excessive amount of abdominal bloating.
Anyway, after a month on reclipsen, I decided to switch back to Yasmin to see if the month on another drug "tricked" my cycle back into following Yasmin (wishful thinking!). Sure enough, got my period two weeks in. Also got lots of bloating, constipation (never normally a problem for me), and moodiness/ depression. I've had "stomach issues" for years, and I've even had a colonoscopy with no real diagnosis. My abdomen is always tender to the touch. I never would've thought Yasmin could be a cause, but now I really wonder. Also, in the last couple weeks that I took Yasmin again, I noticed days where it felt hard to breathe, and I just blamed myself and my weight, figuring it was the few extra things I ate that made me bloat. But now reading other experiences, I realize how unusual my recent experiences are for me. Now I'm not sure what to do -- I don't think reclipsen is a good answer. I want to go off pills completely for a while, but I'm really afraid of weight gain (Yasmin is addictive that way -- I love how it's kept my water weight down and I've been afraid to go off of it). Fortunately, I haven't had the blood clotting (to my knowledge) or acne. But I do have overuse injuries that never seem to heal -- now I wonder how much those relate to Yasmin. I won't be taking it anymore!

Just reporting back with some information.
I've been off of Yasmin for over a month now. Overall I've been better but there have been a few "relapses" where I've become so dizzy/lightheaded that I hard-core started to panic. Those days can be disheartening.
I've read some previous posts from an RN who said that Yasmin in particular, suppresses your androgens (testosterone) which causes many of these symptoms. This also explains why sometimes it takes a while for these symptoms to "catch up" I know I was feeling great when I first started.
I'm a lot better now that I stopped Yasmin, but I know it's going to take up to six months to get back to normal. Have your doctor check your hormone level. Even if it's " low normal" that isn't healthy for say, a 20, or 30 year old.
For herbal supplements I would suggest Ashwagandha. It's supposed to help production of your androgens. Also keep hydrated and have plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids.
What I also encourage is to talk about your situation. Once you open up, you'll never know who you'll find that had the same issue. We women can be a very helpful resource for one another.
I'll keep you posted on the progress and I hope the best for all of you.

I started getting panic, palpitations, anxiety, bouts of crying, no sex drive, odd taste in my mouth. I only had the taste and lack of libido since early on but felt fine and than whammo the crying and palpitations and anxiety hit. I asked the doctor if it could be the Yasmin even tho id been on it for a while, i got the royal fob off and some lame comment about 'us girls doing funny things sometimes' whatever that means!!!!! It got worst, i couldnt stand to be in the college where id gotten the palpitations to start with so dropped out and i couldnt understand why, but i was cool to still work nearby the college, I had some odd behaviour tho, like i suddenly couldnt park on the ground level for fear of the levels collapsing, i was scared of dying, of freak events, of flying and i LOVED flying, the syptoms waxed and waned and then a few months lather while still having intermittent anxiety a stressful period popped up and that was it i was gone, worst time of my life, allergies, nauseus, paranoia, depression, nightmares, horrific mental images and distressing thoughts, suicidal thoughts. Crux of it was it sucked big time!!!! That was 3 years ago and im still trying to put myself back together! The original syptoms did get better with time but ive never been quite the same.

I've been on Yaz for 1 year now. I've been in a deep depression since September ( 6 months on Yaz) for which I've had to seek treatment. It took 4 months to get me straightened out on medications and still daily I struggle with it.

Also I've noticed right shoulder pain, weight gain (60 pounds), no libido, chronic fatigue, bloating with horrible gas.Is all of this from the Yaz or is it my depression or what? I'm having a really hard time sorting thru all of this.

hi bitterrn and everyone else here you are all great women i am not throwing up but it feels just like morning sickness i was on this pill for almost 2 years and did not notice any symptoms untill sept of 06 but when i think back i can think of little odd things like i was never feeling good. i run a business and everyday is a complete struggle its hard because alot of women here complain alot even after being off of this poison a full year how can i avoid not fully breaking down when i know i have such a long road ahead of me this pill has completely destroyed my life. my doctor ordered some blood tests fsh, cortisol, LH, a bunch of other things im not sure what time of the month of my cycle would be the best time to have my blood drawn. i feel the best when i am bleeding is that weird or what. anyway i come here everyday and read these posts all of you women are so wonderful i wish everyone a fast recovery
foggyhead

Update - I am now 9 months post Yasmin. My periods come every 34-36 days apart. Although most of my terrible symptoms have subsided, I still struggle with a form of anxiety - an anxiety about my health. I feel like with every little ache or pain, I begin to worry that something is seriously wrong with me. I was never like this before Yasmin. I feel like this is consuming me and I have to do something about it. PLEASE - Does anyone have any suggestions? It seems to be worse about 1 week after my period.

I have been going through the nightmare that is Yasmin for 2 months now and have been trying to help my body as much as possible. I have been taking a multivitamin plus a B Complex and a supplement that includes zinc, magnesium and calcium. Here is my question: about ten or twently minutes after I take all three vitamins I feel extremely nauseous for a couple of minutes and I have to lay down and wait it out. I have not actually gotten sick but this happens nearly every day. I have tried everything...taking the vitamins together, apart, at the end of the meal and in the middle.

Has anyone else struggled with this? Does anyone know if vitamins do cause nausea and why? I am nearly positive it is the vitamins because the nausea always happens right after I take them, no matter what time of the morning I take them.

Also, is it normal to still struggle a bit with anxiety even if I am not ovulating or menstruating at this time in my cycle? I do feel much much better on the whole, but I just want to make sure that even though I feel quite good most days, that it is still considered normal to have some hard moments. I think on my good days I get in the mindset that I am all better, and then I freak myself out if I do feel a bit of anxiety. I sometimes feel like I have to attribute the anxiety to that time of the cycle, due to coming off Yasmin, but if I am not in that part of my cycle, I get scared that I am crazy and that it is not Yasmin even though I know in my heart it is.

Any feedback from those who have gone through this nightmare would be appreciated!! Take care, everyone. You are ALL in my thoughts, all the time.

Thank you so much for all of your advice flowerbabies. I can't tell you how good it feels- that I am not alone.
Today is day number four without Yasmin and its a struggle. I know in my heart when it is out of my system I will feel like myself again. I miss being happpy and looking forward to things a lot. It is just so wierd because I used to be such a happy person- and now I have these times where I just feel awful. There are times when I feel like my old self again- which is what keeps me going. It's been tough because this past month is when the panic attacks and depression have started, and my boyfriends been gone for three out of the four weeks on business. I need him sooooooooooooo much right now. I just can't wait for him to back! Anyways girls, just know that it will get better-- I just know it will!

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to check in I haven't read these posts in a while. I'm glad to see that everyone is starting to feel better. I wanted to let you know that I have come across 4 people that have gone through the hell we have and 3 of them were yasmin users one was ortho.
I am now officially 4 months post yasmin. I really feel great compared to what I was going through. Every now and then I get the numbing or a slight pain in my chest, but totally able to deal with it now that I know what it is.
I have been a bit more moody, but just figure it's the yasmin. As for my swelling it isn't every day any more, it comes and goes, I'd say that is still my biggest problem, but it seems to come more when it is hot out as opposed to just regular weather.
Also as for the weight gain, it's still a bit of a struggle to get it off. I feel a bit lighter (before I felt very sluggish and heavy) but I still haven't really lost any of the weight. Maybe about 2 pounds and I'm exercising like crazy.
Just hoping for the best.
How is everyone elses weight loss going? Just a reminder I gained 30 lbs the last month I was one it.
Thanks,
Hill

A couple people have wondered aloud here about whether or not they should quit Yasmin. I don't think you need to consult a doctor at all about this, just listen to your body. If you are having any of the emotional side effects (such as suicidal feelings) or heart problems, quit now! Fear about acne or weight gain or irregular periods is _nothing_ compared to cutting your life short! Plus, since most people wouldn't consider staying on Yasmin forever, realize that potentially the longer you are on it the more you will struggle with after effects when you stop taking it. That's my advice, anyway.