New and desperate, please help
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| Fri, 04-02-2004 - 12:50pm |
For the last couple years I've suspected I've had a cyst in my ovary. I was having very painful ovulation on the right side. Periods came at regular intervals but started becoming very heavy, painful, and long (~12 days). I'd also been getting worse cystic acne, facial hair, and my scalp hair was shedding.
Last August I went to Planned Parenthood (I don't have health insurance and can't afford a "real" doctor). They confirmed the cyst but pooh-poohed my concerns about the acne/hair/possible hormonal imbalance, saying that if I had an imbalance, I wouldn't get periods regularly. I was put on Mircette.
Mircette was very good in most ways, although I had breakthrough bleeding, some mild hives, and NEGATIVE sex drive (meaning, even thinking about KISSING made me want to absolutely vomit). A few weeks ago I called PP and tried to tell them my symptoms, but they cut me off midsentence and said, "We'll just put you on Levlite."
Sunday I started the Levlite. Within an hour or two, I knew that something was very wrong. I felt incredibly dizzy and lightheaded, yet with severe pressure in my head (not a headache). I was so lethargic that I felt as if my limbs weighed a thousand pounds.
Every subsequent day I took the pill I got worse. I felt so weak and the pressure in my head was so intense that I often had to just lay my head down at my desk. I was also extremely emotional and on Wednesday I only had two emotions: profound sadness with uncontrollable sobbing, and extreme anger with screaming and yelling. I was sent home from work, needless to say. Also I felt like my thinking was cloudy and I seemed to lose my motor skills! Last night I decided not to take the Pill and today I feel a lot better. Not totally normal, but better. I kind of feel like I'm emerging from a thick fog.
Yesterday I called PP back, but there were no clinicians there. I was told by the woman on the phone that this sounded abnormal and a doctor would call me back first thing this morning.
Noon came and I hadn't recieved a call, so I called them. I got a clinician on the phone, and told her I had an adverse reaction to the pill and she asked me to describe my symptoms. I said, "Well, I felt so lethargic that . . ." and she cut me off and said, "That's not the pill, you're probably imagining that." Uh? So I said, "Well, there's more. . . it got worse every day I took it, my head felt pressure, I had some hives, I was throwing up, I cried for ten hours straight, etc." and she got snippy and said, "That's not the pill, it sounds like you just have the flu." I don't have the flu, OK? She then asked me which pills I had taken in the past and I said, "Ortho-cept, Desogen . . . " and she cut me off and said, "OK, we'll put you on Desogen." I replied that I hated the Desogen and she heaved this really impatient sigh and said, "Well, I don't know what other options you have. Wait the rest of the month and then call for an appointment" and hung up.
I have no idea what to do now. I will be getting insurance through my job in two months so I suppose I should just wait until then, but I feel like every pill I try will give me terrible side effects (other pills have made me depressed or angry all the time), or that every doctor will tell me it's all in my head.
Sorry for the huge post, thank you so much for listening to me.
Sarah

If breastfeeding in public disturbs you, please feel free to put a blanket over your head or go finish your meal in the restroom.
Oh, Sarah! Last August I could have posted that same line but substituted the pill Loestrin for levlite! I remember the pressure in my head, though it really did hurt worse than any headache, I seemed to think it was headache-like. And the lethargic feeling-yes I recall that. I started on Sunday and had those feelings as soon as you did. It would peak around noon(I took my pill at 7am) and progressive get better through the day. The next morning I would be fine, but then after I took the pill...Uggh! Anyway, my dr said that the side effects would wear off, but that was unbearable! So I quit taking the pill on that Tuesday and was fine and havent been on hormonal birth control since! Just a note, this was the only pill that made me feel like that. I have been on others and have been fine.
Now, I attributed my problems to the high progestin content of Loestrin(and this is just me). I am not sure how high a progstin Levlite has(I think it is low), but maybe you cant tolerate that type of progestin. Below are a couple of links that may help you out.
http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm
http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN105.htm (look through the side bars on this one too)
Hope this helps some. And if you arent taking any bcp remember to use backup(condoms)!
ME!
Turns out I AM sick! I took my temp. and I have a fever. I DO think I had a bad reaction to the Levlite though. The crying and screaming isn't part of a virus!
Thank you so much for your kind responses! AND I have another question, I'll make a new topic!
Sarah