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| Fri, 05-07-2004 - 12:59am |
I've been having some problems with my gynecologist and a questionable condition of high blood pressure. Since Oct. 2002, I have been on Ortho Tri Cyclen (1 year) Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo (3 months) The Ring (3 months) and when I went on the ring my female doc. told me to go get my BP checked. Thing was I couldn't get an appointment for another month, so I asked if I could get another Ring, so I could have my BP checked while I was on that. They said NO! Okay. Then the boy and I were going out of the country traveling for a few days, and I was going to have no BC with me, so I realized I had an pack of Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, that I had stolen the last pill from to correct another missed pill. (Hope that makes sense.) So I've been on that pill all this month with intentions of seeing the doctor for Blood Pressure and then seeing what I should do.
We were having sex for the first 2 weeks I was on the Pill and then I thought we should quit because I don't have the last pill of the pack. Well, 3 days ago I started spotting/breakthrough bleeding (is it the same thing?), which I have never experienced before. I am thinking this is because I was a dummy and took a higher dosage of horomones than I was getting on the Ring. Will my period be late because of the bleeding? Will I be able to distinguish the two? Ick.
And my doctor and I have decided it will best to take me off of BC completely for at least a month to make sure my Blood Pressure is okay.
Thanks for listening to my hysterics. :)

I had higher-than-normal bp for a while, I was taking Ortho Cyclen at the time, but I was also eating canned soup every day for lunch. Wouldn't you know it, I switched to the ring and stopped eating canned soup and my blood pressure went down! I guess I don't do well with large amounts of sodium....if you haven't already scrutinized your diet, that might be an easy place to start. Things like pre-prepared meals that you get out of the freezer and pop in the microwave, soups, snack foods, and diet soda can be really high in sodium and not necessarily taste salty. But your heart knows! Other obvious things are to exercise more, watch caffeine intake, drink plenty of water, try not to stress....
Good luck, I hope things go well!
Judie