hormonal problems & BCP

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
hormonal problems & BCP
4
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 12:02pm
Hello,

I turned 30 years old this year and have started experiencing some strange "symptoms" that I at first did not give any attention. Please let me run some of them by you: brain fogginess (inability to concentrate or "find the right word") excessive fatigue (I am very high energy normally, but am now falling asleep during the day and early evening) loss of a normally high sex drive, depressed (crying all the time, moodiness, cranky) lower back pain, frequent urination or the feeling that I am going to wet my pants, or I do wet my pants a bit, rosacea AND complete hives/flushing down my neck and chest (everyone asks me if I am having a reaction. Also, right at the same time this started (after Christmas) my period has become so light that it has almost disappeared (I'm not pregnant). I am sure there are more--oh YES- a 10 pound weight gain that refuses to come off, no matter how I battle my terrible sugar cravings, eat right and do cardio (I am also walking a few miles a few times a week which is new for me). It seems to be right on my stomach, too.

I experienced a large weight gain when I was 20 and took the pill (60 pounds) which I managed to lose. I was off for a while, went back on and have been now taking Lo-Ovral for about 2 years. I asked my OBGYN and she said she thinks side effects would occur in the beginning, but... I have been reading a book (I'm sorry, I don't have it with me right this moment) and it explains, in detail, how hormones effect the female body. I switched to Yasmine a month and a half ago, and also took supplements for adrenal problems and I feel a little better with the fatigue. But, nowhere near normal. I keep getting small red raised dots on the sides of my face (where I never break out) and they are not like normal acne, nor do they disappear quickly. I recently visited the dermotologist for rosacea (which is minimal but noticeable on my pale white skin).

I also have an appointment with a PCP and my OBGYN tomorrow. I want to stop taking BCP. I am thinking of trying a diaphragm.

To all of you out there, do these problems seem like they could be happening because of the pill? I know something is out of whack-- I thought thyroid, but I don't have all of the symptoms like coldness and hair loss.

I know many people have worse problems, but I don't like being a red faced, pimple, crying moody bloated wreck either. Any information would be appreciated!!! Thank you in advance :)

Jennifer

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2004
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 3:29pm
I'm 32 and just starting bcs up again - OTC Lo. I am having some of the symptoms you are having like fatigue, moodiness,and libido loss. I had a weight gain of 20 lbs when I was on Ortho Novum 777 several years ago. For me, I do better on .20 of estrogen or less pills, like Loestrin, and I do much better on norethindrone than either norgestrel or norgestimate, which are related. You may be on pills which are too strong. Either switch to something lower dose, or another progestin, or use a diaphragm for 6 months and see how you do naturally. I did for a while, and I feel better off pills totally, although my skin breaks out more and my cramps get ALOT worse. But sometimes its worth not feeling bad all month. My reactions aren't typical, and some of my symptoms might go away in a few months. Hope you feel better. This is just my experiences and talk to your (hopefully sympathetic) doctor.

Edited 5/20/2004 3:31 pm ET ET by girlnumber2


Edited 5/20/2004 3:53 pm ET ET by girlnumber2

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 9:06am
Could be pill-related, though you'll be hard-pressed to get a doctor to agree! I went through something similar when I took Triphasil a couple of years ago--my skin crawled, I was very tired, depressed, couldn't concentrate, I had cystic acne (big hard pimples that don't ever pop and they HURT)and I'm not acne-prone, I had genital pain and burning and a total lack of vaginal lubrication (that they'd admit was pill-related). I went to my GP and had a zillion blood tests done and they all came back normal. I changed pills and most of the issues went away with the exception of the genital pain and burning and lack of lubrication--I had to get completely away from the levonorgestrel family of progestins (levonorgestrel, norgestrel, norgestimate, norelgestromin--and my gyn) for that to stop.

When all this started I was 27 and I'd been on the pill for five years, and the pill I'd been taking for four years (Loestrin) started being not-the-right-pill about six months prior to the switch to Triphasil. Your body's hormone production changes throughout your life, side effects realistically can start at any time though it's not common.

When you see your PCP, describe your symptoms--they are consistent with thyroid problems among other things and those are easy to find with a simple blood test. If the blood tests come back normal, then you can stop worrying about your thyroid! When you see your GYN, be prepared for the diaphragm idea to be pooh-poohed, that's what my gyn did when I brought up getting a cervical cap. He told me to try condoms first and see if the hormones really were the problem (he obviously doesn't know my fiance...). I want to get off hormones too, but for right now, not being pregnant is more important.

Good luck, let us know how things go!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Sat, 05-22-2004 - 5:01pm
Thanks for the responses.

I am very lucky because the nurse practitioner at my OBGYN's office is GREAT. She was concerned and completely understood my desire to try a non hormonal birth control. She fitted me with a diaphragm immediately, even said that is what she chose back when it was not as popular, just as it is now. She was very helpful and supportive. I am also having a battery of tests ran to make sure it is not my thyroid or anything.

One other weird thing, my eyes are also screwed up. I saw the eye doctor today. He says they are both inflamed and irritated, specially both lids. *sigh* I wonder where it all fits into place. But, anyway, I am eliminating the pill first to see if it helps.

Thanks,

Jennifer

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2004
Sat, 05-22-2004 - 8:07pm
I have been on Triphasil for 2 1/2 months now, and about a month ago is when I started these same symptoms that ottergirl25 had...brain fogginess (inability to concentrate or "find the right word") excessive fatigue (I am very high energy normally, but am now falling asleep during the day and early evening) loss of a normally high sex drive, depressed (crying all the time, moodiness, cranky) lower back pain, frequent urination or the feeling that I am going to wet my pants, or I do wet my pants a bit... I have only had one period so far while on the pill, but it was half as long as it should have been. I am not pregnant either. Would it help to change pills, or do I need to find another form of birth control?? I was concidering the Nuva Ring, however I was reading that it can give the same side effects I'm fighting now. Please Help!!