Patch Users?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Patch Users?
7
Mon, 07-26-2004 - 5:32pm
Hi, I'm a new user of the patch. I was on BCP for about 7 years. I had my DS in 2000 and went back on the pill. I had a horrible reaction; bloating, weight gain, general feeling of ickyness. My DD was born in Jan of this year and my DH and I decided that was enough (I'm 33 and he's 38). After much consideration I decided to give hormonal BC a try again. I'm now using the patch. I don't know a soul that uses it. I just finished up my first month and I haven't gotten the icky feeling I had with BCP. I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there using the patch. How long have you been on it? Were there any side effects? What's your overall feeling of the patch? It's just hard for me to belive that a sticker (as my DH calls it) will keep me from getting PG - LOL! Thanks for listening.

Robin

Avatar for ilovemyfeet
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
In reply to: danahy2
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 7:39am
first off let me say welcome. i am on my second patch of my second month of the "sticker" my hubby calls it that too. so this is my second cycle i two switched to it because ortho tri cyclin was playing havoc with me after being on it for more than a year. I delt with it for that long then one day i decided enough was enough and switched. so far i like it except for the fuzzy ring it gets around it. i feel better im still more emotional that i would be with out any hormonial bc. but thats hormones for you. my first patch of this month i put it on in the morning and that night i was so sick i woke up at 3:30 throwing up it lasted tell about 5:30 but we also ate out theat night too a friend was going overseas. so it could have been the food to no telling. i just hope that it doesent repeate its self next month. i did almost pull the patch off on accident once this month i guess it just wasent sticking all the way. it got caught on my shorts but it stuck back down after i goet it dried off. well i hope i was some help their are some others here that are on the sticker to probably longer tham me hope it works out for you,

julie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
In reply to: danahy2
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 2:40pm
Thanks Julie! I appreciate the response. I hate that fuzzy ring around it as well. I haven't ripped it off by accident yet but I'm sure it'll happen. Did you use a replacement patch? I'm assuming there just like the others - same amount of meds. So far so good. I'm thinking this is a good way to go. I could never remember to take that darn pill everyday!
Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: danahy2
Wed, 07-28-2004 - 1:16pm
I've been on the patch for a couple months now and am pretty happy with it. The only negative side effect I have is that my period is heavier than it was when I was on the pill. I have been told that it might lighten up as my body gets used to the change - here's hoping. I did feel a little nausiated the first week on the patch, but it went away pretty quickly. Patches are a pretty common way to administer medication that can be absorbed through the skin.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2003
In reply to: danahy2
Wed, 07-28-2004 - 3:10pm
Has anyone had any weight gain while on the patch or know anyone that has? Just curious because I wonder if it's better where side effects are concerned then the pill? thanks!
Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: danahy2
Wed, 07-28-2004 - 4:46pm
I haven't had any weigh gain, but then I didn't have any with the pill either. Different people are affected differently by hormones.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2004
In reply to: danahy2
Wed, 07-28-2004 - 4:59pm
I've been on the patch for about four months now and overall its okay. It nice not having to remember a pill everyday. Since this is my first method of contraception, I'm not sure how the side effects compare to those of the pill, but my side effects have been mild, although sometimes annoying. I still have a sex drive, but my body hardly produces lubricant (sorry if TMI) which gets annoying. I had some mood swings during the first two months, but I think that has stabilized now. I agree with you though, sometimes I wonder if the drug is actually getting into my body. I know they say it is, but its a hard concept to grasp. Oh well, no babies yet. Oh, and my side effects didn't start until the second month. My first month was side effect free, so you might experience some later on. Hopefully it works out for you though. Any more questions, let me know!

Katie

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
In reply to: danahy2
Thu, 07-29-2004 - 4:03pm
I was wondering about the wieght gain also. I gained with the pill and in no way wanted to have that happen again. I'm still trying to get rid of my baby weight from my daughter. So far so good, no gain but no loss either since I started using this thing. I start my second month on Sunday so hopefully no side effects!