Ex-Depo User w/ Questions
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| Wed, 08-04-2004 - 1:21pm |
First, a little history. :) I stopped taking Depo almost 2 years ago. It worked wonderfully until I turned 23 and then I got really bad acne, which I had never had, all around my chin area. My dermatologist told me that my body chemistry may be changing due to getting older. She suggested I switch to a pill. I switched to OTC immediately when my next shot was due and tried it for about 2 months. It cleared my face up great but I was also really bloated. In a panic, I had them switch me to Yasmin. I tried Yasmin for 3 months and it made my hair fall out. It was absolutely horrible, but the bloating was better. Next, I tried Ortho Cept and was on that for a little over 8 months. My face wasn't as crystal clear as on OTC, but it was a happy medium with the bloating.
My husband is in the military and was gone for most of this time. Give or take a few months here and there. I hadn't noticed that my libido was pretty shot until recently and at first I just thought it was me. I decided to try the ring and have been on it for a month. It is not too bad. I am not bloated at all, but the pimples are back. I talked to my new gyn today(just moved). She suggested that I try OTC for the pimples. I explained to here about the bloating and she basically told me I had to choose between which side effect I wanted to deal with.
Okay, so here are my questions finally.... Do you think that I may have a different experience with OTC now that Depo is out of my system? Do you think that maybe I should have tried it for longer the first time I used it? Should I switch from the ring or give it a try for another 2 months? Let me just add that I am really worried about this acne thing. My face is still scarred a little from the last time. Can I take a mild diuretic daily if it is still a problem with OTC? I am such a worry wart. I apologize for this being so long, but I really didn't want to bug my gyn about this. She seemed a little irritated that I couldn't decide about switching. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks In Advance,
Brandy

I'd give the ring another couple of months, skin care aside. It may be that your hormones are all flustered because of the switch and after things settle down things may improve. We've heard from women that even on OTC it takes several months for their acne to clear up, I wouldn't think that would be an unreasonable time frame (it's also the recommended minimum trial period for a pill). As to whether you may tolerate OTC differently now that you've been off Depo for a while...it's anybody's guess. Hormones are one of the most difficult things about the human body to understand or predict, and when we start throwing synthetic hormones in with our natural hormones..well...if it were easier we would know which pill to take without having to try each one! ;)
I hope that helps!
Co-cl for Birth Control
I actually am using Triaz 6% Cleanser night and day and Retin A Micro (the stronger version) at night. I went to the dermatologist when I first started getting the acne when I was on Depo. I had no idea that it could be Depo causing it, but it sure enough was. I have decided to try the ring for at least another 2-3 months. I really like it other than tht pimples. They have really cleared up this week ( no ring this week). I hope that this works out for me since it is so convenient. If not, then I guess I will try OTC again. I forgot to mention that I had also tried OTC Lo for about a month and it caused bloating right away. Who knows! This is such a guessing game. I wish men had to deal with this. :)
Thanks for the advice.
Brandy