Destined to be a pill drop out?
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| Tue, 02-27-2007 - 4:27pm |
I guess this is mostly just a vent, but any advice is certainly appreciated. I've been attempting to get settled with a bcp since August, and I seem to be destined to fail.
First I was on Yaz which worked fine, no weird side effects at first other than a lot of breast tenderness and some spotting in month 1. Then 3 months in, I started getting leg cramps so my doctor switched me to Loestrin 24/FE for fear the Yaz was giving me blood clots.
For the first 3 months on Loestrin, I would spot for 3 or 4 days mid-cycle. I stuck it out in hopes that would clear up. I also felt generally crappy most of the time...sort of that PMS-y feeling like you're about to get your period. Annoying, but not debilitating. Month 4, I felt crappy BUT no spotting. YAY! Now in month 5, I've felt OK for the first week. No crappiness! However, two days ago I got a yeast infection! ARGH! I don't know if it's related to the pill or not, but I never get YIs unless I'm on an antibiotic. I have been more sensitive to soaps and detergents the past two months, so maybe Loestrin is just making more sensitive in general.
I'm so frustrated with my body and what the pill seems to do to it. Am I crazy? Is the YI just a fluke? Since the spotting seems to have gone away, should I wait and see what happens with the big, bad yeast? (For the record, I consume tons of yogurt and take acidophilus regularly...clearly it wasn't enough.) Should I call my doctor and switch pills AGAIN? I've invested all of this time in Loestrin, so I guess I'm hoping I'll acclimate eventually. Or maybe they'll invent a pill for a man, and my boyfriend can take over this birth control nightmare. Blah!

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I once had a yeast infection I couldn't explain. I had gone on vacation and the only thing I can think of is the soap was different at the hotel. I'd just get the yeast infection cleared up and go from there, it really could just be a fluke.
-Mel
Hi. First off, I am suprised your doctor thought you were getting blood clots. You were probably just experiencing changes in your electrolytes. Yaz has a diuretic, I believe, and that can leave you with a weird balance of potassium.
Second, I have experienced yeast with ALL BCPs. I don't know why but the only time I went for a long time without one was when I was off the pill. If your current pill seems to be working, stick with it. I don't think another BCP will be better for yeast. But I may be wrong.
Good luck,
Lucky
Apricot...
Did you find a way to manage the yeast situation when you were on the pill? Did you just have to treat each infection as it showed up? I'm not really prone to yeast infections ordinarily, but I do try to eat lots of yogurt...partly "just in case", partly for the calcium, and mostly 'cause it tastes good.
Thanks!
Hi the good bacteria in yogurt does wonders for intestinal flora, but not much for vaginal. If you can get your hands on some vaginal acidopholis suppositories work really well. I had horrible intractible yeast infections once and I found an herbal medicine doc who made her own. It was the only thing that got rid of them. I think they are now available commercially. Some women actually put yogurt into the vagina. One of my Public Health professors swore by this method.
Marcella
No, I haven't. I am currently trying the Rephresh ph stuff. I am going to talk to the gyn as soon as I can get in. In the past I always just treated each infection (about 2 or 3 per year). I wonder if we can just use Monistat once per month or week.
I don't see how yogurt helps unless you put it up inside you. It never really gets to your vagina if you eat it, does it? I guess I just don't get it. I have heard this yogurt preventive also, just never understood it.
Apricot.
Edited 2/28/2007 10:54 pm ET by apricot.sushi
I agree--leg cramps are not necessarily blood clots, they can be caused by mineral imbalances.
Loestrin has a pretty high dose of progestin. That can do a number of things, which could include making you more susceptible to yeast. I had very dry skin when I was taking Loestrin, I also had difficulty with vaginal lubrication.
Realistically, you've only tried two pills. I know that doesn't sound like the most supportive thing to say, but you don't have to commit to a pill that isn't working for you. The last time I had to switch things, I'd been on Loestrin for four years and developed atrophic vaginitis--it's caused by an estrogen deficiency. Following that I took Triphasil for four months, then switched to Ortho Cyclen for EIGHT months, and then started Nuvaring, which I've been using for four years. It can take some time to find the right pill, and side effects don't always show up at convenient times.
You could try a number of other pills or Nuvaring, there is a list in our FAQ post called "Your Pills and What's In Them" and you can see just how many there are that are different from each other.
As far as eating yogurt for yeast infections, that works well if it's PLAIN yogurt, not the kind that is loaded with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Yeast feeds on sugar, so if you want to reduce it, you take away its food. Simple sugars can be easy to get rid of (sodas, cookies, sweets), but it's harder when you take away bread, pizza, pasta, beer...... I've done it and it isn't fun, but it does cleanse the body of yeast. Acidophilus supplements are good too, and available at health food stores.
Hang in there, if it's not getting better, you're not married to your pill! You can dump it and start over. Good luck!
Co-cl for Birth Control
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