My birth control was trying to kill me.
Since the birth of my children 5 years ago I've had many a birth control woe.
I've tried, or tried to try just about everything.
Mirena IUD. Nope not a candidate., I've tried the Nuva Ring (I was always conscious of it's existence). I've tried pills. All sorts of them,and while for the most part they've been the best solution they just don't seem to be as effective if you,uh, forget to take them every day.
So, short of sterilization, a plunge which I'm not quite ready to take (and neither is hubby) I've been at a loss as to what to do so as not to be a baby factory (you know because I like to have 'em two at a time and stuff).
Then came a pill. The pill. The pill that would free me from a monthly period and instead only make me have to experience that hell four times a year.
Mind you, this wasn't the first time I'd heard of this particular pill but this was the first time the generic became available and my insurance covered it at a normal copay as opposed to the $130 copay they tried to rob me of before .
So I began it and the first two months were lovely.
Then I started to experience what could only be described as a heart flutter. It felt almost as if my heart skipped a beat. This happened sporadically for about 2 days and when I'd finally decided to panic it stopped. But then the night sweats began.
I didn't associate one with the other. I assumed the night sweats were because it had gotten colder and I was wearing more pajamas and doubling up on blankets. But after a week of being disgusted with it happening every night I realized this was not ordinary for me. I've always bundled up during the winter months and never woke up swimming before.
Then the painful whitehead on my lip came.
Convinced I was dying I went on the internet to try and figure out what I'd be succumbing to and how much time I had.
In the process of trying to accept my fate, I was wracking my brain trying to think of any recent changes I'd made in my life which might lead to such odd symptoms. Then it hit me.
Maybe it's the hormones from the pill.
So I Googled "Jolessa side effects" and quickly found a multitude of sites where others have had those symptoms and more. Right along side those symptoms I found another common side effect...hair loss.
Can you imagine the walking beauty paegant I'd be then ? Mouth zits, night sweats and bald patches. Now, that's hawt.
Needless to say, I've discontinued the pill and will now be in search of something else.
Ideas anyone ?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
That whole ordeal makes me thankful that I'm not a woman!
Old age works but I don't recommend it until you absolutely have only one other choice (if you know what I mean:(
I think they can reverse a vasectomy now a lot easier than they could in the old days (when Dr. Phil did it) so besides a diaphram and prophylactics, if you can't take the medication, that appears to be the only way to go. You could always adopt if you wanted more kids.
Good luck!
Joy
I got nothin'. Except three kids - two of whom were pleasant surprises. So I don't suggest condoms or diaphragms. Have now been sterilized.
Gah. My eternal quest for the perfect birth control is going to make me insane. I'm taking Seasonale right now and I just skip the pseudo pills so I never get my period at all.
It's all well and good unless I forget one- then all hormonal/spotting hell takes place.
I'm sticking with it- for now. Damn, I miss my IUD (not the cysts, but the simplicity).
Maybe I'll just quit having sex.
My sister can't take birth-control pills because they mess with her heart too.
Evra patch I liked, but when I got off it, it took 2 years to get my cycle straightened out again. Next time I might consider FAM (fertility awareness method), no drugs going through my system.
Kim
Good grief! I am no help. Mr. Mayhem had a vasectomy a year ago and I haven't had to worry about it since.
Good luck! Hope you find something that works for you!
I got pregnant on the Pill, pregnant with condoms and had one planned pregnancy...hmmm....one out of three....not too bad.
Anyways, after giving birth three times in four years, hubby broke down and willingly got a vasectomy, a choice I later came to regret as I desperately wanted another baby when I was 35 but of course, a man who has undergone a vasectomy is not exactly wanting to get in line to have it reversed.
So, my only advice is to NOT to the vasectomy/tube tie thing because I totally regret it. The freedom from BC is nice, I must say. But I definitely feel cheated, like I was supposed to be a mom a couple more times. Adoption was another bandwagon Hubby would not jump on with me.
Now that I'm 40, I'm slowly getting over it. S-L-O-W-L-Y and I have to restrain myself from asking my kids when they will be making me a grandma because, well, they're TEENAGERS and that's just plain Jerry Springer-type stuff.
I did the pill for a few years after my first two children. After my third child and I was a single mother...and there was 9 years between my girls I decided to close down operation of the oven perminently. I asked the Dr. "since we are doing a C-Section and everything is open at this time could we sort of take care of this now?" He agreed and that is my birthconrol now.
I would not recommend this for anyone in or under their 30s as you may still want children or change your mind. I was 32 and had three beautiful children when I made my choice.
I have a few friends my age (41) who have 6 children and honestly considering their 7th. We all grew up loving the Mommy role. Many of my guy friends my age are just now having their first child. God Bless them.
Oh I almost forgot the reason I came to your page today! I have been thinking about how you live life to the fullest and I am out there doing it myself :-) I hope to have a little breather but not too much of one to write about all I have been up to. Thanks for being You!
oh dear, i am on this very medication and have been for two years or so. thankfully i can report that i have not experienced balding patches or night sweats. also, though the periods come only 4 times a year they are HELLISH in my case. so HELLISH that they almost always require me to take one day off of work. ugh.
Man... I remember those days. When I was on the pill, if there was a side effect, I got it. Horrible. The shots, too. But I'm not sure if they do those anymore. Depo provera or something like that. I do not recommend them.
Luckily for me, Nature Boy had a vasectomy, which was especially good since I was told not to have any more children after my second LEEP procedure.
My friend has had good luck with the patch, though. That might be worth a try. Good luck!
Let me know if you find something good because I just went off the Pill because I was getting headaches all the time.
Well, since you are certain you don't want to "close up shop" I've got nothing. But when you are sure that you do want to "close it up" I have the PERFECT in office procedure for you.
Until then abstenince is good....if you can do it.
I'm searching for a new one, too. I was on the ring for three years with no problems when I tried to "skip" a period (working w/my doctor, no less) and basically bled for a month straight. It went away THE MORNING OF my wedding.
Since then, my body has been getting back to normal and I feel a lot better - I have a sex drive again, for one, which makes for a happy new marriage. :) And when my cycle comes back to PMS time it's not nearly as bad as it was.
I'm really happy not having the drugs in my system. Buuuuuuut, suddenly I think I'm reacting badly to condoms. So we've been unprotected lately. Kinda want to slap myself. But I have insurance again so I'm going to go in and talk to a doctor about it all.
Sorry, I'm no help -I just want to gab this morning. :)
Have you tried Depo? Worked like a charm for me. And it's not all doom and gloom like a lot of angry websites are saying. As a professional in the Biotech industry, this has got the be one of the best forms of birth control available. However, discuss options with your dr. just to be safe. Good luck!
ummmm....abstinence? but I thought you already did that?
My birth control pill has tried to kill me on several occasions. When I Googled it I found a forum at Aphrodite Health that shocked the shit out of me as to how many women have issues. There is a lot of good info on specific types of pills. You might find an alternative there? I am on one type now, and I do not know if I am going to be able to stay on it. It sucks, I tell ya.
The pill is practical but synthetic hormones mess you up. So unfortunately I've had to resort to condoms. Like a teenager. Pathetic. And husband won't get snipped. Annoying.
My husband had a vasectomy after our fourth child. He figured I had already contributed my share of pain. It is great never having to worry about birthcontrol, I can hardly relate to the anguish in the comments.
However, I would not either have done it after two kids!
yaz is good.
Post a Comment