I reported last week having back pain, this has become an every day event! The pain stretches across my very lower back into the hip area almost like child labor/hard menstrual cramps. Just laying on my hip at night is annoying I have to switch every few minutes and attempt to lay on my back even. Read up on the side effects again and bingo back pain is one of the common problems with yasmin. Hopefully it will go away on this next round!

Ready to start week 3 of pack 2 tomorrow. I have felt better the last few days, still the achy back though but started spotting of all things yesterday.

Good to hear you're feeling better. The spotting thing is annoying though - I've been spotting 18 days out of 28, 2 days less this cycle though, so think I'm getting used to it.

I thought of you. ya poor thing you have had it all along. Thankfully last month I didn't!!!! Seems to have let up today.

Hi,

I'm a newbie around here. Just found this thread and it's very "on topic" for me. After struggling for 3 years now with peri and symptoms just getting worse I have done lots of research and decided to go back on bcp to see if I can get some relief.

I am really at a loss as to what brand to suggest to my doctor?? There does seem to be such a difference between them. My main negative symptom is excessively long periods (10-14 days) but I also have some heart palp, night sweats, anxiety as well. What BCP would be best for those symptoms? Does anyone have any advice or know of a good website that compares BCP's for peri? There are a lot of comparison sites out there but they are really more for the younger crowd using it for B.C.

I also really want to go onto continuous pills and not take the week off but I would rather do this with an ordinary low dose pill versus seasonique which is not low dose as I understand.

I hope you are all still around, this thread was hoping along but seems to have died out about a week ago........

Kay

Hi - still around and feeling pretty good right now - just finished my 3rd pack of Yasmin and the hormone fluctuations seem to be flattening out. The thing with peri is you can never predict what will happen next though!

In ELizabeth Vliet's book "It's my Ovaries, Stupid!", she recommends monophasic with relatively high estrogen levels, citing Ovcon 35, Modicon, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Cept, Yasmin or Diane 35 to maintain bone mass and improve mood/sleep/hot flashes. It's a pretty good all-round book so I would recommend it. Always good to get updates on others' experiences, so please post to share what you decide and how you're doing

Hugs

Starting my off week today. I have had some palps again since Friday, will have to look at my journal but I think I did this the last cycle. Haven't had to post because all in all I have felt great this week! Not looking forward to the off week again, but hey if it is funky I can call the doctor and get switched.

Mrs B, happy to read you are feeling better.
Party, I had the symptoms you are having and so far the Yaz is helping, besides the palpitations (which are milder).

Hi everyone,
I am now on seasonique since july. For a while I felt great, now, just ok. The anxiety is way better,still nee xanax every now and then for the panic surges. I have gained about 8 lbs. and I hate it. I love not having my period all the time, but here's the thing. Usually I spot now for one day a month. No biggie, actually that's great. This week, though I have been every day and feel crampy. I am due for my pill period in 3 weeks. I have been under a lot of stress this week so I wonder if that's the connection. I just feel off. Does anyone else spot more when stressed? Of course, my health anxiety kicks in full gear and I think I have some awful disease, when it probably is just hormones. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and I hope you all have a healthy day.

Just started my 4th pack of Yasmin. Have felt pretty good this last cycle; had spotting/bleeding for 13 days out of 28 so better than the previous one (18). I do notice a lot of headaches in the week off - not as severe as I used to have but I'm sure it's related to estrogen withdrawal. Palps have been mild the last 2 weeks - quite a few days with none at all . Will be interesting to see how I go now I'm back on; last cycle the first week back was a bit "noisy".

Enough-I have some major stress going on this week and the worst cramps and a heavy cycle. So I am sure stress plays a roll in this.

Mrs. B as always glad to read your updates! Five less days of spotting, grats lol!

So 5 days into my down week, heavier bleeding than last month but still surviving with only panty liners, heavy cramps argh, and having a bit of the face tingling (mild but still there). No more palps since my last update. Did have a bit of a headache yesterday right before I started, but that could be stress related too. So far I feel better than I did last month this time.

How's everyone doing?

Been well here since about two days back into my next pack.

Same old same during the off week with heart palps, cramps and heavier cycle this time.

Pretty good here too! A couple of palps today but certainly seem less overall than before bcp. 2 days later starting mid-cycle spotting too. Just feel generally that the bcp has flattened symptoms out - not eliminated them but definitely better. That in turn reduces anxiety so the remaining symptoms don't seem too bad.

Sounds like you are doing okay for the most part. Wish the BCP would take it all away but milder symptoms is a bonus!

Thank goodness I haven't had much of the anxiety, that was awful. Haven't touched a Xanax in months, considering I was on them for about 6 months and had to have one every day!

Hi,

I had my doctor's appointment last week. Will be starting on Alesse as soon as this cycle is over. It was a pretty good appointment overall, th only thing the doctor said that bugged me was about perhaps my sleep issues had to do with "sleep hygene" which is a bit of a brush off. She did say though that a lot of patients in their fourties come to her with similar concerns and that the bcp works for some, others are better served with just progesterone. So she was somewhat knowledgable. I've been feeling really happy and in control since the appointment, like I am doing something constructive about the symptoms. I am realistic too though, and looking at the bcp as a 4-6 month trial to see if things improve. If not I will look at other options.

So, it'll be another week maybe two before I start them. Wish me luck.

Kay

Really glad to hear you're feeling better. Having a doctor who takes you seriously is half the battle; you don't feel like a timewaster. I remember my doctor saying that she'd never heard of hormones affecting heart rate (after I'd been to the ER and had a few tests all of them clear). It was me that pushed to see a gynaecologist and it was such a relief to go through the list of symptoms and not be brushed off but offered a reasonable course of treatment. As you've said you probably won't get instant results - it took me up to the end of my 3rd cycle to see a flattening off of symptoms. The other good thing is that even if it doesn't suit you, at least you can say that you're trying something to see how it goes which does give you a sense of control. Fingers crossed for you - let us know how you're doing.

Hugs

It is a relief Party to have a Doctor seem to know what they are doing. I hope the BCP work well for you.

I have to say I probably feel normal most days. Of course the bad moments far out weigh good and I forget of the awesome days in between! Tonight is one of those nights that a bout of probably mild anxiety hit me. I came here to find this thread to just remind myself this happens and I will feel better in the morning.

Anyway best of luck and pop in now and again to let us know how the BCP are working for you! So glad Mrs B started this, it is my comfort thread lol.

Hope the rest of you gals are doing well ((((HUgs))))

Bethanie

Thanks Bethanie and Mrs Barista. I'm looking forward to starting the bcp's but am still in endless spotting mode waiting for this cycle to end. Of course also second guessing the brand decision (Alesse) because I spend WAY too much time on the internet poking around looking for feedback on message boards about which brands are best. Oh well, gotta start someplace.

I will definitely follow up on this thread once I start them

Kay

Hi,
I started with Seasonique in July and while it hasn't rid me of all the symptoms all the time, it has made life in general much better. The high anxiety which was constant has subsided, as has the internal shaking and lots of the hot flashes. There are still many moments that aren't great, but for the most part I feel better. I worry constantly about taking bcp;s but my quality of life is very important and I felt I had none, so this is better. If all else fails and the day's are really bad, I will go for the xanax to remind me I ma not dying, just out of whack, (hormonally) LOL!!!

I wish you luck and good health.

Oh I think we will find a problem with any BCP that is out there, believe me I have read on Yasmin and it is scary. So far I have not had any of the problems that I have read about. All you can do is give it a go if it does not work then you move on to something else! I do hope for you that it helps as much as it has the rest of us gals here.

This has been the best part about bcp for me, that whilst the symptoms haven't fully gone away there's a definite improvement. Seeing such a clear improvement just proves that all this stuff is hormonal and I know what I'm dealing with. This in turn reduces anxiety which reduces the symptoms themselves.

I'm still doing well. Had a few heart skips yesterday but when I checked my journal it was the exact same day I had palps last cycle. I'm certain that my body is still doing something of its own cycle-wise as I still get PMS symptoms in the week before my off-week.

I couldn't agree with you more. Just feeling the improvements and knowing it all stems from hormone issues takes away my anxiety. When I do start to feel a bit off and start to worry I can remind myself by looking in my journal and coming here that I will be okay!
You are getting ready to start the fifth month now is it? I wonder if it doesn't improve after say the 3rd or 4th cycle. I mean is that the best it gets? In my mind there is that wishful thinking this next pack will make it all go away, doesn't seem like it though aye? Obviously I can't complain I have come a long way in three months thank goodness!

Good morning ladies.

Well I started my first pack of Alesse last night. It was very tough to figure out when to start because yesterday was the 12th day of some kind of bleeding with no days particularly heavy but by last night it had stopped. Of course today I am spotting again.

Will keep you all posted.

Kay

I'm near the end of the 4th pack - I had a lot of breakthrough bleeding but this cycle will be 11 days bleeding/spotting in total vs 13 last month and 18 the one before. So still improving

My cycle was longer the first month when I started taking them the Sunday after my period started, I continued on for about 8 days in total I think. No spotting the first month...second month around 3 days of spotting. Supposedly very normal to spot the first few packs. Hang in there!

It's really very hard to know what to expect. I started the pills on day 12 of bleeding. Now I'm two pills in and on day 14 of bleeding. I KNOW it will take a while to settle down but since my main reason to start was to end the constant bleeding/spotting this is just frustrating.

Oh Well.

Kay

It does get better, as you can tell from all the posts here. I now have very mild bleeding and still get through my cycle with only panty liners...unheard of for me! By your third month you will surely see a huge difference!

Thanks Davinci, I really need to keep hearing that. Today is day 3 of the pills and bleeding is actually picking up speed (day 15 of bleeding now). Also noticing some nausea yesterday and today, but just a bit, nothing too debilitating.

Kay

Party I hope you get some relief soon!

Just in update.... Finished my first week of pills (7 taken) and still bleeding like a normal period amount. 19 days straight of bleeding (although it was like light spotting for the first 7 ish days there).

This is not fun.....

Admittedly I am under a lot of work stress right now which could be affecting this all but still this *****....

For those of you with a similar reason for starting the bcp.... were your experiences similar and WHEN did you finally stop bleeding?

K.

I would have to read back in my journal or post to be positive, but I do believe I continued with my period for about 4-5 days into my first week of the pills. I have always been a 3-4 day kind of gal though. My second month I spotted for a few days in the middle of the active pills as well. Read Mrs Baristas posts, I believe she had some problems similar to yours which lesson as time goes on .

So the bleeding is your obvious complaint, but any good experiences yet? Within my first week I was already starting to feel better. This is my third month on, going into the 4th pack this Sunday and I feel so much better! I start my period typically on Wednesday after my last active pill and it is over by Saturday. This time it is a bit more like a normal period, just without the cramps, tiredness etc that go with pms.

I'm SO glad to hear that the pills are making you feel better, Davinci! That is just so great. It is really nice to hear success stories! Keep us posted for sure!

Mel

Well the bleeding finally stopped on Friday. So that was 23 straight days. It is a huge relief to not be bleeding. Other symptoms it is hard to say right now how they are going/changing. I have been going through some major work stress and also have a sick (ear infections one after the other) 3 year old at home so this hasn't been a normal month to say the least.

Anyways, YAY on not bleeding.

I am very curious about what will happen on my week off next week.

Kay

Kay glad to see you have a bit of relief. Keep remembering it takes about 3 months for your system to level out with the BCP even still lets hope your cycle isn't as long with the upcoming month!


As you gals can see I haven't been here much lately, frankly because I feel so darn good! I hope I can continue to say that for years to come. I stopped taking the AD (Prozac) about three weeks ago. I always knew it was nothing more than a bandage and last month as I started to feel no other side effects I figured it was time to get off that junk. So far so good, I sleep better and less I don't wake feeling dizzy in the mornings. I had one mild palp on Sunday which was the last day of my off week......so no complaints here! Happy as a jay bird right now to feel normal again! I can even go have a drink with hubby now that I am off the AD! Woo hooo!


Here is wishing all of you can feel as good as I do soon!

Awesome that you're doing so well - excellent news.

I've been doing really well up to the last couple of weeks but have gone backwards a bit unfortunately. Had a return of the brainfog for a couple of weeks now plus tingling/slight numbness in my left hand plus general muscle twitching. Started today with reflux as well, so a bit discouraged. Palps are pretty good right now though and I've not had any mid cycle bleeding so far - into my 5th pack and usually would have started breakthrough bleeding a couple of days ago. Keep us all updated davinci817 - always good to hear how you're doing!

Hugs

Mrs B, I was sorry to read your post. That tingling/numbness can worry one sick! The lack of mid-cycle spotting is positive news though! Have you spoke to your doctor lately? Maybe time to consider something else that might make it better.

So, I am on my week off right now and the peri symptoms are definitely showing up. I've had everyday spotting but also some heart palps, one flash last night and some general anxiety too. It sure is clear that these symptoms are worse without the pills. I think I will take the packs back to back for a couple of months after this week and see how that goes.

Kay

Oh yeah, and Sore Boobs! Big time sore.

I did that the first two packs, called my doctor and was told to hold off through the third pack and sure enough it pretty much cleared up. There is Seasonique I think which is 28 days of active pills. Spotting isn't unusual to them the first few months so they probably will not switch ya just yet.

Good to hear you guys doing better. I've had a rough couple of weeks; last night had a racing heart episode of 120-160bpm that went on for hours - ended up in the ER. As usual all the tests (blood, xray, ECG) checked out OK, just my heart was working like I was on a treadmill when I was lying down (I was very calm as well, as 've been there before). I was away from home at the time but checked my journal and the last episode of this kind I had was 3 cycles ago on the exact same day of the cycle. It's actually Day 14 of the pills, so my theory is that I'm still having some sort of hormonal cycle of my own going on with bcp supplementing and the racing heart is coming from when estrogen levels have peaked. My other theory is that I may now be estrogen dominant in the first half of my cycle. This is the first cycle on bcp (5th overall) where I've not had breakthrough bleeding but I've also had increased tingling/numbness and brainfog for 2 weeks+. Am going back to see my gynaecologist in the next couple of weeks I think. Thanks for any input on my theories!

Hugs

*Hugs* to you Mrs B, it sounds like you have had a rough go at it. Let us know what happens with your doctor. Chin up this will all sort out in time!

Hi Partyof five: [color="#9932CC"]

I made it over here and have been reading through some posts. Since this is my third try (the charm I hope!) I have already experienced many of the stuff everyone is discussing. One thing my new GYN has told me that has really raised my spirits is that it is a matter of finding the right combo of hormones in terms of using BCPs and HT and that I don't have to wait till menopause to feel better . So......I have in the past been on Yaz for 6 months and had to stop because I started having worse migraines that came daily--otherwise I loved it...then I was on Mircette for 1.5 months and had significant side effects like nausea first month and a constant debilitating headache. Funny thing is I felt fine during the placebo week when it has a very small dose of estrogen (to prevent the placebo estrogen crash migraine and mood swings). I just started Aviane (same as Allese and Lutera and about a dozen other pills!) and I am doing okay. Today is day 5 and the only complaint I have is I had a bad headache (not quite a migraine) on Wednesday night and the first couple of days I had acne. I was able to start on the first Sunday/Monday of my period so I think this helped. Come to think of it since I had to double up on Monday because I saw the doc on Monday... the day before the Sunday of my period ...that may be why I had the headache???? On Mircette I started on the first day of my period and my GYN said that was the wrong thing to do in terms of migraines and other unwanted symptoms.

I also was given Vivelle-Dot estrogen patches 0.0375 mg estradiol to take during the 7 day placebo week to try to prevent the "crash" estrogen crash migraine and mood swings. BTW, I asked him for the extra estrogen because I felt it helped when I was on the Mircette. He was totally okay with the idea.

I have been in peri for a while, but it became unbearable during the last few years with daily migraines and an overall worsening of PMS/PMDD. My blood pressure has also gone up and I am now on meds for that. I also cannot lose weight. My Internist attributes all of this to peri.

So...I am glad to meet all of you and I sure do hope this pill works. If not, I will keep searching for one my body can tolerate. [size="5"][/size][color="#9932CC"]

Hi, glad you made it over here.

I have not heard of the estrogen patch being used to tide over during the placebo week before you brought that up today. That is an interesting approach and maybe someone on here will have some more info/advice on that.

I remember getting a headache if I had to double up a pill dose because I forgot one (back in the years I was using if for BC) so that seems like a likely reason for your migraine if you ask me.

Hopefully you will get some relief from the migraines soon.

Kay

Hi Kay,

It would be great to hear from anyone else who has used the Vivelle-dot for the placebo week. I know one woman who used it when she was on Yaz, but I don't think she kept it on long enough to avoid all the estrogen crash effects. Yaz only has a 4 day placebo and so she only used the patch for 4 days.

I am hoping it will work for me. I am glad to hear you had the same experience after doubling up on the pill...makes sense that it would cause unwanted side effects.

I have been sleeping a bit better and I feel like a weight has been lifted from me. I remember feeling this way after I started Yaz. It's like my body needs the hormones, KWIM? Anyway, I have been free of migraines for the most part since Tuesday and I am hoping that continues for a while!

Thanks,

M

Hi all,

I finished my first week of Aviane yesterday. Hurray!!!! Still having hot flashes and night sweats but not too bad. It seems to be really helping the insomnia--such a relief! I was pretty moody last nigh. I'm not sure why. Could be a side effect of the pill. Hope it goes away. No other side effects to speak of

No real migraines to speak of. I have had headaches, but they feel more sinus related. My allergies are out of control! I am terribly stuffed up even using Allegra, Flonase and even Afrin when nothing else works!

M

Well, I got through the "off" week and started pack number 2 last night. The beginning of the off week was pretty bad but by Friday I was feeling great. So much energy and just overall wellbeing. The symptoms that troubled me at the start of the off week seemed to last about 4-5 days.

Davinci.... I was re-reading your post on April 2. What did you mean when you said you did that the first two packs? Did you mean you had similiar symptoms the first two packs? or did you mean you skipped the off week your first two packs? I really am curious about this. I think if you are saying that you had similar symptoms but then they went away after month three that is a really good sign for me.

Overall I am happy with my choice to start the bcp though. The period this first month on the pills was 4 days (compared to 12 on average for the last year). WHOHOO! And there has been a definite improvement in mood, energy, sleep. No palps except for during the off week. THUMBS UP!

Kay

I have not skipped any off weeks I keep on as directed at first I thought it was so bad I might have to get something to take through the off weeks but not having that thought anymore. I experienced the symptoms in the first two packs and then by the third I was good to go ! My off weeks I tend to have a palp or two and a bit of the shakes but other than that I am still feeling great!

Good to hear. Thanks for the clarification Davinci.

Kay

Hi Davinci,

Good to hear that things have settled down by month 3. I can't remember, what BCP are you taking? I am only on my secong week of Aviane, but already am much improved in terms of peri symptoms. I am experiencing some ovulation type symptoms right now. I hope over time they will stop happening. It's weird to be breaking out (acne) like a teenager again!

M

I take Yasmine. I suffered with the ovulation symptoms to, at one point it was nearly like labor pains across the lower back. AGain all of this was in my first or second month.