Ok ladies I have a big question and need some opinions.If you are familiar with me you know I am young,32 almost 33.Started my symptoms at 29.Have experienced almost everything on the list.Still have my periods.I asked my dr about two years ago to go on bcp,she agreed.I am on sprintec,the third one I tried and it works really well.My annual check up is in April.I am considering stopping the bcp and trying to go about this without any hormones.I am not having any major trouble with my bcp,they have been a life saver.I have gained weight a lot easier,but compared to the awful symptoms I was having I just dealt with it.I have never liked taking a lot of medicine,and the thought of getting a blood clot terrifies me.Should I stop the bcp and see how I do?How long would it take for them to get out of my system?I am really afraid the awful symptoms would come back,I do not smoke,have great blood pressure and no history of clots.What would you do if you were me?I do not want to take bios,or any other hormones instead of the bcps either.GOD-bless

If you want to stay on the bcp's but are concerned about health risks then maybe you could just work on practicing a very healthy lifestyle and continue with the bcp's? Exercise, take vitamins and Omega 3's(fish oil), exercise, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and more exercise-LOL! It might help alleviate your fears and possibly lessen the risks.



Happymom

I have to agree with happy. I wouldn't go back to feeling all that gunk if you don't have to.

Thanks guys,I am pretty healthy except for the peri.Thank GOD.I never want to feel the way I did before the bcps kicked in,so I probably will keep taking them if my dr says it is ok.I just wonder every now and again how long I will take them.Maybe till I am 40?

Lady, I will be 51 this year, I HAD high blood pressure. Now on BP meds. Dr. has me on Sprintec (started on a higher dose bcp, but couldnt afford it when I closed my business down) and I am doing fine on them. I need the higher dose, but until I get Medical Insurance in May, I have to stick with this.

I have greater risk factors than you do and I am doing fine on the bcp.

I would definitely talk to my doctor about my concerns if I were you.

of course talk to your doctor about all your concersn, but if I were feeling better...something was working for me....I would not mess with it....my sister is 53 and has been on continuous dose BCP since 40 and is doing fine. Joan

Wow,thanks ladies!!Sprintec is what I take as well.I do not want to feel bad like I did before-I believe I will keep taking them.GOD-bless

I have to agree with the others... if it's working for you then I would discuss it with the doctor, chances are he can put you on a lower dose that would lessen any risks but still give you the same results.

If you did choose to go off of them I believe it is 1-3 months for them to get fully out of your system.

Hi Lady E,
If you're not happy taking the bcps then why not do an experiment? Come off them and see how you feel for a while whilst they come out of your system and see how you are. If it all gets bad again then go back on them; if they worked really well for you. You may well have forgotten how much better you feel with them than without them? It's up to you. I went 'cold turkey' and it wasn't easy, but I am letting nature take its course now and I'm feeling a lot better these days. I am a lot older than you though; so my experience is going to be different. Hope you come to a decision you're happy with. Regards, Antique.

Dear'Lady E'
Why try to fix something that is not broken?I started young too and I can tell you that when I went off them all the old symptoms returned with a vengence.

I think as long as you do not smoke,eat heathily and exercise regularly you should be fine.However,I think you should discuss all your concerns with your Doctor.It might be that you come off them and all is well.

Wish you all the best
Elizabeth

Thanks,I have came to the decision to keep taking them as long as it is healthy for me.I appreciate all the answers.GOD-bless

Thanks so much,I think I am going to stay on them for a few more years at least-as long as they are ok for me.GOD-bless

I think age has a lot to do with it. I am only 38 and started this at 36. The way I see it is that those of us in our 30's have a longer road ahead of us and any and everything you can do to make yourself feel better......DO IT!

Exactly,also I have three kids-14,12,and 8.Before the pills I was a nutcase-could barely function.At least now I can take care of them-I just wonder sometimes about how long I should take them,and how healthy it is.Thanks for the reply!! GOD-bless

I have just finished with Orthocyclen for good after having been on it for 5 years. I started symptoms young too, 29-30 which finally worsened at 33 to to point that I needed to go "on" something. I thought I was helping myself at the time. The last two years the pill worked but something felt "off". 9 months ago I started peeing at night. I went off the pill in December and tried being on nothing and it was pure hell. At the beginning of March I went back on the pill thinking it would work. I've been on bioidentical cream since Monday and feel like a different person. The birth control pill is a crock and total waste of time.