First gyno visit/Ortho Tri-Clclen Lo

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

Ok, so I went to the gyno today for the first time ever...The exam itself was alright, but I didn't like the doc much...I felt like I wanted to tell her everything I was feeling, all my strange pains, bad cramps, bad PMS, etc, but she's didn't let me talk..I mean, she was nice, but everything was done so fast...
She gave me two sample packages of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and gave me a prescription for an 11 month supply....Gees...she didn't even tell me how to use them (when to start, etc). She said that I was alright. The recptionist said that they will call if the results of the pap semar came back bad...I said can I call you guys anyways? She said yes...
SO I'm really happy to be on the pills...but when should I start taking them?
On the package it says if it's your first time, to start the first day of your period. My period came on June 23...it ended this past Sundayy...then i see on the back it says something about a Sunday start...
WTF???
Questions now:
1. Do I start taking them the first day of my period?
2. I hate getting my period around the 23rd since that day is my anniversary...is there any way to change that with the pills?
3. Do they have bad side effects? She put me on them because I am active but also because I get bad cramps, etc..
4. Do I have to take them at EXACTLY THE SAME time every day? Or more or less any time in the same hour?
5. What is the best time to take them? Nighttime or morning? My friend told me she was on the pill and took them at night or less she would feel bad side effects (she used to puke on them).
6. Do they cause weight gain (I hope so since I'm so skinny).
7. I get my period so bad that I throw up...what if I throw up my pill?

Sorry for all my questions...I'm just don't know anything and though the doc was nice..it's like if she dodn't want to be asked questions, get me?

Comments

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I forgot to add question # 8.
I'm so curious to see what they look like...though I'm not due till late this month, can I open the package to look at the pills?

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

1. You have start around the first day of your period, depending if you want to do Day 1 Start or Sunday Start. It really doesn't make too much of a difference. But it will be either the first day of your period, or the first Sunday of/after your period.
2. Try taking the pills first, and seeing when your period comes. If it's still at a time you don't like, you can gradually change it to a better time.
3. They can have side effects. Read the info that came with the pills.
4. Within the hour is fine. Try to stay as close as possible though, so you don't forget.
5. I always took that night, and I read somewhere that it was better to take them at night, though for the life of me, I can't remember why. If you don't feel icky though (I never did), any time should be ok.
6. They might. I didn't gain weight, some people do.
7. You won't BE getting your period so bad anymore. It's not a period now, it's just withdrawal bleeding from stopping the hormones. It shouldn't be as bad as it used to be. It might be a good idea to take them right before bed then, so it can get into your system before you throw up.
8. Each pill is sealed in a blister, so yes, you can open the package without a problem.

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I would prefer to get it the first Sunday after my period (What if I'm still on my period then? I'm always 1 week long?).
How do I "gradually change it to a better time"?
I'm still going to use condoms so I'm not worried about getting pregnant, but I just want them to work right and help my discomforts...can I still take painkillers while on the pill? Is there anything I shouldn't take while on them?

[winifred.livejournal.com]

Use a backup method when taking antibiotics. Antibiotics lessen the contraceptive effects of The Pill.

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

You can start while you're on your period. That doesn't have an effect. And your period will no longer be the same. So whatever you used to be isn't necessarily how it will be now.

By starting the new pack a day later each time, until it's where you want it.

Painkillers should still be fine, ibuprofen is the best for cramps. That's Advil.

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I suffer from respiratory problems (Asthma) and I think, though I'm not sure, that on the back of the Advil package it says to ask my doc or something if I have Asthma and want to take Advil.

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

Oh, ok. Tylenol should be ok too. Might want to call the doctor to make sure what's ok.

Re:

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I normally use Tylenol and Midol, but none do anything for me..it's usually a hot water bag, and even then it takes hours... :'(

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

The pill does make cramps better, since it's no longer a period.

[geminigirl]

I have asthma too, and I take a variety of asthma medications along with my birth control pill.

Pain killers are fine, they shouldn't alter the effectiveness of your birth control pill.

Re:

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I"m not on Asthma meds..I haven't had an actual attack in years, but now and then I start to wheeze..I just don't want the Advil to trigger an attack..I'll see how the pills affect my cramps..

[geminigirl]

St John's Wort can alter the effectiveness of the Pill. Some HIV medications affect the pill. Some antibiotics affect the pill. If you take any of those, be sure to use a back up method.

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I'm still going to use condoms either way...doing the real thing, the whole deal, is something my bf and I want to leave for marriage.

Wow. Here's an old hat's two cents on your questions...

[winifred.livejournal.com]

If my ob/gyn gave me the rush job you describe here, I would find myself another ob/gyn. Some women can take hormonal birth control without much fanfare, others react poorly--in my opinion, a first-time pill taker needs more attention that what you got. Your doctor should have at least brought in a nurse practitioner who could answer your questions.

To the best of my knowledge (help me out here, ladies, it's been a while since I took The Pill):

1. Take your first pill the first day of your period. If you prefer, you can take your first pill on the Sunday after your period starts. For example, if your period started on Tuesday, you could go ahead and wait until that Sunday to take your first pill (That's the "Sunday Start"). Once you take your first pill, that's gonna be the day of the week you start your new pill packs.

2. When I was on the pill (back in the day), my period started coming about two or three days AFTER the first placebo pill in the pack (4th week of pills). Everyone is different. You'll know after a month or two what your 'new and improved' period's schedule is.

3. Some women gain weight, some women don't. Some women get moody, some women don't. Some women experience acne, some women experience clearer skin. I rarely hear of women whose periods get more painful while on the pill. Again, everyone is different. Some side effects reduce or go away after three months.

4. Take them within an hour or so of the same time every day. That keeps the hormones at a regular level and reduces the chance of moodiness.

5. If you get queasy in the morning after you take your pill, try taking it at night or with food. Personally, I would get nauseated--this was helped by taking my pill with breakfast.

6. Sometimes.

7. Your doctor may recommend taking the next pill in the pack, or taking a pill from another pack to make up for the pill lost. Call your doctor's office and talk to her or a nurse before trying this. After your first month this may not be a problem, since the Pill may calm down your painful periods.

Good luck. And find another doctor that isn't so darned busy.

Re: Wow. Here's an old hat's two cents on your questions...

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

I'm so going to another gyno next year..there was a nurse in the room with us..but I was so shy..I felt my face getting hot (I'm sure I was blushing).
In the office before the visit, she asked me some questions (none being what I'm feeling) but I told her anyways and she said, oh, that's normal, and i was like "but" and she said interrupted me and said, I know you're having pains..I know what they're like.. I don't want her to related to me, I want her to see why I'm having these pains (I had a catscan done earlier this year and it showed I had liquid in my pelvic area..she said this is normal, plus I"m always having pains in between periods, and I feel swollen and bruised inside). I'm disapointed with her. I'm never going there again.

Re: Wow. Here's an old hat's two cents on your questions...

[sorrowbringer.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I'd definitely go to another OBGYN. Hell, I'd say go to another one before you even started the pills this one gave you. Sounds to me like you got a rush job, and that's not cool. My OBGYN was busy and didn't waste any time with the exam and whatnot, but she took the time to answer any Q's i had; all of them should do that, not assume they know what you're going thru. i'd ask some friends who go regularly and see who they recommend...

Re: Wow. Here's an old hat's two cents on your questions...

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

Well...I don't know whether I should go to another one and request to get an ultrasound done (at the hospital, when i got the catscan done, they said to go to a gyno and that they will probably do an ultrasound to take a closer look)....I suppose by a doing a pelvic exam that she would of known or been able to see if I had a cyst? She said everything was ok...she did take some samples (scrapings?) and I'll get the results back in 2 weeks...by those results will that tell me if I have a cyst?
I'm new at this so I know nothing about it.

Re: Wow. Here's an old hat's two cents on your questions...

[winifred.livejournal.com]

If a cyst is big enough, it will be noticable when the doctor does a manual exam. She will put gloved fingers into your vagina, press up on the cervix, and use her other hand to press on your abdomen and feel your uterus and ovaries.

If it isn't big enough, you may be in for a struggle. It took me a long time to convince doctors that I needed something other than a good once-over to figure out where my pain was coming from. Ultrasounds can either be done through your abdomen or through the vagina with a handheld wand. The latter you don't have to fast and keep a full bladder for. :)

Re: Wow. Here's an old hat's two cents on your questions...

[nessavamp.livejournal.com]

With whatever thjey sent off to the lab, what they scaped, will they know if I have one (I'm guessing the cell counts will be higher/lower??)