28 B.C.

[tristessa33.livejournal.com]

so i started taking ortho-cyclen, a month ago, and i'm not sure if i trust it yet;

-every morning usually at about 4-5am i get nauseos, and somtimes i have trouble getting back to sleep, but i've never vomitted.

-it promptly gave me a yeast infection.

-my hair has been falling out a little

-i've gained a few pounds

-the first period gave me cramps so bad i wanted to die (half the reason i went on BC in the first place was to stop bad cramps)

-the doctor said i still have to use condoms for at least the first three months.

-i've noticed a change in libido, in fact, since the pill, i never feel 'randy'

so i geuss i'm asking myself, "what the fuck is the point"...?
i got all my STD tests and made my boyfriend get all his, and got all this bloodwork, and talked to docters, who all said the pill was great, and when i finally start taking it, it makes me feel like shit.

this is the first month of the pill, i take it at night (9pm), i'm 18, a little scrawney, but otherwise healthy.

any suggestions, stories, advice.....?

Comments

[tori24.livejournal.com]

The pill will usually have some weird side effects for a couple of months until your system gets used to it. You're not experiencing anything "abnormal" however.

If, after the 3 months, you still feel like this, you might want to consider switching pills.

I take my pills at night too (right after dinner) because it does make me feel sick. I always make sure to have a full tummy. That might help you since you're likely to not have eaten anything when you take it.

The benefits of being on the pill arent usually seen in the first few months so give it some time. If the side effects are too bothersome or they get worse, talk to your doctor. :)

[janedoe.livejournal.com]

How about changing the time you take it. Maybe if you start taking it in the morning you might not feel so ill. As the other person who commented said that it does take a few months for your body to get use to the pills. I know that when I was switched from one pill to another it took a couple of months for my body to adjust. I would just wait it out, and maybe think about changing the time you take your pill.

backup methods and yeast infection causes

[sulingsi.livejournal.com]

hmm... any particular reason why your doctor said you have to wait 3 months before not using condoms? for most of us they just say to use a backup method for the first week, right? i mean it's been a while since i started using pills, like 8 years, but i thought i remembered that...
also, the pills shouldn't have given you a yeast infection... that can only happen from, you know, transfer of bacteria into your vaginal region (like by not wiping front to back properly or something like that), whereas pills just give you more of your body's natural hormones. antibiotics will make you more susceptible to infections by killing the good bacteria and making room for the bad bacteria. a good way to prevent them is eating a lot of yogurt because the active cultures are like 'probiotics'. just a little medical note there. :-)

Re: backup methods and yeast infection causes

[ambobuddha.livejournal.com]

I agree the three months using a backup method is weird - the minimum to be absolutely sure is to use backup for the first month. The medication says the first week, but whatever.

The pills could have contributed to the yeast infection. From my understanding, there is a very delicate balance of bacteria present in the vagina. If something upsets that balance - stress, lotsa sex or rough sex, lack of sleep, medications (antiboitics and others), change in diet or eating very poorly all of the sudden, pregnancy, etc. - will cause the balace to be thrown and *TA-DA!* you have yourself a wonderful yeast infection. I do believe a change in hormones will upset the balance - I've had friends that have gotten pregnant get 3 or 4 yeast infections over the course of their pregnancy when they've never had a yeast infection before or since.

I do agree with you on the yougurt - the stuff is great for your digestive system whether you like it or not. I <3 yougurt!

[sulingsi.livejournal.com]

p.s. (i keep forgetting things i wanna say!)
if you are concerned with the nausea, weight gain, and libido issues, the best way to reduce these is switching to a low-dose pill like... well someone can add the names cause i don't know them all, but like mircette, lo-estrin... um, and other ones. talk to your doctor about this! low dose shoudl especially get rid of any nausea.