BC pills & side effects

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

I just went to see a new gyno yesterday. I am very upset by the way she treated me, and by her lack of consideration for my needs. She didn't even ask me any questions.

These are some of the things that bother me:

She suggested I go on bc pills. That was her first suggestion. I don't want to go on the pill, and I told her that I am concerned about weight gain, skin problems, and mood swings. She said she had never heard of such side effects.

Now, I've heard of these side effects from women I've met. So I cannot believe that this woman, who is a doctor has never heard of them.

She also suggested that I go on continuous bc pills, and only have a period every twelve weeks. I told her of the experiences I've heard here. regarding such usage; how several of you said your doctors had told you this was only safe for two cycles. She said she'd never heard that either, or that after the first cycle, the patient often felt bloated and pre-menstrual until having the next period.

So, I'm asking you all to tell me your experience with the pill. She wants to put me on low-dosage "20" pills. She also wants to put me on continuous pills.

Please respond here with your experiences, so I'll have something to take to this doctor or the next one. I am tired of being jerked around.

Comments

[ex-hamster536.livejournal.com]

I heard BC pills cause blood clots in legs.. it is getting to the banning point here in Sweden.

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

I don't have any experience or information to share, other than the fact that I absolutely refuse to go on birth control pills myself (I was on them once and it was like I got a lobotomy or something!).

It sucks that your appointment was so unpleasant and unsatisfactory. I always feel kind of raw and fragile in those circumstances.

(hugs)

They don't work for me

[apryl.livejournal.com]

I've been off and on them since I was in 5th grade. Each time I went on them was to regulate my period, but I always forgot to take them, so it made things worse. I've never really used them for my main birth control, but they tend to give me more problems with my cycle when I do take them. Not to mention the weight gain, acne, and depression.

[trollfriend.livejournal.com]

She sounds like a BITCH! That's one.

If you don't like her...or how she treats you...go somewhere else. That's two.

If she's telling you things that you know for a fact are contrary to what you know to be true...get a second opinion. That's three.

Good luck, babe!!!

Vicky

my opinion?

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

get a new doctor. immediately. you don't need someone tending to your health that is (1) uninformed about basic side effects of medications she prescribes or (2) has no interests in your opinions in the matter.

I got lucky... I have a great doc, and she has me on Estrostep which has taken away my debilitating cramps (which is why I got on them) and have evened out my cycle and made it a little less all around. I like them - no real side effects that I have noticed except that at the high point all the extra estogen and progestren makes me a little edgy. They work for me, but not everyone I am sure. I think the most important thing is that you *want* to be on it though, or you'll never take them anyhow, so what's the point?

ugh. I think I am rambling :P

My advice?

[jennlyle.livejournal.com]

Get a new doctor. It may be a pain to go out and look for another one, but if she's not going to listen to you and your concerns, she's not worth the money that you or your insurance is playing her.

[freyjasgydhia.livejournal.com]

How long has this woman been practicing medicine? If she doesn't bother to find out side effects she can't be a very compotent dr. Find a Dr. who communicates with you and takes your needs into consideration. There are good ones out there it's worth shopping around. Good luck.

[elfbabe.livejournal.com]

Um, I learned about those side effects in my church sex ed class, she HAS to have heard of them. Definitely get a new one.

[hissyfit.livejournal.com]

i was put on a couple different types of birth control because of polycystic ovarian disease, and "grew out" of them both. it becasme so that the pill wasn't effective in regulating my cycle anymore because i'd become immune to the hormones. i had the option of trying organic birth control, but chose not to. the pills just caused me far too many moodswings and horrible depression that i couldn't deal with any longer. the physician at the school i was attending was a complete moron. she had no idea what i was talking about when i said that i was getting yeast infections and psychotic moodswings every month at the same time... so i just asked around here and made up my own mind.

good luck.

[boofany.livejournal.com]

i think that maybe you should try finding another doctor, if that's an option. if you're not comfortable going there, it could end up being something that you avoid doing.

[razz.livejournal.com]

I used bc when I was in high school and didn't suffer too many side effects -- just some mood swings. The stuff screws with your hormones, though, for pete's sake -- of course there is going to be a chance of side effects! To say otherwise seems to show how grossly uneducated this "doctor" is. There are plenty of good doctors out there -- I hope you don't suffer through one of the bad ones.

[iceblink.livejournal.com]

Sounds to me like you need another doctor.


Here (http://forums.obgyn.net/womens-health/WHF.0008/1719.html) is some information regarding weight gain.

And here (http://www.questions4life.com/birth_control_pills.htm) is some more side effects information.

[eliz.livejournal.com]

Dear god--

Run far far far away from this so-called doctor. She's either clueless or trying to force you into doing what she wants you to do instead of what would really be the best decision for you.

Personally, I went off the pill and was much happier for it... occassionally I miss knowing exactly when to expect my visitor but I don't miss the weight gain (I dropped weight FAST when I went off) and so far my cramps have not resorted to what they were before taking the pill. That was the only can't live without side effect of taking it-- I went from dysfunctional for days and at one point almost od'ing on aspirin to maybe popping two tylenol the first day if anything at all.

But for now since I'm single and not in any long-term committed monogamous relationship, barrier methods are my first choice if/when the issue comes up. Too scary in this day and age to rely solely on the pill anyway, though friends do. The pill doesn't stop std's people...

Geez

[navycutie.livejournal.com]

After reading that, I have to ask where this woman got her license to practice medicine. I'm thinking she found it in her bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.
That said, I've discovered that BC pills are full of lovely side effects. Since I've started them, my breasts are about half to three quarters of a size bigger, I've had pretty major mood swings, and I shed hair more readily than before. For someone to say that she hasn't heard of side effects before is full of crap.
As far as continuous birth control, I've heard many mixed things. A lot of doctors have said that there is no biological reason for women to have as many periods as we do now (their reasoning being that women a century ago had far fewer periods due to lack of birth control and having a lot more kids). However, I've also heard that no one really knows the long-term effects of doing as such. That in itself is enough to scare me as to not want to do it.
Before you get a new doc (and I hope you do-this girl is so uninformed), show her all of our stories. Maybe that will be enough to shock her into reality.

[waterlove.livejournal.com]

doctors are dicks. i was on allese (which seems to be a popular brand) and i used it for a little over a month until i realised that i woke up everynight with a migrane. so my options were go off the pill, or stay on and take migrane medication. so i went off cuz i couldn't handle it.

they didn't even try me on ny dofferent kinds, and now they want me to go on depo provera. no thank you! so im back to the drawing table to find a fix for my cramps.

*three cheers for ovaries*

[waterlove.livejournal.com]

there was a big discussion about this on the sex tips lj also, check that out

[divinemissa.livejournal.com]

I've had nothing but positive experiences with the pill. I did gain weight, but I also stopped exercising 3 hrs per day... plus I went off to college and started eating like a pig. I'm less PMS'y, my skin's cleared (though that could just be a part of aging a bit) and I almost never have cramps anymore.

However...

Among my friends, I've seen the following side effects:
-Weight gain
-Nausea/Fainting
-Breakouts

And for chrissake, if you look in one of those stupid ads for Ortho-Tri-Cyclen in a magazine (You know... the ones that imply that the only women who take the pill are married, and also assume that they WILL have a baby someday) have a whole nother page on the back listing the side effects, both mild and nasty. Any reputable doctor would know these, and inform YOU, not have to be told by you.

Dump this doc. Either she's an idiot or thinks that you are and is trying to talk down to you. As to the pill, I love it. But there's no reason all women should take it just because I am pleased.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen ads

[ex-foom23660.livejournal.com]

I hate those ads, too. But I think that it may be the only way that they can advertise without totally pissing the right-wingers off. That's just what I think, though. But it sort of slaps women's lib in the face.

Geez!

[ex-foom23660.livejournal.com]

If I had the patience, I would sit and type the enitre contents of my bc pills insert, so that you could show it to your ding dong of a doctor. I've been taking bc pills on and off for 10 years. I started out with Ortho Novum 777, which is a 28 day regimen. They were fine, but I always had yeast infections. Then I tried another Ortho line (which for the life of me I cannot remember), and I had yeast infections all the time, reduced libido, and I gained 15 pounds (water weight). Ugh. Then I had a doctor prescribe a high dose estrogen pill, and it turned me into a loony tune, and made me break out in hives. Now I'm on Ortho Tri-Cyclen (28 day), and I love it. I have had NO side effects.

May I suggest that you not go to this doctor? She sounds like a male gyn! DO you have a Planned Parenthood near you? I have always had great experiences with them.

And, the symptoms you mentioned DO HAPPEN. They happen to be the most common side effects.

Most of all, I think that you need to find a better doctor.

[cleanlikegod.livejournal.com]

Hey,
I know you! You're in the childfree and bisexual communities! Hey there! *waves*
You said you were worried about "weight gain, skin problems, and mood swings". My mother gets this women's health magazine, "The Female Patient", and I read the new issue which says that 'the Low dose Oral Contraceptive Alesse effectively cleared acne without causing weight gain.' It's a medical/doctor/health care journal type thing, so I'm pretty sure it's all scientific and stuff. =) Alesse are low-dose '20' pills, too.
Hope that helps (a bit!)

Lots of Love,
Jessicka