STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

BC Pill - issues... HELP! (TMI)

FashionPrincess · Hermes

I had been on bc for 7+ years when I went off of it late last summer. I just stopped taking it at the end of one of my packs and everything was fine. Now my cycle was very regular on bc and was when I went off as well. Oh, and I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. But I would talk to your dr since your cycle has been wacky.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

You should be fine just stopping, but I'd probably talk to your Dr. just to make sure. I stopped mine mid-pack (I realized that they made me too much of an emotional wreck to be worth it) and had no problems.

Grace · Dooney & Bourke

My opinion would be to finish your current pill pack. Just stopping in the middle could really wack out your hormones and make the migranes worse.

Elle · Hermes

Stopping mid-pack could whack out your cycle for awhile - it could take your body longer to reset itself and for you to begin cycling normally on your own again. If that doesn't bother you and you just want to be off of it, then quit now. Worst case scenario you'd have to get a prescription for a short progesterone series to jumpstart your period again.

You have to be super-vigilant with the mini-pill for it to be effective, and it's still not as effective as a regular BC pill. Shame on your doctor for not saying anything about it, like they were just giving you another same ol' same ol' pill!

If you decide you want to go back on the pill after awhile, I'd start back on something monophasic and low dose, like Alesse. Then just keep a close eye on things to see if you're having side effects (maybe keep a journal of them?) - if the side effects are too much to deal with on one pill, on to the next. If you tolerate Alesse and Seasonale well, you might also want to consider the Mirena IUD - all three use the same hormone.

blubirde · Chanel

I went off the pill for a couple of months last year and woah! I had to get back on it because my sex drive went through the roof. I wasn't in any kind of sexual relationship at the time and there's only so far that can go.

So for my own best interest, I went back on the pill. I wish it didn't affect my sex drive so much but that's okay. A glass of wine usually does the trick anyway.

But that's my only experience with no pill. Otherwise I've been on the pill since hs and I don't see me stopping anytime soon.

twinkle · Coach

it can stop your period from coming naturally for a couple months at first.

i have had many probs. w/pills and the only one i've found that i like it levlite, it's very low in hormones. just fyi in case you decided to go back to them!

Kelly · Hermes

Did you have a reason for switching birth control pills around so much? I mean, can you go back to one that worked for you before your migraines came?

I think you should finish the pack, and then your cycle might be abnormal for a few months while it gets back into the swing of things on its own. Can you talk to your doctor about it? Maybe s/he would have a solution you didn't even think of?

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

ttara123 wrote:

Did you have a reason for switching birth control pills around so much? I mean, can you go back to one that worked for you before your migraines came? I think you should finish the pack, and then your cycle might be abnormal for a few months while it gets back into the swing of things on its own. Can you talk to your doctor about it? Maybe s/he would have a solution you didn't even think of?

Well, I guess there was always a reason for switching pills. I wanted to try something new or the doc had free samples of something else and then I wanted to try the 4 pds a year (Seasonale).. etc etc etc.

I never really had a problem with any of them. It just seems the longer I've been on it.. The harder it is to control my weight and the lower my sex drive goes.

I'm not due to go the doctor until February. My insurance isn't that great and my doc is over an hour from my house. - all reasons why I'm hestitant to go talk to him. I may just have to suck it up.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I would finish the pack before dropping the BC all together.

I used to get MONSTER migraines, and often, and my doc put me on Estrostep (7-8 years ago), which has helped a lot. Now, I usually just get one migraine a month, and it's not nearly as bad. I can actually function with the degree of migraine I get now, whereas before I would miss classes and work because I was in bed they were so bad. I'm still using Estrostep.

-gd

Elle · Hermes

Jocey - have you called your doctor? Doesn't seem like something that would require an appointment. I'd just leave a message for Doc that you're having troubles with your current BC, want to stop and let your body be normal for awhile, and want to know if they can prescribe you XYZ instead. I usually have better luck when I call and ask to be switched to a specific pill, rather than just 'something else'.

They can probably even mail you the prescription so you can fill it whenever, or maybe they'll just have you call back when you want to start taking it again and they'll call it in to the pharmacy for you ...