boutonnieres, rehearsal dinner, and birth control concerns

[Christa]

Date: 9/26/2006 3:08:14 PM
Author: JCJD

Date: 9/26/2006 2:39:31 PM
Author: Rosebud8506
Not to get too off subject here, but has anyone noticed a change in using the name brand vs. the generic? I recently lost my job and was added onto my husbands'' insurance, and the generic was WAYYYY more affordable ($45.00 for namebrand vs. $5.00 for generic) under his insurance.


I am worried that it might throw my hormones out of whack? I don''t want to end up prego in the next month or so!!

The difference between namebrand and generic drugs is the inert (inactive) materials that are added to the pill, stuff like the pill''s outer coating that don''t affect the active drugs at all. The active ingredients are exactly the same in the namebrand and generics.

Like, have you noticed that Advil brand ibuprofen (spell?) has a sweet-tasting outer coating, while the generic ibuprofen pills have a normal medicine-y tasting outer coating? That''s where you''ll see the main differences.

Yep, it''s like using store-brand acetaminophen instead of Tylenol. Same medicine without the fancy packaging and advertising. Pharmacists wouldn''t be allowed to substitute one for the other if they weren''t exactly the same from a medical standpoint.

Another suggestion--if your pills aren''t available in generic yet, ask your doctor if he/she has samples. They get them from the manufacturers, and I often got 6 months worth for free just by asking!

 

[firebirdgold]

Yeah, I take Trinessa rather than Ortho, and I haven''t noticed the difference. While stuff like Seasonale is safe, I don''t think you should try that with regular BS pills. I didn''t mean that I would keep taking the BC pills to skip a month, just that since the pills regulate your period I''ve got it marked on my calender. So I can look at any month in the future and know what weekends are good.

 

[Rosebud8506]

Date: 9/26/2006 3:38:42 PM
Author: IndieJones
Yeah, I take Trinessa rather than Ortho, and I haven''t noticed the difference. While stuff like Seasonale is safe, I don''t think you should try that with regular BS pills. I didn''t mean that I would keep taking the BC pills to skip a month, just that since the pills regulate your period I''ve got it marked on my calender. So I can look at any month in the future and know what weekends are good.

Yeah, Trinessa is what is equivalent. I just wanted to know if anyone else knew if there was a difference - sounds like there isn''t. So, whew, I am safe!

AND: I have noticed that about Advil (the sweet outer coating) vs. the generic Costco version, or whatnot. Good to know! Thanks ladies

 

[laine]

Date: 9/26/2006 3:38:42 PM
Author: IndieJones
While stuff like Seasonale is safe, I don't think you should try that with regular BS pills.

Actually, my gyno told me it was fine to skip periods, but that I shouldn't try to skip too many in a row (I go two pill-packs worth of pills, so 6 weeks and then 1 week off when I have my period). She also added that it was definitely no problem for me, as my BC pill (portia/levlen/levora/nordette-all different brands of the same) is the same pill as Seasonale. My pills this way are cheaper than Seasonale, or I would probably switch.

You can't do it with pills that have a different dose of hormone each week, but with most of the standard ones, its probably fine to skip periods--check with your gyno.

 

[firebirdgold]

Ah, that would explain it. Mine''s one of the ones with different doses.

 

[Christa]

When I tried the period-skipping I was using a pill with different doses each week (I don''t remember which one off the top of my head, but that''s the kind I always used), so I know you can do it with those. I''m not a medical professional, though, so if it''s something you''re interested in trying I''d give a call to your doctor. It''s probably something they could help you with over the phone.

 

[Munchkin]

It is not recommended to skip menses on pills with different levels each week. If you are unsure, the word "tri" in a pill name indicates different levels. While some people are able to skip a period with those brands, there is a much greater incidence of spotting or "surprises" 40 weeks later. It can work for some, but it is not recommended.

Indie: all seasonale is is a packet of monophasic pills without the sugar (period pills). There is nothing special about it other than the pricetag. Honestly, the med is the same as other monophasic pills, just in bulk, if you will.

I also saw a few unsure statements about when to see a gyno. 18, sexually active (or thinking about becoming so) or problems with periods are the starting date - whichever comes first. As scary as this will sound, the bottom end of "normal" for onset of periods in caucasian Americans is now 9 years old, and African American girls, 8.5 years old!

Just because a girl has her period does not mean that she needs or is emotionally or physically ready for an internal exam.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/26/2006 10:08:04 PM
Author: Munchkin
It is not recommended to skip menses on pills with different levels each week. If you are unsure, the word ''tri'' in a pill name indicates different levels. While some people are able to skip a period with those brands, there is a much greater incidence of spotting or ''surprises'' 40 weeks later. It can work for some, but it is not recommended.


Indie: all seasonale is is a packet of monophasic pills without the sugar (period pills). There is nothing special about it other than the pricetag. Honestly, the med is the same as other monophasic pills, just in bulk, if you will.


I also saw a few unsure statements about when to see a gyno. 18, sexually active (or thinking about becoming so) or problems with periods are the starting date - whichever comes first. As scary as this will sound, the bottom end of ''normal'' for onset of periods in caucasian Americans is now 9 years old, and African American girls, 8.5 years old!

Just because a girl has her period does not mean that she needs or is emotionally or physically ready for an internal exam.

Actually I am pretty sure my seasonale does have sugar pills. If I had to pay for them (my MIL works in a dr''s office) I would probably use a different brand. I am not sure how much they cost but don''t forget you get 3 months worth so maybe when you divide by 3 the price tag isn''t so bad.

 

[Munchkin]

Sugar pills = you get your period during that time. Seasonale may have sugar pills at the very end of the packet, but having them in the middle would defeat the purpose of the product.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 9/26/2006 10:49:18 PM
Author: Munchkin
Sugar pills = you get your period during that time. Seasonale may have sugar pills at the very end of the packet, but having them in the middle would defeat the purpose of the product.

Of course. I thought you were saying they don''t have any. I have one week of white sugar pills. The rest are pink.

 

[Larissa]

Yes, they do make an Atlanta Brides mag. I think I still have a few sitting around from our wedding earlier this year.

For our wedding, everyone''s outfit was up to that person. I chose my dress without imput from my parents (he helped me pick the dress). He chose his outfit (I helped). My mom wore what she was comfortable in and no one knew what his mother was wearing until she we saw her right when the wedding was starting.

He chose not to wear a bout. His choice. No one told me how to wear my hair, what flowers to chose, or what shoes to pick. Why should I get to have that power over him when it''s his wedding as well? I''d tell your mother to back off. His body, his choice.

As far as the dinner. It''s, like it or not, often seen as a reflection of the groom''s parents. You might be able to convince them to sponsor the wedding together (offer for both names on the invite if you''re comfortable with that) rather than the dinner. This is all about compromise. It''s not your day or his day, it''s the two families'' day.

BC. www.plannedparenthood.org lists all your options, failure rates for perfect use and failure rates for normal use. It would be helpful to go into your appointment informed about your options. I encourage you and your partner to research together and agree on what to do as it affects both of you.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

I''m so EXCITED! Paul''s godfather is a photographer *a fact I never knew* and he called to say he would be honored if we would allow him to take the pictures at our wedding, as his gift to us.

YAY! We''d planned on a large portion of our budget to go towards pictures, and it''s just so exciting that someone who''s a *real* photographer has volunteered to do it. I''m thrilled.

I''ve never met the man, but you better believe I''ll be thanking him like crazy when I do!