The Pill - health, other options, etc.

[soocool]

When you see your doctor and he gives you the prescription, ask him if he has any packs he can give you until you fill your prescription. My doctor would sometimes give me 3 packs for free. And there is no harm in asking!

I thought that these would eventually be OTC, knowing there are so many women on them. I don''t think taking bc pills is any different than someone taking Claritin, Motrin, etc. that were all at one time prescription. I can understand the narcotic meds, but the pill has been around since the 60s! Betcha as soon as the Viagra patent has expired they will right there next to the Trojans!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I went through two IUDs and had horrible side-effects from both! I''d NEVER get one again.

 

[LGK]

I have a Mirena IUD and I heart it. I don''t have periods at all. I had to get rather pro-active to get it, however; doctors typically don''t mention IUDs as a valid option. I don''t have kids; often for an IUD they prefer you to have had a child, but it''s mostly because it will theoretically perhaps hurt more to get it inserted for non-mothers. They do prefer IUD users to be married and/or monogamous, because of the risk for complications if you get an STD. Since you''re getting married, that''s good!

It wasn''t like FUN to have it put in, and it did hurt, but it was over with very fast and didn''t keep hurting- I''d say about 30 seconds of reasonably intense pain then completely over with. And not having to think about BC or worry about periods is great. (Oh, and take ibuprofen before you get an IUD inserted, it helps a lot.) Also, incredibly effective- and you cannot screw it up, like you can with the pill. (For example, if you don''t take the pill at EXACTLY the same time every day, that lowers the effectiveness. You can''t forget your IUD!)

Also I had a 27 yr old friend nearly die of blood clots (in her lungs, fun) related to taking the pill, which scared the crap out of me. IUDs have so many fewer deadly side effects.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

oobiecoo - Thanks for your story of your experience. That''s good to hear that someone had improvement in everything including the libido. That''s what I was wondering about the number of months it takes a body to get back to normal - I''ve heard only a month or two for some people, and it took you many months. What form of contraception do you plan to use when you go back to needing it?

sba771 - I will definitely look for the book! Hehe honeymoon baby! Good luck!!

Hehe I vote for being able to fit in the dress! Haha how did your FI react to having to get snipped after #2?

I hear ya about the environment changing your moods. I''m working now too, and so many days I don''t even feel like fixing my lunch when I get home. It''s hard to imagine having the energy to do the deed.

Don''t worry about the TMI, I understand.

And it helps to hear bluntness more than people trying to describe things vaguely with topics like this.

Thanks for the advice. I''m leaning towards trying the Yaz first like you said, and if I don''t like that one, then I''ll try off the pill.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

soocool - I hear ya about the pills being over the counter. It would make sense!

MC - Thanks for the input!

LittleGreyKitten - Thank you for your advice! It helps a lot to hear personal experiences. And it definitely helps to know the details, so thank you. I hope your friend is ok now! Did she switch to a different kind of BC after that?

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 2/25/2009 8:55:02 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
oobiecoo - Thanks for your story of your experience. That''s good to hear that someone had improvement in everything including the libido. That''s what I was wondering about the number of months it takes a body to get back to normal - I''ve heard only a month or two for some people, and it took you many months. What form of contraception do you plan to use when you go back to needing it?

sba771 - I will definitely look for the book! Hehe honeymoon baby! Good luck!!

Hehe I vote for being able to fit in the dress! Haha how did your FI react to having to get snipped after #2?

I hear ya about the environment changing your moods. I''m working now too, and so many days I don''t even feel like fixing my lunch when I get home. It''s hard to imagine having the energy to do the deed.

Don''t worry about the TMI, I understand.

And it helps to hear bluntness more than people trying to describe things vaguely with topics like this.

Thanks for the advice. I''m leaning towards trying the Yaz first like you said, and if I don''t like that one, then I''ll try off the pill.

Yep, I''m still not having normal periods or ovulating or anything. Really, I would love to have lots of kids so birth control may never be a concern for me again haha. Really though, if we had to limit our family size due to income or something then I guess its back to condoms or just being aware of when I''m ovulating if we don''t mind a possible "oops" baby.

 

[Alienor]

This is probably not the answer you are looking for but what about condoms?
I know it sucks when you are married, but I tried the Nuvaring and hated having fake hormones into my body. I was just off and gained weight.
Eventually, hubby will get snipped snipped.

I am anti- hormone pill and the likes so the condom is the best option. But it is a personal opinion!

Oh and for the pains related to your menstrual cycle, have you asked your gyneco? I know mine gave me this wonderful pills that make the pains bearable.

I hope you find the best option for you.

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 2/25/2009 9:53:45 PM
Author: Alienor
This is probably not the answer you are looking for but what about condoms?
I know it sucks when you are married, but I tried the Nuvaring and hated having fake hormones into my body. I was just off and gained weight.
Eventually, hubby will get snipped snipped.

I am anti- hormone pill and the likes so the condom is the best option. But it is a personal opinion!

Oh and for the pains related to your menstrual cycle, have you asked your gyneco? I know mine gave me this wonderful pills that make the pains bearable.

I hope you find the best option for you.

Oh yes... my old doc gave me muscle relaxers

 

[Alienor]

Date: 2/25/2009 10:02:58 PM
Author: oobiecoo

Date: 2/25/2009 9:53:45 PM

Author: Alienor

This is probably not the answer you are looking for but what about condoms?

I know it sucks when you are married, but I tried the Nuvaring and hated having fake hormones into my body. I was just off and gained weight.

Eventually, hubby will get snipped snipped.


I am anti- hormone pill and the likes so the condom is the best option. But it is a personal opinion!


Oh and for the pains related to your menstrual cycle, have you asked your gyneco? I know mine gave me this wonderful pills that make the pains bearable.


I hope you find the best option for you.

Oh yes... my old doc gave me muscle relaxers

Aren''t they nice?

 

[LGK]

Date: 2/25/2009 8:59:28 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
soocool - I hear ya about the pills being over the counter. It would make sense!

MC - Thanks for the input!

LittleGreyKitten - Thank you for your advice! It helps a lot to hear personal experiences. And it definitely helps to know the details, so thank you. I hope your friend is ok now! Did she switch to a different kind of BC after that?

Lol, actually she got a divorce and doesn't use BC right now- so far, now that she's single, her three kids have been quite the birth control all by themselves I think; hard to find guys interested in a mom with three kids. I think for the brief period between her illness and her moving out, she wasn't using any BC at all because, ahem, she didn't need it... among other delightful traits her ex had, he was a substance abuser who's drug of choice left him completely uninterested in sex. Not the best form of BC ever

She was using a progestin only pill if I remember right, and developed pulmonary embolism (multiple blood clots in the lungs) pretty quickly after switching to it from a more normal type of pill. After stopping the pill her blood- which had thickened, hence the problem, if I am remembering this right- went back to normal at least. But, she's definitely not able to use a pill or other hormone type of BC anymore... I think she's planning on using barrier methods in the future.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

oobiecoo - Thanks for the reply! I love kids - I''d love to have a big family too. I think FI only wants 2-3 kids, which is still better than nothing!

Alienor - Thanks for the input! Yeah I guess condoms would be the other viable alternative. FI just doesn''t really like that idea. But if it''s what I absolutely wanted, he''d live with it for me.

That''s the same way I feel about the hormones - I''m beginning to not like the thought of all these hormones. I just read through the entire packet last night, and all the warnings... SHEESH!!

oobiecoo and Alienor - So muscle relaxers huh? I''ll definitely have to look into those! Do you just request them from the doc?

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

LittleGreyKitten - Well at least your friend is away from the ex! Glad she''s ok, too. I read about the clots in the lungs in the packet last night - pretty much freaks me out to hear that it actually happened to someone. I hope at some point in the future I can quit taking hormones. I''d much rather let my body do its natural thing. But I think Yaz is still a mix of the 2 hormones, not a progestin only.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

DivaDiamond - My puppy''s back!! I like her better than the strawberry too.

 

[sba771]

Yay for puppies!!

That is all

 

[oobiecoo]

I think my doc just offered me the prescription... I want to say it was for both my cramps and also my knee. He knew I had a history of pain with each so I guess he thought that would be a good idea. I was also prescribed Ultram a loooong time ago and that helped with my cramps... I''m not sure what type of medication that is though since I was pretty young when I took it.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Date: 2/27/2009 8:49:34 AM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
DivaDiamond - My puppy''s back!! I like her better than the strawberry too.

YAY!!

Your dog is just sooo cute! What kind of dog is she? If my oldest pug knew I was cheating on her I''d be dead meat

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

sba771 - puppies are the BEST!! Each and every one.

oobiecoo - Thanks - I''ll look more into them then, maybe call up my doc. I really think they''d help more than ibuprofen does. Heat helps me more than anything. I live my 1-2 days with AF each month with one of those sticky heating pads you stick inside your pants for the day. They are life savers, otherwise I''d be at home 1-2 days a month plugged into the wall. They''re just not too fun when summer comes and it''s 90 degrees outside.

DivaDiamond007 - Hehe Pixie appreciates all the love! She''s a Chihuahua, but a bigger one. I talked about her some over in the Furry Babies thread. Tell your oldest pug next time you see him that we must love ALL doggies!

Then make sure he knows he''s still #1 in your heart.

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 2/27/2009 1:53:58 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
sba771 - puppies are the BEST!! Each and every one.

oobiecoo - Thanks - I''ll look more into them then, maybe call up my doc. I really think they''d help more than ibuprofen does. Heat helps me more than anything. I live my 1-2 days with AF each month with one of those sticky heating pads you stick inside your pants for the day. They are life savers, otherwise I''d be at home 1-2 days a month plugged into the wall. They''re just not too fun when summer comes and it''s 90 degrees outside.

DivaDiamond007 - Hehe Pixie appreciates all the love! She''s a Chihuahua, but a bigger one. I talked about her some over in the Furry Babies thread. Tell your oldest pug next time you see him that we must love ALL doggies!

Then make sure he knows he''s still #1 in your heart.

Thats EXACTLY how I am! I would stay plugged in all day if I could because sometimes I feel like I just can''t even move. My ballet teacher years ago showed us some stretches that help with lower back pain associated with AF. Maybe you could try looking up something like that.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 2/27/2009 2:45:59 PM
Author: oobiecoo

Thats EXACTLY how I am! I would stay plugged in all day if I could because sometimes I feel like I just can''t even move. My ballet teacher years ago showed us some stretches that help with lower back pain associated with AF. Maybe you could try looking up something like that.

Thanks oobiecoo! I''ll definitely look that up. My lower back hurts so much it feels like I just started working it out and it''s crazy sore or something. It''s terrible when AF comes.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Well folks I started the Yaz last night. I'm gonna try it for a few months on a regular monthly basis. If I like it, I may go to the continued use for a few months at a time. And if I don't like it, FI agreed to go natural and we'd work on it together from there. At least he's got my best interests in mind.

Thank you to all of you for the advice and experiences. I sincerely appreciate it. Here's to hoping the Yaz is much better!!

(Even though there's no generic and it's $30 bucks each!

)