Thread: Side Effects of the pill and such

I was put on the pill when I was 18 because I started getting my period every other week, because I'd gotten about 7-9 diseases at once. (Lyme and two other tick-borne illness, a couple viruses including Parvo, and two strains of pneumonia, but one attacked my heart instead of the lungs) I'd also just gotten into my first (and current) relationship. I was on Ovcon 32 for a few years, but had a number of side effects that I just ignored because I was treating more serious health problems at the time, and sore boobs and low sex drive didn't matter when my heart was being squeezed by the swelling around it, or when I was having full body spasms, and you get the idea.

So far, these side effects have occurred with all birth control I've tried. When I say my breasts hurt, I mean constant at all times, especially the nipples. I've been fitted for bras at many places, so I highly doubt it was that. Anything touched them, it would hurt. And the pain varied from pill to pill. Low sex drive=non existent. I can't even feel anything in places I should at times. Cramps where there to begin with, and I'd been trapped in bed all day from them since I was 14. The worst side effect is that for an entire week, sometimes more, I get full body aches. This started about 2-3 years after getting sick (I'd only been treated for 1 illness at that time, and switched to a different doc who found the rest of the diseases) I'm utterly exhausted, hurt horribly, and my lower back reaches new levels of torment (I've got a lot of problems there, from scoliosis and facet disease to a severely herniated disk). The pain for an entire week is horrible. There are days I can't even make myself food, let alone do dishes. It's unacceptable, and nothing I've done has helped.

But, now that it's just a matter of dealing with back pain and residual viral infections, I've been switching between birth controls. The Yaz made me completely disconnected from my feelings by the end of 4 months of it. I couldn't feel. But I was still kinda snappy, not like I was annoyed, but I had no patience (which, I am usually infinitely patient) I realized something was wrong when I watched House MD season 1-4 and did not cry once. I usually cry at anyone in any movie/game/story dying. But no matter how horrible the things that happened, in shows or real life, I couldn't cry. Couldn't laugh either. So, I went and stopped the Yaz, and suddenly became human again. (My poor boyfriend thought I hated him. He was scared for a while, still is. He was very understanding of what happened though. He's just nervous of what the next pill might bring.) It had helped with the breast pain where I had a few days a month they didn't hurt, and with the cramps for a while, but they came back with a vengeance that last month.

I'd tried the patch, and it wasn't much different from the Ovcon. It was convienent though. Out of everything I've used, I'd probably take that over the rest. Breast still hurt, but a little better. Cramps were slightly better managed, but still knocked me out.

Levora is making me borderline anemic from iron loss. More then 8 days of heavy bleeding.

Ortho-tryclene lo made me hurt all month instead of a week.

And there were two others I can't remember right now, but they sucked too.

BTW, every gynecologist (I'd given up after the 3rd) has told me to wear a better fitting bra and basically there's nothing I can do for the rest. So, I've been going to my primary care physician for help. She's amazing, and actually listens to my suggestions and gives her input as well. We basically work together to try to fix this. So, my two choices now that may help are Nuva-ring or Seasonique (Seasonale with low hormones in the week off)

I'm leaning towards Seasonique right now because I seem to suffer every period, so if I just have less it shouldn't interfere with my life as much. Also, the way the hormones work in both stops the blocking of testosterone like other pills do (there's a lot of info on the web on how exactly regular pills stop production of testosterone and block its absorption into the body, thus killing sex drive). So, sex drive should return with either. And someone I know personally said the Nuva-ring caused much heavier bleeding, and I'm already almost anemic from mine. So, I think I should be careful there. I'm also hoping that taking small amounts of hormones during the off-week would help control whatever my hormones do that makes me hurt so much.

I just wanted to see if anyone else has had such a terrible time with things. And it's not like I could just stop birth control either, or I'll be suffering every other week (it did start from severe illness, but I'm not cured yet, so I doubt it's gone away in the 4 months since I last took a break from the pill) Plus, I'm not ready for kids (probably never will be... I really have no interest, but no one would sterilize a 24-year old woman who's not exactly healthy anyway.)

Also, if anyone's had any experience with either, I'll gladly listen. I want to know all the possibilities I could be faced with. There's so many options out there, I'm certainly going to find the right one for me so I don't have to suffer.

BTW, for those whose sex drives are a casualty of the pill, keep an eye out for a new one coming out soon called the Pill Plus. It has a small amount of androgens that should help boost sex drive, but not enough of them to do anything weird or horrible. It may help some when it comes out.

The cramps are something I've inherited. Through my mother's line, they've been terrible. My mom often got ovarian cysts, which went away after she had kids, but a recent pelvic ultrasound came up clean for me. Everything looked just fine, but the ultrasound did leave me bleeding that night, and they injured my already injured back. My tailbone area was so swollen for a week, that it was out past my butt. And I had the worst cramps from it. It was just the outside ultrasound.

Whatever it is, for at least 4 generations it's been a problem. And they began from my first period on. So, if I'm still left with them, I'll just treat for pain when they happen. Normally, it's just one day (when I wasn't on bc). But it was all day. Some pills now give me cramps for almost 2 weeks.

For how I was so sick: when I was 18, I was in the emergency room 3 days before graduation. I apparently got mono a second time, was treated with steroids and got much, much worse. My liver swelled up for about 3 months, during which I tested positive for Lyme Disease. Had to wait for my liver to be clear for 3 months, then I went on IV antibiotics, got a bit better, then got worse.

Basically, I continued to get worse for about 2 years till a friend insisted I see his doc. It saved my life. (At that point I needed help to get to the bathroom)

Turns out whatever tick bit me, had more then just Lyme in it. I had Erhlichiosis (which gave me God awful migraines) and bartonella (cat scratch, but the tick strain is far worse and more persistent). I also had two strains of pneumonia, one which attacked my heart and caused pericarditis (swelling around the outside of the heart). Mycoplasma, and about 4 different viruses in the herpes family. Epsteinn Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes 6, and Parvo B-19. I had random other small infections. A cold at that point put me in bed for more then a month. It took me at one point 4 months to recover from the flu.

I'd also herniated the lowest disk in my back right after the liver healed, which that still hasn't healed, but I refuse to deal with surgery. I'm going to a chiropractor instead. Hopefully getting a personal tens unit soon. I've got degenerated and herniated disk mid-back as well, and a few other spine problems. What would be expected in someone 20+ years older then me. I'm guessing the degeneration was from severe illness.

I'd been treated with different antibiotics for 2 years, and finally reached the point were I could take care of myself, go food shopping, make it to appointments, etc. I'm not all the way better, but I feel like a human being on occasions.

I'm taking anti-virals to manage remaining viral infections (the Parvo's been the worst, and the most stubborn)

So, in short I got hit with a bacterial truck, and was given a few bandaids when I needed a full body cast. Illnesses had 2 years to reek havoc on my body before something was done. It was kinda like playing whack-a-mole with the treatment. I has to frequently switch meds. First go for what infected the heart, then what was affecting my memory, etc.

My mom is certain I have endometriosis, but I'm not in a rush to get told I'm a head case by another gynecologist. Apparently, becoming seriously ill and taking more then 3 months to get better makes you a nut job. :rolls eyes and sighs:

Yeah, so I'm always nervous messing with new pills, but... The alternative means just as much suffering most of the time.

After everything I've been through, I'm not all that shy about what's happened. So, feel free to ask any other questions. I've had about 5 years to look through info and stuff, so I got lots of info on various meds and such. Maybe I should become a nurse once I get this under control. lol