It's all starting to make sense... Ortho Cyclen

[Beautiful Disaster]

I've been a tad emotionally unstable. *understatement*. This has gone on for months and months. I start my period, feel great....a week later, I feel great. Energetic, happy, healthy, can conquer the world. About two weeks into my cycle, I begin to feel bloated, constipated, sore swollen breasts. On top of that, I feel generally lethargic, unmotivated, and although I don't know what it feels like to be "depressed" I can only imagine that what I'm feeling is very close to that. I become easily exhausted and want nothing more than to lay in bed with the covers over my head daily. I crave alone time and find myself fighting the urge to absolutely lose my temper....fighting the urge to uncontrollably cry at the drop of a hat. When I'm like this, I feel very bad about the way I look (hence my bad body image post last month around this same time....). I look around at others and see people twice my age feeling good, laughing, etc.......and it makes me think "something has GOT to be wrong with me......why do I feel like this?" I loathe it. I abhor this feeling. To make matters worse, I live a very healthy lifestyle. I don't smoke, drink occasionally but not in large amounts, eat a very healthy vegetarian diet (only for the last month or so), and I exercise regularly. Living a healthy lifestyle is VERY challenging....and feeling bad like this is certainly no reward.

I've been on this pill for 1 year. Over the past year, I have gained 10-15 lbs. Granted, some of it I needed to gain, but I'd like for that to be in my control. Even after starting my new diet, and being quite physically active....I haven't lost a lb. My breasts have gotten larger, I went from a small B cup to a very full B cup. My complexion stays fairly clear (which is a good thing......) but my sex drive is diminishing (and it has always previously been VERY healthy).

So I'm going to call my doctor and ask to switch pills....but I hate being at the mercy of 1 doctors decision. Does anyone have experience with symptoms like these? Does it sound like too much estrogen?

Any ideas?

[Beautiful Disaster]

The Dr. switched me to Loestrin 24. I have some anxiety about the new pill but of course, I have anxiety about everything right now. Please tell me there's light at the end of this tunnel.

[scrubs20]

I am on Tri Sprintec and my boobs hurt allll time time!! I need to switch

[Beautiful Disaster]

The Tri Sprintec is the equivalent of Ortho Tri Cyclen. I took that at one time as well. However, this pill, Ortho Cyclen is the ONLY pill I've taken in 8 years that has caused me to gain weight and increase bust size. On top of that, I'm very gassy and constipated near period time. Totally emotionally unstable, severe anxiety/depression, just a horrible experience. I finished my last pack of Ortho Cyclen Saturday and am awaiting my period. However, when I woke up this morning I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Wow....I felt a sense of freedom and release that I hadn't felt in weeks. This pill may not be bad for everyone, but it's certainly bad for me. Although I've enjoyed my larger boobs, I have not enjoyed not being able to wear ANY of my shorts from last summer and having to cram myself into my work pants every morning.
I have also suffered hair loss and a change in hair growth, even in my eyelashes. I didn't connect this with being a pill issue until I read a review site about this pill.

I read some negative reviews about Loestrin 24 too, but hey, I guess they all can't work for everyone. Loestrin 24 is a very low dose BCP so hopefully it will be an improvement. I haven't even recognized myself lately.

WHEW!!!!

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Personally, it makes sense that a high dose pill can cause problems to some people and therefore they need a lower dose.

This is across the board with any medication...

Drink more water leading up to your period and eat more greens, any greens, salad or vegetables, and walk, even if it's 10 minutes each day leading up and during....

It will definately ease some of those symptons you suffer....

Good luck on the lower pill, no wonder you went awall haha...

CW

[Beautiful Disaster]

Exactly...problem was, I trusted my doctors judgement because he knew what pills had previously worked better for me than others. I never even researched Ortho Cyclen to see if it was a high dosage. It was only lately that all this just started to pile in on me and I thought "this has got to be too much estrogen". yeah...one would think I'd have thought of that during the weight gain and the boobs...and the nausea. But nooo...I'm hard headed and a sucker for pain so I just thought it was "me"....something I was doing. I had switched to a vegetarian diet, and was eating very healthy so I knew it wasn't attributed to my diet.

Thanks CW....hoping for good luck on this one....it's been a rough ride. Now...I'm just praying for my period to come.

[LanaBear]

Back when I was on the pill, about 2 years in, I switched to a low dose. The difference was evident. Hopefully it's the same for you! I felt tons better after being on the low dose for a few weeks.