Period/Birth Control Pills

bucutie02 · #1 07-24-2002, 05:52 PM

Okay so about 2 years ago i went on birth control pills to help me aleviate some pain from the killer cramps i would get the first day of my period. Anyway, its time for me to renew my prescription which means i have to go get my yearly check-up.

Here is the question.... has anyone else gone on the pill to help because of awful cramps, had the pill work wonders, and then went off the pill? Do you still get the bad cramps again or not?

I feel like ever since i went on the pill i have gained a lot of weight, and just want to stop taking it. Thing is, I am worried I will get the bad cramps, vomiting and everthing else i would get from my period if i stop taking them.

What should i do?

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #2 07-24-2002, 06:05 PM

Hi beautiful.

I think what you need to do is go in and see your doctor. Tell the doctor what your symptoms are -- both with the heavy periods and with your pill use -- and ask for suggestions.

Maybe you should consider using a different type of pill. Side effects for each can vary SIGNIFIGANTLY. Probably you don't want to consider something like the Depro-Provera shot, though, because that's some serious stuff -- lasts for 3 months and some women bleed the entire first 3 months (but then never again after that, as long as they keep current on the shot.)

Definatly get your physican involved though.

:-) Greek love!
~ Jacquelyn.

amycat412 · #3 07-24-2002, 06:48 PM

My cramps came back and I'd swear they were worse.

Now I am on BC pill called Cyclessa and I LOVE IT! Its a mid-doseage pill--less estrogen than reg pills but more than low dose pills--this alleviates (at least in me) a lot of the normal side effects associated w BC pills.

I did not gain weight when I started the Cyclessa, actually I lost weight.

FuzzieAlum · #4 07-24-2002, 06:58 PM

If I get my period, I get cramps, period. No pill has been able to get rid of them, although some have mitigated them.

I personally swear by Depo. I never had excessive bleeding, and no period=no cramps. I figure, if I'm going to decide to have a kid, I should take at least three months to think about it anyway!

Plus, it's so much easier ... if you have an irregular schedule, taking the pill every day is a huge hassle. I don't have to worry about forgetting my pills at home, or taking it late ...

But it comes down to, all of us react so very differently to these different hormone-based methods - not even your doctor can guarantee what is the best one for you. I'm not saying you shouldn't use your doctor of course; she can suggest what she thinks is best and probably knows a lot more like it than I do (I sure hope!) It's just a caution that it may take a couple of different tries before you find the right thing for you.

Dionysus · #5 07-24-2002, 07:07 PM

What are common side effects of BC pills? My doc wants me to take them for my cramps also. But, I am kind of scared to take them.

dzsaigirl · #6 07-24-2002, 07:23 PM

I went on the pill for cramps/flow Sophomore year of college. I used to have debilitating cramps. The kind where all planned activities were cancelled for me when I got my period, unable to get out of bed...my mom actually said that having 3 kids with no painkillers was less painful than her cramps!

Also, the flow was incredible (sorry for those faint of heart!). I could fill a pad in 30 minutes...

After 3 months on the pill, it was heaven. I only cramp the first day now, and only mildly, not bad at all. And the flow is so so little, it's a miracle. However, since I just got married, there is no way I can go off of it to see what it is like to not be taking it! That will not happen until we decide to have children.

Supposedly childbearing is supposed to curb the cramps, so maybe after having kids, they will go away. I don't know what to tell you though. Is losing a little weight worth the cramps? I just don't know if I could live with cramps like that again, especially since I now have to be a working grown up and can't "skip school"!

PhiMuNursie · #7 07-24-2002, 07:25 PM

It really varies by pills. There is one prescribed in Gainesville for basically everyone across the board, and everyone has the same side effects, etc. I'm not on this one and love the one I take. I also lost weight when I started taking it and got rid of all my symptoms. When I stopped it my symptoms came back and I also think they were worse than before. I take the lowest dose pill, I think is what she told me, and I don't have any of those awful side effects that other girls talk about. And it all depends on the amount of estrogen and progesterone in the pill, so I agree with whomever else said, go talk to your doctor about the side effects, and that you want to stop taking it, etc. I'm sure they can help you work it out what's best for you.

Tara
I have a Phi Mu castle...

bucutie02 · #8 07-24-2002, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzsaigirl

After 3 months on the pill, it was heaven. I only cramp the first day now, and only mildly, not bad at all. And the flow is so so little, it's a miracle.

That is how it is for me. I am on alesse 28 and it is supposed to be like one of the lowest dosage pill out there. I love it, but i do want to go off of it, but i dont want the cramps to come back.

I too had to cancel all my daily activities the day i got my period before i went on the pill. It was so horrible!!!!

DZTUBAGIRL · #9 07-24-2002, 08:50 PM

I started getting the depo provera shot when I was 16 and I am 21 and I am still on it. I started taking it because my mom made me and I didn't trust myself to take a pill everyday, I forget a lot. When I first started getting the shot I didn't notice any side effects except that I had my period for 2 months straight!

That sucked really bad. But after that I only had some spotting for like a day once a month. Best thing is I don't ever get cramps. I have thought about getting off the shot but like everyone else is talking about I had really bad cramps and I had a really heavy flow and couldn't take it. The only side effects of the shot are you might gain weight. I personally like the shot but I guess it might not be for everyone.

Anne Marie

xo_sue · #10 07-24-2002, 09:46 PM

Just a warning - me being all post prego - first of all... I had my period for 5, yes 5 weeks after the birth! Then, I have never had cramps and this whole week I had cramps. Guess what- my period came AGAIN! So, from June 8 to July 24- I have had basically 1 week - period free. Yikes!!!!!

Am I over-sharing? he he :P

Hootie · #11 07-24-2002, 11:05 PM

A long time ago I went off the pill and had the WORST cramps ever right after my first month of "being clean". It was a nightmare. Then here a month ago, I went off one pill to get on another...I didn't mean to, but I just sorta stopped taking the one and then switched to the other the next month. I didn't have too bad of cramps, but still uncomfortable.

Definately talk to the doctor. I had been on Ortho Cyclen for a year and asked to get on something that would make me less moody. Each one, however, has different side effects so you may be trading one problem for another (as I was told).

Hope that helps.

Hootie
PS. Miss ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SATX*APhi · #12 07-25-2002, 01:02 AM

I was taking Ortho Tri-Cyclin for a few years and stopped about a year ago. I have never, ever had cramps, but for this past year I have had some killer cramps!!!!

<~~ That is how I look when I have these cramps.

I haven't talked to my doctor about it b/c I recently changed doctors b/c my other doctor sucked, but I need to go in and see what's going on!!

NoShame_Gamma · #13 07-25-2002, 01:44 AM

Here is the question.... has anyone else gone on the pill to help because of awful cramps, had the pill work wonders, and then went off the pill? Do you still get the bad cramps again or not?

I feel like ever since i went on the pill i have gained a lot of weight, and just want to stop taking it.

I went on the pill for 2 reasons:
1. I used to get me period for a whole week, all days heavy flow with bad cramps the first couple of days. The first day was always the worst, because on top of getting cramps, I would get a stomach-ache and couldn't eat all day. I was practically bed written my first day.
2. My boyfriend and I thought extra protection wouldn't be a bad idea

I started taking EstrostepFE because my doctor said it would give me some extra iron supplements (I have iron def. anemia). That got too expensive ($35) so I switched to Ortho Cyclen. Since then, I hardly get cramps and my flows are shorter and MUCH lighter!

When I stopped taking it for a while (I never made the time to renew my prescription, plus I had broken up with my boyfriend), BOY DID MY CRAMPS COME BACK, WITH A VENGANCE! Also, I noticed that I started gaining weight (while NOT taking the pill). I had lost 20 pounds the previous semester, and kept them off, until I stopped taking the pill.

Either way, everybody reacts differently. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor, just like everybody has suggested.

Good luck!

ilovemyglo · #14 07-25-2002, 11:31 AM

I just found out about something new on the market.
I am horrible about taking my pill everyday and I am on it for ovarian cysts! But this new thing is a ring that you put inside of you, and it releases hormones steadily (like the pill) and just kind of disenagrates and then the next month, you put a new one in. I am thinking about trying it when my renewal comes up next month. I don't want the shot because I am afraid of the side affects and they last 3 months, no matter what, but this is only ONE month and i could deal with that!
sarah

gphi2k2 · #15 07-25-2002, 04:16 PM

I've been on Ortho-tricyclen for about 5 years now....and I went on it cause i was SICK of my period just showing up after 21 days, then 27, then 20 then 30... and it would last for a full week every time. it made me CRAZY!!!! I love knowing to the minute when it's gonna come, and being done with it in 4 days. and i NEVER get cramps. I still get moody, and i put on a bit of weight. I've never even considered going on anything else because going from no pill to this pill took 3 months of HELL body transitions. I'm scared to try something else.

has anyone ever switched pills after being on one for a while and really regretted it?

i really don't think i would ever get the iud or take anything else that would keep me from getting my period. yah it's a hassle, but something about not getting my period at all just doesn't sit well with me.