Posted by Kaysey on October 14, 2001, at 23:38:52
In reply to Re: Loestrin 1/20 and paranoia » Kaysey, posted by AnneL on October 14, 2001, at 18:14:20
> Hello Kaysey,
>
> When you say you are "living with" Ortho-Cyclen, what symptoms do you have while on it? Although monophasic, over a 3 week period of active pills you are certainly getting more of the progestin, norgestimate. Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Tryclyclen made me very, very anxious, to the point of having nocturnal panic attacks. And I can certainly relate to how one certain Pill made you feel suicidal. I truly began to have great respect for the power of one very tiny pill (Pill) when I went from functioning to wanting to be institutionalized for my safety. Anne :)
Thanks for the additional information and relaying your personal experiences. Regarding my 'hormone situation,' as you can imagine this is a long story that I will make as brief as possible by giving you 'bullets' of info in a short timeline:
*History of extremely irregular periods from teenage years to adulthood
*Began bcps approximately a year before my husband and I got married (had tried them before but the Demulen made me sick and I didn't try them again until this time period)--Tri-Norinyl worked well for me
*Husband had vasectomy--I went off the pill--periods extremely irregular again (experienced amenorhhea for quite some time)
*With such a long time between periods, I was experiencing prolonged periods of PMS--distressing,especially to husband ;-)
*At this time I began having anxiety attacks and depression (thought it was just hormone irregularity and blood sugar problems--had not been examined for or diagnosed with anxiety/depression then
*Requested assistance from ob/gyn--he gave me ogen and another med that I can't remember now to try--didn't help either situation
*Ob/gyn put me back on pill--didn't help anxiety or depression--tried numerous types
*FINALLY went to pdoc who diagnosed me with anxiety/depression--put on meds and did pretty well for a while with the ADs and bcps
*Noticed higher estrogen pills exacerbated anxiety,--given Loestrin 1.5/30 first then 1/20--yeast infections/severe depression--severe acne
*After many trials of different types, ended up with Ortho-tricyclen mostly to relieve acne and depression (but this produced tremendous anxiety) and now Ortho-cyclen
This bcp starts out just fine--about half-way through the 21-day cycle of pills my face starts breaking out and I start craving sweets (just like I would mid-cycle without bcps). The fluid retention is terrible and until six months ago, when I finally went for an AD re-evaluation (long overdue), the PMS was just horrible--totally depressed,agitated, angry, etc.--was put on Effexor, which definitely helped this--but initially had problems with the bcps and the Effexor (and the hormone influence that Effexor can bring about--heavy periods, sugar-craving, even lactation during one cycle--thank God for this site--someone else had experienced this before, so I knew what was happening).
Also OrthoCyclen makes me lethargic, that too has been exacerbated by the Effexor (Wellbutrin was added three weeks ago--the 'jury is still out' on whether that is going to help things).
I know I really should be getting more frequent evaluations, but, on top of everything else, I am 350 miles from home (and husband), trying to finish a doctorate in chronic disease epidemiology--cardiovascular disease--I should have chosen psychiatric epidemiology as much time as I spend researching it! Point being I am trying to stay as mentally healthy as possible while also trying to get this out of the way! Therefore fatigue, excessive anxiety, etc. has made things difficult and don't contribute to doing this quickly enough--but I am trying to hang in there.
I know this is more than you bargained for, so I will cease this monologue. Thanks for inquiring and thanks for 'listening.' Have you been able to find something(s) that have been successful?
Thanks again.
Kaysey
poster:Kaysey
thread:80411
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/81317.html