Estrostep

angie5717 · 05-31-2006, 07:59 PM

Hi everyone! This is my first posting. I was diagnosed with PCOS about a year ago and have been through hell since. I had never been on birth control before (except briefly while in high school) and was put on Ovcon 35 when PCOS was diagnosed. I then went to see an endorcinologist who also put me on Spirononlactone (which I took for about 3 months). Everything was fine for 10 months, until a stressful event which caused me to have panic attacks and chest pains (all of which I had never had before). Needless to say the doctors took me off of both meds and as you may have guessed I was a mess. I went to a cardiologist, my internest, had a stress test done, CT san of my chest, everything was fine, they said it was stress and anxiety mixed with a hormonal imbalance that sent me into a premenopausal (sp?) state. Finally about a month ago I seemed better, no panic attacks, chest pain gone, and everything was fine. My gyno wanted to put me back on the pill and gave me Estrostep which she said was very low in hormones and thought I should go with that. Since I was going to stop self diagnosing and listen to the doctors I did just that. I am on week 3 of Estrostep, the worrying has come back, so has the chest pains, and I just looked up Estrostep and from what I read I should not be on this pill because it has higher androgenic effects apparently. Why cant I find a doctor who knows what to do for me? I go to see my endo tomorrow thankfully (I love her!) and hopefully she can shed some light on this. I am scared to start another pill in fear that I will be a wreck again and even more scared to go off completely. My main issue with PCOS is the excess hair growth. I have it on my face, stomach, chest, and back. Any advice on anything mentioned above would be appreciated. Please only positive advice I do enough of the negative thinking on my own. Look forward to hearing from anyone.

regards,
Angie

Poetic · 06-01-2006, 05:06 PM

Angie,

I started estrostepFE 3 months ago I'm 33 years old & I've never used Birth control pills in the past. However after the delivery of twins in January I thought it was time to start! So, my doc prescribed Estrostep my first month on the pills the only side effects I had was break through bleeding. Second month came weight gain, fluid retention, stomach aches, dizziness, and like you I felt constantly panicked!!! It was really strange because I've also suffered from panic attacks in the past, but that was years ago, and then suddenly those feelings were coming back.

So last month (may) I started another pack, but the stomach aches & that "out of sorts" feeling got that best of me so I discontinued the pills right before taking the "last" week of active pills. This is my second week off the pills and I feel SO much better! No more stomach ache & the fluid retention has subsided. However my period is MIA I figure my body is adjusting all over again??? But the good news is the panic is gone...I really believe it was the estrostep. Now I'm not sure what my next step is, I'll consult with my doc, but my first try at Birth Control pills has not been a happy one.

angie5717 · 06-03-2006, 05:05 PM

Thanks for replying! I went to see the endo the other day and she said that Estrostep was fine (that it wouldnt make that much of a difference on the hair growth espcially while taking metformin), to stay on it for a couple months and if I didnt feel like it was working out that I should talk to my gyno about possibly switching me to Desogen or Ortho-Cept, which she said she thought worked best with PCOS. So bascially I am going to give it a chance and see what happens. She also wants me to go on Metformin, so I will be starting that soon as well. Good luck to you, and congratulations on the birth of your twins!

Angie