a lot of Diane -35 questions

emilystrange · 02-10-2004, 03:46 PM

I didn't know where else to put this, but so here goes:

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 15. i'm now 25 and have one child. After i weaned from breastfeeding I sought out a doctor who would treat my PCOS accordingly. So after some aggrivatingly normal blood test results (except just-out-of-range free testosterone levels) my doctor decided that i could either a) not treat my PCOS at all or b) she would prescribe me Diane -35. So of course, after hearing such great things about Diane I wanted to try it.

The first week was hellish. I felt nauseous, dizzy and had horrible, pounding headaches. The second and third week were okay, not much to complain about - but on the last week of my cycle, i started spotting. I spotted all week until my last pill, and of course i've been expecting to bleed like a stuck pig, and i've had no sign of my period, other than your regular premenstrual symptoms, including headaches, fatigue and some cramping.

of course, this is only my second day on my 'off' week, but i expected to be bleeding by now.

I suppose i'm looking for some insight on this. It's been suggested that i may be hypothyroid ( i have all the symptoms, and an enlarged thyroid) and i was wondering how that may play in to my absent period, despite being put on Diane.

I am SO frustrated with doctors and the medical establishment in general.

Also, my Doctor asked me to re-take a particular blood test on day 3 of my cycle. Last week when i was spotting i didn't think to get the blood test done, since i was expecting my 'real' period to come the following week... When of course, it hasn't come yet.

So does anyone have some advice or help to offer?

creme brulee · 02-10-2004, 07:41 PM

I was on the UK equivalent to what you are on and all of your symptoms sound familiar. It did take a few months for me to get used to that type of pill, so give it more time and I used to only have AF from day 3 of the 'off' week.

I came off the pill when I was experiencing severe headaches and had such dry skin it would crack and bleed no matter what type of cream I used. My dr refused to acknowledge that the pill was causing the headaches and dry skin, so I took myself off it and now I no long suffer from either complaint - go figure!!

Anyway, hope that has answered some of your questions.

All the best on it.

emilystrange · 02-10-2004, 07:47 PM

During the 2nd and 3rd weeks i developed some kind of weird irritation on my ears, they began to itch and looked extremely irritated, and when i looked closely at them, it looked like the skin was dry and chapped, and within a week the skin began to crack and peel.

It's been extremely cold here, so i chalked most of it up to the cold, but i've never had any kind of dry skin problem before. In fact, it's always been quite the opposite. So when i found myself slathering on the lotion, and using bath oils... i thought it weird but i never would have connected it to the Diane.

Interesting... thanks!

CurlyPyjamas · 02-11-2004, 08:03 AM

I took Diane for years (and have, in the last two weeks, started it again). I never got a withdrawal bleed until at least Day 4 of the sugar pills - sometimes Day 5.

I can't comment on the dry skin, as one of the reasons I went on Diane initially was to treat oily skin and acne, which it did with significant results.

Do you have symptoms of hyperandrogenism? Diane is best used when acne/hirsutism and hair loss are a problem. If you do not suffer from these, perhaps another Pill (with a less aggressive progestin) might be more tolerable?

Take care,
Katie