Hi, everyone! I am starting my third pack of Ovcon 35 this evening, and I must know if the side effects I am experiencing now are long-term or just my body adjusting to the hormones. I am an emotional wreck! Really depressed one moment, anxious and irritable the next. My appetite has completely vanished, and I'm losing weight pretty quickly.
My doc wants me on bcp for 3 months before rechecking my hormone levels... Could it be that these side effects will subside after that period of time?
I think it is hard to tell. I was on Yasmin for three months and had horrible side effects the entire time (which is why I stopped). I guess it could still be an adjustment period but it seems like after two full months you would be adjusted.
Do you have the symptoms all month long, or are the only apparent at this time (the week of your period I assume)?
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Yes, today would be the first of the placebo pills; but, my doctor has me skipping them and only taking the active pills continuously for 3 months. I did have some spotting last week, so that may be telling. I also noticed as of a few days ago that, along with the emotional side effects, I have developed some pretty bad acne.
I've been reading the bcp forums religiously since starting bcp, and it seems that a lot of women report that their PCOS symptoms get worse within the first 3-4 months before they get better. I'm trying to think positive with that in mind.
I, too, had bad experiences with both Yasmin and Yaz. Thanks for your response, Stacie!
My doctor told me that it took a minimum of 3 months to find out if you were going to be able to tolerate a pill or not. Side effects are supposed to be the worst during the first 3 months and then get better.
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2/2001-Severe IR, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, PCOS
4/2004-Severe Depression and Anxiety
1/2007-Pulmonary Embolism caused by BCP
3/2007-Hypertension caused by Pulmonary Embolism
12/2007-Bipolar II disorder
9/2008-IBS
2/2009-High triglycerides
4/2009-DVT(Left frontal femoral vein)
-Current Meds-
Aspirin 81mg, Coumadin 3mg, Maxzide 75/50mg, Seroquel 100mg,
Trazodone 50mg, Verapamil SR 180mg, and Zoloft 200mg
&
the Mirena IUD and I love it!!!
I wonder if the continuous use could cause more side effects? Maybe your body is just reacting wacky to that? Give it a little more time, and if they don't get better maybe try using them the traditional way or try another brand. Some brands work for some people, others don't.
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I never adjusted to the emotional side effects, and they got progressively worse, so I had to come off of them. I got to a point that I thought I was losing my mind, so I traded the pill for the gym.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Thank you, ladies! Thank you so much! I am going to try hard to stick it out for 3 months, then see my doctor again. Kat, I need some of your willpower!
I guess one of my dilemmas is that I don't know what else I can do for these elevated testosterone levels if I am not on bcp. I know there are other meds out there that can reduce testosterone levels--Flutamide, Dexamethasone, etc.--but, I am much more afraid of experimenting with those than I am with bcp. I am already on 2000mg metformin, and my testosterone levels are still high. Any advice?
I am already on 2000mg metformin, and my testosterone levels are still high. Any advice?
Are you at your 'ideal' weight? Also what are your diet and exercise habits like?
You might want to talk to your doctor about alternative things like: flax, spearmint tea, calorie restriction. (Many studies on their effect on androgens.)
Also, strength training seems to have helped many of us.
It's not so much the 'weight loss' as it is the new lifestyle habits that result in the positive changes.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I fully admit that my diet and exercise habits could use some vast improvements! I am tall and "thin" (5'8", 150 lbs), but not very "lean" anymore. I used to be very athletic and I enjoyed exercise a lot because I was on a swim team. As I've gotten older, I have had a really hard time sticking with a cardio/weight training routine at the gym because it just seems so mundane in comparison. (Problem recognized: I need to be on a team again!)
Funny that you mentioned flax because I just bought some flax seed oil with lignans last week, after reading one of your stickies about it. I'm also taking a women's multivitamin, B-complex and calcium-magnesium supplements.
I also wanted to point out that my testosterone level was at its highest just recently, following a year-long stint on an adrenal support supplement that my naturopath advised me to take. When I started seeing a new RE a few months ago, he advised me to stop taking the adrenal support, just to see if my anxiety and stress level improved. Within the next few weeks, I felt more relaxed and more able to cope with stress. I haven't had my testosterone level checked since quitting the adrenal supplement, but I am hoping to see an improvement.
Wow am I glad I stumbled into this thread. I just lost a good man in my life because my hormones made me go completely crazy! I just finished pack #3 so I sure hope that #4 goes better. Glad to hear I am not alone. I was beginning to think I was. Thanks for having the courage to get this out there for the rest of us to discuss.
Is my body still adjusting after 2 months on bcp? 
