Yasmin is making me sooo ill, should I try Marvelon/Desogen again??

Meringoo · 03-20-2007, 09:07 AM

Hi all,

I really need some advice. I've been on Yasmin for 6 months now, and I can honestly say that I have only experienced 2 weeks where I have felt ok/good. I want to come off it asap. I've got pcos and mild endometriosis, and the pain, weight gain and acne are getting worse each week. I feel like a complete mess. In the past, I was on Marvelon, which was much better, I reached a perfect weight, my skin was ok and I wasn't bloated at all. The oppsoite is happening now. I came of Marvelon because after nearly 2 years, I was showing symptoms of pcos such as spots, weight gain (loads in very little time) and hair in bad condition (although i'd had some of these symptoms since i was 11!!) and my gp thought i should stop taking the pill for a bit to see if my body would sort itself out. It didn't, it got worse and my periods stopped. Since then I have been diagnosed with pcos and, more recently, endo.

I've tried bi-cycling yasmin on the advice of my gynae, and that was when i had a painless period and very little bloating, after that i was told to tri-cycle, and i had a 2 week long period, awful pain, cramps, hunger, spots....you name it! I just get told to stick at it and the good results will come..well no, they won't because I'm worse than ever and I've given it the necessary 3 months and more!

I'm going to see my gp today because i really can't wait 6 weeks for an appointment with my gynae. My life has totally been messed up by these conditions, and no matter how hard I try, how positive I am, or how much I cling to normality, I'm always ill.

My gp probably won't interfere with my medication since i have a gynae, but I was wondering what you thought about other pills? Should I ask for Marvelon again? Do you think it would work? Gynae said I could try marvelon if yasmin didn't work. I'm so scared I'll be like this for years. I've been suffering for 5 years with all of this and i need a break!!!

I am sorry to moan and go on so much, but nobody else really understands where I am coming from. They think I'm just a bit pre-menstrual....

Thanky everybody. Best wishes xxx

andisings · 03-20-2007, 04:54 PM

Oh, I hate me some Yasmin. I've been on it since December, and I see my OB/GYN again the first of May. I'm just hoping to make it that long. Between the nasty side effects that make you feel pregnant, I get the same things you're talking about. I was on Desogen before and LOVED it. I came off because I was having some weird stuff going on -- namely pain mid-cycle. Turned out I was ovulating, but we didn't realize it until I was already on the Yasmin. I'll be switching back ASAP.
With Yasmin, I'm a big ole hormone on legs. I'd highly recommend Desogen -- I had no side effects at all and it might work great for you, too.
I hope you feel better soon, and find something that works. I cannot believe how a tiny little pill can make you feel like utter crap. Big hugs and support! Good luck!

Meringoo · 03-20-2007, 06:17 PM

Thank you for your reply!

I loved Marvelon/Desogen too!

Well, I saw my GP this evening and he was pretty useless and totally patronising. I don't think he really knows what to suggest, which is why he is so dismissive. It's like he thinks I go along to have a bloody moan!!! I have stuck it out with yasmin for long enough. He tried to make me go back on Dianette - which makes me even fatter and feel suicidal, not to mention having no affect on my acne. I said no very firmly about 3 times since obviously he was hard of hearing this time....!!

So, he ended up giving me a prescription for Marvelon, confused me totally about when I should take it in regards to whether i should finish the pack of eveil yasmin. I was like "so..what do i do?" and he basically shrugged and said it was up to me. I could have cried my eyes out. He wouldn't listen to me any longer and said i should just wait and see what happens when i go to my gynae in 6 weeks time. Hopefully I won't be in agony by then, eh doc?!

So, I'll just start Marvelon tomorrow and pray for the best. I can't believe how little doctors are prepared to do to treat their patients. He's the 2nd doc at that surgery I have fallen out with due to being treated like a fake with a bad mood. And the 4th in total. He even tried to charge me for a letter covering me for being ill (which has caused me to miss a uni deadline - though my lecturer just told me to get a letter), so i'm going back to the surgery tomorrow and i'm seeing my old doc, who has never charged me for anything. Although he does seem a bit squeamish when I tell him my symptoms....hahaha!

Thanks again for your support xxx

Meringoo · 03-21-2007, 11:50 AM

Hey,

Just an update...

Started the Marvelon today, I figured that I really couldn't feel any worse than I already do, so what the heck?! Went to my other doc, who was understanding, but really wants to get to the bottom of this, and is sending me for blood tests etc. He wants to be sure that there isn't an underlying cause for all of this. I was relieved to be helped, although I hope it's nothing bad. Hopefully the Marvelon will work and I will get back to normal in a few months. Doc said I shouldn't be experiencing discomfort constantly, or be in pain at other times of the month when I'm not on my period. It doesn't coincide with pcos or endometriosis. Goodness knows what it will be. He said it is possible it is they effect that yasmin has on me, and it might go away with the marvelon. Here's hoping....!

Best wishes xxx

coolgirl · 03-24-2007, 01:36 PM

I finally got brave enough to try another pill. Wow this has got to be the worse one for me.
The funny thing is that I tried it about 4 years ago and was fine, but not this time.
I can't sleep, I feel irritated, have cramps and period like symptoms for weeks at a time. I have got to get off these today!
It's really scary how much these hormones can mess with you body and not in a good way

I guess I will try yet another.

AngelaCM · 03-31-2007, 11:26 PM

Looks like I wasn't the only one who came off of Yasmin cause of the horrible side effects. I had symptoms so bad they sent me for a pregnancy test, which I knew was negative. My doc then told me I could stop taking it but they never gave me a new BCP rx because I was staying off for 3 months to see how my body adjusted. Thats when things really got bad. Periods stopped completely, abormal hair growth escalated, and my long thick hair became thin limp and broken. They're giving me spiro and if I want to, a new BCP rx. I am just kind of scared of taking any until I fully understand what they can do FOR me.

Meringoo · 04-01-2007, 08:55 PM

Hey!

Sorry to hear of the problems with Yasmin. I can totally understand. I seriously felt like my insides were falling out 24/7! Which is horrible. However, I've started taking Marvelon/Desogen again and for the past week and a half I have felt so great! No more pain, tenderness, nausea, headaches....it's the best I have felt in months! I know it is different for everybody, but I really do feel as though I made the right decision. Doc tried to persuade me to finish the pack of yasmin (about 13 pills left) but I simply couldn't and started marvelon the next day. The results were pretty quick (3 days) and I now feel so much more positive about everything. It sounds silly, but to not have pain from doing simple movements such as walking is so wonderful. I suppose the drosperinone in yasmin just doesn't agree with me.

I hope things continue to get better.

Angela - I hope that the spiro works for you. Don't lose faith. And stand up for your body, if it feels wrong, it probably is! Our hormones get so out of whack!

Coolgirl - I totally understand and empathise. It is scary how much a pill can affect your whole body. Don't be worried. Seek help and advice, and always go to appointments armed with knowledge. I have been known to take my pcos books with my to my gynae, just to let him know I'm not totally unaware of my condition and meds! (He thought it was great, and funny!)

Best wishes to you all. Let's keep updated. And thank you for your kind and informative responses! xxx