Do any current or former BCP users care to share?

[fancyn]

OK, quick question here without going into long drawn-out details. I am post-partum with Natalie about 3.5 months. I started taking the BCP about a week and a half ago and me and my mood has transformed, once again, to this short tempered, borderline depressed moody woman. About 3 years back DH and I made the correlation and I stopped taking them. Practicing the rhythm method religiously, though fearfully, all was fine and I was normal. I took the pill for almost 10 years prior to conceiving Nick (4 y.o.) and felt there was always a chip on my shoulder, for lack of a better term. DH and I agreed if I ‘exhibited’ signs again, I would stop taking them. I’m trying not to jump the gun here. There ‘seriously’ is a difference b/w me with and without taking them. I would like to hear if you do or don’t have these symptoms and if any body has any insight as to WHY I do, that would be great too. I’m not ready for another baby just yet….however the barrier method just isn’t in my cards either. :o

[DanaSD]

Have you tried other types? I don't know that much about bcp but there different types in regards to the hormones and how they vary throughout the month.

Different issues but for me even switching from my brand name to generic was very different - longer periods, cramping ,etc.

[fancyn]

Forgot to mention I've tried numerous brands and different doses. :o The one thing I never considered was the generic vs name brand though. Hmmm....It's always been what's the cheapest with my insurance.

[Laura]

When I was younger I used ortho-trycycline and it was okay. I recently went on the pill again and use Yaz and I love it. My periods are shorter, I have no breast tenderness and no nausea. I have never had the symptoms that you seem to exhibit, so my post may not help much, but Yas has worked really well for me.

[avariell]

no babies, but i love yasmin. I would definitely ask your doctor about it - and talk about the problems you're having with your dr.

[Kayaksoup]

my initial reaction was like yours. Then my doctor switched me to a BCP call Brevicon 0.5. My moods evened out. That was almost ten years ago. I recently attempted to take a break from the Pill and it made me totally crazy. Back on it I went and I guess I will be there for life.

[aggie94]

Interesting question. I started taking BCP at about 19 and, until recently, have taken them continuously since then (for a total of about 16 years). Short-tempered and moody could easily describe me, but I don't honestly know if that's the BCP or my personality. :eek: :o Seriously, I don't know if my personality changed when I started taking BCP, and I have been on it so long that I can't remember any different. I have noticed a positive change in my temperament since I went off BCP (about a month ago) but don't know how much of that is attributed to the BCP versus being on vacation and a realistic possibility of finally leaving a job that I hate.

[Couperine]

I had a hard time finding the right pill for me, but I felt the most normal on a tri-phasic type. There are tons of options available now though, and of course, if you're ready to call it game over on making more children, DH could think about the vasectomy route. Mine is already making plans for his since I'm even happier off the pill than on - just another route to think about when you are ready!

Oh yes, that evil micro-pill they give post-partum while you breastfeed did rotten things to me as well. I'd definitely look into some of the other non-pill options with your GYN.

[granolagirl]

I had the same thing happen to me. I took the mini pill at 6 weeks PP and then switched to Junel (a generic) several months later. I had *horrible* mood swings, etc. while on both. I decided to go off the pill about 2 months ago and I can't believe the difference. My mood is probably the biggest difference, but I have a lot more energy and feel better in general. I haven't decided if I am going to ask my doctor for a different brand or just not go that route, yet.

[TKay]

Oh, I don't envy you at all. The Pill does terrible things to me. I tried one years back and had an awful reaction. I called my doc's office and talked to the nurse. I said, "I'm having a hard time with this Pill. I'm moody and extremely irritable." The nurse said, "Oh, it'll get better." I replied, "No, I mean, I want to mur-der..." She said she'd get the doctor. :rolleyes:

Anyway, the ONLY Pill I ever used and liked was the one they gave me while I was bf-ing. It was Loestrin, a low estrogen Pill. It did the trick, evening out my moods and not making me feel homicidal.

Good luck. It is such a difficult thing to manage.

[fancyn]

I've been MIA for a bit but want to give you all a big THANK YOU for weighing in on your experiences/opinions. I'm on week 3 now of being off the b!tch pill (as we've now started calling it :p) and life has returned to normal. I have my yearly in July and have decided to hold off until then to talk with the OB/GYN about my problems and issues. Hopefully we can find a resolution.

Once again, I appreciate your responses. :)