Last night DH very sweetly picked up my new pack of BCPs.
Lately I've begun to notice that the week to a few days before and the first few days of AF I get headaches and feel sick to my stomach. I figured it's just normal pre AF symptoms, even though it's only happened (that I've noticed) the last 3 months or so. Before the ill feeling was definately not there, and I think if I had headaches, they weren't as bad as what I've experienced lately bringing me near tears (and I have a very high pain tolerance).
All of that to say that I was reading the "side effects" again last night and it has me thinking that the headaches, ill feelings and possibly the slight depression I seem to wax and wane from could be from my BCPs.
Thoughts? Am I crazy for thinking this? I'm going to talk with DH and get his thoughts as if it is the BCP then we'll have to decide if I'll change to another BCP, start NFP or something else.
Edit: I may DD this later. thanks.
Re: Am I crazy for thinking this?
Adventures of A Girl and Her Apron
You aren't crazy. When I was on BC pills, my PMS symptoms changed the longer I was on the pill. When I first started them, all was great and wonderful. But after a few years, I started to get PMS, and some months were fairly severe, with mild pre-cramping, mood-swings, depression, and MAJOR food cravings.
The first year or so after I quit the pill my PMS and period were fine/normal. As time goes on however, my PMS is getting back up there, and cramping and period stuff majorly sucks.
Side note: not sure I would go back on BC. I didn't really notice a change when I was on BC, but when I went off, my overall mood and state of mind noticably improved. It was like I was in a constant, mild depression that lifted. I know different BC's do different things, but I'm not sure I want to bother with experiementing them them.
also, you should know that not all pills are the same. I was on Ovcon (totally fine) and then OrthoTricyclen came out. I was all gung-ho "Awesome! Helps with acne! I am so going to go on that pill!!!" I almost broke up with mrBAMF. I was an evil %^$# on it and did not want human contact. It was not hard to figure out very quickly that it was not the pill for me. Swapped back to my old pills (normal human again!) and then gave Seasonale a try - totally great and AF 4x a year! (then Seasonique).
So maybe let your OB/GYN know that you're having some less than fun side effects and see if she/he recommends some other kind of pill.
HTH!
Call me Kat =^..^=
Shell... I'm just curious here - why do you need to talk to your DH before deciding whether or not to talk to your Dr. about it? He's not a doctor or a nurse and he's definitely not a woman with extensive knowledge of BCP's. Do you need his permission or something?
If you're noticing new side effects, then yes - it is time to talk to your Dr. Changing BCP's is very common and I don't know of a single woman that hasn't had to at least once.
Yeah, that's what I wondered too...
To answer your question, no, you are not crazy. Within the last 6 months I've started to develop PMS, which I never had before. Definitely speak to your doctor about it.
Although I have to say, I'm with everyone else. It seems like your DH is extremely controlling, to the point of being borderline abusive. It seems like you have to run every tiny decision by him for his permission and approval. Is he a Promise Keeper?
While I'm not usually one for defending people on the crazy train that is TK/TN/TB, I know that when I was on a particular birth control, my husband sweetly suggested I try something else. Apparently, I was looneyfreakingtoons and had no idea. Had he not told me, I don't know that I ever would have known, since to me, it felt normal (although, thinking back, I was clearly not).
Perhaps, Shell wanted to see if her husband noticed that she's a little nuts lately and maybe another BC is in order. Also, she's talked about having children since she first stepped on TK, so maybe this would be a time for them to consider ending hormonal BC before they TTC.
Again, I'm not one for defending people, and I'm more playing devil's advocate, but I just wanted to look at it from a different perspective espeicially since every person on here that regularly posts has had more than one incident of crazy.
I totally get what you're saying, and I thought about that too. I was referring to more of a general thing - her H had to approve her dermatologist, for one thing. My BF could not possibly care any less about who I see, as long as I am comfortable with that person. Yes, I do run everything by him, but not to get his permission, but as more of a "here's what's going on in my life" kinda thing. From what Shell describes, it's more of a "I have to ask my husband to see if he says yes/no". That's what worries me. It just seems abusive (again, my perception), and I hate to see abuse hidden under a "religious" umbrella.
Shell, I'm making my comments based on concern, not as a way to embarrass you or call you out or anything.
Also playing DA here...I would also discuss this with my DH. BC affects both people in the relationship, and I would want to keep him in the loop of what's going on. Just because she's discussing with him doesn't mean that she needs his permission. Many couples make joint decisions...if the situation was reversed and DH wanted a vasectomy, they'd certainly want to discuss that. While Shell is perfectly capable of making health decisions on her own, I don't see any reason why she shouldn't discuss it with her DH. I would think it would make sense to talk to DH about it before going to the dr, because then if they decide that going off BC is an option, she can present that to the dr.
Just my two cents...
~~~MARRIED BIO~~~
Sounds like a talk with the dr. is in order because sometimes there's an underlying issue that may need to be checked. I was very lucky to be on the same pill from 1996-2009 with no side effects. However, at some point, I started having increased anxiety on the Sunday night before AF. After talking to my dr. I realized that it was the increased anxiety I had from issues going on in my life that was the trigger and not the BCPs. Once I addressed the other issues in my life the symptoms went away without changing the BCP.
As for your husband--every marriage/relationship is different but this is the type of thing that I would more be letting dh know about in terms of "fyi I'm going to discuss such and such with dr. so and so and I'll let you know what he/she says" but I'm not sure exactly what you meant about what you were discussing with your husband.
This, exactly. That's why I asked about needing to discuss it first. It just didn't make sense to me.
Yes, I want to talk to him to see if the SE are showing to him and if we should look into other forms of BC (I'm currently on the single level for 3 weeks then placebo for one) such as NFP before I just switch to another BCP. I feel he deserves for his thoughts to be heard especially since this affects both of us in the TTA/TTC department.
The Dermatologist is more b/c he wanted to be sure that the Dr wasn't a quack (especially since he was contemplating going to see the same Dr if I was happy with whom I chose). He's mentioned to me that he grew up with his dad giving them questionable Health Care and he wants to be sure that I only see someone who is very good, if not the best. His only actual request has been that if there's any way I can avoid taking Prednisone (sp?) that I do so because of a very bad personality altering experience that he had as a child.
The decisions are mine to make along with whether or not I listen to his requests or opinions. Many times I ask DH about things b/c he has such a different way of thinking and will think of questions I would not have considered or another side to this that or the other. So my "ask DH" stuff is more to get his opinion on the situation not for him to say yes/no. Then I have the final say.
P&R, I really do appreciate your concern. Even though we're religious doesn't mean that I submit to his every whim. He knows loud and clear when I disagree with something that he says/does and that I will not just follow all of his wishes. Many times it's actually him giving in to my wishes. Even when it's a last minute change of mind (which drives him nuts).
When it comes to health care, we discuss things from Doctors, practices, medications, SE, in plan/out of plan expenses, ect. He discussed his choices in PCP and listened to my opinion on the few that he went to. If he had mentioned this to friends I'm sure they would have given him the side eye wondering what I had to say about who he saw as a PCP. We truly have a balanced relationship.
Thanks for the suggestions, thoughts, and concerns.
I love my Nesties!
I'm talking about stuff like this.
Shell wonders what her DH is going to decide with the "car" question he's thinking about. She's lucky that her DH is taking her thoughts on the matter into consideration.
Why is it even a question that he should take your thoughts into consideration? It seems like it's optional, like he has the final say, and you're "lucky" that he's such a sweet guy to include you.
He called and talked to her about making sure that he gives me cash to pay for us (my friend and I) to get lunch on a regular basis at a deli we frequent
He called to make sure that she was alright with the idea as she's very "Ms. Independant" and doing various things to lose weight. And to make sure that our going out for lunch would work with her current diet.
Why is he "giving you" money? Shouldn't you just be going and getting what you need? And the fact that he called your friend to make sure that your going out to lunch works for her seems controlling towards a woman he is not related to (she's an adult and can make sure her lunch works within her diet without his input), but to me seems like he's checking up on you to make sure you're having lunch with who you say you're eating with, but to also double check where you're spending the money "he gives you".
Lump this together with you having to get his permission and approval on your doctors just smacks of an extremely controlling, borderline abusive unhealthy situation. I'm concerned for you.
You ladies are super sweet being concerned for me. I really do appreciate it.
Yes, I want to talk to him to see if the SE are showing to him and if we should look into other forms of BC (I'm currently on the single level for 3 weeks then placebo for one) such as NFP before I just switch to another BCP. I feel he deserves for his thoughts to be heard especially since this affects both of us in the TTA/TTC department.
It's normal to get his input on this.
The Dermatologist is more b/c he wanted to be sure that the Dr wasn't a quack (especially since he was contemplating going to see the same Dr if I was happy with whom I chose). He's mentioned to me that he grew up with his dad giving them questionable Health Care and he wants to be sure that I only see someone who is very good, if not the best. His only actual request has been that if there's any way I can avoid taking Prednisone (sp?) that I do so because of a very bad personality altering experience that he had as a child.
It's not okay that he doesn't trust your judgment enough to decide that the doctor you are seeing is not a quack. It's like he doesn't think too highly of your intellect or decision making abilities, so he has to see for himself, under the disguise of "protecting you".
Again, I am not trying to be a biotch.I thougth that maybe seeing it from a 3rd party point of view might make it seem a little different. However, iff you are comfortable with this behavior, then feel free to tell me to STFU and I will MYOB.
I'm just concerned for you.
And we love ya back.
I can agree with him on the Prednisone issue. My mom has to take it often and it is a mood changer to put things mildly. More like a "Dr Jekyl/Mr Hyde" changer. One second normal, the next ZOMG KING KONG RAAAAAAAAAAAGE and then back to normal.
But I can also agree with P&R that in some instances your language is "I have to see if DH thinks this is ok to do" and if its in such an innocent thing as picking a dermotologist or going out to lunch, that makes your relationship seem more like Father to child than partner to equal. And in my relationship that is a mondo-huge-farking dealio.
We are so very not religious but if there was something my DH did not want me to do for whatever reason (as long as it wasn't "I just don't want you to go because IIIIIIIII don't get to go!") then I'd listen and really try to see it from his POV. If my doc prescribed Prednisone and I needed to take it my DH would have to understand a medical doctor made that call and I would have said "but Doc, it makes my mom an evil angry biatch!" if he came back with "take it or you'll have pneumonia!" I'd calmly talk to DH and say "There's no way I'm having pneumonia, you'll learn to deal with Raging Kat for a few days, mmmkay?"
There's nothing wrong with changing your mind or making your own choices that are best for just you sometimes.
Call me Kat =^..^=