Re: ADVICE NEEDED: should I stop taking birth control pills?
From: k. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat Aug 26 12:36:58 2006
Hi Jennifer,
I wanted to thank you (and all the others who wrote me) for your advice.
I am seeing my doctor next week for my annual exam, so I will talk to
her about switching to a lower dose pill or staying on the pill
continuously. I was taking continuous bcp at one point, but I started
having a lot of spotting, so I went back to a monthly cycle. Of course,
that's when a lot of my pain started again. So...i think i'll talk to
her about going on a different pill and staying on it three months at a
time (that seems to be what my body can take).
I would like to see a specialist, but unfortunately, I do not have
health insurance, so it would be quite expensive (I have health care
through school; I'm a graduate student). I am in the San Francisco area
if anyone could recommend a specialist, though (with payment plans?).
As for the depression (and anxiety, which I've had all my life), the
anti depressants do help a lot, but they've cut down my libido, which on
top of having endo, leaves me not really enjoying sex that much at all.
But like I said, my partner is wonderfully understanding, and he has
helped me through a lot of this. I guess it's just good to take it one
day at a time, eh?
But anyway..thank you for the advice, and I'll keep you posted.
At Fri, 25 Aug 2006, Jennifer wrote:
>
>Hello,
>
>After reading your little blog there I felt like I was reading about
>myself, just a year or two ago. Just to give you an idea. I was
>diagnosed with endo when I was 16. I have been on the pill since. I am
>now almost 28. I have had 4 surgeries and I don't know how many
>different brands of pills I have been on. I actually went the the dr
>yesterday for my normal yearly exam and this was one of my concerns as
>well. She told me that it would just make my adhesion pain worse.
>Reason being every time you cycle and have a period, it is very hard on
>womens systems who have endo. She didn't suggest that unless I wanted
>to go back on Lupron. (something I wouldn't personally do again, but I
>don't discourage people from trying it for the first time. It isn't
>horrible, but it wasn't a vacation either. It did make the pain go away
>for the 6 months I was on it.) I don't know if you are taking them
>continuously or if you still are getting a period every month. I have
>been on the continuous route for 6 years now. The pain has gotten much
>better since I have been doing that. I have adhesions quite badly.
>(They wanted to remove an ovary because the adhesions are so bad.) She
>just put me on Yasmin yesterday. I have recently taken Sprintec- is a
>good one to try, very low hormones. I was also on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo.
>That worked for a while but I got migraines from it, which is why we are
>trying the Yasmin now. She also mentioned that once the pill gets into
>your system after a few years and it doesn't work as well as it does in
>the beginning for pain management. It is possible you just need to try
>a new one. I would suggest making an appointment with your dr again and
>talk about trying Yas or Lo Estrin 24 for like 3-6 months to see if that
>helps. The periods are supposed to be more around 3 days.
>
>Depression is quite a problem with this disease, and it feeds on
>hormones. Stress, depression, etc. If you can try to cope with those
>feelings it would probably help. Excercise is a big part of it too. I
>know I don't feel like working out either. But I am about to get on my
>bike and take off for another 10-15 miles. I feel so much better after
>I do and it is nice to get it over with. Tai Chi is a great way to
>relax and stretch and balance things out.
>
>I am also going to try acupuncture for a while and see how that helps.
>My dr suggested that it has worked well for a number of her patients.
>
>so to recap: talk to your dr, change your pill 4 years is a long time
>for 1 pill. I usually try a new one every year or every 2 years.
>
>2. try taking it continuously if you aren't already.
>3. consider taking Lupron or another type of hormone shot if you
>haven't already. I would suggest Lupron over Depo or any of the others.
>4. try something you wouldn't normally try. Acupuncture, consider a
>clear passage clinic or see an herbalist.
>
>But be sure you keep your depression in check and make sure your partner
>is keeping an eye on it too. That can take a quick turn really fast in
>the bad direction.
>
>I have pain during sex also. I try different positions, try more
>foreplay to try to relax more. Try to use a heat pad maybe 20-30
>minutes before you have sex to help ease the pain if it gets really bad.
>Go slowly, and see what works, I don't know what kind of pain you have
>and this is getting pretty long, but if you have any other questions,
>feel free to email me. I know its hard to stay positive, but keep
>reading up on things and bring them to your dr. if you don't feel they
>are knowledgable enough in endo, go see a different specialist. I don't
>know where you live, but there are quite a few endo experts in Chicago.
>
>Good luck and stay well.
![[ endo@obgyn.net ]](../../images/endo_at_obgyn.gif)