Re: Ortho-Tri-Cyclen LO - period started early
From: Lakefever2 (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 3 Jun 2003 05:24:44 -0700 (PDT)
I'm on Ortho-tricyclen. I, too, had really long,
heavy periods ever since I started my period at age 9.
I have been on a million different pills but
Ortho-tricyclen has been the best for me the last few
years. It will take a few months to get used to it.
I remember that I would either be REALLY late on my
periods or be super early. When I was really late, it
was really annoying because my doctor always made me
take a pregnancy test before I started anything
(medication I can't remember the name of it to help
start or stop a period). I've always thought that
birth control made you gain weight. I don't think it
happens to everyone. I was always thin up until my
diagnosis of PCOS and insulin resistance. Even though
I"ve lost all my weight and have remained on teh pill,
I"ve not gained any weight at all. In fact, I have
lost more.
I still have all the breast tenderness and all the
crap that goes with being on the pill, but I've been
soo much better on it than off it.
YOur body will get used to the ortho-tricyclen....just
give it another month and if that doesn't work, I'd go
back to the doctor. I know I had...good luck!
--- Kristi <anonymous@obgyn.net> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm 29 years old, and recently my doctor prescribed
> Ortho-Tri-Cyclen LO
> to manage my irregular periods and symptoms of PCOS
> (I am not sure if
> I'm officially diagnosed with PCOS yet – waiting for
> ultrasound
> results). My periods have been irregular since I
> was 15 years old.
> Before starting the Ortho-Tri, I have never taking
> any type of oral
> contraceptive in the past at all. So this is my
> first experience and I
> don't really know what to expect, aside from the
> information I've read
> on the web, etc.
>
> Anyway… I began taking the pill on Sunday, April
> 13th. I had started my
> period that day, and within a couple days of
> starting the pill my period
> stopped.
>
> On Sunday May 4th (the first day of taking the
> inactive pills), my
> period started. In all, that period lasted about 9
> days – some days
> very light, and at least 2 days very heavy. I
> wasn't concerned about
> the heaviness or the duration of my period though,
> because in the past I
> have had long periods, and also it had been several
> months since I had a
> "real" period so I figured there was a lot of lining
> to shed (sorry to
> be so graphic).
>
> I continued taking the pill, never missing one,
> always taking it at
> about the same time every morning. Then on Sunday
> May 25 my period
> started again – a full week before the inactive
> pills of my second pack!
> At first I thought I was just spotting, but the flow
> gradually
> increased. I would say the flow has been almost
> consistently "medium"
> all week long. It has been 9 days now and my period
> is showing no signs
> of stopping anytime soon. I've continued taking my
> pills on schedule of
> course, and I am now in the inactive week.
>
> I know that when you start taking the pill, it takes
> up to 3 months for
> things to sort of even out. But I want to know if I
> should be concerned
> about this 1-week-early period? Has anyone had a
> similar experience? I
> thought taking the pill was supposed to make your
> periods lighter and
> shorter? I'm sick of having 9-10 day periods!
>
> I should also mention that aside from this early
> period, I haven't
> really had any strange side effects since starting
> the pill. No nausea
> or anything. The only thing I would complain about
> is some breast
> tenderness that hasn’t really seemed to go away
> since I began the pill.
> I'm used to breast tenderness about a week before my
> period, but not for
> almost 2 months straight! It's mildly annoying.
>
> Anyway... thanks in advance for any advice. Just
> want to know if I
> should call my doctor about this, or wait till I've
> completed 3 pill
> packs and see if things even out?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Kristi
>
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