Yasmin & Yaz Survivors

Joined: 19 Apr 2012 Posts: 1 : Items

Wow. Thank god I stopped taking this poison. In May of last year I started taking Gianvi ( generic Yaz). I had been feeling depressed because I was weaning my 6 month old from breast feeding and called my doc, and she recommend Yaz for the hormonal balancing factors it had. When I picked it up from the pharmacy they gave me the generic version. With a 21 month old and a six month old in the backseat crying, I hadn't the time nor patience to think about what I was taking. I remember feeling somewhat better but everything in my life was so busy I kind of left my feelings and health till later. I had my first panic attack ever and out if nowhere two months later. Everyone said it was the stress of having two under two, but I knew I was stronger than that. In July, three months into the pill we had a devastating house fire in the middle of the night while we were all asleep. We were lucky enough to grab our babies and make it out alive. All my depression, panic attacks, anger, tiredness, nausea, and headaches were blamed on the fire trauma. I had no interest in my children, I fought with my husband constantly, I cried daily, and had terrible panic attacks. I started counseling and she said you seem to be doing really good about the fire side of your troubles, but you have anxiety issues from someplace else. That's when a red flag went up. What is causing this? I decided to check in with my doc after a horrible screaming session at my kids and husband. I assumed maybe I had PMDD and I needed more help. She said maybe the generic version of Yaz was doing what I needed it to do so she made the pharmacy give me the real Yaz. For the next week my heart felt like it was sore and bruised. I started feeling even more depressed. That's when it all came together for me. It wasn't the trauma causing me to act this way. It was the pill. The fire had happened right when the hormones kicked in and I wasn't able to know that because of all the craziness that was going on around me. I stopped taking it one week ago today and I'm happy to say, I have found myself again. The anger and depression are gone. I want to make up for all this lost time.

Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 271 : Location: Texas Items

Wow, Reginia.. thanks for sharing your story. I'm so sorry you went through this, but very happy that you are off now!

I'm so glad that the depression is lifting and I think things will continue to get better. My panic attacks stopped almost immediately after I came off Yaz. The withdrawal can sometimes hit a little after coming off, but some people don't have any problems with it.. hope you are one of those people Smile

Just to let you know, many pills cause similar problems, not just Yaz. There are so many other methods of birth control that are highly effective.

Wish you all the best with your two children Smile

Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 1 : Items

Maybe a couple of months after starting the pill, I began having attacks at night. At first my heart would race/beat hard/irregularily at first only at night while watching tv or unwinding and later started happening during the day while at work. Eventually I started having full-on attacks. I'd be gasping so fast for a breath, it was hard to slow down, I'd be soaked in sweat, the whole thing would last for maybe 2 to 3 minutes.

Maybe after a month of this, I started experiencing breathing problems all day/night off and on. It was if something was blocking my airway and as a result my heart rate would go out of control. I'd be in the middle of a sentence, or in the middle of enjoying a meal and I'd have to stop because I was having difficulty breathing...and then my heart would start beating hard/racing.

It was suggested by my Doctor that I was experiencing anxiety attacks. "Sure, ok...that makes sense...but why am I having such difficulty breathing all day and night now? And why am I having anxiety attacks at my happiest of times?" It was explained to me that I'm suffering subconsiously...appparently all day and night.

So, I agreed to all of the heart tests and nothing bad turned up in the results. ERG!

I started noticing when I was on my off week (the last 7 of the 28 pills) my breathing was fine, absolutely fine! And then I'd start my next pack and literally that night, the breathing problems would return. I did a little research on the net and found out that many women were experiencing the same thing. I brought this forward to my Doctor. He said that there have been concerns but not in Canada, and the FDA still considers it to be safe.
However, next month we will start on another pill (Marvelon) and see if the symptoms disappear. So, tonight I will begin this new pack of pills and see what happens. Stay tuned...

Joined: 11 May 2012 Posts: 15 : Items

Hi girls.
I posted on the main page for some advice a couple of days ago and thought I might as well add my side effects here too as I know this page was a real source of comfort to me recently.

I first went onto birth control about 9 years ago (cileste). I had no noticeable side effects from cileste other than bloating and sore and swollen breasts, especially before a period. Two years later, I changed to Dianette to help with acne. I was told I could only take this pill for six months as it was dangerous after this amount of time (alarm bells??) After six months on Dianette, I swapped onto Yasmin. At first, the only thing I noticed was how dry and clear my skin was- literally perfect. Then I began suffering insomnia. This led to night time panic attacks where I would literally lie awake all night, my heart thumping, then have to get up and go to work feeling sick and shaky. I also started jaw clenching at night so my jaw would click and ache during the day. I went to the docs and asked if this could be related to bcp- like many of you, I was made to feel a little silly for asking and told a firm 'No'. As there were so many other things going on in my life at that time, I believed it. The insomnia and anxiety led to depression and I was given antidepressants, which helped for the time I took them, but after coming off, I was back to square one.
After many trips to the Drs back and forth over the years, I was screened for thyroid function and told I was underactive. This was presented as the cure to all my problems. In actual fact, I noticed no difference on the thyroid meds, other than weight loss which is a concern since I am very thin already.
In the last two years, I have had three major allergic reactions, I have no idea what to, where my whole body was covered in hives. Six months ago, I began getting hives almost everyday: my face, neck, chest, arms and torso. After a bit of research, I landed here and took my last pill two and a half months ago. Sadly, I am still breaking out every day in hives and now the acne is kicking in too so I look terrible! I'm just hoping it will run out of steam and settle once my hormones stabilise.
Any girls out there who are considering hormonal birth control, I have to say: forget about it. I wish this forum had been around when I was prescribed them as I am sure I'd have avoided years of difficulty and stress.
Good luck to anyone else going through the withdrawal phase and fingers crossed.
L x

Joined: 21 May 2012 Posts: 1 : Location: UK Items

Hi everyone,

been reading through some of the forum and I wish I had never gone on Yasmin! My story is as follows:

In 2008 I was suffering with severe migraines, they had started when I was 18 but seemed to keep getting worse every year. Some hormone tests showed I was very low in estrogen so I was given a top up through patches. The idea was this would improve my migraines, sadly it did not and actually made me super anxious, tired and for the first time in my life I got a face full of acne! After a year of waiting for it to clear up I visited my doctor saying I was getting fed up with the spots, he prescribed me Yasmin. I did a little research (nowhere near enough I admit) and thought I would try it. My skin cleared up within a couple of months and went back to its old one spot every 6 months ways, I was thrilled but then came the heart palpitations, severe panic attacks and worsening migraines.

My new doctor who was concerned when she found out I was on Yasmin took me off it in January after I experienced the worst migraine of my life, since then the acne has slowly returned but I am migraine free thanks to discovering citric acid was the cause. I have done some research and am going to try the herb saw palmetto in the hope it gets ride of the acne. I feel so much better off yasmin but the acne bothers me so hopefully I can clear it up.

My feeling is that my body was happy with a low level of estrogen as it was upping that to a "normal" level which set off all my problems. Doctors seem to think we should all fall into the same number bracket and this is not the case! I wish I had never upped my estrogen but at least I know what my problem is and hope I can sort out my poor upset hormones now.

Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Posts: 1 : Location: Canada Items

For some reason I can't post my story, it doesn't like my URLs or something, although I don't have any URLs.... I just want to thank everyone for posting on here. I am going off my pill as of tomorrow and have only been on it for less than 2 months. What I am experiencing and what I have read have encouraged me to stop taking it and see my Gynocolgist about better optionsl. Best wishes to everyone having issues.

Joined: 03 Feb 2012 Posts: 67 : Items

Hi Dawn!

You may want to share on the blog instead?

http://www.createforum.com/yasminsideeffec/viewtopic.php?t=1620&mforum=yasminsideeffec

Joined: 23 Jun 2012 Posts: 23 : Location: Turkey Items

So here i am, too!

i am really happy that i found this site. i'm 25 & live in Turkey and started using Yaz on September 2010 and stopped taking it May 6, 2012. The main symptoms i had, when i was on them were:

- mild to major depression
-loss of libido
-extreme fatigue
-nausea
- fluctuating bloating
- anxiety
-cramps on my legs, toes and hands from time to time

during the time i was on Yaz, i think i also fell into anorexia nervosa. when i started using it, i gained like 5 pounds. then with the help of depression, i became over obsessed about my weight and lost about 20-25 lbs. since i was feeling fatigue and nausea and depressed, people around me constanly were saying it was because "i was obsessing too much" and that they are all becoz of anorexia.

and now after stoping birth control, i have been experiencing;

-anxiety attacks
-random nausea
-sometimes fatigue but not as severe as before
-5-6 lbs weight gain (which is really disturbing me since i'm scared of gaining weight suddenly. i have been eating healthy, considering i had anorexia. but not as much to gain 5-6 pounds over a couple of weeks. )
-no period yet.
-bloating
-abdominal distress
-mild constipitation
-water retention
-oily facial skin
-peeling off on my left hand
-sometimes numbness
-sleeping disorders (some days feeling all day long sleepy, some days insomnia)
-occassional chest pain
-shortness of breath/tight in chest
-also i have been problems w/nasal breathing, the doctor put me on a allergic rinitis-asthma drug (tho i dont have asthma)
-more sensitive skin

and i have a really busy schedule. i'm a journalist and work b/w 5:30 am-2.30 pm. also, i'm doing translation after work for 1-2 hours. i wake up at 4.50am.

i'm literally sick of people telling me it was all in my head etc etc. does the weight gain from water retention go away as you get your period? and anybody felt nauseous afterwards?

Joined: 06 Aug 2012 Posts: 3 : Items

Hi

Pretty new to the site.

Main side defects whilst on for 3 weeks
Headaches
Bad bad gas
Vaginal dryness

Side effects coming off

1 month - disrupted sleep, vivid dreams, increased acne, increased facial and body hair. Waking up every morning with dead arms and/or legs

2/3 months- bronchitis, tonsillitis ( not been that sick since I was a kid) depression, anxiety, slightly elevated blood pressure (always been completely normal all my life) tingling in legs, buttocks and feet. Pain in both calves and behind knees, skin rashes, hives on arm, increase in scalp dermatitis, itching skin especially on scalp and legs, thinning skin, obsessive thoughts

4/5/6 months - felt a lot better, but noticed an increase in discharge as cycle returned to normal

7 months- feel like ive relapsed mainly Depression and anxiety bad again, OCD thoughts back, arthritic like pain in fingers, wrists, knees, soles of feet?? Comes and goes. Tingling in legs and arms.

Anyone else notice an increase in discharge after stopping Yasmin?
Mines more watery aswell... Been tested for all the usual (twice) , candida, BV etc and all negative....

Xx

Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 2 : Items

Thank you sooooo much for this forum! I'm not going insane. Smile

I have been on Yasminelle for 5 years now, previously on other BC pills and IU coil (which hurt my stomach due to excess bloating and IBS).
Today I am quitting. I've been up and down like a yo-yo for a while now, most of the time my moods have been ok, but not feeling "normal" like I used to.
My stomach goes through a different phase every day of every week, sometimes I can't walk with the pain. Sometimes I can't fit into my jeans, sometimes I can't go to the bathroom, other times I can't get out of the bathroom! Oh the joy's and I never once thought it could be down to this little pill. I have been sleeping for more hours than I am awake for several weeks. What makes me wonder is why have I not experienced this in the whole time I've been on it? Why now?
I went to the doctor's about a month ago and all of my symptoms were put down to "stress". Fatigue, moodiness, weight gain, stomach aches, irregular periods, shooting pains in my arms and legs. ~
Only this week has it dawned on me that I have a hormonal imbalance, and only this week have I realized that ~ duh ~ the Yasminelle is the root cause.
I have an accupuncture appointment on Monday, I can't wait to see how I feel after! and would like to get into yoga or tai chi in the near future. Helena, I will most certainly be taking some supplements and vitamins (thank you so much for your valuable information and time spent educating us!) I can't believe I have just found this forum now. Thank you, thank you, thank you all!

Hoping we all recover soon back to our beautiful, natural selves.

Joined: 03 Feb 2012 Posts: 67 : Items

Hi Clare,
Welcome to the forum Smile

You have irregular period even on the pill? Which part of the world are you from? Yes, acupuncture helps though I realise it has to be done regularly. I stopped for a month because my acupuncturist went overseas, coupled with work stress, I had a relapse. So glad that she is back. My relative has been touting the benefits of yoga and taichi too though I have yet to try.

Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 2 : Items

Hi Sherrie,
Thanks for the warm welcome!
I live in Ireland. Yep, even on the pill my periods are irregular. It can take up to 5 or 6 days after the last pill for them to appear and then when they do they are very dark brown and blotchy. I suffer incredible pms and can't wait to be off these pills.
I've started to get really sore boobs, acne, oh the list is endless and I'm sure it's all hormone related. I read on this forum somewhere that after a while the body starts to try and make it's own hormones again even when you're still on the pill, which would make sense and probably clash with one another.
I don't take any other meds, as my body is really sensitive to anything I put in it. Hoping to see improvements when I go completely natural....
10 plus years ago I practiced yoga and other exercises and felt incredible but lately cannot seem to find the energy! Hoping that the acupuncture helps to raise my energy levels and hope she stays in the area so I can avail of her work for some time to come. Smile

I'm an energy healer and any techniques I use on myself don't seem to work like they used to, but sometimes it helps to seek help from others.

Joined: 16 Sep 2012 Posts: 4 : Items

These are my side affects of it although I did not know it was because of this. Anxiety and panic attacks, they were not as bad as I could workout and the anxiety itself wouldn't have me looking at the Internet for hours seeing what was wrong with me but now I got off yasmin altogether because I heard how bad it was after I had a week dizzy spell then is when I feel my life has turned a 360 for the worse. I got off of yasmin sept 4,2012 and since then I have had extreme anxiety and panic attacks. These were the worst in my 2 months. Dizziness everyday or more of out of focus eyes but not vertigo except sometimes. Red hands, numbness tingling. I have been to the doctors who say I am crazy and just put me on an anti depressant but although I haven't talked to many of you I feel I can relate to a,l of what you guys are going through and if I could start a committee against yasmin I would because I don't want any one to feel like I am right now. I have been off for three months dec 4 and am slowly feeling some happiness maybe for 10 minutes but its something. I was never depressed until this. I have such bad mood swings sometimes I was rethinking if I even love my husband ugh it's horrible. Please tell me this is from this pill. If any of you have any insight or information let me know. I am recently for 4 days on celexa 10 mg should I get off the antidepressant? Also I am finally going to see an endocrinologist for all of this so he can test my hormones right because my original doctor says my hormones are fine and I am too young to go into menopause. If any of you feel comfortable enough I would love to talk as I am at the end of my rope with this well maybe it's just anxiety or crazy thoughts as to why are my hands red today and then I get a bout of fear and have a panic attack. Pleas help and if you are on yasmin gt off now please Crying or Very sad

Joined: 04 Dec 2012 Posts: 13 : Location: Australia Items

I'm another who's very glad to have found this site. I've just come off Yaz after being on it for 2 years for painful periods. My symptoms were obscure and touched on most of my body's systems. I lost my libido, had vaginal dryness and had such severe fatigue that one doctor diagnosed me with post viral syndrome/chronic fatigue. I've developed allergies and food sensitivities. I can't have dairy or much wheat any more. I've had a lot of problem with insomnia. I've had tingling in my leg and shoulders. I'm a runner and have gone from running a marathon to hardly being able to run 10k and I've had to spend periods where I just couldn't run at all. I've lost a lot of strength and speed. And I've had dreadful anxiety, to the point of seeing a psychologist.

I've seen five different doctors now - all of them knew that I was on Yaz and no one made the link. I finally decided to investigate further and got my doctor to test for testosterone deficiency and, voila, I was very deficient. This explains quite a few of my symptoms - the loss of libido, the dryness, the insomnia and the loss of muscle strength and tone. Yaz is directly responsible in causing the deficiency by increasing the amount of sex hormone binding globulin in the blood (my levels were so high that the lab didn't even bother quantifying them).

My gynaecologist has put me on testosterone cream but didn't want to take me off Yaz but I've gone against her advice. It's not like the medical community has been full of help, advice and knowledge so far. I've only been off for four days but already I'm starting to feel less fatigued.

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:57 pm

Hi Char,

Welkom on the forum, good for you that you quit this horrible pill!!
hope you will recover real soon and be your old self again, this forum can help you a lot and you can find answers to a lot of questions.

Big Hug Cindy xx