Yasmin & Yaz Survivors

Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

First post, hello! I saw my doctor about this last week but she said to wait another 3 months and see what happens. I found this forum and would love to talk to others who may share my experiences.

I have PCOS so I need to take the pill to manage this and make sure I have periods. But regardless of this I just want to come of it because I'm getting really worried about it. I've been on it since mid-December and I have already gone up from a size 8 to nearly a size 12. All the fat is around my stomach and I just feel really bloated and uncomfortable. I also have horrendous gas all the time and need to poo all day long. Sometimes when I go it is a lot, sometimes I can't go, sometimes just a bit of liquid comes out. My bowels just feel really yucky. It's horrible when I'm out. It doesn't matter how much fibre I eat/don't eat and it's only been this bad since I've been taking Yasmin. Sad

I have had benefits from Yasmin as well such as having periods (if you call that a good thing!) and improved skin, although recently I've started getting bad spots again on my back, shoulders and even in one of my ears! So it's not that great. I've not had any emotional type side effects either, in fact I've been a bit more stable the last few months, my OCD has been easier to manage.

As I said I saw my doctor last week and she did listen to my concerns. She weighed me and told me to come back in 3 months to see if my weight has increased anymore, if it has she'll change my pill. But I just want to come of this thing now and see if I feel better. If I do then I'll know that it's the pill doing all this. I'd rather have spots and more stress than bloating and gas and anything else it might be causing. Sad

I'm pretty stressed about this already anyway!

Thanks for reading. I'm 19 by the way.

Joined: 17 Nov 2010 Posts: 43 : Location: US Items

Helz,

Welcome to the forum! I just want to let you know that you do not have to be on BCP to manage PCOS. I have had PCOS for almost 5 years and I have been most successful without taking BCP. BCPs just mask the symptoms of PCOS and do nothing to try to resolve symptoms, so unless you are determined to be on BCPs the rest of your life to hide your symptoms, I encourage you to think about trying to get to the root of PCOS and using different options. I have found great success using metformin (started out at 500mg 3x a day, and am now down to 500 mg 1x a day). I also take an organic multivitamin, a b complex, Mega EPA fish oil, Liquid Vit D, and zinc. Of course everyone is different in their capacity to heal. Once on metformin and a exercise regimen (30 min cardio 4-5x a week, yoga for inner balance and relaxation 2-3x a week) I dropped 18lbs in about 2 months. I also altered my diet to eat less carbs. I didn't completely eliminate everything though, I still have a treat every now and then and I do eat complex carbs. I know PCOS can be frustrating but it is a very manageable condition. Good luck trying to find out what works for you!

Kerry

Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

Thank you for your reply and the advice. I have been reading about metformin and would like to give it a go as I really do not want to continue taking birth control forever. I already eat quite a healthy diet with little refined sugar and carbs and I take multi-vitamins, so that's good, I suppose. I need to do more exercise, at the moment I only do 10/15 mins of skipping at least once a week. Because I have "lean" PCOS I was told I didn't have to worry so much about my diet and weight, but if the root cause of the condition is to do with insulin resistance then I must do. I feel really sad about having to constantly watch what I eat for the rest of my life though, but if it's for the best then I'll just have to. Confused

Thanks again!

Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

Update: I have taken myself off Yasmin to see how I feel and goodness do I feel better! I've only missed the last two pills and already I have dropped a clothing size through reduced bloating alone! I feel so much more comfortable, my stomach was so distended before. I just need to tone up through continued healthy eating and exercise and I'll be an 8 again. Smile

I am seeing my doctor soon to discuss alternative treatment for PCOS, but I refuse to go on any kind of BCP again. Bloating may seem trivial, but I feel so much better without it!

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 3:53 pm

Hello Helz,

Just like Kerry said - you CAN handle PCOS without birth control... the doctor's just don't know about it, because they get their education from the sales reps of pharma companies. GRrrrrrr...

I would suggest you read the book "What your doctor may not tell you about premenopause" by Dr R Lee (or at least the parts about PCOS). It is suggested that PCOS is caused by too much male andorgens or the body's inability to process carbohydrates. Balancing the imbalance with bio identical progesterone cream, taking enzymes to help your body metabolize carbs, and taking other supporting supplements might do the trick for you, and keep you healthy at the same time. (I would not recommend a multivitamin if it mixes vitamin A, B, C with minerals, there are much better options out there).

Please let us know how things work out for you.

Hugs,
Helena

Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

misspkm, thank you for your informed advice. I'm very intrigued by the natural progesterone cream that I've been reading about, but I'm reticent to use anything that my doctor has not condoned. I know they don't always know best, as I have seen, but natural remedies scare me slightly. Less so than synthetic hormone medications do though, so it's worth a try.

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:43 pm

No Problem, everyone has to do it on their own time. I was VERY concern about trying progesterone cream at first because I simply did not want to add any hormones into my body... but the truth is that hormone from a progesterone cream is FAR better than hormones we get by eating different types of food on a day to day basis. And for me it was all about learning about the different supplements and natural remedies that made a difference. There are so many information out there, and probably half of it is BS. Or maybe not BS, but based on too little information.

It is however unfortunate that you feel you need the doctor's "approval" before trying anything natural... most doctors will not, because they can get into trouble for it and they do not get a commission from recommending it. And the truth is - they simply have no education in it, unless they have studied it on the side on their own. Off course there are some diamonds out there, and I hope you will find that person to assist you to a better and healthier alternative... because in my mind - the answer is out there.

At least you feel that the traditional medicine for PCOS is scarier, so that is a good start Wink

If you really feel uncomfortable trying on your own, seeing a natural doctor or do a nutrition response test / muscle testing, (which is what I recommend strongly), might be a good start for you. They will only give you exactly what your body needs.

But if you need any further assistance with all this, please don't hesitate to ask. I am here.
Hugs,
helena

Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

Thanks again. Smile

I just worry that if try something natural that my doctor has not prescribed and it goes wrong somehow, then they'll say it was my own fault for trying something they didn't approve of. But you're right, of course most doctors are not going to be open to natural remedies. Sometimes you just have to try these things on your own.

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:15 pm

Agreed.
Read the book I recommended above and then make a decision on what you want to do... It is hard making decision when you feel unsecured about different methods.

Helena

Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

Will do, and I may show my findings to my doctor. No harm in educating her a bit as well! Wink

Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 98 : Items

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Joined: 21 Apr 2011 Posts: 7 : Items

Thank you for reply.

Changing my diet is not as big a deal for me as you've made out, haha. I already eat pretty healthily, including raw foods. I eat more than my 5 a day of mostly raw fruits and vegetables. I don't eat any white or processed bread. I eat non-sugary, low-fat, wholegrain cereals. I don't eat biscuits, crisps, chips, pizza, fast food, milk chocolate, white chocolate, sweets - basically most unhealthy, processed things. The worst thing I eat is probably dark chocolate and even that has benefits in moderation.

I'd just still like to be able to treat myself now and again. I don't like the idea of not being able to do that.