Birth Control Pro's and Con's

I was on seasonique and it was fine for the first 6 weeks, and then I bled for 6 weeks afterwards when I finally switched to Loestrin 24. I got my period every month, but when I would get it, my period was very light and only lasted for 2 days. There were times I would go months with no period at all. Everyone is different and their reactions to pills are different,but when I told my doctor about my reaction to seasonique, he told me it was quite common. I have horrible PMS and horrible pain. The loestrin helped with all of it. My doctor put me on Lo Loestrin after I had my twins while I was breastfeeding. I am having a horrible time regulating my period and I'm bleeding all the time. When I can, I'm switching back to regular Loestrin.

I agree that it is best to get this type of advice from your doctor. I would ask them, though, if an IUD may be another option to consider, along with considering the pill. I have several friends on IUDs who tell me they have no periods, and that it helps with PMS caused migraines and other fairly severe PMS related issues. Just a suggested question to ask.

Also,the "seasonale" type pills can take a year or more to switch you from monthly to quarterly periods, from what I have read. Another thing to check in about.

This might sound like a weird question, but I also have low thyroid, so bear with me. Are you SURE your thyroid condition is well-controlled? (Not just your TSH results, but has your doctor also ordered free T4, free T3, and Reverse T3 tests?) I ask because your TSH can be totally normal, yet you can still be experiencing adrenal failure. One of the symptoms of low thyroid, of course, is irritability. I'm wondering if the reason the Celexa is not totally controlling your mood swings is that maybe you aren't experiencing depression, but thyroid symptoms? Again, I have no idea - maybe your T4 and T3 are completely normal. I am just throwing it out there in case this is not something you have considered. For me, personally, when I was experiencing PMS symptoms, birth control pills sent me totally over the edge. Turned out that my thyroid was not as controlled as I thought. I found a lot of great info at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you!

Your story sounds complicated. I think that you should research this with your gyn's help. Which of your doctors prescribed the Celexa and Levoythyroxin? Refer your gyn to this doctor and let them confer with each other about which birth control pill will help you. I don't think anyone on this forum should be advising you, really and truly.

Good luck,
Dawn

I'm using the LoSeasonique right now. What I like:

really took care of mindbogglingly horrible cramps that I would have both pre and mid cycle. Basically was going to get a hysterectomy until a new GYN suggested this lovely drug.

Don't care for:
about 1.5 months along, I experience some grumpiness and crampiness (both are not as bad as PMS was) and breakthrough bleeding which can vary from light or heavy.
And night sweats. I'm not sure if it's the drug or just my age/pre-menopause, but it's pretty gross to wake up all sweaty.

It may be a bit of a libido suppressant? I can't say for sure if it's the drug, or the fact that I'm an older mom and have less energy by the end of the day.

I have to say, though, that after years of suffering with the debilitating cramps, I'll stay on this pill until I can't. :)

Added: I do agree with Dawn; all of our body chemistry's are different. What works for me may make you bonkers, who knows?

I dunno but pills messed me up more than pms...YIKES

I tried Seasonique and i turned into a MONSTER. If my hubby had TRIED to touch me he would have come back w a stump instead of a hand.

IUD has been perfect match for me...helps w many of the issues I had.

Good luck

If I can find a natural remedy to my condition I will. Mostly because my body is SUPER sensitive and I found taking birth control pills, or shots gives me more side effects that I just wasnt up for. While I currently do not know what naturally helps pms I am going to research it now.

Examples of natural things that help quickly for me / bladder infections or uti drink a glass of cranberry juice its gone..if i discover it quickly, stomach ache drink ginger (ale ), mosquitoes a mock, rub rosemary over my hands then body, the smell of mint or lavender helps at the first spot of a headache ...other wise i am hitting the migraine meds ! Some things really work well others not so great. If there were a natural way to find some relief for your symptoms I def would. BTW we might be getting moody because we are in pain. When someone is in pain they usually are grouchy.

I have been on the generic of seasonale for about six our seven years. It did not take a year for the cycles to go every three months. It was immediate sans a bit of spotting. I love it.