I just have to share that I have decided to stop taking my BC. I feel like this weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am in my placebo pill week so I am guessing I won't notice any changes until next week, but I am so excited to go back to normal. I knew it was bad when my boyfriend told me that the last few months I had turned into a total *****, and he wanted the old me back. I figure if he is willing to go back to using a condom, those pills must have had me really out of whack. I am hoping I will lose some of the weight I have gained also. It seemed no matter how much I exercised and healthy food I ate, I couldn't lose weight.

Congrats on your decision! I quit the pill in June, and I've never once regretted it! My mood and attitude improved so much within the first couple of months off the pill, my sex drive improves more and more the longer I'm off it, and I've lost about 10 lb. now. Good luck! Remember you may have some side effects at first, but just stick through it, they will go away eventually. And actually, having actual physical side effects like nausea, sore breasts, cramps, and backaches was a relief compared to the psycho moody mess I was on the pill. Keep us posted how it goes!

I am prepared for the side effects. Actually all the side effects you just listed I had on BC so I won't notice much of a difference. :) I am so excited to feel like myself again. I feel like I have been taking over by these hormones, and it is so not worth it.

Yay to you for noticing the mood problems...I was on birth control for years and the descent into perpetual gloom was so slow that I didn't notice it. I went off the pill for totally unrelated reasons and was astounded by how much better I felt. Only looking back was I able to see the pattern of grumpiness that came with the birth control.

KSgirl79 -

I'm right there with you. I quit mid-way thru my placebo week, which was last week. Sunday would have been the start of a new pack. So far, no withdraw symptoms to report. I'm prepared for anything. I can say I've seen an improvement in my mood, AND a desire to have sex with my husband again!!!
Like Juniecat said, I was on the pill for so long, that I didn't really notice how truly bad the moodiness (and lack of sex drive) had become. I didn't link it to the birth control pills until recently.

Good Luck!

I'm with you, girls! I stopped taking the pill almost 2 weeks ago. So far so good! I was on it for 7 years and I'm really glad I decided to stop. It also altered my moods and made me gain weight. I'm hoping to lose some of the weight and get back to "normal!" :D

Thank you to everyone! I will let you know how I feel in the next few weeks. I am very excited to feel normal again.

I took my last Pill over a week ago, had my withdrawal bleeding and so far can't say I feel much different but I guess it's too early. I'm prepared for all the side effects it can throw at me! I've been on it for far too long, looking forward to being "normal" again! :)

How long before the weight starts coming off? I stopped BC pills the middle of December after being on them for 7 yrs. To me I feel I've gained a few pounds since going off, I hope it doesn't keep up.

Iminarut

I just started the pill because the GYN thinks I might have endo. I feel horrible, and don't know how much is the pill.
I'm tired allllll the time, I'm moody, I'm having a headache right now. My appetite is really increased. I'm so afraid I'm going to gain a lot of weight.
Also, I feel like I'm having morning sickness all the time and I feel like i constantly need to be eating something salty like crackers.

But the weird thing is a bad taste in my mouth all the time. Has anyone else had this with the pill? I'm thinking of quitting right now a week into it, but I know I should wait at least until the placebo pills.

:bouncing: Congrats to you...After having some self therapy, I too have decided to come off the pill also (kariva).. The past year I have been depressed and couldnt understand why...I have gained 28pds after working hard on Weight Watchers to loose weight...I have since gone back on WW's not to have lost 1pd my first week in which I was totally committed and walking 1 mile a day..I was distraught..I have also in the last year began to loose alot of hair..Its so not worth it..I take BC because of endometriosis and I can only pray to God that there's a better option for me....(not BC)...

I just started the pill because the GYN thinks I might have endo. I feel horrible, and don't know how much is the pill.
I'm tired allllll the time, I'm moody, I'm having a headache right now. My appetite is really increased. I'm so afraid I'm going to gain a lot of weight.
Also, I feel like I'm having morning sickness all the time and I feel like i constantly need to be eating something salty like crackers.

But the weird thing is a bad taste in my mouth all the time. Has anyone else had this with the pill? I'm thinking of quitting right now a week into it, but I know I should wait at least until the placebo pills.

Hi wondering..I too was put on bc (kariva) because I have endo..I was having excruciating cramps..I had also began to cramp on any given day not just when I was on my period...Ive never liked taking bc and have also had the symptoms your having...Im not a Dr. but I have no doubt that those are side effects...After 2 1/2 yrs of bc I gained 28pds and terrible hair breakage..Im coming off the pill regardless of the pain I may have with endo..Atleast I wont have the mood swings and depression along w/the other side effects

I just have to share that I have decided to stop taking my BC. I feel like this weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am in my placebo pill week so I am guessing I won't notice any changes until next week, but I am so excited to go back to normal. I knew it was bad when my boyfriend told me that the last few months I had turned into a total *****, and he wanted the old me back. I figure if he is willing to go back to using a condom, those pills must have had me really out of whack. I am hoping I will lose some of the weight I have gained also. It seemed no matter how much I exercised and healthy food I ate, I couldn't lose weight.

I feel exactly the same. Since starting the pill I haven't noticed nearly as much change in mood as other people have.
Everyone, especially my bf, is basically sick of the "attitude." And I seriously get people mad at me all the time because they think that the b****iness is my fault and like I'm a horrible person or something. So not cool. I was never like that before. I didn't link anything to bc until after I read so many posts like this one and thought hard about when my "issues" began (definitely about 2 years ago when I stated taking them.)
My boyfriend won't accept the idea that it's the pill, and not all my fault that I have mood issues. I'm going off and he's really unhappy about it, but he had to accept it because I absolutely refuse to take any more extra hormones. The thought of quitting is worrying me and I really like being protected, but all the side-effects are just not worth it.
I'd rather use condoms for the rest of my life than feel all crazy and uncomfortable with my own body (I also gained a bunch of weight).
I have one week of the pills left and than I'm done. Can't wait to feel like myself again. Hopefully that will happen sooner since I've been taking low hormone pills.
Good luck!

:) Good luck to you Moonlight! I feel so much better after quitting. I almost feel like a prisoner released from jail. I feel free. I have seen improvements. The only drawback has been my first period after. It is has been almost 7 days which I never had before or during the pill. I am hoping it is my body adjusting and next month it will be shorter. At least it isn't too heavy. :)

:) Good luck to you Moonlight! I feel so much better after quitting. I almost feel like a prisoner released from jail. I feel free. I have seen improvements. The only drawback has been my first period after. It is has been almost 7 days which I never had before or during the pill. I am hoping it is my body adjusting and next month it will be shorter. At least it isn't too heavy. :)

Apparently the first few periods are irregular and/or heavier for a lot of women. As long as it goes back to normal eventually it shouldn't be a problem. Right now I don't really care as long as my body goes back to the way it used to be. I'm very excited to feel like myself again because I honestly forgot what it's like to be "normal."