GONE OFF THE PILL. When will I return to normal?

[29Forever]

After about 23 years, I just stopped taking my pills on Thursday. The Main reason is that I have been having more constant headaches & Migrains. After doing some research last week I began feeling certain that the pills were the cause. I also realized after all off the research that the pills are probably responsible for a lot of my other problems. Well, after 4 days off the pill, I'm pretty sure my headaches are starting to subside. My question is. How long will it take for me to know what is me & what was the pill? If the Libido is going to come back, will it be 2 weeks or 2 months? Will I lose PILL weight gain? And when can I say for sure that the pill is responsible for the headaches?

[StenoLady1]

I wouldn't be surprised if you take 100 women, you'll get 100 different responses.

Two different gynos told me it could take up to a year for the effects of the synthetics to get out of my system completely and unless I was basically hemmorhaging, not to worry

My experience wasn't bad at all going off. I'd been on the pill for 20 years, didn't even remember what the real "me" was. I had zero libido, headaches, horrible periods, moody, weight gain. For me, the libido slowly returned after a couple weeks off the pill; now it's raging strong. The horrible periods were replaced with mild, normal periods immediately (Pamprin for cramps -- goodbye!!!). I've had a few headaches here and there, but nothing like the kind I had on the pill. Moodiness was gone immediately, as well, especially the PMS. As for weight, I think I lost all my pill weight in my boobs, LOL. The rest I'll have to actually work on losing

BTW, I went off the pill in early March of this year. I'd been on various pills over the years.

On the down side, my doc found what he believes are endometrial cysts on ultrasound. He believes the pill controls these and keeps them at bay; that my going off the pill probably had something to do with them. I have no pain with the cysts, but if they're still there in January (after finding them in April/May), they'll need to come out. He did offer me three months of BC pills to try and shrink them, and I said no way, never again. I'll take my chances with a lap and two to seven days of recovery instead of three months on the pill again.

Sooo, that's been the good and the bad for me. All in all, I'm really glad I finally stopped. I hope you find some resolution for yourself soon!

[shorty03906]

Stenolady1 what BC Pill were you on?

[StenoLady1]

Shorty, I started on an Ortho product years and years ago -- I *believe* it was Ortho Tricyclen. Then I started spotting, having breakthrough bleeding, so doc switched me to Levora. Bleeding stopped, but my libido dropped to nil, had heavy periods, crazy PMS, lots of anxiety, weight gain on that one. Then he switched me to another Ortho product, Ortho Novum 1/35, if I recall. The libido returned slightly, but then migraines and serious breast tenderness set in.

The first one I started when I was around 14, 15 years old (I'm 34 now). I switched to Levora right after returning from my honeymoon (nice time to kill the libido, eh?), which would have been September of '98. I finally insisted on another switch from the Levora in December of 2005 and took the 1/35 until March of this year. It was the migraines that totally scared me and was one of the deciding factors for me to go off synthetic hormones altogether.

[Stephx86]

I know what you mean...

I started taking Tri-nessa and with in the first two weeks I knew this medication was NOT for me! I had headaches, and a few other side effect I can't quite remember. I just knew it was time to get off!

After a visit with a GYN she found that i had PCOS after confirming with a blood test and put me on Yasmin. So far no problems with that that I know of.

Just frustrating when you want help and medicines do not work with you and your body. All I can say is speak with your Dr and try something different if you can't deal with what you were on.

Good luck