I know I posted this as a reply to another topic, but I thought I'd post it again as its own entity (and with a little more info) so as to (hopefully) get more responses.
I'm on my third kind of bcp after nearly two years of taking them (I'm 28). I started out with allese, but I couldn't take the depression and mood swings for the three months you're supposed to give it for your body to adjust. A month or so later I was switched to Ortho-Tricyclen. I was on that for nearly a year, until my next yearly appointment. I told my doctor that I was still experiencing moodiness, and I had developed an even shorter fuse than I had previously had (I have a nasty temper already. I don't need it to be worse). So I was switched to Yasmin, which I am currently on. When I go back to the doctor, I'll ask again about a different prescription, I think, as my boiling point is still really low, and it's so much worse when I'm stressed (which is most of the time). Good thing for my I have a very laid-back and understanding boyfriend who's stuck with me for almost three years, two of which I've been a nutcase.
I'm a little concerned, though, because the last time I mentioned my issues to my doctor, she said I may want to try a different form of bc, since pills don't seem to be working much for me. I don't want to do depo, based on the horror stories I've heard, nor do I want a diaphram or iud. Taking the pill is fine for me, I've only forgotten twice in two years, so the routine isn't an issue. So I would be perfectly willing to try a different pill, as I know there are a lot out there. Since I've only tried three, I wonder why she's so keen to put me on some other form of birth control entirely.
As for specifics about my problem: I have a tendency to fly off the handle at the smallest thing, and I snap at my boyfriend a lot. It hasn't put too much of a strain on our relationship (sigh of relief) because I do recognize the issue, he is understanding about it, and I always apologize when I've overreacted to a situation and had an outburst. Granted, some of this is a hereditary problem (my dad's side of the family is notorious for having bad tempers), but I've noticed it's been a lot harder to stay in control lately (notably since I've been on the pill). My boyfriend has stated that when we first started going out, I was so much more fun and laid back. (I didn't go on the pill till we'd been going out a year). There have been lots of changes in my life the past couple of years, more stress over finances and whatnot on my end, so that may be a big factor as well.
Any advice would be appreciated. I've heard a bit about taking a B-vitamin complex to help stabilize one's mood. Any views on that? Plus at some point I may go in for anger management counseling.
Don't appologize for a long post, sometimes its necessary in order to completely explain a problem.
BCPills are basically all the same, just in different dosages. I'm going of the pill right now (day 2) because of mild depression, along with all the other side effects.
I'm a chemist, so I am fairly knowledgable about drugs and supplements. I'm the one who mentioned B complex suppliments. It can help with mood swings, and the nervous system. Something else you may want to try, for mental health along with many other health benefits, is omega 3 fatty acids. This is in fish oil. One of the good brands is Nature's Bounty... you can get it at Walgreens. It's called Salmon Oil and it mentions omega 3 right there on the lable. Don't get it confused with the other "Nature's this and Nature's that" brands. The process in making those capsules is very important when it somes to potency, and Nature's Bounty does it correctly. There are a few other good brands, but they are twice as expensive. Keep them in the fridge.
One thing that helps me, a lot, is meditation. Daily meditation. There is a little book called "30 Days to an Out of Body Experience"... I recommend that one because its short and to the point. I'm not into the out of body thing, but the exercises it gives to work towards the OBE are outstanding!
Also, keep in mind that your moods are based on chemicals. Realize that and try your best to start a habit of just letting things go. Pick your battles. Some moods are justified, most are not.
I hope this helps a little. I've worked very hard on my moods and my temper... it takes time, but its worth it. Poeple actually call me mellow now, and when I do get upset, people listen (since its so rare, they know that if I'm actually upset, its something important). But even when I do get angry, I express it without losing control.
Thanks for the info! My only question is, is there an alternative form of omega 3 fatty acids that is not animal derived? I'm a vegetarian, so taking fish oil isn't really an option.
I know about the meditation route, and I'll definately try the book you suggested. My issue with meditation is that pretty much every time I try it, I just end up falling asleep! But I'll keep trying.
For omega 3 you could try eating seaweed (you can buy that in a Japanese resturaunt/grocery store). There are a few other dark green vegatables that have it, but you'll have to look that one up... I'm sorry I can't remember. These greens cannot be commercially cultivated, since cultivated veggies rarely have vitamins and minerals etc in them. Maybe a local fruit market would have something like that. Do a search on omega 3, and something should pop up. Its great stuff! If I could only take one suppliment, that would be it. You see, our brains are mostly fat... and its this omega 3 fat--taking it helps with depression, memory, etc. We don't get omega 3 in our diets, since we don't have fresh fish available (unless you live on the coast). That is also the fat that makes up the cell walls in our body... if we build those cell walls with the wrong type of fat (like the saturated fats in most everything we eat) our bodies just don't function properly. If you want to know more, send me a private note... I don't want to bore you with all the details if you aren't interested
I do hope you like the book. I'm sure its cheap, its just a small little paperback. Meditation is best if you do it in the morning, to prevent falling asleep. At least it relaxes you,though, ha ha. As your focus grows in strength you should be able to do it anytime of the day without falling asleep.
I've been on various birth control pills with estrogen and my body just can't handle it. I've had leg throbbing, arm pain and numbness, weight gain, acne, depression, anxiety, irritability - you name it.
I was on a copper IUD for a couple years but then had an ectopic pregnancy from it. After trying Yasmin for 4 months, I quit because of side effects again.
There is another pill you can try - and this is what I'm currently taking as a last resort before trying the Mirena IUD. The shot isn't on my list because I'll definitly gain weight according to my doctor. The cervical cap and diaphram are out because I continually get bladder infections from spermacide.
Ask your doctor about the POP - Progestin only pill, also known as the "mini-pill". This contains no estrogen and is given to women who are breast feeding, or have health issues and cannot take estrogen (like smokers who are prone to blood clots). The name of my pill is called "Camila" and I heard that it is the generic version of the brand Nor DQ. I pay $30 a month for it as my insurance won't pay for it.
You take this pill every single day without fail. 28 pills in a pack per month and you never have a placebo week - you just finish one pack and move on to the rest. If your like me and can remember to take it every day at the same time without fail (I take mine at 8:30 every morning), this may be for you. There is no "buffer" so if you miss taking your pill even 3 hours after your regular time, you have a chance of getting pregnant.
I can tell you that I have not experienced any bad side effects like I did on the previous formulations with estrogen that I had taken. BUT - the only thing that I have experienced (which really isn't a big deal to me) is break through bleeding. Most women wouldn't like this but I'd much rather wear a tampon for a couple weeks than be a fat raving maniac. One more thing - I do bike for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week and lift some hand weights - but that's the extent of my diet and exercise plan. And I also take a vitamin called Niafol by prescription which helps with the androgens that cause my acne. Just wanted to mention these as perhaps they may help with keeping the weight issue and acne issue at bay while on these pills.
Irritability on bcp 
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