Need some bc pill advice girls...sassy? anyone?

[Sheena]

Girls, Just want your opinion please if you have time...

I have been taking the bc pill for since I was 17, I am now 29. My monthly water bloats are way overboard, no word of a lie my abdomen swells up just before the period like I'm three months preg, and my boobs kill me.

I also know that it is making me hold onto too much water. I have had enough of this shit and I am on a cleaner diet now and trying to get rid of some of this 23% bf to look underneath.

If I come off, will it make a difference, i.e not so cravy for carbs & sugars (although that maybe just me and not the pill) and hopefully I will drop some water.

I was thinkin about getting an IUD (yep I know it's gonna hurt) because I don't want the Depovera jab.

Your views ladies please..any similar experiences.

S. xx

 

[Temple]

BC pills will make it almost impossible to get lean. Depo Provera is IMO fat in a syringe. From conversations with my MD I think that an IUD is a viable alternative. We were done having children so we went for the permanent solution and I have found that I feel much better and am now starting to shed some of that estrogen fat.

 

[Sassy69]

Hey Sheena - yea funny how bc was the answer to "everything" when I was younger. Would've never considered going off because I used to get *nasty* cramps, loooooooong periods and just generally be miserable, and couldn't really complain outloud because of having mostly men in the house (brothers, dad).

Now, being into bodybuilding, bc is like the worst thing -bloats, can't lose body fat, etc. etc. So I just went off. I asked my ob-gyn about it, expecting all sorts of wild adjustments to take place after being on for more than 15 years. He said if anything there should be less bloating, etc. I've noticed only one cycle w/ cramping and no other problems. I haven't noticed any particular amount of fat loss or anything either though.

If you are having that much trouble with the bc that you are on, it isn't necessary to just go off - you might want to talk to your doctor and see if there is a different pill with a different dosage that won't cause you so much trouble. Medicine is supposed to make your life easier, not harder. The one I was using was a very small dosage and he said it shouldn't even affect my weight loss while I was on it (even for a bodybuilding competition). But then, his specialty isn't sports medicine either... so...

I guess its different from person to person how their estrogen levels affect their appetite, etc. - Talk to your doctor about the degree of effect it could have, but there are too many other variables in a lifestyle (e.g. eating habits, training habits) to blame all your body fat on your bc. So yes, definitely clean up your diet, set up a training & cardio schedule and define a clear goal for yourself (e.g. lose 5% body fat in 8 weeks or something - and better to not define it as "lose x lbs in y weeks" because body fat is more relevant) and then stick to it. But just for your own comfort and well-being you should check with your doc for at least an alternative for that particularly pill that you are on.

Good luck!

~ sassy

 

[Little Girl]

I choose the IUD for the raisons you named. Was a really good decision!
LG

 

[blueyedkowgrl]

i have an IUD. I've had it for 2 yrs now. it did not hurt when i got it put in. maybe minor discomfort but thats about it. You should talk to your gyno about it. I don't know if you have children or not but they don't recommend it for people who have not had kids and are planning to in the future.

 

[Little Girl]

I don't have children and my gyno accepted to put an IUD. I was only 23 years old when I had it. It's my third year with it, no problem at all! No water retention anymore and no cellulite!
LG

 

[blueyedkowgrl]

i personally never have had a problem either. It was a great decision for me. I do have 2 kids though so there wasn't any concern for me. as long as you know and understand the risks they will usually do it.

 

[Sheena]

Thanks for your help girls.

That's cleared it up, then. The IUD it is.

I have no kids, and I'm not sure I do, but I'm not writing it off, however I have seen a doctor, who said she can still put the IUD in anyway and I will be fine.

I've just a heard so many stories from friends saying it really hurt when they were a. Internally measured for it and b. when it actually went in.

But then I suppose any foreign body is going to be a bit uncomfortable at first.

I've had enough, I eat clean, I'm getting lean.

Thanks for the support.. Sass , girls etc...

Sheena

 

[fawnmarie]

Why Not Depo?

Sheena

Why not depo? Not all women get fat on it.

I can gain 30 pounds in 2 months on BC pills, but with depo I drop 10 lbs and start to lean out without thinking about it.

I had no bloating, no cramps, no periods, no breast pain as long as I got my little shot friend. NO mood swings, no PMS, either. I LOVE the Depo shot.

YMMV -

Personally, I had my boyfriend "fixed" - we have 5 between us and we are DONE!! (While we have some life left!)

My sister got an IUD about three months ago. She came off the pill from it and has come down from a size 16 to a size 12 (yes, she's plump). She says her periods are very heavy, but other than that, she loves it.

I read once that the IUD is derived from desert culture - where nomads would insert a pebble into the uterus (uteri?) of their camels so they wouldn't get pregnant incoveniently. Don't know if this is true, but it's a funny story. Apparently the pebble (and the IUD) keeps anything from implanting.

Fawn

 

[blueyedkowgrl]

i belive the point in dropping the pill and all hormonal BC is to reduce the amount of extra estrogen an all thats floating around in our system.
yes, your periods may be heavy in the beginning. I was an exception to the rule, i had no period after getting the IUD put in for a good 3 months. no one knows why but it came back on it's own and then in the beginning my periods were heavy but after a couple of months it all seemed to work it self out and now they are a normal flow and a normal length.

 

[fitchick10]

After having an IUD for years I removed it to get pregnant and did so without any compications. After my son was born I went on the pill and it was horrible. Was allways bloated, had constant headaches (head was allways kinda foggy) and even developed a form of rhinitis (sinus problem) brought on by hormonal changes. Eventually could not breathe through my nose. As soon as I went off the pill everything cleared up! I have gone back to an IUD and never even so much as have a cramp. Everyone is different but think when you are very aware of your body as most of us here are you just know when something is up. I think a lot of women put up with a lot of side effects that could be elleviated with proper diet and exercise. just my 2 cents

 

[Little Girl]

There's a bad thing with IUD though..cramps and and longer periods. It's like that for me but it doesn't mean that it's like that for every women. I think it's a good compromise...
LG

 

[FitFossil]

I'll chime in with the others praising the IUD. I've had mine about 4 years. Periods were heavier and more crampy AT FIRST, but now normal. Hurt like the dickens going in (never had kids) but definitely worth it.

The pill made me gain about 15 pounds, mostly in my abs and butt where I'd never had a problem before. I had roller coaster emotions and felt tired and hungry ALL the time (even within minutes of eating!).

Even when I upped my exercise and lowered my calories, the extra weight would not budge. I'd hate to think what would've happened if I'd just kept to my normal routine. Yikes! Thankfully, the first 10 pounds dropped pretty quickly. The other 5 were very difficult. All the emotional stuff fixed itself pretty quickly. Boy was my husband relieved!

 

[Snow White]

Hey!

You guys ever hear of condoms? Maybe you shouldn't have to bloat and go thru this pain!

 

[blueyedkowgrl]

yeah well they aren't 100% effective. so it always better to be safe than sorry. women need to be responsible for their own bodies. You could ask my friend about condoms she has a 4 yr old as a result of only using condoms.

 

[fawnmarie]

I took my old man down to the pound and had him fixed.

WHAT A RELIEF!!!

We have 5 between us, so there were no complaints on either part!

Fawn

 

[wynnyelle]

been on the pill since 17. I never considered that that could be what's causing me all this problem with cellulite and weight. i assumed it was just my metabolism slowing up as i left my teenage years. i have to take it because of severe period problems. i have lowered the dosage however. i cut each pill in half and take one half a day. i had spotting at first but then, nothing. i take the pill continuously since i'm not using it for birth control and i HATE periods.

 

[Sheena]

I love you guys

I couldn't frankly give a hoot about the periods or the cramps, I'm just sick of the bloat and almost near imposibble task of getting lean on the pill. Little Girl you are so right.

No more sore boobs not more bloat, it's been arranged and after this strip of pills, I'm gettin' that IUD.

Thanks for all your two cents girls. You all made me smile.

I have heard it hurts goin in, but nothing hurts more than seeing cottage cheese bumps on your ass!!!

p.s Fawn you killed me, about taking the old man to the pound!!!! LOL!!!

S.

 

[Little Girl]

IUD insertion

When the doctor put it in, it wasn't hurting at all. But when I came back home (with tylenol #3) I wasn't ready to party! Make sure that you have nothing to do after you went at the doc, and go to bed! I had bad cramps for a couple of hours but the day after everything was fine.

Is anyone knows, for how long I could keep it. 5 or 10 years I'm not sure..
LG

 

[blueyedkowgrl]

most of them are good for 10 yrs. Thats what my dr. said about mine..