Posts by Lisa Myers

Look, you don't need to be in physical pain to deal with this. I'm dealing with these exact issues myself, but I've already shared all that here...

Jonathan Morris40 said:I’m not making any accusations. I’m just having an informational discussion. I want to look into every possible solution. Is that a problem?

It’s not a problem, it just doesn't make much sense. It could be something else entirely. If you're the type who stays calm and just gathers data, then fine. But most people just get worked up when they start reading stuff online.

Jonathan Morris40 said:I know plenty of people who drink way more than I do and they're perfectly fine.

That’s a pretty weak analogy. Look at pro athletes—some deal with cancer, high blood pressure, or diabetes, while some overweight people have zero issues. We aren't all built the same.

There isn't just a magic pill to cure a stroke. The brain either recovers to some degree or it doesn't. And most people don't just suffer one stroke. Unless it happens to be their first and last.

So why the panic? Just wait for the test results. We've already gone over every possible condition. You can't expect to know everything instantly. You also have to be prepared for the possibility that they won't find anything—that happens more often than you think. People spend years seeing doctors without ever getting a clear diagnosis.

It really depends on when it happens and how bad it is—which specific part of the brain we're talking about. It’s just like recovering from a concussion. You know how it goes: some people bounce back quickly, some struggle a bit, some don't recover at all, and a few almost get back to 100%...

That’s exactly why I wrote it to him—so he wouldn't just "skip over" the fact that he needs to settle down and get his act together like a grown-up (is that too blunt? 🙂). He's too proud to admit it himself. But honestly, this could be the turning point.

If your bleeding doesn't start on the exact same day, it might never happen that way again. I used to have it on the same day when I was on Celestol, but after a couple of years, things shifted and my period would show up on any random day during the break. It isn't a rule that it has to be every 28 days. You might even get it right before you start the pill. All of that is perfectly normal.

@swiftnomad47/">@@swiftnomad47:
Hey, can we please stop trying to diagnose people online with such certainty? His symptoms could point to a dozen different things or just be a weird mix of several issues. That’s exactly why doctors exist.

It’s just as easy for someone else to chime in and say, "Oh, that sounds like a stroke, I had that once too." And so on.

See, Jonathan Morris40, this is exactly why I told you to stop Googling everything. 🤣

An EEG isn't useless—if they spot any irregularities, you move on to the next step. But honestly, just because nothing shows up doesn't mean everything is fine. A CT scan is a much better diagnostic tool, but an EEG is cheaper, so...

So, blood work and a neurologist—just like I mentioned. If your EEG comes back perfectly clean, they might skip the neurology referral, but honestly, that’s exactly when you'd want to see one! An EEG by itself isn't anything special. It can be a bit awkward, though—not painful, but you get all these flashing lights, which feels a little trippy, kind of like a malfunctioning disco ball. I was scheduled for my second day and got the results the very same day. All in all, no matter where you go, you won't be stuck waiting months for this stuff.
They didn't send you for blood work to check for a tumor or anything like that 🤣. They just wanted a standard complete blood count—unless they sent you for something specific, but since everything goes through an online patient portal now, you'll be able to see exactly what they're testing for once it's processed.

I’d honestly advise you to tell your doctor everything, just like you told us. Be totally upfront about the alcohol and the symptoms. If you hold anything back, you might miss a crucial detail that seems minor to you but matters to them.

When I went to my doctor, I didn't sugarcoat a single thing. I told her straight up: when I'm walking down the street, I feel unbalanced like I'm going to fall, sometimes I get dizzy, or I get these headaches when I check my blind spot while driving... stuff like that.

Turns out, it was my cervical spine. Later, I found my exact symptoms described word-for-word online. It felt like I was describing an alcoholic, or like someone would think I was on drugs.

Also, don't rule out what people said about anxiety or panic attacks.

At the end of the day, it’s definitely a matter of "in your head or in your body." I’m pretty sure they’ll start with blood work, then move to a neurologist, and maybe eventually a psychiatrist or a physiatrist depending on the results. It’s possible you're dealing with multiple things at once, but that doesn't mean any single issue is fatal. Some of the things you wrote sound very familiar to me—I don't have neurological issues, but I do have spinal problems... and I still get hit with panic attacks after my spine acts up. It's a long story. If it helps, I really don't think it's your brain. I've looked into this quite a bit because of some family experiences. Plus, those symptoms can also come from blood pressure spikes or drops. And seriously, don't hide the alcohol part. Those symptoms can happen when your blood alcohol level starts to drop (alcohol epilepsy is a real thing—don't laugh). Expect to be bouncing between doctors for a while. That’s actually a good thing; hopefully, they send you for every test imaginable.

I know you're scared. Men are always such wimps when it comes to seeing a doctor 🤣, but listen—it will be great once they figure out what's actually happening. We've all been there, getting sent from specialist to specialist for years where everyone writes their own version of the story, leaving us right back at square one.

One note: stop Googling before your appointment. Whatever you type in, the internet will tell you that you're already dead. I am being serious—don't do it. It isn't meant for people who can't filter information, and I don't know if you can. I know I can now, but I couldn't before. My dad can't—he went in for sinus surgery, but he basically died a dozen times on the internet before he even got to the hospital. 🤣.

Lawrence White - now you see why I said what I said, right? 🤣

Don't even bother stressing over those questions.

Then someone else will step up—someone who had a baby with developmental issues and was told (or thinks) it happened because of the pills. So what then? Just because they say it doesn't mean it's a fact.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't let this get to me. Stick to what the official instructions actually say. Honestly, I’d take any claims from someone saying, "I took these pills and then got pregnant," with a massive grain of salt.

velvetharbor17 said:Does drinking tea with UVIN maybe lower the contraceptive effectiveness of combined pills?

No.

Lawrence White5 said:I've been pondering something lately, and I have a feeling some of you experts here might be able to shed some light on it. 🙂
If someone happens to become pregnant while they're still taking their birth control pills—whether that's because a pill was accidentally missed or the protection just failed for some reason—are the pills taken during pregnancy actually harmful to the developing baby?

Every single instruction says no.

Look, they aren't necessarily more stylish 🤣, but there's plenty of variety... thank God I have those two shops right near me, otherwise I’d have to drive all the way to the city just to find something to wear.

I actually picked up some great jeans at Takko recently. I wanted a different pair, but they didn't have my size—only larger ones. It honestly made me feel like I'd gain weight just to fit into them 🤣.

That’s just how it is. A hormone is a hormone. I’ve studied the exact same thing.

Nah. Not at all.

So, if a woman is 35 or older and hasn't had kids yet—assuming there isn't some medical reason stopping her—is she just barred from getting a sterilization procedure?

I had to stop taking birth control because of my blood pressure and these constant headaches. Even though I dealt with them before 🤣, it was different this time. It’s tough to say for sure if they were directly caused by it or not. Some doctors told me they weren't linked, while others warned me they were. Honestly, I just realized on my own that things feel significantly worse when I'm on the pill, so I quit.

I think you're in the same boat—you really have to make that call for yourself.

Anything is possible. You might find that from the very first month, things feel just like they did before the pill—totally irregular and heavy. Or, you might fall into the second category, which is what happened to me. For a few months after stopping, everything felt normal and regular. Then, my period started getting late, then later, until eventually, it stopped altogether.

Is he going to use a condom if you aren't on the pill? If he won't, you know exactly what we're going to tell you, right?

restlessseal5 said:Yeah, I knew that, I just wasn't entirely sure what the situation would look like once I stopped taking it. Thanks.🙂

No worries.

Technically, you’re still protected for just a few days after finishing your pack—maybe three or four. Your body doesn't realize you're stopping the pills yet. So, if you have sex on day seven, for instance, your body won't be able to block an ovulation that might happen in two days because you haven't started the next pack. I hope that makes sense. Generally speaking, fertility can actually spike during the first month. You might experience multiple ovulations, and you really shouldn't rely on tracking fertile windows until you see how your cycles settle in and whether they stay regular.