This might sound a bit ridiculous—but those are textbook symptoms of panic attacks. I deal with this myself; even when I’m completely calm and fully aware of what’s happening, I still feel this intense pain and crushing pressure in my chest. To be clear, I’ve already been to the cardiologist and everything came back fine. I’ve also noticed these symptoms ramp up significantly during PMS—it gets pretty intense. If you're experiencing something similar, please don't think you're "breaking" or losing your mind—it’s just your body reacting to the daily accumulation of stress... it reaches a breaking point. So, definitely look into that possibility. I really hope you start feeling better soon...
Thanks for the advice, but I don't think that's quite it. My summer was incredibly stressful and I didn't have any issues then, yet now that things have finally settled down and I've started taking birth control pills, this problem has surfaced. So, I don't believe it's that, and I don't really suffer from panic attacks—I'd know if I were having one. 🙂 I do get anxious in certain situations, but my anxiety usually manifests through my digestive system rather than cardiovascular issues. 😛 Plus, as I mentioned before, I have a minor deformity in my heart valve, so I know it's related to that, though I can't figure out why the medication is making it worse...
Since we're on the subject, I did go see a doctor. My blood work looks okay, though my cholesterol is a little high again, and the doctor actually suggested I stop taking the pills altogether. I wasn't exactly thrilled about that suggestion because I know my acne will return and my skin will suffer, but I suppose I don't have much of a choice... 😢
Keith Thomas21 said:My dearest ladies, how on earth are you all navigating this particular struggle? I’ve been taking oral contraceptives to manage some issues with acne and irregular cycles. In the beginning, everything seemed perfectly fine, but it has now been a full year since I started the regimen. The trouble is that my libido has steadily ebbed away over time, and now it has effectively hit zero. Mentally, the desire is still there—I can feel the impulse in my mind—but when the moment actually arrives, I find myself instinctively trying to avoid it at all costs. On top of that, I’m dealing with intense vaginal dryness, which makes intimacy quite painful, and that only serves to further kill any lingering interest in sex. We have tried using various lubricants, but they haven't made much of a difference in alleviating the discomfort. I honestly feel at a loss as to what else I can possibly do. 😠
Switch your pills! I went through the exact same thing. One specific brand really did a number on me! Eventually, I went back to the one that worked perfectly for years, though I had originally switched because the other option was so much cheaper. It helped a little, but not enough. Then, after taking a two-month break, I started a different brand, and everything finally felt normal again..
rowdyhawk27 said:So, here’s the situation Up until now, nothing has happened, even though I’ve been on these pills for quite a while. I actually have one extra pack left over—meaning I either missed a day or just started my next cycle a day later than planned. I haven't exactly been following the schedule strictly; I’ve been taking them somewhat irregularly rather than following the daily sequence. I set alarms on my phone and everything, but somehow, I completely missed one day without realizing it. Well, it is what it is. I’m just hoping I didn't miss a day during that critical first week. :S Anyway, I’m supposed to finish the last one this Saturday. Since I have that extra pack lying around, should I take it now or just leave it? :S
I wouldn't take it if I were you... it would be one thing if you had actually missed a pill yesterday and were trying to "make up" for it today, but taking an extra pill just because you have one left over doesn't make much sense. It’s happened to me quite often where I've skipped a dose, and I would never double up because I feel like that's just too much hormone to hit your system all at once; besides, if you already missed a pill, taking that "extra" one later won't actually compensate for what you missed yesterday or a few days ago..
Well, it’s true that they don't reach out all that often—maybe once a month or even just once every couple of months—but naturally, it still matters to me. Thank you so much for all the information provided. I honestly can't say for certain how soon I'll be able to squeeze in an appointment with a cardiologist—given how impossible it is to get a slot these days—but I am definitely heading to my gynecologist. Following the advice shared by Hannah Ward11, I’ll make sure to insist that they re-examine my vitamin K levels, vaginal swab results, and platelet counts, along with everything else relevant to those tests. It might not be directly related, I suppose, but one can never really be too careful, can they?
copperraven53 said:What kind of deformity are we talking about on your mitral valve?
So, I’ve got mitral valve prolapse—basically just a "heart murmur." It’s not even something you actually treat, really; you just get checked out every couple of years at the doctor. But sometimes I get these quick little stabs of pain in my chest for a few seconds, maybe when the weather shifts or whatever. My cardiologist told me it’s totally normal, though. I guess it's nothing to sweat.
Whatever, we can just sit here guessing diagnoses now, which is pretty pointless. I’m with the girls on this—you really need to get some thorough testing done. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't be touching birth control again until I figured out why my chest is hurting.
They suspect something similar in my case too; depending on the report, they call it a heart murmur or mitral valve prolapse... and my doctor mentioned it's quite common in younger people. However, I can't quite wrap my head around why the symptoms seem to vanish, or become so faint, when I skip my medication, yet once I take them, I get this stabbing sensation that forces me to take shallow breaths because any deep inhale triggers it again... it lasts maybe 30 to 90 seconds before things settle back to normal, which is honestly such an uncomfortable way to feel 😢.
Anyway, I spoke with the gynecologist's nurse, and she advised me to keep taking the pills and to come by for my referral in the next few days.
I have, I’ve spent some time looking up symptoms online, though I haven't found much helpful this year... so, to summarize my thoughts: should I just stop taking my pills tonight and head straight to the doctor this Wednesday?
And if I do, will my period show up within the next few days now that I've stopped the medication? I wonder if it might cause a sort of sudden shock to my system.
@David Lewis63: I still have about ten tablets left before the course is finished... should I just go ahead and finish them all? The pain has flared up two or three times over the last couple of days, and since I can't get an appointment with my doctor until Wednesday, I won't be able to head in tomorrow with a prescription right away.
I suppose I should probably share my thoughts on this, though I’m quite certain my perspective isn't particularly profound or especially helpful to anyone else here. It just feels like the right thing to do, even if I tend to overthink these small matters more than most people ever would. kaže: Forget the blood count for a second—did you happen to run any tests on the coagulation levels?
I am doing fine. Just like I mentioned in my message to you—the VK and VZ (the bleeding duration and the clotting time) were both within the normal range, so everything seems to be okay.
I suppose I should probably offer some sort of reflection on this, though I often find my own thoughts to be a bit too meandering and perhaps a little too quiet for such a public space. It seems we are all just trying to find our footing here, aren't we? kaže: John Thomas2, the way you described it makes it seem like those sharp pains are directly tied to the medication itself. After all, you mentioned quite clearly that when you aren't taking them, that stabbing sensation just isn't there. 🤷
Yeah, I suspect there might be some connection to those tablets, though my doctors don't seem to share that particular theory. My gynecologist actually reviewed my blood work results and assured me that everything looks perfectly fine. 🤷
@ Samuel Morgan40: It was my mistake not to categorize this under 'health,' though I assumed it would be moved to the women's health section regardless...
Anyway... My doctors don't believe the issue stems from my birth control. Throughout my life, I've used four different brands—Diane, Yasmin, Logest, and Triquilar—and I always made sure to take breaks every six to twelve months. The pain specifically occurs while I'm taking the pills. During a cardiology exam about three years ago, they found a minor deformity in my heart valve, and my doctor suspects the discomfort is related to that valve rather than the medication, but I can't help wondering why the pain only surfaces when I'm on the pills. My blood work is fine, though my cholesterol levels tend to creep slightly above the normal range whenever I'm using them.
melloworca6 said:Read the bold part. Do you seriously think it has nothing to do with the pills? 😕
Have you tried a different brand? And did you ever get blood work done because of the pills (platelets, or other stuff related to blood clotting)?
Also, from what I can tell, you're on Yasmin. My lawyer used to take those and had to stop because she blacked out a few times and just felt terrible overall. Once she switched to a different brand, all the problems vanished.
I'm certainly not being dense here; I actually finished medical school. I've cycled through four different types of birth control over the years, and the results are always the same. The only thing is that my cholesterol tends to spike a bit when I'm taking them, but otherwise, my blood work comes back perfectly normal... so, there's your answer.
I feel it isn't quite right to move my thread, especially since I provided such a clear explanation for why I started it in this specific section. I would really prefer it not be relocated to the contraceptive pill category, because I’m hoping to connect with someone who actually has the answers but doesn't happen to be on hormonal birth control themselves. There are so many discussions here regarding various tablets, yet none of them seem to address my specific inquiry, which—while perhaps not strictly tied to tablets—might still find an answer if placed elsewhere. I would be truly grateful if you could move my topic back to the main forum index, as I am hoping to reach those members who might possess the right knowledge to help me out. Thank you.
Hello everyone. I am aware that there are countless discussions regarding birth control pills and their various side effects, yet I decided to start this thread because I thought perhaps another woman might be experiencing something similar to what I am going through, especially since I haven't been able to find much information on this specific issue lately.
To get straight to the point—as my title suggests—whenever I am taking oral contraceptives, I occasionally experience a sharp, stabbing sensation near my heart that is intense enough to make me resort to shallow breathing. If I attempt to take a deep breath, the pain pierces me again, and these episodes usually last anywhere from thirty seconds to a couple of minutes. About three years ago, I went in for a cardiac checkup due to this exact same issue, and my cardiologist assured me that everything was fine; he mentioned I have a minor irregularity in a heart valve, but noted that such things are quite common in young people and shouldn't be a cause for concern. I pointed out that the pain specifically occurs while I am on the pill, but he felt there was no connection, a sentiment my gynecologist echoed when I brought it up to them as well. I have been using these pills for several years now—roughly eight, I believe—with intermittent breaks. During those breaks, I typically don't face any such issues, but while I am actively taking them, it happens maybe once or twice a month, though sometimes an entire month can pass without a single episode.
I was wondering if anyone else here has had similar experiences, and if you truly believe that oral contraceptives could be the underlying cause of this discomfort.
It’s certainly possible for raw fruit to cause some discomfort. I’ve found that bananas can be surprisingly heavy on the stomach, and I’ve heard similar things from others regarding oranges. A smoothie might actually be easier for him to handle since it's much more digestible. It really just comes down to his specific digestive system and what his body can manage. Personally, I struggle with bananas too—especially first thing in the morning—and I have to avoid milk entirely because it doesn't sit right with me, though strangely enough, yogurt is perfectly fine. It truly is an individual thing. If he's experiencing significant distress, it might be worth seeing a gastroenterologist, even if it turns out to be nothing serious. I know plenty of people who simply cannot tolerate certain fruits or vegetables in their raw state, yet they can eat those exact same foods without any issues once they've been cooked. 🤷
I’ve been hearing quite a bit of feedback lately suggesting that most people aren't particularly thrilled with the results of this procedure, so if anyone here has gone through it and actually ended up satisfied, I would truly appreciate it if you could share your experience.. All perspectives, whether they are positive or negative, would be incredibly helpful to me as I weigh my options..
Sophia Barnes73 said:It’s the same here in the States. Honestly, if it weren't for Sony, I wouldn't even know what to wear. Long Live Elvis!
I suppose I'm drifting a bit off-topic here, but I’ve been wondering—how on earth do you all handle washing your Sony bras? Personally, I lack the patience for the whole soaking and hand-washing ritual, so I just toss my bras right into the washing machine along with everything else. I sometimes feel like they actually come out cleaner that way, though I did have one Sony bra that lasted me a good year or so, and after running it through the machine, the underwire popped out almost immediately. It felt like such a waste of money.😢
What about the rest of you? Do you risk putting those expensive pieces in the machine, or are you more disciplined about hand-washing them?
redgardener5 said:I’ve noticed quite a few of you mentioning how much you can't wait to shed your "armor" the moment you walk through the door. I don't quite relate to that feeling, mostly because I rarely even feel my bra while I'm out. To me, wearing one feels almost identical to wearing nothing at all. The only exception is a sports bra, and even then, it's really just because I feel it helping my posture. Perhaps there truly is some truth to the idea that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size, which is something I used to find quite baffling about myself. 🤷
While I don't notice it when I'm out and about... I would definitely feel the absence if I left without one 😁 🤣 but once I finally get home and strip away all those "outdoor" layers to crawl into bed, there is simply no way I wouldn't feel the bra. It has become such an automatic ritual for me—as soon as I step inside, I shed everything I wore out, including my bra, and change into my loungewear. During the winter, I'll even swap out my undershirts for those old, comfortable ones I haven't worn in ages. I just don't feel right walking around my house in the clothes I wore out in public; the only thing from my "outside" outfit that stays on is my underwear. Everything else comes off immediately. ☕
I honestly feel like this entire discussion should just be renamed 'it's unhealthy to wear a bra,' because I'm struggling to understand what could possibly be considered healthy about choosing not to wear one 🤔 😬
Chloe Gomez6 said:During my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding, my breasts grew from a B cup to almost a DD. It’s an increase of nearly three sizes, and honestly, the skin just stretched out so much that there isn't a single bra on the market that can offer real support or help tighten everything back up. I suppose if you don't breastfeed, maybe things stay a bit more intact, but it seems like women whose breasts don't change drastically have a much easier time. Those who didn't experience much growth at all—just a little fullness—seem to fare much better, and I get the impression that women with smaller frames also tend to recover more easily.🤷
😢
Even so, I truly believe that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any worries about whether your breasts might lose some firmness later on...☕
Kimberly Flores56 said:I find myself wearing a bra constantly, day or night, because I simply feel lost without one. Even when I try to sleep without it, there is this strange sense of absence. My breasts are a C cup, and they have a lovely, rounded shape. I suppose that makes the constant support worth it.
I find myself nodding along with this sentiment quite often; once I started wearing bras, I felt the need to wear them around the clock, regardless of the hour. Over time, though, I began to feel a bit restricted and eventually eased up on the habit.😬Right now, I am perfectly happy with my figure,😛 but I can't help feeling a lingering anxiety that everything might sag once I go through pregnancy or breastfeeding... at least, that is what several of my friends who became mothers have experienced.😢 Has anyone here had any personal experience with this?😁