amberheron64 said:I haven't taken anything today—though, theoretically speaking, I really should have by this evening, and now I’m just sitting here completely stumped on what to do next...
The ones I’ve been using—they were the 21-pill packs, and then there's the Diane-35 variety... honestly, I'm lost. I'll probably just take a break from them, though I truly have no clue what the right move is.
It’s the most frustrating thing—the old packaging says to take a break, but these newer ones tell you to just keep going. It's like even the manufacturers can't make up their minds... they don't even know!
Thanks for any advice you might have.
But didn't your doctor tell you exactly how and when to switch over to those other pills? I mean, they should know best since they actually know your medical history. Did you even go in for a check-up (blood work, Pap smear, all that stuff)? I'm always questioning everything with mine—I basically insist on a full exam if my doctor doesn't bring it up first.
That’s definitely something you have to stay on top of and check periodically. For instance, I just got my blood work back today—I used a referral from my primary care physician here in the States. My cholesterol is right on the edge; the threshold is usually 5.0, and I’m sitting at 5.3. I’ve only been on Diane-35 for about four months now, and since I’m extremely careful about my diet, I don't think food is the culprit—it’s almost certainly the pills. I plan to stick with them for another two or three months, and then hopefully, I can finally stop.
amberheron64 said:Well, I actually already managed to get some from a coworker—she had an extra pack of pills lying around—and in the meantime, my gynecologist finally made it back from summer vacation, or whatever he was doing. I didn’t even think about going shopping because I was just so incredibly frazzled that day—mostly because, like an absolute idiot, I sat in line for two whole hours only to walk away empty-handed, though really, it was more because I didn't get the pills themselves.🙂
Anyway, I have a question—how often am I supposed to get blood work done while on the pill? I haven't had any side effects at all; I haven't gained weight, my breasts haven't gotten larger, there's no spotting, nothing... but it strikes me as odd that he isn't sending me for any tests (blood tests, specifically)? The last time I had my blood drawn was all the way back in 2007.🤷
Honestly, some gynecologists just aren't very proactive about this stuff. You know how it goes—some doctors hand out prescriptions like candy, and others barely see you because you’re just dropping in to pick up a refill. In those cases, you really ought to take the initiative yourselves. It shouldn't be too hard to get a referral for lab work—you definitely should be checking your lipid levels and liver enzymes once in a while.
I honestly don't know why you'd let things get to this point—waiting until the very last day of your break to even consider it. You surely must have known you were running low at least a week ago. But, look, it is what it is now. If you happen to have some kind of documentation or a prescription showing you use them, maybe try heading down to a local pharmacy and see if you can just pick them up there.
And I really don't get how a doctor standing in for yours wouldn't be able to access your medical records???!!!!!!!! Everything is digital these days; they should have your whole history right there on their computer screen.
I actually went ahead and double-checked that; my gynecologist mentioned that since my ovaries look fine, there’s no need to test my hormone levels—but regardless, she put me on Diane 35 anyway. My dermatologist also recommended I stick with it for six months, and I’m just finishing up month three now. Honestly, thank you so much for checking in on this and offering advice—it means a lot, especially since my doctors here seem so indifferent to what I'm going through. I guess I'll just see how things shake out during the first month of the next phase.
My hair is thinning out everywhere now—it’s not just in specific patches. My iron levels are actually fine, so it might just be a vitamin deficiency, but I'm working on getting that sorted. I have an appointment with my dermatologist next month anyway to check on my skin since I'm finishing up a course of doxycycline—I was dealing with acne before, but now I've got this cluster of tiny breakouts... hmm, maybe it's my stomach? Does anyone know what other symptoms go along with Helico bacteria? I'm really hoping to get to the bottom of this soon. 😢
Well, then you don't have anything to worry about. My hair is thinning out way too much—it’s actually getting pretty bad—and there are spots where I’m starting to look as bald as a 😢
Heh, I’ve been feeling pretty much the same way over the last few months. It started with hair thinning, then my nails became super brittle—and don't even get me started on my skin. My body feels constantly dry, and my facial skin has become an absolute nightmare to deal with. On top of that, there's this lingering fatigue, trouble focusing, and even my vision seems a bit off lately... I went in for blood work and everything came back fine; checked my thyroid levels too, and those seemed okay—though maybe I should probably go back and re-test them—and my reproductive health was all clear, too. To be honest, I’ve dealt with a massive amount of stress over the last couple of years, and while things are still a little tense right now, I find myself wondering if it's really possible for stress to be the culprit behind *all* of this. Do I need a referral to see an endocrinologist?
162 lbs and 86 kg????? Honestly, I feel like a woman at that weight might struggle with regular cycles, let alone have the physical stamina to actually carry a pregnancy to term.
You might want to take a look at these sites - or maybe . They aren't exactly groundbreaking, but they’re definitely better than having nothing at all.
Scott Allen10 said:Or just grit your teeth and let them put in a central venous catheter—kind of like what happened before—right into your subclavian vein.
Ugh, that sounds absolutely awful. I remember when I was sick back in elementary school—it lasted over a month, and they kept switching up my treatment plan. They used to sedate me while they were setting things up, but one time they couldn't get it to work... later they told me the entire ward heard everything. 🙂 I actually ended up getting a little smiley face drawn on me with iodine once—if I remember correctly. I had my own room back then, which felt like such a cruel irony; you have a bathroom right there in front of you, but you can't even use it. When I finally tried to stand up for the first time, I just collapsed. But honestly, there wasn't really any other way to do it. I still have the scars today. Most importantly, though, everything turned out okay. I'm really hoping things are looking up for you too, slyviper47. Hang in there.
I can't edit my post anymore, but I just wanted to let you all know that I managed to snag an appointment with the doctor—everything is looking good, so there's really no need to reply to this message.
Sarah Wells23 said:Try showing up for an appointment like, say, two hours early—just to see how quickly you can turn "extra time" into pure, unadulterated boredom. You'll end up sitting there just wishing you could get the whole thing over with so you can finally head home. 🤷
🙂 This actually works. It’s happened to me a few times now—I honestly felt so completely drained from just sitting there waiting that I eventually stopped caring about the actual exam results; I just wanted to lie down on that table and be done with it.
Keith Thomas21 said:Can anyone tell me when I should actually expect my acne to start clearing up while on Diane-35? I've only just finished my first pack, and honestly, my skin looks even worse now than it did before I started the pills.
The general consensus is usually about three months.
I don't really bother distinguishing between male or female doctors—it’s not just about gynecologists, either. I apply that same mindset to every physician I see.
I was reading through the thread about Logest and saw that some other girls were dealing with similar side effects—if that’s really holding you back and making things tough to handle, then maybe it’s worth looking into some other options. Though, I guess that doesn't necessarily guarantee things will be any better with a different brand. It’s kind of a process, isn't it? Just trying things until you find the perfect fit—assuming such a thing even exists🙂.
Morgan Torres5, I don't take them by choice; they were prescribed to me, and using them for contraception isn't the reason why. Honestly, if I didn't have to take them, I wouldn't. I used to be terrified of any potential side effects, but after the massive struggle of dropping ten pounds, there is absolutely no way I want that weight coming back😢.