Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Sam Lopez11 said:I’ve been on Belara for about 14 days now, having started on the first day of my cycle. My period lasted roughly six days, but since then, I've had this slight brownish discharge. I read somewhere that this might just be breakthrough bleeding, which apparently isn't unusual when starting birth control—just the body adjusting, I guess... but I'm still feeling a bit anxious about it. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Did they ever diagnose you with a cyst? I have the exact same thing going on—since I have a cyst, sometimes it leaks during my period, and that's what causes that brownish discharge.😉

So, here's the deal. I started on Lindynets a few months back. I was also taking them from around November/December last year until maybe March or April, and I stopped then because everything felt totally fine. That’s why I jumped back on them recently—around August or September—but man, they are absolutely wrecking me now. It feels like PMS lasts all month long. My head is just spinning constantly. I have some diagnoses, and look, I know I probably shouldn't even be on pills because of them, but that's a whole other conversation. If it matters, I can go into detail, but I won't bore you guys right now. Just know that I'm basically a total nightmare—just snapping at everyone and everything 24/7, and honestly, it's driving me crazy 😁! I'm on my current pack now and should be getting my period around December 3rd. (That's my birthday, by the way, so feel free to drop some wishes 😛). What I want to know is, can I hit up my OB-GYN to get something else? I've already cycled through Yasmin, Triquilar, Yaz, and now these Lindynets, but she mentioned there are newer options out there. Can I just start a new brand once my period ends—like this Saturday, December 8th—instead of starting another pack of Lindynets?

From what I've heard, it's pretty rare for anyone to refill your prescription without doing their own check first. And honestly, those pills go for around $120—I don't think it really matters where the script comes from.
For referrals, you still get that physical paperwork—it’s not all digital through some portal yet 😉.

As for cellulite, personally, I haven't noticed my pills having any effect on it at all.

Bottom line though—just ask your OBGYN. I'm pretty sure you don't take a break when switching brands. That's how it worked for me when I moved from Yaza over to Lindy.

Brandon Lopez6 said:So, here's the deal. I started on Lindynets a few months back. I was also taking them from around November/December last year until maybe March or April, and I stopped then because everything felt totally fine. That’s why I jumped back on them recently—around August or September—but man, they are absolutely wrecking me now. It feels like PMS lasts all month long. My head is just spinning constantly. I have some diagnoses, and look, I know I probably shouldn't even be on pills because of them, but that's a whole other conversation. If it matters, I can go into detail, but I won't bore you guys right now. Just know that I'm basically a total nightmare—just snapping at everyone and everything 24/7, and honestly, it's driving me crazy 😁! I'm on my current pack now and should be getting my period around December 3rd. (That's my birthday, by the way, so feel free to drop some wishes 😛). What I want to know is, can I hit up my OB-GYN to get something else? I've already cycled through Yasmin, Triquilar, Yaz, and now these Lindynets, but she mentioned there are newer options out there. Can I just start a new brand once my period ends—like this Saturday, December 8th—instead of starting another pack of Lindynets?

Regarding those changes with the Lindynets—you should definitely mention it to your doctor. They'll most likely switch you to something else 😉 though you really have to walk them through what you're feeling and what you've used before, just so they don't accidentally prescribe the exact same thing 😉. As for the PMS... oh man, I totally feel you, haha :/

Chloe Gray5 said:From what I've heard, it's pretty rare for anyone to refill your prescription without doing their own check first. And honestly, those pills go for around $120—I don't think it really matters where the script comes from.
For referrals, you still get that physical paperwork—it’s not all digital through some portal yet 😉.

As for cellulite, personally, I haven't noticed my pills having any effect on it at all.

Bottom line though—just ask your OBGYN. I'm pretty sure you don't take a break when switching brands. That's how it worked for me when I moved from Yaza over to Lindy.

Okay, thanks! I have an appointment tomorrow, so I’ll just chat with her then and see what she thinks is the best move.
I was under the impression there might be a difference between getting a script privately versus through public health services, so I was just curious!

Jamie Kern20 said:Regarding those changes with the Lindynets—you should definitely mention it to your doctor. They'll most likely switch you to something else 😉 though you really have to walk them through what you're feeling and what you've used before, just so they don't accidentally prescribe the exact same thing 😉. As for the PMS... oh man, I totally feel you, haha :/

Ugh, she already knows none of them work for me (and of course, she thinks I'm just making it up—like, clearly my life's purpose is just to test every single low-hormone pill on the market because I'm so bored, right? 🙄 Plus, the anxiety is totally fake too. And the pain! Totally made up!). So when I see her, I know I'm gonna get another lecture about my "behavior" and blah blah blah... but I'm still gonna ask for those other options. I'll just sit through the ten-minute sermon and hopefully things will actually improve after that.. 🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:Ugh, she already knows none of them work for me (and of course, she thinks I'm just making it up—like, clearly my life's purpose is just to test every single low-hormone pill on the market because I'm so bored, right? 🙄 Plus, the anxiety is totally fake too. And the pain! Totally made up!). So when I see her, I know I'm gonna get another lecture about my "behavior" and blah blah blah... but I'm still gonna ask for those other options. I'll just sit through the ten-minute sermon and hopefully things will actually improve after that.. 🙂

Haha, she sounds a little intense—did you actually get bloodwork done before she prescribed the pill?
Have you thought about switching OBGYNs?

Jamie Kern20 said:Haha, she sounds a little intense—did you actually get bloodwork done before she prescribed the pill?
Have you thought about switching OBGYNs?

Yeah, I did. Bloodwork came back fine.

Can't really swap doctors though—she's the only one in my neck of the woods, and driving halfway across the state to find someone else isn't exactly convenient. (Besides, I heard the docs over in Springfield aren't much better anyway.)

Brandon Lopez6 said:Yeah, I did. Bloodwork came back fine.

Can't really swap doctors though—she's the only one in my neck of the woods, and driving halfway across the state to find someone else isn't exactly convenient. (Besides, I heard the docs over in Springfield aren't much better anyway.)

Right, well—I don't know—because if everything just boils down to you making things up, then I'm lost. Instead of actually helping, she’s just... yeah, it's a mess. 🙂
If only you could somehow explain to her that her approach just isn't working for you...

Jamie Kern20 said:Right, well—I don't know—because if everything just boils down to you making things up, then I'm lost. Instead of actually helping, she’s just... yeah, it's a mess. 🙂
If only you could somehow explain to her that her approach just isn't working for you...

'How could all these pills bother you? Look, these have the lowest hormone levels and they don't bother anyone—seriously, nobody. So how could they bother you? Why did you stop taking them? Yeah, you saw other girls stop, so you did too.'

That was the comment I got after I quit Yasmine... meanwhile, I was low-key terrified I might die (I mean, a truck could hit me tomorrow 😁, right?), feeling like a total freak, and my mental health was honestly in the gutter. But hey, since all mental illnesses are just "made up," I guess I’m just full of it 😳

Next week, I'm finally gonna suck it up, go see her, listen to whatever she has to say, and start something else on December 8th. This current setup makes zero sense. If it were just about adjusting, I probably would've adjusted by now, considering this is already my fourth pack. 🤷

Brandon Lopez6 said:'How could all these pills bother you? Look, these have the lowest hormone levels and they don't bother anyone—seriously, nobody. So how could they bother you? Why did you stop taking them? Yeah, you saw other girls stop, so you did too.'

That was the comment I got after I quit Yasmine... meanwhile, I was low-key terrified I might die (I mean, a truck could hit me tomorrow 😁, right?), feeling like a total freak, and my mental health was honestly in the gutter. But hey, since all mental illnesses are just "made up," I guess I’m just full of it 😳

Next week, I'm finally gonna suck it up, go see her, listen to whatever she has to say, and start something else on December 8th. This current setup makes zero sense. If it were just about adjusting, I probably would've adjusted by now, considering this is already my fourth pack. 🤷

Hahaha, sorry, but this is actually hilarious—that woman is totally out of it. Like, is her goal even to help people?? 🙂 And honestly, good for you for stopping; if something isn't working for you, you aren't going to keep taking it—it's just common sense. I know everyone is different, but I've never heard anyone act quite like that... Gather your courage and go see her—maybe explain your side before she even gets a chance to speak... 🙂

Jamie Kern20 said:Hahaha, sorry, but this is actually hilarious—that woman is totally out of it. Like, is her goal even to help people?? 🙂 And honestly, good for you for stopping; if something isn't working for you, you aren't going to keep taking it—it's just common sense. I know everyone is different, but I've never heard anyone act quite like that... Gather your courage and go see her—maybe explain your side before she even gets a chance to speak... 🙂

So, I’m heading to see my OB-GYN—been seeing her since 2007, honestly, she's known me forever. She's been the same way from day one. When I first started taking certain psych meds, I made sure to check with my psychiatrist first to see if mixing them with my birth control was cool. He was basically like, "Look, I'm not 100% sure on the interaction, you should really run this by your gynecologist; she'd know best." So, I head to her office, and man, she was visibly judging me at first. Like, give me a break—I didn't exactly pick out my own therapy plan, did I? 🙄...and then she goes, "and then she said..." "And what exactly are you telling me that's any of my business?"Everyone keeps saying the same thing, and honestly, they’re right. If you’re on some meds and end up seeing a different doctor—like if you hit an urgent care or see a specialist—just make sure to mention what you’re already taking. It sounds obvious, but some pills just cancel each other out, leaving you with zero benefit, while other combos can actually be lethal. Just a heads-up. That's all. 😬

Whatever. At least she’d write me a new prescription after every single complaint... and she always acted so surprised that I actually hated them. Back when I was at the clinic in Phoenix for an exam, I told her straight up about my mental health struggles. She basically admitted that these pills and my brain chemistry don't exactly play nice together, but said I just had to find the ones that bothered me the least. It was like she already knew the meds and my headspace were a bad match, but because of my PCOS diagnosis, she had to put me on something since I can't exactly fix things naturally. I mean, I went two whole years without a period once. Not exactly a walk in the park.

Ladies, I have another round of bloodwork to get done—gotta head over to the clinic on Main Street for it. I’m assuming they're checking my liver levels.
Don't think it's hormone stuff.

Anyone know how long the wait usually is? Trying to figure out if I can squeeze this in before work or if I actually need to request a day off.

Brandon Lopez6 said:So, I’m heading to see my OB-GYN—been seeing her since 2007, honestly, she's known me forever. She's been the same way from day one. When I first started taking certain psych meds, I made sure to check with my psychiatrist first to see if mixing them with my birth control was cool. He was basically like, "Look, I'm not 100% sure on the interaction, you should really run this by your gynecologist; she'd know best." So, I head to her office, and man, she was visibly judging me at first. Like, give me a break—I didn't exactly pick out my own therapy plan, did I? 🙄...and then she goes, "and then she said..." "And what exactly are you telling me that's any of my business?"Everyone keeps saying the same thing, and honestly, they’re right. If you’re on some meds and end up seeing a different doctor—like if you hit an urgent care or see a specialist—just make sure to mention what you’re already taking. It sounds obvious, but some pills just cancel each other out, leaving you with zero benefit, while other combos can actually be lethal. Just a heads-up. That's all. 😬

Whatever. At least she’d write me a new prescription after every single complaint... and she always acted so surprised that I actually hated them. Back when I was at the clinic in Phoenix for an exam, I told her straight up about my mental health struggles. She basically admitted that these pills and my brain chemistry don't exactly play nice together, but said I just had to find the ones that bothered me the least. It was like she already knew the meds and my headspace were a bad match, but because of my PCOS diagnosis, she had to put me on something since I can't exactly fix things naturally. I mean, I went two whole years without a period once. Not exactly a walk in the park.

Oh boy... she’s definitely not acting right—maybe everything just rubs you the wrong way because of how you've been feeling lately? :/ Oh man... sounds like you might actually be going through a really rough patch then. 😢

Jamie Kern20 said:Oh boy... she’s definitely not acting right—maybe everything just rubs you the wrong way because of how you've been feeling lately? :/ Oh man... sounds like you might actually be going through a really rough patch then. 😢

Look, pills can be a trigger for certain things, but I really need to find a brand that doesn't flip my switch this often. It's fine being a mess for five days a month, but if I'm only feeling okay for that long—or even less—what's even the point? I gotta switch up my prescription and call it a day. No other way around it.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Look, pills can be a trigger for certain things, but I really need to find a brand that doesn't flip my switch this often. It's fine being a mess for five days a month, but if I'm only feeling okay for that long—or even less—what's even the point? I gotta switch up my prescription and call it a day. No other way around it.

Fingers crossed you get it sorted out! 🙂

Chloe Gray5 said:From what I've heard, it's pretty rare for anyone to refill your prescription without doing their own check first. And honestly, those pills go for around $120—I don't think it really matters where the script comes from.
For referrals, you still get that physical paperwork—it’s not all digital through some portal yet 😉.

As for cellulite, personally, I haven't noticed my pills having any effect on it at all.

Bottom line though—just ask your OBGYN. I'm pretty sure you don't take a break when switching brands. That's how it worked for me when I moved from Yaza over to Lindy.

My gynecologist switched my brand from Diana to Bela and told me to take a standard seven-day break, then start the new ones on day eight.
Is there an issue with that?😕

Jamie Kern20 said:Did they ever diagnose you with a cyst? I have the exact same thing going on—since I have a cyst, sometimes it leaks during my period, and that's what causes that brownish discharge.😉

About a month and a half ago, I had a color Doppler ultrasound. The doctor there diagnosed me with "pure PCOS," noting 26 cysts on my left ovary and 16 on the right. However, (calling them "real" cysts... 😛He didn't mention those specific details... so I guess they aren't part of the standard profile, though I often find blood clots and these strange little "skin" fragments in my discharge. Did you experience that too? Honestly, I’m at a loss for what counts as normal anymore. Ever since I started on the pill, I've dealt with this irregular discharge from time to time, and it’s been maddening. Gin. suggested that if it persists through the second pack, I should probably switch to a stronger prescription. I'm starting the second pack tonight, so I suppose we'll see. 🙂

I have a bit of a silly question here, so apologies in advance. 😛 Contraception still works during that seven-day break between pill packs, right?

Sam Lopez11 said:I have a bit of a silly question here, so apologies in advance. 😛 Contraception still works during that seven-day break between pill packs, right?

Yeah.