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[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi, it's Rigevidon 

[Chi chi]

 

[GypsyRoseLee]

Day 13:

Still feeling very good. Centered and contented, which is so lovely. I am not especially confident that my current mood will last more than a few more days? But it does give me hope that I can at least feel like this whilst on the Pill. I was concerned that a daily dose of progesterone would make me feel permanently flat and low.

Still getting very slight spotting, but no headache now for 3-4 days which is good.

I have been offered the opportunity to go and see Dr Annie Evans which I am very lucky for. But at present I'm staying with the Pill to see how I go over the next 8-10 weeks.

[Briony]

That's great news. I think you're beginning to find what i found when i switched to the pill - you do still have bad days, but there's a greater certainty that they'll not last long? Do keep us informed of how it goes. You are helping so many of us in that undecided phase (assuming you don't mind being an e-guinea pig!). I have bad two bad headaches this month, both lasting several days, one coinciding with ovulation time, the other on the pill free phase. Makes me wonder if my own system is still trying to have the last laugh  x

[Chi chi]

I googled  rigevidon I know I know I shouldn't have but blimey it didn't half frighten me  first things I saw was "woman dies" "woman has stroke" 
I know Im being silly because if you google most things you'll find all sorts  just my anxiety kicking in I suppose 

[Briony]

I googled  rigevidon I know I know I shouldn't have but blimey it didn't half frighten me  first things I saw was "woman dies" "woman has stroke" 
I know Im being silly because if you google most things you'll find all sorts  just my anxiety kicking in I suppose 

To put it into perspective, the risks of DVT on no pill are 3.7/100,000; on Rigevidon  (older, second generation) it's 7.5/100, 000 and on the third generation pills (kinder progesterone) are around 12.5/100,000; being pregnant raises your risk higher than any of these. When I saw those figures, I felt more able to make a considered choice than when I just read individual 'stories'.

I still wouldn't 'choose' to be on the pill, and do worry about risks as I have extra factors against me, but for me, at the end of the day, it's about quality of life. Apart from this week(!),   in general, being on the pill has massively improved my life for the better. This week it just feels like I might as well be eating sugar cubes for all it's helping! x

[Briony]

PS If you would feel happier on HRT rather than the pill, you can still use it to suppress ovulation:

Ovulation can also be suppressed by moderately high dose transdermal oestrogens in the form of oestradiol patches or oestradiol gel. Appropriate doses would be a 200ugs oestradiol patch or 2 or 3 doses of oestrogel twice daily. Woman may occasionally feel a little worse in the first two weeks on this high dose, like an early pregnancy, but should be advised to continue as substantial benefit is almost certain if the diagnosis is correct. A longer term therapy would be a 75mgs estradiol implant inserted every 6 months. This like the patches and the gel will produce plasma estradiol levels of about 600pmol/L and abolish ovulation in most cases. However, women should be advised that this will not be used as contraception, as the appropriate tests have not yet been carried out.

[Chi chi]

I can't believe I'm asking this at my age  but do we only bleed if we've ovulated? I've had a bleed each month for the last 2/3 months and that's being on 3 pumps and no progesterone, I quite often get a sharp pain where my ovaries are and it's always on the same side, could this be me ovulating?

[Briony]

This might help x



Can I Have A Period And Still Not Have Ovulated?

Having a period does not necessarily mean that ovulation has taken place. Some women may have what is called an anovulatory cycle, (meaning ovulation has not occurred). During an anovulatory cycle, women may experience some bleeding which may appear to be a period, although this is actually not a true period.

This bleeding is caused by either a buildup in the uterine lining that can no longer sustain itself or by a drop in estrogen. The main way to decipher if ovulation is in fact taking place is by tracking your basal body temperature.

[GypsyRoseLee]

If you Google aspirin you'll find evidence of death and danger if you take it.

Agree with Briony that it"s all about quality of lifestyle. I'd have quaffed mildly radio active rat pee if it had stopped the mood swings and random anxiety.

Day 14:

Still feeling light hearted and 'normal' despite having quite a depressing day, due to various reasons. Plus I woke up with a sore threat and runny nose. Lovely.

I actually feel very chilled out, which is how I used to feel mid cycle before HRT. I am mid cycle now, but surely can't be ovulating because the Pill should have stopped that happening by now?

[GypsyRoseLee]

Briony, it could still be your own hormones larking about, you know? Qlaira won't be shutting them down completely I wouldn't have thought?

[pepperminty]

Hi GRL,

just reading your posts regarding the pill. I and wondering if I should go back on the pill , I haven't been on it for about 10 years though. I should probably know this but I don't - does it replace the oestrogen ? I think I need that as I have all the symptoms indicating low oestrogen . I haven't a clue exactly what the difference is in terms of what it is adding or replacing etc and why it would be better than HRT. At 48 my Gp would only let me take it for a couple of years anyway. I hope you are getting along Ok .

Pepperminty xx

[Briony]

The three of us seem to be at different stages of the same situation. I would hate to wish it on anyone, but it's soooo nice to know this. Sometimes I feel there's no one left in my world who 'gets it' - it's very isolating, isn't it ?

In answer to your question pepperminty, basically HRT 'tops you up' but the pill controls/takes over. As a result, those of us with severe fluctuations have found HRT, whilst better than nothing, still results in poor symptom control. Some ladies have taken stronger HRT - usually 200 mcg patches, to suppress ovulation, whilst others have opted for the pill.

Hrt is more likely to be bio identical, with most pills 1 or 2 mg; the pill is rarely bio identical and usually 3 mg or higher. The main exception is Qlaira which averages 2 mg only and is bio identical. Qlaira has been super for me for over seven months, but recently I have suffered with headaches and low moods, plus increased itching (had this on it initially).
Hope this helps x

[pepperminty]

Thanks Briony,

I was on the pill for years with no side effects. Perhaps this is the answer? At least temporarily. I never realised the pill had oestrogen !! You just take it and don't question anything if it works. I was on marvelon before so maybe I should give that a go instead of HRT? It is so difficult making a decision as I am scared of going back to square 1. It is good to know there is someone out there who gets it definitely. As Grl says I would take radio active rats pee if it worked.

pepperminty xx

[Briony]

Thought this link may be of interest. It's related to severe PMS, but given that's basically due to fluctuating hormones, the science behind it is relevant to us.

Interesting to look at the 'medical approaches' - a third generation pill is recommended over a second generation one (Marvelon is very like Yasmin in terms of it not being an oestrogen dominant pill). If I do go back on the pill, I think Marvelon is the one I would request. Im also interested to see that even a 100mcg patch can suppress ovulation.

Hope it's of interest, x

http://www.pms.org.uk/assets/files/guidelinesfinal60210.pdf