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[GypsyRoseLee]

After taking Rigevidon continuously for nearly 60 days I had constant brown spotting and a couple of withdrawal bleeds. Overall my psychological symptoms were better but I was averaging 2 - 2.5 'good' weeks, followed by a few days of feeling iffy, followed by a week of Hell.

My GP suggested I try Gederal (Marvelon) to see if that would clear up the constant spotting and extend my periods of feeling 'good'.

So I stopped the Rigevidon 12 days ago and within 4 days had a 'period' which was heavier than usual. Within 2 days of stopping the Rigevidon my mood massively improved and after my 'period' finished I've had no spotting.

I have stayed feeling excellent for the last 10 days. So good, that I actually delayed starting the Gederal because I was enjoying how I felt so much (even got my libido back).

But started getting twinges of anxiety yesterday, and a general feeling of unease was starting. So decided to give the Gederal a whirl.

Day One:

Slept well but when I woke head felt buzzy, and had a general feeling of unease and didn't feel content or calm. Real shame as all week have been feeling so beautifully content and happy. Debated all day whether to start the Gederal but after feeling tired and rather despondant all afternoon I decided to try it.

Took first Gederal at tea time. Nothing to report as far too early yet.

[Briony]

Will be watching this closely and keeping everything crossed.

I do think you should keep at it for at least three months - looking back, my side effects didn't go for at least 3-4 months. I still get spotting now, always mid month and never an end of month end.

If I do ever switch to a conventional pill, yours would be the one I'd take if I had the choice.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Hi Briony

I do intend running three packs together again as my GP advised. I'll be pleased if I don't get spotting every, single day. But mainly I'm hoping for an improvement in how I feel on the bad days, and maybe fewer bad days?

[Hurdity]

Good luck GypsyRoseLee - hope this one does the trick for you re the number of good days vs bad days

Hurdity x

[GypsyRoseLee]

Thanks Hurdity. I'm not asking for a return to 100% normality, just something pretty close.

Day 2:

Slept fine, but woke and immediately felt very on edge. Nothing I couldn't cope with but very unpleasant nonetheless. Spent all day feeling agitated and unable to settle or relax. I have felt much worse in the past but it's still a miserable feeling when you can't feel any pleasure about anything.

Mood started to improve mid evening and I'm definitely feeling better as I type this.

I think the reason my mood started to dip a couple of days ago was because I had gone 10 days with no extra hormonal top ups. I guess it was only to be expected that I couldn't exist very long at all without help.

[Briony]

This post might be of interest and give you hope for the new pill:

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,29517.0.html

[GypsyRoseLee]

Thanks for that Briony, that is reassuring to read.

Day 3:

Slept well and woke feeling much better than yesterday thank goodness. Had a 'good' day feeling nicely positive and centered. None of the niggling anxiety or deadening feelings of depression.

Can't think that the Gederal has kicked in so soon, but I'm not complaining. It's also nice not to be dealing with the constant spotting too.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Day 4:

Had quite a good day today. Not the best but very far from the worst. Sort of middling to good maybe? No signs of any spotting either which is good.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Day 5:

Another good day, thankfully. Skin feeling and looking smoother and clearer already! Hurrah!

[Briony]

Sounds like a good start so far, GRL. I wonder how long til the Microgynon is totally out of your system and Marvelon 'in' it?


Found this link today and found it very reassuring. Hope you dont mind me posting it here, but it's likely anyone reading this will be interested in issues surrounding BCPs generally:

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/Jul_-_Sep_10_Contraceptives.pdf

[GypsyRoseLee]

Day 6:

Nothing much to report. Still feeling good. Still toying with idea of not running Pill packs back to back to avoid prog build up, and maybe giving myself just a 5 day break in between?

Briony, I think Microgynon must have cleared my system pretty quick. After all, they say if you misd just one Pill you can fall pregnant don't they?

[Briony]

I think the 'dregs' might last longer, weird though that sounds. The reason I say this is that it takes several months to feel the full benefit (contraceptive properties aside). Equally, it took about 8 to 10 days for the side effects to hit me when I started taking the BCP.

This might be of interest with regard to running packs together:
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/family_planning/1967103-Marvelon-3-packs

[Dorothy]

Maybe it varies from person to person?  When I took BCP at 30 for gynae issues, they were sorted out by the end of the first pack - no breakthrough bleeds, spotting etc.  I know other people who had to take them 3-6 months before they worked.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Yes, what you both say makes sense actually. I suppose when you are using the BCP to control hormonal fluctuations, then it will need to build in your system a bit.

Day 7:

Another good day to report. Still no spotting.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Day 8:

No change, still doing well. Libido seems to have disappeared since being on Gederal though? Not a huge problem, as everything is fine once I get going (ahem). Still no spotting.

The true test will be if I can make a full 4 straight weeks of feeling fine. Have never managed that yet since peri started.