Re: Birth control pills

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/1/99 1:57:24 PM Central Standard Time,

danmar@... writes:

<< Have any of you been on birth control pills and found it difficult to

lose weight on this diet? >>

I'm on the pill, and I do think it has slowed me down some. But, I lose 1 to

2 pounds a week. Getting off of the pill is not an option, so I keep

repeating " slow and steady wins the race. " LOL Good luck to you.

Theresa in Texas

Low-Carbing since 8-22-99

256/234*/130 *NEW number!!

Thanksgiving goal: 226

Visit my home page at http://bmttxgal.freeservers.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam. My gut instinct was to go off the things a while back, thinking I'm

getting too old to be taking them. Then, when I asked my gynecologist about

it at my annual exam, she said I was definately not too old and can continue

taking them up to menopause and they will help ease the transition. So, I

started questioning myself again. Well, if heredity plays a role in

menopause, I'll be in my 60s before that happens. My mom is 64 and she just

finally went through menopause a couple of years ago. I often wonder,

though, if that had something to do with her Graves', RAI, hypo stuff.

Anyone?

But, with all the other bad stuff that goes along with it, I think I'm just

not getting them refilled this time. We'll see what happens. And maybe my

low libido that I've been blaming on the Graves' disease might go away along

with the pills.....

Thanks for the response!

Holly

Re: Birth Control Pills

Hi Holly, all I can give you is my experience and a bad article I was

reading last night about the pill.

My experience: I think the pill made me lose my sex drive, lowered my energy

levels and made me gain weight. When I went off the pill after being on it

for almost 10 years, my sex drive came right back, I lost about 10 lbs

without even trying, and my energy levels went way up. And I thought to

myself at the time, I will never go back on the pill - what have I been

doing to myself all this time?! Of course 3 months later I was pregnant and

that feeling good feeling was gone and has not returned.

Ok, the article I was reading:

October 2002 Elle, pg. 224. " A Bitter Pill? "

The question is, if there is more estrogen in the pill than in HRT, does

that mean trouble?

Ok, Elle is not a health magazine, and the author waffled on the question.

Supposedly women under the age of 35 who take the pill have a 70% higher

chance of getting breast cancer than those who have never taken the pill. So

instead of a 1 in 257 chance of BC, you now have a 1.7 in 257 chance -

which is still pretty good for that 70% scary number. And basically, the

jury is still out, they are still doing studies.

She summarized the page with this:

" Remember that oral contraceptives do have many other effects, both good an

ill: They reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers and increase

the danger of rare events such as blood clots, strokes and heart attacks

(like HRT does - my comment). And if used correctly, they prevent pregnancy

99 percent of the time. Which, for some of us, is the best effect of all. "

How was that for a lame article? But I thought it was interesting that the

pill had more estrogen than HRT, and the same risks... yet it's still on the

market.

I'm sure none of this helps you, but at least it's a response!

Pam B.

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intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Holly, It is confusing, isn't it? My gut says to stay away from them too

..but while I was taking them I thought they were fine... and they were nice

and convenient and much easier than other options. It's only looking back

without them that made me realize. Let us know if you notice any improvement

or changes too, ok?

I remember when I first started taking them, they said you can't take them

past the age of 35 as risk for stroke went up too much then. Then just

recently my sister-in-law who is 43 and never been on the pill was put on

them by her gyn... to help with peri-men. What is that all about, I wonder?

Is it that they've improved the pills in some way that it's now safe to take

them at any age? Or have drug companies decided they want a bigger market

segment? What?

Oh, one more little piece to the puzzle... last year I ended up having a

bunch of MRIs done because of these little spots on my liver... and what

they finally decided it was, was birth control pills - in 4% of users it can

cause liver scaring - they decided I must be one of that 4%. Nice hu? I don

t remember ever reading that side effect in the fact sheet.

Pam B.

[Guest guest]

For what it's worth, my mom just finished menopause and she opted not to do

hormone replacement. She's a nurse and had read all the pros and cons and

decided not to go that route. She did a variety of herbal remedies and

supplements and these did seem to abate her symptoms. Nothing very exotic,

just a few herbs and different vitamins. She began them several years ago

when she first entered the " pre-menopause " state and really did not have a

difficult time at all with menopause symptoms. Now, she still likes to sleep

with her bedroom window open a bit in the middle of winter, but she's always

been a bit warm-blooded So hormone replacement isn't the only way to go.

I plan to use her experience when my time comes for that. With my family

history, hormone replacement is out for me anyway.

Your mileage may vary. Perhaps she was lucky, but it's something to

consider.

RE: Birth Control Pills

> Hi Holly, It is confusing, isn't it? My gut says to stay away from them

too

> .but while I was taking them I thought they were fine... and they were

nice

> and convenient and much easier than other options. It's only looking back

> without them that made me realize. Let us know if you notice any

improvement

> or changes too, ok?

>

> I remember when I first started taking them, they said you can't take them

> past the age of 35 as risk for stroke went up too much then. Then just

> recently my sister-in-law who is 43 and never been on the pill was put on

> them by her gyn... to help with peri-men. What is that all about, I

wonder?

> Is it that they've improved the pills in some way that it's now safe to

take

> them at any age? Or have drug companies decided they want a bigger market

> segment? What?

>

> Oh, one more little piece to the puzzle... last year I ended up having a

> bunch of MRIs done because of these little spots on my liver... and what

> they finally decided it was, was birth control pills - in 4% of users it

can

> cause liver scaring - they decided I must be one of that 4%. Nice hu? I

don

> t remember ever reading that side effect in the fact sheet.

>

> Pam B.

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Nice. I've started taking Milk Thistle because I'm worried about my liver.

Sounds like it was a good decision.

RE: Birth Control Pills

Hi Holly, It is confusing, isn't it? My gut says to stay away from them too

..but while I was taking them I thought they were fine... and they were nice

and convenient and much easier than other options. It's only looking back

without them that made me realize. Let us know if you notice any improvement

or changes too, ok?

I remember when I first started taking them, they said you can't take them

past the age of 35 as risk for stroke went up too much then. Then just

recently my sister-in-law who is 43 and never been on the pill was put on

them by her gyn... to help with peri-men. What is that all about, I wonder?

Is it that they've improved the pills in some way that it's now safe to take

them at any age? Or have drug companies decided they want a bigger market

segment? What?

Oh, one more little piece to the puzzle... last year I ended up having a

bunch of MRIs done because of these little spots on my liver... and what

they finally decided it was, was birth control pills - in 4% of users it can

cause liver scaring - they decided I must be one of that 4%. Nice hu? I don

t remember ever reading that side effect in the fact sheet.

Pam B.

-------------------------------------

The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

----------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

[Guest guest]

Nice. I've started taking Milk Thistle because I'm worried about my liver.

Sounds like it was a good decision.

RE: Birth Control Pills

Hi Holly, It is confusing, isn't it? My gut says to stay away from them too

..but while I was taking them I thought they were fine... and they were nice

and convenient and much easier than other options. It's only looking back

without them that made me realize. Let us know if you notice any improvement

or changes too, ok?

I remember when I first started taking them, they said you can't take them

past the age of 35 as risk for stroke went up too much then. Then just

recently my sister-in-law who is 43 and never been on the pill was put on

them by her gyn... to help with peri-men. What is that all about, I wonder?

Is it that they've improved the pills in some way that it's now safe to take

them at any age? Or have drug companies decided they want a bigger market

segment? What?

Oh, one more little piece to the puzzle... last year I ended up having a

bunch of MRIs done because of these little spots on my liver... and what

they finally decided it was, was birth control pills - in 4% of users it can

cause liver scaring - they decided I must be one of that 4%. Nice hu? I don

t remember ever reading that side effect in the fact sheet.

Pam B.

-------------------------------------

The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

----------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

[Guest guest]

Nice. I've started taking Milk Thistle because I'm worried about my liver.

Sounds like it was a good decision.

RE: Birth Control Pills

Hi Holly, It is confusing, isn't it? My gut says to stay away from them too

..but while I was taking them I thought they were fine... and they were nice

and convenient and much easier than other options. It's only looking back

without them that made me realize. Let us know if you notice any improvement

or changes too, ok?

I remember when I first started taking them, they said you can't take them

past the age of 35 as risk for stroke went up too much then. Then just

recently my sister-in-law who is 43 and never been on the pill was put on

them by her gyn... to help with peri-men. What is that all about, I wonder?

Is it that they've improved the pills in some way that it's now safe to take

them at any age? Or have drug companies decided they want a bigger market

segment? What?

Oh, one more little piece to the puzzle... last year I ended up having a

bunch of MRIs done because of these little spots on my liver... and what

they finally decided it was, was birth control pills - in 4% of users it can

cause liver scaring - they decided I must be one of that 4%. Nice hu? I don

t remember ever reading that side effect in the fact sheet.

Pam B.

-------------------------------------

The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

----------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------