birth control problems?

[brickaney]

Just wondering if I'm being too paranoid. Here's my situation:

 

I started taking Ortho Tricyclen Lo because my boyfriend and I decided to become sexually active. My identical twin sister, who has been using birth control for a year now, is taking orth tricyclen lo so I figured she had figured out which pill worked best for her.

I don't know if this will be a factor later or not but my boyfriend and I did not have sex until after I had been on the pill a week. I started my first pill on the first day of my period, November 2nd. Even after I had taken the 7 white pills I continued to have "breakthrough bleeding" (which my doctor warned me of and I researched it just in case and decided it was normal). I was taking the pill, up until a few days ago, a little inconsistently (maybe a few hours difference). I had breakthrough bleeding everyday until I started my period on Thanksgiving (Novembed 23rd).

Before BC, The first two days of my period were heavy, but managable. The first day of this period I had little bleeding, if any, just as much as breakthrough bleeding had been the whole month. But the second day was horrible. I have never bled like that before. I had to work for 7 hours on top of it. It scared me because I had so much of the "leftover" lining from my uterus (the jelly-like stuff) coming out. I had a regular sized tampon in as well as a pad and after only two hours, began leaking. I don't know if the fact that I had to keep spending ten minutes in the bathroom at work, while closing, was stressing me out and making things worse or what. I was very freaked out, I didn't have much to eat because I spent my lunch break in the bathroom and taking Motrin so I was lightheaded as well.

Today, the day after, is much better. This morning was heavy but tonight I've just got a tampon and panty liner and no leakage whatsoever.

My question is, will this be happening every month? I thought birth control was supposed to make my periods lighter, not worse, let alone it's a low-dose birth control pill. Is this just what happens the first month or two? I'm concerned because I really don't want to have something like this happen again. I know it takes a few months for my body to adjust and all but I just want to know: Has anyone else been through this?

[gonetildecember]

brickaney.. ive been on ortho tricyclen for about 5 years now, and i think the problem is that you took it on the first day of your period.

 

you're supposed to take it the day after your last day of your period.. or the first sunday after you get them (as the pill packs usually start on sunday- and it will change ur cycle completely anyways). I'm pretty sure this is standard for all pills- someone correct me if im wrong.

 

so while continuing to take the pill during your period, your creating a hormone imbalance which is affecting your flow.

 

what you should do is stop the pack completely, finish your period and start a new one on the day after your last day.

 

you should talk to your dr tho, but in my experience thats how it works.

 

for me it has lightened mine and made it shorter.. different for everyone tho, but thats usually how it goes.

[brickaney]

Oh well my doctor told me to start my pill the first day of my period so I did and I read the website and the packet says either do that or start the sunday after I got my period< which would take longer for the bc to take effect (appraently, I don't know).

My first pack already starts the first day after my period will be over so I don't see the point in stopping the pack I'm on right now. I think stopping this pack (since I'm just taking the "empty" pills anyways, would screw up my hormones even more. Thanks for trying to help though.

[gonetildecember]

Oh no.. im confused.. have you already gone through a whole pack.. so now ur using the sugar pills and you've noticed a difference in your period?

 

OR

 

have you just bled all the way through.. from when you started (white pills to sugar pills)

 

if its the first, then check with your doctor, but it it took my body about 3 months to completely adjust to the pills and the changes that took place.

[BannaBee57]

I took the regular Ortho for about 3 years then swiched to the Ortho Lo when I got a new doc. I had pretty bad breakthrough bleeding for about 3 months until I went back to the regular Ortho. I've been fine ever since. I think the Lo didn't have enough hormone content for me. This might be the case for you too. I would try out the regular Ortho to see if that makes a difference.

[brickaney]

Thanks for the help everyone! I started, halfway through my period, taking my pills at the same time (or within 15 minutes) every morning and there is no breakthrough bleeding. I think I had it all the way through because I was taking it irregularly (within a couple hours). Anyhow, I also had a urinary tract infection that made the whole ordeal all the more wonderful. Feeling like I had to pee every five seconds, feeling bloated, bleeding, this weird pain while peeing... how wonderful to have that over with hahaha.