Talk to me about Yaz

[WormwoodScrubs]

No, not the British pop band, but the birth control Pill.

Recently, I received a prescription for Yaz to combat my horrid PMS, but I've yet to fill the prescription. I've never been on any form of the Pill before, and while the thought of getting rid of my PMS makes me very happy, the thought of potential side effects makes me wary.

Did any of you (or those you know who've taken it) have problems with energy levels, sleeping, etc? I have a very stressful, demanding job and I worry about sleepiness.

I did broach these concerns with my doctor, but she said, "Well, we can put you on it for about three months and if you don't like it, we'll stop it." This is good advice (how will I know what to expect if I never try it!), but I'm not going to lie about my fears and apprehensions.

I also worry about weight gain, but seeing as one of my PMS issues is incessant cravings/out-of-control eating, so perhaps I'm robbing Peter to pay Paul on that front.

In any event, all advice, comments, thoughts are welcomed.

Thank you!

 

[crazystepr]

Hey Jilly!

I'm not on Yaz, but I've been on BC for years (almost 10--I went on it as a teenager when I went on Accutane for my complexion and have just never gone off) and have never had any side effects. No weight gain, no sleepiness, etc. I adore being on the pill. I can honestly tell you when AF is going to hit down to the hour!--so there are no surprises in that regard. My periods are also really light, last only about 4-5 days and are incredibly easy to manage/deal with.

I say definetely give it a shot. If you notice side effects or you're not happy being on it for other reasons you can certainly stop. It never hurts to try, though, IMHO. Good luck!

 

[buckeyegirl]

Hi!

I'm sure you'll hear varying views and everyone reacts differently with medications...BUT, I just went off Yaz. It did what it was supposed to - didn't get preggos, and I actually lost weight on it. That's the good news!

Bad news - barely tempered my PMS, migraines worsened while on it, and my blood pressure went up! (apparently any bcp can do this)

It's actually the bp that made me go off of Yaz - it really made me nervous, and since then it has normalized. I also am just a bit nervous about being on hormonal meds - even though I know they are much lower than years ago - since my mom had breast cancer.

Now that I'm off Yaz, I'm back to sore boobs for 2 weeks out of the month (but at least they are bigger), heavy periods, and still my PMS...and, we are back to using condoms - oh boy!

So, you are right, there are many positives, and you may do just fine with it. Those were just my issues...we'll see how long I last off the pill, lol...

Heidi

 

[Liann]

Well, my experience with Yaz was that I was basically on my period every 2 weeks. It sucked. I gave it 3 months and quit. This of course was after trying 2 other forms of the pill previously with equally bad result, so it's probably just me. I never gained weight though or had problems sleeping.

 

[meowracer]

Yaz - yuck, gross, never again. I am on OrthoTriCyclen Lo now and no problems. Yaz gave me severe anxiety/panic attacks (which I never had before), racing heartbeat to the point where my doctor sent me to a cardiologist for all sorts of tests for fear I was having heart problems, and all sort of other weird things that went away when I quit. Lots of people don't have problems with it but for me, it was a nightmare. That hormone is a fairly new one too. My skin was great on it though...

 

[Liann]

I LOVED OrthoTrCyclen when I was on it (8 years ago). My skin never looked better... Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Erythema Nodosom Syndrome after being on it for a year and after a few months of bed rest and several years of getting my muscles to recover (it caused deep tissue nodules that basically left "gaps" in my muscle tissue once they went away - ewe), I swore I'd never go on it again. I miss the clear skin though and easy periods. My doctor made me wait 5 more years to try any other pill and after that didn't work, I decided to screw it. I just hope I never need any kind of hormone therapy when I get older, because I am definitely in the 1% group that has WIERD reactions. Sorry Jilly, I probably just scared you away from Pills for life! I'm just one of those RARE cases.

 

[Kimenem]

I've been on some kind of pill since I was 19 (36 now). I never had problems with any of them, though I think there were were only 3 I've tried. I'm now on Yasmin and like it. I used to have horrible cramps and could never tell when it was coming. Now it's like clockwork, no cramps, breast soreness, no nothing.

 

[nurse34]

Been on Yasmin for 6 years-LOVE IT!!! Light periods, no weight gain, no food cravings. I also have a theory and always take my pill in the evening. Tried yaz because my GYN wanted me to change my pill. I really did not like it at all, I felt bloated constantly and a heavy feeling most of the time. Everyone is affected differently by the pill. I say go for it I know I will never go off of it unless I am trying to get pregnant. Like Allison said there really is no surprises and the periods are much lighter.-Good luck Lisa

 

[maddiesmum]

My doctor put me on the Nuvaring because my PMS was so bad I hated 2 weeks out of every month and steady low dose of hormones means that there are no fluctuations in my hormone levels throughout the month. I love it. I do not have to remember to take a pill every day. Because I use it primarily for mood control, I use 4 continuously before taking a week's break. Works like a dream. My PMS is completely under control. Side benefits: my skin has cleared up and I rarely get spots anymore. No weight gain, no sleeping difficulties.

I recommend you talk to your doctor about it as a viable option to daily pill popping.

Clare

 

[horseshowmom]

Positive experiences with Yaz! My 17 & 18 year old daughters are both on it and have no PMS (I only know it's that time of the month for them when they request more supplies!) no cramps, flawless complexions! It's wonderful! As far as the hormones go ~ one is using it to combat PCOS, the type of estrogen in YAZ binds with excess free testosterone in the blood, normalizing her hormones. The other used it for complexion issues and since beginning she has been asked if she is a model multiple times!
eta: I was told yaz and yasmin are the same pill formulation??? or that Yaz is the new formulation of Yasmin???

 

[meowracer]

I LOVED OrthoTrCyclen when I was on it (8 years ago). My skin never looked better... Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Erythema Nodosom Syndrome after being on it for a year and after a few months of bed rest and several years of getting my muscles to recover (it caused deep tissue nodules that basically left "gaps" in my muscle tissue once they went away - ewe), I swore I'd never go on it again. I miss the clear skin though and easy periods. My doctor made me wait 5 more years to try any other pill and after that didn't work, I decided to screw it. I just hope I never need any kind of hormone therapy when I get older, because I am definitely in the 1% group that has WIERD reactions. Sorry Jilly, I probably just scared you away from Pills for life! I'm just one of those RARE cases.

Yikes, Liann - what a horrible thing. I guess that I would be staying off of it too. I tried the regular Ortho but like the Lo so much better. I always get the weirdest of side effects. Glad that one skipped me. Have the gaps gone away? Are you all better now? How scary and frustrating it must have been.

 

[Liann]

Yikes, Liann - what a horrible thing. I guess that I would be staying off of it too. I tried the regular Ortho but like the Lo so much better. I always get the weirdest of side effects. Glad that one skipped me. Have the gaps gone away? Are you all better now? How scary and frustrating it must have been.

Shana - I am pretty much back to normal now, but am still REALLY sensitive around my ankles and shins. You cannot grab me at all around my lower leg or I jump out of my skin. For me it all started with one knot on my shin. It was like the kind you get when you bang your leg into the corner of something. Then eventually, I got a few more and started thinking I must be the biggest clutz in the world. I started having other symptoms - fatigue, etc., but I blamed that all on my planning my upcoming wedding and dealing with September 11. Those welts just got worse though and FINALLY my gyn figured out what I had. They put me on bed rest (which was killer because the wedding was in less than 2 months) and eventually all the welts went away but left these "indentions". I still have a few "weak" areas in the muscle around the lower leg which is why I think it is so sensitive. I have a new GYN since I moved to PA and she is totally fascinated that I had that reaction because she'd never met anyone who did. I just love being in the 1 percentile!

 

[meowracer]

Liann - I have just never heard of that, and glad I hadn't or I probably would not have taken BC pills! I always read and read and read before I switch brands, and then ponder and ponder it before I can actually take it. I am just miserable without it though and if I go off, I always end up back on it. I can't take any of the cycline drugs (tetracycline, doxycycline, etc). I get a side effect that my doctor had never even heard of. Niiiiicccce. In conversation with a doctor I work with for research, I brought this up b/c one of the drugs we sell is a low dose doxycycline. He said it was very uncommon but knew what it was at least (I figured out via the internet when it happened, and told my regular doctor who is quite capable and I love, but would have really appreciated him knowing about this!)

 

[Liann]

Shana - What REALLY ticked me off with my regular doctor was that I had been going to him for weeks trying to figure out what was wrong with me (all the while still taking the pill). Then when my GYN diagnosed me, she had my doctor forward my chart or whatever to her and right on there he had written "possible Erythema Nodosom Syndrome", but the dimwit (my general Dr.) NEVER mentioned it to me. My GYN said I was a textbook case and it should have been diagnosed easily by my doctor. Ugh..