[lindaleriel]

I've always been "full figured" (I'm especialy busty) but looking around both sides of my family I've always known skiny was beyond my genetic makeup and I'd made peace with that. I mean sure I've looked longingly at cute little clothes and jealously watched my size 0 and 2 sisters-in-law snarf down entire pounds of bacon without gaining an ounce - but I honestly am ok with being a big girl.
I don't obsess about my weight (I don't even own a scale) and I think I have a very healthy and accurate view of myself when I look in a mirror. I'd always figured as long as I still fit into my clothes and could take a brisk walk or have a snowball fight without getting overly winded that was a reasonable weight.
But then I went on hormonal birth control a few months before my wedding. By 4 months or so I couldn't wear my tightest clothes, by 6 months I couldn't button any of my size 12 pants, by 9 months or so I was wearing elastic waists any time I was home because they were the only thing that would fit, by a year almost nothing in my closet fits and the few things I can actualy squeeze into certainly don't fit atractively. I gained over 50 lbs in that one year and went from a pant size 12 to a tight and uncomfortable 16 and from a 16 (only to contain my DD's) to a tight 20 with lots of back flab on top.
I tried to convince my doctor that the BC was causing all the weight gain (not to mention extreme fatigue and joint aches) but she wouldn't believe me and wouldn't let me get a diaphram so i could go off it. (I have a different doc now) She kept saying that I wouldn't have gained more than 5 lbs from the BC and said people often gain weight after getting married - yeah cause eating better and going on regular walks certainly contributes to weight gain. So I kind of gave up on being active or caring about how much I was eating. (I love food so I've always tried to think more about portions than about whether its "health food") I realize that probably added to the gain, but what's 10 lbs on top of 40 odd. But now I'm having problems reversing bad habits.
I did go off the BC about a month ago and I am feeling better - no more staring at a pile of dishes and not being able to face using that much energy. But I am still ver low energy so I have trouble exercising more than a few minutes. Mostly I'm just angry I'm even in this position. I was happy with myself and I didn't do anything to make that change but it did and now I am going to have to work my butt of to get back to where I was when I feel like I should still be there. And on top of that I've had baby fever since I was like 16 and we were going to start ttc in June but now unless I really drop the weight fast I'm going to feel like we should wait a little more until I'm a healthier weight. I'm sorry for rambling on so but I'm just angry and frustrated with the whole thing - especialy since I told my doctor in the firest place that I was kinda leary of screwing with my hormones but she just shrugged of my questions about a diaphram with a "it's just not as effective" and If I had pusshed the issue I know I wouldn't be here now. RARRR I mean I know I can't blame the BC for everything - I have really gotten into some bad habbits - they are what I'm fighting now to loose the weight - but I can blame the BC almost entirely for the fact that the weight is there to be lost and that makes me so mad at the medical profession.

ok got that off my chest now maybe I can move on and get to work here. Obviously though - if anyone asks me I tell them not to start BC and to run screaming the other way.

[zenor77]

I don't think doctors (or pharmaceutical companies) realize just how much damage a small amount of synthetic hormones can do to a woman's body. In truth, I'm sure a large majority of women are fine with BC and can live with the symptoms they have, but I was never in that majority myself.

As far as weight gain, I did only gain the 5 lbs they talk about with the BCP, but I also had severe mood swings and developed a really bad rash.

I went to seven different doctors and they all told me my rash was something different. One said I had scabies, one said it was yeast, another said stress, another said I was allergic to soap, etc. When I was finally referred to a dermatologist I was told it was dermatitis (translation=He didn't know what it was.)

I knew it was the BCP, so I just took myself off of it and low and behold, my moods leveled, I dropped 5 lbs, and my rash went away.

Doctors don't know everything. There is still a lot about the human body that eludes science. I think it's very important to be proactive about your own health care and demand what you think is best, or at least get a second opinion.

I'm sorry you've had to go through this!

I'm still baffled that your original doctor wouldn't at least try and switch your pill or give you a diaphragm (you are married after all.) It's a known fact the Depo shot can make some women gain a lot of weight, so why isn't it possible that the pill could do the same to some women? I'm glad you've found a different doctor!

If you are a morning person and can discipline yourself you could also try the Fertility Awareness Method. I just read a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It talks about this method. I'm not a morning person, but I'm thinking about trying it. Basically you take your temp each morning and chart it everyday. You'll know when you ovulate by this method and then you just refrain (or get too it as the case may be) from sex during that time. I'm mentioning this because I've know many women whom the diaphragm was not a good option for, although it is a good option for others.

[cephalopod gal]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with birth control and your previous doctor!! When I was 17, I had ovarian cysts (actually, dermoids) that had to be removed surgically, and afterwards, my doctor put me on BC to keep them at bay. Since I'm taking it for the cysts and NOT to prevent babies, I'm on a relatively low dose, so I've had a pretty good run with it. I know other people hate the BC though, so your case isn't unheard of.

I'm glad you went to a different doctor, though!! Sometimes I feel like the worst thing people can do is stick with their doctors that don't listen to them out of familiarity.

And I totally get you about having genetics play a dirty hand in your body shape. Like you, however, I've definitely come to terms with it. One of my favorite plays (I was able to direct it my senior year in high school) is "Real Women Have Curves." The movie's pretty good, too!!

Anyway, I'm so sure that you can do this, and you know all the other chickies here at 3FC will be here for ya!!

[lissa9501]

i did my research before deciding on bc, i did the pill twice and frankly i kept forgetting to take them(in 2006 i told hubby i wanted off the pill so we could try for another baby)
i had the IUD for 2 weeks yes just 2 weeks before having it surgically removed. and my current form and most permanent form of bc was getting my tubes tied and my mil kept telling me i'd blow up weightwise with that being done(funny cause i've lost 20 pounds since doing it lol)
bc affects ppl differently but your dr was a real jerk
gl losing weight and gl ttcing

[SCraver]

I had a HORRIBLE time with the first BCP I tried. I eventually found one that was OK for me - but I feel SO MUCH BETTER not being on them at all. My hubby and I have been using VCF (Vaginal Contraceptive Films). They are over the o****er - found by the condoms. They are easy to use - not hormones. The only bummer, is you have to use your fingers to insert them and then you have to wait 15 mins. for it to dissolve (good time for fourplay?). But it is easy and not messy like other spermicides. And the package says they are 90 some odd percent effective. (good enough for me!)

I don't understand why your Dr. would outright refuse to give you a diaphragm... ? I would switch Drs. Lots of women have a hard time on the pill and I would think that a diapragm would be a safe, effective alternative. That's why there are so many differnt forms of birth control - no one type is best for everyone. I do know that if you gain or lose weight, you have to be re-fitted.

Anyways - Please don't feel rushed to lose weight - just focus on preparing your body for the journey ahead - start now by eating healthy and exercising. You want to have healthy eating habits for when you are PG and exercise is important, as labor is called labor for a reason! My hubby and I are going to start trying in October (after b-days and weddings). I would love to be at 'goal weight' by then - but I feel that having healthy habits is what is most important.

Sorry - I have been rambling.

[KateRN]

oh my goodness yes! birth control is so difficult sometimes! i wanted to try seasonique (the one that gives you 4 periods a year) - i spotted for a month straight until i just stopped taking it and had terrible yeast infections (sorry tmi).

my body doesnt like hormones and my personal life cant handle a child right now! hahaha vicious cycle!

[Sarae878]

I was on Seasonique for year when last July I had a stroke. The docs diagnosed the stroke was due to BC. I'm only 26 and I don't smoke. My family doc has been practicing medicine for 30 years and he has never heard of anyone having a stroke due to BC. I know the packages warn that this could happen but it was very unlikely in my case. Luckily I was on the phone when it hit. My right side went completely limp including my face. It took many weeks of rehabilitation to retrain my right side how to move again. I was lucky enough to be taken to a hospital that administers tPA (a high dose of blood thinner, only works up to 3 hours from onset of stroke). Its been 7 months now and the only residual effects can be seen in my handwriting. I am no longer allowed to take BC. But the sad part is I gained 10lbs when I started taking them and I haven't lost any now that I've stopped.

[mayness]

I have a pretty strong reaction to hormonal BC as well... I never gained weight, but it affected me sexually in MAJOR ways (I don't wanna give TMI, but PM me if you are curious), and when I was on the Depo-Provera shots I could sleep 14 hours a day and still be tired.

I suspect that HBC has negative side-effects in many more women than we think, they just aren't reporting it because everyone makes them think they're crazy! I hear WAY too many stories to believe that only a tiny percentage of women suffer while on BC pills. I think the doctors are in denial.

Luckily, when I decided I wanted to switch, my OB-GYN was receptive. I went with the Paraguard IUD (10 years of no-thinking-involved, non-hormonal, as-effective-as-tubal-ligation birth control? sign me up!) and I'm so happy I got off the hormones.

It's annoying that you now have to work extra-hard to get fit because of this setback.. but maybe losing the weight will teach you healthier habits than you would have had otherwise, and your heart/muscles/bones will be in better shape because you had to overcome this!

[JulieRN]

I think I was more hormonal when I was on birthcontrol... I've been off for over a year (I got too lazy and now my fiance and I use condoms). I'm going to be calling the gyno office to have another pap and get back ON the pill. My periods are getting very irregular - I've been spotting for over a week but my period hasn't really "started"... It's driving me nuts! AND I've gained at least 10 lbs this past year and I haven't been on the pill.

[lindaleriel]

Thanks everyone the support arround here is amazing. I'm still feeling discouraged and angry that I even need support when I'd always said I'd never be a dieter or weight obsessed (exactly why I don't and refuse to own a scale). Ah well - no use whining about what is - too much anyway. I'm excited to be part of this group even if I'm not excited about the why!

[Indychick829]

i haven't gone through anyone else's replies to you - but i know firsthand how much havoc bc pills can do on your body. i'm lucky that i found a doc who listened to me (and also did some tests to find out that i have insulin resistance, which is what causes MY weight gain...) - but in october of 2006 i was 175 pounds. i went on the bc pill Kariva. within 6 months I went from my normal size 12 to a size 16 - having gained 22 pounds! and the thing is - yes, i WAS in a new relationship - but we ate healthy AND i went to the gym 4 days a week...and NOTHING i could do worked to get my weight off. :-(

plus - i was EXTREMELY exhausted - literally wanting to sleep every second of the day that i wasn't at work - moody as **** and the weight gain - 22 pounds in 6 months WHILE working out and eating right. i did research on the 'net and found out other women had these same issues with that pill. so i got a new doc and she put me on yasmin. that helped the exhaustion and the mood swings...but not the weight gain...so THEN she did the tests for IR and put me on metformin - THAT - along with re-tweaking my diet and upping my exercise - i've FINALLY gotten 17 of those 22 pounds off.

but if you do research on the net - you will see that when it comes to birth control - it DOES affect women differently and - no matter what the "experts" say - it WILL AND ABSOLUTELY DOES contribute to weight gain. but, it DOES depend on the type you're using. on Kariva - i could NOT lose weight. and now, on yasmin - i'm doing the same. exact. things. i was doing while on kariva and i'm down 17 pounds.

i know, too - MANY women who have been on yasmin (the one i'm on now and really like) absolutely HATE it...but many women like it. you just have to find one you like.

[SavingServo]

I recently just switched pills (from Othro-Tri-Cylcin to Lutera) and what a difference it made! I gained about 2 pounds over night (which I pray is just water) but I feel like myself again! The Othro killed my sex drive and just made me feel sort of blah all the time. I knew it was happening but I didn't realize how bad it was until I got off of them.
The pill can really mess with you. I tried to skip periods on it and it turned me into a crazy person. My poor boyfriend was really frightened.

[witm]

Wow... this sounds terrible.... I've been on marvelon for about... 3 years now, and the only thing i have noticed is that it cleared up any pimples i used to get...[well, aside from the vicious mood swings at the beginning]

I guess i was just lucky... 'heh