Yasmin and chest pains

Hi
Again just like many of you ladies out there i am so glad i came across this website. I have been taking Yasmin for the last 2.5yrs. I used to have very think long hair, and was always complimented on it. recently my hair has thinned out, and falls out everytime i comb or wash it. I have reecntly started to experience numbness in the tips of my toes, i have just in the past few days experienced knee joint pains. Last year i had very bad chest pains, and i never thought it would be the pill, but i have been complianing to my family about breathing difficulties too. I do feel nauseous most of the time, and i feel tired all the time, i fall asleep anywhere. I am a pretty healthy individual. I have suffered headaches, reduction of vision, pain just under my ribs near the lungs, especially when i wake up in the mornings, i suffer hot flushes, again like others mostly at night... I used to be a pretty calm person, but now looking back i have had my moments of rage !
Thank God i came across this website because luckily im on my 7day break at the moment, and will probably not take them again ! and try lady comp just like another lady has .... hope this helps

I am a new poster & am excited to be a part of this discussion !! I feel to close to this discussion because I have been experiencing the same issues.
I too have been having major chest pain issues for almost 2 months now. I started Yasmin (much to my dismay!) about 6 months ago. I haven't taken any b.c. since I was about 19, I am now 30, I started because my periods were absolutely unbearable anymore, intense cramping, heavy flow & in incapable of work/activity for the first 2 days. My doctor always pushed b.c. on me for the pain relief. Finally I agreed. I started in February, 2008.
Almost 2 months ago (7 months into Yasmin) I was getting a bit of chest pain along the ribs/inside of the side of the breast, mainly the right & sometimes on the left. I wasn't too worried as I am a healthy eating, yoga/work-out doing, average weight, no health issues what-so-ever except for my intense period kinda gal. About a month went by with increasing chest pain & I went to the hospital (up north at my moms when I was visiting, only an hour wait to get in as apposed to the 6 here back home!). My fear was heart problems. They did blood work & (I am not sure what this is called!) they hooked me up with tons of little stickies & monitored my heart. - I mentioned to the doctor I was taking b.c. & he said it wasn't an issue, they usually pose blood clot risk....not my issue here.
They said everything was normal & because of the sensitivity of the chest pain (it is sore to the touch!) he said it was costochondiritis, the inflammation of the chest wall. So I thought that was it, I would just take the Advil the suggested 3 times a day for inflammation & it would go away. I did this for 2 weeks & nothing changed.
I was getting some shooting pains in my chest & went back to my doctor, explained my visit up north & what they concluded it was. She said that the costochondiritis has made me sensitive to acidic foods, prescribed me with previcid for a week. That didn't make any difference at all.
Here I am another month later & my chest pain feels worse, my chest still feels tender to the touch, I am short of breath going up the stairs, heart racing/palpitations, gas (burping & passing gas), some upper back ache, I am feeling helpless & beat down !!
By now I'm sure there is a bit of anxiety mixed in there, I have been so sad, scared & worried!
I went back to my doctor & she sent me for an upper G.I. to rule out acid reflux & it came back normal. I also did some blood work again (which have since came back normal) & am waiting for the results. She said she doesn't think it's costochondiritis now. I am scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound & with a cardiologist (I go tomorrow) for an EKG for my heart.
Last night my hubby & I were talking, my co-worker was really upset to hear I've still been taking the pill, she thinks it's poison. I told my guy that & we got out the information booklet from my Yasmin & there were ALL of my symptoms, there was a list of 12 & I had 8 of them !!! No vision or numbness problems but all of the chest pain/breathing issues.
I took my last pill 2 days ago (it was my last before my period) & I have no plans to start again. I am going to follow through with the scheduled appt.'s just in case but my hubby & I have our money on the pill being the cause for all of this.
1 thing that gets me is when I went to my doctors with this issue in the beginning, not once did she bring up the pill or say to stop the pill. In the booklet under all of the symptoms I've been having it says to immediately stop taking the pill. ;(
After taking my last pill I felt a bit better (it's only been a week/my menstruating week), the sharp pain on the inside/side of my breast/chest has not been as sensitive to the touch. I still have had palpitations (minor, not lasting long - to lasting up to 4 hours until I just go sleep to try to get rid of it) & sparse shooting/dull/aching pain in my chest/armpit.
YASMIN SHOULD BE BANNED !!

My 15year old daughter has just stopped taking Yasmin due to severe depression, anxiety attacks, uncontrollable crying, suicidal thoughts and chest pain with erratic heartbeat. I thank God that we figured out the connection to Yasmin. She has been spiraling down so quickly, I thought I was losing her. While she does not relish the return of heavy, long periods, she is so ready to have her sanity back. Her counselor and gyn confirm the strong likelihood of these being side effects of the Yasmin. I was ready to put her on Prozac and sleeping pills because the situation was so desperate! While I was on Yasmin for years with no adverse effects, there ARE people who are desperate because of this pill! The hundreds of posts are too numerous to ignore the REAL truth. Is is worth it to "just try it out" for a boob inflation? You are taking a serious risk, sweetheart!

Wow. I found this site after looking up causes for lack of sex drive. I've been on Yasmin for 6 years, but never thought for a minute it had anything to do with the problems I've been having. Loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, hair loss, mood swings (partners always gets the brunt of those), repeated bouts of chest pains (diagnosed with pleurisy recently, don't know if there is a link).

I had got to the point that I thought this is just the way I am, it never occurred to me that something else could be causing this. I can't even remember what it's like to be normal.

I already have 2 kids and don't want any more at the moment so I don't know what the solution is. Well, I haven't wanted sex for the last few years so i suppose the bloody thing has done its job in that way!

I'm just shocked, this has been a real wake up call. I'm stopping taking the evil little things as of now.

I was put on Yasmin as a healthy 31 year old. I noticed severe foot and leg cramps shortly after taking Yasmin but didn't connect the two. At one point, after a severe leg cramp that left me with a sore leg that lasted more than a couple of days, I contacted my OBGYN to inquire about blood clots. The nurse asked me if I noticed any discoloration, swelling or 'hot spots'. When I told her no she said that I would know if I had a blood clot and there was nothing to worry about. The pain subsided after a couple of days and I attributed it to a pulled muscle. Almost a year later I developed severe chest pains and shortness of breath. A trip to the emergency room uncovered a massive pulmonary embolism. I was admitted to the hospital for 5 days and endured months of recovery to get back to good health. I was on a blood thinner for almost 9 months and still take a daily aspirin in combination with fish oil as a precaution. I can't tell you how I wish I had know just how serious the side effects might really be. I would urge all women to seriously consider all options before committing to a daily medication with these possible side effects. Best of luck to you all.

I am a 26 yr old newly married woman and have been using Yasmin for 7 months.

I've experienced really sharp breast pain and sore calves occasionally whilst on the pill, but also have seen benefits of using this contraceptive - lighter, more regular periods, clearer skin and less greasy hair (these use to be big problems for me). I haven't had any severe mood swings either, as some have mentioned of having.

I think with all contraceptives there will be good and bad side effects - just depends which brands you can cope better with.

Just wondering if Yasmin can cause infertility if you take it for too long??

I was on Yasmin for a number of years and had chest pains. I also have 2 red "dots" on my hair line that formed about a year ago. I noticed my hair thinned out too. I never made the connection that it could be related to the Pill. I also had frequent headaches, but would just take some Aleve and be on my way.
Anyways, I went off in February, and it is now June, and I still have no period. I've seen the gyno, tried to take Provera, and nothing is working to help me get my period. I ended up getting some bloodwork done. My estrogen levels are extremely low (like someone that is in menopause). I AM ONLY 25!!!! I am guessing it is related to coming off Yasmin somehow. Please contact me if you have similar things, as I am now getting all the symptoms of menopause (severe hair loss, night sweats, hot flashes, uncontrollable moods).

chest pains,
thrush,
cystitis,
headaches,
loss of sex drive,
and HAIR LOSS

Yasmin should be banned.

Wow..this makes me feel a lot better reading all of this. I have been off of Yasmin for about a year now but am still feeling the side effects. When I was on it I felt fine at first & was extremely excited about finally being on BC. Then about a month into it I started getting extremely bad heart palpitations and tingly body and arms. My heart would race and I thought I was about to have a heart attack everyday. I consulted my gyn/ob about this and she stated it was "normal side effects of the pill." I told her I was concerned that I had a blood clot or something else extremely severe. She convinced me it was all normal & I would be EXTREMELY ill and in the hospital if that was the case. I told her it was interfering with my life on a daily basis but she didn't seem to believe me. My boyfriend had also noticed I had been acting extremely anxious, moody and depressed and became concerned. It got to the point where he couldn't even touch me when I was at home since I was having STABBING chest pains on a daily basis. I couldn't even move & I would have really bad heartburn all the time. I went to the doctor a couple of times because I thought I was seriously having a heart attack...Stabbing pains- tingly arms and legs, extreme anxiety...my heart was pounding so hard I couldn't breath and then my heart felt as if it would pop in and out when I took a breath. My doctor said it was normal side effects as well so I told myself I was just the crazy one once again. I went to the doctor about a month later when things got worse..this whole time thinking that Yasmin had nothing to do with it and found my blood pressure was 160/90!!! My doc said it should have been about 120/70. I started blood pressure medication but the heart palpitations did not stop so eventually I stopped with Yasmin. Things have gotten better but it has still left me with permanent damage. My anxiety is still a problem and my blood pressure is still sky high...even on meds. I never had any problems before any of this...now I have major problems for life because of this drug. I know they warn you of issues prior but NO medication should do this to ANYONE. I also gained about 20 pounds when I was on the pill and when I got off I lost about 15 pounds in 2 days..I lost equilibrium in my body and felt sick with all of the sudden weight loss....Is anyone considering a Class action lawsuit against this company? & why are the doctors covering up the side effects of this drug? I know they get paid for referring people to certain drugs but this is SCARY...keep me updated.

I am 20 yrs old, very healthy and never had a problem until 6 months after being on Yasmin. I never linked being on this BC and my side effects but I have been off of Yasmin for one month and seeing results. My side effects are subsiding, still have some relapses but nothing compared to what I went through. My side effects were nausea, lethary, weakness, irregular periods, chest pains, irregular breathing, weird heart palpitations, and Panic attacks, and depression. I have never been an anxious or depressed person so those last ones really threw me off. Now being off of it, I am returning to normal, still not completely normal which sucks, cause I was full of energy and a happy person. I really hope that I can be normal again and hope all this gets out of my system.

The health care system has failed me and led me to believe that I had many issues "inside my head." I was on yasmin since spring 07 and was fine for half a year until the symptoms one by one crept up. I too was experiencing the fatigue, the vomiting, the mood swings, the depression and anxiety. I've been known to be very laid back, very easy going, so when I had my first panic attack ever, I knew something was off.
Soon after, I started to experience heart palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath. One day I was so freaked out I went to the E.R. with a standing heart rate of 142. When all the tests turned out clear, they told me that I should visit the psychiatric clinic. When they asked if I was on any medications, I told them I was on yasmin. The doctors looked at eachother with a confused look and asked me "What's yasmin?" Shows how much they know!
I was getting better overall until a few late-nite episodes had me waking up with my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. This happened two nights in a row which disheartened me since I thought I was slowly getting better. Then, I found this website, and everything made sense. I stopped taking the pill that night, and that night, I slept fine. It's been about three weeks since I've been off of yasmin and I'm 80% back to normal. I was at the point that I thought I would never laugh as loud or never smile as much as I did a year ago. The other day I caught myself with a huge smile for no reason at all . . . and that's when I knew I was on track to recovery.
I started to ask around and found out that many women have experienced very negative effects from yasmin. Last week, I told the woman whose office is next to mine and she proclaimed "I had the same thing too! So did my sister!"
The doctors won't believe you. Many of them are buttered up by the drug companies. Even my sister who's an RN told me that sometimes, you need to be your own doctor. And for symptoms of anxiety, depression, I would recommend 5-htp. It's a plant-derived natural supplement that increases the production of your seratonin. It's so easy to get misdiagnosed and placed on some other medication that has other adverse side effects.
Spread the good word, ladies. We must reach out to one another and take care of one another like sisters. Afterall, who else is there who we can rely on?

I just started taking Yasmin again in March. I had taken it back in November but stopped midway through my second pack because I was experiencing severe anxiety, nausea, fatigue... to the point my social life and grades in school were suffering. I went online and found this site and read how there were a lot of women who experienced bad side effects from this pill too. Recently I decided that it was in my best interest to take birth control again and because I did have added stress in my life during the time I took Yasmin before I thought maybe I would be okay this time. I WAS SOOO WRONG. I haven't even been on Yasmin again for a month and my life as I knew it has been turned upside down. In less than a week of starting it I started to have severe chest pains and nausea. I thought I was having a heart attack. I have had panic attacks before and this was nothing like that The tightness and pressure in my chest never has gone away. I've been to three different doctors and have had many tests to figure out whats wrong. They all tell me the same thing that I'm a healthy 22 year old and that if anything I just have inflammation my ribcage. My grades are suffering again because I have missed a lot of class because I feel so awful. Every morning I wake up with the chest pain (that gets worse the more active I am) and nausea. Since all these symptoms have come on my relationship has taken a turn for the worse too. All I want to do is sleep, I don't feel like going out, I get annoyed very easily by everything my boyfriend does so I don't want to be around him. I feel so "out of it" sometimes I get dizzy and feel numb all over. Its so scary (esp. the chest pains) The worse thing is that no one really believes me (i.e. my boyfriend) I never feel good and I'm sure the people around me are tired of me complaining all the time. One more thing... I started my period very early (I still have a week and a half of active pills left) I've never experienced that before... weird. Anyways, I stopped taking Yasmin 2 days ago. I still have all the same symptoms... I really hope they go away soon. I want to get back to my old self and my old life. YASMIN SUCKS!!! I'd rather take the risk of getting pregnant than take Yasmin. At least then I'd have a excuse that ppl would believe for being sick :(

Oh my....I thought I was having a heart attack or something!!! I had no idea that this stupid pill was doing all of this, when I found this page and read through a few of them I was so relieved!!!!!! I have not been on Yasmin very long I started in October and I hadn't even went through my second pack. I stopped taking the pill today because I started these chest pains a few days ago and I told my mom about them tonight it really scared me.So I called and told her and she looked it up and told me so I looked it up and found this page. My side effects didn't start happening until recently I have had pains through out my whole body, chest pains, back pains, stomach pains, leg, arm, etc., I am tired all the time and depression is starting and I have never had that. I thought my tiredness was just from having a two year old but I now know that it should not make me feel like this I am only 19 years old and will never take this stupid pill again or recommend it to any one thanks to all that made me see it was really Yasmin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I noticed I didn't put my side effects. They are "Charlie horses" or leg cramps, I don't eat like I use to, back pain, tingling shoulders, neck pain, bloating out of this world, chest pains, and heart palpations. The bad thing is I called my local health unit and they told me to continue taking the pill. What should I do?

My story is long....I have been taking Yasmin for almost 2.5 years, since having my son. About 8 months after starting the pill we relocated to another state. About 6 months after that I began having shortness of breath and anxiety. I thought it was due to our relo, which was all positive but still those things can be stressful. My doctor thought it was anxiety and prescribed Zanax. I rarely took them...seemed like the anxiety subsided. A few months later I was back at my doctors office with extreme nausea and this crazy burning sensation down my arms and on my chest. I was diagnosed with H Pylori and treated for that and then had an endoscopy and found I had mild chronic gastritis. I was on Prevacid and then finally prescription Zantac for that. I went a few months and then the shortness of breath returned and I began having heart palpations. I then went back to my doctor. My heart rate was elevated so she sent me over to a cardiologist. He said my heart was fine. I then came down with a stomach virus, which is what I thought at the time, and ended up not taking my pill for 2 days and then began menstruating. I stayed off of it for a month and continued to have this terrible burning sensation on my skin. I started a new pill pack the next month and that's when the real hell began. I woke up around 1:30am with severe nausea and heart palpations. My husband took me to the ER - they said it was due to my stomach. I went back to see my GI doc she said that my stomach didn't cause that. I went to see my doctor b/c my GI doc thought it might be my BC pill because it just started happening after taking it again after being off of it for a month. I was sure it was the BC so I immediately stopped taking it. I had yet another period. Since stopping it, now it's been 14 days, I have had one anxiety attack after another, chest pains, shortness of breath, the burning skin, headaches, and major nausea. I can't eat or sleep. I can barely function. All my blood work, adrenal gland and thyroid tests are perfectly normal. No signs of anything wrong with me. I went to see my doctor today for a follow-up, she told me bluntly that I was mental! It was all in my head ! The pill could not cause this and I need to see a physiotherapist. I have never felt so bad physically in my life and then been kicked in the teeth so hard all in one day. I know all this is due to this drug. There is no other explanation. I am not crazy but I have a lot of people who believe I am. I am amazed at how the medical community is so uneducated and have become drug pushers and have forgotten problem solving. Thank you all for reading my story. I pray every minute that I will get through this and be normal again. All I want to do is enjoy the Christmas holidays with my family without being sick. That my friends is my Christmas wish. Best to all of you.

I took Yaz for 7 days. In that amount of time, I began experience the most horrific symptoms I have experienced in my life. They included: chest pains, nausea, vomiting, arm pain, and the feeling of imminent death (these caused me to go to the emergency room since they are classic heart attack symptoms for a woman); leg and arm weakness; lethargy; migrane; panic attacks; severe insomnia, diarrhea, and vision problems that caused my contact lens perscription to change and night time vision had profound halos when driving, etc. I was literally unable to stomach any normal food portions I was so nauseous. I normally run 3 miles and could not even make it to the gym for weeks. I was afraid to stay home alone with my 4 year-old and 17 month-old for fear something would happen to me while they were in my care. At the ER they found low potassium levels (which makes no sense given Yaz has a potassium sparring diuretic component). In another blood test, I had elevated iron, which I have never had previously.

I am 35 and have been on bcp's periodically for 12-15 years. I have never had any of these symptoms prior to this experience. I have never had anxiety, depression, or any other underlying health condition. I immediately stopped taking the pills once I made the connection. So far, my recovery has been slow, but at least it is improving. I resent that my ob/gyn and internist both said that the pill would be out of my system in 24 hours. The effects are clearly long lasting (I am approximately 7 weeks off of Yaz).

Finally, my eye doctor, of all people, said that he has seen and heard of people having problems similar to mine and that it was understandable that I would have anxiety when I felt like I was dying from a heart attack. No one perscribing this medication bothered to tell me of the diuretic component or any component that was going to affect depression. I am attorney and have always thrived under pressure, not turned into a panic attack ridden mess like this medication caused.

As for the previous post who stated these are common symptoms described by women, at 35, I know the difference between my normal body function and the hell that began when I started taking Yaz. Unless you have experienced this, then you clearly would not understand. I appreciate that Yaz and Yasmin have worked well for some, but that clearly has not been my personal experience. So, I write this not to discourage someone who has had a positive experience, but to provide support for anyone else who has suffered like I have.

I went on yasmin about 2 years ago, right before I started my current relationship. Everything in my relationship was perfect, we never fought, it was just amazing. About 4 months into the relationship I started to pick fights with him, about everything possible. I was becoming depressed, insecure, and my anxiety level is at a constant high....still, I didn't realize any of this until this month. About 3 months ago I started getting my migrains back before and during my period...this month, my cramps came back. I kicked my boyfriend as hard as I could last week, and I couldn't tell you why, I immidiately started crying and saying sorry, and hugging him. This pill, I've come to realize, has almost completely ruined my life. It's almost ended my wonderful relationship with the love of my life several times. This month was the final straw, I thought maybe I had pmdd, I looked up the symptoms and realized that was not what I had, then I thought to look up side effects of my birth control, and I found this site...many of the girls mention twitching, headaches, crazy mood swings, treating their spouses awful, sleeping all the time and still feeling tired. I have been suffering from all these symptoms for a long time now. I am stopping this pill IMMIDIATELY! It has ruined far too much of my life. I'm so glad I found this website, I now know I'm not crazy. Now I can go back to being the happy, fun, and friendly girl I really am!

I have been using Yasmine for a month. I noticed that I am having extreme fatigue, dehydration, nausea, aches in arms and legs, chest pains, no sex drive, rapid heart beat, hungry pains and anxiety. During this month of using Yasmine I have been to the Emergency Room 3 times. I had several test done and all were normal. Thank God I found this site! At first I thought I was crazy! I have never experieced anxiety at this level.I did take Yasmine in June and stopped the 3rd week because I missed consecutive days. I experienced migraines for a month. Any suggestions of a new forn of birth control? I will not be purchasing another pack of Yasmine!

I took yasmin for a year and a half. Loved it until now. I am 27 and 5'4. Over the last year I have had every test done on me because my weight dropped down to 95lbs, I get really bad chest pains that make me feel like I am having a heart attack,I am really shaky, my hands and feet go to sleep, I cannot concentrate (which is bad since I am a student), having trouble sleeping,extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and the list just goes on and on. Well, the docs couldn't find anything and so when I finished my pack of yasmin last tuesday, I didn't start a new pack. I am pleased to tell you all that this week I have more energy (i also have a husband, a 9 year old, and help run our business), no chest pains, and I have gained weight. I am going to talk to my Doc about a different form of BC. Hope you all get back to feeling normal. and for those you are having great luck with it, Congrats!!!!!!! i Hope I can find one too.

Hi, I have been on Yasmin for 2 years now. I have ALWAYS been a very confident and outgoing person. For the past year i have had panic attacks regularly. I am very hot at night, I have trouble sleeping, yet my period pains are at a minimun and I have few symptons of PMT. (Mind you it is still bad enough to take codeine and paracetamol on the first day of bleeding).

Other side effects that I thought would clear up but which haven't are:- dark patches on my forehead and above my lip (doc said they would go, but seem to 'come' and go) and a very sore throat accompanied by swollen glands, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left side of my neck. My fingers are tingly and my joints are swollen. The Chest pains could be related to anxiety. I get a migraine 24-72 hours before I bleed, regular as clockwork now.

The worst is the mood swings and the depression, I just really don't recognise myself, tired and teezy all the time.

I was very happy for the first 3-6 months that I took Yasmin, but after that I have known I haven't been 'right', but my anxiety and depression have made me unable to make a decision or be focused why.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed on the site, it's great to know I'm not the only one.

i have been taking Yamine for about a month and a half, after being on a generic pill for a couple years. I didnt know if these symptons i was having was caused by yasmine, but now i think it may be. I have been getting lightheaded, blurry eyes, shakiness, hot flashes..almost like a panic attack, and i have become very dehydrated, even though i have been drinking alot of water. I even went to the doctors for these symptons and they still don't have an answer, so i think it may be yasmine.my newest sympton as of yesterday is chest pain. also i feel like my heart is beating fast all the time, and i feel fatigued way too often, which is causing me to eat more, becauase i am starving way to often, and if i don't eat i feel like i am going to collapse. Also my sex drive has gone to non-existant- is that common? I workout all the time, and eat pretty healthy, so i don't know what else these symptons could be coming from. Is anyone else experiencing these sympons?

I have been taking Yasmin for about2 years now. My cramps are less and my period only last like 3 days tops. I used to have to use a super tampon now I only use lites and sometimes a regular. My severe acne is gone and I haven't had any weight gain. Recently my doctor said to try Yaz......Big mistake. Each day after taking it, I was having chest pains. YIKES....went back to Yasmin. If I don't take it with food, I am lightheaded all the next day. Anyone else experiencing this strange side effect? Other than that, it has worked great!

I've been on Yaz for 1 year now. I've been in a deep depression since September ( 6 months on Yaz) for which I've had to seek treatment. It took 4 months to get me straightened out on medications and still daily I struggle with it.

Also I've noticed right shoulder pain, weight gain (60 pounds), no libido, chronic fatigue, bloating with horrible gas.Is all of this from the Yaz or is it my depression or what? I'm having a really hard time sorting thru all of this.

Hi Girls,
I haven't posted in a while, but I was wondering how everyone was doing with the weight gain. I have now been off Yasmin for 1 yr. I am feeling really great, I am now back to being able to run/walk or rollerblade 4-5 miles a day 4-5 times a week. My cycles are more normal than ever. Not exactly 28 days more like 38, but I'm ok with that.

The thing that is still getting me is that I not only can't lose weight, I'm still gaining it. I think I have now gained 40 lbs. I am taking vitamin b as well as women's one a day. Don't really want to take any more drugs though.

I had my thyroid checked when I was on the pill and going through the awful hell, had most of the side effects you have all posted, tingling, chest pains, anxiety, the list goes on. But they said thryoid normal and of course nothing wrong with me. Like most of you went to a zillion doctors about a yr. ago. But decided I was just going to give my body time to get back to normal.

Has anyone had similar problems with their weight. I just don't get it, I couldn't feel healthier, or be any healthier with my activity and lifestyle, but I just feel like I'm getting bigger and bigger, and according to the scale I'm right!

Any thoughts would be great. Silke how are you feeling?
Thanks,
Hill

i just found this site. I went off of yasmin three days ago. My fam. dr. asked to stop taking it immediately when i went in for chest pains. She said she's had others on yasmin come in with chest pains. So i have stopped (against the advice of my gyno ) and i feel so strange! i feel really sick and i just snapped at my kids today like never before, i think i scared them. what is happening? I feel like throwing up every two minutes, ZERO energy, headache and this is after stopping it and i'm bleeding like crazy. Anyone else go thru this? does it get better ? please tell me it does.

This whole past year i felt like crying ALL of the time and i attributed it to stress. Heart palpitations and chest pain almost every day. This is all new to me are there any other sites out there on this? thank you!!

andrea

I'm glad I wandered across this page. I have been on Yasmin for almost two weeks and I finally decided that I couldn't take it any more. I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and the pill exacerbated the effects. I was barely able to get out of bed and missed several days of class. Yesterday, I experienced some slight vertigo and when I lay down on the bed I experienced a spinning sensation. At times my heart beats fast and at others I get chest pains and it feels like my lungs are burning. My complexion has gone to hell. I have a lot more acne than usual. Also, hot and cold flashes. Yesterday I felt feverish and thought maybe I was getting sick. Sometimes the nausea gets to the point where I think I might vomit.
These symptoms are in no way bad compared the Ortho Evra patch that I tried a couple years ago. It made me paranoid and lethargic. I threw up a lot. I locked myself in my room and had horribly violent dreams. I also developed a severe rage problem that came out of absolutely nowhere! There were times when I thought that I was loosing my mind. I think maybe I was a bit. The paranoia was awful and it fundamentally changed me as a person. I think birth control is sceary. I think I'm going to stick to condoms and spermacide from now on.

Chest pains, severe angina every month for last 9 months
loss of eyesight in right eye-substantial
severe eardrum pain
fatigue
de-hydration-extreme-never enough water and I drink alot
dizziness
foggy head

All related to potential side effects. Read the accompanying pamphlet with yasmin. They are all listed. We just don't read...

I'm another exmple of someone happy to have found this website and now off of Yasmine. I was on Yasmine for a couple of years with no problems or side effects until a couple of weeks ago I ended up in the hospital with chest pains. I'm 47, non-smoker/drinker. No family history of heart problems and not overweight. When the paramedics arrived at my house my bp was 210/189-it's usually 120/69. I spent the night in the hospital underwent multiple tests which all came back negative. I knew and told any doctor that would listen to me that it had to be hormonal, but I heard the same thing it seems they tell all of you with the same complaint. Anxiety attack caused by stress. I knew better, and did the research, found your site and called my gyn to tell her I would be discontinuing the Yasmine that day. We HAVE to be the advocates for our own good health. Thanks again for all of your contributions on this website-it's how I knew my gut feeling was right on.
Barbara

I started taking Yasmin about 3 months ago. About a week ago, I fainted and had to go the ER. There they found that my heart rate was irregular so they put me on a heart monitor. A day later I was back in the ER because of chest pains and a shortness of breath. Two days after that, I was in the ER once again due to my extremely high heart rate and pain in my legs. They told me it was my thyroid levels that were causing this, so I found a different doctor who said it was not my thyroid but had no idea what it was. I ended up going to a cardiologist who just told me I was under a lot of stress. I asked each doctor if my birth control could have anything to do with it, and they all told me no. Well, after finding this website, I can now see that it is Yasmin causing my health problems. Thank you all so much for posting your stories...they really saved me!

I am really getting more and more upset and frusturated reading these women's posts. Just today on teh "forum" post (see above-3 different ways to communciate about Yasmin)a 20 year old who had never been on a bcp got a pulmonary embolism two monhts on Yasmin!!!

Then I read Tricia's post and it makes me angry. How do we stop this stuff and stop the harming of more women!!!

And I got these damn tests back today from an RN who really doesn't know anything about Yasmin, high rates of potassium and suggested I find out an OBGYN and a Doctor! This is making me nuts. I keep finding inofrmation on the web that starts to add up. I know Yasmin increases potassium in the blood-but I went from 4.2 in Dec. 2005 to 5.7 Jan. 2007? One year? And I"ve been off of it for 3 months? The chest pains started in May 2006.

My breasts hurt. I have chest pain and going on 5th month of bronchitis like symptoms every menstruation! What the hell?

CHEST PAIN AND MENSTRUATION LINK

After being completely perplexed as to why every month, I am experiencing these horrendous chest pains I found two pieces of research that are of particular interest about women's menstruation, varying levels of oestrogren and heart disease. I haven't previously found anyone that understood why/how this happens, but loads and loads of women on medication.com who reported sometimes, almost immediate chest pains.

The first published by BBC in 2004 (google chest pains and menstruation) basically confirms that a woman is more vulnerable to sudden, serious heart disease during the time of the menstrual cycle when her oestrogen levels are at their lowest. (Known as 17-oestradiol which circulates in the bloodstream and dip sharply around menstruation. -Experience of chest pains during this time when there is not enough blood flow to the heart. This study was conducted by a team from Laval University in Quebec Canada. Their research confirmed a rise in reported cases of serious heart disease among pre-menopausal women. Aged 35-47. These women were admitted to the hospital for heart attack or chest pain. What is particularly interesting, is that 20 of the women reported heart related problems within five days of the beginning of their period when oestrogen levels are at their lowest. What is particularly interesting is that even though this article points to this being more common in women over 55, yasmin has been identified as having more risk to blood clots and heart troubles than other pills and am wondering how its effects on our hormones make us more suscectible to heart disease.

The second a piece by the Annals and Internal Medicine. Google chest pain and menstruation.

After being completely perplexed as to why every month, I am experiencing these horrendous chest pains I found two pieces of research that are of particular interest about women's menstruation, varying levels of oestrogren and heart disease. I haven't previously found anyone that understood why/how this happens, but loads and loads of women on medication.com who reported sometimes, almost immediate chest pains.

The first published by BBC in 2004 (google chest pains and menstruation) basically confirms that a woman is more vulnerable to sudden, serious heart disease during the time of the menstrual cycle when her oestrogen levels are at their lowest. (Known as 17-oestradiol which circulates in the bloodstream and dip sharply around menstruation. -Experience of chest pains during this time when there is not enough blood flow to the heart. This study was conducted by a team from Laval University in Quebec Canada. Their research confirmed a rise in reported cases of serious heart disease among pre-menopausal women. Aged 35-47. These women were admitted to the hospital for heart attack or chest pain. What is particularly interesting, is that 20 of the women reported heart related problems within five days of the beginning of their period when oestrogen levels are at their lowest. What is particularly interesting is that even though this article points to this being more common in women over 55, yasmin has been identified as having more risk to blood clots and heart troubles than other pills and am wondering how its effects on our hormones make us more suscectible to heart disease.

The second a piece by the Annals and Internal Medicine. Google chest pain and menstruation.

36426-

When you advise that low magnesium levels where what caused your irregular heart beats how did you confirm that? with test and then a supplement?

I am curious because I have this too as well as pain and read in more recent posts that Yasmin can flush out/create low levels on Magnesium-and that low levels of magnesium can cause the irregular heartbeat. a long time ago as well a doc told me that low progesterone which I had could also cause it?

If you did take take a supplement how much did you take and did it go away? Have you had the chest pains too?

hi, to the guest that asked about chest pains and whether i found out that caused them..i haven't found out exactly but when i saw my GP today i asked for a copy of tests that i have had done. the results for the ecg came up as follows.
ecg sinus rythm,left atrial abnormality,incomplete right bundle block..... i have no idea what all that means,came across something that mentioned heart disease and also another report that mentionion arrythmia (sorry about the spelling) my doctor never explained what these things were as he said my irregular heart beat was "just anxiety" so have had no follow up since. Whatever it is i know i did not have it previous to yasmin because i was on a heart moniter when i was pregnant with my daughter and they found nothing??

Flowerbabies,

Thank you for the thoughtful response with regards to the chest pains. How long have you had them? Did you have them while taking Yasmin? While not taking them? Was it always the week prior to your menstrual cycle? You had an ECG done as well as an EKG? I found the pain (like a very deep ache) almost unbearable the last two evenings. And of course help but wonder if its a heart attack, stroke, a pulmonary embolism like several of the other women on this site have posted actually happened to them. How long have you been off of it now? Do you have a medical background? I am really wishing there were some definitive answers/places to go for this besides another Doc who may just discount it again...and charge more costly medical bills. Is there anything that you have found that helped it?

To All-After months of looking at this site and what has seemed to be a mix of just sorting through personal dialogues of individual conversations , it is almost the first time I have found some very helpful actual fact based research and information. So whomever is making all these posts, I truly appreciate it. Please continue.

I've been having what seem to be growing chest pains, most pronounced just before my period to the point it is almost unbearable. Have other women experienced this? It started two years into taking Yasmin but I've now been off for several months and it seems to be getting worse? Does anyone know what this is or could be attributed to? I've already been to the doctor who after an EKG said that it was normal but that I had developed a heart murmur? I've also noticed palpitations and irregularity of how my heart beats during these times. I would greatly appreciate some help/information.....Its becoming quite worrisome.

Thank you

hi guest 36095.
i also still get chest pains,i have been off yasmin for 8 months. i only seem to get them either around ovulation or menstruation but it feels like someone is sitting on my chest or like i have broken my ribs or something. i also get a sensation of not being able to get enough air sometimes. these sensations are linked to hormone imbalances and hopefully they like all the other wierd and not so wonderfull symptoms will go away.

Silke.
please don't stop posting on here,you have helped so many people as you are one of the longest suffering that still visits the site. you give us hope for the future!

Kim123.
i know you feel like you are going crazy and just want anything that will heal you NOW but silke is right there is no magic cure only time will heal,your body needs time to repair itself. take the vits and minerals,carry on with your exercise and walking and keep trying to relax. we have all been were you are now and we KNOW how you are feeling. we are all just trying to reassure you that it will get better. i promise you. i felt so bad at times i wanted to end my life but i am still here and you will be too.you will use your valuable experience to help all the other new ladies that join this site. every day.
email me if you need a chat.

best wishes to you all.

sarah

To Guest 35725 and Others,

4.5 years long time but what's so great is that you are getting off of it! One step is the first in a journey. I was on it for 2.5 years and now off for 3.5 months, slowly seeing changes though I still have chest pains. I've already had an EKG that confirmed a heart murmur but other than that, I haven't pursued further medical testing because I am on major medical and the pains have been gradually subsiding.

What I can't believe, is that your Doc and all the other ladies' docs on this site don't attribute all the many problems this pill causes. When we read the size 3 font in the accompanying medical brochure, it outlines all these risks or many of them! Depression is one of them! The pill messes with serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. That's why!

I am so sorry everything you have been experiencing. i do wonder whether for women who have had children, the symptoms and troubles are that much more intense due to the changes in hormones following child birth???

I don't have anything positive to say about this pill except for the weight loss. And that, as enticing as it is today with all the hoo hah about being thin isn't worth the terrible havoc this pill takes on one's health.

Please, report your side effects to the government as well as to the manufacturer of Yasmin.

Unless you do, and document them, this site, now at almost 3000 entries will only grow, more women will suffer and this pill won't come off of the market for years, and years and years!

Best wishes to you for well being. Be gentle with yourself.

VOICESI, FLOWERBABIES, SILKE and all the women who have suffered or are presently suffering:

I've been off of Yasmin now for almost 3 months. I've noticed that several people experienced a heaviness in the chest and chest pain? Can all of you say that? My chest pains started in May of this last year. i went off of Yasmin in August. They come and go now, less so, but especially around or just before the on-set of my menstual cycle. Do you know what this could be caused by? I had an EKG and the RN confirmed that I had a slight murmur but that that was not something to be concerned with. There are times at night while I am lying down that my chest feels very heavy, like I can't take full breaths. Is this normal? Does this go away and if so when?

I am between jobs so I only have major medical and I don't want to be panicked about this or rack up more medical bills which I can't afford on this plan or in my current financial state but I wanted to see how common actual chest pain is among users former/current? What is it caused from? It started on the left side in May. Than in July radiated across my chest (felt like it was coming from underneath my breast bone and now when It comes its mostly on my left side. Is that where the heart is or is that rumor?

How and what is the best method to replenish the body after 2.5 years on Yasmin? I've never been fond or responded well to taking vitamins however I've been sick now for all of September and October, two weeks in November and again now for the last week! Alot of chest congestion, stuffed up sinuses and a cough. Sometimes headache. Is getting sick like this for months afterwards common as well?

Unlike many women here, I can't say I experienced anxiety on Yasmin. The prescribing Doctor actually recommended it for anxiety. It helped that enormously however I was in a "fog" alot-tired. They recommended taking it at night and I am now afraid that perhaps the slowing of the heart it created, on top of sleeping and an already tremendously low blood and pulse rate put me at risk otherwise?

I am presently on Orthocept but afraid of going off of it because of the emotional upheaval in the midst of having just moved back across country, looking for full time work.

After reading through so many of these writings now for the last couple of months, I'm absolutely astounded by how many problems women are experiencing. And it is being so heavily advertised I'm sure there are so many more women out there, starting it every day. I see their writings here just starting it...and I just think, this is crazy.

I'm struggling with how to be healthy now and be off of BCP's and stay away from the anti-anxieties and otherwise because my body is so sensitive I've just had so little tolerance for any of them.

HAS ANYONE BEEN ON YASMIN AND GOTTEN OFF IT AND GOTTEN PREGNANT? I'M 37 TOMORROW AND WONDERING HOW SYNTHETIC HORMONES AND ALL THE SYMPTOMS THIS PILL IS CAUSING-HOW IT COULD EFFECT OR IS AFFECTING THE POSSIBILITY FOR PREGNANCY AND HEALTH OF BABIES!!!

HAS ANYONE REPORTED THEIR SYMPTOMS TO THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY AND IF SO, WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESULT?

Many thanks in advance,
Jasmine

Kim123 - you poor thing, I will have you in my thoughts.

My main side effect has been SEVERE panic attacks and anxiety that of course comes with insomnia, nausea & chest pains.

I am trying very hard to recover without further medication and I'm trying to do it on my own. Sarah, another lovely lady on this site, has been very helpful in regards to this and has suggested some helpful tips.

Have you tried perhaps going to a homeopathic doctor? I tried that and he gave me some teas to help with my nerves, I just started yesterday and I think I need to give them about a week to find out if they work.

I also have an overwhelming feeling of sadness, for no reason at all. I'm just hoping it passes soon. I have been off this pill for three months, and I also took it for three months - so cheer up your recovery time may be less than mine.

All the best kim, and my advice is to distract yourself, keep busy doing things like washing dishes. I know sometimes you feel there's nothing that will help at which point all I did was cry hysterically and cry and cry, after that believe it or not I did feel a bit better.

If anyone has completely recovered, please let us know how many months you have been off yasmin.

Good luck ladies.

Claudia.

Dear Guest 33726-

I went off of Yasmin 2 months ago. I went instead onto Orthocept which I took years ago but will likely "wean" myself off of this as well when some of alot of transition that is happening in my life has become more settle. My ears are still plugged though they are not hurting as much as they used to while I was taking it so that should be hopeful for you. And I'm not as "foggy" headed as I was while on it. I used to take it and feel exhausted afterwards, yawn all day and pee up a total storm.

Two months off, though I am still experiencing chest pains (they were really bad last few days), ears are better. I also got a cold in September (same time I went off of the Yasmin) and it lasted for 2 whole long months! Then I was feeling a little bit more back to normal and then got sick again for this last week. I've never been sick like this in my life.

I can't link all of this to Yasmin but I've definately seen the patterns and confirmed what looks like similar experiences to so many others here (like colds, sinus and otherwise), chest pains, plugged ears, constant urination due to the diuretic effect, exhuastion and feeling blue.

I have also gained 7 lbs in just 1 month since going off of the Yasmin. Did this happen to anyone else? !!! One of the greatest benefits on it was losing weight (I am sure due to the diuretic effect)-but the trade-off of all the rest of the side effects so not worth it.

Hang in there. Things will get better. Much of them already have for me. Least I think so. And staying positive, thinking positive really important too.

SARAH-
You really do still have chest pains after 8 months of being off of Yasmin? And an irregular heartbeat? Its so strange that several women are complaining of this. Its onset must definately be related to Yasmin...Just today, I laid down because I've had this constant ache/squeezing sensation under my left breast which feels like it moves back and fourth across my chest. I have read so much that suggests these symptoms are linked to risk of heart attack and stroke? I'm almost livid that your Doctor just told you it was anxiety. I have now read so much with so many people saying that is what their Doctor told them and my RN suggested the same when I knew all these symptoms were related to the Yasmin. Did you ever have EKG or ECG or XRAY?

SOPHIE-Acid reflux? You know what blew my mind...two years ago, not long into starting on this pill-I had an upper GI done for acid reflux and discovered I had hiatal hernia! Never until reading other women talking about it that Yasmin could also now be linked to this? And now severe chest pains? Does it feel like squeezing sensation? How old are you may I ask?

How can the chest pains just be anxiety? I know a few people who landed in the emergency room following chest pains to just discover that it was anxiety but this has now been going on long enough on and off that it sounds more like un-stable angina or something else-at least in my case. I have to go and get this checked out. Please let me know if/what any tests you have had?

Many many thanks. j

I tried Yaz (lower dose form of Yasmin) for two months and it made me give up on birth conrol completely. I had many ear aches/problems but no infection.I also had some un explained chest pains. My main complaint though is when I was on the reminder pills and when I stopped the pill I got severe dry skin. I have been very oily all my life. I am also having nervousness and problems sleeping. I think it has affected my potassium levels or adrenal glands (as another member posted) because I feel like I did when I was ill before I had my gall bladder out a few years ago. I have not taken any mediceines or changed any routines during this time. I have been on 4 different birth controls for the last 8 years and this was the worst. I hope I will feel normal again.

Has anyone on or having taken Yasmin experienced actual chest pains? Like the sense initially aches/pressure in the chest? That comes and goes? I am asking because I had this and still do after being off of Yasmin for 2 months. I also have been diagnosed with a "murmur" (which is irregular flow of blood) which I think I have now seen plenty of women complaining about.

Has anyone now off of Yasmin relieved the trouble with the plugged/pressure in the ears? I am using a Nasal rinse bottle and that seems to help a little bit. I did mention in previous emails that a hearing doctor told me that they have known for a long time that ortho-contraceptive pills are odo-toxic meaning toxic to the inner ear because of the way they adjust fluid levels in the body which directly impacts fluid levels in the inner ear. This is just so crazy to me that they know that and yet, no where do I see this published and the RN's and Doctors don't know this?

this has clearly for me been such a lesson in responsibility for personal health and warey of drugs in general at this point.

Per a couple of folks questions: I recently saw an RN practicing with a Doctor because of loads of side effects that I attributed to Yasmin. most pressing was chest pains I developed in May that came and went, initially on the left side under my breast, and then in June. across my chest. This continues to come and go but seems to be elevated just before my menstrual cycle. To what I figured, they confirmed I had re-developed a heart murmur and advised that it is very common....I had an EKG done and this appeared to be normal but I have since read about Hyperkalemia (excessive potassium in the blood and its symptoms which seem identical to what I experienced while on Yasmin) and the person who wrote that she had pulmonary thrombosis-really concerns me. Can anyone else say that they have experienced lowered heart rate, skipping of beats/irregularity of rhythm on Yasmin?

Can the other people who have advised about the ear blockages say more? I saw a hearing doctor who told me that ortho contraceptives are odo-toxic (which means toxic to the inner ear) and they have known this in their field for a long time but the prescribing doctor and the RN I saw knew nothing about this. I have been off of Yasmin 2 months now (SEE PREVIOUS ENTRIES I MADE UNDER YASMIN RESEARCHER AND JPISANO) but my ears still feel like they have alot of pressure in them and I've just come through almost 3 months of being sick which I never am! I got a cold at the exact time I got off of the Yasmin. Then, started another head cold just this last week?

I am in a bit of a quandry right now because I am in transition career-wise and only carrying major medical so I have been very cautious about seeing Doctors right now but am quite concerned about all the things that happened while taking Yasmin that I am now still suffering from two months later.

I already filed on Federal Drug Administration's website which I highhly recommend. If they have enough well documented troubles, they can take action.

can the person who had PULMONARY THROMBOSIS please write and advise what your symptoms were and how you discovered that you had this and how it was treated?

Thank you.

Oh My Gosh...I'm in tears reading through everyone's posts on this forum. I started taking Yasmin 3 months ago and noticed small changes in my state of mind within the first few weeks. I think you can always expect this when changing pills so reassured myself I would get better. BUT...about 10 days ago, I experienced the onset of depression and anxiety...neither of which I have ever suffered from before...I feel completely detached from life..I'm not necessarily always sad, I'm just completely indifferent to everything and everyone...I feel like I'm being pushed through one day to the next but for absolutely no reason...I feel numb and don't know how I'm going to fill my time... One minute, I feel so blank that I have no emotion about anything...the next minute, I'm crying over the silliest things. I too had the awful feeling that my relationship with my husband was wrong because I felt no better when around him and this made me worry even more. In my more rational moments, I realise that my feelings towards him haven't really changed at all as I do still love him, but that disappears as soon as I am on a low...when I am in that state of mind, I just want someone who has been through this to give me a big hug and tell me it gets better. I have also experienced chest pains, muscle spasms (in my arms and eyelids) and am currently being monitored for my excessively high blood pressure (also something I had never had trouble with before Yasmin) I am in the process of sorting out some counselling for myself but will also stop taking Yasmin as from now. I know that my state of mind could be due to something deeper, but nothing changed in my life to trigger this except Yasmin. Having read everyone else's posts about Yasmin, I am going to come off it so I can rule it out of the equation..maybe it isn't really to blame, but it's a big coincidence if not.
Good luck everyone...I'd love to hear from anyone who can relate to what I have written...

Claire. Leeds. England.

This is only the second month im taking it but i going to stop. LIke another person who posted i have SEVERE upper back pain and its chest pains when im laying down, anxiety and depression (was depressed before this pill to so not sure if the pill made it worst) and break through bleeding im not pregnant still a virgin. The chest pains mainly scare me because my heart kinda beats irregular... Hope the next pill is a bit better...

I just stopped yasmin yesterday..I only took it for 4 days. I had heart palpitations, got a fever, my anxiety and tiredness got much worse and by the 2nd day I started getting bad chest pains. I went to the hospital cause the chest pains were so bad. They did an EKG and CT scan of my chest and I was fine. So I kept taking yasmin. But 2 days later my left lower leg started hurting. The chest pains have gone away but my lower leg is still hurting (its been hurting for 2 days now) :( Should I be worried? I'm only 24 and don't smoke. Could the pain be something other than a blood clot? I can't afford more tests!
Thanks,
Kate

Oh my gosh!!! i am STUNNED looking at this page. I have been on Yasimin for about six months...and in that time everything has gone down hill. I haven't gone off yet b/c I honestly thought it there was something else wrong with me but I am getting off this pill quickly!
I was in the ER Friday night for chest pains...they did an ECG and chest xray and put it down to bad acid reflux as a result of anxiety! I have been complaining about dizziness and headaches for months and I too get sharp pains in my legs. I just can't believe this can all be linked to this pill! Can anyone tell me how long it takes before the symptoms go away? _Jackie

I feel like Yasmin ruined my life.

I went on the pill in May of 2005, first 2 months I was fine. Summer of '05 rolled around and I was nauseous every night. I also felt like I had anxiety issues, and started crying every night (especially while watching the news, haha.)

Septemper of '05 I started having extreme chest pains. I went to a Doctor away at school, and was told I had acid reflux disease.

Not knowing the cause of Acid Reflux (I was originally told it could be an onset of stress,) when I returned from school during Christmas break, and went to my regular MD, who said it was a possibility I got it from the Yasmin. When I confronted my (now FORMER) gyno, she said she had "never heard of such."

Finally home from school for good this spring, I got a few tests done and switched to a new gyno. Turns out the problem was my YASMIN. My MD AND new gyno both told me that in the past few months they have had tons of people come in with numerous problems from Yasmin, and that everyone is getting off of it. (Most likely from their "extra" chemical they brag about during the commercials.)

It's disappointing I had to suffer a year of my life from being nauseous all of the time, crying every night for no reason, and STILL having severe cramps even though the pill was "supposed" to help.

Yasmin has been nothing but a nightmare for me, and tonight I start LoEstrin 24. Hopefully I won't have to comment on this site about LoEstrin's side effects, but I have to say I was kind of relieved to read that I wasn't the only one who had SO many issues with this pill. :/