Serious issues after coming off of birth control pills! Anixety, Acne, Fatigue, Eye Pain, Headaches

Emily and Megan, thank you so much for your responses. The headaches have dwindled for two days and I feel like a different person without them. I am curious to know what women are using for non hormonal birth control. I don't want to get pregnant right now but can't imagine getting back on hormones. The Paraguard IUD was a nightmare and so was the pill and Nuva Ring. I've started tracking my cycle but that doesn't seem too accurate or reassuring, according to data. Also, I wonder why women aren't talking about this issue of hormone withdrawal more openly. It is debilitating for us yet it's not being discussed when we are prescribed medication. Keep in touch. Glad to find you.

You're lucky! I wish my headaches would dwindle lol (they have gotten better since the first symptoms.. sinus-type headache behind eyes is gone, but still tingling scalp and left-sided headaches)... My general doctor is calling them migraines for now, until we can figure something else out. I just saw my ENT on Monday and he put me on a 3-week high-dose antibiotic right now, since he thinks it might be a deep/inner sinus infection (no drainage, but my nasal passages are still very inflamed and dry, and I was having very slight nosebleeds last week). And something I don't think I've mentioned on here is that my ears have been feeling full and constantly popping since all of the symptoms started (5 months ago). I never mentioned it because I really didn't think it was related, but now I'm starting to think it might all be tied together (maybe hormones, maybe not). Something else I thought about was that all these symptoms started about 2 months after my fiance and I moved into a different house in a different town -- also not sure if that has anything to do with it, but we are contemplating moving again to see if it is something in the area/house that is causing all my problems. I will keep you guys updated... In terms of non-hormonal birth control, my fiance and I got condoms (but haven't really used them).. Mostly the pull-out/ovulation calendar system (not technically safe lol, but I'm not opposed to getting pregnant anytime soon either, we both have baby fever right now lol)... And yes, definitely keep in touch. It's nice to go through all of this with other people! :) Best wishes...

Glad the sinus headache is gone! Those are the worst! Well of course, I say no headaches and I don't quite have one yet, but the right side of my face is tingling today, which is usually a sign of one to come. And my right eye feels weird, like vision is off somehow, but it's really not. Megan, now that you mention it, I too have that full feeling in my ears! Didn't think anything of it either, but it's definitely been around for a while. Still have foggy head and stiff neck too. I started tracking ovulation (kind of) with an app last week. Haven't been taking temperature or monitoring cervical fluid though. Do you know anyone that uses a diaphragm or something like that? I don't and am curious about it since that is basically the only thing I haven't tried lol. Hope today is going alright!

Hi Megan, It's funny that you mentioned whether your new house could be the reason for all of this because I also moved to my current apartment in June and have been dealing with problems since July/August. So from time to time I wondered whether there was something in the apartment that was causing all of this. I really think that it is highly unlikely that we would both have problems due to the apartment. Also I went and stayed with my parents for two weeks and went on a vacation for 10 days and I had the same problems. So I don't know. Well also one thing I forgot to mention is that my skin got pretty bad -I know that is the least of the problem- it is much better now that it's been 7 months but I want my skin to be the way it used to be:(

Kate - Have you noticed your headaches or tingling being better/worse depending on how you wear your hair? I usually wear my hair up in a ponytail, but have noticed that when I wear my hair down, the pain and scalp problems are slightly less (not gone by any means, but not as bad, I'm not sure if the ponytail is pulling scalp or what?).... And I definitely have the foggy head feeling still too.. Sometimes I feel a little off balance/out of it, like if I'm concentrating too hard at work.. It seems so silly, but it's almost like "I'm thinking too hard" or something lol.. My neck and shoulders were getting better when I was going to the chirpractor, but I stopped going for a few weeks and now my neck and shoulders are hurting again... I have actually been under quite a bit of stress lately too (not just because of the symptoms/anxiety from whatever hormones, etc, but my sister is getting married in May (I'm her maid of honor) and I started planning my wedding which is in September, so I could just be burnt out)... Honestly, who knows at this point! lol... Since getting off birth control, I haven't really had any problems with my period. It was random timing the first month or two, like 32 days, then 25 days.... but it's been pretty much normal every month... I actually started using this Android app called Period Diary and it has been almost exact in detecting my period start date, and shows fertile days (to avoid lol) and ovulation days, etc. It also lets you track your "intercourse" days, PMS, temperature, etc too.. It's been pretty awesome for being free. In terms of diaphragm, I have never used one and have never heard anyone talk about using one either. I always wondered about them, but never tried one since I've always been on birth control. If you do try it, let us know how it goes! lol... Take care!

Emily - That is VERY interesting that you started having problems when you moved, too. At first, I didn't really think it was the problem, but my ENT thought it was a little weird too. He said that maybe there is something in the air (new town) or house that my allergies don't like. Especially since he said my nasal passages and throat are inflamed/irritated. I literally don't have any other "classic" symptoms of allergies though (except sneezing every once in a while). Like no runny nose, itchy eye problems, etc. He said that allergies can affect people different ways. It's not at the top of my "disease" list at this point lol, but it's definitely something on my radar... I also googled "hormones" along with many of my symptoms and whatta ya know -- they popped up! lol So still waiting it out...

I also just want to sincerely thank you both for your continued responses... I honestly don't know what I would do if I didn't wake up and see you guys' posts every once in a while. It has made it SO much easier to go through this knowing other people are having some severe issues too (my fiance is so sweet and patient, but I think he has almost met his venting limit haha). Thanks again for being my support group! :) God bless you guys.

Hi Ladies! It might be worse with my hair up. However, woke up with headache/neck-ache today. Right side of face is tingly, UGH. I feel the same about the foggy head feeling. Sometimes I just have to cover my eyes with my hands and just breathe for a minute at my desk. Luckily I'm not front and center in the office! So I've been seeing a Chiropractor, Massage Therapist, and Acupuncturist. They all help in different ways, but results, for me, don't last long, but I think it's worth it regardless! I can't remember previous posts if this was discussed, but have you tried changing your diet? I ate pizza for the past two nights and now I have a headache today, I wonder if it is also related to what we eat/processed foods, etc. Just curious. I agree, it's comforting to be able to have a dialogue about this with you and hopefully one day we can feel better! More minds to figure it out helps!

It's funny you say that about diet... My naturopathic doctor wants me to eliminate all carbs and "yeast" because he thinks it might be a "candida" yeast infection, which is basically when yeast overtakes your body. I did the diet for a while in the beginning, but it is very hard! I didn't notice my symptoms going away then, but it might be because I didn't stick with it long enough? lol... It's hard to eat healthy when you feel terrible - and I live in the Midwest, so I like my "country" comfort foods (tons of carbs)! I keep telling my fiance we are going to start the diet again (need to lose a little weight for my wedding anyways), so maybe you're on to something - clean, natural diet it is! :) Also, have you noticed any difference when you exercise? I honestly haven't been doing any of that since all these symptoms started (haven't really felt up to it), but I'm wondering what would happen if I started exercising again...

It's so hard not to eat comfort foods at this time of year. Between that and not working out because I feel like my head is going to explode, I've gained about 10-12 lbs. :( Went to the gynecologist yesterday. Told her all of my issues and she definitely does not want me on the 'combined' birth control. She thinks Mirena or Skyla would be good because the hormones are centralized in the uterus. For the last two days I've had the tingling on the right side of my face, dizziness, and slight anxiety. Maybe I'm close to ovulating or getting my first real period since going off the pill? I have left a message for a naturopath too. Just curious to see what they say. But I am sick of paying $$ and not knowing how to fix. I really need to start tracking what I eat to see if it also triggers the migraines.

How is everyone doing this week?

I have also gained a bit of weight since it all started. It's so hard to get motivated to work out when you don't feel well... and I definitely agree about being sick of paying $$ and not knowing how to fix it (it's been 5 months of this for me!). I have spent tons of money at Drs and I'm getting to the point where I don't even want to go anymore (however, my naturopath has found many things that I wouldn't have known if this hadn't all happened, so I will continue to visit him and my chiropractor. my reg MD drs haven't really helped at all). I am still having the same problems as before. The antibiotic has helped with my ear popping issue, but they still feel full and I'm still having the head/ache and tingling issues. They haven't really gotten any better yet. I do still have about 1.5 weeks of antibiotic left though, so we'll see what happens. I will be following up with ENT and maybe getting referred to a neurologist if it doesn't get better... I went to the chiropractor yesterday and he said that he also thinks I do have sinus/allergy problems, as well as some sort of nerve issue. He thinks it could be occipital neuralgia or some sort of pinched nerve in my neck from tension, etc - which actually does make some amount of sense due to the high levels of anxiety I experienced when it all first started (I was pretty tense for a good amount of time). My anxiety since then has gotten better, but he said it could take a while to get the nerve loose and/or healed up... I guess I'll just have to wait and see... How is everyone else doing?

I haven't posted in awhile. My anxiety has gotten better bit my lips still tingle. Not so much my head anymore but I still get daily stabbing pains on top of my head. And yes wearing it up makes it much worse! Has any body had sore muscles?? My whole leg had been sore for two weeks. I red anxiety AND hormone imbalance can cause it. Also i get chest pain and heaviness alot. Im guessing from the nerves. I also get heart palpatations alot. All these things lead to more anxiety. Im tryinf to learn to control it. I'm 5 months off and just want my life back.

Hi ladies, for some reason I haven't been receiving notifications in my email so I didn't think anyone replied. I decided to check and see how everyone was doing today randomly. So I have couple of things to mention before I forget, for some time I also thought that I had candida and I have done the whole candida diet (and Im still eating no sugar/no wheat etc.) took coconut oil supplements for about 2.5 months. Sorry to say that I still have some of the symptoms like dizziness and brain fog from time to time, so I guess it wasn't candida. I am also seeing an acupuncturist which helped with anxiety but I need to keep going regularly. I still feel like I have some sort of hormonal imbalance. An alternative medicine physician I have been seeing recommended eating cilantro because it is supposed to regulate your hormones so yesterday I started putting cilantro in everything that I eat, even though I hate it. If it helps I am wiling to eat a pound of cilantro every week! So it is almost the end of the 8th month for me. My periods have been regular as well. I had the last one two weeks ago and I had the worst depression/anxiety for a whole week. I hadn't felt this way in months, so it was very scary to go through that again. From time to time I lose hope and think that I will never be the way I used to be. On top of that a week ago, while I was washing my face I felt hard and swollen lymph nodes under my chin on one side. It scared me a lot because I didn't have a flu or an upper respiratory infection recently and I have no idea why they might be swollen. I saw my primary care doctor and she didn't seem that worried, she wants to wait 2-3 weeks to see whether they will go down. I really hope that it's nothing bad, wish me luck!

I was thinking about you ladies today too. It's so awful that so many of us feel terrible and can't get healthy again. I wish the doctors we saw understood our concerns better. I sometimes feel brushed off. I see my acupuncturist next week too. I had been seeing her consistently from Nov. 2013 through Aug 2014 and stopped. I think maybe that's when I started to feel really bad, over this winter, so maybe it really does help my body. Started back up last month in the middle of that week after I went off BC. Emily, has your alternative medicine dr told you to take supplements or other herbs? I'm just curious. I get anxiety the week before I get my period too, and part of when I have it. Although, I'm getting nervous bc it's been exactly one month since I stopped taking BC and I haven't had a REAL period. Haven't had the migraines, but have had foggy/dizzy head for the last two days on and off, so I hope I'm going to get my period asap. Did you ladies get your period after a month off BC or did it take longer?? Should I be concerned and get a pregnancy test? Chrissy, I'm sorry you are having anxiety. I get the heart palpitations too randomly. Scary stuff.

Rather late to answer, may help another woman, When I came of the birth pill after 15 years I put on 2 stone all fluid, docotor gave me water tablets lost 6 pounds in 1 day, new this was not the cure, went to see a omeapath, said it was my puturity gland gave me some pills cured in 6 weeks, use alternative medicine.

It took me 6 weeks to get my first one.

Hi ladies - I haven't been getting notifications in my email either... Just an update on my whole crazy situation. I have been going to my naturopathic dr for about 3 months now. Since I started going, I have found out the following deficiencies: magnesium very low, potassium low, vitamin b's low. I also found out that I have hypothyroidism (taking meds for that now). At my last visit a week ago, I also found out that my iron levels are severely low and my vitamin d levels are very low too. I'm not quite sure why I'm so low on everything! He is doing a few calcium tests too, which I will find out about next time I go (in a few weeks). I am currently taking supplements of everything I am low in (yes, it's a lot!), but I am feeling much better in terms of energy, and my dizziness is pretty much gone. I also have to do a stool test to make sure there's no "invisible blood" in my stool. I've been reading about Celiac Disease and how it can cause many vitamin deficiencies, so I'm hoping I can rule that out! But who knows... Even after all these things, I still have the whole ear/head pressure and sore tingling scalp problem, although the actual headaches have reduced almost completely. My naturopathic dr has suggested I follow up with my dentist, as he thinks it could be slight tmj or wisdom teeth problem (I still have them, and they are impacted). I am still on this long journey to getting back to normal, but trying to stay positive! Glad everyone is doing okay :) Please continue to update us.

And to answer the period question --- I got my period a few days after my last pack (like normal), and I have had my periods every month, but they were a little off-schedule in the beginning. The days of my cycle would vary greatly (26 days one month, to 32 the next, then 28.. etc). They are pretty much right on schedule now (6 months later).