Sudden weight gain after stopping birth control?!

SUCCESS STORY
SO glad I found this thread. I've had the same experience of awful and uncomfortable weight gain BUT have found a solution and wanted to share it to hopefully help someone experiencing this in the future!
So, my story is - I was on Rigevidon for 5 years and Microgynon for 5 years before that - so overall, I'd been on the pill for 10 years. I decided to come off it for lots of reasons (not to do with starting a family) and just wanted my body to feel more natural and like my own. I came off at the end of a packet.
EXPECTATION
I expected to have bad PMS, heavy and irregular periods in the months following along with weight fluctuation.
REALITY AFTER 2 MONTHS POST PILL
PMS was bad, but not as bad as expected
Period was normal
Bad joint pain (mostly in elbows and hands)
Cycle remained regular
Gain of 10lbs

The gain was obviously the biggest thing for me, it felt like I was wearing a fat layer, it was the most uncomfortable bloat ever, I felt so low and had no energy to do anything. I tried diets, exercise etc and nothing worked - I could NOT shift the bloat over the course of 2 months. I thought about going back on it but knew there had to be another way. Too embarrassed to go to the doctor. Generally just felt upset and huge! Also, the joint pain was awful. I worried that I was getting arthritis it was so painful.

FINALLY A SOLUTION
I found this thread, did lots of research and took lots of the advice and this is what worked for me (I haven't been to the doctor or anything so this is purely what I've done based on research and it's helped me out massively - the results may not be the same for everyone so please don't take this as gospel):
I developed a plan and started on a Monday morning which I have been following now for 1 month, the plan consisted of:

- Water, water, water (I know a few people have mentioned this and they are completely right) - 2 litres a day.
I drunk 1 litre of water before 9am each morning and the other litre throughout the day
- One cup of coffee a day in the morning and none for the rest of the day (this was a struggle as I LOVE coffee)
- Dandelion Root Tea - 2 cups a day (recommend starting this at a weekend as it REALLY flushes you out)
- Green tea (again, this was a struggle as I'm such a coffee drinker)
- Generally healthy diet, lots of fruit and veg. Only things I avoided were takeaways, packaged and processed food - simply because I never eat them anyway.
- Walking: I walked for 20 minutes 3 times per week
- Cod liver oil (1 tablet a day for healthy joints)

1 MONTH ON
I feel GOOD. I feel back to my normal self, the bloat is gone, my joints are feeling more normal, my skin is glowing and my energy levels are raised. Oh and I've lost weight and inches. I can fit into clothes again and have got rid of the fat layer. I feel really happy in myself mentally, which is a massive thing for me.

I really hope this helps someone, as I feel SO much better. Keep in mind that you'll wee ALOT so be mindful of this when at work etc. Good luck!!!!!!

Please do your own research too as this is simply what worked well for me and I'm not advocating this as the perfect method. I just wanted to share to show that this CAN be beaten and going back on the pill is not the only option!

This sounds like PCOS. Have you talked to your doc about that?

No, if it is PCOS then I am one of those people that would have never known since I started my hormones at 17. I need to find a new OBgyn too, mine didn't do anything. I had to get my naturopathic MD to test my hormones.

What helped me
I came to the boards and was frustrated to not see that many posts with success stories, so I am sharing mine. I am 40 y.o and felt I was having bad side effects from Lo Estran Fe - depression etc. When I went off the pill just over 5 weeks ago I gained 8 lbs in 2 weeks (Im 5'2"), felt like I had constant PMS, breast tenderness, and looked pregnant. I saw a photo that made me cry. Nothing had changed in my diet or exercise. Then 5 weeks after stopping I got my first period and Im starting to loose weight not gain.

So I am not sure if any of this helped or if just time plays a part but I went on an immediate quest to solve this issue with supplements and bringing my body back in balance. This is what I am taking:
Maca- 1 tsp in a smoothie every morning- same smoothie I was drinking before just added this.
Chaste Berry- as directed
Milk Thistle- as directed
Tumeric - as directed
Evening Primrose at night - as directed
Vitamin D
Drinking Healthy Cycle Tea by traditional medicinals - found in whole foods or sprouts

Added in 40 mins extra cardio a week- and upped my weights in strength training
Also went on a low estrogen diet 
Cut out all products and containers with BPA.

I hope to see continued weight loss but am finally encouraged. Wishing everyone success.

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What was the treatment please

I agreed i just came off the bc on January 12 and had withdrawl bleeding 2days after no period until February 23 took a pregnancy test 2weeks ago and both came out faint line so i dont know whats going on i feel bloated all the time and miserable i dont know if prego or not

I'm 38 I took ortho Lo for 20 years and I have 2 kids and one miscarriage. I stopped taking the pill last year (2016) October to have surgery in November. Since surgery mid November I've gained 10 pounds so Jan 9th I started diet and with a trainer! Been at it 2 months and no changes

Hiya Ladies.

I'm posting on behalf of my fiance who has been going through exactly the same thing. Came off the pill and over the period of a year gained a stone in weight even thought there was no change in diet or exercise regime.

We tried endless amount of supplements as suggested on here and she killed herself for hours in the gym but in the end whats really brought the weight off is a serious reduction in carbs.

This can seem impossible and pretty daunting but there are loads of good sites out there now with free advice on keto diet, we think the pill some how effected/caused/masked an insulin resistance issue as some one else on here pointed out.

So even what would be a low amount of carbs for a normal person spikes her blood sugar levels. type insulin resistance into ditch the carbs and read the page about it and watch a really good TED video.

In the last couple of months she has now lost 10 pounds and its still coming off.

All the best

Lee

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Vitamin B (complex - good equality), Vitamin D and Health Force liver support all help too!!! Thank you so much for posting.

Oh - carrots or carrot juice, too. Carrots can regulate hormone imbalances - go figure.

Posted this on the wrong thread -
Vitamin B (complex - good equality), Vitamin D and Health Force liver support all help too!!! Also, eat
Carrots or drink carrot juice. Carrots are detoxifying and they can balance hormones - go figure. Thank you so much for posting.

I was on the pill for over 5 years and went off, within a year I had gained 50 lbs. No changes in diet or exercise and extreme decrease in libido. Back on the pill I go. :/

I know its been over a year but any news? Please someone give me some good news. I have been battling a 15 lb weight gain immediately after getting off birth control with no results and everyone shrugs it off including doctors and say I must be eating more. It is so beyond non-helpful and insane this is not more widely known. I have been fit and into nutrition wellness my whole life...I'm not eating more.

Did you see a Doctor before going back on pill? To get tests done? I'm dealing with the same thing (Its been a year off the pill) but there HAS to be a way to take care of this without going back on BCP

Really not helpful.