NWR: BC Rant... my apologies... it's long

Torir911 · September 2009

So ever since December I have been on the quest for a BC that works with me. I've done patches, rings, and pills. The first two didn't work very well for me (libido went downhill and I was just depressed). So January started my new years resolution to get a pill that worked for me. After months of trials I found one that worked (surprisingly it was the first pill I ever used waaaay back in the day to regulate my periods before ever doing the naughty). The reason I ever stopped taking the pill? The pharmacy started giving me the generic & health insurance wouldn't cover the name-brand. The generic didn't work for me... so I started going w/ new pills, the latest trends in stick on birth control, & insertable ones, too. I never took the shot, though. This lasted for the past five years. So LUCKY ME I fianlly found one that works well with me (again). I decided to switch from picking up my pill at Planned Parenthood... (I started going there in the stupid "in between years" of graduating college and having no health insurance because they drop you like a bad habit a month after graduation & am just too lazy to go to a real doctor at this point). It's a little out of the way, so I asked to have my pill called in to the local hannaford-- but I asked specifically NO GENERIC BRANDS. No problem. I go to pick it up yesterday and find out I GOT THE GENERIC VERSION!! So... I'd rather go w/out than touch this generic crap. And who is the pharmacist to switch it up on me??? The pharmacy is claiming no wrong-doing. I called Planned Parenthood to see what we can do to correct this and I got a run around and a practioner is going to call me later. I just hate BC and can't wait til after we have babies so I can just get him fixed and move on with this part of my life. I've probably spent enough money preventing pregnancy to have had a baby and send it off to college by now.

MegnDev · September 2009

I used to have issues with BC, too. The only thing that ever truly worked well was the shot. Thankfully now we're at the point of having had three kids and DH having it "taken care of" two weeks before Lily was born!!

chayer227 · September 2009

Have you looked into an IUD? I know they sound so old-fashioned, but I know several people who have them and swear by them. They're not right for everyone - I wouldn't bother if you're planning to conceive within the next couple of years. And, if your insurance doesn't cover them, they are expensive. I looked into getting one last year, but my insurance didn't cover them at all, and now that I have a different job, with insurance that covers it 100%, we're too close to trying for babies to make it worth the effort.

gabrielleelise1981 · September 2009

I second the suggestion to looking into getting an IUD. You don’t have to have had children like some people believe (I have one and no kids). I won’t lie, if you’ve never had kids it is *unpleasant* to have put in, but it only takes a minute, and then you are covered for up to 5 years. If you take it out, there is no “waiting period” to conceive either. I had cramps that were similar to mild/severe time of the month cramps for about 2-3 months after getting it put in (on and off), but since then, it’s been GREAT. A lot of pills didn’t work for me, and the patch gave me a rash/burn (I have very sensitive skin). If you want a doctor rec, I recommend mine to anyone: Coastal Women’s Healthcare in Scarborough. They are all wonderful!

Torir911 · September 2009

Honsetly, IUD's scare the heck out of me. My doctor back in the day recommended not having one inserted until I've had kids. And I'm not saying we plan on having kids immediately, but probably in about 3 years or so. I'm just annoyed that the pharmacist even has a right to switch up your BC due to insurance billing. A practicioner is going to be calling me at some point today so we can sort this out & hopefully I can get the right pill in order to start my cycle tomorrow without any glitches. It just doesn't cross me as being a very fair system... especially when it comes to something as personal and touchy as a woman's BC. It's not like they're switching a name brand painkiller for a generic one... these are hormones and stuff that get mixed up when BC's are switched. I finally find one that works & it gets F'd up.

danieleandwayne · September 2009

I second Gabrielleelise's post. I have had the Mirena patch now for 3 years (and I have never had a kid-- only time I've ever come close to fainting, and I wrestled in college with a broken rib) and I love it! I've had none of the side effects of the depo shot (no weight gain, etc.) and I don't have to worry about getting to the doctor every 3 months for it. Nor do I have to worry about my stress levels throwing off the effectiveness of the hormone towards the end of the 3 month cycle, like I had to do with the shot.I've had HORRID HORRID cramps and terrible issues with my periods ever since I got my lousy period at 11 years old (bleeding so heavy for 10 days that I'd faint and become anemic; I ovulate twice so I'd get 2 periods/month-- at 10 days each; etc)... so I've been on pills and such for a long time. I was also really reticent about the IUD because of all the bad press they got back in the 70s and 80s, but this is NOT your mother's IUD! I cannot recommend the Mirena IUD enough, although I have had one friend (out of 5) who didn't like it because she still got her period too much. I ALSO got mine from Coastal Women's in Scarborough (back when I worked in Portland) and they were FANTASTIC about it. I recommend them highly. And there is allegedly no problem conceiving after having the Mirena IUD removed. Not that I worry about that, since the women in my family can stand next to someone saying the word "baby" and get pregnant...Whatever you decide, good luck. And ask a lot of questions to a doctor who will take the time to answer them thoroughly. It's important, right?

NWR: BC Rant... my apologies... it's long

Re: NWR: BC Rant... my apologies... it's long

Choose Another Board

Search Boards