Anyone take BCP?

[Guest guest]

Hi! I don't know anyone who actually has FM or CFS and takes birth control

pills. Does anyone

here currently take them and does it affect your health?

Thank You,

Ursula

[Guest guest]

Yes i take them and i have also had a 2 year period when i didn't take

them ,it didn't affect the fibro either way.

michelle jadaa

> Hi! I don't know anyone who actually has FM or CFS and takes birth control

> pills. Does anyone

> here currently take them and does it affect your health?

> Thank You,

> Ursula

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ursula:

 

The birth control pill was the reason I ended up with the disease I have.

 

                                             Lou

[Guest guest]

I don't believe i have seen any study anywhere that associated the

birth control pill with causing cfs or fibro?Or even with any effect

on their symptoms??

michelle jadaa

> Hi Ursula:

>

> The birth control pill was the reason I ended up with the disease I have.

>

> Lou

>

[Guest guest]

I have never heard that before...can you elaborate? Can you tell us

where to go for actual proven clinical research to back up a statement

like that from good sources, or is this your personal opinion? You need

to be clear on that when you make a statement like that on a site like

this that is read by lots of people new to the disease who may start

blaming things on what is read here - and that is one statement I feel

funny about since I see the best doctors for these conditions and none

have ever mentioned that. Plus I am a Naturopathic practitioner and I

dont support it either.

Dr.

>

> Hi Ursula:

>  

> The birth control pill was the reason I ended up with the disease I

have.

[Guest guest]

I 100% agree with you!!

Lets put it this way - I was on ever higher doses of hormones that the

pill for treatment for serious endometriosis, and finally needed a

hysterectomy at the age of 22 it was so bad!!! And it didnt change my

Fibro one way or the other! I havent been on the pill for almost 10

years and Im actually worse now than I was then! There is no big

connection between the pill and Fibro and I want to know to the person

who claims it is the reason she has Fibro, who told you that?? If that

was the case there would be a huge recall of all birth control becuase

everyone in the world who takes it would all now have Fibro....see what

I mean?? Who ever told you that, I would not listen to anything else

they tell you about Fibro becuase they dont seem to know much about it

at all, and that is going to make it worse for you becuase you wont get

the proper treatment you need to help you from someone who says things

like that. There are alot of quacks out there and I suspect this came

from someone in holistic care since that is the field with the most

trouble. That is my field and I am dedicated to reform in it and to

much higher standards than what is out there now. BE CAREFULL! And be

carefull of your own research sources!!! Check them! Anyone can post a

paper on line - it doesnt make it true! Just be real carefull becuase

who ever told you this doesnt understand this disease or if you got to

this conclusion on your own, your sources are not reliable. This is a

neurological disease. I have never heard it as a cuase or even talked

about as a cuase becuase it doesnt make sence. You would see much more

of a connection between the two and if the cuase of fibro was finally

discovered you would hear it everywhere! I wish it were that simple

hon! You may be connecting the abdomincal pain with no cuase and the

endometriosis that femal Fibro sufferers have in common. But its not

the pill that is the cuase of Fibro, ....men have it too hon.

Dr.

>

> Yes i take them and i have also had a 2 year period when i didn't take

> them ,it didn't affect the fibro either way.

[Guest guest]

Dr. Bell had explained to me when I took this, it caused stress to my body.  I

was perfectly healthy to the very day it happened.  I had been on bc a couple of

different times over the years with no problems. 

 

I don't know what you mean y telling you where to go for actual proven clinical

research.  There is none.  It's not that the pill itself caused this disease. 

My body reacted to the pill and it caused the stress in the body.

 

I'm as clear as I can be and I'm telling you exactly what happened.  I can't

help it that's how I got ill.  Dr. Bell said it was caused by the stress when I

took it.  I can't help it if you don't support any of this what I just said.  I

wouldn't be in this predicament if I hadn't taken it.

 

I aleady talked with Dr. Bell about it and it's stated in all my medical

records.  It was just some weird reaction to the pill.

 

But it sounds like you're accusing me of saying something that I shouldn't be

saying.  This is the truth and I'm telling people because this is what

happened.  I can't help it.  Whether you believe it or not, I don't really

care.  It's my life that got ruined because of it.

 

You didn't have to be harsh on your words.  I don't appreciate what you said.

 

                                                           Lou

[Guest guest]

I think what may affect my FM or my CFS, may not affect another

person's. There is no black and white answers to these questions even

though some people believe there are.

I think we have to listen to your bodies, read the research, ask fellow

sufferers and speak with our doctors then make

the decisions from that point.

I take BCPs and I know they affect my CFS but I have to take them

because of a physical problem so I had to decide between two evils.

P.J.

> I 100% agree with you!!

> Lets put it this way - I was on ever higher doses of hormones that

the

> pill for treatment for serious endometriosis, and finally needed a

> hysterectomy at the age of 22 it was so bad!!! And it didnt change my

> Fibro one way or the other! I havent been on the pill for almost 10

> years and Im actually worse now than I was then! There is no big

> connection between the pill and Fibro and I want to know to the

person

> who claims it is the reason she has Fibro, who told you that

[Guest guest]

Please don't be upset Lou...........I'm thinking that you used an

important word " STRESS " .

MY personal theory right now is that CFS and Fibro are genetic and act

like a switch which is turned on by the bodies reaction to stress.That

stress is different for different people,for some its a car accident

or abuse or just simply overdoing it,It turns on the switch and you

have Fibro or Cfs or both.One dr described it to me as a car alarm

that goes off constantly.

michelle j

[Guest guest]

Im sorry you took it so very personal , but you made a statement

that could mislead alot of people and I had to jump on that. You

didnt say the stress of a pill was one of the cuases of your Fibro.

You stated directly that you got Fibro FROM birth control, which

implies the way you put it that it cuases Fibro, which it specificly

does not, I mean that it is not going to give everyone who takes it

Fibro which is how your statement came across. There are LOTS of

factors that brin on Fibro, not just one. Your doc is a great guy and

Im definatly sure he was making much more of a reference in the

issues that cuased you to need the pill (problems with painfull

periods and womens issues). Its very easy for us to try to point a

finger on one thing and one thing only when we have a disease that

has no real cause - no ONE thing that cuased it in ONE moment in

time. But it is human to want to find and label something as the

singular cause of our disease, even though, and may becuase, there is

no one cuase. So we have to remove blinder that way may have that can

make what doctors say to us or how we think of things all " prove "

what we WANT to hear. Its comforting when you know why something is

turning your life upside down. But in reality, there is no one thing

that causes this, and when we accept that, we can move on to the

future and no the past, and start finding treatment to help is. And

there is lots and lots of research about this disease and how it

comes about. We no know that it is neurological as well as

immunlogical. I dont know where you have been looking for research,

but the new advances are there. Again, we have to want to see the big

picture to see the forrest for the trees. Please done take it as

offence, Im only trying to help you with current information and

pointing out how you presented it to us, which is different from what

you explained to us. As far as I know I think Dr. Bell is getting

into retirment, right?? Go see Dr. Natelson, he is in NYC and he is

as good if not better. They know eachother as there are only a few

specialists in the country and the world.

Dr.

[Guest guest]

Who is the person that said she has Fibro due to the pill?  I missed that one.

 

                                         Lou

[Guest guest]

> Hi! I don't know anyone who actually has FM or CFS and takes birth

> control pills. Does anyone here currently take them and does it

> affect your health?

> Thank You,

> Ursula

Hi Ursula,

(BCP - Oh. Birth control pills. I don't do well with acronyms, though

I use them.)

BCP have often been prescribed for symptoms of CFS/FM/OI.

I am fascinated to learn Dr. Teitelbaum and other sources believes

birth control pills contribute to CFS/FM symptoms.

I have spoken to many people with CFS/FM/OI on birth control pills to

help with CFS symptoms as well as for other reasons such as

dysmenorrhea of different forms.

I took birth control pills decades before being diagnosed with OI and

CFS, including for a truly awful case of dysmenorrhea. I had OI

symptoms all my life, since early childhood, long before the late

1960's when I took the much higher doses of estrogen than are

prescribed now. I was diagnosed in 1998, becoming severely ill since

1993.

Any substance in a body compromised by illness is a bit of a canary in

the coal mine situation. I am careful to read up about common and

expected side effects of drugs I have taken since my CFS/OI diagnoses.

But even what is expected as side effects of drugs are not the bottom

line of how a drug will affect you. You are a human being, a very

special and unique creation. There is no one thing you can count on

helping or hurting you.

With the very best doctors and resources in the world, Oprah's thyroid

condition went undiagnosed for a year.

We have to pay attention to our bodies after ingesting anything.

Anything! I just discovered almonds cause skin eruptions in me. I love

almonds, have been eating them for years. I didn't know until a few

months ago. (Almonds, mango, bananas, apricots, all related to latex.

I am allergic, discovered when I figured out the shiny red rash under

my breasts at the end of the day was due to the exposed latex of the

bra's band. I kept buying larger bras, but, no help there!)

Our bodies are remarkable for their ability to keep us going when we

are so sick. We owe our bodies our attention and care. Paying more

attention is not likely to hurt us.

toni

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CFAlliance/

[Guest guest]

I was put on them twice to  supposedly help with irregular bleeding  and

possible  endometriosis  pain.     I could not tolerate them  they increased

my fatigue  as well as dizzyness.   But then I'm sensitive to meds.

As alot of us with  CFS/Fibro/ME are.

 

[Guest guest]

Check back a few messages to msg 28713. Then check out the link there.

Dr. Teitlebaum has identified it as a cause of CFS as has Dr. Bell. By

the way, Dr. Bell is one of the original authorities on CFS and is

quoted extensively as an authority in the literature, as is Dr.

Cheney). Both of Dr. Bell and Dr. Cheney were the first to identify

outbreaks attributed to CFS.

-- In CFAlliance , " Dr. Craft "

wrote:

>

> Thank you on that. I agree and Im glad you shared on this.

> Dr.

>

>

>

>

> >

> > I don't believe i have seen any study anywhere that associated the

> > birth control pill with causing cfs or fibro?Or even with any effect

> > on their symptoms??

>

[Guest guest]

This was similar to my experience, and to my daughter's. We both found,

also, that our mood and cognitive ability were negatively affected by even

the lowest-dose BCP on the market.

regards,

Jayne

-----------------

I was put on them twice to supposedly help with irregular bleeding and

possible endometriosis pain. I could not tolerate them they increased

my fatigue as well as dizzyness. But then I'm sensitive to meds. As alot

of us with CFS/Fibro/ME are.

[Guest guest]

I take them and have done so for about 7 years. I started taking them because

of the CFS actually and because of skin problems. Going through periods is very

difficult for me, exacerbating all of my symptoms. The point of taking birth

control was to keep control of my hormones. For the past couple of years I've

been on the 3 month pill so that I don't have to go through it as often. I have

to say I'm a little disturbed that they could be harming me.

-Alia?

[Guest guest]

more of issue is your painful periods which seem to be a common thread

in female fibro/CFS/ME people, and if traced back and be part of the

cause in your body of the original stressor that brought it out - not

the pill. Please talk to a specialist about your concern on any drug,

the internet can be a great place, but also full of info that cant hold

its own under current clinical research. Also keep in mind many of this

pill issue is coming from the fringe. I wish you would take my advice

all, since I am a Naturopathic practitioner that believes in balance of

both western medicine and alternative. If Im telling you to be carefull

of info in the " alternative " world and really check it with current

clinical data - or talk to a doc who knows how this disease works, you

need a specialist cut and dry - all of us - to get the best care ( if

you had a problem with anything else in your body, you would see the

right kind of doc for it, so why not this????), Im here becuase I care

and I not only need support too but can give good advice as a doc who

has this disease, not just helps those with it, I see it from both

ends. Talk to a specialist and get thier feelings before you jump on

any thing as the " cuase " of your disease or worry if something approved

as safe is going to " hurt " you.

Dr.

[Guest guest]

And since then, there has been more research and updates on old

material.

Dr.K

>

> Check back a few messages to msg 28713. Then check out the link

there.

> Dr. Teitlebaum has identified it as a cause of CFS as has Dr. Bell.

By

> the way, Dr. Bell is one of the original authorities on CFS and is

> quoted extensively as an authority in the literature, as is Dr.

> Cheney). Both of Dr. Bell and Dr. Cheney were the first to identify

> outbreaks attributed to CFS.

[Guest guest]

First of all, quit saying it's my fibro--please.  It's my CFS that I have. 

Jumping on stuff is the problem that you have.  You jump on people too quickly

before you ask them nicely for more info.

 

I didn't get Fibro from birth control pill, I got CFS.  I didn't have any issues

with taking the pill.  It's called I didn't want to get pregnant.  I didn't have

any other isues for taking it.

 

I'm not looking for any research, as you asked me that.  All I stated was the bc

pill caused my CFS and I was perfectly healthy until the day it happened.  When

I took the pill, I got sick.  I wouldn't of been sick if I had not taken it.  I

got the stress from the pill.  The pill was tied in with the stress that caused

havoc on my body.

 

I have no desire to see any more CFS docs.  My disease is turning more into

Lupus so I'm staying with my Rheumatologist.

 

                                                       Lou

Im sorry you took it so very personal , but you made a statement

that could mislead alot of people and I had to jump on that. You

didnt say the stress of a pill was one of the cuases of your Fibro.

You stated directly that you got Fibro FROM birth control, which

implies the way you put it that it cuases Fibro, which it specificly

does not, I mean that it is not going to give everyone who takes it

Fibro which is how your statement came across. There are LOTS of

factors that brin on Fibro, not just one.

[Guest guest]

I think you getting angry over the fact that Im telling you saying

that you took the pill and *poof* CFS is not very factual, and you

are making a very complicated disease sound very simple - as if there

is ONE simple cause and its birthcontrol or any ONE thing.

If you did some research you would see this is what I said to you.

And a good practitioner could help. Lupus and CFS are two different

things and dont " turn " into eachother - if you have Lupus its likely

you have been misdiagnosed with CFS all along - it happens alot for

Lupus people. I dont have a problem, I have information, and you dont

like it. But that doesnt mean I have a problem,not do I do the things

you come at me with. Lay off me. I was trying to help you.

Dr.

[Guest guest]

Why do you continue trying to 'help' her when it's clear she doesn't want your

help. PLEASE allow others to disagree even if you believe they are 'wrong'.

She's entitled to her point of view even if it disagees with yours. I think you

have to give respect if you want to take it.

P.J.

>I was trying to help you.

> Dr.

>

[Guest guest]

> Lay off me. I was trying to help you.

> Dr.

Your statement reminds me of the time a therapist reminded me of the

intro scenes with music of the tv show, " The Odd Couple. "

Tony Randall's character grabs the arm of a gray-haired woman with an

umbrella as she crossed the street. The woman turned on him,

immediately, beating him with her umbrella.

Hmmm. Maybe my therapist thought of that scene because my name is also

toni?

I think not. I think my therapist wanted me to know my help is not

always wanted nor appreciated, is often, in fact, downright insulting.

toni

[Guest guest]

I have no desire to do any research.  I guess you must be calling Dr. Bell a

liar?  He's one of the top CFS researchers.  CFS is only a syndrome.  Dr. Bell

said personally that CFS CAN turn into Lupus or any other disease.

 

I don't why you would tell me to lay off you.  I don't have any problem at all

with people talking about the bc pill.  This was my own personal story of what

happened to me.  Dr. Bell is my own personal CFS doc.

 

I can't help it if CFS can turn into other diseases.  That's just a fact of life

and it's not going to change our lives so we always have CFS.  It's not that

simple.

 

Dr. Bell and my doctors are trying to help me.  They don't scream words and get

angry at everything.

 

                                                                     Lou

[Guest guest]

Dr. you are saying that there is research showing that birth

control pills are not causative for CFS despite the fact that well

known doctors(Bell and Teitlebaum) say taking birth control is

causative. What research are you basing this on? Give us specific

references (I.e.don't just give us your opinion).

Also, you are making gross misstatements in your posts. For instance

in your post I haven't been on the pill for almost 10

years and Im actually worse now than I was then!, you said " There is

no big connection between the pill and Fibro and I want to know to

the person who claims it is the reason she has Fibro, who told you

that?? If that was the case there would be a huge recall of all birth

control because everyone in the world who takes it would all now have

Fibro "

First of all, the first part of this has been answered (Bell and

Teitlebaum)

Second of all. No one said that EVERYONE who takes birth control gets

CFS. The correct statement is that SOME who take birth control get

CFS. So you are incorrectly stating what has been said.

Also, you are once again jumping on (and yourself used the

word " jump " ) when she is correct and you are wrong.

Referring to your post 28704 once again,you said " BE CAREFULL! And

be carefull of your own research sources!!! " There you gave good

advive and it should be applied to some of the other advice you have

handed out.

And looking at the same post 28704 you stated you had endometriosis

which was treated with hormones and this did not change your fibro in

one way or another. If your fibro was coincident with your

endometriosis then quite possibly your fibro was caused by hormonal

stress which is what is being implied by saying taking BCP causes

CFS. So the cause of your fibro and 's CFS may not both a

hormonal disturbance (with 's being from the BCP)..

Lastly, it is incorrect to jump to the conclusion (which you have

done) that if taking BCP can cause CFS, then going off them would end

the CFS. The reason (at least in 's case) is that taking the

birth control set off her immune system which then began attacking

her own body. So now her CFS is a result of a dysfuntioning immune

system (the dysfunction having being caused initially by the BCP).So

your making the statement in post 28704 " I havent been on the pill

for almost 10 years and Im actually worse now than I was then! " is

reaching a wrong conclusion. In fact, the BCP sets off the immune

system which is what then causes the CFS. Once this happens, going

off the BCP makes no difference.

So, in that one post 28704, there are all sorts of Inaccuracies, yet

you " jump " on in particular when everything she has said is

correct.

> >

> > Check back a few messages to msg 28713. Then check out the link

> there.

> > Dr. Teitlebaum has identified it as a cause of CFS as has Dr.

Bell.

> By

> > the way, Dr. Bell is one of the original authorities on CFS and is

> > quoted extensively as an authority in the literature, as is Dr.

> > Cheney). Both of Dr. Bell and Dr. Cheney were the first to

identify

> > outbreaks attributed to CFS.

>

[Guest guest]

I have been taking BCP for over 10 years, and didn't get sick till a

few years after being on them, It was not the cause, a car accident

was, that is when it all started, and it was a minor rear end

accident,

Be nice you all, we are all in the same boat, try to be friends, we

have so few, Thanks Jeanette

>

> Dr. you are saying that there is research showing that birth

> control pills are not causative for CFS despite the fact that well

> known doctors(Bell and Teitlebaum) say taking birth control is

> causative. What research are you basing this on? Give us specific

> references (I.e.don't just give us your opinion).