Yasmin and Side Effects

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

Hello there!
I've been reading various articles and snooping all over VagPag but to no avail.
Help?

I've been taking Yasmin for somewhere in four months now. I've been very happy with both it's effectiveness and the way it's worked with my body (lighter periods, manageable cramps, cleared up my skin, mood swings are kept at bay for the most part, very little weight gain, etc). However there is one thing that's been nagging at me recently. Specifically over the last 2 months or so.

Normally, I'm a bit of a space cadet. But these past 2 months I've been experiencing lapses in memory and very persistent forgetfulness, almost to the point of black-outs. I mean, short-term memory is out of the question, very impaired. Long term tends to be a bit better, but even then it's pretty sketchy. My boyfriend (who lives with me 5 days a week) has noticed it as well and mentioned it to me because on quite a few occasions because it's caused problems in other areas of my (and his) life.

Is this a common, even rare or any kind of side effect of birth control?
I have been under an abnormal amount of stress recently (ending bad long-term friendships left and right, moving, quit my job and starting college in the span of three months) but I've been dealing with it quite gracefully if I do say so myself!
I also have a history of bipolar disorder and have been on medication for it in the past. I am not taking anything for it now, the last time was approximately two years ago: Effexor.
I don't drink, although I do smoke pot recreationally. Maybe 3-4 times a week and I never actually get "stoned" anyway. It's more like two or three puffs and that's it, just to wind down at the end of the day.
My diet has been suffering a bit and my sleeping patterns have been off due to stress, but it's nothing that I haven't done in the past.
I also have a history of Alzheimer's in my family, but I'm only 21. So unless it's VERY early onset...

Anyway, I'd really appreciate some help with this. If these memory lapses are due to Yasmin, as much as I love what its done for me up until now, I'll need to change HBC before I start school. I can't imagine how I could deal with class schedules, studying and even just basic learning with my memory being so bad.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Comments

[llama4u448.livejournal.com]

I highly doubt its a side effect of your pill. It seems like it could be a side effect of stress. If I were you I would definitely let the doctor know and possibly get an MRI or get referred to some sort of specialist.

[suckstobu.livejournal.com]

I also highly doubt this is a side effect of your pill. The pill consists of various hormones, which, if they were going to effect any of your brain functions would be your emotions and anxiety.

I think you should definitely see a doctor and have him refer you to a specialist if he can't figure out what's up. Since the memory problems have happened sort of suddenly, I think it's something you should get checked out. It could definitely be due to stress, but I think your brain functioning is something you should think of as a "better safe than sorry" kind of thing.

Good luck!

[shil.livejournal.com]

I think stress + pot + uneven sleeping is a lot more likely than the pill.

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

See, I figured the pot wouldn't be effecting it because of the small amounts that I consume in a week/month. But I guess cutting back couldn't hurt to test it out.
Thanks!

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

I think everything else you listed is more likely to cause memory issues than the pill. I was going to say that the only plausible theory I could think of was that combined pills like Yasmin are not recommended for people with migraines, which are a neurological issue, because the estrogen increases the risks of a variety of really serious complications, including stroke. But, I'm not really sure if they would just lump all kinds of neurological problems together into migraines. . .

Anyway, memory loss is especially common in stressed people who don't have good nutrition and sleep patterns, so take better care of yourself and see if it improves. If it doesn't, maybe see a neurologist, because it could be a symptom of something serious.

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

I have a history of migraines, I've been getting them since I was a kid. So that could definitely be a contributing factor. I'll have to talk to my doctor. Thanks!

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

Eek! Yeah, that'd explain it. You should tell your gyno ASAP, because they're not supposed to give estrogen to folks with migraines! And, just to check if any damage has already been done, make an appointment with a neurologist.

[yssie.livejournal.com]

You might look into it being your Bipolar. I have memory issues, and so does my husband...and we both are Bipolar. It gets worse as you get older. I don't think it's your HBC at all. And the pot might not be helping, but in as small amounts as you smoke it, I doubt it is the only cause.

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

I was talking to a friend of mine earlier about it, she is also bipolar and she said the same thing. She is on medication, one that works well for her and has been for the past 5 years, so she couldn't recall if she had great problems with it since it's been so long for her...
I'm starting to think this might be a bigger factor than I was hoping it would be. I've been noticing the bipolar tendencies in myself lately but I didn't realize that forgetfulness was a sign of it.
I'm really hoping it's something else. It's just my preference to not be on medication for bipolar.

[rufinahellcat.livejournal.com]

wow, I've never heard of hbc causing memory problems.
I checked yasmin's website, and they didn't say anything about those problems occurring from oral contraceptive. There was a crazy amount of other problems it could cause, though, mostly physical stuff.

PANDA BEAR! <3 <3 <3

I hope your problems clear up.

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

Love Panda Bear =}

I just figured Yasmin might have weird side effects for some people that they don't list anywhere because they're not common or something. I mean I've heard of women having all sorts of different reactions to HBC.
I checked all over the internets and read my Yasmin package front to back before I posted here but couldn't find anything to do with memory issues.

Thanks! I hope so too, I'm tired of having to backtrack or write reminders for myself everyday!

[rufinahellcat.livejournal.com]

yeah man, you dont wanna end up like that dude in the movie memento getting all those tattooed reminders :p I hope you get better. Maybe you could talk to a doctor over the phone?

I'm seeing (hopefully) animal collective in january here in chicago :D

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend actually jokes about tattooing reminders all over me :P
Ahh, lucky you! AC is on my top 5 to see in the next year. I've listened to a lot of their live records and man, they sound mind-blowing. I don't think they come to Canada very often though. I know they were at a festival in Toronto during the summer but I didn't want to pay 70 bucks for a ticket. :P

I was thinking of calling a health phone line, but any time I've done that in the past they seem to just tell me to go to emergency. I'm going to make a doctor's appointment for sometime very soon. Thanks a lot =}

[girlonthewing6.livejournal.com]

I was on YAZ for three months, and it shot my short term memory to hell. I know it was the YAZ because two weeks after I stopped taking it, my memory got so much better, and my body felt much lighter and healthier too.

[archangelbeth]

I'd certainly check out the other issues first, but a couple hypothyroid symptoms that I know of are brainfog -- which can include memory issues -- and, if it's really bad (usually has to be left alone for years or decades), dementia. (My maternal grandfather's dementia was probably undiagnosed hypothyroidism. It... makes me very upset that a blood test might've kept that from happening.)

I was in denial of my hypothyroidism, got nagged into testing (only time my mother's nagging ever worked), found the TRUTH (heh), got my little green pill, and now I'm the annoying fanatical mostly-harmless convert. On my pet hobby-horse.

Good luck! I hope that everything works out for you!

[holdenm-krotch.livejournal.com]

Thanks! This is something I'll have to bring up with my doctor.