Lo Loestrin and Spotting

[ragh-iampiddles.livejournal.com]

I started Lo Loestrin a while ago and I'm on my second pack. The thing is, I'm having some spotting. A lot of spotting. The first month I spotted for something like 10 days before my inactive pills, and now I'm a week into my second month and I've started spotting again. I'm a little concerned that this is just...too much spotting. Is this a normal amount of spotting on low estrogen pills (or, uh, any pills) that I just need to wait out? Or should I just stop?

Birth control pills and pooping

[winter-tulip.livejournal.com]

Since childhood, I've had IBS-D (consistent loose stools and diarrhea) which worsened dramatically once I hit puberty. The cramps, diarrhea, and general over-activeness of my digestive system get much worse just before my period. If I sense my period is coming I can head off the worst of the diarrhea by taking Imodium in advance, but since my cycle ranges anywhere from 30-50 days I don't always manage to time the Imodium right.

I'm considering going on HBC so I can schedule and skip periods, and hopefully get fewer cramps. Having a backup to condoms would also free me from monthly pregnancy worries. However, I've read in many places that HBC can make IBS worse.

I'm tearing my hair out trying to find out the actual effect on HBC on bowel function. Most sources just say "it can make IBS worse" but don't specify whether that means constipation-type IBS (something I've never experienced) or diarrhea-type IBS. The two conditions are opposites of each other in many ways.

So... I ask this: if you are on HBC, what sort are you on, and does it make you tend more towards constipation or towards looser BMs? What is the effect before/during your period, and what is the effect during the rest of the month?

---UPDATE---

I've been taking Rigevidon (same as Microgynon 30) for just over a month now. My first period on the pill was lighter and MUCH less painful than usual. The IBS is about the same, if anything a little better while I'm taking the active pills. The only problem is that I get awful, awful nausea for about 24 hours after taking the first pill of a pack (but the rest of the month is fine). I'm going to experiment with running packs together and/or taking a shorter pill-free break to see whether that helps. 28 days seemed like an ridiculously short time between bleeds, compared to what I'm used to naturally, so I might make a habit of skipping every other period.

Oh, and the doubling-up on contraception? Fantastic. I can actually look at a pregnant woman without breaking into a panic.

Cipro and Constipation

[eva sweeney]

Hey all,

I have a question. About two weeks ago I thought I had a UTI. I get UTIs a lot so I already had Cipro onhand. I took it for about five days and my UTI went away. After taking the Cipro I had one day of kind of diarrhea. Since then I've had normal poops except for the fact that I feel the need to go several times a day after I poop (and when I try, nothing happens). I'm usually a once-a-day person. I feel like I'm not having a complete poop even though I'm going my regular amount. I know antibiotics can mess with your GI tract. I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about this. I emailed my gynecologist but she hasn't responded.

Thanks!

Something a little concerning...

[angel-katchan.livejournal.com]

Recently I have been having some issues with my breasts.

( Boob troubles that have nothing to do with the cat that is perched on them )