Off the Pill - Is this normal?

[keepcalmcarryon]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the board and wondering if I can get some advice here. I am 31 and recently went off the pill after 12 years. Prior to being on the pill, I had really easy, regular periods, with the exception of some painful cramps once in a while.

DH and I would like to start TTC in the next 6 months or so, so I took my last pill about 3 weeks ago. I had my withdrawal bleeding per usual, all good.

A few days ago, I noticed some interesting symptoms...

- my breasts are definitely swollen and tender

- my nipples are very sensitive and not in a good way! I have to keep a bra on all the time because the feeling of my shirt against them was bothering me

- my vulva seems swollen and tender

- I am VERY bloated, and getting my jeans on has been quite the ordeal. Even my rings feel tight on my fingers.

- last night, I had some cramping in my lower abdomen that made it really uncomfortable to sleep. I haven't experienced cramps since going on the pill. It felt like major gas pain but no gas!


Obviously, you all aren't doctors, but have any of you experienced this post-pill? I don't know if this is "pill withdrawal" like I've read about online or if I was ovulating. I definitely noticed an EWCM that was different from anything I've noticed in a long time.

I am really hoping this is just temporary because if that's what I can expect when ovulating, we will never get pg. I was too uncomfortable to even think about sex or being touched by my DH!

Thanks, ladies!

[jenn1298]

Sounds like you might be pregnant, have you taken a test?

I have never had normal PMS symptoms that are as bad as what you described, but I had a lot of that when I was pregnant.

[keepcalmcarryon]

I haven't taken a test, but I feel pretty confident that I'm not pregnant. DH and I have only had sex once since I had my last period and it was a few days ago. We used a condom the entire time but yeah, I've never had PMS symptoms like this either! It makes me wonder if my hormones are just totally out of whack.

[jenn1298]

Maybe you just have a lot of ovulation symptoms. Female bodies are confusing and annoying!

[Cheesecake]

When I JUST got off BCP I recall that my cycle was completely whacky. It took quite a while for it to become normal and for me to realize what a normal cycle was - for me. A few months easily. I also have a bunch of friends who were regular the day after they quit BCP. Bodies differ, but, also, condoms are only 97 percent effective or so. If it's been 10 days since you had sex, give an early detection pregnancy test a try, otherwise, just give it time to figure out what's your new normal.

Your cycle can change over time and hormones can mask a whole lot of stuff.

Being more aware of your cycle can also suddenly 'increase' symptoms. I never ever noticed my breasts being tender at all until I started charting and paying close attention to my body and now I actually notice it really hurts some days. Being aware of the fact that things can change, can definitely make you notice things more.

[mimosas]

Jul 29, 2012 17:10:47 GMT -5 Cheesecake said:

Being more aware of your cycle can also suddenly 'increase' symptoms. I never ever noticed my breasts being tender at all until I started charting and paying close attention to my body and now I actually notice it really hurts some days. Being aware of the fact that things can change, can definitely make you notice things more.

ITA with this. Since reading TCOYF, I have weird period and ovulation symptoms all the time. I swear I didn't have them before, but IDK if it's just because I'm hyper aware now.

[evynsmama]

Not sure what you were on. But when I went off Depo my body went crazy! My breast even started leaking and they were so swollen. It was like BC withdrawal and it was awful. When I went off the Nuva Ring it wasn't so bad, but I definitely noticed what I now know are normal pms symptoms that I hadn't been getting while on bc. I never took a pill form bc so I can't help you there. I am sure your body is just regulating and getting back to producing it's own hormones after all this time.