My Health Finally Gets a Boost!

Almost 3 months has passed since I found out I had a Vitamin D deficiency and I ditched birth control.  I'm happy to report that I've seen a marked improvement in my health! 

On the birth control front, this was seriously the best (health) decision I've ever made.  Even though I had a rough withdrawal, the benefits have been marked.  I feel as calm and clear as I have been in years.  I am in control of my emotions, stress rolls right off, and my feathers are pretty hard to ruffle.  I simply handle everything better.  

I feel like myself again. 

The calm, rational person that is the core of my personality finally has a chance to breath again and reestablish herself.  I can happily say goodbye to the panicky, stressed-to-the-maxed gal I was with hormones surging every day.

Going off the Pill confirmed that I was right about my health - something was wrong with me, I just didn't realize it was the hormones.  The problem wasn't in my head, it was in my blood stream.   

Sigh of relief <phew!>

I can honestly say that I will NEVER go back on birth control again.  There's just no way I would ever sacrifice my sanity again to stop ovulation.  Since Mike is deploying soon, accidentally getting pregnant is a non-issue and we'll be looking into permanent options when he returns.     

In regards to the Vitamin D deficiency, that was also a significant breakthrough.  You are supposed to have 30 nmol/L in your system at minimum but I was sitting at 15.  No wonder I was having major muscle, joint, and fatigue issues!  

I've been taking 5,000 IU of Vitamin D a day and increased the amount of dairy and eggs in my diet.  I've worked my way up to 25 nmol/L and have seen a huge difference in my pain levels.

I can now exercise without fear that I'm going to be sore for days on end.  I'm still testing where that breaking point is, but a recent bike ride and ellipical machine session left me appropriately stiff but not sore in the least.  Same with the walking and Pilates I'm doing.  

This is a major breakthrough for me.  It's so amazing to enjoy physical active once again!  Now I'm looking forward to getting into a regular routine.

To be fair, taking away one pill and adding another hasn't resolved all of my health issue.  I wasn't expecting a magic bullet.  On the plus side, my weight gain has been halted in its tracks.  For the time in months the scale hasn't moved up, but it hasn't moved down either.  I'm hoping with more consistent and vigorous exercise that will change.

I still have problems with acne, which is getting very tiring.  My face has always been a mess since I was 12 and at age 28, acne is simply unprofessional.  I'm trying out a medicated face wash (Noxzema) to see if that will provide some clarity. 

Dehydration issues continue to plague me as well.  I seem to have heat intolerance - I get overheated and zap!  all of the water in my system evaporates.  No one so far has any ideas about what's causing this, and I've been tested for diabetes twice.  It's something that concerns me as I can't go an hour without drinking water and not get dehydrated.  It makes me nervous to do things in the sun (funny, given the Vitamin D deficiency ...) and I am forced to take a water bottle everywhere.  Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this one day.

For now, I'm going to continue increasing exercise and taking supplements.  My Vitamin D levels will be tested again in two months and if they don't increase enough, I'll get a prescription for it.  I'd like to avoid that for cost's sake, but it's not too hard to go sit on my patio and read for 20 minutes.

How has your heath and exercise routine been lately?  

The Price of Going Off of Birth Control

Migraines, mood swings, and exhaustion, oh my! 

As I previously suspected, it's possible that I'm experiencing yet another rejection of birth control.  It's at least another avenue my new doctor and I are exploring.  

For the previous 4 years, I've taken estrogen-based pills.  Long story short, I ended up PMS-ing constantly, getting panic attacks, and having high blood pressure.  I then switched to a progestin-based brand (synthetic) within the last year.  The general crazyiness subsided, so I didn't consider that other symptoms were still present.

I recently looked up the side effects of my brand and was shocked: out of the 30 known side effects, I have 12 of them.  Everything from weight gain and fatigue to trouble sleeping, bladder infections, and acne.  It may be coincidental, it may only be part of my problems, but it's clear to me that birth control is some factor in my health.

Which is why, after deliberation with Mike and my doctor, I have elected to go off of them.

To be honest, I've never been real comfortable with birth control pills.  I'm all for birth control as a method - I'm simply concerned about the chemistry.  One of my favorite words is "organic," but artificial hormone maniuplation is the furthest thing from that.   

And boy, has chemistry been on my mind lately.  Everyone knows what can happen when you go on birth control, but no one says much about going off of it.

Taking hormones out of your system will cause confusion in your body.  While it only takes a matter of days to actually dump the birth control, it can take weeks or months for your pitutary gland to regulate itself.

Every woman reacts differently, but I can tell you these last two weeks have been rather tough for me.  Bouts of exhaustion, unexpected migraines, crying spells, increased muscle pain, and general crankiness have peppered my days.

I admit, I was taken off guard.  No one warned me about this.  I've not had any girlfiends to consult with on this matter and the doctor only mentioned the possibility of weight fluctuation.

Despite these symtoms, I have seen a small measure of improvement.  My bladder almost instantaneously felt better - I don't feel like I'm constantly fighting off a UTI.  And despite some mood swings, I feel more balanced.  I don't know if that's a chemical reaction or just the mental relief of not having to take the pills anymore, but it is comforting nonetheless.

Lest you jump to any conclusions, no, Mike and I have not changed our stance about having children.  With him gone for part of next year and leaving in a matter of months, this is a perfect chance to rid my body of these chemicals and see if it improves my health.  Only time will tell!

Have you ever experienced a negative reaction to a medication?