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Visanne
Feb 17, 2012 22:04:28 GMT -5
Post by semicolon on Feb 17, 2012 22:04:28 GMT -5
It seems like so many things take a few cycles to really know how they work- endo requires a lot of patience! I had seen someone else asking about Visanne on another forum, so it's definitely getting out there. Thanks for sharing your experience, redwood!
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Visanne
Feb 20, 2012 14:56:02 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Feb 20, 2012 14:56:02 GMT -5
So it's only been 5 days since I started Visanne, but so far so good. Only thing I noticed was that I felt pelvic cramping (very light) here and there. But that happened a few times mid-cycle when I was on the bio-identical progesterone too, so that's not new. Also, I wanted to mention that there is a pill that uses the same progestin that is in Visanne that is available in the USA and it's called Natazia (also available in Europe as Qlaira). It is a combination birth control pill though, so it has estrogen (a new form). Besides BC, it's prescribed for controlling heavy bleeding. Here's an article on it: www.empowher.com/reproductive-system/content/meet-natazia-new-birth-control-pill-youll-want-knowBrussie had mentioned it before in her post earlier but didn't mention the name. There are some people's comments on it and most had pretty good comments, but one woman had a problem with insomnia. Just thought I'd mention that for anyone who might be interested in it. Also, I noticed that the amount of progestin is HIGHER than it is in the Visanne pill (which is 2mg). It has 4 phases and goes from 2mg to 3mg to 4mg. The 2mg is only in the first few days you take it. I can't find where I read this info again, otherwise, I'd post the link.
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leese
New Member
Posts: 3
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Visanne
Mar 5, 2012 16:36:01 GMT -5
Post by leese on Mar 5, 2012 16:36:01 GMT -5
So happy to have found this forum! I have history of ovarian cysts, adhesion's,fibroids and adenomysis (1 child by c-section). Six weeks ago ended up in emergency 3x with extreme lower right pain and nausea, after ultra sound and cat scan found one 2.5 cm cyst right ovary, one 2.0 cm cyst left ovary and one anterior 3 cm fibroid. Dr's not sure why I have such horrible pain on right side, worse before and during period. Dr's gave my dilaudid and diclofenac and said go home and rest! Basically didn't know what to do with me. My gp put me on Visanne, its been 4 weeks now and I am having side effects, bleeding for over 12 days (light) extreme dry scaly skin and body rashes, skin tags,trouble sleeping and still have pain everyday, but not as bad as before rx. Five days prior to period and during period have extreme pain. Went for blood test on my liver enzymes and other tests everything is within range. Hmmm..... Seeing gynecologist next week to discuss plan of action. I have had several surgeries in the pelvic area and didn't want another one, was hoping Visanne would help! Not sure if the side effects are worth it? Can't seem to find anyone's results from long term Visanne use. My main concern is where is the fibroid located inside/outside uterus and can they just remove the fibroid and cysts? clean up any adhesion's as I do not want a hysterectomy. Any thoughts of advise?
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Visanne
Mar 5, 2012 18:49:03 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 5, 2012 18:49:03 GMT -5
Hi Leese,
Wow, I'm sorry you are having all those side effects from Visanne. It's very weird how different people react totally differently to medications. I have been taking Visanne for 20 days now and don't seem to have any side effects from it. I noticed something the first day or two, some drugged feeling after taking it (I take it before I go to sleep) and in the morning a bit, but after that nothing. My pain coincides with my period, so I won't know if it reduces my pain until I have my period which is due very soon. Not sure if it'll be regular though on this. I'm on day 25 today and my period usually comes on day 26. I was going to post after I started my period.
Anyway, sometimes, it takes a month or two to for some side effects to subside, so you might want to see how it goes another month (unless it's really awful for you). That is what GP said also, and I know this from taking other medications for this too.
There are not too many of us on Visanne (at least online). I know of one other person who is currently taking it from another Canadian forum and she reported after taking it 6 weeks and said it stopped her pain but she was getting headaches and fatigue and her period came a week early. She posted that over a month ago and has not posted again, so I don't know how she's doing.
Having taken a progestin only pill before 5 years ago, it does have the effect of weird bleeding patterns the first month or so (like your 12 day period). That happened the first month with me too, but it wasn't like that in later months, but it was more like a mini-period, light spotting every 2 weeks that lasts 3 or 4 days. I didn't have pain while on it, but I was using it as a preventative thing, rather than treating current symptoms. It was, of course, a different progestin than Visanne.
Also, I've dug around the internet for reviews of Visanne and see that a few people in Germany posted using it and several have said it stopped their pain, although some people report some side effects.
Where are you from? Canada, Europe, Australia?
What day of your cycle did you start Visanne? Did your period start at the normal time? I think it's best to start on day 1 (when your period begins), but I started on day 6 as it wasn't available at the pharmacy and they had to order it. (my period came early too, before I had started it, so I didn't have much time to fill the prescription). Dr. said you can start it at anytime though.
I'm not sure about the answer to your question about the fibroid. I have 3 small fibroids in my fundus area, but the Dr. doesn't seemed concerned about removing them. I don't have symptoms from them. My endo is weird in that it's not in my pelvis area - it's on my abdominal wall at belly button level to the right side (below the rib cage). I did have an ovarian endometrioma in the past, but I had it removed and it never returned there. They just removed the cyst and not the ovary. I don't think they would remove your ovaries unless they were severely damaged.
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Visanne
Mar 5, 2012 19:07:43 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 5, 2012 19:07:43 GMT -5
I just thought of something. When I first started taking Visanne, in the morning, I felt like my mouth felt really dry. I started trying to drink more water. So maybe it "dries you out" in a way, and maybe that is why you have the dry skin. I also take fish oil too, and I started taking more when I had the dry mouth in the mornings. I don't notice that anymore. I do take a bunch of supplements too (in addition to the fish oil), so that could maybe affect whether I have side effects to the medication too.
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leese
New Member
Posts: 3
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Visanne
Mar 6, 2012 13:07:12 GMT -5
Post by leese on Mar 6, 2012 13:07:12 GMT -5
Hi Redwood,
I am also from Canada!
Thank you for your reply. I started taking Visanne on day 7 of my period (which was late) so maybe that explains the bleeding problem?
I have an apt to see the 1st gyne on thursday as she is concerned about the side effects. This gyne doesn't perform surgery, so I am seeing another gyne next week to discuss a plan of action.
Seriously, I just want them to remove the fibroid and cysts and go off this medication. For me to have sudden pain requiring hospital emergency visits is unusual and regardless of the size of this fibroid and cyst its causing alot of discomfort and pain. I was fine before all of this, just the regular painful periods, which I could manage.
My last surgery for scar adhesion's was 6 years ago, so maybe there is some of that going on as well. I am about 5 years from menopause, so hoping to "get by" until then.
Yes, that's a good idea taking fish oil supplements. I stopped taking alot of my vitamins because of all the prescription medications (dilaudid and diclofenac). Its sad having to take diclofenac everyday just to get by! I try to live a very natural life and don't like the idea of having to depend on prescription medications.
Oh, the joys of being a woman! LOL
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Visanne
Mar 6, 2012 16:05:50 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 6, 2012 16:05:50 GMT -5
I figured you weren't from the USA as Visanne isn't available there yet.
Well, I started on day 6, but I don't know how my period will be yet as I haven't had it yet (it's day 26 today, which is normally when it starts). No sign of it though. When I took that other progestin pill, I started on day 1 and when my period came, it was light, but very long (like 10 days), so I think that may happen even if you start it earlier, but after the first month, periods are much shorter.
I'm just guessing of course, but I wonder if you had a cyst rupture and that is why your pain increased suddenly. My pain also increased recently and last month it was so bad I almost went to the ER. I have a feeling that "thing" in my side ruptured. The reason I didn't go to the ER is basically I thought they would do what they did to you - just give me pain meds and send me home. Although, sometimes it it better to go the ER just to make sure it isn't something really serious. 6 years ago, I had upper abdominal pain which I thought might have come from something I ate. I eventually went to the ER and found out I had a bleeding liver (they did a CT scan). I had an endometrioma on my liver and it ruptured. This time though, I had just had an MRI on my liver (well whole abdomen really) and I knew there was nothing growing in my liver. And my pain is lower than that now. It's near my scar from the liver surgery, so I think endo cells grew in my abdominal wall after the surgery. That's my guess. Like you, I think maybe it might be better just to remove it via surgery. But for now, I'll wait and see if Visanne takes the pain away and shrinks the growth. This growth is shown on ultrasounds (4 times it was seen and is 2.5cm last scan). BUT, when I had the MRI done, it was not seen at all! But free fluid was in the area (I was on my period).
Like you, I am also close to menopause. I'll be 47 in a few months. Although my mother didn't get her menopause until she was 53, so maybe mine will come later. Not that I wish for menopause, but in a way, it would be nice not to worry about endo anymore. No one on this board has had natural menopause yet, so I don't know if it really stops the endo from growing.
I don't like taking meds either. I was seeing a naturopath and taking herbs, supplements and the bio-identical progesterone (although that is a still a med) for over a year. But because of the last three months of increased pain, I decided to go to my GP and got the prescription for Visanne to try that. I also had to take pain killers too last month, but the pain lasted 12 days and then stopped.
Good luck with your gyne appt. Let me know how it goes.
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Visanne
Mar 7, 2012 20:18:11 GMT -5
Post by 1234 on Mar 7, 2012 20:18:11 GMT -5
Hope it works for you, and I'll be really interested to hear how it goes.
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Visanne
Mar 8, 2012 13:53:06 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 8, 2012 13:53:06 GMT -5
Well, today is day 28 and usually my period comes earlier than that (like day 25-27, or even sometimes 22, 23). I have a tiny, tiny amount of spotting, barely enough to even use a panty liner, which started yesterday. I had a brief moment this morning of some cramps, which lasted a few min. and left. They were in the normal spot, my pelvis. They are totally gone now. My endo pain in my right side has been totally quiet - not a peep out of it. So that's good! Usually when my period starts, I get the pelvic cramping and also cramping in that satellite spot in my side. It's like I have a second mini-uterus there LOL.
Yesterday, I had a weird feeling in the afternoon, maybe like a mini panic attack. I've never had a panic attack, but it sounds like it was similar to that based on descriptions. A nervous feeling and my heart rate increased and I was just sitting at my computer working. So that's weird. It went away though. It was not severe or anything, but it was something I noticed and I had that feeling before since I've started this drug, although it was less so. It's subtle, so it's even hard to describe, but might be something like the physical feeling you get if something startles you (but diminished from that - not extreme). It's hard to even describe, but it's a different feeling from normal, because I do notice it. I'm assuming it's from the drug and hopefully it'll go away. It's happened a few times here and there that I noticed. Not when I'm moving around or exercising (and certainly not when I'm sleeping), but when I'm say, at my computer. Weird.
I wonder how long this tiny spotting will last or if it will increase. I don't even care, as long as I don't have endo pain in my side.
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Visanne
Mar 8, 2012 23:21:38 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 8, 2012 23:21:38 GMT -5
well, an update already. I have a real period now, but it's light. Also with light pelvic cramps, but nothing much. Just a "normal" period. Hope it stays that way. No mini-uterus satellite pain yet. Hope not as I'm going out of town for the weekend starting tomorrow.
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Visanne
Mar 12, 2012 12:00:51 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 12, 2012 12:00:51 GMT -5
well, it's day 5 now and I'm still on my period, but it is more like spotting at this point. It was a light period with just minor cramps the first two days. No endo pain!
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Visanne
Mar 12, 2012 15:37:40 GMT -5
Post by painttheseconds on Mar 12, 2012 15:37:40 GMT -5
That's great redwood. I'm so glad the Visanne seems to be helping with your endo pain.
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leese
New Member
Posts: 3
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Visanne
Mar 16, 2012 20:21:24 GMT -5
Post by leese on Mar 16, 2012 20:21:24 GMT -5
Well, officially taken off Visanne, too many side effects for me. Saw a 2nd gynecologist and she thinks I may have a separated pubic bone issue. After talking with her seems to make sense, sudden pelvic pain, similar to period pain but doesn't go away, hurts when I walk, sit, can't sleep on either side and really hurts when pressure applied. So bed rest and anti inflammatories till the xray. Lets hope I get a diagnosis soon, now onto my 2nd month of mysterious pain. Also gyne mentioned cysts on ovaries too small to be causing so much pain.
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Visanne
Mar 18, 2012 13:16:26 GMT -5
Post by sherylrh on Mar 18, 2012 13:16:26 GMT -5
Hi fellow Vancouverites and ladies from around the world, I am new to the endo resolved forum but have followed the website for many years. I have just been prescribed Visanne. I've used the Mirena, but had it out due to the pain of the device and also a couple of infections, then tried bio progesterone cream, but found it also upset the balance of my flora, and got an eye and ear infection. I went off that, and am going to try Visanne and a major diet change as a last resort. If this doesn't work, I'll be doing my 3rd lap, then a possible partial or full hysterectomy. I'll post any symptoms, changes with the use of Visanne.
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Visanne
Mar 19, 2012 1:34:51 GMT -5
Post by redwood on Mar 19, 2012 1:34:51 GMT -5
Hi Sheryl! Welcome to the board. I looked at this website years before I joined too. Good luck with the Visanne - hope it works for you. I'm doing ok on it, although I'm still spotting form my period and it's day 11. It's very light spotting, but still is an annoyance. Hope it ends soon, although I have no pain, so spotting and no pain is better than having pain! I've only been on Visanne a little over a month though, so hopefully this spotting weirdness goes away. How long did you try the bio-identical progesterone cream? I was on bio-identical troches for 1.5 years and they mostly worked for me to reduce the pain, but then I started having a reaction to the troches in my gums and they weren't working as well, so I switched to cream and that was a disaster and my pain went way up for 3 months until I started the Visanne which virtually eliminated it the first cycle. I also wanted to let you know that we have a local endo support group in Vancouver also. There are 4 of us in total and we met two weeks ago for the first time in a cafe. We plan to keep meeting every two weeks or so. If you are interested in that, PM me and I'll send you the email of the woman who is organizing it. They have a meeting scheduled next for 3/27, although I'm not able to make that one as I'll be out of town. I met the women in the support group on this forum: www.endosisterhood.ca/ (it's private, so you need to join to view the threads).
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