Evra contraceptive patch - issues?

Question:

Have been suffering headaches and chest pains this year - things I am not normally prone to. A few weeks ago I became very breathless, in a fairly alarming sort of way. Saw GP who was not much help, ran a blood test and found that I have a high platelet and white blood cell count (we already know this - I see a haematologist once a year...) Breathlessness was better last week but started very badly again on Sunday. Couldn't think what was different till I realised I'd put a patch on after a week off. Took it off immediately and am beginning to feel better. Then looked up patch on web and found real horror stories. I am 39, smoke and have high platelet count. Not a great combination with this drug.. Annoyed with doc for prescribing it - he knows my background (or would if he read my records). Anyone else suffered these symptoms with Evra? Might not be it but not using it again in any case.

Answers:
I experienced many different adverse side effects with the patch. I was nearly constantly nauseated, it made me have a hormonal imbalance so I was literally bi-polar and had to see a therapist for a full year, and I just was always tired and unhappy. Different combinations of hormones affect different people differently because everyone has their own hormonal make-up. If you think your birth control is causing these symptoms, and you don't think your doctor is paying attention to your concerns/isn't a very good doctor in general, get another opinion.

In response to the other poster who said the injection (or the Depo Provera birth control shot) was the best thing she ever did, be warned that there are many more, and many more disruptive, severe side effects associated with the shot, and of its users, more women are affected by it adversely than any other birth control. I do not recommend this as an alternative option to you, in fact, I think it shouldn't be recommended to ANYone, and should be taken off the market completely.

What you need is a very low dose hormonal birth control or a non-hormonal method like the IUD, ParaGard.

I'm not sure if i was one of the lucky ones but i used the patch for 6 months and had no side effects at all, i worked well for me the only thing was the irritation on the skin on the day i put a new on on.
I'm now on thee 4th week of the 3 month injection and it is the best thing i have done, no side effects to date.

Evra contraceptive patch - issues?

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