Trouble Remembering to Take the Pill... Posted: 12-24-07 01:13am
So, I'm a little worried.
The following paragraph is just some
background information I wanted to put
here in case I get asked a million
questions about it. Skip it if you want.
I'm 19, and a little over a week ago I got
on my first ever prescription of birth
control pills. My doctor put me on the
Aviane brand pills. I took them just how
she said--I actually started on Thursday
(the day I got them) instead of Sunday
because she said they have a "quick start
program" at that clinic that's for women
who want to get started on birth control
right away. I was confused at first,
because I was expecting my period about a
week after I was to start taking it. But I
called a nurse and she told me about the
program, and said your period should
adjust to the pill's cycle. And it seems
to have done that--I should be on my
period right now, but I haven't even had
any spotting as far as I can see. I was
told I may have another period when I
start taking my "reminder pills"... the
ones with nothing in them.
This is all fine and good, and I've been
fine taking my pills on time until I came
home. I live at a dorm, and since it's
Christmas break I came home. My parents do
NOT and CANNOT know I'm on birth control
and that I'm having sex. They've told me
all my life to save it for marriage, and I
tell them I'm cool with that, and I used
to be. But I'm not anymore. It's what they
want, but it's not what I want.
So, I absolutely HAVE to be inconspicuous
about taking my pills. Up until I came
home, I've been right on time with taking
the pill. Not a minute too late. I'd been
setting my phone to go off at the same
time every night so I'll remember. But
doing that here would be suspicious. Even
if I had my phone on vibrate, that's very
risky. If I'm in the company of others,
they can still hear it vibrate. If I'm a
room away from my purse (which is where I
keep my cell), I won't hear it. yesterday,
I was just ten minutes late to take the
pill. I think that's fine, don't you? I'm
very glad I remembered. But today, I was a
full hour late. I really hope that's not
too much, and I do NOT want to forget
again.
So, any suggestions for a way to remember
are appreciated. Please keep in mind
during this stay at home we're going to be
visiting relatives a lot, including my
parents. And my parents have off work the
entire time I'm here. My sister is also
home all the time because she has the baby
to take care of.
Please help if you can! And I apologize
for such a long post.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
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Posted: 12-24-07 09:43am
You can be up to six HOURS late and not
worry, so relax!! Just take it during your
bathroom routine before you go to bed,
that way you can even lock the door. Then too it will be
done during a specific activity and you'll
remember because you'll go "oh, brushing
my teeth, time for my pill".
My parents told me to wait for marriage
too, but once I was in college and had a
steady BF my mom actually took me out for
my first pap and to get pills. I have no
idea how strict your parents are.
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jinkazama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 24 Location: , USA
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Posted: 12-24-07 13:56pm
Thanks for the ideas, I appreciate it.
It' mostly my mom that's strict... but I
know they'd be very pissed, and very, very
disappointed. They still think I'm all for
waiting for marriage, and that's how it's
gonna stay.
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PixieKat
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 201 Location: UT,
Posted: 12-25-07 00:54am
Im in the same spot you are, ive been
hiding my pills from my parents since aug
and i live with them. It is really hard!
Keep with it, you've taken a good step in
taking the pill w/o your par wanthing you
to, not many people would do it.
I do the same thing you do, set my phone
so the alarm goes off, I have to take my
pill at 11pm so that hopefuly its less
likely to get caught. And having to take
it before i go to bed helps me remember
also. I always keep a back up pill in my
purse, because you never know when you
wont be home to take one, i hid it in my
chapstick case.
Good luck! I hope i helped a little
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jinkazama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 24 Location: , USA
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Posted: 12-25-07 19:16pm
Yeah, I should've started taking my pill
more around 11 or midnight like you. My
parents usually go to bed before then. Is
it possible to start taking it later and
later so I start taking it more around
those times while still being safe?
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Tylanas
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Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
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Posted: 12-25-07 23:04pm
You'll be perfectly fine. You can switch
taking times and no problem. Even if you
change the time by more than six hours
(making the pill be considered "late")
it's just one pill and it's safe to do so
with one pill. However, DON'T do this with
the first week of pills; those you need to
take on time.
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womaninpain
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 179
Posted: 12-28-07 23:19pm
I don't have a problem with having to hide
the pills but I have a tendency to just
forget. I used to be really good about it
but for some reason I am just not anymore.
You are actually fine as long as you take
the within the same day and if you miss a
day you can double up the next day so
don't worry about it. Honestly I think
that if your mother knew you were on birth
control you could tell her it was just to
regulate your periods...not everyone is on
it to not get pregnant some people take it
to regulate. I do it for both reasons. I
actually abstained from sex for over a
year but kept on the pills to regulate.
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Happiness03
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 333
Posted: 12-29-07 12:58pm
I know you said you were hiding the pills
from you parents. I had to do the same
thing for 3 years! It was hard sometimes.
Anyway, you are very smart to actually
take the initiative to do this. Good for
you!
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jinkazama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 24 Location: , USA
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Posted: 12-29-07 17:41pm
Thanks to Happiness03 =). I guess if she
found out, I could tell her I was
regulating my period like womaninpain
said, but... she's always suspicious. She
really doesn't trust me. I guess she
shouldn't since I'm lying to her in doing
this, but this is the one thing I've
hidden from her and she doesn't know it.
So I don't know why she doesn't trust me
then. Oh well, what can you do, right?
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womaninpain
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 179
Posted: 12-29-07 18:46pm
Jink...parents being overprotective and
not trusting from the get go is why people
lie or hide things...it's not uncommon my
parents were the same way, it just taught
me to be more open and understanding with
mine. What you could do is once you get
back to school while talking to her one
day say to her that you want to go to the
gyno because your period is irregular and
sometimes heavy or too light and sometimes
very painful. Then after you could update
her and tell her that they gae you birth
control to regulate it and you feel
better, then at least she will know you
are on it and you won't have to hide it
and you will feel better next time you
visit. You are a woman and at some point
your mom will have to understand some of
these things.
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jinkazama
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 24 Location: , USA
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Posted: 01-02-08 09:51am
That sounds like a very reasonable
explanation for having birth control, but
I still don't think she'd buy it. She's
extremely suspicious and I think she'd
assume I was lying... but thank you. If
she for some reason ever finds out I'm on
birth control, I'll give her a reason like
that. But if she never finds out, then
I'll probably tell her in my thirties or
so after I've been married a while and had
a kid or two that I had sex before I was
married. That should soften the blow.
Then too it will be
done during a specific activity and you'll
remember because you'll go "oh, brushing
my teeth, time for my pill".
