For the past year or so I have been on the patch. I loved it!!! I didn't have any side effects besides normal pms issues. I didn't gain any wieght and my moods were fine. After a while I started noticing that my legs would change colors and I had horrible cirrculation. Everyone kept telling me horrible things that they heard about the patch. After little research I found out that it can cause blood clots (legs changing color) and that it was pumping enough hormones into your system to last a week. It made sense that it was not safe especially after the side effects were on the news and in the newspaper. Breast cancer also runs in my family so that was a concern.

Recently, I switched to ortho tri-cyclen lo because of the low estrogen level. I have thrown up a few times, I am light headed when I stand up, nauseas after I take it, bloated, no sex drive and worst of all I want to jump out of my own skin!!!! Last night I started crying (not just tears, really crying) for no good reason. The worst side effect is the mood swings and emotions.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I have heard bad things about the shot so I really do not want to try that. I am looking for something like the patch without the serious side effects? Is there a pill similar to the patch?

Thank you for your time,
kristin