Hi all. I posted last week and my circumstances have not improved since then. I am driving myself a little crazy and took today off from work. This is day 16 of my period and it is heavy with cramps, bloating, out of control emotions, breaking out - the whole nine yards. I feel very unattractive and tired. I started Kariva on the first day of my period (16 days ago) and the side effects have brought on the worst symtoms of any period I've had for 16 consecutive days and counting.

I have a second call into my doctor today - last week she said the effects were normal though unfortunate and should only last the first pack. But I am nervous and miserable. I chose Kariva based on what I read in "It's Your Hormones" with the theory that taking a low estrogen pill with less hormone fluctuations could help acne, cycle regularity, and hair loss in the long term since I'm strongly convinced all these issues are related to my sensitivity to hormones. The idea is being on the pill will introduce a steady stream of hormones that - once I'm adjust to - will help keep things stable. But this adjustment period seems extreme and there is no guarantee that there will be a payoff.

Has anyone experienced this something like this before? At this point it's too soon to switch to another pill and I honestly don't know that that would help since Kariva has the lowest level of estrogen possible and that's what usually causes the side effects. Seems there are two possibilities. One, I'm sensitive to hormones so being on the pill will prove to be a great thing in the longrun. Or, two, I'm so sensitive I can't tolerate any pill and just have to deal with whatever happens naturally.

Would love to hear about experiences people have had with regulating hormones on the pill and whether people experienced side effects like this that eventually subsided and made things ultimately better. Thanks!!!