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Shall I follow my instinct or do what it says on the packet?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/21/2014 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
I posted something about the contraceptive pill helping my colitis symptoms a few weeks ago. I mentioned that I was in remission from Uc for seven years whilst on the pill and then started flaring when I came off. So I thought that the two were linked and then was told by my GI doc that oestrogen can affect the cortisol (stress hormone) in your body which could cause flaring.

Anyway, I again noticed that this month, two days before my period (when the oestrogen level in my blood would have dipped) that my uc symptoms got a lot worse. I had uc cramps all day!

Well today my period has started and if I decide to start taking the pill it needs to be today. My dilemma is that the leaflet in the combined contraceptive pill packet states that there are some illnesses that can worsen from pill usage; UC being one of them.

Shall I go with my instinct and take the pill or should I listen to the packet leaflet?? My GI nurse said that oral contraceptives should have no bearing on UC symptoms but can higher the risk of DVT. Never had an issue with that in my life.

What should I do???
Posted 9/21/2014 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Your GI team seem to be happy with you taking it so I'd take their knowledge over the leaflet - the statement there is probably mostly to cover the company's back if something does go wrong. You had success with the pill before so I'd definitely want to give it a go.

The risk of blood clots is higher on the pill though, you're right, so just be aware of the signs of a DVT (calf pain, 'heavy' sensation in your leg, hot and red skin on your leg) and a PE (breathlessness, pleuritic chest pain). The chances are still quite low even on the pill so I wouldn't be too worried.
Posted 9/21/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Ive never used birth control before but if you know it helps you, then i would start it up again, especially since your doctor said it would be okay.
Posted 9/21/2014 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
I am so worried about worsening my symptoms though :( I mean I am still very mildly flaring so not sure if I should do it!

And also not 100% sure that my remission was down to the pill. It's just very coincidental that I got a flare after all that time after stopping taking it.

Also I want to try for a baby next year and worried that once I come off it again I will flare again prolonging me being able to to try for a baby.

Decisions, decisions!
Posted 9/21/2014 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
DVT is very serious. I would not take any type of estrogen if it wasn't 100% necessary. I take nonestrogen pills.
Posted 9/21/2014 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
If it helps your UC then definitely stay on it. Its a hell of a lot safer than any of the other meds we take and it is better to be on the pill than constantly flaring (both for long term health and quality of life).

If you are worried about DVT, make sure you do your fair share of walking and calf exercises. If thats not possible, at least make sure you are regularly massaging your calves and upper leg muscles. This causes muscle contraction and movement which helps to push blood through the veins and prevents venous stasis (which would increase the risk of DVT).
Posted 9/21/2014 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I run every other day and am currently training for a half marathon. So I am very active. I was also on the combined pill for many years with no issue of any kind.

I am starting to feel better with my UC (even though still very very mildly flaring I believe) and so don't know whether to rock the boat. Plus I'm worried about coming off the pill next year when I want to try to conceive
Posted 9/22/2014 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I'd try taking them. I was on BCP when I was diagnosed, and was only off the, for about two months when I became pregnant with my daughter. I'd been in remission for about three years at that point. I had a c-section when she was born, so also had my tubes tied because my DH and I knew we were done having kids. I got my period back when she was about six months old, and they got progressively worse and worse, in terms of cramps, heavy bleeding, and bowel issues the first day of my period. I ended up in a very mild flare, and if wonder if not being on BCP had something to do with it. So now I'm back on BCP (mini pill) and am doing good. I'm contemplating mirena.

As far as going off to get pregnant, well, you can get pregnant quite quickly after coming off the pill. And if you can get in a solid remission, you really shouldn't get pregnant.
Posted 9/22/2014 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
If I were you, I'd stay on the pill.

Everytime I went on and off BCP, I would have UC symptoms. I think it was the switching from being on to being off and vice versa that made it happen. Maybe it's that way for you?

With this disease, instinct means a lot. If you were on BCP for 7 years without an issue, why change?

As for DVT risk, that is true of anyone on the pill, and more so for older women. But it's still rare.
Posted 9/23/2014 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
I think it's with any type of hormonal change with me that attracts flare ups. But I have decided to say off the pill for now until next year when I want to have the last baby. I'm worried that if I go on it now and then come off it in six months time that I will flare again which will stop me from trying to conceive.

Thing are ok at the moment. I'm pretty sure I am now in remission. I am only having one BM a day, abdominal pain has subsided a lot. The imuran seems to have kicked in. But after having my next baby I shall go on the pill and never come off!
Posted 9/23/2014 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
The jury is out on the contraceptive pill. It has been implicated as a factor in triggering IBD in a lot of studies but a lot of other studies contradict this. There probably has to be much more research done on the interplay of genetics. Genetics cause differing levels in receptors for hormones.
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