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What Causes Feeling Of Heat, Fatigue, Muscle Pain After Stopping Contraceptive Pills?

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Posted on Fri, 5 Jun 2015
Question: for about 4 months now, I have been feeling off. it first started after I got off my birth control pill, I started feeling hot daily, for a while on and off. I still get the sensations of feeling hot some days. I have had a lot of blood work done and ct scans of chest, pelvis and sinus. all clear. I have had endoscopy and colonoscopy, all clear except that I have ulceration in my stomach, so doc said I have gastritis. I have had a mammography which was clear. I have seen quite a few doctors. I have attached some blood work for your review. my new symptoms are feeling dizzy, headaches, feeling hot on and off, or feeling cold, tired, and terrible muscle pain above my breasts on both sides on my chest, and under arm pain. please tell me what I can expect of this. I need to find some relief. the birth control pills that I stopped at the end of dec I was on for 10 years prior with no break. i started a new pill thinking it would help about one month ago, but it didn't so i stopped that as well.i have been off the pill for about 3 weeks now, since i started the other one. your help is much appreciated. thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Give yourself some time.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
It is very clear that all your blood work and investigations are clear, so there is nothing to worry at all.
Moreover, your symptoms are typical of hormone withdrawal.
The feeling of heat, fatigue, muscle pain - all this is very common after years on the pill and then stopping it.
Also, you started a new pill pretty fast, which interrupted the process of acclimatization to a hormone free phase.
Right now, you mention that initially you had the heat sensation daily, now it is not that frequent.
So please stay hormone free.
Give your body another fortnight to adjust.
I am sure the symptoms will dissipate slowly.
Also, fibromyalgia can contribute to many of these symptoms, please consult your rheumatologist and start medication for that too.
Stress management is vital, as you are just 30, and you need to believe that you will soon be completely healthy once the hormones wear off.
Some women need more time to recover after stopping BC.
Hope this answer helped you.
All the best
please feel free to discuss further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (33 minutes later)
Thanks for the response. Can this be something more serious that hasn't shown up yet? The heat sensations are definitely wearing away but not all the way. Recently I have been dizzy on and off thought out the day. Is this part of this hormone thing? Just worries me And I have been feeling very sore under my armpits and chest area is hard to breathe sometimes. I see fibro has render points and two spots that hurt are the ones that my rheumy checked me for. What can this be from? How long will I feel like this for?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I dont think this is anything serious, relax.

Detailed Answer:
Oh yes, dizziness and this feeling of breathlessness / air hunger is also typically seen in hormone withdrawal.
With such extensive blood work coming up negative, I do not think there is any chance of this being something sinister that has just not shown up.
I think you are being anxious about it.
Fibromyalgia is typically characterized by tender spots, generalized aches and pains and fatigue.
This is the disease process, and you will feel that way until and unless you are treated for fibromyalgia.
Women with fibromyalgia also have a heightened response to hormones.
The heat sensations are wearing away, and so will all the rest, provided it is given time.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 minutes later)
So after I stopped the pill , could I have brought the fibro symptoms out? I have gotten many ct scans as well as I thought I had something bad. Do you think I have you know what and it's not showing up? I have freaked out for months not feeling well. How much longer should I wait for this to all go away? I had rhuemotologist work up and all good so she said I had fibro but haven't taken the medicine. I wanted to do it naturally if this is what it is. I also feel tired at times
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Explained.

Detailed Answer:
No, you have not brought out fibromyalgia by stopping the pill.
THat is not what I meant.
Just that , fibromyalgia has myriad presentations, and coping with hormone withdrawal is also affected by fibromyalgia.
Many of the symptoms overlap, so you would up end up feeling worse after stopping the pill, compared to a woman without it.
No, you do NOT have cancer.
Stop worrying about it.
It would have definitely been picked up with such extensive workup.
I admire your decision to treat fibromyalgia naturally.
THis is logical too, because medications can only keep the symptoms in check for awhile, not completely cure it.
Please go through this link -
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibromyalgia/Pages/Treatment.aspx
Invest in natural therapies, that will help in the long run.
For the hormone withdrawal to fade away, wait another fortnight at least.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (7 minutes later)
Ok so if I had cancer it would have shown up somewhere ? I keep getting worried about that :( don't know why. It is terrible to not feel myself after being on a pill for so long I don't even know my own body it's sad. In 14 days I don't think I'll feel 100%. Is there anything else this cam be
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
As below.

Detailed Answer:
Yes, if it was cancer, it would have shown up on the bloodwork, imaging, CT scans - somewhere.
I can understand how you are feeling, and the frustration must be killing.
I said a fortnight to feel better, not 100 %.
It will take time, nobody can say how long.
BUt yes, if you do not feel much better in a fortnight ( and do not take any pill in the interim ) then you must see your rheumatologist and initiate treatment and also see a pyschologist ( sometimes these symptoms have a nervous background too ).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (9 hours later)
How does muscle pain in chest and having a hard time breathing have to do with hormones? I just find that odd. Yes the heat is getting better, for sure, but I am still dizzy. My armpits and muscles in my back are sore, but I did work out at the gym. I think this has something to do with it. Does getting a hot throat and hot eyes have to do with this as well? What else should I be doing?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Get the fibromyalgia treated first.

Detailed Answer:
I said that a feeling of breathlessness often happens due to hormone withdrawal.
The muscle pain is very obviously a symptom of fibromyalgia, also the sore points in the armpits and back muscles.
Working out must have exacerbated it, yes it is possible, but then lack of exercise will only compound issues.
YEs, a feeling of heat at the back of the throat and eyes is a part of the symptom complex.
You should be consulting your Rheumatologist, and getting treatment for fibromyalgia, even if includes just psychological intervention.
Many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia and hormone withdrawal overlap, so treating atleast one, will clarify to what extent the other is responsible.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (7 minutes later)
Yes because this is getting unbearable. the pain is actually pretty bad and when breathing in and out it hurts. its scary. again I don't want to take the meds but at this point, I don't know what else I can do.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, do that.

Detailed Answer:
Yes, that is typical of fibromyalgia, the chest muscles must be badly affected.
You can start with trying out the meds, till alternative therapies are established, and you can wean yourself off.
You can write in to me directly anytime, using the following direct link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
Take care, and wish you health !
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 minutes later)
its just a scary thing. I am dizzy and having a hard time breathing, not that I cant, but it hurts, and when I walk, I get winded quickly. I was never like this! are you sure this isn't something else? do you think I need another chest ct scan or x ray? I just had one less than one month ago. they said I had a hiatal hernia! I am kind of freaking out. :(
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Relax.

Detailed Answer:
YOu have had one recently, you do not need another one.
This is fibromyalgia typically.
WHy not begin medication and see the response, before imagining the worst.
I am very sure this is not something else - particularly what you are dreading !
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (2 minutes later)
Just so strange for me to feel all these things after stopping the stupid birth control pill! I have heard horror stories but never thought it can happen to me. Do you think theres any more tests that I should get?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Please upload all tests done so far.

Detailed Answer:
Just upload the complete battery of tests done so far on this query thread.
I will make a checklist again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (9 minutes later)
ok all uploaded
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Nothing further remains to be done.

Detailed Answer:
You have been tested for practically everything under the sun.
Please dont worry.
There is no way that cancer can escape through this extensive dragnet of tests.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Aarti Abraham

OBGYN

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 6004 Questions

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What Causes Feeling Of Heat, Fatigue, Muscle Pain After Stopping Contraceptive Pills?

Brief Answer: Give yourself some time. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. It is very clear that all your blood work and investigations are clear, so there is nothing to worry at all. Moreover, your symptoms are typical of hormone withdrawal. The feeling of heat, fatigue, muscle pain - all this is very common after years on the pill and then stopping it. Also, you started a new pill pretty fast, which interrupted the process of acclimatization to a hormone free phase. Right now, you mention that initially you had the heat sensation daily, now it is not that frequent. So please stay hormone free. Give your body another fortnight to adjust. I am sure the symptoms will dissipate slowly. Also, fibromyalgia can contribute to many of these symptoms, please consult your rheumatologist and start medication for that too. Stress management is vital, as you are just 30, and you need to believe that you will soon be completely healthy once the hormones wear off. Some women need more time to recover after stopping BC. Hope this answer helped you. All the best please feel free to discuss further.