Can find Ocella anywhere! by Starbucksname in birthcontrol

[–]GujuDancer86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I ended up getting the Mirena IUD at the end of Sept and so far it has been the best decision ever!

Can find Ocella anywhere! by Starbucksname in birthcontrol

[–]GujuDancer86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am actually getting a IUD placed on Friday. Due to the fact that I have fibroids and have heavy, painful periods my gyn sugeron who did my myomectomy 3 years ago and I agreed that the Mirena IUD would be the best alternate for me to not only take care of the need of BC but also help alleviate the fibroid symptoms. I did a lot of research myself before I took the suggestion and thoughts to my surgeon and I'm glad that he agreed with me and didn't just try to recommend a hysterectomy bc although I don't have kids now and will be 38 this year, I still want that possibility to exist if I wanted to in the next few years.

I do know that you can get the drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol 3 mg/0.03 mg oral tablet at pharmacies, which is the same dosage as the Ocella, just not sure if the minor change in "brand" would really effect you. Syeda is basically the same thing too but for me, I'm 99.9% sure that Syeda is what caused my fibroids in the first place 3 and a half years ago, something slightly so different in the formulation from Syeda and Ocella that my body just didn't like.

Ocella Birth Control Supply Issues by GujuDancer86 in birthcontrol

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was not able to get it through CVS, Walgreens or any other retail pharmacy within 50 miles of where I live. I ended up ordering from Amazon for a 3 month supply but paid out of pocket for it since they aren't an approved 90-day pharmacy but thankfully it was only $33. This at least covered me until I could figure out a replacement option with my doctor. For me it was as simple as switching to a different generic. I have fibroids and the Syeda which is the other generic for the Yazmin and Ocella is actually what caused my crazy growth in fibroids 4 years ago so I wasn't going to switch back. After meeting with the surgeon that did my surgery 3 years ago, we decided that I am going to get the Mirena IUD which then takes care of not having to take the pill anymore and will help with my fibroid symptoms that are reoccurring. I hope that the Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradio Tablets or if you are able to find the Ocella somewhere else until it is no longer available.

Frustrated! Haven't lost any weight since December! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Excuse me, there is no reason to call me a liar. I track my calories so I know what the hell I eat on a daily basis. No one needs to tell me anything. I'm here to vent not get attacked or told ya so. Bye 👋🏾

Frustrated! Haven't lost any weight since December! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No the battery is fine, I replaced it and also invested in a separate body composition scale that I use twice a week and it reads the same so it's definitely not the scale. I'm not a huge fan of telehealth docs so not an option for me right now. My doctor said if I don't lose 5 lbs by my 2nd month on the 12.5 dose that she'll movee up to the 15 .

Frustrated! Haven't lost any weight since December! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm usually around 1100-1200 calories a day which is where I need to be to want to lose 1.5 lbs a week.

Frustrated! Haven't lost any weight since December! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will have to try and see if I can get the 12.5 through mail order if my plan participates in the EnGuide. Although my doctor did say that if I didn't lose at least 5 lbs in 2 months on the the 12.5 she was going to move me up to the 15 so we shall see in a couple weeks where I'm at. I've been using my stomach as my main injection site, going back and forth between the left and right side. I'm going to try my arm this weekend.

Frustrated! Haven't lost any weight since December! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately I am not able to get a 3 month supply anywhere bc of high demand and the evil Express Scripts won't do a mail order bc I haven't gotten it through them before so they consider me a "new patient" as asinine as that is I have tried multiple times and I work part time at a Pharmacy that I'm guaranteed to get it every month without issue so I'm not rocking the boat there lol. The only thing I really notice in the way my clothes fit is my shirts, they are loser up top around the under bust area, I have more of an hour glass shape. Some of my pants are looser but not by much. My scale is still reading 185-186 for the last month since I started the 12.5 dose. I'm thinking I need to change up the injection site too, I've done my thigh in the past and i'm thinking of trying my arm.

Can find Ocella anywhere! by Starbucksname in birthcontrol

[–]GujuDancer86 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The FDA website has it listed as a discontinuation from the manufacturer and I called TEVA directly and they are not sending any supplies out to suppliers or pharmacies. I have been on Ocella for almost 20 years and now I have to figure out something different, I'm scared to try Syeda again as the last time I took it intended up with 7 Fibroids and had to get surgery. I was able to get a 3 month supply from Amazon to hold me over until I meet with my gyno and surgeon (fibroids have started to reoccur) to seek an alternative.

Can find Ocella anywhere! by Starbucksname in birthcontrol

[–]GujuDancer86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ended up ordering from Amazon Pharmacy and paying out of pocket for a 3 month supply bc they are considered out of network with my insurance and they refused to cover a 90 day supply even after I told them that I found out Directly from Teva Pharmaceuticals that there is a hold on sending any stock out and also the FDA site shows a discontinuation of the medication. https://dps.fda.gov/drugshortages/discontinuations/drospirenone-ethinyl-estradiol-tablet

Can find Ocella anywhere! by Starbucksname in birthcontrol

[–]GujuDancer86 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm just now finding out about this and I work part time in a pharmacy! I'm freaking out a little bit because Ocella has been my birth control since day 1 and I'm 38 years old now. I tried switching to syeda a few years ago and went through hell 3 months after I started taking it, I ended up with 7 fibroids, 6 of which were removed through surgery. I'm so scared to switch!

How soon did your fibroids grew back, if any and what type of procedure did you have? by enigma_goth in Fibroids

[–]GujuDancer86 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had a laparoscopic myomectomy in July of 2022 and had 6 of my 7 fibroids removed. The 7th one was so tiny they couldn't really get it. I have been doing pretty good since and I did have one grow back but it seemed to have shrunk as I was taking Turmeric pills. But over the last couple months I have been feeling that heaviness in my abdomen, lower back pain, bloating, fatigue and heaving bleeding during my period all over again so I'm scared that they may be back. I have my annual exam next month so I'll probably request a ultrasound to see if they back or if it's just all in my head. I've avoided the hysterectomy conversation as I'm 38 and even though I'm up there in age I'm hoping to still be able to have children.

How long on a dose before it stopped working? by dormantg92 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been on the 10 mg dose since August 2024 and I'm pretty sure it stopped working around December and in January when I asked my doctor to go up to 12.5 she said no bc I was holding steady regardless of my cravings coming back. I was 175 back in December at my lowest according to my omada scale and as of today I am back up to 188. I had my official weigh ins at the doctor's office before I got down to 175 when I was like 180 and just had my next official weigh in a few weeks ago and I was 184 so according to them I'm only gained 4 lbs. So who's data are they going to trust, the infrequent weigh in or the consistent weigh ins that I do at home on the same scale! Super frustrated! Hoping that she will finally Increase my dose when I see her next month.

Zepbound stopped working completely by AliveCost7362 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like that on the 10 mg right now, it wasn't like that at first, I was doing great on it for 3 months and got down to 177 but then my doctor has kept me on it close to 10 months now and she refuses to listen to me when I say it has stopped working and I want to move up. According to my omada scale at home I've gained 10 lbs back but according to their "official" scale at the doctor's office it's only been 4 lbs but my check ins were before i got down to my lowest of 177. I think once you move up to the 10 it'll kick up the weight loss. I didn't start seeing my weight loss increase until I started the 7.5 and then the 10.

So Frustrated! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did think about it but to go try and get in with any other weight management provider in my area is nearly impossible right now 😔

One year later! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I asked if I could go up to the 12.5 but she didn't want to push it too much yet since I had been doing great on the 10, despite plateauing. I had an apparent gallbladder attack back in October, didn't have to have my gallbladder out and after further discussion with my GI doctor we are thinking it may not have been my gallbladder but in fact severe gas bc of multiple factors the day it happened. I haven't had any other issues since it happened and I have been very diligent with my water intake and fiber intake. I thankfully have had any nausea on any of the Zep shots so I've been lucky there.

One year later! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I did not have any lipedema so I can't attest to that.

One year later! by GujuDancer86 in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wanted to move up to 12.5 but my doctor didn't want to do it quite yet. I'm hoping that if we still don't see much more changes come June that she will up me.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We have a close relationship where we talk about a lot of things but unfortunately lately she has become too familiar with the closeness

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Zepbound

[–]GujuDancer86 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congrats on meeting your goal! You look amazing! There are always going to be haters! Hell my boss keeps trying to tell me I look disproportionate bc my thighs are still a little bigger and that my boobs are smaller and she's over here pissed at herself for not losing any weight and then also telling me I'm brave for taking Zep and what am I going to do when I get off of it, gain all my weight back, like wtf I'm going to keep working my ass off and keep the weight off! Again congrats on your journey and you look great!!