T O P I C R E V I E W
soccer06
Member # 92108
posted 06-27-2012 06:12 PM
This is my first time being on the pill and going on vacation where there will be a time change. I am going to Hawaii from MN and we will have to move our clocks back 5 hours once we get there. How do I take my pill for the week when I usually take them at 10PM?
Heather
Member # 3
posted 06-27-2012 06:15 PM
Can you take your pill five hours earlier? If not, just stick to around the same time: a difference of a few hours with a combined pill is fine.
soccer06
Member # 92108
posted 06-28-2012 11:04 AM
Yes, i'll try to take them around 5 hours earlier! I'm just confused as to when the pill is considered late and would possibly lose some effectiveness. Sometimes I've seen you guys say 3 hours is a late pill, 12 hours is a missed pill and sometimes it was 12 hours is late, 24 hours is missed? I was just wondering so I don't have to be worried if I do accidently take one "late".
Heather
Member # 3
posted 06-28-2012 11:10 AM
Three hours is late for the mini-pill (POP), 12 hours for the combined pill, and at 24 hours, with a combined pill, a pill has been missed.
soccer06
Member # 92108
posted 06-28-2012 11:15 AM
Perfect, thank you so much. With this pill I've been having constant breast tenderness (that goes away on the placebo pills), and cramps when my withdrawal bleed comes (that were about the same as last month--my first month). I know it says that the side effects should subside in about 3 months, but if it doesn't seem to have gotten any better during the second month, is it an okay time to maybe switch? Or should I wait one more month? Also, if I were to switch pills, would they be effective the first day I take the new one (after the last day of my old pack of placebo pills)? Or will it take another cycle (not for the fact that I'm having sex, just phycological reasons ) Thanks!
Heather
Member # 3
posted 06-28-2012 11:18 AM
Personally, I'd wait it out one more cycle. Obviously, if you switch around a lot, you have to go through that adjustment period with pill a lot, so before making a switch, I'd want to be sure it's really a brand issue, not about increased side effects as you're starting, or how the pill impacts you, period. Too, having cramps with withdrawal bleeds isn't unusual, and may not be something you can expect to not happen on any brand of pill to some degree. If and when you switch brands, so long as you don't have any more than the 7-day placebo break between them, you don't have to start from scratch in terms of effectiveness: a new brand would be fully effective right when you start, just like a new pack of the brand you were already using would be.
soccer06
Member # 92108
posted 06-28-2012 11:29 AM
Great! Thanks so much for your help, Heather!
Heather
Member # 3
posted 06-28-2012 11:30 AM
Of course! And enjoy your vacation: I envy you!