Christine’s Story – Side Effects of Birth Control Pills

I was 23 years of age when my health started to fail me. I was seen by countless doctors who told me I was too young to have any serious health issues. They said I needed to enjoy my youth instead of looking for attention. I cannot tell you the frustrations and humiliation that I endured while searching for medical explanations for my symptoms.

“Within a few weeks of being on the pill, I became quite ill. I started feeling hot all the time, facial flushing, feeling run down, nausea, weight gain, trouble sleeping at night, hair started to fall out, and finger tips and toes feeling ice cold.” 

My story begins when I decided to get birth control pills. I went in to the doctor for a premarital checkup. My husband and I did not want children for a while, so we agreed I would get birth control pills. I started off on the regular dosage. Within a few weeks of being on the pill, I became quite ill. I started feeling hot all the time, facial flushing, feeling run down, nausea, weight gain, trouble sleeping at night, hair started to fall out, and finger tips and toes feeling ice cold. I called the doctor, told her my symptoms, and she said it was just my body’s way of getting used to the drug. She tried me on three other prescriptions until I said enough was enough. Even though I stopped taking the birth control pills, my symptoms did not stop. In fact, my symptoms got worse as time went by. I saw endless experts. The visits seemingly ended with the same phrase, “there’s nothing wrong with you, here’s a prescription for an anti-depressant.” Needless to say, I was completely on my own when it came to my health.

Despite the 10 years of hopelessness with our medical community, I brought into the world two beautiful sons. I had a lot of problems in my pregnancies and suffered from post partum depression afterwards. After the birth of my second son, I just felt terrible all the time. I had no energy; I started to become allergic to foods that had never bothered me before, bloating after I ate carbohydrates, constipation, hair falling out, dry skin, fever blisters inside and outside my mouth, numbness in my hands and feet while sleeping, migraines, no sex drive, irritability, and depression. I went in for my post partum check up and was told this was all normal and I would start feeling better as soon as I was on birth control pills! I just broke out into such a laugh, thinking, doesn’t anyone listen? When I tried to explain again why I refused to take birth control pills, the doctor just rolled his eyes. He said, “When you come to your senses let me know.” I never saw him again.

I suffered in silence for a few more years until I came across an article in our county’s magazine. I was reading about a woman’s story that sounded like mine. She was seen by a doctor, Dr. Steven Hotze, and he had restored her health. I was very skeptical, but found it very interesting that this woman’s story was similar to mine. I went to one of Dr. Hotze’s symposiums. I knew by the end of the session this doctor was very knowledgeable about the human body, and the body’s make up of hormones. He spoke about how doctors aren’t taking the time to really sit down and listen to their patients, and women being prescribed antidepressants because they complain of three or more symptoms. Dr. Hotze’s message was medical common sense.  I was in his office the following week.

I was very impressed with his staff; they were so respectful and caring. Dr. Hotze listened to me for 20 – 30 minutes without interruption. He allowed me to share all my medical history and he really listened. He told me I had hypothyroidism and yeast overgrowth. He put me on Armour Thyroid, a yeast free diet, natural hormone replacement, and vitamins. Little did I know what was to come in the next 10 days. A light switch had been turned on in my body. I was feeling so alive!  I had forgotten what feeling great felt like. All my symptoms were gone. I couldn’t believe it; it was just too easy and simple. I started to cry a lot after that, tears of complete joy. My children were happier because they had a mom who felt energized, fun, and was in the game of life. No longer was I sitting on the sideline, I was right in the middle of it all. As for my husband, he thanks God a lot for Dr. Hotze!

I have the best care at the Hotze Wellness Center. I have been at the Wellness Center for four years. I have gone from having hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism. Last July, one of the doctors at the Hotze Wellness Center made the diagnosis that I suffered from Graves’ Disease. I know I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am if I were not apart of the Hotze Wellness Center Family.

Can you relate to Christine’s story?  Don’t wait, contact us today so that you can get your life back!