Finally home and stopping the BCPs

I am finally home and will not take my BCP starting tonight.
I have been lightly spotting since Tuesday (2 days ago) but no other symptoms have started.

Made it another 8 weeks before my period

Early this morning I thought I noticed a slight discoloration when I wiped. Since I didn't feel any cramping or have a headache, I shrugged it off.
Early that afternoon, I was definitely having spotting. Darn!
I made it 8 weeks since my last period, so I guess that's o.k.
Unfortunately I am traveling so I will continue the BCPs until I get home in a couple of days. No sense in allowing the wrath of god to destroy my last few days. And, traveling is always difficult anyway.

Now taking Levora .15/.30 - Been working great!

In the middle of January I noticed I was running pretty low on the Mexican BCP's. Some research on the internet for equivalent U.S. BCP's helped me find that out of all the matches (same dosage), Levora seemed to be the best priced.
Sure enough, Costco has it for $13.75/pak. Awesome! Since it's all out of pocket and a pak only lasts 21 days, I was relieved at the price. Some of the BCP's are upwards of $60/pak! That's insane.
So, I've been on the continuous BCP and just tonight I started spotting. Time to take a week long break. I just happen to have an appt with my Acupuncturist tomorrow so if I'm cramping, he'll be able to help. I noticed I am lightly cramping tonight already.
Without counting the days, I think it's been 8 weeks since my last period. I would like to see a little more time between spotting, but hey, at least it's 8 weeks and not 3!

Period after 7 weeks

Still taking the Mexican BCPs. I don't have the exact date, but after my last breakthrough, I believe I started taking the BCPs continuously again around October 25th.
I've been symptom free and had new breakthrough bleeding on December 14th. That's 7 weeks, only one week longer than last time.
I find I get pretty bad headaches when I go off the BCP for the week. I will usually wake up with the headache in the middle of the night and it's still lingering the next morning. Sometimes I will wake up feeling o.k. and then the headache appears within an hour.
I have been looking around the Internet for a comparable BCP as I am near approaching my last pack from Mexico. It appears the dosage is the same as Nordette, which is the same as the generic Levora.
I need to contact Costco Pharmacy to see if they have Levora and how much it is (they are closed today, Sunday). I can probably get my OB/GYN to write a new prescription after updating him on my success, even though I went around his back to get cheaper BCPs with the slightly higher dosage.
I dread having to pay $15-$20 for 21 days worth of pills (Mexico was $6). The doctors don't seem to understand how the math works out. "It's only $20/month." No, it's $20 for 21 days and if I have 4-5 periods a year that works out to $26.50/month. I have no insurance. This is all out of pocket expense for me.
When it comes to health care, I truly miss living in Mexico.

Six weeks and break-through bleeding

Started taking continuous BCP again on Sept 7th. Today, October 18th, I started bleeding. I noticed spotting mid-day and put in a tampon. Four hours later, sure enough I started bleeding. Hmm. Kinda weird that it started while I'm taking the BCPs and it's only been 6 weeks, not 3 months like before.
I won't take a BCP tonight. I will wait a week and see if I have a normal cycle.
The BCPs I've been taking are:
ethinyl estradiol levonorgestrel
30mcg .15mg
I remember from years ago, like decades ago, that when I was on a BCP I had to take a stronger dose. I think it was when most women were taking Ortho/Novum 1/35's and I had to take 1/50's.
Symptoms? Nada. I did feel a little pang for about 10 minutes earlier today, but after the intense pain from before taking the BCPs today's pain was nothing.
I don't like taking medication as I always try to do things naturally, but taking the BCPs seems to have minimized all the symptoms and I have my life back.
We'll see how this week goes....
Aloha!

Labor Day

Oops, it's a holiday weekend and I forgot yesterday was Sunday so I didn't start taking the BCP last night like I had planned.

I will start the continuous BCPs tonight.

At least I'm feeling good.

Still draining...

Ok, so that might be a gross way of putting it, but just when I think the cycle has stopped, a little more comes. It;s like in the Austin Powers movie, "Evacuation com-...Evacuation compl-...Evacuation comple-...Evacuation comple-..."

Today is only 7 days and the heaviest bleeding was the first 3. Since then it's been light to minimal.

I think I will start the continuous BCP tomorrow night (Sunday) just to try and put my body back into some sort of regulation.

I have felt uncomfortable on and off all week. My bowels are all messed up and not consistent and that is ever painful when things are not going smoothly. It is not easy to explain how going to the restroom can leave me completely exhausted or in pain for several hours. thank god I work out of the house.

At least I made it through this cycle. If I can get through another 90 days or so before needed to have another period, I could live with that.