When I went to see the new gyno specialist, she prescribed me something called Visanne. Visanne is a drug that has been used for awhile in Europe to treat stubborn cases of endometriosis. It only became FDA approved and legal in Canada in January of this year. If you're wondering why I've been given an endo drug, good call. It's not really known if I have endo, none was seen in my previous surgery, but lesions can be tiny or difficult to see with the infection I had. So it's possible, most likely not probable. But it's also been shown to help with chronic pelvic pain, which I do have, and chocolate/hemorrhagic cysts, which I have as well. It apparently does amazing things for symptoms and pain. But being that it's similar to a progesterone only birth control pill, it has plenty of side effects, which I was super anxious about. It deeply concerned me that I could be trading one poor quality of life for another kind. The common side effects for Visanne are depression, migraines, stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, hair loss, acne, weight gain, increase in other kinds of cyst growth, skin problems, and month long periods. Less common but severe side effects include liver damage or malignant liver tumors, blood clots, heart problems, and reproductive cancers. In prescribing this to me, the doctor has of course determined that the benefits outweigh the risks, but it's still scary to contemplate. Especially with it being a new drug here, and one that hasn't been extensively researched in Europe. It's really maddening and stressful to not know what it's going to do to you.
Yesterday was my first day taking it. I took it in the evening hoping to sleep off the worst of it, and I felt fine before going to bed.This morning was a different story. I woke up throwing up, with searing pain in my stomach and in my pelvis, approximately where the cysts are. I have a bit of a headache, cramping like bad food poisoning, and intense fatigue. I'm hoping it's just a system shock and will go away quickly, but hey. Welcome to pharmaceuticals. I'll keep updating on the progression of symptoms and results.
Ciao mi amors.
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