NuvaRing and exhaustion

I am just started on NR 2 weeks ago. I have had many pregnancy symptoms since insertion of NR....sore breasts, nausea, exhaustion. I started the NR on the first day of my period, which was just starting and a little light, and used extra BC during the first 7 days. My period stopped immediately (has this happened to anyone else?) Of course I was worried when I started having these symptoms, so I took two morning HPTs which came out negative. As I read these posts I am wondering if the NR convenience is worth it. I can't stop thinking that I may be pregnant, when every test I take says that I am not. I am mentally exhausted.

I was on NuvaRing for a year before experiencing any side effects. My January period was horrible -- it lasted 4 1/2 weeks with clots the size of a half dollar coming out -- my general doc thought it was some strange side effect of a back injury I was recovering from. February was fine. Then, the same thing happened in March, except I was going on week 5 of these clots with no end in sight. I happened upon this website and realized that the loss of sex drive, exhaustion, lack of sleep, and depression were possible side effects of the ring! I have been on antidepressants for over a year, and now believe I was medicating the wrong thing. I have had more headaches in the past six months than I have ever had in my whole life...and my husband and I were experiencing many issues over the lack of sex drive, which used to be very healthy until starting on the ring. Thank God I found this website! I have taken out the ring (my blood flow stopped in just a few hours after removing it), and have a call in to my doc to find a new birth control option!

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this site, and even happier to see that the posts are recent. I have been using the Nuvaring since July of 2007. Please keep in mind that prior to this I really had no health problems other than an appendectomy, additionally I have a 3yr. old (normal vaginal birth). I have been to NUMEROUS (and I truly mean it) doctors within the past 8 months due to many of the so called "side affects" everyone has mentioned and not one doctor found a single thing to be wrong with me after an MRI, multiple sonograms (breast, abdominal), chest X-ray (will explain) and your run of the mill blood tests. Now I think I've found the answer.
I went to see an acupuncturist yesterday for the first time, she took a very detailed health history from me. I told her of how I've been experiencing anxiety attacks, severe bloating, short term memory loss, heart palpatations, headaches, exhaustion, total lack of libido, and pain/ discomfort of the abdomen on the right side as well as terrible muscle tension as well as vaginal issues. We went through everything, my diet, stress triggers etc. then she asked me about birth control and i told her I had been using the Nuvaring. It was only then when she noted my problems had all began shortly after starting the Nuvaring. I'm not blaming Nuvaring for each and every issue I have, but the one problem I will definitely pin on this product is the fact that I feel like I have a yeast infection or UTI most of the month. The itching, vaginal dryness, pain in my lower abdomen SUCKS!!!! This cannot be described as a side affect but torture!
I know this is due to this stupid ring because I actually didn't use the ring for one month (I forgot to pick up my prescription in time) and had to go without. For that month the vaginal "issues" as I like to call them went completely away. I should have stayed away from it. Luckily, I'm "due to remove" Sunday, and will never touch a Nuvaring again. Maybe I'll go back on the pill or just do something else. After all Today Sponge is back on the market.
We as a society need to be more skeptical of the pharmaceutical industry as well as of our doctors, after all they do not know everything.

I've been on NuvaRing for the past three weeks and decided today to abandon this contraceptive. I'm disappointed, especially because it's incredibly easy to use and doesn't give me the side effects i experienced on the pill (which included intense vomiting after one or two drinks). Only this morning did I realize that the irritability, lack of sex drive, migraines and depression I've been experiencing recently could be attributable to NuvaRing. I have been dealing with a massive workload recently and thought everything I was experiencing stemmed from that. But this morning after my boyfriend and I discussed my mood swings and complete lack of sex drive, I checked the side effects in the NuvaRing packet. No mention of loss of sex drive (can someone explain this--I feel like I've had tons of friends experience this side effect from hormonal contraceptives so why is not an official side effect?), but the packet advises women with a history of depression to consult with their doctor frequently. I have a history of depression (my doctor didn't inquire) and have been experiencing suicidal impulses the last two weeks for the first time in years. Though I originally attributed those impulses to overwork and exhaustion, I'm now wondering how much of this can be chalked up to NuvaRing.

I have been on nuvaring for over a year and have all sorts of issues that I never even considered to be linked to the NR. I suffer from bipolar disorder, severe anxiety and depression and all my symptoms have increased while on the NR. I have terrible headaches on a daily basis and have had alot of stomach problems. Nausea, cramps, vomiting etc but I just thought I was sick. I have also had issues with weight gain and I have absolutely zero sex drive. This has been really hard on my partner and I's relationship and is extremely frustrating. We've been together 3yrs this fall and this is really hurting us both.(I'm 20yrs old) We have been thinking my headaches were caused by grinding my teeth. I'm currently on a number of medications including lamictal, ambien CR, adderall XR, allegra. I'm always exhausted and ill tempered and just had several blood tests to try and determine what could be causing my constant exhaustion but nothing was irregular. I have an appt with my gynecologist tomorrow and I'm going to talk to her about other options but because all BC forms have about the same degree, if not worse, side effects I might stop the BC all together.

It really sucks that I am having so many issues from NR because it is by far the easiest BC I have ever used. I always forgot the pill and the patch hurt like BLEEP and always fell off.