Wasn't sure where to post this at, but I started on birth control 4 days ago to regulate my periods. I had a little dizziness, fatigue and nausea over the past few days, but I can deal with that.

I am now having shooting pains in my stomach that have now worked there way to my back. I called my PCP, she knows about my band and said that this was normal.

I have never taken birth control before so didn’t know what to expect and I usually don’t have side effects to meds. Has anyone else had these problems or know of a way to make the pain less painful?

Of course I am freaked out because the pain is in my stomach and that's where my band is, but I haven't read anything here that taking birth control is a no-no.

I also went to my lap-band doc yesterday because I have had a problem waking up in the middle of the night with coughing and then throwing up so I am scheduled for an Upper GI next week.

Hopefully the birth control pill side effects and my coughing are two different issues that just happen to effect me at the same time.

I have had a similar problem with pain in my stomach. No one seems to know what is going on. I have been seeing doctors since February last year. I have been taking protonix for my stomach problems for 6 months. The one thing that seems to be very odd is that when I take the protonix and birth control pills together I don't have the pains. If I stop taking either the problems start again. The pain I have has lead to throwing up. I have ended up in the ER two times because I could not stop throwing up. My GP doctor wants to start doing some tests again. I see him in two weeks and if anything gets figured out I will post it.

The progestins in the birth control pills can cause the band to become tighter due to more swelling of tissue, and this can then cause discomfort, reflux, etc. This is not a normal symptom of bcps in the unbanded!! You might try switching to a bcp that is higher in estrogen, lower in progestins, like one of the ones they make for perimenopausal women. I think Yasmine is one brand name.