Getting discouraged with doctors.

I moved to NI in July and when I arrived I had about 3 months left of my American birth control pill.  I finished it up, and was put on Microgynon over here, as Aviane, my pill from home, was unavailable.  I was told that this was the closest in hormone levels, etc., so I switched to it with no hesitation.

About 6 weeks into the new pill, I suddenly became uncontrollably itchy.  Patches of skin on either side of my nose, under my eyes, and on my eyelids became red, inflamed, and itchy, and at one point my eyes were practically swollen shut.  I went to A&E, told told them that it may possibly be my birth control, and they gave me anti-histamines and said it was unlikely, but to see my GP.

Three weeks later, I finally got in to my GP, but the swelling had gone down.  Again, the doctor said it was unlikely that I was allergic to the pill, and he gave me hydro-cortisone to put on the red areas and a super-strong moisturiser.  I've been using these since October.

Four months later, I am still itchy.  I have had to stop shaving my legs because there are so many scabs from scratching that my legs bleed when I do shave.  My face is constantly itchy and I've had to start wearing much more makeup to cover up the red patches.  After changing all of my soaps/detergents and receiving no relief, I began to track the itching.  The itching gets worst right before and right after my period, and then eases off a bit until the next period approaches.  My gynocologist at home, whom my mother works with, has said that it may be a reaction to the hormone levels and the fact that the pill is most built-up in my system right before my period (at the end of the pill pack).  This all makes sense to me, but yesterday I went back to the GP.

Once again, the GP laughed.  He said, "I don't mean to sound cynical, but a lot of women manage to go through every type of pill and never find one that is quite right for them..." kind of implying that this is either in my head, or that the itching is just something to be dealt with if I want the 'luxury' of being on the pill.

I'm really starting to lose heart here.  I had such amazing doctors at home, and any time something was wrong they would keep trying new things until the issue was fixed.  Now, however, I feel like I'm bothering the GP when I'm in, and my issues are normally dismissed.  I'm starting to think that I'm crazy.

Has anyone else either had these experiences with a GP where they feel like their concerns are dismissed?  What about birth control?  Has anyone had adverse reactions to the pill in the UK?

Thanks for any feedback!

Try and see if you can see someone else at the practice, even ask if there is, maybe, a nurse who can help. I've been through 4 different pills here (adverse reactions to 3 of them!) and they have been nothing but supportive of trying to find me the right one. You can also look and see if you have a health clinic in your area that deals specifically with reproduction/etc. Sometimes they are more up on what goes on.

good luck!

Is there a GUM   clinic near you?  That may be a place to go, as they're very specific to sexual health issues.  

I've had issues with my GP and birth control as well.  She doesnt seem to know anything about the different hormone levels, didnt care that my blood pressure was a bit high and wouldnt talk to me at all about an IUD rather than pills.  I think PB's suggestion is a good one.

The GPs in my area just plain will not see you if your query is to do with contraceptives... they immediately refer you to the GUM.