Birth Control hunger and ADHD

I'm sort of finding myself in a bit of a paradox, and I'd been happily maintaining for the most part but I just started this birth control (mononessa) .. and I really want to be on birth control for a lot of reasons, but my appetite is completely out of control.

This problem is made more complicated by the side effect of my strattera meds that for the most part just make me feel really sick if I don't have food in my stomach.

I'm eating a TON right now.. and I've gained weight (some might be water) .. but the problem is that when I feel hungry I also start to feel sick, even if I really shouldn't. I'm eating around 2500-3000kcal a day.

I have finals coming up, I can't feel that sick. its terrible...

I live on a college campus too, and so my food options are pretty much cafeteria stuff.. and a lot of the options aren't healthy.

Well, I'm not exactly sure what you want advice on so I will just assume that you're wanting advice on how to balance everything without feeling sick and not eating so much.

So, I've never heard of mononessa...is it a pill? If so, have you thought about trying some other birth control option like the IUD or maybe something like Nuva Ring? It could also just be that since you just started the bc, your body is still adjusting and things may get better in a few weeks. Or, if trying different bc is not an option, have you thought about switching your meds for the ADHD?

As for healthy options when it comes to food, are there any grocery stores or health food stores nearby...maybe within walking distance? If not, just try not to get too many fried foods in the cafeteria and I'm sure that they probably offer fruit too, right?

Sorry if I haven't helped much, but I would strongly advise talking to your doctor, especially due to the side effects you're experiencing. Your doctor would probably be able to help you figure something out as far as the meds go.

my parents don't know I'm on birth control, its a pill. and at this point a daily pill is all i really feel comfortable with. I guess I'm wondering if there's a better birth control I could take? I can be pretty sensitive to medicine.. and I really don't want to have to juggle ADHD meds.. as the ones I'm on are pretty expensive.. and the other options I have left aren't that much better.

I can't really afford to eat off campus food. I guess I'm just more wondering if my body will stop getting so hungry? or if there is a different BC that people here use that doesn't make them ravenous??

Everyone reacts differently to birth control. I lost weight on Loestrin FE 24, but others on this website have gained weight on it. You'll just have to try out different brands, I guess, until you find the one that has the least adverse effects on you. 

And if the pill gives you a lot of trouble, then you might want to reconsider your decision going on it. You have to weigh the benefits and the disadvantages and see what makes sense for you. 

Anyway, sorry I'm not much of a help! I think the only thing you can do is talk about different options with your gynecologist. 

Questobefit   I hope you are finding a food you like and can get there, that has some protein and complex carbs too.  If you will eat a little of that every three hours, along with plenty of water or unsweetened tea, you might find some relief from out-of-control situations.  I too, take Strattera, but am much older than you (55). My DD actually lost weight while on that, but I know not everyone does, me included. Your urge to eat more is perhaps fueled right now by the added stress of exams, so fill up on fresh veggies and fruits if you can. Do you like bananas? Easy to carry and eat with no mess, try to have 1 each day. Try small amounts of raisins and nuts, to carry with you in small container or plastic bag, to eat a small amount of every couple of hours.  I know drinking lots of water is not always advisable during classes, for obvious reasons, but try to have small amounts often. You will do fine once you realize that you are the one controlling your success, and the obstacles you face are steps of learning experiences that you and others can benefit from. As for the BC pills, you should be able to discuss your concerns with the Dr. or nurse you obtained the prescription from. Try calling them.  Good luck on all!

I've been on BC for a while and I've tried two different pills: Yaz and Seasonique(the current one).  Neither gave me any trouble in terms of eating, although they say they're sposda prevent or help cramps and they don't for me. :)

I also take zinc acetate for a liver disease I have. It cannot be taken with food in my stomach...I wait two hours after I finish eating a meal, take the pill, then have to wait at least an hour before I can eat again.  A side effect of taking this mineral pill (as with most minerals) is that it makes my stomach produce an inordinate amount of stomach acid.  The acid has nothing to digest but my stomach lining so I often have stomach aches.  I find that I can trick myself into feeling better by dring a lot of cold water when my stomach starts to hurt.  The cold sooths the pain and the water dilutes the acid.  Try this...it may help.

Now to your food selection.  I work in my colleges freshman dining hall so I have a general idea of what you can choose from.  My cafeteria has a deli/wrap bar, a "dinner" bar and a guest bar at every dinner.  The guest is usually a local restauranteur bringing their menu to the students (sushi, chinese, indian, pakistani, jewish deli).  The dinner bar is usually a pasta bar.  They also have a veggie bar specifically for vegetarian and vegan students.  At the deli/wrap bar students can get sandwiches or subs or wraps.  They can even have them warmed up in the pizza oven if they want a warm sandwich.  Hopefully your college cafeteria has some of these types of food bars instituted.  A sub sandwich may have a lot of calories but it'll definately fill you up.

Hope this stuff can help.