I\'ve been happily taking my Orthocyclen for most of the past 10 years, but a couple months ago I was running low on $ (grad student loan running out, full time job not yet started and no health insurance) so I stopped taking them.  

For the first couple months everything was great.  Until last Friday when I woke up with an early period and cramps.  

I remember now why I like the pill so much.  It had been YEARS since I\'d had to deal with that.  With the pill I knew the exact day to expect my period, I never had cramps, and it was over quickly.  I\'m planning to pick up a refill asap from the pharmacy.

Reminds me of a (sometimes funny, sometimes not so funny) bit I heard once:

PMS is like a hammer that is going to hit you on the head each month.  So, if you know the hammer is going to hit you on the head, why can\'t you just duck?

    If only it were that simple!

So on Friday while I\'m PMSing (it\'s usually the 1st day of my period that\'s the worst, rather than the days before it) one of my co-workers is all *&%$ at everyone due to her hot flashes.

She was so cranky I was almost glad it was *Just* PMS and not menopause!