Aa
Getting off of Depo Provera after 11 years - need advice
I have been on depo for 11 years. I would be due for my next shot on 9/27 but my Doctor has advised that I stop having it. She has been treating me for migraines and depression with Imitrex (when needed) and a daily dosage of Prozac of 10mg. The Imitrex thankfully, works, and the migraines have also been lessened by the Prozac. However, I continue to have nasty "low" days when I can barely function and have also experienced symptoms of hypoglycemia and panic attacks and or crying jags for no reason.
I have been reading a lot about the Depo side effects some women have had and they mirror mine. I've had a thyroid test and it was fine, so I don't think that I'm diabetic.
I have been trying to eat well and clense with milk thistle to try to hasten the exit of the Depo.
At the beginning of this week,I developed a yeast infection and did the 1 day Monistat. It seemed to work after 3/4 of a day, but now the yeast infection is seeming like it's back. Ugh.
I'm wondering if there is more that I can do to get it out of me or something I should request of my Dr? I don't want to take more drugs for the panic/anxiety, but will if it's going to be a long haul to "detox" from this stuff. I'm assuming that the yeast infection may be due to the hormones trying to kick back in or the fact that I was working out in the hot sun all weekend and was definitely sweating (don't think I need to say more on that).
If anyone can shed some light, I'd appreciate it. I don't know why all of these nasty symptoms appeared over the last 2 years when I'd been on it so long.
TIA!
I have been reading a lot about the Depo side effects some women have had and they mirror mine. I've had a thyroid test and it was fine, so I don't think that I'm diabetic.
I have been trying to eat well and clense with milk thistle to try to hasten the exit of the Depo.
At the beginning of this week,I developed a yeast infection and did the 1 day Monistat. It seemed to work after 3/4 of a day, but now the yeast infection is seeming like it's back. Ugh.
I'm wondering if there is more that I can do to get it out of me or something I should request of my Dr? I don't want to take more drugs for the panic/anxiety, but will if it's going to be a long haul to "detox" from this stuff. I'm assuming that the yeast infection may be due to the hormones trying to kick back in or the fact that I was working out in the hot sun all weekend and was definitely sweating (don't think I need to say more on that).
If anyone can shed some light, I'd appreciate it. I don't know why all of these nasty symptoms appeared over the last 2 years when I'd been on it so long.
TIA!
Go over to the maternal/child part of this forum and direct this same question to the poster "kimmy n angus". She was on Depo and is very vocal about having side effects just like yours. She will probably be able to help you.
i was on depo 7 yrs and so many issues crop up in the last 2 that were so awful it isn't even funny. it takes 12-18 mos to get out of you and sometimes longer. i have to go to work...in 2 min...but i will come back later and post so much info you won't believe it!!! here is my web site and depo group web address. please feel free to take a look and ask me questions!!!
love...kimmie
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/coons_ttc_group/
love...kimmie
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/coons_ttc_group/
the funny thing about depo is for a while most woman don't notice any side effects except no periods....who wants AF anyways unless you are TTCing. after many years on the shot i started to get psyciatric issues...severe depression, bipolar disorder and axiety disorder....i never thought it could be depo related. then i started to lose my concentration and lose intrest in school, friends, life, and everything else.i had no sex drive and was dry. i thought it was the mood issues doing it to me. i was 106 lbs after my son was born and noticed i was gaining weight. first it crept up slowly....at the end i was 178 lbs....i was heavier than i was when i deliver a 9 lb baby! i thought it was all the meds for everything else. i stopped the meds and did holistic treatments. it worked but the weight stayed. i hated everything and couldn't understand why....it was awful. a friend of mine with the same disorders decided she was goin off the depo cuz she was not having sex anyways. she lost 17 lbs in 2 months and got undiagnosed from her disorders. i was like...OMG...no depo for me anymore.
after 6 months i was undiagnosed with all my mood issues and was feeling better....and i lost 50 lbs!!!! i got my sex drive back with abundance and started to work and be interested in things again. at the 9 mo mark AF came back...with abundance as well. she came for 7 days every other week. i went thru 2 mos of that and got put on the nuva ring to stop that. at the 12 month mark i was with my fiance and we wanted to start trying to conceive, so bye-bye nuva ring. AF came back as before every other week. i went to the dr and he said that my progesterone levels were extremely low and i wasn't ovulating. i was shocked but he gave me progesterone to take to make sure i had only 1 AF per month...it worked. he also told me the depo can take up to 18 mos to leave my body and this is what caused this prob. i reseached the effects woman have experienced on depo. the issues other than fertility were experienced by many woman ....some even after only one shot. the longer you are on it the stronger the effects get over time. i was put on clomid to jump start my overies....it helped. i had a stange cycle and found out i m/c that month. depo has a high risk of m/c if you conceive shortly after stopping the shot....it makes you progesterone deprived and progesterone is neccessary for carrying a PG. i decided that all i could do was wait and let me body heal. at the 18 month mark i ovulated on my own for the first time and conceived and had another m/c. my dr has now put me on progesterone from ovulation to 12 weeks PG or AF comes to stop the m/c's. this has been a horrifying experience in its intiraty. i would not wish for my worst enemy to go through what i have. i am extremely sorry you had to go through this. there is nothing they can do to reverse depo....you have to wait for it to leave you. once you get your AF back, if it is irregular, they can treat you for that....DON'T LET THEM GIVE YOU MORE BC. tell them you want progesterone to help regulate AF. i found a good detox tea works wonders. eat healthy stay fit and excersize. depo is stored in fat and thats why it stays as long as it does....all the weight gain from depo has depo in it!!! do your best to lose any weight gained on it and drink lots of water. feel free to e-mail me and i can answer any questions you might have.
love and hugs....kimmie
***@****
after 6 months i was undiagnosed with all my mood issues and was feeling better....and i lost 50 lbs!!!! i got my sex drive back with abundance and started to work and be interested in things again. at the 9 mo mark AF came back...with abundance as well. she came for 7 days every other week. i went thru 2 mos of that and got put on the nuva ring to stop that. at the 12 month mark i was with my fiance and we wanted to start trying to conceive, so bye-bye nuva ring. AF came back as before every other week. i went to the dr and he said that my progesterone levels were extremely low and i wasn't ovulating. i was shocked but he gave me progesterone to take to make sure i had only 1 AF per month...it worked. he also told me the depo can take up to 18 mos to leave my body and this is what caused this prob. i reseached the effects woman have experienced on depo. the issues other than fertility were experienced by many woman ....some even after only one shot. the longer you are on it the stronger the effects get over time. i was put on clomid to jump start my overies....it helped. i had a stange cycle and found out i m/c that month. depo has a high risk of m/c if you conceive shortly after stopping the shot....it makes you progesterone deprived and progesterone is neccessary for carrying a PG. i decided that all i could do was wait and let me body heal. at the 18 month mark i ovulated on my own for the first time and conceived and had another m/c. my dr has now put me on progesterone from ovulation to 12 weeks PG or AF comes to stop the m/c's. this has been a horrifying experience in its intiraty. i would not wish for my worst enemy to go through what i have. i am extremely sorry you had to go through this. there is nothing they can do to reverse depo....you have to wait for it to leave you. once you get your AF back, if it is irregular, they can treat you for that....DON'T LET THEM GIVE YOU MORE BC. tell them you want progesterone to help regulate AF. i found a good detox tea works wonders. eat healthy stay fit and excersize. depo is stored in fat and thats why it stays as long as it does....all the weight gain from depo has depo in it!!! do your best to lose any weight gained on it and drink lots of water. feel free to e-mail me and i can answer any questions you might have.
love and hugs....kimmie
***@****
hi, my name is Laura. I started the Depo shots in April of 05, and i had the worst experience. Other than kidney stones. My last shot was around May or June of 06. my last period was right before i started the shots. Within the first week of the first shot, I had such bad mood swings. I would cry, uncontrollably over nothing, all the time. My eating was all out of whack, there were days I couldn't stop eating and then days that I couldn't eat at all. As I continued with the shots every 3 months, I gained about 80 pounds. After taking pictures with some friends and (self-proclaimed,) step kids, I looked at the pictures and was so upset that I ended up having a total physical and emotional break down. (Right in the middle of Beale Street in Memphis TN!)
Being on the shots, i had a lot of problems, horrible acne, weak immune system, loss of "lubrication," no sex drive what-so-ever. The list goes on and on. The last time i had sex was August 29, 2006. July 22nd, 2007 was the first time I'd had sex since. After not having any kind of menstrual cycle, my mom, (an LPN) reminded me that even though I was not on any kind of birth control, I could still get pregnant. Even thought i wasn't having periods. so we ended up having a pregnancy scare. after Dr's and home tests, i wasn't. now its September 27th 2007. its like 1:03AM and for about the past month, my boyfriend and i have been thinking that there was a great possibility of me being pregnant. again, after Dr's and nurses telling me that the only way they can tell for sure is if i go get a blood test done, everyone we talked to told us that everything we were describing to them said that i was a good 85-90% pregnant. we went to my Dr and he said that since we had HAD SEX in the last 8 days that the EPT wouldn't give for sure results, so we didn't have sex for 8 grueling days, and went back for a blood test cause i told him i didn't want another EPT. another heart-stopping 3days. i get a call at 9:27 in the morning. (This was about a week to a week and a half ago.) The past month and a half my stomach has gotten bigger, i cant lay on my stomach or my sides, my feet are swollen, and my nipples hurt so bad that i have to walk around my house topless, both my entire breasts are killing me and they are very firm. At about 12:25-12:30AM, (like 30-40mins ago) i went to the bathroom and when i wiped i saw blood. not pure blood, and not menstrual blood, but a almost pinkish color, with a very STRONG and bad odor. we don't know whats going on. and my boyfriend and best friend that i live with are starting to get even more stressed out with me cause i am constantly stressed out cause i don't know whats going on and i would really like some help. any kind of advise would be greatly appreciated right now. anyone at all. please and thank you thank you thank you!
<3<3<3
Confused and in major breast pain!
<3<3<3
Laura Elizabeth.
Being on the shots, i had a lot of problems, horrible acne, weak immune system, loss of "lubrication," no sex drive what-so-ever. The list goes on and on. The last time i had sex was August 29, 2006. July 22nd, 2007 was the first time I'd had sex since. After not having any kind of menstrual cycle, my mom, (an LPN) reminded me that even though I was not on any kind of birth control, I could still get pregnant. Even thought i wasn't having periods. so we ended up having a pregnancy scare. after Dr's and home tests, i wasn't. now its September 27th 2007. its like 1:03AM and for about the past month, my boyfriend and i have been thinking that there was a great possibility of me being pregnant. again, after Dr's and nurses telling me that the only way they can tell for sure is if i go get a blood test done, everyone we talked to told us that everything we were describing to them said that i was a good 85-90% pregnant. we went to my Dr and he said that since we had HAD SEX in the last 8 days that the EPT wouldn't give for sure results, so we didn't have sex for 8 grueling days, and went back for a blood test cause i told him i didn't want another EPT. another heart-stopping 3days. i get a call at 9:27 in the morning. (This was about a week to a week and a half ago.) The past month and a half my stomach has gotten bigger, i cant lay on my stomach or my sides, my feet are swollen, and my nipples hurt so bad that i have to walk around my house topless, both my entire breasts are killing me and they are very firm. At about 12:25-12:30AM, (like 30-40mins ago) i went to the bathroom and when i wiped i saw blood. not pure blood, and not menstrual blood, but a almost pinkish color, with a very STRONG and bad odor. we don't know whats going on. and my boyfriend and best friend that i live with are starting to get even more stressed out with me cause i am constantly stressed out cause i don't know whats going on and i would really like some help. any kind of advise would be greatly appreciated right now. anyone at all. please and thank you thank you thank you!
<3<3<3
Confused and in major breast pain!
<3<3<3
Laura Elizabeth.
I too had taken Depo, since 1999, started at age 14. Slowly, I started falling apart. Depression, anxiety, profuse sweating, diagnosed with POTS ( a heart condition that causes you to pass out without warning), heart palpitations, racing heart, & fatigue, just to scratch the surface! Finally, after about 2 years of right side pain (which I though was due to my history of excessive kidney stones) I decided to stop getting my shot just to "see" what would happen. After only 5 months, I am a whole NEW person. My heart condition...vanished, depression & anxiety...tons better, sweating like a grown man.... dried up, and my non-stop flank pain....GONE! Like the previous post, I had no idea all of these things were related. After being on a drug for so long and becoming acustomed to these changes in your body, its hard to relate the two. But, it definatly was the cause. I believe that with my whole heart! Its not worth it!
Also, since comming off, my breast have grown, almost instantly! However the shot never caused me to gain weight I have always been between 100 to 115. But, the breast issue, I think Depo too was involved in this. Since I started taking it at age 14, I dont belive I was completely finished with puberty! Does that make since to anyone else. I started out as an A and within 2 months turned into a large B almost C!
Please if you are reading this post and are considering Depo, steer clear, its not worth it in the long run. In my state, GA, the gov. dosent allow it for over 2 years now! (Does me alot of good after 10 years) But, at least I can warn others!
Also, since comming off, my breast have grown, almost instantly! However the shot never caused me to gain weight I have always been between 100 to 115. But, the breast issue, I think Depo too was involved in this. Since I started taking it at age 14, I dont belive I was completely finished with puberty! Does that make since to anyone else. I started out as an A and within 2 months turned into a large B almost C!
Please if you are reading this post and are considering Depo, steer clear, its not worth it in the long run. In my state, GA, the gov. dosent allow it for over 2 years now! (Does me alot of good after 10 years) But, at least I can warn others!
After reading some of the posts I feel better. I went on depo back in 97 and decided to get off of it June of 2007. Reason being, I started to notice my anxiety levels were high, one minute I was fun and the next depressed and miserable. I would get upset and mad easily...nothing I did seemed to make me feel like I use to when I was younger. I felt like I was going crazy. Within the 10 year time frame I was on Prozac for a year or two because I felt depressed, lost... crazy. So last year I went off depo. Within 3 months I my mental state of mind was a whole lot better. My anxiety was minimal, my rapid heart racing (I haven't had that feeling in almost a year), and I'm able to control my moods better. Don't get me wrong my body is still up and down, which is starting to effect my personal life. I finally got a period ( A VERY LIGHT) in Jan 08 for about a week. Then in Feb I got another one and it didn't stop for 31 days (between light and med). So I called my gyno and she put me on provera for 10 days, stopped the bleeding for about 5 and then one day I had the heaviest period EVER for like 2 hours and then nothing for another week. That was at the end of March, now 3 weeks ago I got it again and it hasn't stopped. I'm starting to worry and get frustrated because I'm afraid it will never regualte and I won't be able to conceive children. Also, the money I am spending on sanitary napkins is upsetting me too.
I do have to say, I never gained weight from depo, if anything I lost weight. Now that I'm off it my breast have gotten bigger and MORE tendor. When I was on depo I was a 34 B still, but my breast were very squishy (spelling) now they are the same size but firm and perky.(all the time) I read in another post that it stays in our system because of fat cells. I am very active and I try to get to the gym 2 to 3 times a week and I play sports on the side. I don't eat unhealthy and I drink TONS of water daily. I know there isn't any instant remidy for this, but I basically want the bleeding to stop. Is there anything that can be done? or do I just have to wade it out?
~J~
I do have to say, I never gained weight from depo, if anything I lost weight. Now that I'm off it my breast have gotten bigger and MORE tendor. When I was on depo I was a 34 B still, but my breast were very squishy (spelling) now they are the same size but firm and perky.(all the time) I read in another post that it stays in our system because of fat cells. I am very active and I try to get to the gym 2 to 3 times a week and I play sports on the side. I don't eat unhealthy and I drink TONS of water daily. I know there isn't any instant remidy for this, but I basically want the bleeding to stop. Is there anything that can be done? or do I just have to wade it out?
~J~
I am also a 10 year Depo user and I am still on it, just got a shot last week of April 08. My husband and I are planning to start conceiving the end of this year and this is really the first time I have gone searching to see when I should start to go off it. I know I have always heard that it takes a year but after my sister in law got pregnant with my nephew in between shots, I thought that it was probably not going to take a full year. I am just floored with all the comments I am reading. I too have experienced depression but it was very short lived. I only had it for a few months and never went on any medication. I remember thinking to myself during that time that I had NO reason to be so sad and I couldnt figure it out but now after reading all the posts I am starting to believe it was definitely the depo. I am fortunate that I never had to go on anti-depressants. I also had the heart palapations and heart flutters. But at the time I was working with a very stressful person at work in a very stressful environment. I saw a cardiologist, wore a heart holter monitor for a month but once that manager left and once I removed Caffeine from my diet those heart issues went away. So, I dont know if I can blame the Depo. As far as weight gain, I was 115 when i started Depo and I got up to 150. I did however eat horribly and stopped working out like I used to. In the past year I joined weight watchers and have lost 10 lbs. So I am not sure if the depo was responsible for that either. I just realized that not pigging out and monitoring my portions has helped with the weight loss. I can not comment on the bleeding that J is having or the breast tenderness of the other 10 yr user because i am still on it. But i am sure when i do go off it (this year) i may be back!! I am taking astaxanthin for my allergies but i know that it also helps with inflamation...maybe it would help 10 yr user girl's sore breasts?! It is actually an all natural micro algae grown in hawaii and I get it from this site www.bioastinman.com it is very affordable. There is a free ebook on the site, maybe you should check it out?! I am hoping that J's bleeding becomes normal and pray that I she feels and gets better.
blessings
greengirl
blessings
greengirl
I've been on depo for the past three years just about, but decided to get off of it and to just go on the pill. I just wanted my body to get back into the cycle of things... plus I started getting really bad symptoms whenever it was just about time to get another shot. My worry is, is now that its not being replenished in my body- and the withdrawls are starting, how long before I can expect this awful feeling of nausea and fatigue to go away? I even feel like my heart flutters sometimes and I get out of breath for no reason... I can't help but be paranoid. I just don't like the depressed mood swings and the physical ailments and would like some help on the subject. Any advice would be great!
~Leann
~Leann
I just stopped depo after 11 years and now I am falling apart. Not sure if it is related but I have constant nausea, acne, depression, I was put on the yasmin to put my body back to normal. I feel this is a never ending battle with my emotions. I have been a strong woman over the last 11 years dealing with divorce, death and life now I just feel overwhelmed. I hope and pray that once the depo gets out of my system I will be normal again. Whatever normal may be, it definately has to be better than now.
I am back! I posted just in May about wanting or planning to get off Depo. I finally did get off of it the end of July. So, I have been off of it for two months. I am not having the nausea or fatigue that you are having. How long have you been off it? I also would like to start taking the pill but my gyno said that i need to have a cycle before I can go on another birth control. So I can't answer to your yucky feelings. I think that we all experience something a little different. I dont know what withdrawals i am going through other than TOTALLY understanding Laura Elizabeths posting about breast tenderness. HOLY MOLY!!! My boobs have definitely grown. At first... my husband thought i may have been pregnant cause they were obviously larger but i took a pregnancy test and it was negative. Now they are just super tender, sore, and bigger. They are very painful. My husband is loving it but its not so fun having them so painful. I really want to know how long i have to wait to have a cycle. I read that one girl didnt have one for four months! wow.....i thought that maybe since my boobs were sore that i was going to start but hmmmmmmm havent started?! Can anyone give input on when they had a cycle after getting off depo? or when the boobie soreness goes away?? :0(
I was on depo for almost 7 years and decided to get off it when a Physicians Assistant informed me that one should not be on it for more than a few years. My period was irregular before I was on depo..and I wasn't sure when to start The Pill. My Doctor told me to start on the Sunday following my period. But given my history of irregular cycles, she recommended that I start the pill on ANY Sunday. Has anyone else been told this?
Fortunately, I have yet to experience any side effects. I did have heat flashes. I joked w/friends that it was early menopause. I'm only 36 so am beginning to think that it may have been the depo. I was also 125 before the depo and am now 155.
I'm concerned in reading everyone else's posts about the bleeding..and am hoping that the pill will help regulate that. Does anyone have any feedback on this matter?
Fortunately, I have yet to experience any side effects. I did have heat flashes. I joked w/friends that it was early menopause. I'm only 36 so am beginning to think that it may have been the depo. I was also 125 before the depo and am now 155.
I'm concerned in reading everyone else's posts about the bleeding..and am hoping that the pill will help regulate that. Does anyone have any feedback on this matter?
I have found that this site particularly has helped with all the great feedback that i keep coming back to give my update in hopes of maybe helping someone else! The last time i posted was in October. Well in november my boobie soreness went away and my breast size seemed to go back to normal. I also started my cycle November 24th!! it took me nearly four months. After 11 years of NOT having a cycle it was the happiest moment i have ever ever had with starting my period! I felt like I was 14 years old again with the strangeness I was experiencing of having a period again. I have since had two cycles, the one in november and this month in december and they seem to be very normal. I am especially pretty happy that I did not get the horribly painful cramps that i remember getting when i was younger (prior to taking the shot). OH maggers99..NO my doctor told me that i had to actually have a cycle before taking the pill again and she suggested i call her as SOON as i started. I have decided to not call her because my husband and are thinking of having a child. But i have never heard of what your Dr. told you. Not sure if the pill regulates your cycle?! Please keep updating your experiences.
I stopped getting the depo shot three weeks ago after being on it for 13 years. After reading all of the horror stories, I am extremely apprehensive about what is/will happen to my body. I was fortunate to not have the weight gain while on it, but did suffer with bouts of depression and severe anxiety issues over the last 10 years. I assumed that there was something wrong with me, but after reading up on the side effects, I'm wondering how much the depo had to do with these issues. I've also had heart palpatations, but assumed this was due to my stressful job.
My breasts are so tender (especially my nipples and under my arm pits) and my chin has broken out with such cystic acne, it's painful. I feel rather irresponsible for not being on top of this earlier. I always felt that not getting a period & not worrying about taking a pill every day was great, but now I'm praying that I haven't ruined my body. I'm actaully pretty nervous about my period returning..not something a 28 yr old women should be concerned about.
I just thought I would post my current situation, and keep updating everyone periodically. I don't know anyone in my personal life that has gone through this, so it helps to get it out with others that have had similar experiences.
My breasts are so tender (especially my nipples and under my arm pits) and my chin has broken out with such cystic acne, it's painful. I feel rather irresponsible for not being on top of this earlier. I always felt that not getting a period & not worrying about taking a pill every day was great, but now I'm praying that I haven't ruined my body. I'm actaully pretty nervous about my period returning..not something a 28 yr old women should be concerned about.
I just thought I would post my current situation, and keep updating everyone periodically. I don't know anyone in my personal life that has gone through this, so it helps to get it out with others that have had similar experiences.
did anyone have a gross brown discharge after going off the depo? It's now been 4 weeks, and today I started getting this discharge. Not a heavy amount, just a little. I've had this happen maybe twice while on the shot.
I’m 45 years old and started taking the shot in March 07 and in Sept 07 the day after I had my 3rd shot I was taken to the ER with severe anxiety attack and hypoglicemia. Four days later another anxiety attack and another trip to the ER. I had asked my OBGYN if these symptoms could be related to the shot and she said absolutely not. So I kept getting the shot while my nightmare of panic, anxiety, palpitations, depression and hypoglicemia was getting worse and worse. I was afraid of sitting home alone but also afraid of going anywhere by myself. Even walking into the grocery store would give me palpitations. I’ve always had a very busy life and could not understand why all of a sudden I was not able to do anything anymore, I could only go to work and back (because I had no choice). So frustrating…. I saw psychiatrists, endocrinologists, tried everything under the sun (betablockers, antidepressants, benzo) to get rid of this awful feeling that was slowly taking my life away and ruining my marriage. Last week I decided to do some researches and - OMG!!! - could not believe how many women had the same symptoms!!! I don’t know why I did not think about it before but I was glad I had found out just in time as I was due for my next shot this week. Now I’m just hoping I can flush this poison out of my body as soon as possible …. after 15 months of hell, I want my life back!!! WHY DO WE HAVE TO FIND OUT OURSELVES AND NO DOCTOR CAN PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER???
I also would like to know if there is a class action suit in the US against Pfizer for these awful and painful side effects. Good luck to all of you….Maria. ***@****
I also would like to know if there is a class action suit in the US against Pfizer for these awful and painful side effects. Good luck to all of you….Maria. ***@****
Wow. All the feedback here is blowing my mind.
I got on Depo in October 2000, when I was 15 years old. I absolutely loved not having periods throughout high school, and my travels around the world after high school. I ended up getting off Depo in March 2006 as recommending by my doctor with new studies showing loss in bone density. I wanted to stay on birth control, and was recommended by my GP to try TryCyclin Lo (low estrogen pill). I was told to start taking the pill on the day that my next Depo shot was to be due...without having a period in between switching methods. Shortly after I started on the pill, I started getting normal periods, very regular. I actually felt great! Then, months later, I started spotting dark brown (sometimes light brown), and this became a serious problem over the next year. I started spotting more often than not. Very sporadically. I changed doctors as I moved provinces, and she had me start a calender for 3 months to show what days I was spotting this brown stuff (which is old blood). The results were very sporadic: showing a few days clean, a week spotting, a day clean, and another 4 days spotting, etc. Just very very irregular. I decided it was time for a cleanse. I wanted to get off all birth control for a while to see if I could get my body back to normal. I did this for about 3 or 4 months, but I was still spotting irregularly. It was ruining my sex life, so I made the choice to get back on Depo. I think I started Depo again in April 2008. As soon as I got the shot, I was happier. No periods almost immediately and absolutely not spotting. My sex life got back to normal. However, I gradually started gaining weight (which never happened the first time). I was probably around 120lbs when starting my second bout of Depo in April, and am now 130lbs. On my petite frame, this all went to my stomach and thighs. I feel gross. Anyway, I called it quits on Depo again. My last shot was August 27th 2008. The next shot was due on November 26th, but as I said, I decided not to get it. I didn't get on any other birth control, and I have yet to have a period. So it's been a little less than 2 months since the last shot was due. Today was my first day that I spotted dark brown colour again. I actually cannot wait to get my period again. I hope it gets regular again, and I won't have any problems with spotting. I will update as soon as things start happening.
I urge all women to get off Depo and go the natural route. Use condoms or other non-hormonal methods of birth control. Hormone based birth controls are not natural, and never will be. They are proving to be unsafe, and I HATE that I was subjected to taking it for so long. I wish that someone had given me the knowledge I have now, and I wish there was never such thing as Depo, because it really f***** up my body.
I got on Depo in October 2000, when I was 15 years old. I absolutely loved not having periods throughout high school, and my travels around the world after high school. I ended up getting off Depo in March 2006 as recommending by my doctor with new studies showing loss in bone density. I wanted to stay on birth control, and was recommended by my GP to try TryCyclin Lo (low estrogen pill). I was told to start taking the pill on the day that my next Depo shot was to be due...without having a period in between switching methods. Shortly after I started on the pill, I started getting normal periods, very regular. I actually felt great! Then, months later, I started spotting dark brown (sometimes light brown), and this became a serious problem over the next year. I started spotting more often than not. Very sporadically. I changed doctors as I moved provinces, and she had me start a calender for 3 months to show what days I was spotting this brown stuff (which is old blood). The results were very sporadic: showing a few days clean, a week spotting, a day clean, and another 4 days spotting, etc. Just very very irregular. I decided it was time for a cleanse. I wanted to get off all birth control for a while to see if I could get my body back to normal. I did this for about 3 or 4 months, but I was still spotting irregularly. It was ruining my sex life, so I made the choice to get back on Depo. I think I started Depo again in April 2008. As soon as I got the shot, I was happier. No periods almost immediately and absolutely not spotting. My sex life got back to normal. However, I gradually started gaining weight (which never happened the first time). I was probably around 120lbs when starting my second bout of Depo in April, and am now 130lbs. On my petite frame, this all went to my stomach and thighs. I feel gross. Anyway, I called it quits on Depo again. My last shot was August 27th 2008. The next shot was due on November 26th, but as I said, I decided not to get it. I didn't get on any other birth control, and I have yet to have a period. So it's been a little less than 2 months since the last shot was due. Today was my first day that I spotted dark brown colour again. I actually cannot wait to get my period again. I hope it gets regular again, and I won't have any problems with spotting. I will update as soon as things start happening.
I urge all women to get off Depo and go the natural route. Use condoms or other non-hormonal methods of birth control. Hormone based birth controls are not natural, and never will be. They are proving to be unsafe, and I HATE that I was subjected to taking it for so long. I wish that someone had given me the knowledge I have now, and I wish there was never such thing as Depo, because it really f***** up my body.
Ok so in June 2008 I had my first depo shot. My body had just bounced back, hormonally, from having my son in May 2007. I had gained a pretty good amount of weight, especially for my height 5'3". Went from 110-130. I was supposed to get another shot in Sep. I didn't of course. The darn shot made me have horrible heart problems. I couldn't take a big enough breath. My bones were horribly sore, the boneloss deal. Supplements didn't help. Depression. Forgetfulness. Anxiety. Anger. It was like my mind wasn't my own almost. Ok so it took me until Jan. 4th to have my first cycle since the shot. It kinda made sense. I was spotting the whole time I was on the depo, dark spottin mainly. So that was about 5 mo. before my period. Had a normal one this Feb. So far my weight has gone back to normal. Every now an then I'll get an abnormal weight gain. First withdrawling my depression and emotions weren't so intense. I wanted to kill myself. I've balanced out a bit more sense and can't wait to be all better :p. Now as far as sensitivity goes with my breasts I would say it's down to minimal to none. They've actually plumped up a bit lately, kinda weird but no pain from it. I plan to go get examined because depovera can cause breast cancer to egg on a bit normal. Just wanna be safe and would advise anyone to do so. I've recently had a UTI(urinery track infection) not sure it was from depo withdrawls. I have had unprotected intercourse with my husband and haven't gotten pregnant so I really don't know what to say about that one.
Detox teas help, a lot. If you can't find any, go to any organic store or section of a grocery store.
I've taken prenatals every now and then to help replace some of the lost calciums and what not. I don't really know if it would be ok for some who haven't had children but caltrate is a good supplement.
Drink and eat things with antioxidants to help eliminate free radicals. Stay healthy and don't go for the fatty foods for a while. Take walk outside. It sounds weird but the fresh air and activity help with depression. Proven fact. Another weird thing...do positive activities.Distracting yourself with good things just makes it a bit easier during balancing out. Have a good laugh, I know how hard it can be but laughter is healing.
Stay positive and I wish everyone the best.
Detox teas help, a lot. If you can't find any, go to any organic store or section of a grocery store.
I've taken prenatals every now and then to help replace some of the lost calciums and what not. I don't really know if it would be ok for some who haven't had children but caltrate is a good supplement.
Drink and eat things with antioxidants to help eliminate free radicals. Stay healthy and don't go for the fatty foods for a while. Take walk outside. It sounds weird but the fresh air and activity help with depression. Proven fact. Another weird thing...do positive activities.Distracting yourself with good things just makes it a bit easier during balancing out. Have a good laugh, I know how hard it can be but laughter is healing.
Stay positive and I wish everyone the best.
I liked not having a period either i just wished the dang internet was more popular when i was in HS! Had i been able to read all the bad things about it i would have never got it!! I been off since August 2003 and you know what? STILL NO BFP!! No signs of O no signs of CM NOTHING!! I guess im gonna need dang clomid if im ever gonna have a baby!! GRRRR!! At least my AF comes on time now but its also only 1-2 days thats it!
After the depo, I kept spotting as well but not getting a real period. My obgyn had me take two orthotryciclins daily for ten days then stop for ten days and it worked and I finally got my period. (doubling up on the pill made me a little queesy but it was worth it) He said it was almost like a d&c in that it shed ths lining and brings it back to normal again. Hope this helps!
I was on the depo since I was about 17 years old(about 10 years ago). Last year I decided to get off because i was on an emotional rollercoaster like i was having a 3 month emo cycle.. I had no idea that the depo was doing such bad things to my sex drive.. I was really happy to be off of it, if you know what i mean. I got on the pill and got my monthly cycle like clockwork, but i started to have migranes so i got on a progestin only pill. I had AF for about 3 weeks, and just being married I decided to get back on the depo because i couldn't stand it. When my sex drive disappated and i dried up the Saharra I called it quits on birthcontrol all together, just to get back to regular. My husaband and i both agreed if we got preg it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Oh MY GOSH! I've been suffering!! For the first few weeks I felt like my nipples were going to fall off. I've been lactating and that's really weird, I could deal with some swelling, but I am not that lucky. I've been fatigued, moody, depressed, this sounds really weird, but my fingernails and toenails are brittle and don't grow?? I was 114 lbs and now I'm 140.(doesn't sound bad until I say I'm 5ft 3in) I'm always moody, my poor husband thought I was completely nuts for a while because I didn't make the connection that this was a result of hormones. I haven't been to the doctor because I don't want to get put on anything else, but i did take a pregnancy test and it was negative. I broke out SOOO bad, and I've NEVER had bad skin. I heard someone mention heart palps, I had those while I was on depo, but since Ive gotten off, I haven't noticed any. Getting my period after 10 years has been bad enough but it's been thick, and weird colors (sorry, that's so gross) I don't have cramps like normal, they are like, not crampy. I haven't been able to talk to anyone about this because I don't know anyone who has been on the shot for a long time and come off of it. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences with me. It makes me feel so much better to know I'm not crazy. My last shot was due in February. I can't wait for it to be over!! I have no motivation to get off my butt and burn fat because I'm depressed, tired, moody, and full of pimples. Yucky rotten depo.
Hello all!
This is all very enlightening, I've been on the Depo for 12 years and as of today I'm no longer on it. Throughout the past 10 years I have suffered periods of high anxiety, depression and mood changes. I have never thought that it may be "because" of the Depo. Although I have a crazy past that makes up for my anxiety, I'm surely anxious to see how I feel HORMONE FREE! See already anxious about my anxiety!! LOL
I decided not to go on any other form of birth control and just let my body rid all the hormones..if that takes 6 months or 1 year I'm willing to let it run it's cycle. Again, I'm also curious to see if any of my symptoms of anxiety, depression and/or sweating decreases. I actually had the ETS surgery to eliminate the sweating from my hands/arm pits (hyperhydrosis).
I do want to say - it was great not having AF for 11+ years. My Dr has given me 2 bone density scans over the past 11 years both of which are completely fine.
When I went from the pill to the shot, I lost 30 pounds. But let me be clear on this, I lost 30 pounds because I worked at it...I realized that my eating habits were horrible, and there was little to no exercise 10 years ago. For the past 10 years I have only fluctuated maybe 5 pounds up or down and that is because I watch what I eat and exercise.
So in all honesty, I really do like the Depo Shot, if I can somehow relate my symptoms of anxiety/depression to this Shot than I will change my mind about my thoughts, but as of now I'm going hormone free and I'm happy about it. Detox time, here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is all very enlightening, I've been on the Depo for 12 years and as of today I'm no longer on it. Throughout the past 10 years I have suffered periods of high anxiety, depression and mood changes. I have never thought that it may be "because" of the Depo. Although I have a crazy past that makes up for my anxiety, I'm surely anxious to see how I feel HORMONE FREE! See already anxious about my anxiety!! LOL
I decided not to go on any other form of birth control and just let my body rid all the hormones..if that takes 6 months or 1 year I'm willing to let it run it's cycle. Again, I'm also curious to see if any of my symptoms of anxiety, depression and/or sweating decreases. I actually had the ETS surgery to eliminate the sweating from my hands/arm pits (hyperhydrosis).
I do want to say - it was great not having AF for 11+ years. My Dr has given me 2 bone density scans over the past 11 years both of which are completely fine.
When I went from the pill to the shot, I lost 30 pounds. But let me be clear on this, I lost 30 pounds because I worked at it...I realized that my eating habits were horrible, and there was little to no exercise 10 years ago. For the past 10 years I have only fluctuated maybe 5 pounds up or down and that is because I watch what I eat and exercise.
So in all honesty, I really do like the Depo Shot, if I can somehow relate my symptoms of anxiety/depression to this Shot than I will change my mind about my thoughts, but as of now I'm going hormone free and I'm happy about it. Detox time, here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me too, me too! 7 years on it, just had another shot (that was over-due by a month) and have decided to stop. But am slightly worried about stopping!
Of course I've LOVED not having periods (haven't had one AT ALL in 7 years!) but I have had most of the symptoms I've been reading in the past posts. My sister who I see maybe 3 times a year recently commented on my mental state! She (and other people) have been worried about my moods, my thoughts, that sort of thing.
I hope the women I've been reading about can find a way through it... so many problems!
I don't even have sex (for the last year now) May as well become a 'woman' again since I feel less of one without a period!
But boy, how **** is it to have to heal from a drug with possibly more drugs! ICK! I hope my future internet surfing will enlighten me with some herbal/nautropathic remedies!!!
Good luck ladies (and me!)
Of course I've LOVED not having periods (haven't had one AT ALL in 7 years!) but I have had most of the symptoms I've been reading in the past posts. My sister who I see maybe 3 times a year recently commented on my mental state! She (and other people) have been worried about my moods, my thoughts, that sort of thing.
I hope the women I've been reading about can find a way through it... so many problems!
I don't even have sex (for the last year now) May as well become a 'woman' again since I feel less of one without a period!
But boy, how **** is it to have to heal from a drug with possibly more drugs! ICK! I hope my future internet surfing will enlighten me with some herbal/nautropathic remedies!!!
Good luck ladies (and me!)
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