Wow. I can't even tell you guys how much better this forum has made me feel. I've been on ortho tri cyclen lo for about 10 years and I just got off about 3 weeks ago. I do have anxiety normally, but never panic attacks. Now, all of a sudden I've been getting panic attacks and not wanting to go anywhere. My doctor told me to take xanax as needed and it helps take away the worst of the symptoms, but I still have tightness in my chest and weird breathing. I am really hoping my body adjusts soon and I can stop feeling this horrible way. I am glad I am not in this alone!! I heard the supplement, GABA helps. The reviews showed that people even got off their medicines like xanax and those types of drugs because the GABA helped so much and it is a natural remedy. I ordered it, so I will let you all know how it works.
Like everyone else here, I am so happy to have stumbled upon this forum! I had only been on Apri birth control pills for about 4 months when the anxiety attacks began for me. At the end of month 3, I went on vaction and was constantly forgetting to take my pill and then doubling up whenever I forgot (this happened for about 3 days in a row.) After this, the anxiety and weeping spells began. When it first started, I didn't sleep through the night for about a week and even now have been experiencing sleep problems now and then. I quit taking my birth control pills after month 4 (July.) Now that it is September, I believe that I am slowly starting to get better. It's extremely hard though, because whenever I start to get better and end up having a bad day/attack, I feel like it's back to square one.
Is anyone else here having/had weird periods? For example, my first period that I had that wasn't birth control induced was much shorter/browner (sorry for the details) than usual. During this period, my emotional state was crummy but not near as bad as I expected it to be. The week after my period, I felt great and thought I was getting back to normal. Then after about 4 days of this great feeling I got ANOTHER period, and my euphoria plummeted and the anxiety attacks/weepiness began again.
I talked to my Gyneo, and told her that through my research online I seemed to be showing symptoms of estrogen dominance. She told me that there was no way that your body could produce too much estrogen naturally. She prescribed me to take 100 mg of progesterone for 10 days, to help normalize my cycle. I started a period on day nine that was pretty short, and lasted about 3 days. Today is day 4. So far since this period, I have been feeling ok, but not completely back to my old self.
I am very interested in seeing a more natureopathic doctor, as it seems many of you have found them to be more sympathetic/helpful.
Hi lauralc128, I can't wait to hear how the GABA works for you, as it is something I am interested in as well.
Hi. I am curious to know if you got better after all of this? I am experiencing the same thing and literally feel insane. I quit bc three months ago and the anxiety has taken over my life.
LADIES! There is hope!! PLEASE get your hormone levels checked!!
There is a book out there called "Female Brain Gone Insane" that pretty much details everything that we have all gone through and most can be attributed to our whacked out hormones when we come off the pill.
When you're on BCP your body is getting snythetic hormones so it doesn't have to make its own. Then when you stop taking the pill, your body is like hey, where is that stuff that was helping keep me stable? I don't know how to make it naturally any more!
I have been off them for about 2.5 weeks and have had TERRIBLE anxiety through that time. But there was this little voice it me saying it had to do with hormones! And guess what - start googling "hormones anxiety" and you will see tons of stuff.
Our bodies produce/use estrogen (excitability hormone) and progesterone (calming hormones). When you are on the pill your body doesnt produce those naturally so when you quit, guess what? You feel like you're losing your mind! This can happen through any time in women's lives like after childbirth, pre-menopause, during menopause, etc - and most everything can be related to hormones.
I ordered a hormone test from Dr. Lee (google it) and all you do is spit into a little tube and mail it off in the prepaid package to get your results. Its $70 for estrongen and progesterone but I would've paid thousands to get answers.
Once you know how your levels look you can start to ease the symptoms with estrogen and/or bioidential progesterone cream (NOT the same as the snythetic stuff in BCP).
Also, to help manage the anxiety - instead of trying to fight and fear this phase, I started doing research on how to manage anxiety. Yes, it SUCKS to go through this but at the end of the day you can either accept its happening or fight it (which actually makes it worse). Honestly, I think that thought that has helped me the most is knowing that this is just a phase and really and truly, this too shall pass.
Also - check out vitamins like Chasteberry (for helping balance hormones) and HTP-5 and Theanine to help with the anxiety. And sometimes, 1 benadryl pill helps me take the edge off.
TAKE CARE of yourselves! And look into the hormone testing! I opted to do my own testing and look at my own results bc quite honestly I don't really trust my Doc after putting me on this garbage.
Stay strong ladies!! Love to you all!
I'm 44 and just off the pill experiencing horrible insomnia, night sweats, anxiety, cramps, etc. Has your situation improved? Did you do the bio-identical hormones? I'm looking into it but scared to jump into it so young. I'm going crazy though and not sure what direction to turn. Do I go back on the pill? doc wants to put me on anxiety meds :( I'm a wreck. I hope you have good news for me. Did the acupuncture help? herbs, vitamins? I need help please.
How are you doing now? I'm a wreck after being on the pill for 26 years. Please tell me it gets better.
Hi, are you better now? how long till recovery? I'm just beginning the crazy train and don't know where to turn. I can't handle months of this insanity. Do I go back on the pill or try bio-identicals? help please, thanks
HI, are you better yet? please tell me there is hope. I'm going crazy!
Hi, are you better now? please tell me there is hope.
I'm a few weeks into this nightmare. was on BC for 26 years. Not sure what direction to go. Do I suffer through it? Doc wants me to go on daily anxiety med, naturopath wants to go with bio-identical progesterone. Do I go back on the pill? I can't sleep, have night sweats, anxiety, afraid to go anywhere, can't work. I need HELP!!!! Before this I was happy and healthy as could be.
Are you doing better? I've been on the pill for 14 years and went off of it last month. I've been constantly having panic attacks/anxiety attacks, have insomnia and this month have had the weirdest period (a light 4 days, stopped then today having a very heavy bleeding out of nowhere.) It's so bad that I keep thinking about going back on the pill but I know how bad it is.