I am SO happy to have found this forum. It makes me feel completely normal. I thought I was losing my mind. I have been on Yaz/Lo Estrin for the past 10 years. After consulting with my boyfriend and my gyno (my last appt in January she found I had fibro cystic breasts) I decided to come off the pill. She did not warn me of anything other than it does help to protect against ovarian cancer. I am 26 years old and at this point I didn't care if I did become pregnant I just wanted to be off this pill. I was terrible at taking it at the same time anyways. The first four months I was fine (which was weird!). It wasn't until the end of May, two days before my period, that all of these symptoms started. Insomnia, terrible anxiety and depression. I couldn't function and I had no idea what was wrong with me! I have never had anxiety or depression like this in my life. I finally stumbled upon this site after going to see my doctor. The nurse had asked if I was still on Ocella and I said no, not even thinking about that being the problem at this point. I tried going back on the pill and that didn't even help! I think my anxiety was so bad at that point that nothing was going to help. I've done so much research and I think between the fibrocystic breasts and taking birth control for 10 years, I had an estrogen dominance and going back on the pill was not going to balance my hormones at this point. I am now back off birth control but I am also taking 10mg of Lexapro because I could not function anymore. I wasn't sleeping, I didn't enjoy life anymore, my nerves were shot. I was a mess. My brain was also not functioning. I had NO idea hormones and neurotransmitters went hand in hand. It is a vicious cycle. I wasn't sleeping, which then made me anxious. I would be anxious all day and then couldn't sleep right again. This totally threw off my serotonin levels as well as hormones. You need sleep to regulate everything so I was constantly in this vicious cycle going nowhere. I needed help. This is such a learning experience. I also went to a naturopathic doctor last month and she has done a few tests and given me some supplements. In regards to me taking an anti depressant, she said "Sometimes you have to use those stronger supports to keep things going while you are working on the the underlying issues". This made me not feel so crazy for wanting to take them but I couldn't function! I am hoping that in a few months I can be back to the person I was before and wean off of the Lexapro. This has by far been the hardest thing I've ever went through. Thank you all for your stories! This has helped ease my mind.
Aww feel better! How long has it been since you were off the Birth control?
I'm off it a year and 5 months. My best advise is don't take anything like Maca powder or progesterone cream. I was doing well until I tried fixing myself with stuff I knew nothing about. Just let your body heal itself naturally. Eat well, rest and limit alcohol. If I could go back that what I would do. I'd never take Maca. It caused an even bigger imbalance. I was physically sick for days after taking it. But it effects lasted longer. It's been 5 months since I took the Maca and my hormones are totally out of whack. My anxiety went up to unbelievers levels where I though I was having a breakdown. Be careful what you take. Just believe in you body trying to rebalance itself.
Ok thank you get well soon! I tried kava root for the anxiety and that helps also found out I was vitamins b-12 and vitamin D deficient so I started taking those. And I'm staying away from the wine :).. im send omg prayers and good vibes your way!
Thank you I take kava for the anxiety and it helps I also found out I was deficient in vitamin b-12 and D so I'm now taking supplements. I am hopeful and praying this feeling stops soon!
I wish you all the best with it. This is a horrible experience that nobody really talks about. Thank goodness for the Internet though. I wish you the best.
Thank you for this post, it makes me feel like there's hope! i stopped yaz 2 weeks ago and Its been a rollercoaster since then.
Hi, I'm so sorry you are going through this. It's very difficult. It's awful what these pills can do. I too am struggling and it had been very difficult. A lot of people have gone through this. It takes time for the body to come back into balance. I never knew this could happen either. Hopefully it won't take you too long to recover. A lot of people are taking anti-d or anti anxiety medications to get through this. There are a few more websites with other forums similar to this. Know that you are not alone.
Can I ask what anti depressant you went on??? I just got on Lexapro but Im not sure if it will work or not. I was on Effexor back in July and I felt it helped more within a week so I may try to get back on that.
Has the Celexa helped you at all??
I've been put on molipaxin. I'm about 8 days in now and my anxiety was high today so I'm not see if it's kicking in yet.
Has anyone ever experienced nerve pain or the tingling/numbness sensation after stopping birth control? I thought it was from the anxiety but my feet/hands and arms/legs will start tingling and I can't relax. I never had this problem before. i was maybe thinking it was from too much estrogen. I am going to try to ask my naturopathic doctor about it when I go this Friday.
Hey, I would definitely head over to the ER and get that checked out!
Yes, I started with tingling and numbness in my fingers.....started in one side then moved into other side. Had numbness in one leg also. Was very scary. Honestly I'm going to say it was anxiety and hormone imbalance. Numbness is gone almost now but I get shooting pains in my fingers sometimes. I did have MRI done and came back ok. Maybe get checked out to be sure.
Hi!! I am so glad I saw your post! Someone else who was trying for a baby who roughly had to get off of anti depressants and birth control around the same time. When I weaned myself off of Lexapro over a 5 month period, I never felt too much anxiety and panic to handle ...I was completely lexapro free for a month and was feeling great until I started to get off of birth control...that is when the sh*t hit the fan and I started to panic again...now I can't tell if this is lexapro withdrawl or if it is just from coming off birth control? what happened with your scenario? Thanks so much!!