@JenniferE I'm glad to know it will get better. I feel a lot better tonight a little sad for some reason but way better than I did this morning. I'm a lot less foggy now. Is there anything I can do to help with the craziness going on in my head?
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There are several things you can do. As JammyDodgers mentioned, make sure you keep a mood diary. It does take some organization and forethought, but it's well worth it in the end when you see your improvement from month to month.
Write a "happy letter" to yourself on one of your good days. Then, go back and read it when you're really down. I still read mine from time to time. In fact, as I've started to get a lot better, I start thinking I don't need it, but then I always realize how much I still do after I read it and feel loads better.
The most important thing of all though...KEEP BUSY!! It's super hard to do this when you feel bad, I realize, but it truly is the best thing you can do for your mental health. The negative thoughts will not go away by thinking about them...trust me. They just breed more negative thoughts and it becomes a downward spiral. Force yourself to do something, anything that is active enough to keep your mind from analyzing your own feelings. Then, when you are having a really, really good day, you can attempt to assess how you truly feel. But also keep in mind that even your good days right now won't feel like they used to until your hormones have adjusted. The point is that you'll realize on those good days just how much your hormones affect your mood.
Let me know if this helps! Seeing so many still using this forum reminds me that it's okay if I'm not completely healed yet. It's almost a little scary to be so close to my "old self" and still not quite there yet.
How is everyone else doing?
Write a "happy letter" to yourself on one of your good days. Then, go back and read it when you're really down. I still read mine from time to time. In fact, as I've started to get a lot better, I start thinking I don't need it, but then I always realize how much I still do after I read it and feel loads better.
The most important thing of all though...KEEP BUSY!! It's super hard to do this when you feel bad, I realize, but it truly is the best thing you can do for your mental health. The negative thoughts will not go away by thinking about them...trust me. They just breed more negative thoughts and it becomes a downward spiral. Force yourself to do something, anything that is active enough to keep your mind from analyzing your own feelings. Then, when you are having a really, really good day, you can attempt to assess how you truly feel. But also keep in mind that even your good days right now won't feel like they used to until your hormones have adjusted. The point is that you'll realize on those good days just how much your hormones affect your mood.
Let me know if this helps! Seeing so many still using this forum reminds me that it's okay if I'm not completely healed yet. It's almost a little scary to be so close to my "old self" and still not quite there yet.
How is everyone else doing?
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@JenniferE Thanks I will definitely try all of that. Hope you get back on track soon! Good luck! And thank you guys so much! I feel a lot better just knowing others are going through this whole thing too and know what I'm feeling! I'll check back in with ya'll and see how everyone is doing!
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Hey girls!
I need some help and reassurance :( I had an anxiety attack Monday night (head rush, racing heart, thinking something was wrong with me and needed to go to the ER), then all day Tuesday I was a little on edge and had another emotional breakdown that night, then yesterday was on edge too and went to see my natural doctor/chiropractor. She tested me and said that I have a parasite (disgusting sounding, I know) - luckily its the microscopic kind, not like a worm, but the unlucky part is that she said its messing with my nervous system and brain. She gave me a supplement that knocks it out, but it's only day 1 one of that and I know it takes longer. I've had one before like a year ago that was affecting my digestion - I think I get them from my dogs since I'm the kind of dog mommy that lets her dogs kiss her haha. That's probably why I feel so off and weird (in addition to all this c**p because of the birth control), but I am just in a horrible slump and need help being pulled out of it.
I literally feel like I'm going crazy - like I'm never going to be the same. I am having an extremely difficult time focusing on tasks at work and am feeling tired a lot. I just feel so out of it and can't seem to get back to the thinking that I have on my good days. I think another thing stressing me out is that I'm supposed to drive 6 hours to visit my friends I haven't seen in like a year for one of their bachlorette parties. I was so excited planning for this trip the past few weeks - especially on my good days... I couldn't wait! But now that its finally here and I'm in this slump I'm just scared to go. I'm scared of driving that far alone - even though I used to drive this exact route at least once a month for years when I was in college. I've just never been this fearful and odd feeling and it really scares me :(
I'm 7 weeks off the pill, and still haven't gotten my period :(
I'm hoping you girls can help pull me out of this slump! How is everyone else doing?
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Hi Sierra,
So sorry to hear that. What parasite is it exactly? I've read up on soooo much stuff and had everything tested these past few months.
I know how you're feeling..to be honest, ever since my anxiety reared its ugly head 3 months ago (a few weeks after I'd stopped birth control) I've been afraid to be alone and I've even joked about hiring h****rs to come sit in my room so I don't sleep alone in my apartment..haha
I quit my job and my mother had to fly in from overseas to come stay with me (I moved overseas and don't have anybody here..plus I hardly speak the language). The thing that helps my when my heart starts racing and I feel like I'm going to call an ambulance is that I tell myself I have had similar episodes the past few months and have been fine the day after..all my results are fine apart from my hormones and the ratio of good days to bad is improving. Just ask yourself- am I feeling constantly worse or are there slight improvements? I know I've lost half my hair and my skin has spiralled back to puberty..I have no appetite or energy. But I've also noticed that as soon as I get a small cramp or something I start panicking and then the onset of symptoms comes. the point is to remember you're very delicate at the moment..you feel vulnerable so everything is magnified. Think back to before your hormonal imbalance..you'd feel something stabbing in your tummy and forget about it a minute later thinking oh c**p its gas,shouldnt have eaten tuna..etc
Now we're so paranoid and on edge that the smallest thing triggers our panic, which in turn brings on a whole range of other symptoms!
I know I'm immediately on google checking to see if anyone else went through it..
Regarding your trip, is there any way somebody can drive with you? or another form of transportation you can take? And please stay away from the alcohol..i know its a bachelorette party but you won't be doing yourself any favors if you get drunk
So sorry to hear that. What parasite is it exactly? I've read up on soooo much stuff and had everything tested these past few months.
I know how you're feeling..to be honest, ever since my anxiety reared its ugly head 3 months ago (a few weeks after I'd stopped birth control) I've been afraid to be alone and I've even joked about hiring h****rs to come sit in my room so I don't sleep alone in my apartment..haha
I quit my job and my mother had to fly in from overseas to come stay with me (I moved overseas and don't have anybody here..plus I hardly speak the language). The thing that helps my when my heart starts racing and I feel like I'm going to call an ambulance is that I tell myself I have had similar episodes the past few months and have been fine the day after..all my results are fine apart from my hormones and the ratio of good days to bad is improving. Just ask yourself- am I feeling constantly worse or are there slight improvements? I know I've lost half my hair and my skin has spiralled back to puberty..I have no appetite or energy. But I've also noticed that as soon as I get a small cramp or something I start panicking and then the onset of symptoms comes. the point is to remember you're very delicate at the moment..you feel vulnerable so everything is magnified. Think back to before your hormonal imbalance..you'd feel something stabbing in your tummy and forget about it a minute later thinking oh c**p its gas,shouldnt have eaten tuna..etc
Now we're so paranoid and on edge that the smallest thing triggers our panic, which in turn brings on a whole range of other symptoms!
I know I'm immediately on google checking to see if anyone else went through it..
Regarding your trip, is there any way somebody can drive with you? or another form of transportation you can take? And please stay away from the alcohol..i know its a bachelorette party but you won't be doing yourself any favors if you get drunk
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Hey! Thanks for replying - I'm not sure exactly what parasite it was. I didn't ask and she didn't offer it up without me asking. I'm sure if I knew I'd just google it and freak out more so I'm kinda glad I don't know!
Unfortunately I don't have many friends where I live since I moved back home from college and just work all the time. My fiance offered to go with me but I know he was planning on working this weekend and I feel like if I'm too scared to go then I just shouldn't go - there's no need to ruin his weekend. Especially since I'd be with my friends the whole time and he'd be alone in a motel room. I thought about taking a train, but the schedules of it are just too difficult to deal with. I'm not going to make any decisions until tomorrow morning before I'm supposed to leave, because who knows I could feel great tomorrow!
I know what you mean about paying attention to every little pain. That's something that really annoys me. Guaranteed nothing is really out of the ordinary, I just am aware of it more now. I've been keeping a journal and literally I've only had about 5 or 6 days out of this whole month where I've felt good. I was just hoping some of those days would be this weekend so I could go have fun with my friends! I think I'm also bummed because I haven't had a good party, get drunk weekend in years so I was really looking forward to letting loose and just having fun. I had a little Tequila a couple weeks ago when my family came into town and for the most part I was fine, but I did have a little more anxiety while I was drunk and that was on a good day so I think if I do go this weekend I will definitely not drink. It really sucks, but the risk isn't worth it.
Sorry you're having to deal with this too! For how much it affects us it just boggles my mind that nothing is being done to make this drug less available - especially since its not like its the only form of birth control. Its just said how much drug companies and all their money have control over =/
What country are you in? Did you go for school? Why didn't you just come home?
Unfortunately I don't have many friends where I live since I moved back home from college and just work all the time. My fiance offered to go with me but I know he was planning on working this weekend and I feel like if I'm too scared to go then I just shouldn't go - there's no need to ruin his weekend. Especially since I'd be with my friends the whole time and he'd be alone in a motel room. I thought about taking a train, but the schedules of it are just too difficult to deal with. I'm not going to make any decisions until tomorrow morning before I'm supposed to leave, because who knows I could feel great tomorrow!
I know what you mean about paying attention to every little pain. That's something that really annoys me. Guaranteed nothing is really out of the ordinary, I just am aware of it more now. I've been keeping a journal and literally I've only had about 5 or 6 days out of this whole month where I've felt good. I was just hoping some of those days would be this weekend so I could go have fun with my friends! I think I'm also bummed because I haven't had a good party, get drunk weekend in years so I was really looking forward to letting loose and just having fun. I had a little Tequila a couple weeks ago when my family came into town and for the most part I was fine, but I did have a little more anxiety while I was drunk and that was on a good day so I think if I do go this weekend I will definitely not drink. It really sucks, but the risk isn't worth it.
Sorry you're having to deal with this too! For how much it affects us it just boggles my mind that nothing is being done to make this drug less available - especially since its not like its the only form of birth control. Its just said how much drug companies and all their money have control over =/
What country are you in? Did you go for school? Why didn't you just come home?
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Hi Sierra,
My family lives in Australia...I came to France to study and stayed to work. I couldn't go back now because I'm in the process of sorting out my visa but it has been absolute hell..I ended up having a cyst on my ovary rupture and a kidney stone attack too so really bad timing (or it was something related) Doctors here claimed it was a stomach virus for a good month before i put 2 and 2 together...I think you will know what the right thing to do is in the morning. I really hope you feel better and that you can make it and take your mind off everything for a bit...And yes, its shocking to think that these pills are being handed out like candy!
My family lives in Australia...I came to France to study and stayed to work. I couldn't go back now because I'm in the process of sorting out my visa but it has been absolute hell..I ended up having a cyst on my ovary rupture and a kidney stone attack too so really bad timing (or it was something related) Doctors here claimed it was a stomach virus for a good month before i put 2 and 2 together...I think you will know what the right thing to do is in the morning. I really hope you feel better and that you can make it and take your mind off everything for a bit...And yes, its shocking to think that these pills are being handed out like candy!
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Oh wow! That is just horrible to have that happen and not be able to get home. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Yeah, I feel better now - not sure why but I'll take it when I can get it! The only thing that is annoying me right now is sometimes its hard to focus my sight - like my eyes seem really tired. I'm hoping I feel great tomorrow morning - I hate the feeling of letting my friends down over something so ridiculous. Thanks for talking with me :)
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Oh - and this is Sierra btw... hahaha, I just decided to register for an account and had to choose a different username!
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Oh wow that is is so funny you just said that! I've spent the last half hour explaining to my boyfriend that I feel as if I've had 5 vodkas...my eyes seem to be wandering like a dizzy spell and it's not usually like that. In any case, probably best not to drive if you don't feel well but you will be in my prayers tonight, so I hope it goes well! Let us know how it goes xox
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Hello everyone :)
I've never had the tired eyes, but I've read posts from several on here who've had the same symptoms. Plus, I've read in vision insurance plans that balancing hormones can affect your vision. I don't know if it's listed on the packaging of BCP, though even if it was, I'm doubtful anybody would be warned.
On a slightly different topic, I'm thinking about getting a copper IUD. From all that I read, it seems to be the most effective contraception without hormones. However, I've also read that it's not meant for women who haven't had children and can also make your periods worse. Does anyone of you have experience with an IUD? If so, what was it like?
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Hi Jennifer!
I thought about getting one of those too but decided against it, just because I didn't want to take the risk. I hear they're a lot safer than they use to be, but there is a chance that can get stuck or get into your uterus and cause infertility. That's I believe why they say it's best for women who already have children. My friend has one and she said that when she first got it she had the worst cramps she's ever had in her life the first two days after it was put in - but now she's perfectly fine. I don't think everyone reacts this way. It's up to you though! Right now I'm just good with condoms in addition to the pull out method. Even when I was on the pill my fiance and I would use condoms just so we'd have double the protection. Now that I'm not on the pill the pull out method in addition to condoms is sort of our way of "doubling" up the protection! I know its not the greatest, but for the moment that's how it's just going to have to be.
I thought about getting one of those too but decided against it, just because I didn't want to take the risk. I hear they're a lot safer than they use to be, but there is a chance that can get stuck or get into your uterus and cause infertility. That's I believe why they say it's best for women who already have children. My friend has one and she said that when she first got it she had the worst cramps she's ever had in her life the first two days after it was put in - but now she's perfectly fine. I don't think everyone reacts this way. It's up to you though! Right now I'm just good with condoms in addition to the pull out method. Even when I was on the pill my fiance and I would use condoms just so we'd have double the protection. Now that I'm not on the pill the pull out method in addition to condoms is sort of our way of "doubling" up the protection! I know its not the greatest, but for the moment that's how it's just going to have to be.
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I know what you mean. Before I attempted the pill, my plan was for us to use double protection, me with the pill and him with a condom. However, since the pill method was a bust, my husband just wears a condom. I did try the sponge a few times, but was never sure if I'd put it in right and had a difficult time getting it out. Plus, it just didn't feel as safe as when we used condoms. I already have fairly painful periods, and I have a high tolerance for pain. So, if that's what the IUD would do to me, I probably wouldn't go for it.
I find it interesting how the pill is considered to be so "liberating", and yet was developed specifically for women and not men. We seem to be responsible for bearing the burden of birth control, and are often ignored when we find serious faults with it. Just now I'm beginning to hear of a pill developed for men, but I'm sure that's a long way off.
I find it interesting how the pill is considered to be so "liberating", and yet was developed specifically for women and not men. We seem to be responsible for bearing the burden of birth control, and are often ignored when we find serious faults with it. Just now I'm beginning to hear of a pill developed for men, but I'm sure that's a long way off.
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Well I think it's pretty clear men created it - liberating them from condoms! After all this I'm really starting to hate traditional medicine and doctors in general haha! I've become really negative about all of it - I just see it for what it is now which is big companies going after big money. IUD's last for years - therefore there's not as much demand on a regular basis like there is with the pill... which equals less money. Probably why IUD's aren't as popular.
I especially feel this way after I going to my gyno. I'd only been to see him once, but he seemed like a guy who genuinely cared about my well-being so I felt going back to him would help me. Well after having him sit there and stare at me, while I was telling him my concerns, with this look on his face like I was just another crazy hormonal chick who just needs to get out of his office and stop wasting his time I realized that its rare to find someone in the medical profession who actually cares. That's why I'm solely relying on my natural doctor to help me. She genuinely cares about me and is the only one who has been able to give me answers.
I heard something about a pill for men too - but guaranteed if I relied on my fiance for the birth control then I'd be pregnant hahahaha! I don't see him remembering to take a pill everyday! Guaranteed if this whole thing was flipped around and the pill was already made for men, and it had these insane side effects, it'd already be outlawed!
I especially feel this way after I going to my gyno. I'd only been to see him once, but he seemed like a guy who genuinely cared about my well-being so I felt going back to him would help me. Well after having him sit there and stare at me, while I was telling him my concerns, with this look on his face like I was just another crazy hormonal chick who just needs to get out of his office and stop wasting his time I realized that its rare to find someone in the medical profession who actually cares. That's why I'm solely relying on my natural doctor to help me. She genuinely cares about me and is the only one who has been able to give me answers.
I heard something about a pill for men too - but guaranteed if I relied on my fiance for the birth control then I'd be pregnant hahahaha! I don't see him remembering to take a pill everyday! Guaranteed if this whole thing was flipped around and the pill was already made for men, and it had these insane side effects, it'd already be outlawed!
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Wow, this post has been very helpful. I am almost at 5 weeks of stopping Gianvi. About 1.5 weeks after stopping is when the depression and anxiety got really bad. It literally felt like my voice was screaming inside my head. I am doubting my relationship with my fiance who I have been with for over 5 years. We are planning to get married in March and are in the process of building a house. I am not excited about any of it, which is not a fun feeling. I started taking a multivitamin and some supplements that are supposed to help balance hormones. Those have helped tremendously, but I still can't get back to a good state of mind. I think part of it, as some of you have mentioned, is that I keep thinking about how awful I felt about my fiance (and continue to feel at a lesser extent) and I can't forget about those feelings and am super concerned that I was feeling that way. Even though I feel 99.9% certain it is from stopping birth control, it is still difficult to forget about feeling that way. Each day seems to get better, but I still have my moments. It is hard to read about some of you at 4 or 5 months and still having trouble, but I know it will pay off in the end.
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