Strange symptoms after getting off Depo Provera - Part 2

Hi,
Im 22 and come off the injection in December 2009 after having 3 shots as me and my partner wanted to start trying. After reading all the comments i know realise why i have been an emotional wreck. It took 4 months for my periods to come back which started to become regular after about 9 months. Its now been 15 months and i still get very emotional, my greats become swollen and VERY sore when im due on and i get horrible stomach cramps. I thought i was imagining all of this as i still havent been able to concieve but now i no its not me. I recently had blood test and my hormones are low caused by the injection so i may need help to concieve which for a 22 year old i found very upsetting. I would never go back on the injection and wish the doctor explained all of this to me before i went on it.

How long has it taken for others to get pregnant?

Quote:
I'm sure in many cases (including myself), women cannot currently afford health insurance and therefore have to go to Planned Parenthood a.k.a The Health Dept in order to get their BC for free or close to it. My depo has always been free and I am able to make payments on my annual GYN exams. So, I'm sorry, but no, it is not "utterly ridiculous" that some of us are on Depo, but can not afford to go the Dr. or hospital when something goes wrong.

I am 24 and have been on Depo for nearly a year and a half. It's actually been great. No period, I have only gained 8 lbs, and only get moody and a slight headache around the time when I need my next shot. Before getting Depo, I did some research and saw that there definitely could be side effects while on it... but that seems to be the case with any BC. The nurses acted like Depo is the best thing in the world. But, my husband and I have been thinking that my body could use a break (the loss of bone density really scares us) and now that I've read about all the horrible withdrawal symptoms, I've decided I'm definitely not going back for my next dose. I'm planning on detoxing with herbs, lots of water, and plenty of exercise. Hopefully that will reduce the symptoms and get me back to normal.

Good luck everyone! Thanks for posting your experiences, I'm just sorry that we all had this horrible stuff injected in our bodies in the first place!

I am currently 6 weeks coming off of depo I am 40 yrs old, prior to that I was on it for 22 years. I took time out to have a son and went right back on conceiving him took about six months. I never had a period on depo, but did have mood swings, nerrvousness and severe hot flashes I thought was premenopausal. The last 6 months have been HELL for me. I was so Angry and Mad at the world. I snapped at my children over stupid things. I would come home from work and go straight to bed 9 very antisocial). I was so exhausted and ready to kill someone at the same time. My blood pressure went up after an episode of what I thought was carpal tunnel. Since stopping the shot I have not had any pain in either wrist. I am starting to feel so depressed. I love my job and children so much I cannot understand these feelings of despair and extreme fatigue. I spend most days in bed watching tv and trying not to cry over little things. I am getting a little crampy but no period yet. How long will I suffer through this depression? Will the period make me feel normal again? I am taking Macafem to help relieve some of the symptoms but that doesn't seem to last but of course I just started them. I do NOT want to put more chemicals in my body and would love any advice on how to overcome this POISON!!! I am in severe withdrawal!!! THANKS

How long before the withdrawal symptoms stop? Did you have any other symptoms come up down the road? Thanks

roxiemichelle wrote:

anonymous wrote:

I got off of the shot after being on it for two yrs. My last shot was due Jan 05, 2010. I had no period the entire time I was on the shot and received my first period in May 2010. It looked like it was going to be regular but when I was on my third cycle in July 2010, I bled for an entire month straight. I am now hoping that I will get on a regular cycle from here on out. I did read that it can take 6 to 8 months to get regular and 6 to 12 to get pregnant. I got off of the shot because my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. I will keep you posted.

I have now been to the doctor. My appointments have continuously been put off for one reason or another. The doctor told me not to be alarmed if I don't get pregnant until March of 2011. She also told me to start taking prenatal vitamins since we are trying to get pregnant. I suffer from irritability, bloating and cramps 1 to 2 weeks before I start my period. It actually came back regular last month. I constantly feel pregnant. I think that is my own mind playing tricks on my though. I haven't gained or lost any weight since I got off of the shot. I was a little concerned with my 6 mth. mark but to no avail. Well, that is all I have for now. I will continue to keep you posted with any new news or symptoms.

UPDATE-

I know this topic is old, but oh man I am glad I found it. I can't believe there are 20 pages of "omg me too" and yet I've never heard a peep about this happening.

I was on Depo from 17-23 and didn't think anything of coming off it. I think it maybe took 3 months to get my period back but I can't really remember because it was so unmemorable. I went back on for 2 years 24-26, I'm now 2 weeks off my last shot and my breasts hurt like hell, my nipples are so sore I can barely wear a bra, and I got crazy bloated over night. I feel like a water balloon. I've never experienced this before and I was starting to talk to my husband about what we were even going to do if I was pregnant - I've heard way too many horror tales from nurses who give you the shot about mutant babies and miscarriages if the Depo is still in your system. I never heard ANYTHING about this fakeout pregnancy stuff - one doctor wanted me to get a bone density test when I was 25 but it came back fine and they said oh well, no worries then.

hope this will relieve the mind of others who might be in my position. I just hope my symptoms stick to sore boobs and bloat, I would still take that over cramps and pain and nausea.

It's wonderful that you are so supremely educated and insured.  Kudos to you.

 

I was on Depo for about 12 years, and have been off now for one year.  My periods were not regular prior to the Depo, and were gone with it.  I thought it was great... except that I was losing my hair and my libido died and I was very depressed and the migraines were very bad.  My husband would wonder which way the hormones would go; each shot I'd either go crazy evil or crazy turned on for a week.  *that should have been a sign*

NONE of my doctors ever told me anything other than "take a calcium supplement", which I did (and still do).  I NEVER heard about losing my hair or my sex drive dying. 

Now that I've been off for a year, I'm still having very sore, swollen breasts, stomach issues, PMS symptoms with no bleeding, then no symptoms and random bleeding (that is really intense).  My hair is growing thicker and faster (I have to dye it much more often), I haven't had hardly any migraines, and my sex drive is returning (Yay!!!).  

I think we tend to trust our doctors too much; at least I did.  I believed them when they said that the side effects were minimal.  It wasn't until my husband was contemplating leaving me because I had no interest in sex and HE made the connection that maybe the Depo was the cause that I researched it... and even then, for every one page of "possible but not likely" side effects, there are a hundred telling you how safe and effective it is. 
Thank you all, for sharing your stories and making me feel like I was not alone in this mess!

jen

I feel a glimmer of hope coming across this site! For 2 months I have been experiencing tiredness/fatigue, dizziness and feeling lighted-headed with a heavy-feeling head and nausea (feeling sick but never being sick) and it's made my life a complete misery as well as having time off work with it. I've been back and forth to my GPs 5 times now and have been told it's 'probably a virus' or 'might be an inner ear infection due to having a virus' and have been tested for glandular fever, B12 deficiency and coeliac disease - all came back clear. I had a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, which also showed normal results. One time I felt so ill I went to the out of hours GP at the hospital at 10.45pm one night and was told I had flu-like symptoms. The last GP appointment I had 3 weeks ago I was asked 'what are you hoping to get from this appointment?' my reply was an answer to why I feel so ill all the time! He told me that they'd 'hit a brick wall now and they'd exhausted all tests they could do'. I was kind of made to feel that I was going a bit mad and almost imagining these symptoms. At any of these appointments I was never given any medication to help with any of the symptoms. I'm generally a healthy person and never have time off work. I had told the GPs that I had been on Depo Provera for 3 years and had my last injection in July 2011 but they didn't seem interested at all. This was the only thing that has changed in my life that I could think of. My periods have restarted as of early January 2012, and I've had 3 so far. They seem more regular now than they ever were. The last day of my last period, I had another bad bout of my symptoms start, making me think of a link to all this. My symptoms seem to have started as my periods returned. I decided to Google 'coming off depo provera' and came across this site. Looking back deeper at how I've been the last couple of months, I've also had aches and stiffness in my legs, arms and neck, sore throats, numbness and tingling in my hands, fingers and arms, headaches, thirstiness, emotions all over the place but I've kind of ignored them as such as they don't bother me as much as the dizziness, tiredness and nausea. I have been sleeping for England and this never seems to help me feel any better. Can anyone tell me how long these symptoms might last for? I feel let down by my GPs having to do my own research. I'm feeling really down with it all and I'm trying to find an answer.

Glad to see what I am experiencing is not abnormal! I was on depo for a year, but stopped it (cant really remember why). I have been off it now for roughly 6 months. When coming off it I got my period back straight away - except it lasted for a month at a time for the first 3 months. Wasnt a full on bleed session, but went from heavy, to spotting, to brown discharge back to heavy bleeding for a month straight. Went to the doctors and they ran all these test that all came back with me being fine, so I was thinking all good but was really annoyed at this bleeding as it ment me and my partner could rarely be sexually active. Now out of no where my period has stopped. I havnt had a period going on 3 months!! Never thought I would miss the thing haha Im definately not pregnant though! I gained a lot of weight since coming off it. I feel bloated as hell. Mentally unstable - never in my life have i experienced mood swings like this, or mood swings full stop. I get mild cramps like my period is about to come and get a discharge which all are signs my period is about to come.....but nothing. there are probably more symptoms that I am mistaking for something else. but yeah highly annoying. I am over going to the drs doing blood tests and urine tests to see if there is something seriously wrong with me, when I think it all falls back to depo withdrawls! 

Hi, did you ever have your period of Depo? I have been taking it for almost 8 months and I have never had my period. I am due for my next shot within the next week, and I noticed brown discharge and I don't know what this could be. Do you have any idea or experience?

hey, When I was on it I had the same. No period the whole time and then just before I stopped it- which was just before my next shot was due I had the brown discharge (which is old blood), My doctor suggested I hop off it till we could figure out what was causing it, I think thats when I stopped taking it, and thats when the excessive bleeding started. and now it has stopped for 3 months straight.

Hi. I have now been off depo for a year. I was  taking it for several years to stop my horrible cramping and because I was sexually active. I started the shot @ 15 and I am now 24. It stopped my periods right away and have only had 2 since I have now been off. It actually took me over a year and some months to start ovulating again. I have noticed that being off of it now for quite sometime that I have developed some kind of Illness. I suffer from severe stomach cramps, strong acid in the stomach, shock like pains in the belly and near my navel. And just last week I noticed a hard lump near my navel as well.  I've had a big decease in energy I'm always in pain especially in my lower back. I also still am suffering with intestinal inflammation that keeps reoccurring. Even After taking anti inflammitories for the last few months. I suffer everyday with severe pain that leaves me trapped in my own house and unable to sometimes do regular chores etc as I am sore and exhausted. I have been seeing a gastro dr and we have run several tests with normal results besides the inflammation that continues. I was told that I have an anxiety issue that tends to make my symptoms worse with Stress or excitement. To where I start to get hot flashes and am now even puking in the mornings. I have never had anxiety issues etc and I believe that the long term Use of the depo has complicated my life drastically. I have many other side effects that would effect the normal person taking the shot but mine seem to be doing the opposite. To where my body became so used to it that I believe it has  like a withdrawal kinda effect. I have poor balance issues now and I find my speech is slurring a lot. I don't know if my gastro issues are caused by the effects of the depo but I do know that some of the down side effects have now further worsened my issues. I do not recommend taking it for years at a time ladies. It may be a miracle but it can also be a curse. Please be careful with anything that is given medically as we don't know what's really being put into our bodies. We also have a nation that is "apparently" over populated. From what we have been told so I would definatly be extra careful with things such as birth control. Who knows it could be an easy way to stop the population... from growing and that is to make women fertile through vaccinations. Especially for us women who go on it for the intention of not getting pregnant. Please be smart use your head. If you can deal with a bit of pain once a month for a week than you shouldn't be taking this. It's not the solution. You can try other safe things like buscipan which is a anti spasmatic medication you can buy for cheap. I Get 20 pills for 10$. At any regular pharmacy. Along with other things such as tynenol, midol etc.  To be completely honest I sometimes feel like dying because my life has been taken away from me. I'm always sick all the time. Even right now. :(

Iam 18 years old and I was on depo for a year I can honestly say that it was the worst decision I have ever made!! I had went too the doctor in January for my first papsmir && I asked about birth control she told me about my choices if I chose too get on one and I liked the sound of the depo I liked that it would take my period away so I got it that same day the thing is from reading these posts I didn't kno doctors are suppose too give you a pregnancy test because theh doctor didn't give me one she explained that I would probably spot at first for a few days and then my period should stop so I was pretty happy with that so like the next day I had started too bleed and my first thought was I was just spotting like the doctor said I would so I wasn't too worried about it but then it just got heavier && heavier there were blood clots just dropping out of me and I was feeling horrible pains in my lower stomach I knew it wasn't right but I went too the bathroom and I looked down && I see this little ball looking thing sitting in my underwear I looked closely at it and I just started too cry I had miscarried I had no idea I was pregnant!! I was so upset didn't know what too do I told my boyfriend and he just started too cry and tried comforting me! It was the worst day of my life!! After that I did continue the shot it took my periods completely away but I did have crazy symptoms thought I was pregnant but was told it was just the depo! I was due for another shot on December 23 but didnt ever get it they cut my Medicaid so I had no way too pay for it but im honestly glad that happened because depo really had ruined me I have now been off depo for 4 months now and I thought I was pregnant a while ago because my breasts were so sore I still didnt have my period for 3 months I was off I was nauseous, tired etc took pregnancy test they came out negative! So I finally get my period in April I got it for 5 days then I was off for about a week i had it again it was 8 days long never had my period last that long mine usually were 3-4 days!! So I was off for a week then got it once again for 10days my life was hell couldn't catch a break but I haven't got it at all since then and im having symptoms once again my Boobs are so sore I can barley touch them and there growing I feel nauseous and so tired all the time my appetite is crazy I dont know if its just the depo still coming out of my system or I could be pregnant! Anyone had a similar problem if so please help!!!!

Hi everyone. Here is my story. I was on the depo for 4 years, for three reasons. Having a cyst and fibroid, birth control, and because I smoke. Was great when I was on it BUT came off of it two years ago. Dr. kept pressuring me too and because I lost my insurance. As soon as I came off I noticed these awful pressure headaches and stomache cramps. Now mind u it has been 2 years now and I still get them. Now, at the same time I came off of cymbalta and switched to Zoloft. Which can be why also, because Zoloft is known to cause headaches. And because I was switching the meds. I also have had sinus problems but they say that should not cause this pain. So...my dilema is it depo (which my primary dr. thinks it is because my hormones may be low) or is the antidepressants? I switched again last week from zoloft to Cymbalta again since I have insurance now. Headaces are subsiding a little but depression is bad.....SOOO, I now have cysts and fibroids again and I may HAVE to go back on depo. I had a bone scan and I'm fine. But any suggestions about this? Afraid headaches may get worse...but may need it to shrink the abnormalities I have in my stomach..Ahhhh help.

Hello ladies. I would like to ask if the people that posted here has gotten any better? I got off the depo in March. Ive had off and on headaches, breast tenderness, no period at all. I literally feel pregnant. Ive taken 5 hpt and a blood test....all are negative. I am freaking out about how my body has felt and scared about whats going on!!