Birth control pills and other hormonal birth control

[buggedout]

 

Day 29 isn't so late really.  Since I've been tapering I've had periods arrive both a week late and a week early.  Such a pain, but you will be okay.

 

Thank you KarenB - I have to eat humble pie now as it arrived this morning.

 

See my update on Intro page.  The awful thing about WD is the potential to end up crying wolf (which I don't want to do) when things don't seem right or feel right.

 

The issues are therefore more in my head than anything being actually physically wrong.

 

NOTE TO SELF: Work on CBT stuff and self-talk........

 

On a more positive note I am hoping to do some volunteering in our local country park - its absolutely beautiful up there and will be great to focus on something else other than all the worries we have (no jobs, unsold house, parents etc.,).

I giggled slightly, because I know the struggle with not getting my period on time and becoming worried. Then as soon as I cave and take a pregnancy test, or even just bring it up with my bf, sure enough it comes the very next day. In your case, it came after you decided to post about it. Its just so strange, I think its mental sometimes.

 

Before I ever started weaning, id get it every few months or so, due to the effexor, I presume. That lead to a lot of stress and paranoia on my part!

 

Then I started my wean and it would come twice, sometimes 3 times in one month, full on heavy with cramps and all, with super emotions... you wonder how thats even possible, or how I even made it through lol.

 

The last couple months it seems to have normalized however, so im pretty happy about that.

[Fresh]

Changes to a regular monthly cycle is something that many women are affected by during withdrawal.

It's too long , it's too short , it didn't come , it was late , it was different than usual.

 

The following response just made me smile and want to share it.

 

Posted 05 April 2016 - 05:57 PM

MemberP , on 13 Feb 2016 - 05:48 AM, said:

 

Since my last med change, I'very had my period non-stop. I am on birth control pills (Jolessa) that are supposed to keep my period down to once every three months, but I'very only just started the second month. I shouldn't be bleeding at all, but I have been for almost a week and a half. I'very been on these for five years now with only the occasional bleed through and that was usually when I missed a day or two. It wouldn't be such a big deal if it,weren't for the stomach pain and nausea it's causing.

 

Has anyone ever heard of this being a withdrawal symptoms?

Hey P. -

 

Response:

All of these drugs affect the entire endocrine system. Anything is fair game - hormones, digestion (90% of your body's serotonin is in the gut!), nerves, sleep, it's all fair game.

 

Just flow with it for awhile (no pun intended - but then again - ) if it persists for too long, then it may be something you have looked into. How long is too long?

 

Well, the birth control that stops your period for 3 months isn't natural, either.

 

There is a real possibility that the higher dosages of drugs - depakote, adderall, and lexapro too - were masking a problem with your female parts that is now showing up. OR, it may be just the opposite - your female parts may be so happy to be off the drugs that they are just exploding with joy, and need to erupt for awhile to get over it.

 

So how long is too long? You will have to decide on that one.

[Junglechicken]

Thank you Fresh for starting this thread.

 

At the age of 42, I am living through my first irregular period (I.e spotting on day 9) and I am completely freaked out.

 

WD is just insanely awful.

[ladybug]

My period is only regular in the sense that it comes every month. WHEN it decides to come is a different story. I'm anywhere from 24-35 days. Different every month. I'm only 35 but it worries me that it may be the beginning of peri-meno. And for 1-2 weeks after my period I'm a gloomy, sobbing mess. I hate WD and I hate my hormones.

[Mjau]

The two last periods have not been as usual for me. My last cycle was 21 days and the one before 32 days. I've never experienced any irregularities before. I'm 36 so I was thinking maybe this is perimenopause although rather early - but then I decided to check up on Sertraline side effects. And sure - it is mentioned that a very rare side effect is irregular periods although nothing about WD.

Next step - check SA 

So this might be WD!! I hope it is because I don't want to be in peri-meno yet!

 

 And for 1-2 weeks after my period I'm a gloomy, sobbing mess. I hate WD and I hate my hormones.

 

Tell me about it! Although in my case it is 1 week before.

[Celeste]

Hey Fresh..I was just thinking about this today. I'm 4.5 years into protracted WD and since the beginning of that menstrual cycles have not changed in duration but have become increasingly more heavy. My cramps also worsened to a debilitating level. If I'm working I would have to take IB Profen 800 mg all day. So the interesting thing is that I started my cycle today and my cramps were the lightest they've been in years. This past month I changed my diet to gluten, dairy, sugar and processed-foods free. I'm guessing my body became more sensitive to something on that list after WD. It was a nice little discovery!

[historygal]

Hi all,

 

I just wanted to say please don't drive yourself mad with is it this or that. Whilst you are in WD. Your body is trying to rebalance itself out. During this time periods and hormones can go haywire. I have a period which changes date every month and some months the pain is lighter and some months it's horrendous.some months my flow is lighter other months it's heavier. My date changes by a couple of days last month or started on the 12th. In April I have started on the 8th. If any of this is resonating with you please don't be alarmed. It is better to wait until late WD is over before concluding it's anything else. This truly can turn everything upside down.

[rapunzel2]

I had blood test for checking hormones last month, and the result was not the best, according to gyn. I was checking them in order to know that everything is good with my fertility. now I'm worried. But at the time of testing I was also in quite acute withdrawal. I hope it was influencing things?

 

my estrogen was a little low - E2 was 117 (norm 128-1567 pmol)

 

and then she said that FSH/LH ratio is not the best. results were:

FSH oli 8,0 (norm 1,1-21,6 U/i)
LH oli 4,5 (norm 2,6-90,2 U/i)

 

I want to get pregnant once I'm off drugs, but I'm worried because of age (I'm 37)...

 

my period is quite regular though, no problem with that. 

[reindeer17]

Hello!  I had a question and thought I would post it here.  Has anyone experienced terrible headaches during their cycle?  I have never had that as a PMS symptom and the last two cycles they have been horrible!!  Mostly in my sinuses but sometimes all over.  It starts a few days prior to my period and continues every day through and a bit after.  It's terrible and I have tried every OTC drug and nothing works.  Tried allergy meds and cold and sinus with no luck.  I am trying magnesium today on the suggestion of a friend.  Has anyone experienced this?  If so, do you have any suggestions for alleviating these awful headaches?  Thanks!

[Martina23]

Maybe you should drink more water or you have lack of iron.

[reindeer17]

Hi Martina,

 

Thanks for your reply    I drink loads of water a day and take a good multivitamin that has sufficient iron in it so unfortunately that's not it.  Thank you though!  I am open to anything as these headaches are terrible.

[KarenB]

Not like yours, but getting my period reliable induces a headache.  So there must be something going on.  I always wonder if it's because I maybe stress about having my period, and that causes a headache.  But yours is much worse and on-going so it would be unlikely to be stressed enough for that length of time. 

 

I'm sorry I have no answers. 

[moonstoneblue]

Hi everyone, I'm glad I've found this thread.

I've been having some problems with my period too since tapering off Prozac (currently on 4mg). I spot a few days before my period starts now, and I get quite bad pms pain, I'm also very tearful in the week leading up to my monthly and get depressed days.

I just feel that my hormones are completely different somehow.

[Petunia]

Similar topics merged, please read through entire thread for more discussion.

[moonstoneblue]

Hi again, my monthly has come a day early.

I can't believe how depressed I was in the week leading up to it. I had to take time off work because I was so depressed, now it's happened I'm fine again. I feel so ashamed for taking time off work, but I felt so morbid leading up to it.

I use to be a little depressed and very tired before my monthly even on Prozac but now it's awful. I hope this isn't going to happen every month, I don't know how I'll cope with work and everything :/

I'm feeling that maybe I'll benefit from evening primrose oil or something.

Sorry for the moan but I just wanted to mention it on here for other people to see what we go through.

[Junglechicken]

I'm waiting for my TOTM to arrive, it's due any day now.

 

After last months drama, I just pray that it comes as I haven't had the usual period pain etc. It's all changed.

[moonstoneblue]

So I thought mine had come to other day, but it was just a bit of spotting again. I'm still waiting for it to start properly. It's never been like this before. I feel awkward.

[Pepita]

Hi, 

I was always much more emotional before my period and in WD it is much more intense for me as well. 

[KarenB]

The first time I read this expression 'TOTM' I thought it meant 'too owful to mention' which now makes me laugh, cause it's actually quite appropriate. 

[Junglechicken]

Tee hee Karen - yes I guess it could mean that too, lol

[MaryDavid]

Hey ladies, glad to know that I'm not the only one.  Reading all your posts made me breath a sigh of relief - 'im not insane' sigh of relief.

 

Whilst on medication my period would come without too much adoo, the usual low mood, tired and slight pain...as the years have gone by, and i look back 2 years...things had started to intensify. 

1. Feel overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to deal with (stay at home Mom); everything becomes difficult a week before period.

2. Loosing control with children and husband.

 

As soon as my period came I would be fine.

 

Fast forward to 2016. (4 months after stopping medication) A week before i have my period.... Its like...who am I, irrational, intense emotions, fear, low low low self esteem, feel so useless and thick, paranoid...EMBARRASING

 

Had some blood tests done and they said my hormones were fine, and I am not deficient in any vitamins that could affect my mood etc....thats unbelievable because i believe my first big sign that i was in withdrawal was the weak leading to my period.  

 

Hoping that the time of the month will improve soon!  

[coldturkmama]

Anyone else find that 3-5 days before ovulation they get a surge of WD symptoms? ?

[MaryDavid]

Anyone else find that 3-5 days before ovulation they get a surge of WD symptoms? ?

Hi Coldturkmama, im not sure i've noticed a WD surge 3-5 days before ovulation.  For me its a week before my period and my cycle has changed to 21 days over the last couple of months.

[MaryDavid]

Hi ladies,

 

Just wanted to ask if any of you have used natural progesterone to help with pms, whilst going through withdrawal?  Thank you.

 

[Junglechicken]

No MaryDavid - more info re: the natural progresterone would be appreciated.

[ladybug]

Anyone else find that 3-5 days before ovulation they get a surge of WD symptoms? ?

 

The absolute worst time for me symptom wise starts about day 6 of my cycle until ovulation. The time from ovulation until my period is when I feel my best, although PMS isn't fun either.

[coldturkmama]

Not a good time at all!

[greentrain]

Hi coldturkmama, Good to see you hanging in there. I'm nearing 2 yrs and had a relatively normal period last month for the first time in years. But this month things were back to same hijinx! Day 6 to about 15 are bad for withdrawal symptoms for me and then post ovulation to period is a hodge podge of hormonal and wd. The period is, well, you know glorious. Do you hear my sarcasm?

 

What, oh what will we do with ourselves when we dont have these symptoms?!?

 

I'd really really like to see!

 

Hang in there!

[NJJ]

I have noticed the last couple of months that I develop new symptoms right before my period and then they disappear the next month. For example one month I had extreme brain shivers, electric jolts through body, extreme anxiety, sensory disturbances, crying, cognitive impairment, stroke like symptoms.

This time the brain shivers and stroke like symptoms disappearing but I have severe dr/dp disorientation, constant Terror is really disturbing me.

[coldturkmama]

Ha! I'd love to know top! !

[coldturkmama]

Too *** silly phone

[coldturkmama]

NJJ that sucks so bad....and yes it would be disturbing to deal with all of that. I hope it passes soon and this will be a memory.

[btdt]

I was looking for something else and found this by chance took a peak... DIM 

 

What’s exciting about the effect of DIM on premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

A.  PMS symptoms of irritability, aggression, tension, depression, mood swings, water retention, and breast pain or swelling are frequently seen in perimenopausal women.(16)  While a reduction in PMS severity has been seen with nutritional therapy, full resolution has been elusive.  These interventions have included lower-fat diets,(17) and supplementation with minerals, Vitamin D,(18) and herbal extracts.(19)

PMS symptom improvement has been noted after beginning dietary supplementation with absorbable DIM.  These results suggest DIM is able to correct the estrogen imbalance in PMS.  Torbjorn Backstrom, M.D., an eminent researcher in the field (20), and others (21) have documented that estradiol, the primary active form of estrogen, is elevated in PMS.  Backstrom also has shown the degree of estradiol elevation correlates with symptom severity.(22)

Also encouraging is the observation that the enzyme pathways promoted by DIM help metabolize pregnenolone sulfate.(23)  Pregnenolone sulfate is a brain hormone important for memory, but which causes anxiety if levels are too high.  Like estrogen, pregnenolone sulfate is elevated in PMS.(24)  Its healthy metabolism produces beneficial, immune stimulating metabolites and may help relieve anxiety.  Absorbable DIM supplementation promotes healthier metabolism of both estrogen and pregnenolone in PMS.

Q.  What's the best supplementation approach to PMS?

A.  A strong nutritional approach to PMS includes bio-available DIM, chaste berry extract, Vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium.  Synergistic interaction of these ingredients benefits PMS.  An example of this synergy is the ability of beneficial 2-hydroxy estrogens to increase progesterone production (25), potentiating this effect by chasteberry extract.(26)  This new nutritional approach to PMS helps with mineral and hormonal balance.  DIM works in conjunction with chasteberry extract to resolve the dominance of estrogen over progesterone.

Q.  How can helping estrogen metabolism benefit men?

A.  Everyone knows estrogen is an important hormone for reproduction in women.  What is not often appreciated is that estrogen levels, though lower than those in women, are also essential in men.  However, midlife changes in men result in excess estrogen production beyond its minimal essential level.

Like perimenopausal women, men experience a tendency to gain weight in midlife.  Rising estrogen production can result, since fat cells contain the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen.  Unmetabolized estrogen creates a vicious cycle resulting in further estrogen production.  This occurs because fat is one source of more active aromatase enzymes, causing further estrogen production and continuing weight gain.(27)  An open label study of DIM in overweight men and women showed it promoted more efficient weight loss and more active fat metabolism.

In this regard, DIM is similar to green tea extract (28) and spices like cayenne pepper.(29)  DiindolyImethane may have a role in helping to intervene with excess estrogen production associated with obesity and male aging.  Besides weight gain, another aspect of early aging in men is prostate gland enlargement.

It has been clearly established that estrogen accumulates in aging prostate glands at the same time enlargement occurs.(30)  This process is linked to difficulty with urination and frequent urination at night.  The role of estrogen is still being established in this process, but research using estrogen binding substances shows lowering estrogen levels improves the symptoms of nighttime urination.(31)  Use of absorbable DIM by men with these same symptoms has proven beneficial.

 

What I find interesting about this is at pp and old wd site a lot of tests results were coming back I think with high estradiol elevation... I could be wrong so take this with a grain of salt till somebody else who was at pp comes here to back me up... or test results show up here.  

As I recall men who had PSSD were getting tested to see what may help them and the high estradiol was showing up in test results.  I sometimes feel like I have PMS even tho I have passed that stage of life earlier than anyone else in my family but I cant say ADs had anything to do with that not for sure...tho Effexor seems to bring on early menopause from what other younger woman have reported. 

 

DIM promotes the metabolism of itself oddly enough in do this it also promotes the metabolism of the good esttorgen... is I understand ti right and maybe I don't... not trusting my brain so ,much these days while I would love to have a better memory I sure don't want anxiety... but may just chance this some day if I do I will report in. 

peace all

[NJJ]

Dim cream is good for people who are not taking medications.  I found it worked extremely well for reducing estrogen dominance symptoms but again It reacted with Zoloft as I developed severe brainzaps/headaches. As soon as I stopped taking the Dim they went away. I assume because Dim speeds up the metabolisim it probably messed with the Zoloft.

[btdt]

I guess that shows Zoloft is messing with hormones

[NJJ]

Yeah....Dr Lucire said ad drugs mixed with oral contraception, hormone pills etc are in her words "a ghastly mix".