Peeps who have gone off BC

kikibaby

Did you feel like any other medications you were taking didn't work as well?  I wonder if some of my stuff needs to be tweaked because my hormones are different... or I wonder if I just feel like shiit all the time because my hormones are stupid (and not because other meds are no longer working).

Snippylynn

I felt completely crazy for the first two months off.  It was craaaaazy. I'd give it some time before you adjust anything.

tidetravel

How long have you been off BC?  It took my body almost 6 months to even out.  Of course, then I got pregnant, and my hormones went all wonky again.

laurenclaire1386

I took a year off BC a while back and I felt exactly the same not taking it as I did taking it. I'm absolutely no help, sorry. I would assume in your case though that you're feeling off from lack of hormones, and not because your BC interacted in any particular way with your other meds. I could be completely wrong too, though.

kikibaby

I've only been off for 3 months.  I just feel like I have full-time PMS, I'm such a grump lately.

Beachy730

I haven't gone off of it yet, and am dreading when I do since I've been on it for about 12 years.  But your hormone levels when on it are completely different when off, so I would believe what you're feeling is definitely from your hormones readjusting.  As snippy said I would wait a few months before adjusting anything with your other meds.

kikibaby

It's not just my anti-depressant that I feel like isn't really working, but I've had terrible heartburn, too.  I've been taking Nexium for years for it and it hasn't been a problem.  The last couple of months have been heartburn central.  Yuck.

louisvillebride21

Well hell. I'm a total idiot. I've been thinking about scheduling an IUD (the non hormonal one) tomorrow and I've been so freaking out about that, that I totally forgot about the whole effect of coming OFF the hormones.

Was it really bad, those that did have effects? What happened?

Sorry you're feeling like crap, Kiki.

laurenclaire1386

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:58307bdf-bc42-40a3-8871-8089996a6032">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]It's not just my anti-depressant that I feel like isn't really working, but I've had terrible heartburn, too. <strong> I've been taking Nexium for years for it and it hasn't been a problem.  The last couple of months have been heartburn central.  Yuck.</strong>
Posted by kikibaby[/QUOTE]
Huh. That seems strange. Incidentally, it's an old wive's tale that having bad heartburn during pregnancy means you'll have a boy.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:be2c9a82-1ecb-4c65-81cc-d5a8966ded39">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Peeps who have gone off BC : Huh. That seems strange. Incidentally, it's an old wive's tale that having bad heartburn during pregnancy means you'll have a boy.
Posted by laurenclaire1386[/QUOTE]

I thought it meant the baby was going to have hair...

kikibaby

Thanks, LVB   My main thing coming off has been my moods.  Although, I was taking the kind of pill where I only got 4 periods a year, and having one every month sucks balls.

LC- they told my SIL that bad heartburn meant the baby had a lot of hair.  Incidentally, he did!  But I definitely don't have a behbeh in my uterus at this moment.

JenGin74

You should probably talk to your doctor as soon as you can, especially if you think your anti-depressants aren't working. I wouldn't chance it.

PsyDet 2155

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:6123d94c-44a5-4a64-834c-4f9c1b5469f7">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]I felt completely crazy for the first two months off.  It was craaaaazy. I'd give it some time before you adjust anything.
Posted by Snippylynn[/QUOTE]

I felt this way as well.  Took my body about a year to get back on track but I was on Depo Provera and had been for 7 years.

Wrkn925

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:94625547-41bb-4f92-9a19-51c4b7d40809">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]Well hell. I'm a total idiot. I've been thinking about scheduling an IUD (the non hormonal one) tomorrow and I've been so freaking out about that, that I totally forgot about the whole effect of coming OFF the hormones. Was it really bad, those that did have effects? What happened? Sorry you're feeling like crap, Kiki.
Posted by louisvillebride21[/QUOTE]

I went from 5 1/2 years of Depo to Mirena.
I really can't pinpoint a difference.  I "feel" better, but I can't explain why or how.
It may just be psychological, the worry-free BC has me on cloud 9, even though Depo didn't require much work.

kikibaby

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:56823e20-eafa-4914-a2bf-444af7851111">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]You should probably talk to your doctor as soon as you can, especially if you think your anti-depressants aren't working. I wouldn't chance it.
Posted by JenGin74[/QUOTE]

I don't actually have a Psych right now... mine was TERRIBLE, so I fired her until I get my new insurance in January.  But, I'm not about to jump off a bridge or anything, just really grumpy/irritable (more than usual).

Birdie1483

This might sound stupid, but what you're describing sounds similar to what women experience with post-partum depression. Hormones crashes can do crazy things.

How long have you been on your anti-depressant? I felt like mine started becoming less effective after around 6 months. Everyone is different though. I would be more inclined to think that your mood swings are more related to your hormonal change.

If you have a doc I might talk to them to see if they have any suggestions on what you might be able to do to alleviate your symptoms while your hormones still adjust.

PsyDet 2155

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:94625547-41bb-4f92-9a19-51c4b7d40809">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]Well hell. I'm a total idiot. I've been thinking about scheduling an IUD (the non hormonal one) tomorrow and I've been so freaking out about that, that I totally forgot about the whole effect of coming OFF the hormones. Was it really bad, those that did have effects? What happened? Sorry you're feeling like crap, Kiki.
Posted by louisvillebride21[/QUOTE]

LVB- I have the copper IUD and I LOVE it.  The insertion process wasn't a "little pinch" like I had heard the doctors describe. If I took a stronger painkiller other than the 2 Advil they recommended, I think I would have been better at tolerating it.  Had some cramping for about a day after but it has been worth it.  My periods had been heavier and I've had more cramping, but it hasn't been anything some Midol can't fix :)  Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

georgia_bride09

I've been off since September, and other than having the heaviest flow imaginable, and slight peaks and valleys in my hormones, everything has been normal. But I don't take anything else regularly, so I wouldn't know if it was affected. Still have the rash.

kikibaby

You still have the rash, Georgia??  That sucks!  As soon as I stopped going to various doctors regarding my hives... they went away.  I decided I'm allergic to specialists.

Pirata13

I had no problems when I had to go off of it temporarily.

And re: heartburn babies, my mom had terrible heartburn with me and I came out with a full head of coal black hair! My brother was bald for 2 years LOL.

georgia_bride09

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:f259760b-7c95-4aab-b571-019842b2eb4d">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]You still have the rash, Georgia??  That sucks!  As soon as I stopped going to various doctors regarding my hives... they went away.  I decided I'm allergic to specialists.
Posted by kikibaby[/QUOTE]

My rash comes and goes. I know it's allergy-related, because my mom's pets make me break out like no other! So I really need to make an appointment with an allergy specialist, but seeing as how I also need to go to the dentist and the eye doctor, I'm all doctored out before I've even made one appointment.

squirrly

I felt exactly the same off BC as I did on it.  And my cycle was regular from day 1.  And then, the next month, BAM!  Baby.   

Bubbalub

I was kind of wonky for 3-6 months after going off BC. It's hard to remember now, though, because it's been a few years. Once my cycle leveled out, I got used to how it felt and that became the new "normal". I do remember grumpy, irritable feelings.

I think I went off after I started back on my meds and it didn't affect them too much. It was more worrying in my head that I would get pregnant before we were ready, but once I learned more about how my body works I relaxed a lot about that.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with such bad heartburn. I would definitely go to the doctor for it if the Nexium isn't working now. You don't want to let it damage your esophagus or anything. Hugs.

laurenclaire1386

Not being able to use Depo really pissed me off. My body hated it and it made me bleed for like, 6 weeks straight. Complete opposite of what happens to most women.

Birdie1483

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:9ce959b9-2104-4b31-bb0b-b404cc76d11f">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]Six weeks straight is a total nightmare.  WTF? <strong> An old friend of mine got the shot once and fainted</strong> so she couldn't use Depo either.  Of course, she was borderline anorexic and starved herself for days, so yeah, that could have had something to do with it.
Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE]

That happened to one of my best friends the first time she got the Depo shot. She's the one who was 5 months preggos and someone asked ME if I was the pregnant one. :-/

Wrkn925

I'm glad to hear there were people on depo for longer that I was.  Everyone I know thought I was insane for being on it that long. 

I still haven't had a bone density scan though, I need to do that. I should have done that at the two year mark.

Birdie1483

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_peeps-gone-off-bc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:92d1586c-9c26-48c4-960a-a5ece14478d2Post:84181fa4-d315-4d43-a34e-686900f67a35">Re: Peeps who have gone off BC</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Peeps who have gone off BC : I want to hug your puppy.  I love your sig!
Posted by jcbsjr[/QUOTE]


Thanks it was taken when he was just a baby :)

Habs2Hart

I went off 7 months ago roughly.  Mostly I feel the same.  I had been on it for 9 years and my crambing started to get worse and my doctor (my homeopathic one) told me I should come off it and let my body sort itself back out again. 

The 2 side effects I've noticed is that my acne has increased (so not cool with a wedding in 7 months) and that my period is not longer reliable.  The flow is still the same.  4 days, no nights.  But it doesn't come at the same time.  It keeps moving further away.  Cramping is bad for a day (like hurts so bad I black out) but then it's fine.
I started taking this stuff called Estro-sense that I get at my health food store.  It's supposed to have all the great side effects of BC (minus the BC part) without the hormones. 

sarahmi5308

After having lots of issues with different pills (they made me CRAZY!) I decided to try Mirena! I LOVE IT! I don't get my period ever and my hormones are completely under control...