Happy Easter, Moms!
A little background- I'm 28, two kids, girls, ages 7 and 4. I have a history of depression and take a regular anti-depressant (Pristiq) every day. I also have a history of hormone imbalances/irregular periods/PMDD and I recently started taking birth control again (a week ago, to be exact) to get some of that straightened out. I'm on LoEstrin 24 Fe. About a week ago, after a mild cold, I started feeling incredibly tired, every day. I also have had a headache that runs from my right temple, down the back of my head, to the base of my skull. Can't seem to shake it. Starting this past Thursday, I have also had intermittent nausea. I am also impossibly sensitive and emotional. Friday, I went to CareNow because I was sure that between the exhaustion, headache pain and nausea, I must have had some sort of sinus infection. The Dr. found no evidence of infection of any kind and assumed it was a virus, gave me a shot of painkiller and a prescription for a mild painkiller and sent me home. All day Friday and Saturday were hellish. I cried about everything, literally screamed at my husband. I quite literally threw a tantrum when I discovered that my face wash had been moved from one counter to another in the bathroom. When a certain pair of underwear was not in my drawer, I cried. Real tears, slammed my bedroom door, and screamed at the top of my lungs. I felt that I couldn't handle anything- overwhelmed, over-stimulated, out of control. I felt like the walls were closing in on me, I felt nothing short of psychotic. I have never felt that way before!
I am so incredibly lucky because my husband handled it so incredibly well. He hugged me a lot, told me it was not my fault, walked me through the things we had planned for that day, and was so incredibly attentive. He never got offended at my demands or took my behavior personally. I am truly blessed to have this man in my life.
My question is this: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? Today I am decently calm, though still incredibly tired and feeling a bit raw from the past two days. I did take a zoloft on top of my regular anti-depressant and that seemed to calm me enough to be able to cope with reality. (My gyno gave me that for when I have PMDD symptoms). Is it my hormones? Is it the birth control? Should I have my hormone levels tested? Has this ever happened to you? Help!
I should add- I just had my period last week so I'm in about day 14 of my cycle, day 8 of my first pack of pills.
I also had forgotten to take my anti-depressant for several days but I have done that before and never felt like this!
Also, please don't be captain obvious and tell me to "ask my doctor". Obviously, I have doctors and see them regularly. Being that it's Sunday (duh) and Easter at that, that's not going to happen right this minute. I will obviously ask the doctor as soon as is feasible for her advice, but I am curious to see if any of you have gone through anything similar.
Sounds like the cocktail of phizer youv'e been on is throwing you through a loop and a detox is in order.
Oh N....I was right there with you a week or so ago...it passed and I'm good now. Hang in there sweetie.
I yelled at my husband because I wanted to take the pancakes to the table for the kids! SeriouslY?????? I was a crazy lady!
N., I HATED Loestrin 24!!! I hate, hate, hated it!! It really threw me for a loop.
I have also not taken my anti-depressants for days and went CRAZY!!
How is your blood pressure? If it's too low, you could be getting tired from that.
It probably is the new BC. Sounds like its making your hormones crazy. I had to try to couple that didnt make me feel crazy. I would call your ob/gyn and talk to them about it.
It could very well be part of your cycle. If you are feeling okay now, I'd wait another month and see if it happens again, if so then you'll pretty much figure it is some kind of whack hormone thing. Log it on your calender for this month and then pay attention next month and hopefully you wont find yourself logging it in again. It totally sounds like it's a reaction the birth control... give it a little time to level out before switching up.
It might be a hormonal response to the birth control. My sister was positively evil the first two weeks she went on the Pill. That was 15 years ago and the two of us still talk about how awful she was. Once her hormones leveled out in the middle of week two she was back to normal and never had that problem again.
If it continues to be a problem you might see a counselor and let them decide if their is a problem.
Good Luck
Have you been checked to see if you are bipolar?
Never could take bc pills. Caused me to have severe depression!
I am that way on BC pills. I cannot take them EVER. Now I have these issues the day before my period only. I try to watch it closely and track to make sure I know the day I will cycle because my family does not deserve the person I used to become.
It could have been brought on by whatever "shot of painkiller" the doctor gave you... It could be that painkiller and how it interacted with your other medications... It could've the BC pills and artificial hormones.
I tend to suspect the painkiller you got because high doses of pain medication can throw people for a loop. Pain med directly messes with the brain... I'd avoid that one in the future and consider acupuncture as an alternative to pain med if that type of reaction ever happens again.
I couldn't begin to guess what's up, but I can suggest a few things. You can try therapy, not just medical, but someone to talk to, someone who can give you professional suggestions for how to deal with situations when things are out of whack internally. For instance, I've recently taken up light yoga (I'm hoping to gain flexibility), but this might help you too. It's very calming and can sometimes help out side of the work out space as well. You can even let the girls work out with you if you like. Something I do is declaring a day off for myself once every few weeks. I just crawl into bed early Friday and let my husband take over the following Saturday. You mentioned your husband is supper supportive, so take a Saturday off, give him the girls for the day.
Sometimes a simple change of routine can help amplify the helpful effects of medication.
I hope this if what you were looking for. Good luck!
I think it's the birth control. My stepdaughter started taking that and was completely out of character until she went off it. No one put it together at first, but she turned into a total b*&^(* while taking it. When she stopped, she could look back and realize how it made her act and feel. I do know some people have wacky reactions to certain medications, so I would definitely check into stopping it or trying another kind. It could be the painkiller maybe, or even a combination of things you are taking, but it does sound related to meds somehow. You are really lucky to have the husband you have!! Be sure to tell him how much you appreciate how supportive he is during this difficult time for you and that you are thankful you can rely on him. Many women cannot say the same!
My 20 year old niece tried a new bc pill and acted manic then depressed.
She started yelling, being grumpy, and then crying for no reason.
She is normal now that she is off them.
First, as I'm sure you know, this is a question for your doctor. Second, if it were me, I would quit taking the birth control immediately. It could be your hormones, the way the drugs are interacting, any number of things. But if it started with the birth control I would at least stop taking it until I had seen a doc. Im super leery of hormonal birth control in the first place, it wreaks havoc on my system. That coupled with the other medication you're taking may be whats throwing you out of whack. No matter what, you can't live this way, so talk to your doctor first thing tomorrow morning.
The pill only masks the symptoms. It won't straighten out your hormones. Real easily the depression could be a symptom of hormonal imbalance. If you could find a doctor trained in Naprotechnology, they could help you to regulate your hormone levels. Contact the Pope Paul the VI Institute.
You take a lot of meds for a young woman. It's hard to tell what behaviors are you and what is drug induced (or withdrawl from drug induced). Obviously, you will ask your doctor. Just remember that they are people, too and don't always treat correctly. I would try to find a correct diagnosis so you can be sure that the treatment you are taking is the right one. I'm happy to hear that your husband is understanding and supportive of you!
This has happened to me. More than once. For me, it was the birth control. All forms, even the "lowest" in estrogen do it.
Take 10,000 units or more if you can find it of Vitamin D every day. Preferably a liquid (I get mine at Costco). It is water soluble so you cannot overdose it. It is a miracle cure for depression naturally. Also eat at least an apple a day, different varieties and more than one if you can. Also a natural high with no crash. I can recommend more foods if you send me a note to.
I have been off my anti-depressant meds for a year come next month and feel better than ever. Good luck!
hi N.!!!
i think is a sie effect for the birth control i stopped taking birth control because of this horrible side efects it give me depression and all the symptoms you described in your post...it's horrible because you don't know what happen to you and why you are acting like this....i talked with my doctor about this side efects and stop taking birth control i have the IUD .
HI N.,
I think it is the BC pill. I now do not take the pill and I found a holistic chiropractor that does QRA testing (muscle testing) and he detected my hormones being off horribly (without me telling him I thought that was my issue). I now have an oil I use twice a day and it has taken care of all the things I would take a BC pill for, except preventing pregnancy, but without the side effects like you are experiencing. I have my life back. My cycle is normal, no pain (most of the time), normal flow, shorter duration!!! My anxiety is gone----it has changed my life. I hope you find the solution for your issues, but here is his info if you think this is something you may be interested in:
http://chalmerswellness.com
Matt Chalmers is the Doc!
Hang in there Sweetie; it is a tough place to be for sure but know there is help.
I vote for this being a side effect of your BC pill too. Personally, I can't take any variety of BC pills, they all make me crazy. And by crazy, I mean bat-sh*t crazy!
I'm guessing it's the birth control pill- but I'm not a doctor or anything. My best friend had to stop taking them because she said they made her "psycho".
Check in with your doctor.
