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Post by Sammie79 on Feb 10, 2006 2:47:26 GMT -5
Hi All, After carefully weighing up all the pros and cons, I decided to start depo shots 2 weeks ago. I just want to check in, that the side effects I have been experiencing are not anything to worry about... First, 2 weeks after my first depo shot, I am still on my period and it is the heaviest flow I have ever had... Quite painful too For the first week after the shot, my heart was racing... It was the most bizarre feeling, I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and I kept breaking out in cold sweats... It seems to have calmed down in the second week, but my still beating faster than usual. I also have not been sleeping well. My emotions are haywire! Everything I feel is felt 10 times stronger than usual... I will be a little sad and sobbing uncontrollably in minutes... and then when I am happy, it almost feels manic... my moods are swinging all over the shop! I did read about such side effects, but I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that its nothing to worry too much about. Thanks in advance!
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Post by ouchy on Feb 10, 2006 10:33:12 GMT -5
Wow! Well, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that your side effects will subside soon!
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avonp
Junior Member
My chico
Posts: 62
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Post by avonp on Feb 10, 2006 11:29:45 GMT -5
I was on depot for 2 1/2 years.
My first shot was miserable just like you. i actually had my periods heavy for 3 weeks and then lite but steady for 2 months. my doctor said it was normal and on the second shot everything when away.
I would talk to your doctor about you heart racing my did a couple of time but nothing serious just scary.
Plus take Vitamin B6 complex everyday for the mood and stuff it help allot. Take a little iron to wile you bleed allot since you loose allot of iron.
Hope this helps and keep me posted on how this goes.
Bye, Pascale
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avonp
Junior Member
My chico
Posts: 62
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Post by avonp on Feb 13, 2006 7:57:57 GMT -5
I just got new info on depo.
I hope you already had your kids cuz if your on depo for to long 'depending on your body' its can prevent normal ovulation in the future.
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Post by lynette on Feb 13, 2006 14:07:03 GMT -5
I have a friend who was on depo for 3 years. She was back to normal cycle and pregnant within 6 months. She is one of the lucky one Depo didn't mess up, that I know. Everyone else I know that has taken it, including me, has had nothing but problems.
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Post by Janet on Feb 16, 2006 9:47:12 GMT -5
Most of my friends that used depo got pregnant on depo so I've always questions its ability to work as birth control. The emotional stuff sounds normal as its a high dose of hormones, you may get used to it you may not. I never adjusted to birth control pills messing up my hormones and I was on them for 11 years before anyone realized thats what was wrong with me. But talk to your doctor about side effects and make sure they are normal.
Janet
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Post by Sammie79 on Feb 20, 2006 1:36:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the support guys! I have had it checked up and everything is fine. The side effects started to subside last week and this week I am feeling "almost human" again, albeit a little more sensitive and teary than usual!
Thanks too for the concern about long term effects on pregnancy in the future, I read quite a lot about Depo and tried quite a few alternatives before embarking on this horrible journey and at the end of the day it was pretty much one of my only options left.
I am however surprised to hear Janet, that some of your friends have gotten pregnant while on Depo. My understanding was that Depo was close to a 99.9 % effective method of birth control. Birth control is the main reason why I ended up on Depo, I definitely want to have kids, but at 26 and still with a lot of ambition to fulfil, My beautiful Husband-to-be and I were kind of hoping we could hold off on the family for at least another year or two.
I also wanted to share that a friend of mine put me onto fish oil from the health/vitamin shop and that seems to have been helping with the mood swings a little.
Thanks again everyone, It really helped to read your support and reassurance when things were so crazy (and scary) t :)he last few weeks!!!
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Post by ouchy on Feb 20, 2006 4:52:33 GMT -5
Hi, Sammie. Glad you are feeling almost back to human! It's a great feeling, and I had almost forgotten what it was like! I'm sure a lot of us can relate! As a side note, I've personally known 4 women who have gotten pregnant while on Depo, and they all got their shots on time. One took antibiotics, but they say that doesn't affect the shot. I don't know. Anyway, best of luck. Hope you keep feeling better!
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Post by depo survivor on Mar 10, 2006 13:44:27 GMT -5
depo provera seriously messed up my body. I had the worst side effects, you couldn't pay me enough to go on that shot ever again! my hair was falling out, skin was flaking off of my scalp, i was so tired i would fall asleep standing up on the train or when i was on the phone with a customer, i had horrible headaches, dizziness and nausea that i had to get an MRI to check for a brain tumor. Insomnia was terrible and my joints became sore and stiff, not to mention the weight gain! i STILL have problems with my scalp, lingering fatigue (though not as bad), joint stiffness. I personally think depo should not be offered anymore, it's obviously toxic whether you experience side effects as badly as mine. I wish you luck!
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Post by lynette on Mar 10, 2006 15:20:39 GMT -5
WOW! I think those are the worst side effects I've ever heard of from depo. What are you trying now?
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Post by angelas on Jan 18, 2007 10:44:23 GMT -5
Hi, I was just reading a post from Emma ( I hope you can see this) in regards to a drug called Provera. I'm not sure if anyone has posted anything on this, I couldn't see it anywhere.. I'm also not sure if Provera (UK) is the same as Depo Provera (Canada). After my last lap about 4 years ago, my specialist prescribed depo as an alternative to Lupron. It would have cost me about $400 per shot of lupron so depo was the way cheaper alternative. They had me on such a dosage that it actually shut down my reproductive system, so as to prevent a period and therefore endo. It basically put me through a drug induced menopause at the age of 24! I found the worst part was the depression I had because of it. I wasn't taking any hormones to balance me out so I seriously thought I was going nuts! I continued to take the shots for a year or so when I couldn't handle it anymore. I decided that the suffering from endo was better for me to deal with than the total lack of control that also effected my jobs and relationships. Once I stopped taking the depo, I was supposed to have gotten my period back within 3 months..... a year went by and still no period. They finally induced my period with strict doses of estrogen and progesterone. I've had my period back now for about a year and a half, and I feel so much worse (pain wise) than I did before I agreed to start that treatment. I really regret taking the depo, and am very curious to find out whats happened inside me since the last lap. Emma - if this is the same drug as the Provera you were asking about, in my opinion, if you are trying to avoid further depression issues it may be a good idea to discuss alternative treatments. Angela
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Post by ouchy on Jan 18, 2007 11:52:54 GMT -5
I think Depo Provera and Provera are different drugs.
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Post by ouchy on Jan 18, 2007 12:02:11 GMT -5
One is injectible (Depo Provera), and one is a pill (Provera). Here is a little blurb about both from www.healthsquare.com/newrx/pro1361.htm . "Provera is derived from the female hormone progesterone. You may be given Provera if your menstrual periods have stopped or a female hormone imbalance is causing your uterus to bleed abnormally. Provera is also prescribed to prevent abnormal growth of the uterine lining in women taking estrogen replacement therapy. Other forms of medroxyprogesterone, such as Depo-Provera, are used as a contraceptive injection and prescribed in the treatment of endometrial cancer. Some doctors prescribe Provera to treat endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, premenstrual tension, sexual aggressive behavior in men, and sleep apnea (temporary failure to breath while sleeping)."
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Post by ouchy on Jan 18, 2007 12:04:47 GMT -5
I've had friends who were proscribed pill form Provera to bring on their periods. I think they took the tabs for 5 or 7 days or something.
One thing to note is that w/ the inection, Depo Provera, you still risk bone loss just like w/ Lupron. If using it as a contraceptive, take heed, I've personally known 4 women who became pregnant while on the shot. They ALL took their shots on time, too!
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Post by angelas on Jan 18, 2007 15:04:04 GMT -5
I was taking the shots, and the results I got were because of the dosage. I was taking 3 times the normal dose for contraceptive use to 'shut down' my system. Anyone out there who has had the same advice - it might be best to find another option...
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