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Could I be 'coured'.

Posted , 2 users are following.

Celia1966
Celia1966

Good morning everyone.

I feel bad about posting too much positivity on this site as I know everyone is generally suffering, or in a temporary period of happiness. It's just that I wonder if anyone has spontaneously been cured of depression after coming off the contraceptive pill?

I have been on Cerazette for over 12 years, and before that on and off the pill since I was a teenager, which was when I first had an episode of depression. I have had many episodes of depression since and have currently been on Fluoxetine since 2009. Only a few months ago I was 'putting my affairs in order' and having a clear out at home thinking of 'the end'.

After a mix up at my surgery I was without my Cerazette prescription for over a week, the first time I had been without it in years. By the end of that week without the pill my mood had lifted considerably! My libido came back (wow!), I had energy and the motivation to get out and do things. Household chores became a pleasure and my windows have never looked so sparkly!

Because of the correlation between mood and coming off the pill I decided to carry on without it. It is now six weeks, and despite getting a really sore bust for a few weeks prior to my first period in years, I still felt fab EVERY DAY. I really can't believe the change in me. I have even been thinking about how to boost my pension and plan for the future now that I want to be on this earth for as long as I can.

I'm on the max of Fluoxetine so have an appt with my GP in 3 weeks to discuss coming off it slowly as I have read some horror stories.

Does anyone have a similar story?

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Sarah812
    Sarah812 Celia1966

    Posted

    Personally I was depressed before going on any meds at all, but I can see how a hormone pill could affect your mood. I didn't notice much difference when I was on the pill years ago....I am glad you are feeling better, it's very nice to see smile
    • Celia1966
      Celia1966 Sarah812

      Posted

      Thanks Sarah, I just didn't want to sound stupid at the GPs, suggesting there has been a link between the depression and the pill. I just have a feeling that this isn't a temporary relapse.
    • Sarah812
      Sarah812 Celia1966

      Posted

      Well I hope that is is permanent. I haven't heard of that med and maybe one of the side effects was depression...I know estrogen and progesterone can affect moods, so maybe it was doing this. Anyway, congratulations!
  • Celia1966
    Celia1966

    Posted

    Sorry, seems it hasn't improved my spelling - meant cured!
  • Desperate_now
    Desperate_now Celia1966

    Posted

    You have just given me some food for thought, I have suffered with depression on and off following post natal depression 21 years ago. I went back on the pill as I new I couldn't cope with another baby. Eventually I was sterilized and came off the pill. I had a few blips due to stress at work but was not put on antidepressant again. 

    When I was about 47 I was going to see my GP as I noticed some mood changes, and I was wondering if I was starting the menopause? Nothing was really done until Aug 2008 I would be 49 my periods were so heavy that I was anaemic need iron tablets. My GP decided to insert the  Minerva coil to ease these symptoms. (This is also used for birt control, which obvious ly I didn't need). 

    in Nov 2008 I was really struggling not coping at work crying low in mood not sleeping all classic signs of depression.. I went back to GP who immediately signed me off work and  put me on Fluoxetine as I had responded well on that drug when I had post natal depression. Yes it did help me cope but I never felt I could come off it. I was having counselling through work, I ended up on clomiprimine as well as fluoxetine.

    2012 I took voluntary redundancy as many of you already know thinking ah I will now be able to get off medication. Ha I did come off clomiprimine but that was all. Not long after that another dip and I ended up having CBT and still on fluoxetine.. This has now brought me up to 2014. Soon as CBT finished I deteriorated again so medication was changed in Sept 2014 to a stronger antidepressant. Although things were just a little better I was still having some suicidal thoughts, Jan this year my GP referred me to the Mental health Team, where I am now under a psychiatrist and awaitng counselling yet again.

     The point of this long blog is yes I still have the Minerva coil i situ. I am sure I have now finished  going  through the menopause, as I haven't had a period for over 12 months. So the next time I see my GP or psychiatrist I will ask them and see Bout getting it removed.

     It does seem strange that as soon as the coil was fitted  4 months later I was back on antidepressants.

    thank you Celia you may have just helped me get a cure with your story. I was a nurse but I have never thought there could be a connection between birth control products and depression.

    • Celia1966
      Celia1966 Desperate_now

      Posted

      Oh, I really hope removing the coil works for you too. As Sarah said above, hormones do affect us so having artificial hormones for many years surely could affect us negatively?

      I too don't need contraception and am 48 now but planned on staying on the pill till after the menopause as I suffered from severe pain on the first day (cramps, fainting, sickness, diorrhea) but the pains would stop as soon as they came that first day and I would then feel fantastic thanks to the post period hormones.

      Cerazette stopped my periods altogether which has been fantastic for the last 12 years or more, but I would now much rather put up with the one day of pain a month (and the two weeks of a sore bust!) if I could keep the depression away. The one period I had recently was hardly anything but it has been twelve years so I am sure the next won't be so easy smile

      I haven't given up work totally but last autumn I gave up my job to give myself a year of healthy eating, living and activity. I do need to loose weight. Despite being at home with all the time in the world to do what I wanted (although a bit short on cash!) I still couldn't lift my mood, in fact it worsened, and sometimes I rarely left the house for days. To say I felt guilty was an understatement especially as I had dogs who needed walking. Very recently I've started watching what I eat and already have lost a few pounds, and the dogs and I are once again enjoying long walks whatever the weather. I've even discussed all this with my husband as I am so excited. We didn't really discuss my depression at all as I think we both found it embarassing - silly really.

      I plan to go through the menopause, when it comes, 'au naturel' and give HRT a wide berth now.

      I really hope that my theory is correct and that it helps you too.

       

    • Sarah812
      Sarah812 Desperate_now

      Posted

      Hi, I have extremely diffiicult PMS in the sense that I get even more depressed and tense and upset than usual, and I looked into it a bit and apparently the different amounts of female hormones cause this. It's a shame that doctors don't know this but they are often pretty ignorant about women's issues especially. I am really glad you are able to make the connection between bc and mood issues. I got off the pill a few years ago, just because I read that it can cause hormonal problems, but my PMS actually seems worse without it!
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