should I do this? [Archive]

jessie.gray

12-31-2008, 07:17 PM

shelley

12-31-2008, 07:30 PM

Both my daughters used the Depo shot at one time. They both had terrible side effects just like you mentioned. It also seems to take forever to completely leave your system.

I personally would not recommend it.

SCI-Nurse

12-31-2008, 10:01 PM

There are risks associated with blood clots with this drug, and it can also increase your osteoporosis. Unless your periods are totally out of control, I would really want to talk to several physicians and nurse practitioners before making this move.

If you are not planning to have more children, getting your tubes tied is the safest form of birth control, otherwise barrier methods are the safest, but certainly not the most convenient.

(KLD)

live2ride

01-02-2009, 04:54 AM

I had one inserted after having endrometrial polyps removed to reduce the amount of bleeding I was getting (no issue with birth control). I get focal migraines so was told that anything with eostrogen wasn't an option (so no mini-pill or HRT). I think Mirena is just progesterone and in quite low doses so its not supposed to cause the same problems. After two periods I have found virtually no bleeding at all, but I think the PMT (mood swings, bloatedness etc) beforehand is worse - and without the 'relief' I used to get when the periods finally started. I have follow up appt in Feb and I think I will be discussing removing it if its the same next month. At least thats one thing - apparently its quite easy to remove, and with little feeling down there and after urodynamics testing and the like, my embarrassment level about these things has certainly gone down.

Ashley

01-02-2009, 09:42 PM

i had the mirena put in over 1 yr ago and so far so good. my periods are definitely lighter not so much shorter tho. its progesterine only and is good for 5 yrs. i havent had any issues with it.

feisty

01-02-2009, 09:51 PM

I hated Depo/the shot, tho I tried it pre sci.

It made me spotty in between periods and I put on weight (10-15lbs) that dropped off right after it wore off, I never got the re-up on the shot b/c the prevalent spotting during the 1st 3 months was a pain in the who-ha. As in... how much will I really be getting busy if I'm constantly OTR, you know?

cheesecake

01-03-2009, 01:20 AM

I tried Depo 10 years ago against the recommendations of my gyno. Hate to say it but he was right, I was wrong. I used it for 2 shots then stopped. Absolutely hated it.

november

01-03-2009, 01:25 AM

I was OTR for 3 months straight almost with Depo. Switched to a mini pill.

WildKat

01-04-2009, 04:48 PM

Lately, my doctor has been encouraging me to get a Mirena IUD or the Depo-Provera shot to reduce my periods and make it a bit more comfortable for me every month (I can't use birth control pills or the NuvaRing because of the seizure medicine I take).
The last time I was on any form of birth control was when I was still in high school and it was for severe cramps (I was on the Depo shot and hated its side effects, especially hot flashes and severe acne).

Does any other woman on here use birth control to stop or reduce their periods? Is it safe to be on birth control for long periods of time?

Jessie

I was on birth control pills in high school because of really bad cramps too. When I was in my 20's I started the Depo shot. (This was before my sci). The first time I had it I had a lot of headaches, hot flashes etc. but these all went away after the first shot. I stopped it while in the hospital and started again a couple of years ago. This time although the Dr. said it was the "Depo" shot it was actually a different brand name and it affected me differently. I had spotting while I was on it etc.

I forget the brand name of this shot, but maybe it woudl work a bit better for you. Do you know if you would be able to use a patch?

When I was on the pill I was told it was ok to continue taking them for a couple of months at a time to reduce your periods. It might be worth while having a talk with your Dr. about it.

When I was on the Depo shot it worked for me so well that although they usually only recommend being on it for a few years the Dr. said that because it worked I should stick with it. I was on it for about 5 years.

Hopefully you will find something that works out for you!

dtselling

01-04-2009, 06:48 PM

My adult daughter also takes a ton of EFAs and her period still brought on seizures. She takez the depo shot once every 3 to 4 months to prevent her cycles and the hormonal swings they cause. She hasn't had any noticeable side effects, maybe because she had such serious ones with her periods. She's had her tubes tied so she doesn't need the shots for birth control. She gets them strictly for seizure control

jessie.gray

01-05-2009, 03:12 PM

I was on birth control pills in high school because of really bad cramps too. When I was in my 20's I started the Depo shot. (This was before my sci). The first time I had it I had a lot of headaches, hot flashes etc. but these all went away after the first shot. I stopped it while in the hospital and started again a couple of years ago. This time although the Dr. said it was the "Depo" shot it was actually a different brand name and it affected me differently. I had spotting while I was on it etc.

I forget the brand name of this shot, but maybe it woudl work a bit better for you. Do you know if you would be able to use a patch?

When I was on the pill I was told it was ok to continue taking them for a couple of months at a time to reduce your periods. It might be worth while having a talk with your Dr. about it.

When I was on the Depo shot it worked for me so well that although they usually only recommend being on it for a few years the Dr. said that because it worked I should stick with it. I was on it for about 5 years.

Hopefully you will find something that works out for you!

I can't use the patch because it interferes with seizure meds and the docs don't wan't me using it 'cause I've had a history of blood clots.
Still haven't decided anything yet. I just want these uncomfortable periods to go away for a while. I've had very low iron and B12 levels a lot since my colectomy, so having my period just makes me miserably exhausted, despite being on B12 shots and an IV of iron.

Jessie

WildKat

01-13-2009, 12:05 PM

I can't use the patch because it interferes with seizure meds and the docs don't wan't me using it 'cause I've had a history of blood clots.
Still haven't decided anything yet. I just want these uncomfortable periods to go away for a while. I've had very low iron and B12 levels a lot since my colectomy, so having my period just makes me miserably exhausted, despite being on B12 shots and an IV of iron.

Jessie

I know how you feel about the bad periods. When I was in high school I would spend days curled up in bed. Now I can't feel cramps, but I do get a lot of spasms and AD.

Hopefully you will find something that works. There has to be something out there! There are a lot of different options now. Good luck!

katekorn78

01-22-2009, 12:36 AM

I am a 30yr old t4/5 para. I have been on Mirenna for almost 5 years now and love it. I tried b/c pills than the patch. When I went to my doctor to get my tubes tied he suggested that I was still young and that I try this instead. I have never been happier. My periods are pretty nothing now and thats a blessing in its own but even better is not having to worry about taking another pill, putting on a patch or blood clots. I wish you luck but wanted to share that I have found nothing better after 15 years of sci.

live2ride

01-26-2009, 12:54 AM

I'm now through my third cycle since the Mirena was put in - first two and I was thinking that it was a mistake, but this time around I haven't really had any of the side effects - no mood swings, no bloating, no bleeding. So perhaps its going to be OK after all and it just takes a little time to settle down.

marielea

02-11-2009, 02:34 AM

i guess i'm out of the norm. in high school i had the norplant for birth control. i had it in my arm for 5 years. when it was done, i got another one for 5 yrs. i didn't have any problems with it, i loved not having my period. they quit making it, so then i went to the pill. i didn't mind it, but it was hard for me to remember to take the stupid pill every day. after my accident i went on depo. again, i love it. no side affects, no period, nothing. i haven't really had much of a period since my first norplant. after my accident, i wasn't on anything for a little while. the periods were a pain in the ass to deal with being in the chair. i also have bowel accidents when i get close to my period. it probably wouldn't be a problem if i weren't sci. thats when i went to depo.

Ashley

02-11-2009, 04:13 PM

marialea, i just wanted to heads up you...if you already knew then dont worry about this, but the depo shot has been shown to deplete calcium and density in the bones. that's what turned me off of it, since we already lose calcium and density from sci. the mirena is alot like the norpant, just stays in your cervix as opposed to the arm :) but if youre happy with the shot, then go with it.

woman from Europe

02-11-2009, 04:33 PM

Why don't you buy that equipment that shows your ovulation, and then you know when you ovulate, http://www.clearblueeasy.com/fertility_monitor.php
My daughter has been using that one for three years now and she hasn't been pregnant.

You can even use it later if you want to be pregnant.

If you don't have plans to get pregnant do as KLD says, cut the tubes. It is the most easy way.

Aly

02-14-2009, 03:06 PM

I went from Norplant (hated it) to Depo (No problem other than the calcium issue) to Mirena IUD. I love the IUD, I visit the GYN once a year as I did before and no problems. The IUD also has a lower risk of blood clots.

Meagalon

02-14-2009, 05:24 PM

Essure is a new sterilization option that is permenant but nonevasive.

Read more
http://www.essure.com/

Cherbears

06-02-2010, 10:02 AM

I took depo-provera for heavy cycles and ended up infertile and early menopause and now this drug causes risks to bone density. Also stops the libido.

kel13

06-02-2010, 12:56 PM

I got back on the depo-shot 2 yrs post injury as my periods had come back with a vengeance by then. I've been a happy camper ever since. No periods since 2006 and I'll likely stay on depo forever. I'm a c7-t1 and have already had blood clots when I was in rehab way back when in '04. Afterall life is short you gotta enjoy it and play hard :)

jessie.gray

07-07-2010, 05:26 AM

I took depo-provera for heavy cycles and ended up infertile and early menopause and now this drug causes risks to bone density. Also stops the libido.

I heard the same thing recently on the news that Depo causes bone density problems, and that anyone taking it has to be on calcium supplements. Didn't know it causes early menopause.

Jessie

AngelaandKC

08-02-2010, 11:01 AM

I was on Depo for a little more than 10 years pre and post SCI. I had been warned about the bone thinning when I first started and even volunteered to be in a study to examine bone loss pre sci. Even though they could see that I was losing a little bit of bone mass, I continued thinking since I was very active, took calcium supplements and thought I would be okay.

There was no discussion post sci when I spoke to my docs about getting off Depo now that I had a SCI.

Long story short, have lost a lot of bone density as a combo of being on Depo for so long and SCI.

Altough I loved not having a period for so long, it comes with a price. I gained about 1 -2 pounds every year. Not a big deal until you remember I was on it for over 10 years. 20 pounds is a LOT of weight for someone my height and weight. Major loss of libido, which in itself is very effective birth control.

I've been off depo for a few years now. I'll be going into the doc later this week to try Mirena. Hope it's not a bad as Depo.

PM me if you have questions about Depo.

PeanutsLucy

08-06-2010, 10:54 AM

If having kids isn't a consideration -- I highly recommend the uterine ablation combined with a tubal. Birth control and reduces/eliminates periods (haven't had one in over a year!). Sweet!

Cherbears

02-25-2011, 07:44 AM

I started depo at 31 and lost my libido after that and never got it back not the ability to get pregnant and I went into menopause. Also I have DDD and can't walk now at 50 barely. This drug is used to make pedophiles sterile! I will oppose this drug forever! Just my experience...