Cerazette (contraceptive Pill) - Will The Stress/depression Increase?

[rainy_daze]

I don't mind if male members post, I just assumed it wouldn't interest you, so made sure to label it as a contraceptive pill in case people thought it was a new medication for PTSD.

I am a little shy talking about this but I am concerned. I was just given this new type of pill yesterday as I now have high blood pressure on my current one and I am falling apart physically. The thing is, I am also severely depressed again, failing at the one thing I have going well in my life, in a financial meltdown, and I feel I am losing all sense of direction in life. I am going to therapy, but it is only once a month (NHS psychologists have little appointment spaces) and I am sinking fast.

I am worried that changing to this pill is going to tip me over the edge. It's the whole reason I don't take anti-depressants. That 2 week window of feeling beyond awful. I was so stressed, ill and functioning on no sleep at the doctors that I ended up just getting really annoyed with the woman and glossing over how depressed and stressed I am feeling (I pretty much just repeated that my boyfriend has lost his job, and couldn't get the real feelings I wanted out). I have read a few forums and there are a lot of people saying to steer clear completely of this if you have ever had depression. I know everyone is different, and maybe it will work for me, but I am starting to wonder if maybe any hormone thing in my body is making or will make depression/PTSD worse? It's such a difficult time for me to switch tablets but I wasn't allowed to be given the other one.

I have 3 options: take the tablets, don't take the tablets, phone the pharmacist and speak to her and then decide. There are consequences of not taking them, but will that be worse than taking them if they are going to shove me into oblivion?

I do not know what to do, and I realise no one can tell me what to do, but any experience or advice about this would be appreciated and hopefully I can figure out what to do in the next few days. My life is so ruined, I just don't want it to get any worse.

 

[ms spock]

So sorry to hear you are having such a hard time of it rainy daze.

I don't know.

 

[rainy_daze]

I pull through it Ms Spock, I am just really bothered about all the uncertainties that have been thrown my way. I like to have a plan, and my plan has failed.

I really don't know either. I think that's why it's so difficult to decide, I really don't know what will happen. It could be great, it could be devastation. It's a risk. I don't want to put my partner under any more stress than he is already either.

I used to think doctors know best, however, finding out I shouldn't have been taking a pill for 8 years because I suffer from migraines was a huge shock and I lose my faith in their judgement because of things like that. I'd like to think she wouldn't have given me it if she thought it would tip me over the edge emotionally or physically, yet the doctor who actually monitors my health gave me something so inappopriate for my state of health. I kept saying to my GP at appointments, "You always say my blood pressure is high" and he always just said it was the anxiety of being at the doctors. Why did he not test me at the end of the appointment to check? Turns out it was the contraception he said I would be fine on. Ach, it could be worse, I could have continued seeing my regular doctor and then had a stroke from the high blood pressure, so I am counting my blessings.

I will stop thinking about it and come back to it when I've had a few days break. My goal for today is only nice things. Thanks for replying.

 

[Anna]

Hi Rainy-Daze.

I took cerazette whilst I breastfed, then I took the normal pill, back to cerazette and then back on the normal pill again. I am heading towards 40 now and am considering coming off the hormones and using condoms instead.

Cerazette made me cry all the time and made me feel very very depressed. I found the combined pill to be much better, however recently I have become very depressed, I also think it is due to it being winter and the lack of sunlight. I have been on the pill for 12 years now and as I am heading towards 40 I want to come off it because of the risks of thrombosis etc.... plus 12 years of hormones I want to go back being myself.

If you do come off it, make sure you use condoms or other protection.

I also found cerazette made me spot really badly. I had a very unpleasant time on it, in general I hate the pill but took it because I do not want anymore children. Now at my age I feel it is time to come off the hormones for my health and sanity.

Best is to speak to a family planning expert or the pharmacist first. You have to do what is right for you.

Take care of yourself.

 

[ms spock]

The family planning thing sounds like a great idea Anna.

 

[rainy_daze]

I don't want to risk getting pregnant etc, and I would never risk not using protection. I have an appointment with a different doctor to discuss it. I will figure out what is best for me. Hopefully this post hasn't freaked out any male members and might help someone else on the forum. I feel so embarassed talking about contraception but I needed PTSD/depression-related advice and that's what I got.

Thanks so much for replying Anna. The spotting is something I really worry about. I am so stressed already, why heap another mountain of uncertaintity and horrible risk on top of the way I am feeling now. My heart races just thinking about the stress of it all. I wish I could have got my blood pressure down low enough to stay on the pill I am used to. However, I never managed to fool that wee machine. I am like you in the sense that I want to go back to being me as well; wish the stuff that was working wasn't actually bad for me!

I have found so many posts on forums saying to avoid if you have ever had depression. One poster said she had put on 4stone, had acne everywhere and was like a basket case of emotions. If I get bad skin I will hate the way I look even more. The weight would probably bother me too, although I really should start putting weight on; sick of hearing people comment on my weight loss.

The doctor said that I shouldn't have been taking the pill I was on, and that this one could work well for me. The symptoms I am worrying about though happen to 1 in 10. I could be one of the lucky 9, or my life could get even worse on it and I can't afford to feel worse. Need to pay the bills!

 

[ms spock]

I don't want to risk getting pregnant etc, and I would never risk not using protection. I have an appointment with a different doctor to discuss it. I will figure out what is best for me. Hopefully this post hasn't freaked out any male members and might help someone else on the forum. I feel so embarassed talking about contraception but I needed PTSD/depression-related advice and that's what I got.

I wouldn't be embarassed about talking about contraception rainy daze. You are being so responsible and careful. You are an inspiration to the rest of us!

I am all for more contraceptive discussion by both male and female members of this forum. We want to be at our best, as individuals and as a community before we bring another child into this world. It is worth delaying the onset of reproduction in order to work on ourselves and be in a space to make rational and considered decisions. Working on yourself for a couple of years and mean a great quality of life for yourself and any prospective children.

I am sure that you might help someone else on the forum. You certainly make me feel hopeful for the next generation with your taking care not to get pregnant and be so proactive around your sexual health. I think that this is a great thing to be talking about. It is great self care.

It is also good modelling that you needed PTSD and depression related advice, that you requested that advice and you got it.

I also note that you are getting advice from another doctor on the subject. To me this is considered, rational and responsible. Meeting your own needs by asking for the specific advice that you require is most noble in my eyes.

(Of course you are allowed to be embarassed! Those are your feelings and they are valid.)

 

[rainy_daze]

You certainly make me feel hopeful for the next generation with your taking care not to get pregnant and be so proactive around your sexual health.

I wish my generation weren't automatically labelled as having unprotected sex. I honestly cannot count how many times I have been tested for STDs (STIs now I think), even after assuring them that it would be impossible - then it would always turn out negative and I would just go "I told you so - I told you it wouldn't be that". Sometimes doctors look at your age and just assume that if you're having sex, losing weight and other symptoms then you probably have something that you got from unprotected sex, and don't believe you when you tell them it's impossible. I think in the end it puts a lot of younger people going to the doctors for advice.

Ah Ms Spock, youth is still wasted on the young though ;). I feel a lot older than I am, while simultaneously being about 5 years old sometimes! Glad I posted. You're right too, shouldn't be embarassed. It's just part of life.

 

[ms spock]

I don't think that it is any generational thing about contraceptives and safe sex rainy daze - well not for me anyway. It is about always encouraging the discussion and getting people to be safe for themselves and others - whatever the age.

 

[Hashi]

I think it's inevitable that something that affects hormones will affect mood. It's hard to weigh up two different concerns - depression and pregnancy - when both are so important to consider.

I've used methods other than the contraceptive pill, and they were successful for me. In addition, I did fertility awareness (monitoring changes in your body so you can follow your cycle) - but I DIDN'T do it as a sole method of contraception and I DON'T recommend anyone does. I did it so I could know to take extra precautions when the risk was higher (two different barrier methods together, instead of just one). It gave me more peace of mind. All you need for fertility awareness are a book and a fertility thermometer.

It needs to be your decision. There's some risk with every method. I'd encourage you to get good family planning advice from a specialist clinic, so you can make an informed choice.

I think it's good to discuss it here. I'm sure it will help other people too.

 

[Anna]

I don't think that it is any generational thing about contraceptives and safe sex rainy daze - well not for me anyway. It is about always encouraging the discussion and getting people to be safe for themselves and others - whatever the age.

I agree about that, in the 90s when I was in my teens, my doctor forced me into having a pregnancy test, even though I told him I was a virgin and never had had sex. I had gone to him because I was having irregular periods! He told me straight out he didn't believe me and I was under the age of consent at the time! Shocking!

I am also coming off the pill now as recently my body has changed. My skin is dry and burning, and my moods. I am so angry. I want to detox as well to help my liver. I am going to try milk thistle to cleanse my body. As for contraceptives, condoms all the way for me from now on.

 

[Lucycat]

I take Cerazette!

I started it just over a year ago - not for contraception, but to regulate my hormone levels and to help combat possible pre-menstrual tension. I love it. Would have started taking it years ago had I known how good it is!!