Coming off Depo...

[noodle]

I gave the Depo shot three months. After arguing with the doctor that yes, in fact, I do feel that I gave it enough time, she agreed to start me on Yaz.
I had to go over everything from the hot flashes/night sweats, severe joint pain, 8 pound weight gain in those three months, the ability to drop 6 lbs in 12 hours with a Diurex, losing a cup size in my breasts and shifting all that to my butt in a weird spot, acne in places I don't want to think about... while on a 1600-1800 calorie/day diet and 60-90 minutes at the gym three to four times per week for the past six weeks. I can't believe I had to argue

I've noticed that there are numerous ladies that have mentioned discontinuing this particular type of birth control and I'm wondering if I should look for or expect anything. The doctor said she wasn't sure. Which made me feel grand, of course. I was on the Pill for 14 years or something before I tried this disaster. I know what to expect with the Pill and I'm almost looking forward to PMS again if my skin clears up and I can actually see some progress at the gym. The frustration and dejection I've been dealing with after working my ass off at the gym and feeling great, only to see a steady increase in clothing size and on the scale was enough to make me re-think my decision. I'm just trying to figure out how long it will take for me to start noticing a decrease in symptoms... or maybe an improvement, I should say. I guess, basically, how long till I feel normal again? Anyone have any experiences they'd care to share?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts, as always.

[tenniels]

I was on Depo for a good 7 years and then decided to give it a break with all the news of decreasing bone density. I absolutely loved it, but have heard a lot of women have had bad experiences like yourself. I never gained weight from it (any weight I did gain was my own damned fault *laughs*), I loved not having a period, no cramps, mood swings, breast tenderness etc. Anyways, I have been off of it for about a year and have just started getting my period back *scowls* I went on Alesse (pill) for most of the year and hate hate hate it so I just quit that too. I'm going to get a bone density scan and go back on Depo Provera if everything looks good with my bones. But other than the lack of a period I never experienced any problems stopping taking Depo, then again, I didn't have any bad experiences on it either. I just hate taking the pill. I hate getting a period, I hate the breast tenderness, and I find it tends to make me moody (well more so than usual haha). Good luck and I hope Yaz works out better for you than the Depo did.

[JustJess]

I had some Depo issues too - started bleeding *all* the time instead of never. And weight gain, acne, and ick! So I quit it after around 6 months (I think). It's been years since I was on it, tho... so I'm not sure how long it took my body to normalize. I want to say just a month or maybe a touch longer. I think it's very related to how long you were on it. Didn't your doctor have any thoughts on that??

[noodle]

She really didn't have anything for me. I think I rather pissed her off because I refused to budge on coming off it and because I consulted another physician I work with regarding the less common side effects that I experienced. I'm just going to have to keep hanging in there.