StormBerlin

Some of you may remember a thread I started about your opinions of the IUD? I finally went and got one. Glad I did but it was super uncomfertable. I'm still cramping like mad. Plus, last night I started to bleed but I'm pretty sure thats normal. I'd call Planned Parenthood (where I got it done) and ask, but they're closed. Bleeding isn't necessarily a sign of a problem is it? It's not a lot. So if anyone has any info, thanks in advance. Oh, and the other part of my situation is that I've been on Depo for three years now and I'm wondering how long it will take my body to be completely rid of the Progesterone. I'm sick of the hormones

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

combatmedicjen

www.webmd.com says...

Looks like the bleeding is normal! I'm guessing you're using the copper IUD, right? The other uses levonorgestrel, which is just a form of progesterone, which you are apparently trying to avoid. I don't blame you... the crazy hormones in Depo messed me up, too. I was also on it for three years, since I was 16. Evil, evil stuff, eh?

So, just out of curiousity, why did you pick the IUD? Just to get away from the hormones? Were you considering any other forms of birth control? I use Ortho Evra ("the patch") and it's great! No side effects or mood swings at all, except for the day before my period. I get very emotional, and I'll cry over the weirdest things on that day. Sort of freaks my hubby out, hehe. But other than that I am quite satisfied with the patch. Most of my friends are on it, too, and they all seem satisfied as well.

Best of luck to you and your new IUD

hunnychile

Dear Storm,
If you don't feel right in another day and you are still bleeding, please, please try some other method for you own health and safety. IUDs can get moved into the wrong areas of your uterus and cause major pain and danger to your internal organs - such as your fallopian tubes.

__________________
"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

StormBerlin

I chose the IUD to not have hormones in my body. Depo screwed me up royally andI can't wait to be rid of all those extra hormones

Hunnychile, the cramping isn't bad at all, I'm just not used to it because I haven't had a period for three years because of the Depo. It's only light spotting and that link from jen helped me out and put my mind at ease. I don't think it's moved or anything because I guess that's supposed to hurt quite a bit. Thank you for your concern Do you have any personal experience with the IUD hunny?


does anyone know how long it may take my body to get rid of the hormones? Some days it's just so hard to be nice to people, ya know? And I'm also wondering if the weight I gained on Depo will drop again when my hormones are back to normal. I gained 30 lbs so rapidly that I have stretch marks across my lower back, butt, and thighs. I know those wont go away but losing the weight will be nice

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

thubpt

It took me at least 6 months to fully recover from Depo. I was on the shot for over a year, but, I tend to be fairly sensitive to any sort of drug. I even have a hard time with tylenol, sometimes

Anyway, hang in there - it may be a while, but it will the day will come. Lots of hugs to you in the mean time!

aphroditeskiss1

Storm, I'm thinking of getting one put in, but am a bit afraid of how much it will hurt. How long have you been cramping for? How much did it hurt when they put it in? I'm very curious about all of this, so if anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated.

__________________
"You always said destiny would blow me away. But nothing's gonna blow me away"- Something Coporate
" I do not pop pills! I take them and I eat them..."
- Foamy's friend

StormBerlin

Well, I'm still pretty crampy and I got it put in on Thursday. So far so good though. I did start my period so that's kinda strange. I just can't wait till by Depo wears off I think you should go for it. Take an Ibuprofin beforehand or even a Loratab to help with the pain.

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

mew

Yikes, I just read the title, and my insides went inside out! You've got guts, but way to go. I hope that everything goes well, and the crampings disappears asap.*hugs*

Redgirl

I was only on Depo for 9 mo's and I hated it! I also gained about 30 lbs incredibly quickly, same stretch mark thing too. Pissed me off! So anyway, my Depo didn't wear off until almost a year. Then I just suddenly dropped like 10-15 lbs. But I've never gotten back to the 120lbs I was before Depo. You may be more lucky than I, however.

The IUD sounds interesting, but my PP told me they wouldn't do it for women who haven't had a child because it was too painful and more likely to come out. You haven't had kids though, have you?

__________________
Thought for the day: Men are like fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it's up to the women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

StormBerlin

Redgirl, I can only hope my 35 lbs will come back off That would be great. About being able to have an IUD before kids (nope, don't have any), Erin (the lady at PP) told me that she's put in tons of IUDs into women who've never had children and has never had a patient lose one.

Yeah, it hurt like hell, but part of the reason I'm whining so much is because I've never had cramps before I didn't really know what to expect. I'm still kinda crampy after five days and my period is pretty heavy.

It's totally worth it though, and don't think about it too much or you'll chicken out. I've been attempting to get an IUD for about a year now but it was just so much easier to get the shot. I went in to get checked out for the IUD (thinking I would go back later for the actual insertion) and a PAP smear and then she decided she had enough time to do it right then and there if I wanted. Glad I did or I probably would have chickened out

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

lady

Depo sucks. I tried it when I was younger and bled for three months straight and gained weight for no apparent reason.

Stupidly I tried it again 2 months ago. I haven't had much spotting but I've packed on 10-15 lbs even though I've been eating a bit healthier than I was before getting the shot.

I'm hoping it'll wear off more quickly than it did the last time. Weighing this much sucks, my clothes don't fit properly *whine whine whine*

I asked my GP about getting an IUD put in when I wound up getting depo. He said he doesn't put IUD's in women who haven't had children yet because of the increased risk of infection that can lead to fertility problems.

I should find a gynocologist and ask her about it, I'm SICK of hormonal b.c. methods. My body freaks out on them.

__________________
Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.

StormBerlin

Yep, that's why I went to an IUD. I was sick of the hormones.

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

hunnychile

It's been awhile Stormy...hopefully you're doing better & the cramping went away. Let us know how it's going - closure is good for those who care and want to be healthy. If the pain continues, have the IUD removed. Don't give it another thought, either. There are more natural ways to prevent pregnancy and you don't want to mess up your internal organs just for the sake of something so easy (but potentially dangerous.) Women do need to pretect our blessed baby making process and the system doesn't always provide the 'whole story' about healthier alternatives. I haven't used any thing is many years and it was the smartest thing I ever did for my health.

__________________
"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

StickODynomite

Wow buncha brave gals you are. I researched tons about IUDs and well.. i basically got scared crapless. With it telling me it could get lodged into my uterus wrong or something.. i said forget that ! If an IUD causes problems, they're not just itty bitty problems. So I'm not risking it.

__________________
"The human mind is like a parachute, it works best when open."

StormBerlin

The cramping is pretty much gone. I'm still bleeding though. I'm actually not too worried about the bleeding because I was supposed to get my next depo shot on Sept 15 so my body is reacting to not getting it. This is gonna sounds weird, but I'm kinda glad I'm on my period because it makes me feel like more like a woman and I know that's how the body works so I know I'm healthy. The three years I didn't get my period I always felt kinda like I'm missing out on something, ya know?

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

Ms. Risk

I felt the same way with the Depo, felt unnatural and wrong. I was on Depo for three or four years, and got off because i wasnt getting any and didnt see the point in paying so much.
When I was on Depo, though, it was wonderfull to not have to deal with periods and things, but the emotional side effects (majior depression, and anxiety. no good) / weight gain (excess water weight i believe) were a big down point.
My friend Sarah was on Depo for about the same time i was. She had a decressed sex drive (which her husband and her both didnt like), weight gain and spotting ocasionally (which i didnt have any of). Now she is on the patch, which, both of us didnt think much of till she tryed it. The patches apperently stay on and work to, and i have been thinking about trying it myself. Any info on the patch BTW?
(Oh and BTW i am new to the forum.)

Ms. Risk

Edit: Gah! Double post!

BlueBongo

I've been on depo over a year and a half.. and I really feel like it's changed me in many ways that I highly dislike. As mentioned by others... lack of a sex drive, weight gain, depression and just emotionally weird. I do enjoy not having to deal with having periods.. but I think I am going to get off Depo.

I was reading about the IUD's available and I think I'm going to look into getting one because that seems like a great alternative to what I've been on.. DEPO sucks and it's not worth the weird feelings while being on it. So I'll have to check into that, thanks for the info. I'll let you know what's up when I figure it out.

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

KinkyKiwi

wait..whats an IUD? is that the same as getting your tubes tied? i'm sorry i know i probably seem really stupid..i'm just curious

__________________
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

StormBerlin

It's a completely non hormonal (you can get hormonal kind too, but I don't see the point) and it's a plastic stick they put inside your uterus. It's kinda painful, but after a couple of days you forget it's there. And it's just as effective as any kind of hormonal birth control.

__________________
"if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

KinkyKiwi

so can it be used on like young women? i mean like can you have it removed and then be able to have kids?

__________________
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

CinnamonGirl

Yup...one of my doctor's other patients was pregnant 3 days after getting it removed.

I just had one...erm...I was going to say "installed" Anyway, holy crap! I expected pressure, cramping, etc, but was NOT prepared for how much that damn clamp hurt.

I felt tired and crampy for the rest of the day, but now, I'm feeling great. (I had some not-so-fun cramps for about a week, though.)

I was also on Depo, for about five years...so here's hoping some weight drops off and I stop having such crazy mood swings (so far, so good )

Edit: For others that have IUDs...how'd you do when the doctor put it in? Am I a huge wuss, or did it honestly hurt that badly?

__________________
"...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."


"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

KinkyKiwi

yay, now i'm really thinking about getting one thanks

__________________
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

thubpt

Storm . . have you had any issues with gaining weight? I read one of the other threads where the ladies were saying one of the side effects was supposed to be weight gain

My doctor decided to have me go ahead with the IUD to help regulate the pain from endometreosis - and I thought it hurt like holy hell. It's been 4 days, and I'm still cramping. But . . . waiting for the major pain to go away To be pain free would be bliss!

__________________
The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

--Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy