It all started when Nyssa was about 5 months old. I had become fed up with the
mini pills. So I went to my dr to ask about my other options. He recomended Depo
Provera because it was impossible for me to screw it up. After all he
administered the shot and that was it. I agreed too it because remembering to
take the pill each day was a pain.
I must tell you that my father who is a MD was against depo from the day it
released onto the market. He warned me against it. I however was stubborn. I
thought well he is against herbal stuff too and herbal remedies have always
worked perfectly wonderful for me. Maybe he is wrong about this too.
At first I felt excited that I would not have to bother with stupid pills
anymore. Then time went by and the shot took effect. I slowly started feeling
more and more deppressed. My Dr. insisted since I already battled depression, It
was probabley changes in my life doing this to me. He gave me an Anti-Deppressant.
I also lost all interest in marital relations with my husband. I had no period
which while enjoyable made me nervous.
Time went by. I continued to take the shots two more times. I tried to become
involved with Moms Organizations thinking that it might help. It never did. The
final push that pushed me off the shots was an alarming email. One morning on
one of my groups, a girl emailed saying that she was now in liver failure due to
the Depo. She urged everyone to get a Liver function test regularly if they
really insisted on being on the shots. I was already getting my blood sugar
checked as yearly prevention for Diabeties so I told the dr as long as you have
the needle in my arm, could you check my liver function. When I told him why he
was like yes lets do it. This was my family Dr and not the OB giving me the Depo
shots.
A few days later my test came back with an elevated enzyme level. The family dr
told me to get off the Depo. It was time for a new shot. So I took the test
results with me to my Gyn. He tried to down play my results. He was even annoyed
with me for going to my family dr to get the test. He said that I should of come
to him with my concerns. I told him I was already getting my diabeties test so
why should I get poked twice. He tried to talk me out of giving up the Depo. He
insisted it was the best choice. Reluctantly he did prescribe a normal BC pill
to me. I never went back to see him again after that. I was so anoid with his
reaction to the whole issue.
The long term affects as far as I know seem to have subsided. Although the full
effect I will never know. After a year my liver function returned to normal and
my period returned. After two and a half years my period had even seemed to
return to normal. My depression eventually calmed down. It was a gradual thing.
Although I must say that it was not untill this past summer (2002) that I even
began to feel normal for me. After comming off of the Depo I developed Asthma.
Now most likely that is not connected but I find it very odd that it happened
that way. I will always wonder about it.
I asked my dad recently if he knew it was so bad, why did no one else seem to
know. His response was that they do know. It was actually created to be marketed
in areas of the world where poverty is high and BC is not widely available. I
have spoken to a few ladies who think it is great.
Baby After Depo This is an interesting site for those trying to concieve
after depo. There is information here that may be of some intest to those
who are comming off of depo or even thinking about taking it.
