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Could my withdrawal depression get worse after the removal of my IUD?


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I've had the Skyla IUD birth control for three years and it's supposed to be removed after you have it for three years. But I'm nervous that removing it might cause an upset in my hormones that will send me back into acute. But on the flip side of that, I'm also wondering if the IUD could be making my withdrawal worse. I just can't decide if I should make the plunge and get it taken out yet.
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Hi,

 

I’m in the same position as you. Mine is due out too and I have been recommended to have it removed.  I have the same fears, as I have been having terrible depressive crashes every month since starting Escitalopram and withdrawing from the benzos.  I don’t know whether this is as a result of the cuts I have been making or whether it is linked to my hormones as well.  The crashes go on for about a week each month and I feel VERY bad and can’t get out of bed. 

 

I don’t know what your cycle is like and if you have any specific patterns like me. It’s also hard to tell where any hormonal issues might be and if they are being worsened by the WD.  Some ladies struggle with the drop in oestrogen, some with the progesterone drop and some are just super sensitive to hormone fluctuations in general. I am also around the peri menopause age, so this isn’t helping either!

 

The way I look at it, I need the IUD out next month so I’m just going to do it and see what happens.  I find it worse procrastinating and doing nothing. It was the same with my last cut down to 1mg.  I held on longer than before, then cut and felt absolutely terrible, so had to updose back to 2mg, which is where I’m holding now.

 

The key is not to make too many changes in one go, so you have a clearer picture what’s going on.  I plan to stay at 2mg and get my IUD removed. If I have trouble i will try some progesterone cream.

 

We can only try it can’t we? It’s awful being afraid, I know. I am just going to make measured, calm decisions and have a back-up plan in place.  Do you plan on getting another one fitted or going without, if you don’t mind me asking? 

 

Take care anyway. Right there with you!

 

Best wishes,

Mrs B

Xxx

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I think that what Mrs. Badger is proposing is EXTREMELY sensible. She is so very right in doing one thing carefully at a time in order to not confound the variables - if you make a change it's nice to be able to be fairly clear exactly WHAT caused it and not be left guessing. All you can do is try and see what happens. Like Mrs. Badger suggested, if things go awry, you do have options to try and reverse the situation, in your case it might mean having a new IUD placed. If you do decide to get it out, holding for a while until you feel as stable as possible for right now is the best way to go. Then if you feel bad, you'll know why, but even then, your body may need a little time to adjust to the new IUD. If you just want it out and keep it out, that's okay too - once again, if there is a reaction, give yourself time to adjust and stabilize before doing any more cuts. Like Mrs. Badger has said, sometimes you just have to go for it and see what happens. Obviously keeping it in is causing you a lot of anxiety and worry right now.
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I think that what Mrs. Badger is proposing is EXTREMELY sensible. She is so very right in doing one thing carefully at a time in order to not confound the variables - if you make a change it's nice to be able to be fairly clear exactly WHAT caused it and not be left guessing. All you can do is try and see what happens. Like Mrs. Badger suggested, if things go awry, you do have options to try and reverse the situation, in your case it might mean having a new IUD placed. If you do decide to get it out, holding for a while until you feel as stable as possible for right now is the best way to go. Then if you feel bad, you'll know why, but even then, your body may need a little time to adjust to the new IUD. If you just want it out and keep it out, that's okay too - once again, if there is a reaction, give yourself time to adjust and stabilize before doing any more cuts. Like Mrs. Badger has said, sometimes you just have to go for it and see what happens. Obviously keeping it in is causing you a lot of anxiety and worry right now.

 

I've been doing a lot of reading into the side effects of IUD birth control like the Skyla. They cause side effects that are very similar to withdrawal such as brain fog, short term memory issues, depression, anxiety, fatigue, etc. the list goes on and on. I agree that assessing one variable at a time is a smart approach when trying to figure out ways to promote whole body health and healing. My concern with removing the IUD is the personal histories that I've read of people that experience "Mirena crash" upon IUD removal, it's called the Mirena crash, but that's just a name that applies to most IUD removals. The Mirena crash is your bodies response to not having to produce progestin on it's own for an extended amount of time. There is no way to taper off of an IUD, you either remove it or you keep it in, there isn't really another option. This is the scare factor for me, because I'm concerned that once I remove it my hormones are going to go crazy trying to scramble back to homeostasis and I will subsequently be spiraled back into acute withdrawal. BUT, on the flip side of that there is a strong possibility that the IUD could be exacerbating my withdrawal symptoms and I could feel significantly better after removal. It's the most terrifying coin I've ever had to toss, and I don't see any other choice but to take the plunge just to see what happens. I do SOOO appreciate all of the feedback that you have provided about this. It's encouraging to see other's perspectives. I know that if I get sent into a tail spin that I will likely have to replace the birth control and start from step one, which I think is the only thing keeping me from just taking it out myself (which I've strongly considered doing the past few days).

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Hellbutrin: Can they not compensate for this crash by giving you a small dose of externally applied progestin cream to compensate and then slowly taper off by lessening the dose and/or by the amount of times applied?  Just wondering. I know you said there's no way to taper, but I am curious if this is a possibility or not.

 

Also, the IUD is at its 3 year limit - so does that not mean that it is not giving off the same strength of hormones that it did when it was newer?  I'm just brain storming here and trying to grasp all the possibilities and issues. If the hormones that the IUD was originally instilled with are getting weaker, is it possible that this is a factor in how you are feeling? I know you said that they continue to give off hormones past their 'best before' date, but obviously this wanes over time or they wouldn't need to remove them at a specified time. This leaves me wondering if it is the diminution of hormones that are causing extra symptoms or if the symptoms would be there regardless simply because of the withdrawal alone. It's quite a complicated issue for you to navigate with any degree of absolute certainty, so I totally grasp your reluctance to remove or not remove at this time.

 

All in all, this whole issue poses quite a dilemma for you in the sense that there are many factors to consider, and I completely see why you are very concerned about removal. I wish I could be of more help in terms of having gone through the exact same thing. The facts in my case were that I also had an IUD when I tapered, but it was the old Copper T,  had no hormones, and ended up expelling itself, so in my case there were no hormones involved to complicate the issue.

 

 

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Honestly I think it could go either way.  I know often times if people started something that affected hormones during withdrawal they got worse, but I don't know about stopping something.  I think you may be looking at a small wave either way, but whether you get better or worse after that is anyone's guess.  It's possible you may feel worse for a few weeks while your body adjusts, and then your symptoms could go down.  On the flip side, there is no way to guarantee they won't increase, so it is a tricky call.
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Hi again ladies,

 

I will be seeing a leading gynaecologist who specialises in hormones in a couple of weeks, so I’m going to pick her brains (!) before I decide whether to have a new IUD fitted.  Because I’d lost so much weight last year I thought I might need a boost with oestrogen this year and started on some patches in February.  I can definitely say they made things worse for me and I realised I probably didn’t need the boost regardless of how horrid my mood swings were and my skin and hair felt.  It’s trivial in the grand scheme :D of things, but I’ve definitely aged rapidly in the past two years.  I felt great throughout pregnancy and afterwards at age 43, even though I didn’t get much sleep.  But once this nightmare started it sucked the life out of me literally. All my once-thick hair is now thin and frizzy and I have horrible rosacea. My muscle tone has disappeared and I look blue/grey, almost translucent !! I’ve only been with my poor husband five years and he must think what is this horrendous tornado that has blown up my life! I feel like I have gone from 35 and carefree to a 47-year old peri menopausal, anxiety-riddled nightmare in warp speed!  My mother sailed through the menopause, but I feel like I’m going down the rapids and hitting every rock and whirlpool  :D

 

Sometimes decisions are made for us whether we are ready or we like it or not.  I find this hard, but I keep telling myself that my grandmothers had their babies at home and their husbands went to war and they got on with it.  They both lived well into their 90’s.  I know it’s different in modern life with its pace and demands, but i aim to not get dragged into it all and want to protect myself so I can get through this difficult time.  I am not working right now, and I know I’m incredibly lucky that my husband can and does support us. But I’m well aware I have responsibilities and I want to get back to something similar to how I was before.  At the same time, I recognise my body and mind have taken a huge battering, along with illness and hormonal and life changes, and I’m trying to be as kind to myself as possible. None of us are machines and when we hit a time like this, we can’t keep thrashing away and flogging ourselves.  We have to be kind and seek out love, support and understanding where we can find it.  Sometimes our partners and families lose patience, or simply can’t grasp or accept our suffering and struggles, but there are some wonderful, lovely people on here and this should give us comfort, strength and encouragement. 

 

I am “due” a possible dip this week, so I will report back on that! Interestingly, this is the first time in six months I won’t have made a cut, so I will see what happens. Sorry for another Trekkie reference, but I wish I had a Star Trek-like computer that scanned me and proclaimed “All systems stable” !!!  Alas, it’s all a game of wait and see.  So that’s what I’ll do this week.  All good fun :)

 

Lots of love and blessing to you ladies out there. We are strong and we can face it.

Take care. Sending out big hugs.

 

Mrs B

Xxx

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Honestly I think it could go either way.  I know often times if people started something that affected hormones during withdrawal they got worse, but I don't know about stopping something.  I think you may be looking at a small wave either way, but whether you get better or worse after that is anyone's guess.  It's possible you may feel worse for a few weeks while your body adjusts, and then your symptoms could go down.  On the flip side, there is no way to guarantee they won't increase, so it is a tricky call.

 

I’m okay with feeling worse for a few weeks, I’m just concerned that I could have to start this whole process over and that any improvements I’ve made so far will be reversed...

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Hi again Hellbutrin,

 

It’s really hard to say without a bit more information. Do you feel like how you’re feeling now is all down to withdrawal? What were you like before you started it?  For me, I realise I was building up to a stress crisis point before the onset of my panic attacks, but I was never depressed and never had crashes on the IUD before I started these drugs.  They have completely destabilised me and made my anxiety levels much worse. It is really hard to unravel the hormonal component in all of it, and as I said before, sometimes we just have to go for it.  From the list of your current issues it looks like you’re still struggling, but I very well understand you not wanting to get any worse! Any bit of progress or stability and I know we cling onto it.  You haven’t said whether you’d replace the IUD, but that is what I plan to do I think, as I don’t feel there is any other viable option for me. However, if I feel that the increased progesterone is making things worse, I will get it removed again. 

 

All of this waiting and seeing takes time I know.  We have to give things a chance to see if they make a difference, good or bad. It frustrating and scary, I know.

 

All you can really do is go for it and be positive you’ll be ok.

 

Take care,

 

Mrs B xx

 

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Hi again Hellbutrin,

 

It’s really hard to say without a bit more information. Do you feel like how you’re feeling now is all down to withdrawal? What were you like before you started it?  For me, I realise I was building up to a stress crisis point before the onset of my panic attacks, but I was never depressed and never had crashes on the IUD before I started these drugs.  They have completely destabilised me and made my anxiety levels much worse. It is really hard to unravel the hormonal component in all of it, and as I said before, sometimes we just have to go for it.  From the list of your current issues it looks like you’re still struggling, but I very well understand you not wanting to get any worse! Any bit of progress or stability and I know we cling onto it.  You haven’t said whether you’d replace the IUD, but that is what I plan to do I think, as I don’t feel there is any other viable option for me. However, if I feel that the increased progesterone is making things worse, I will get it removed again. 

 

All of this waiting and seeing takes time I know.  We have to give things a chance to see if they make a difference, good or bad. It frustrating and scary, I know.

 

All you can really do is go for it and be positive you’ll be ok.

 

Take care,

 

Mrs B xx

 

My main concern is that I will see a return of my withdrawal insomnia and anxiety, which are the only two symptoms that have lessened since going through this hell when I C/T a year ago. I'm nervous that once i take it out I'll have to deal with any negative repercussions and won't be able to turn back. But I do so DESPERATELY want it out.

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Hi again Hellbutrin,

 

It’s really hard to say without a bit more information. Do you feel like how you’re feeling now is all down to withdrawal? What were you like before you started it?  For me, I realise I was building up to a stress crisis point before the onset of my panic attacks, but I was never depressed and never had crashes on the IUD before I started these drugs.  They have completely destabilised me and made my anxiety levels much worse. It is really hard to unravel the hormonal component in all of it, and as I said before, sometimes we just have to go for it.  From the list of your current issues it looks like you’re still struggling, but I very well understand you not wanting to get any worse! Any bit of progress or stability and I know we cling onto it.  You haven’t said whether you’d replace the IUD, but that is what I plan to do I think, as I don’t feel there is any other viable option for me. However, if I feel that the increased progesterone is making things worse, I will get it removed again. 

 

All of this waiting and seeing takes time I know.  We have to give things a chance to see if they make a difference, good or bad. It frustrating and scary, I know.

 

All you can really do is go for it and be positive you’ll be ok.

 

Take care,

 

Mrs B xx

 

I feel like it's likely that I will get worse before I get better and I'm supposed to get married in 2.5 months so I can't afford to be bed ridden right now.

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