Menstrual Support Group

[[Buddie]]

This support group started in 2014, its been a source of education and understanding since that time.  A simple but catastrophic mistake on my part has rendered the entire thread unusable and for that I apologize.  I was able to save the first and the last posts made to the thread so please, if you seek understanding for how monthly cycles can affect withdrawal and recovery symptoms, please comment here.

Hi ladies,

Since becoming a member on this site I have noticed a lot of us having a really tough time with our periods during w/d. I want this to be a place where we can talk, vent, give support and advice about anything relating to our periods. Thanks everyone, Jenny

Hi Ladies, I used to be on this thread a lot and wanted to come back and tell you that ramping up of symptoms due to my period is a thing of the past. It really does even out and get better so hang in there all. I know it doesn’t seem like it while in the throes of this but it really will lift and get better ❤️‍🩹

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...],
I’m looking for info as my withdrawal symptoms ramp up right before and during my period. My doc wants me to consider going on birth control, but I’m scared it will make it even worse.

[[Buddie]]

its completely normal for symptoms to ramp up around your cycle..whether it be before, during, or after. Our nervous system is sensitive to any chemical changes, and our lady cycle is quite significant in that regard.

It does get less intense. Like it used to make me feel acute and almost psychotic. Now I just have cramping and 1-2 days of being low and teary.
My theory in benzo recovery is that less meds are better. Our bodies are desperately trying to find equilibrium again.

Also with BC in general, it really depends on your age..like if your closer to your 40's you should def not use it as an option.

Hope this helps!

[[Buddie]]

Thanks, Trina. I’m in my 40’s, which is another reason I’m hesitant to go on bc. She seems to think I’m in perimenopause and that it will help. I tend to agree that the less meds the better, even a low dose pill like she’s suggesting.  Im going to see how the next cycle goes before making a decision. I had horrible timing. I made a significant cut in dosage of Xanax about a week before my last period started and it was awful. I almost went to the hospital as I thought I was going crazy. Did you find it got less intense the longer you tapered?

[[Buddie]]

I finished my benzo taper at the end of December 2021. My last period was the beginning of January 2022. It has been over 3 months since I had a period and my doctor says that I have Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. My estrogen is extremely low, but my FSH and LH are low/normal, so I am not in menopause (I'm 39).  This type of impact on the hypothalamus/pituitary system is usually cause by weight loss, excess exercise, or severe stress. I haven't had weight loss and my exercise levels are far from excessive (enough to help my mood and other symptoms), so is this caused by the stress of benzo withdrawal? Has anyone else gotten this type of diagnosis? Did you recover or was it long-term?

I'm scared. I'm scared of this problem being long term and leading to me getting osteoporosis and other problems associated with low estrogen. Low estrogen does explain some of my symptoms: night sweats, heat intolerance, hair loss (so much hair loss - arghh!), dry eyes (sometimes related to hormone issues). I can't believe I am going through menopause-like symptoms when I am 39!

(I'm posting this in the menstrual support group too.)

[[Buddie]]

Those symptoms actually are super common in benzo recovery too. Give it some time. Many women actually find their periods come back after being absent for a bit.

I'm perimenopausal and I do get those symptoms but much more mildly than in the first year off the meds. In that first year I would wake up soaking in sweat for a few months. It can happen to the guys too!

[[Buddie]]

I had a window month 3,5 to 5,5, all symptoms gone xcept insomnia which was significantly improving.

I got bad acne and felt best in my pill free week. So I came ofg birth control. Acne cleared up, still ok sleep first 2 weeks. But muscle and hypnic symptoms got back and my sleep has been getting worse and worse almost like acute.

Now both cycles I got gave me monster PMS lasting a week well into my period. Severe depression, chemical anxiety, DP... never in my life experienced anything like it.

I could handle it if my sleep stayed a bit better... I am getting 2 hr nights again like acute. Iam 6,5 months off.

Tempted to go back on a different birth control pill but dont want to mess recovering up... I should give it some cycles but dont know if I can.

[[Buddie]]

Hi there!

Well, let me start by saying that I am happy you seem to have a knowledgeable doctor by your side! 

As Trina says, this is a rather common symptom among ladies in withdrawal. I haven't seen my period in a loooong time either (I am also 39) but I am not too worried as to whether it will finally normalize someday. I still have many remaining symptoms and it is quite clear that my brain is still in a state of high stress. I think that our bodies are actually designed really well: if it deems that it is not a good time for you to potentially become pregnant, it switches your period off. That can happen in times when food seems to be scarce, and it happened to me for that reason between 2003 and 2010 when I was much too underweight with restrictive anorexia. In 2010, I got a bit better and my period just came back

I hope this gives you hope.
Warm Hugs!
[...] 

[[Buddie]]

Reply to [...]:

Thank you for your reply! That does give me some hope. Not long after I wrote my post I realized that many of my symptoms (like the night sweats) might still be due to benzo withdrawal rather than the low estrogen state, since people with hypothalamic amenorrhea don't typically get menopause-like symptoms. Everything is so confused with the benzo withdrawal.

[[Buddie]]

Reply to [...]:

Thank you for your reply! That does give me some hope. Not long after I wrote my post I realized that many of my symptoms (like the night sweats) might still be due to benzo withdrawal rather than the low estrogen state, since people with hypothalamic amenorrhea don't typically get menopause-like symptoms. Everything is so confused with the benzo withdrawal.

I got nightsweats in the first 2,5 months of withdrawal then it went away and now in my possibly coming off bc pill induced wave, its back, not as bad but i get really hot again especially around period, which is when its normal to have a higher temperature but i guess the benzo thing ampts it up.