AIBU to think Dr rather fobbed me off and was somewhat unprofessional.

[GingerDoodle]

Ok this is my first AIBU so please be gentle.

History: I've had most forms of hormonal forms of contraception over the years which all had effects to one degree or another (hair loss / no sex drive / boils / issues with weight / mood swings / extended bleeding). I have never felt better than for the 18 months when we were trying for a baby /pregnant! Normal minor pms but nothing major (i.e feel a tad hacked off - consult the diary - ah yes period due - attempt to be more pleasant!)

I had the merina coil after a hideous stint with the implant after dd was born which worked ok till i had it out (me & DH were discussing sterilisation and I decided to have it out to see if I felt differently - I didn't and we agreed to no more children).

Since having it out 2.5 months ago i've had all the symptoms which are consistent with what coined as the coil crash (bloating / weight gain / mood swings and bizarrely a real sensitivity to wine).

As I'm not a fan of condoms, sterilisation is not available in my area on the nhs and in a bid to curtail some of the symptoms I got myself prescribed the pill (yasmin). I've been on the pill for just over a week now and dear god the mood swings. Im at home with a 2.5 year old and am really feeling it.

I went to the Dr this morning and explained all of this. The lady Dr basically said I was overweight so the pill was not the best for me (I am probably but not majorly so and I did know this - she didn't weight me or anything). She continue that 'people like to find a reason for symptoms when there is not one' in regards to my current wellbeing - dismissing its connection to hormonal contraception entirely. She then promptly prescribed me antidepressants for pms saying I should 'enjoy my life' even after I explained that I had not had the mood swings when not on hormonal contraceptives.

AIBU to feel fobbed off and medicated rather than treating the root of the problem?

She did a swab in case I wanted the copper coil (which I'm looking in to) which she also did not explain what it was for (I know its for STD's but only because I have one before).

AIBU to think she should have least explained what it was for?

And lastly as I left she handed me a patient satisfaction questionnaire and said 'the least you can do is complete this for me and hand it in - do not take it home which i felt was charming.

Fully prepared to be flamed for being over sensitive but feeling the need to vent and writing everything down has made me somewhat calmer.

Presumably now your DH is enquiring about a vasectomy?

I really cannot understand women struggling on with hormonal or other methods of contraception that give them such horrendous side effects once they have completed their families.

Condoms have always worked well for me.

I can't stand hormonal contraception either.

But what is wrong with condoms? If used carefully according to instructions etc

Also you say sterilisation not available on NHS, but what about vasectomy for dh?

He's not keen (with very good personal reasons) which I understand and accept. For many the male snip I completely agree is the logical answer but sadly not for us. Condoms (male and female) are a complete passion killer for me which rather defeats the object

I remember talking to my GP about the mood swings I was getting from the pill and his (or her, can't remember) response was to offer me antidepressants. So I wandered down to the family planning clinic where they fitted me with the copper coil and my mood swings disappeared.

I know you have just said your DH has good personal reasons for not having the snip but seriously how much longer can you go on being the only one responsible for contraception.
When we decided our family was complete my DH had it done ...best decision ever

fwiw, there is good evidence for antidepressant use with PMS, can be used if pull doesn't work

*pill

I have tried every pill going and mirena. All awful, horrible side effects. Doctors don't listen.

I was quite happy with the copper coil but as i already bled quite heavily it made me worse and i ended up anaemic.

I used the diaphragm for about 8 years which was great until they changed the prescribed spermicide and i was allergic to it. But you can buy the old spermicide on line.

Thumb
Im back on cerezette. Yes im being checked for that. Its positive but got to wait few months incase its just because of the clot.

Cheese yes maybe the same ingredients however as i said i do react to different brands.
Only last year i got very ill when i had my brand of anti depressants was changed 3 times.
Iv also had my painkillers changed, same ingredients, though slight variation in doses by 0.1...
Doctor has actually sent me my prescription for cerezette as she understood what i was saying straight away.
A lot of people don't react to certain brands.
Im happy to pay for it over the internet if that is possible!

Yasmin is one of the worst ones to be on and has a lot of side effects. You should really only be taking it if you have adult acne/facial hair/pcos type symptoms as it is one of the higher risk pills. Also it is difficult to come off.
I've found most GPs give atrocious contraceptive advice with a lot of misinformation unfortunately.

I think the problem with GPs and contraception is that it can be a very complex specialism but as it's often as simple as giving out the pill its not really seen like that.

but I do think people need to take responsibility to look into stuff themselves then discuss pros and cons etc with a HP and not expect to be spoon fed it in a ten minute consultation.

Completely agree.
Apart from those that need advocacy then we can enjoy the best health if we take more responsibility for own bodies.
Doctors are there to consult for expertise, not to take ownership of our health.
There is a wealth of information for us to enjoy and do some of our own research ( while bearing in mind we are not experts).
My GP is my partner in health. I do what I can to take care of my own body- I eat well, don't smoke, drink within safe limits, exercise regularly look after my own emotional and mental health.

There has been a paradigm shift since I grew up in the 1960s regarding ownership of good health and it's one I enjoy.
I rather suspect GPS enjoy that shift too when treating the patients that have recognised it.

Came on to say, do you think the GP said anything useful?
are you going to try anti depressant?
and yes fill out the form

Mashtag & Keeponthewhiteline: Actually I hardly ever go to the GP; do my homework and go asking for input. However considering the GP is the one who has been thorough years of relevant training I do expect them to be somewhat more knowledgeable than me!

I was handed the yasmin pill without any real discussion and feel I had anti depressants forced on me.

I decided last night enough was enough and have stopped taking them; i was swinging widely between being tearful and being really really pissed off with no real good reasons.

Whilst I would normally agree that things need to be given fair chance; when something is seriously impairing your physical or mental wellbeing I think it is entirely irresponsible to continue. I do (rather oddly) feel some compulsion to take it this morning which begs the question as to wether they are slightly addictive but thats not something i can say for sure.

I actually think it was irresponsible for my GP to advise me to continue and give me anti depressants that I do not need. I could have realistically ended up doing myself damage in a fit of rage and/ or got myself addicted to anti depressants.

I think part of the problem is that she doesn't know me (couldn't even really recall seeing me to take the merina out, let alone put it in) despite me having seen her numerous times in the 7 years we've lived her.

NoahVale - She did suggest the copper coil so i'll give her that however i've lost faith now and am going to pay privately to have the coil put in sooner than she can do it (because she wants to wait to check I don't have an STI; which considering i've been with my husband 13 years I could have told her I don't if she had bothered to tell me what the swab was before).

What did you want from the GP appt? I've read OP's posts but am confused what she actually wanted. Was it treatment for the hormonal swings or a different kind of birth control. Sounds like GP thought you wanted treatment for the hormonal sings, too.

Why not get another Mirena coil if that worked ok for you? Is it a once-in-lifetime option?

I don't know what a copper coil is. I had a non-hormonal IUD which didn't suit me but was worth a try & stopped me getting pg. DH was horrified about getting a vasectomy but signed up ASAP when I fell with DC4.

Try marvelon - only pill that worked for me after trying most other pills, implant and coil.

I go to family planning clinic for my contraceptives as they are much more knowledgeable and have more experience with contaceptivea

I read a really fascinating book last year about hormonal contraception and side effects, including all the emotional effects. It was recommended by another Mumsnetter. It is called "sweetening the pill" by Holly Grigg-Spall.

YANBU. You got fobbed off. And seriously wtf to giving you antidepressants for PMT

Get the copper coil. I share your aversion to hormonal contraception - it makes me fat and bonkers - and the copper coil was the best thing ever. Slightly heavier bleeding but otherwise ultra low maintenance and best of all no weird mood swings or weight problems.

Get the copper coil. Or use a diaphragm. Or learn to love condoms. Or refuse to sleep with your partner until he has a vasectomy. Clearly hormonal contraception isn't for you (it isn't for me either) but luckily there are lots of alternatives and it's your decision not your doctor's.