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Women's health

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Off pill/exhaustion - really long

4 replies

Nogodsnomasters · 30/06/2023 09:48

Hi all,

I've been on contraceptive pills for about 19yrs, first I was on microgynon from teenage years until I came off it 2013 to TTC, had my son 2014 and at my 6wk check up the doctor advised me to switch to cerazette which I've been on ever since so 9 years. Since I've been on it I've experienced chronic tension headaches and moderate anxiety (but also had many life situations which have contributed to this).
My anxiety has increased this year drastically and so I have tried a number of things - vitamin b12, vit D, magnesium. I've had to reduce my hours at work as I just wasn't coping working full time anymore. I am only 35!!
Anyway I decided to see if coming off the contraceptive pill would have any effect on my anxiety levels, I'm reluctant to take anti anxiety medication and I've already had therapy several times. I stopped my pill on the 28th may, first few days I didn't notice anything, after a week or so I felt great, had some mild cramps as expected but I was feeling a range of emotions instead of just constant fear/worry - I was feeling sadness instead of numb, joy etc and was thinking this is going great, anxiety had definitely lowered by week two and decrease in headaches. I am now week 4 being off it - no period as of yet but have had to treat a yeast infection and 5 days ago this crippling exhaustion overtook me, I tried to push through it at first but yesterday I had to spend the whole day in bed and today is much the same, I am sleeping off/on, and my anxiety is out of control, nausea, mad hunger - what the hell is going on? I briefly considered I was ill but I have no other symptoms of an illness. I am not functioning here, is this normal pre period? If so I'm going straight bk on cerazette as soon as possible because I couldn't cope with this every month.

OP posts:
Hazelnuttella · 30/06/2023 09:51

You’re not pregnant are you? Early pregnancy is so exhausting.

I would stay off the pill for a little while longer to see if your mood settles down personally and then may try a different one.

Nogodsnomasters · 30/06/2023 13:27

No definitely not pregnant, haven't had sex since before stopping the pill. But it certainly does feel like that level of exhaustion tbh, I'm generally a tired person anyway but not to this extent where I can't get out of bed for entire days.

OP posts:
Hazelnuttella · 30/06/2023 14:14

In that case I’d ask your GP to check your iron levels

Nogodsnomasters · 03/07/2023 14:39

Thank you. I spoke to the GP today and they have booked me for a blood test to check deficiencies and also offered me propanolol for my spiralling anxiety as over the weekend it got so bad I was shaking uncontrollably and was so lightheaded and having muscle twitches etc.
I'm a bit nervous to take it. I've never taken anything for anxiety before as the side effects worry me.

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