Short term med is triggering my depression - need some support and brainstorming

In My Humble Opinion
1

First, I am seeking medical advice. The doctor knows this crap seems to be giving me insomnia, and I will be calling tomorrow to tell her I’m having depression symptoms as well.

Here’s the situation: I’m getting Essure on 2/24. And the doctor said it’s a lot easier to do the insertion if I’ve been on the minipill (Norethindrone 5mg) for a few weeks before, so there’s no fluffy uterine lining getting in the way of the camera.

So I have 2 weeks and 2 days left. And over the past 2 weeks or so, I’ve been noticing worsening insomnia - mostly waking up at 3a.m. or so and not being able to get back to sleep. And I was puzzling over it, until I realized it coincided with the Norethindrone, and I looked and it is an uncommon but listed side effect.

Well, so is depression. And I have a history of recurring, moderate to severe depression. And over the past few days I’ve noticed symptoms: feeling without energy, unable to make decisions, obsessing over everything I have to do and feeling like it is totally impossible and overwhelming, and getting tearful and overly emotional.

So, what to do?

First step is to ask if there’s anything else they can put me on, but I doubt there’s anything that doesn’t also cause depression.

Taking SSRIs won’t help since they wouldn’t kick in until after I’m off the pill.

I’m taking my fish oil and going to the gym, which I haven’t done in the last week due to strep throat.

I have a regular appointment with my therapist on Thursday.

I’d like to be able to just stay on the drugs and get the damn procedure already, but at the same time I’m a little worried about how much worse the depression symptoms have gotten today. (Oh, btw I’ve never been suicidal and if I noticed any such thoughts my first call would be to my husband, my second to a hotline.)

Any ideas?

2

[IANAD]
Reason number one I’m not on hormonal birth control. I don’t have a history of depression but I sure as hell had it (and insomnia, and panic attacks) while i was on a low-dose pill. In my doctor’s words: ‘Tough it out, this happens to almost everyone for a few months.’ (Unfortunately, I didn’t have a few months to take off from work/life/sanity.)

Are you experiencing anxiety? Maybe fast0acting anti-anxiety medication be an option? Obviously to be discussed with your doc. [/IANAD]

3

Would your doctor be willing to schedule the insertion for just after your period, instead of messing about with hormones? Then there should be little or no “fluffy uterine lining” without the chemical manipulation. FWIW, lots of doctors* do Mirena insertions without the mini-pill regimen, so if yours won’t, you may well be able to find one who will.

In the meantime, yes, get your butt to the gym. Tickle your kiddo. Watch a funny movie. Put on some upbeat music. Simmer some orange peels and a pinch of cinnamon (authorized) on the stove as aromatherapy. Y’know, all the things you hate to even contemplate right now, but might lift your spirits.

*most? I have to be honest, this is the first time I’ve heard of it, or using a camera for insertion. What’s wrong with a good old fashioned sound and solid technique?

4

I’m getting Essure, not just an IUD. So it’s a little more complicated. But you raise an interesting question - maybe I should ask another doctor what standard practice is?

5

:smack:

Never mind, I’m reading impaired today. Blame it on the cold meds. Yes, I’d expect Essure to need a camera to get it in the right place.

6

I just got Essure in December, am on the same mini-pill until March 11th when I get my HSG, and am having the same insomnia issue. Good to know it’ll hopefully end soon.

Lack of sleep can have an effect on mood as well, so I’d imagine that’s not helping. Do your best to get some rest, and hang in there.

7

Well, this sounds like a nasty procedure/gadet. I’d go with a regular tubal ligation if it were me. This procedure sounds a little guinea piggish, IMO. and it’s too soon to have retrospective studies of what goes wrong with this type of thing.

8

I had to miss exactly one day of work with Essure. Can’t get away with that if you get a tubal. The side effects of the BCPs are annoying, but temporary. The procedure itself is not a huge deal–it hurts while it’s going on, but afterwards I went home, took a nap, and woke up feeling fine. Abdominal surgery, on the other hand, comes with the attendant risks of general anesthesia, and has a much longer recovery time. Essure is an awesome procedure–it sounds much worse than it is.

9

Moved MPSIMS --> IMHO, which is where we’re currently putting requests of medical advice and anecdotes.

Remember that your best is also to talk to your own physician, who knows your situation better than a bunch of strangers on the internet do.

twickster, MPSIMS moderator

10

Check for contraindications (like it interfering with your bcp or anything else - valarian in particular isn’t recommended if you are on an SSRI, which you are not), and call your doctor, but the combination of valarian, melatonin and benedryl knocks me out well. And if I sleep better, the depression gets better. Depression and insomnia can be a feedback loop.

For me, this works as well as Ambien in putting me out, and I wake up feeling like I slept.

Valarian also is supposed to be anti-anxiety. And it seems to work that way - if anxiety is a component of your depression.

11

You know, my friend brought me some melatonin, and I’d completely forgotten it! I’ll try that tonight. Though last night was better - I think the exercise really makes a difference. Unfortunately my mood is still in the toilet.

And I’m freaking pissed at my doctor’s office. I called Monday about the insomnia, and the nurse said she’d pass it along to the doctor and call me back. This morning, still not having gotten a call back on that, I left a message for the nurse, and they STILL haven’t called me back. I just made an appointment for next Wednesday with my best friend’s OB/GYN. The question is, should I try staying on the medication till then, or just stop? I guess I’ll ask my therapist what she thinks tomorrow and go from there.

:mad::mad::mad: