I was put on a low dose birth control pill again at almost age 49. I have bipolar II disorder and prior to that, for the last couple of years in particular, my terrible PMS/PMDD symptoms had become only worse. I have also had debilitating menstrual exhaustion, migraines with vomiting, and thoughts of suicide. For a week before my period, I would become extremely tired and depressed along with increasingly extreme anxiety, then more exhaustion. Then when I would get my period, it was sometimes very heavy and painful and I would be on the couch for two days feeling even more depressed. I could barely cook for myself and I could not work barely at all at my part-time home job. I could not think straight, but there I would lie feeling restless and guilty because I wasn't pushing through it to function better.
About a year and half ago, my periods started to become very irregular, which meant I was experiencing these symptoms more often or the premenstrual exhaustion would go on sometimes for two weeks. I broke down in my doctor's office one day and told her I didn't think I was going to make it to menopause. She put me on a very low dose BC bill and things are much better. They are not perfect, but at least I know when I am going to get my period, I am not in agony when it starts. I am not taking high doses of NSAIDs for it anymore. I am not getting all the aches and pains before it either. I am still having mood difficulties but they are more evened out over the month rather than severely increased before my period.
And believe me - I tried everything - changing my diet, getting rid of caffiene, trying supplements for the adrenals, supplements for perimenopause, I practice yoga as is. But things were so bad, I couldn't even get through my yoga routine the closer my period got.
I had heard and read all these things about how bad birth control pills are especially over a certain age, but the more I read, the more I learn that unless you smoke or have other health problems, they are not something to really worry about, no matter how people try and scare you.
What I was worried about towards the end was not only my increasing lack of enjoyment and productivity in life, but the fear I was going to take my life, I was so miserable. I didn't realize that BC pills could help greatly in my case. I am grateful I read up on them more and decided to give them another try.
Comment Reply
I was put on a low dose birth control pill again at almost age 49. I have bipolar II disorder and prior to that, for the last couple of years in particular, my terrible PMS/PMDD symptoms had become only worse. I have also had debilitating menstrual exhaustion, migraines with vomiting, and thoughts of suicide. For a week before my period, I would become extremely tired and depressed along with increasingly extreme anxiety, then more exhaustion. Then when I would get my period, it was sometimes very heavy and painful and I would be on the couch for two days feeling even more depressed. I could barely cook for myself and I could not work barely at all at my part-time home job. I could not think straight, but there I would lie feeling restless and guilty because I wasn't pushing through it to function better.
About a year and half ago, my periods started to become very irregular, which meant I was experiencing these symptoms more often or the premenstrual exhaustion would go on sometimes for two weeks. I broke down in my doctor's office one day and told her I didn't think I was going to make it to menopause. She put me on a very low dose BC bill and things are much better. They are not perfect, but at least I know when I am going to get my period, I am not in agony when it starts. I am not taking high doses of NSAIDs for it anymore. I am not getting all the aches and pains before it either. I am still having mood difficulties but they are more evened out over the month rather than severely increased before my period.
And believe me - I tried everything - changing my diet, getting rid of caffiene, trying supplements for the adrenals, supplements for perimenopause, I practice yoga as is. But things were so bad, I couldn't even get through my yoga routine the closer my period got.
I had heard and read all these things about how bad birth control pills are especially over a certain age, but the more I read, the more I learn that unless you smoke or have other health problems, they are not something to really worry about, no matter how people try and scare you.
What I was worried about towards the end was not only my increasing lack of enjoyment and productivity in life, but the fear I was going to take my life, I was so miserable. I didn't realize that BC pills could help greatly in my case. I am grateful I read up on them more and decided to give them another try.
July 2, 2015 - 12:05pmThis Comment
Reply