Pick and mitch advice.: My hormones have... - Endometriosis UK

Endometriosis UK

71,388 members52,410 posts

Pick and mitch advice.

SavageGold profile image
11 Replies

My hormones have been leveled out now for 1.5 years since I got my depo provera sorted. But my smacking head ache that comes on when the progesterone drops came back for one day before my last injection and disappeared in hours after the injection was done.My new shifts at my job mean I'm going to be the opposite coast from my GP when I need my next injection. The nurse has told me I can't permanently be on two practices lists but I won't be safe to drive home with the endo kicking in.

My question is, is it safe to buy a progesterone only pill at the pharmacist and take it for 2 days to get me home?? I suspect it will also stop the headache from developing if I take it the morning before I'm due my next injection. Does anybody know if Dr's ever do this to top up a pill? For example I see women doubling up their hrt patches and their health improves dramatically. And I constantly see women doubling their mini pill to stop bleeding. I have just checked the website for the sexual health clinic and it says you dont have to be registered for an appointment so thats a start. I know they hand out condoms and morning after pills and some contraception, but I don't know about £300 injections.

Thank you if you got this far!

Written by
SavageGold profile image
SavageGold
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
Reethi19 profile image
Reethi19

Hi, I’m not sure about taking the pill with the injection but if you’re having the injection every 12 weeks you could request it more frequently. I am having it every 10 weeks now which has better managed my endo symptoms as I was finding that in weeks 11-12 I was struggling. Not sure if this fits with your shifts though. Also there is a self adjministered version of depo provera, sayana press, not sure if you can still get hold of it. Good luck x

SavageGold profile image
SavageGold in reply to Reethi19

Thanks for your response. Yes I'm the same. I'm on it 10 weeks. I did try the sayan press but I bled straight through it sadly.

All the best. Hugs

Reethi19 profile image
Reethi19 in reply to SavageGold

Ok, sorry I wasn’t that helpful. Hope you find a way through this xx

SavageGold profile image
SavageGold in reply to Reethi19

It is so lovely to meet someone else who gets the 10 weeks injection. That in itself is a comfort thank you.

Reethi19 profile image
Reethi19 in reply to SavageGold

xxx

Reethi19 profile image
Reethi19 in reply to SavageGold

Hi, do you mind if I ask if you have struggled with weight gain since taking the depo every 10 weeks? My weight has shot up despite exercising 5 times a week and having a healthy diet. Hope you’re a bit further forward with your original question x

SavageGold profile image
SavageGold in reply to Reethi19

Hello.You've just reminded me I lent my scales to my neighbour. No I haven't noticed too much weight gain switching to 10 weeks but I can tell you that I was on it as an 11.5 weeks injection almost from the start and I put huge amounts of weight on very quickly. I was 6.5 stone when I started the depo. The nurses started flagging me for emergency to see the Dr because my weight went over the bmi at some point for me that was 9.5stone for my height. My Dr was furious with the nurse and blocked all future appointments for this emergency. He said I was fantastically healthy. He could see I was doing amazing. My blood pressure was120/64But the weight gain continued gradually until April 2020 and the new nurse threatened to stop my injection due to weight gain.because my weight was now 11stone... and then she was fired and a new nurse started and she refused to administer the injection any earlier than 12 weeks and I lost 3 stone over the next few months and I was bleeding and in pain etc. But I was also in an abusive situation during lockdown so some of the pain and bleeding could be due to vaginal trauma. I'll never know.

I quit drinking alcohol in November last year and I need to buy new clothes because my tummy has shrunk so much but I haven't checked my weight this month as my neighbour has my scales! I was 9stone (61kg) last month. I don't know if you drink alcohol. It might be worth checking. Alcohol is dead calories, plus the fluid goes to your abdomin and make me look fat, and uncomfortable.

I had a look through your old posts for lickdown. How did you get your depo back on track? Did you have to go back to gynae to get the prescription as high priority? I'm so glad you got sorted, even if the weight is bothering you. I'm.a wild swimmer and I advocate that helpswith blood sugar. I'm a bootcamper and a cyclists and a hiker and an obstacle course runner. I guess it depends what sports you do, and if certain foods/ drinks go straight to body like for me it was alcohol. But weight gain is definitely a depo thing lol. My friend said 'I may be vegan but on the depo that cow sure looks tasty' 👌 😉

Reethi19 profile image
Reethi19 in reply to SavageGold

Hi, thanks for sharing! It sounds like you’ve had quite a journey. I’ve always struggled a bit with weight but with exercise I’ve managed to get it down before holidays/in summer etc. I think alcohol probably isn’t helping as well as turning 42 so age isn’t my friend! It might not be due to increasing the frequency of Depo, just seems a bit of a coincidence I have put a stone on in a few months. I’ve been on the Depo since age 17 apart from a small break but only started the 10 week frequency in January. During lockdown I managed to buy the sayana press online so luckily didn’t go without. Did you get sorted re-provera tablets? x

SavageGold profile image
SavageGold in reply to Reethi19

I wonder if it's a little to do with your mood as well. When you have a holiday booked your mood can lift and those endorphins could be reducing whatever depressive hormone is hoarding fluid/ fat. Depo is known for causing depression or low mood.I've been at work so I haven't been able to make any Dr's appointments or visit a pharmacy to ask about pills. I'm worried that the make up of the pill isn't going to do the needed job and cause more problems than help.

I still think my best option is to phone the open clinic over by my work and ask if they still do depo shots.

Reethi19 profile image
Reethi19 in reply to SavageGold

Hi, thanks for your helpful thoughts 🥰 I hope the clinic can offer you depot shots 🙏x

Cailleach profile image
Cailleach

There are Provera tablets, maybe your GP would prescribe these just to tide you over to the next injection?

You may also like...

Would endo have been picked up on an MRI?

whether endo would have been picked up on that? I know ultrasounds aren’t very conclusive but not...

Possible Endo - advice please

advise to use the pill, but that did not help with the pain. Also a combination of the pill and...

Advice with fertility

off the pill roughly 3 months before this and started trying to fall pregnant as I didn’t know how...

Birth control advice

So I am currently taking Cerelle (mini pill) for contraception and also after having been diagnosed...

Prostap advice required

after the injection does the flare up typically happen? Is it anytime after the injection or does it