Does this warrant a visit to the doctor?

[silversurealism.livejournal.com]

I had my first shot of Depo Provera mid-cycle in November. I know that there's absolutely nothing that can be done to reverse the effects of Depo, other than the passage of time.

My period at the end of November was relatively normal, and I had no spotting or anything between that and my next period. I started that period 3 weeks ago Saturday. It was like a normal period, but it's kept going and going. I figured it was the Depo and would stop soon.

Since last weekend, I've been feeling really weak all the time. In the past week, I've randomly started gushing blood a couple of times, too. (To the point that I left a stain on a chair because I couldn't get up and take care of it when I realized something was wrong.)

None of that stuff has happened before. I'm more than kind of worried and scared about this, and really not sure how I'm going to deal with this period if it keeps going.

However, going to the doctor where I'm at right now more than slightly problematic, at the very least. (Plus, I'm not sure what my international student insurance covers.) I don't want to end up going out of my way to be able to go to a doctor only to be told "oh, that happens when you take Depo, and there's nothing we can do" or "we'll need to do tests in a hospital to determine anything, and your insurance doesn't cover that."

Should I go out of my way to go to the doctor? Does anyone who was on Depo have any experience with this and know if there's anything they could do for me?

Comments

[sterlingspider.livejournal.com]

From healthsquare.com (http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/dep1126.htm)
Call your doctor immediately if any of these problems occur after an injection of Depo-Provera: sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, sudden shortness of breath, sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or speech, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, severe pain or swelling in the calf, unusually heavy vaginal bleeding, severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area, migraine headache, or persistent pain, pus, or bleeding at the injection site.

I dont have experience with depo provera, but were I experiencing what you are, on or even without birth control I'd at LEAST get myself checked for anemia.

Being weak to the point where you cannot get up is very very bad. Add sudden gushing blood loss to that and I would have to honestly consider going to the emergency room.

I was just in a parallel situation (in my case suspicious breast problems and no insurance at ALL) and the thing you have to think of is; what if it is somthing you have to go to the hospital to get tested for? Are you going to continue to let yourself hemmorhage unchecked because you cant afford getting checked out?

Dont pay with your life because you were afraid to pay with your wallet.

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

God, those are horrifying side effects. This is exactly why I told them to bugger off when they tried to get me to use depo @ planned parenthood.

[laululintu.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind me asking, are you on exchange at the moment? You said you weren't sure if the checkup would be covered by your international student insurance, so knowing what country you're in might help in giving general advice on medical care ina particular country.

On another point, you should go see a doctor if you are so weak you can't stand up. It might just be a side effect to Depo, but atleast then you'd know that's all it was.

[karmen.livejournal.com]

I was on depo for more than 2 years and I had a similar thing happen four months after starting it. There were gushes, and then I bled for 2 months straight. And I mean changing your pad/tampon every hour to hour and a half. All the time. I became very anemic and had to take iron supplements. I became exceedingly tired from lack of sleep. Some peoples bodies can not handle the depo as well as others. I would think you may be one of those people that can not handle it. I would at least phone the dr and see if they may be able to switch BC's without seeing you. Good luck, I know what its like *hug*

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

I've never been on depo but I have a friend who bled for two months straight on it. She also had major mood-swings, with depression bordering on suicidal. Stuff scares me. Hope you get through it OK!

[ladieophilia.livejournal.com]

I would definately see a doctor ASAP, but being that you are in a different country makes it really scary. I know that oh so well. I have travel/studied a lot and you never know what is kup. So I am hoping that I might be able to help you. Where are you at, if I may ask? Most places are really good. I know France was one of them. I had a who had to have a cast taken off while we were in Paris, and the doctor did it for free. Also, if you are with an establishment you international director should be able to help you with finding that information out. Most schools have two types of doctors at the schools: general practitional (which I think is for the boys mostly) and gynos for us. It seems like an international decree that schools have both types if they have health care. You don't have to tell the director what the problem is (unless you feel free to) but do let them know that you are having considerable worries about your health and need to get a consultation. They will find a way. Schools and programmes like to make sure that thier students, especially the international students, are happy and healthy because it keeps the money coming.
The second thing, depending on what country you are in, is checking out the pharmisists because most countries, outside the states, have higher degrees of physiology then you might think, and they can help you figure out what is going on. A lot of pharmisists are more then familular with BC and all the side effects, even the ones that they don't distribute. It is thier job to know about these things. They can also point you in the right direction for iron suplements, because hunny, you need iron badly. If I were you, I would be trying to get as much iron back in your system ASAP as well, because of how important it is for carrying oxegen. Without it you get really lightheaded and unenergetic, but it can also cause major issues if let going for too long. Stop drinking tea and coffee for a while, because both are directics and can flush iron out of your system as well as of viatmins and minerals. Start eating things like broccolli, red meat (if you eat meant) and things like cream of wheat (sounds wierd, but they have a lot of iron in those things). Also take vita pills.