Question:
Weight loss, hormones and birth control= half crazy chick

Hello everyone. I am 6 months out and 110# down, only 20 more till personal goal. In July, I started using the nuva ring for birth control. I've never had any problems with bc before, but I think that the hormones in the ring, along with the hormones that are being released in the weight loss are causing me to have crazy mood swings. I'm getting to a point where I can't stand to be around myself. Before surgery I was on Effexor XR for depression and it worked well. My question is this: If you've had similar experiences, are you taking medication to even out the mood swings and what are they, or did it even out on its own and what time frame? Also, with the medication, did you have any side effects..ie loss of sex drive    — Jaime H. (posted on September 5, 2003)

September 5, 2003
Wow, you sound exactly like me, but I am over a year out and down 110#s....I started the Nuva Ring myself in July...I am having PMS right now and feel like crying and screaming at the same time (of course followed by a nap). I am looking into getting the IUD instead...I had been on the shot for years and they suggested the ring to help me lose the last few pounds...anyhow, let me know if you figure it out. I am going to get the IUD next month. Keep in touch.
   — missmollyk

September 5, 2003
Why would you quit your depression medication? Effexor is availabe in non-extended release also, I believe, and if it isn't there are other drugs out there. It certainly might help balance things out and not make you so irritable. I know in the past when my depression meds were not high enough I could not stand to be around myself and ripped off people's heads for no reason. Call you PCP and get something to help smooth this out. You will feel so much better.
   — zoedogcbr

September 5, 2003
Original Poster: To answer Chris, I came off Effexor in Jan after being on a year. I felt 100 times better. And I kept feeling this way until just recently when I started using the bc. I do plan on looking into meds to even out the moods, I just wondered what others have used and what their results have been. Thank you for the advice. I hope my reply didn't sound crabby or unthankful. To Molly, congrats and I'll let you know what happens. Good luck with the IUD.
   — Jaime H.

September 5, 2003
Jamie, Sorry I jumped a little I just assumed you quit because of the extended release and no one told you there were alternatives. I'm glad you were doing well enough to get off. However, life after any major surgery can have some ups and downs. While losing lots of weight is wonderful it can force us to deal with things that we used food to not deal with in the past. I'm not saying this applies to you but it certainly did to me when I lost a ton of weight 9 years ago and also to many post-op WLS patients. <p>I've been on Celexa now for over 4 years and I do very well on it with really no side effects that I can tell. So maybe a small dose of that might help even the bumps right now. I've also used Zoloft and Wellbutrin and Trazadone in the past with not as good of results, but every body is different. Since you done well till recently you probably just need a little. <p>By the way congrats on the 110 lbs. Lucky you, 20 lbs to go to goal. I've got 80 but in proportion it seems almost as close as your twenty. I know in a month or two I won;t be saying that when the weight loss is moving like turtle.
   — zoedogcbr

September 5, 2003
One other thought. Since you are so close to goal and I am assuming you weigh below 200 lbs you could use the patch. Maybe that would have less side effects.
   — zoedogcbr

September 5, 2003
At the risk of making Chris mad (sorry... I don't mean to!), I feel the need to suggest changing the bc before getting back on an anti-depressant. Try that first... if you don't need an anti-depressant, why take one? Especially if it is the bc that is causing the mood swings. Adding another med only puts a bandage on the problem and could lead to MORE meds for more problems stemming from adding another medication. I was on Effexor XR, Wellbutrin and Ativan and my mood swings were so radical that I had to quit taking ALL of them and after six weeks of no meds, my mood swings leveled out, and I have no need of any anti-depressant, now! (I had been on Effexor XR for about three years prior to wls and for 18 months after... Wellbutrin I had been on for two years and the ativan I had been on for over a year) Just be careful of piling on meds to "fix" problems other meds may be causing!! Hugs! -- sharon
   — Sharon m. B.

September 5, 2003
Sharon, No mad here. In my 2nd post I did suggest a different form of BC - the patch. Depo shots may also be a good alternative since it has no estrogen in it. Whatever works best for her. I just know for me that the symptoms she describes were examples of needing increased depression meds, but every person is different. The important thing is to get in touch with the doctor and see what they suggest.
   — zoedogcbr