Below is the story of Delia Austin (Houston, TX)
My Experience: Some of this account may seem personal in nature but
necessary to accurately describe my experience.
I was perfectly healthy and feeling very well in October 2000 when I was
instructed by my Gynecologist OB/GYN Dr. Joyce-Bailey, that I should
discontinue using birth control pills since I am over the age of 35 and a
smoker. My OB/GYN suggested that I use the Depo shot since it's a really
safe, easy and not to mention convenient method of birth control. It's
perfect for you she said and you only have to think about it 4 times per
year. So, trusting the word and advice of my OB/GYN, I took the brochure
that she handed me about the Depo Shot, I read it and scheduled my
appointment for the first day of my next cycle to recieve the oh so convient
and safe Depo shot. Well, I read the pamphlet and side effects documented
in the booklet that is distributed by the makers of Depo. I thought after
reading this that I could live with headaches, no menstrual bleeding or
perhaps spotting, etc. All the side effects listed in the pamphlet were
things that were not uncommon to other birth control methods such as the
pill with the exception of the NO menstrual bleeding. That I thought, would
actually be a bonus!
I went for the Depo shot on October 4, 2000. Before I received the
injection in my hip I pointedly asked the nurse, is there an antidote for
this, what if I have a bad reaction, I would hate to have this in my system
for 3 months and have no recourse. She assured me that there was an
antidote and not to be afraid. The worst thing that might happen to me
would maybe be some weight gain. So, she injected the Depo shot in my hip
and that was that at least for that day.
Two days later, October 6, 2000. I woke up with the worst and most painful
urination of my life. To be very honest I have never felt this kind of pain
as though my urine was on fire. I suspected that I might be having a
reaction to the Depo shot because I have never had a urinary tract infection
in my life. So, I contacted my OB/GYN and her nurse Lori is the only person
I could speak with. She scheduled for me to return to the office ( October
10, 2000) to find out what was wrong. The OB/GYN examined me and suggested
that I was suffering from a UTI. I asked her specifically could I be
reacting to the Depo shot, response was oh no this is not the case. So, I
took antibiotics for what she assumed was a UTI. While I was there, they
took a urine culture for analysis as well. Three days later (October 13,
2000), the antibiotics were gone and I was afraid and very frightened
because my situation was worsening instead of improving. Two days after the
visit to the OB/GYN my skin broke out in a rash on my bottom. The area
surrounding my Vagina and as far back as the Rectum had become totally numb.
I could feel nothing down there. I was frightened and called the nurse
again (October 13, 2000) at the OB/GYN's office. She informed me that the
urine culture did NOT indicate that I had a UTI and that I needed to seek
help from a specialist (Urologist) because there was nothing further that
the OB/GYN could do for me. The Nurse reiterated when I asked her if the
Depo could be causing this, NO it could not.
So, that very day I contacted a Urologist and found out I had to wait until
(October 17, 2000) get into see him. So, I suffered through the weekend
with the painful urination and the fear of the numbness I was experiencing.
Now, the situation was worsening further. I had become constipated and was
not able to have a bowel movement for as many as four to five days. So,
when I finally was able to see the urologist, Dr. Rufus Green, I was so
relieved. He listened to my story and symptoms and then examined me. He
looked at the rash on my bottom and told me that I had a classic case of
Herpes. Well I was very upset to hear this. I couldn't imagine this
happening because my boyfriend and I had been together and with noone else
for the past 10 months. This seemed unlikely, but I thought I owed it to my
boyfriend to tell him what the doctor told me. Dr. Green put me on a seven
day program of Zovirax to treat viral infections. After 7 days passed and I
had no improvement, I contacted Dr. Green and told him that I was frightened
that I had not improved and I was afraid that I would stay numb for the rest
of my life. I was not able to feel anything during sexual intercourse and I
was very afraid.
Dr. Green informed me that my blood test, after 7 days of grieve and
suffering, indicated that I did NOT have Herpes at all. He then suggested
that I needed to have a CT Scan and a Cyctstoscopy to rule out tumors and
Cysts. Now still without a diagnosis and having been told by two doctors
that the Depo could not be the cause, I was getting more scared. What could
be so wrong with me as to cause my bottom and genitals to be completely
numb? I have no idea and apparantly, neither do the doctors. Well, I had
the CT Scan done by the local hospital and then the Cyctstoscopy done by the
specialist Dr. Green and both came back negative. No tumors and no cysts.
So I said now what Dr. Green? He said the best I can figure is that you
have a viral infection setteled in your tailbone (my tailbone was also
extremely sore and I hurt to sit or bend over). He prescribed 7 more days
of Zovirax anti-viral medicine for me and suggested that if I don't get
better in 5 days, to see a Neurologist. So, before five days were up, I
scheduled to see a neurologist (Dr. Kiran Shah) on November 13th (now more
than a month has passed since the Depo shot) and he tells me that he can
find nothing wrong with me other than the Depo shot I had back in October.
His suggestion is that I NOT EVER have another DEPO shot.
Later in the week, I began to have hot flashes, and weakness and lack of
concentration. I am not able to work for two days because of the hormone
rushes in my body and the lack of concentration. I decided to investigate
on the web and see what I could find out about the side effects of Depo. On
Depo-Users.com I realized I was not insane and that the Depo shot was indeed
the problem. I found testimonials from other women who shared the symptoms
I had and were having numerous problems with side effects and had documented
it on this site. I was so glad to hear their stories and I even learned
that Progesterone Cream may help with the hot flashes I was having so I
might be able to concentrate. I realized after reading this web site, that
the Nurses and Doctors are ill-equipped and not informed properly by the
makers of the Depo Provera shot as to the possible side effects and what to
do to counter-act these problems. One Woman described losing the feeling
from her Pelvis all the way down one leg and then it switched to the other
leg two weeks later. I am grateful that I learned of these things before I
had another shot.
On November 15, 2000 I decided to see my General Practitioner (Dr. Joseph
Lambert). I recounted for him step-by-step all that happened to me since
October 4th and receiving the shot. He was extremely compassionate and
patient with me. He suggested that I continue to use the Progesterone cream
I had found to help balance my hormones. He gave me a mild sedative to calm
my anxiety and nerves. He asked me to keep him apprised of any additional
side effects and if the numbness does not continue to subside, to let him
know and an MRI would need to be done to find out if there is more to this
that is making me sick. He emphasized as did the Neurologist that the area
affected by the numbness is HIGHLY UNUSUAL and UNCOMMON. According to my
GP, I can only wait until this Depo shot has run its course through my blood
stream and there is NO antidote that he knows of.
I AM OUTRAGED with the makers of this drug. I also found that this drug is
used on sex offenders as a medical method of castration. Can this possibly
be good for females? I understand that there are women who may use the Depo
with little or no side effects, but it is the responsibility of the makers
of Depo to educate and inform the patient as well as the physician about ALL
possible side effects. The testimonials I have read are not NEW, they are
years old. Why has the maker of this shot not made it known to the
physicians and nurses who administer this drug about the possible side
effects and how to counter act them? Why were all three physicians clueless
about what was wrong with me? Were they in denial or just in the dark? I
would like to pursue this further with your help and I hope to hear from you
soon.
I want to sue the makers of this drug for pain and suffering. Grieve that
my boyfriend and I felt for having been misdiagnosed, medical bills incurred
that were not necessary, time away from work that could have been avoided,
anxiety for fear of no diagnosis and no idea what was wrong with me for more
than a month, and payment for drugs that I didn't even need to be taking.
This doesn't even address the possibility that more could be wrong with me
and I don't know it yet. I still have two months for this drug to be in my
system with no hope of removing it. Testimonials indicate that even after
the drug subsides naturally from the bloodstream, side effects linger and
there is little or nothing that can be done.
Thank you for listening and I hope to hear from you soon!
Shelly - the saddest thing of all is that I continue to gain weight every
day and I don't seem to be able to stop it. There has to be some help
somewhere!!
Peace,
Delia Austin
Houston, TX
This web site consists of comments from ordinary women throughout the world. This web page should not be used as a basis for deciding whether or not to use the Depo-Provera birth control shot or any other contraceptive that may be mentioned. Always consult with a medical professional before making any decisions on which contraceptive to use.
