Birth control for follicular anxiety

[Mlkamal]

I have debilitating anxiety during my follicular phase. A few days after ovulation I am back to myself and it all starts back over a few days after my period starts. Early waking at 3:00am with panic, brain fog, low mood, anxiety and headaches.

I have tried a few doses and types of compounded progesterone and nothing was working.

I saw a new OB who said I’m in Peri and need to start Junel BCP to level out my hormones to stop this. But I am terrified to try it since I’ve never been on birth control. I’m 38 and been having these symptoms for 4 years.

[tx808]

I have experienced similar symptoms (when hormone levels shift) or even when I try to use oral progesterone. Did you start the pill? My doc recommended it as well.

[Mlkamal]

I have not. I feel too nervous to try and it possibly make things work. My anxiety is so brutal though so I may try it next month. You?

[Natalie981]

Hi, I am experiencing the exact same symptoms and the same dilemma.
I am on HRT, including estradiol, patch and progesterone, but I still feel terrible from days 8 to 16. I try to Loloestrin, and I felt like I had been poisoned. My body felt inflamed so discouraging.

[shakeyy]

Hi. I am experiencing the same thing. Did the bc help?

[Mlkamal]

My OB put me on estrogen patch and oral progesterone daily. Still happening but now my periods are all over the place and I’m getting vestibular migraines after every period so it’s honestly worse since hrt. Not sure what to do next.

Hoping one of us gets the help we need and can share

[Panyanc]

If progesterone didn’t help, maybe leveling things out with BCP is worth a shot. Junel is a low-dose option, so you might tolerate it better than you expect. That said, if you're really hesitant, you could ask your OB about non-hormonal options too. Some people find relief with lifestyle tweaks, supplements, or even certain antidepressants.

[Mlkamal]

Yes I’ll have to do something different. I was really hopeful this hrt regime would work leveling me out. For sure didn’t anticipate making me worse.

Has anyone found something that works for follicular symptoms??