This morning I came the closest I've come yet to taking an overdose; usually I make myself get up by 8am and dressed by 9 just to keep some routine going, but this morning I simply could not get out of bed I felt so depressed. Realised I was just waiting for my daughters to go out so I could take the stash of pills I can't bring myself to get rid of. But then thank god a tiny sane corner of my brain said 'you promised you'd phone the Crisis Team if you felt like this'. That and another corner of my brain that knows that I only ever get into this state when something's being put into my system that shouldn't be ie antidepressants, sleeping tablets, beta blockers or in this case, the Mirena.
Was then made to promise that I wouldn't stay in the house on my own, so went to a friend and lay on her sofa for a couple of hours. Saw my GP this afternoon - she seems to understand but also seems a bit clueless about what to do about it. The gynaecological referral resulted in this totally inappropriate treatment (I've since discovered that a history of depression is a BIG contraindication for a Mirena, and that depression and nervousness are high up on the list of common side effects), and I feel that after a year of this kind of extreme reaction I should be being referred to a genuine specialist in sudden and acute menopause symptoms. I did try and make this case and she's going to try and find out what to do next, but surely it's not that hard?
Has anyone exercised their right under the Patient's Charter to ask to see a particular specialist anywhere in the country? And if I managed to do that, who should I be asking to see? Please don't say Prof Studd because it sounds like all he does is prescribe the same high estrogen low prog regime to everyone and I'm already doing that. Nick Panay seems to come up on here a lot - anybody recommend him?
Getting the Mirena removed tomorrow btw as I feel thoroughly freaked by my reaction - have spent the whole day either crying or lying on the sofa staring into space.
