Kenalog and birth control

Hey Everyone! I have some of the same side effects as most of you. I got the shot for my allergies on January 15. I literally had a non-stop period. My period would last for two weeks with an average of only 2 days in between the next period. I did not want to get put on birth control, so I kept hoping for my period to regulate itself or for the medicine to leave my system, but none of that ever happened. I went to see my physician on June 3. (That means I was on my period from January to June.)

I explained what happened to him, and he told me that he wanted to try medicine that is NOT birth control. He explained that the Kenalog shot, a steriod, probably interfered with my hormones. In order for a woman's body to function normally, she must have a normal balance of estrogen and progesterone. I had way too much estrogen because I was always on my period, so he put me on a drug called Provera (medroxyprogesterone) for seven days. I am happy to say that the drug worked, and I have been off of my period for SIX days so far! My physician also told me that it may take up to two months for my body to figure itself out and for my period to start again.

I hope this helps someone. Provera worked for me, so maybe it will work for those who do not want to get on birth control!

I got a shot in early January for a severe tonsillitis infection. I was so sick at the time, that I consented to the shot because I thought it would relieve the swelling. The doctor never mentioned any side effects. Unfortunately, the shot did not help at all. Even worse, I noticed a few months after I received the shot, that I had developed a dark indentation at the site of the shot, on my butt cheek. Since then, I have noticed that the dent has gotten bigger and uglier. I'm very upset about it. I went to a dermatologist/cosmetic surgeon, and she advised that I do nothing. She said it would fill in with time - 6 months to a year. We will see.....it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

The worst and most distressing side effect, is this month I had two periods, two weeks apart. I've never been on birth control, and my periods have always been very regular. I had been reading about this side effect a few months ago, and was relieved that at least my periods had not been affected.....well, I was wrong. 4 months after the shot, I've been affected. I had noticed in the past several months, that my periods had gotten shorter, lasting only 2-3 days as opposed to 3-5. They have also gotten lighter, except this most recent irregular period which was a bit heavier.

Along with the dent and irregular periods, I've been experiencing back aches, extreme fatigue and some nauseau - all symptoms which I've never experienced before. I'm a runner and in pretty decent shape and good health. Now I feel like my body has deteriorated due to one small but devastating shot!

I'm very upset and distressed about these side effects. I'm afraid of what other side effects I might not know about yet.

I contacted a lawyer that I found on this website, who is helping a client with these symptoms. I want to join a class action suit. This is unacceptable!

update to June 14th. For everyone who has just gotten the shot and think they don't have atrophy. My daughter's didn't start to appear until a few weeks after. It just looked bruised at the begining. Doctors don't want to beleive the Kenalog has done this. Gyn doctor did ultrasound and said everything looked normal, so no reason for the bleeding other than the Kenalog. It has started to get better after 4 months. Now there is a 5-7 day break between her periods. I have refused to put her on birth control to stop the bleeding. I couldn't stand for her to suffer any more side effects. The atrophy looks awful. It is such a bright purple. Doctor said it should not get any worse, but I don't think they really know. Doctor did say it would fade in color, but will never get better without plastic surgery. I can't even find a doctor who is familiar with Kenalog or the side effects. I also just found out that the Kenalog stays in your system for 3 months. Of course another thing I was never informed of. I have been taking pictures and keeping all Doctor visit paperwork. I suggest everyone do the same. It has got to be a matter of time before a lawsuit is brought against them.

If you are a woman or have a daughter PLEASE READ.......

Please be very careful before getting a Kenalog injection especially if you are a woman or for your daughter. In March my 13 year old daughter received one Kenalog injection for hay fever. Now almost 4 MONTHS later it is a 2 inch indentation with dark bruising all around it. She has also had her period the entire time with maybe a 1-2 day break between them. It has taken this long for the doctors to say the bleeding is from the Kenalog injection. I never would have allowed them to give this to her if I had known of these side effects. She has been put through test after test and no end in site. Now my 13 year old will have to go on birth control to stop the bleeding and there will prob. be side effects from that as well. I was shocked to find this site and now how many lives this drug is hurting. Now my daughter is suffering, all from 1 SHOT.

My Girlfriends' Dr. suggested she get this shot. After reading everything I've read I'm not sure if this is the correct thing for her do to(She asked me to research it for her)... Heres the situation, She was in a pretty bad car wreck at the end of March and a mild wreck at the end of June she has been taking skelaxin for theinjuries to her back and shoulders. She was at Doc. today for a follow up and her neck and upperback was extremely swollen. She has irregular periods already possibly from other medication and doesnt take birth control anymore. Shes slighty overwheight and takes xanax and Effexir(SP?) with the meds shes already on and everything else is there any thing positive about this? We would like to have kids in the future and I'm worried that this shot could have all kinds of adverse affects on her now and down the road....Any suggestions on what she needs to do? The Dr. made it sounds like a cure-all but now I'm not so sure...

Thanks

I took kenalog when i was very young for allergies. I was not told of side effects. I noticed a dimple and asked a new nurse about it. She said it was from the kenalog and showed me her butt where half of it and sunk in and had to be injected with silicon to fill it back out. I was horrified--the first nurse was giving it to me in my skinny little arm. Also I now wonder if that time in college where I was on and off my period every 2 weeks was from the shots. I had to start taking birth control to regulate them.

I had a Kenalog shot for allergy symptoms in the Spring 2005. I'm now having the heaviest period I've ever had. I'm 42 years old & on birth control. I'm up at night every one to two hours, bleeding heavily & clotting. Many of the clots are golf-ball sized. I was so scared about how much I was bleeding that I went to the Dr. & was told it was the Kenalog shot. I wish that I had been told about this side effect. I start teaching in 2 weeks and can not work with this much bleeding. What can I do?