3 years symptoms and conditions

I have had Mirena since November 2006.(3 years) It was SOOO painful to have it put in, but I know it has to do a bit with the fact that I've never had a kid. I immediately had HORRIBLE cramps for hours and bled for about 4 weeks. Since then I have not had a period at all :) Now, I am 27 yrs old and have NO sex drive, ZERO! I hope that it is because of the Mirena, lol. I don't take any other meds at all. In 3 years I've probably packed on 15 pounds, but I can't say its because of Mirena. Me and my husband are ready for kids, so I'm gonna have it taken out in January. We'll see if it helps with the sex drive :) I haven't had any other side effects really.. overall, I would use it again, just be sure to take some pain meds before you have it put in, cuz that pain is like child birth said my OBGYN.

I am taking omeprezole & blood pressure medication & am having muscle cramps in my legs & feet mostly, but even in my chest (Thought I was having a heart attack).I am experiencing severe fatigue & like one of the previous posts, I'm having difficulty even holding the steering wheel of my truck.It's difficult for me to stay awake ,especially if I relax for more than 5 minutes.I assumed it was the blood pressure meds, & stopped taking them recently to see if that would help.(It didn't) I'm going to stop all synthetic meds ASAP & hope for recovery.I've been taking these for 3 years & am experiencing many of the same symptoms as other posts,including swollen breasts (I'm a male)...THANK GOD FOR THIS SITE!!! I'll keep you posted on my progress. Best to all fellow sufferers.P.S: My doctor thinks I have more symptoms than "a 90 year old lady" (I'm 54)God Bless, & I'm praying for you all.

Wow... I had no idea that so many issues I am dealing with could be side effects of the Mirena. I already had an appt planned to have it removed this afternoon because my acne has gotten so bad and I want to go back to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. I didn't really associate the acne with the Mirena because I have always battled acne to some extent, but it is so much worse lately. Just like others have described, it is on my chest, neck. back, scalp... EVERYWHERE! I have invested in expensive ance treatments, but that only helps some, and i can't exactly use it all over my head and body! I never had acne all over like this prior to the Mirena.
I have had the Mirena over 3 years and didn't realize I hate it so much until now! LOL. I definitely have the bloating, unexplained weight gain, depression, etc., as well. I should have googled "mirena side effects" much sooner!

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in July 2008, so I was placed on really strong medication the cut the effect of my current BC to 50%. So I decided to have the Mirena placed. It was placed Jan. 2009. A few weeks later, I experienced tenderness and swelling in both my breast. I went to see my GYN and she said it was normal and it should subside soon, but she sent me for an UltraSound to make sure. The results showed that my milk ducts were dilated. (And I was not Pregnant) A few months later I was experiencing severe depression, mood swings,bloating, facial acne, cramps, but the worst one of them all was the itching in my breast. Not to mention the 25 lb weight gain and my breast doubled in size. I would eat at any given time and had cravings. I felt like I was pregnant all the time. When I mentioned the itching to my doctor, she said I needed to see a dermatologist. I saw one the same day, and he also said he thinks it's the hormones in the Mirena. So I had it removed today. I hope everything goes back to normal.....

I am in the older age bracket of 40 and over and I have had the Mirena for over 3 years and I have had no side effects to speak of. I have had other IUDs in the past and also have had no problems. My bleeding has been minimal to nothing, no weight gain or other side effects that were listed. Each body is different, where some body have higher rejection when have something inserted into it.

After reading so much about Armour, earlier this year I decided that I would like to try it. I was actually feeling very good on Synthroid but wondered if I could feel even better. I was on Armour for a month and got very ill. Dizzy, legs swelling, hard time walking and standing. I went back to the Synthroid and it has taken me about six months to recover. I had a thyroidectomy about 3 years ago and never gained any weight until I was on the Armour, about 15lbs. My Endo says everyone is different with the meds. I really wanted the Armour to work out for me and will be hesitant to try anything else now because of my terrible experience.

I've been on prednisone for nearly 3 years continuously for Ulcerative Colitis. I've been on 60 mgs for quite a while but I am now down to 4 mgs. Once I went below 10 mgs. I started experiencing severe itching on my entire scalp and then upper back, ears and collar bone. I went to a dermatologist but she can't see any reason for the itching. Has anyone else had this side effect while tapering? It's making me crazy!

I'm 48 and got a Mirena put in last January at the suggestion of my doctor. I'd been having menstrual migraines and we thought that a steady dose of hormones might help with the dips and prevent my headaches. Well, it has helped some, as the headaches don't come every month anymore, however, I do still get them, so it hasn't really done what we hoped. Add to that my (growing!) list of symptoms and something has to be done. I am very active. I do Taekwondo 4x a week and was working out 5x a week this summer in preparation for my black belt test. You would think that I'd lose weight with the workouts I've done for the past 10 months, but no, my weight has increased over 10lbs! And it's not muscle, either: My breasts, waist, hips and thighs have all increased. I feel bloated, tired to the point of exhaustion even after 8 hours of sleep, and all of my joints are achy. The brain-fog has gotten so bad that I've had to go back on ADD meds to try to maintain my focus at work. I'd been doing my workouts for 3 years prior to getting the Mirena, and I never felt tired the way I feel it now! I'm seeing my doctor next month and this thing is out of here!

I was put on Depakote for my migraines after I had a bad experience with Topamax. It helped great with my migraines, but the weight I gained from being on it was not worth it. I have not taken it in probably 3 years, but I still cannot get my weight back to what it was before. I have always been one of those people who couldn't gain weight. Well, thanks to depakote, I am now one of those people who can't keep from gaining weight. I wish I was never introduced to the drug. I stopped taking it on my own, and my migraines are fine now. I have them sometimes but not every day.

I'm a 19 year old college student and a I've been on Yasmin for about 3 years. I started the pill because after two major surgeries, my body was traumatized, leaving me with very heavy periods and feeling tired all the time. I started Yasmin and at first, was very happy with it. I didn't lose weight on it, but I didn't gain any weight, either, which is what happened when I tried taking other birth control pills. However, after my senior year, I went off to college, where the problems began. It seemed that anytime I was under stress, my anxiety and bad mood would amplify. I got mad at my boyfriend over small things to the point of wanting to break up with him. Thank goodness he was patient with me! I began having panic attacks and although I was living in horrible conditions at school, I just chalked it up to not being ready to move off, etc. I came home the next semester and had the same problems. Anytime my boyfriend and I get into an argument, I can feel myself get heated up and I become uncontrollably angry. I hate myself when this happens. I have also been very tired. Some mornings, I can't stay awake in class and since I've been on the pill, I have felt the need to take naps way more often than usual. I plan to stop taking this pill as soon as my month is up!

I'm so glad to find this forum. I've been on Yasmin for 7 months since March 2009. My gyne recommended me to take it because of my acne problem, heavy period and cramps. Ever since I started taking it, I was happy about it. My face is cleared of acne and my period only lasts for 3 days and very light without pain. I was a happy camper until the 4th month into taking Yasmin. I started to have patches of rash on my right temple, then a week later on the left temple and upper lip too. At first I thought it was due to my new face toner. So I stopped using it. I didn't think it would be the pill as any allergic reaction usually would should up 1-2 months after taking it. The rash got worst after 2 weeks, it started around my waist, more like hives this time. I can't stop itching my skin even in my sleep. It was unbearable. The hives comes and goes. And it spreads bigger and bigger to behind my neck and back. I drives my NUTS and my skin is very dry. I saw my family doc, and he thought it was eczema/fungus. He gave me some steroid cream to apply. It helped but didn't make the hives go away. I kept looking for the cause of the hives, but have no clues. After I read many people who posted in this forum also suffered the same problem, I can conclude that Yasmin is the reason. I'm stopping the pill today!!!! Hopefully, the hives will go away soon.

Your stories makes me feel much better. I've been battling with yeast infections on and off for the last five months. It's been scary and frustrating. Surprisingly I've been on NuvaRing for about 3 years and these symptoms have just begun to be a problem but they won't stop until the ring is out and my period starts. I've tried everything, I've changed soaps, changed to lube without parabens, stopped wearing cute underwear, started showering twice a day, and have used several types of over-the counter's. I've treated with so many over-the-counter creams for yeast infections that I'm getting concerned about what all that fungicide might do in the long run. They usually work but then the yeast infection will return. I think perhaps the NuvaRing may affect the chemistry inside the vagina making it more susceptible to yeast infections once one occurs. This has negatively affected my sex life with my fiance because sex stings and burns and I always get a yeast infection, I'd rather avoid it all together. I was going to go to the OBGYN and beg for Diflucan but from a previous post similar to my situation it may just be another temporary fix. I've never tried the pill but I'm going to switch this month and see if the yeast infections finally go away.

Hey Guys,
I'm new to all this but just wanted to share my story with everyone so I feel like i'm not so alone! I'm 23 and was diagnosed with SLE 3 years ago.
It started in my joints and then moved to my kidney's real fast. I now have stage 4 nephritis, finished 6months of cyclophosphamide in Feb and have been on no less than 40-20mg of pred for about 2years. Just when things were starting to look better it has stared in my blood so they are trying to up my dose again. It has thinned my bones so I am on special meds for that now too.
I know taking the pred is something I need to do to live but it comes at a really high price. I don't even look like the same person I used too because of the moon face. I know it's shallow but at 23 it is almost as bad as having to live with this disease. I now have really low self esteem and get anxious all the time, which is affecting my job. As much as I want to come off I also worry that I would have to stop work again as the pred is what keeps me going. All I want to do is get off it though! Anyone know any alternatives? Also, just wondering if you guys are still drinking alcohol while taking pred?
Thanks for listening guys!

I have been on Loestrin 24 for almost 3 years now and have virtually no side effects. Slight weight gain did occur however I also attribute that to starting college around the same time. My periods were slightly irregular during the beginning but have evened out substantially and now last a maximum of 3 days. Also any mood swings I encountered may have been due to the Loestrin but again I was under abnormal stress because of beginning college

I'm glad I have read this. My year appointment is next week and hopefully I can switch to something else and start feeling better! I have been on NuvaRing for about 3 years now. Yes it is convenient and I have never had any real issues. But here recently the noticeable lack of sex drive and tiredness is beginning to take it's toll. It's like I have NO desire for anything sexual and I feel completely exhausted all of the time. I am a very active person, have a three year old and I do not want to continue feeling like this any longer - I'm 31 - I still have a lot of things I want to do! I also notice I wake up most mornings with a nasty headache. I even have bouts of depression from time to time. Thanks everyone! I'm definitely ready for a change! Any suggestions for new b/c would be greatly appreciated!

I have been on Lantus & Humalog for about 3 years. I am a 75 yr old male T2 and the only other meds I currently take are Toprol XL and aspirin. After reading all these Lantus postings, I decided it was time to quit Lantus just to see what happened. Like one other person said, "all of a sudden the fog lifted"! I am a different person. I can now sing in church (after 3 days off of Lantus). Before this, I did not have enough breath to sing. When I was on Lantus I had many sleepless nights, suffering from RLS and leg pain. Now I am sleeping the entire night through. These benefits are the tip of the iceberg, I just feel better all over. Needless to say, I am injecting more Humalog now to make up for the absent Lantus but that will not be a problem. Please understand I am not advocating this for anyone else, I am simply reporting what happened to me. I see my doctor in a couple of weeks and can't wait to share the news with her.

I had no noticeable side effects when I first got it but now two and half years later, I have all the symptoms cited by other contributors. My breasts ache all the time, I have trouble concentrating, feel exhausted (even when I go to bed at 9:00 pm), feeling worthless, weight gain, bloated, arguing and complain all the time. Oh, and the ovarian cyst that caused soreness in my abdomen. I have so many symptoms and never put it together with the Mirena, probably because they came on slowly over time. The last year has been horrible! I'm finally getting it out tomorrow. Has anyone else experienced a gradual increase in symptoms over time?

i have been on 30 mg of abilify for about 3 years.obviously, i slowly titrated up to that. for the first month, the doctor gave me another drug to go with it-carbidopa/levadopa to keep me from having tardive dyskinesia. after the first month, i came off that med and stayed on abilify, and increased the dosage.the first few weeks were tough,as with any drugs like this, but i knew to expect it and just hold on for the ride...my dr is using it off label,for pain management of "rebound pain"-which is pain that doesn't know when to tell your brain to quit,basically. it has been wonderful for this,and i'm calmer now in other aspects of my life. i was already on an antidepressant,and it compliments it well. i hopes it works as well for everyone, and i hope the doctors understand to give something for the first month to cut down the twitches!

I have been on Advair 100/50 for 3 years. I have dry mouth, dry eyes, dizziness, and night tremors. But all of this I can deal with since I can breath much better on the medication compared to off. I have COPD. I have not had any hair loss but did start gaining weight almost immediately after starting Advair. If I miss a dose, I know it within an hour or so. I wish it wasn't so expensive.

I am a healthy 38 year old woman. I started using the Nuvaring about 2 years ago. Ever since I have had a drastic decrease in my libido...and by drastic I mean virtually no desire to have sex at all. I've also had frequent headaches that last for days at times, leg cramps, depression, and I've gained almost 15 lbs that will not budge no matter what I do. I work out five or six days a week with absolutely no decrease in weight or increase in muscle tone. I am so glad I found this site!! I've been thinking that something is wrong with me and I've been really down on myself. The lack of sex drive has been very difficult for my fiance'. He can't help but take it personally that I NEVER want to have sex. This has been a tremendous eye opener for me. I'm going home tonight to take this thing out and I'm never going back on hormonal birth control again! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences!

I'm 42 & have three children ages, 8, 10 an 16. I started my period when i was 12 & i've suffered with horrible cramps and bloating ever since. I've been on & off different birth control pills to relieve the pain (didn't start pill until i was 15) & to control the pain. After my kids, i started back on the pill. Some worked better than others but the ones that onced worked, eventually stopped. The last 3 years have been worse. One problem i had was that i'd forget to take the pill. That made the pain worse. Tried the Nuva Ring for 2 months & had constant yeast infections. 3 of my girlfriends have Mirena & recommended it to me. BTW my husband is fixed, lol...so i dont have to worry about getting pregnant, just needed the pain & bloating to go away. After much consideration, pelvic ultrasounds & blood tests to rule out anything serious, i had the mirena put in 8/09. a little painful but nothing like childbirth! i didnt have bleeding, did get my period the next month, not bad. as of now i feel great. i could stand to loose 10-15 lbs. & i finally feel good enough to get on the treadmill & the weight is coming off. BUT i just told my husband this week that i noticed my face breaking out. more like little bumps, skin isnt smooth anymore and occasionally i get a nasty pimple like the kind a teenager would get. So i searched the web for mirena and acne and found this sight. I have an appt for dermo in a few weeks but from what i've read it sounds like i'm in trouble. As long as it doesnt get any worse & no other side effects, the Mirena (so far) has done wonders for my pain. YEAH!

I loved the convenience of the Depo shot. Once every three months, schedule your appointment, and you're good to go! My breast size increased by a full cup size, and I gained almost 30 pounds by the end of it... I was on Depo for over 3 years. In my life, I never fluctuated past 120 pounds. On the Depo, I ballooned to 150 lbs. My appetite was insatiable!

Many of the Mirena's negative side effects were not posted on their website or in their brochure 2-3 years ago when some of us had it inserted. Also, many of the negative side effects do not appear for many until after having the Mirena a good 6 months to a year. For those who want to be critical and negative please realize, these issues/effects are not just created or in these women's minds. They are very real and very very difficult to deal with both physically and emotionally. Yes, the Mirena has worked great for some women(including my best friend) but it has also been a very horrific experience for others, including myself. I had it removed 3 weeks ago after having it for 3 years and I really do feel so much better.

I have been reading these posts for awhile now and am so glad to have found them.
I am a 25yr female with epilepsy and have been on lamictal for the past 4yrs. I changed from epilim because I was getting married and heard that lamictal was safer in case of pregnancy. Not long after I found myself getting very angry over small things and not being able to sleep. I thought this was just me so I tried to get myself together. It went on for some time before I gave up and got help. I was diagnosed with depression and given fluoxetine. This helped me get back on my feet but I did not want to be on it long term and have been of the fluoxetine 2yrs. I still struggle with my mood but is manageable which I am happy for.
I did not realize that the headaches and the memory loss I had were from the lamictal until I found this forum then it all made sense. I had always thought that I was staying up too late and hence getting headaches. As for the memory I often feel like a blithering idiot. Cant remember words and often the wrong ones come out its so embarrassing. So often I feel like I'm in a daze and life is passing me by.
After all this said I have not heard of any other drug that would be any better. I have found comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this. There are a lot of people that do not understand the effects of medication or take it seriously when I try to explain. If there is anyone out there that is keen to chat about epilepsy or lamictal I would love to talk.

Looking back at a post, it was 8 months ago when i first posted re long periods. and I'd had 3 two week ones then. So 11 months of bleeding...I've been to the docs, taken more hormones, different hormones, tried not having sex, tried having lots, but still bleeding and bleeding. Mirena used to be great. Have had it for over 3 years..... but it just stopped working. The acne has got worse.. the mood swings are worse, the dizzy spells before the "period" pain.....

I feel so guilty for recommending it to so many people as the answer... but it just isn't right for me anymore. Got an appointment to have it removed - scared of the removal pain and possible Crash... always struggled to keep hormones in check!

Thanks to all for their posts ... nice to know we are not alone. Would be nice to hear from anyone who has used Mirena to control Endometriosis.... or is thinking of it.... think it's pretty good... but hard to tell as it was inserted when I had my lapaoscapy and removed the adhesions. All Mirena side affects confused with endo.... but still think Mirena is the big cause.... enough is enough. Three years is a long time. (and a period constantly for nearly a year is insane!!) Good luck.....xx