Affection symptoms and conditions

I am a 39 year old mother of two teenager daughters. I had my original Mirena inserted in July, 2002 due to extreme bleeding for many months. I would bleed for about 24 days out of every month and felt horrible. As I was only 32 years old at the time, my GYN did not want to perform a hysterectomy and suggested the Mirena. I bled for a couple of months after insertion, but shortly thereafter I had no bleeding and have had no period ever since. This is the side effect that is fantastic!

Shortly after having the Mirena inserted, my marriage fell apart and I was feeling very depressed, EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED and overall "crappy". I assumed that this was all due to my life circumstances. I gained significant weight in my mid-section, I had (and still have) constant headaches, I am always still very very tired, am dizzy, fuzzy-minded, blurred vision, achey, etc. etc. etc. I never once thought about the Mirena being the cause of any of these symptoms.

My doctor has checked my bloodwork numerous time to ensure my iron levels, etc. were okay as well as my thyroid - every time the results were normal so I thought it must all be in my head and all be due to me being somewhat depressed, etc. due to my marital breakdown.

I had my 2nd Mirena put in in December, 2009 as the first one was in for the full 5 years. It was a little painful getting it taken out and the new one put in, but for me the pain was worth it to continue to be period-free for another 5 years!

Recently I have been experiencing hot flashes and night sweats so I asked my doctor if I could be going through menopause. She ordered bloodwork to check my hormones and informed me last week that yes, in fact I am quite far into menopause!!! (remember, age 39)! Because I have not had a period in almost 6 years, I did have the early warning signs of menopause such as missed or irregular periods.

I wondered why I would be going through it so early so googled "Mirena and early menopause" which brought me to this site. When I started reading all the side effects, I wondered if it was maybe the Mirena that cause a lot my problems over the years and it wasn't in fact the dissolving of my marriage and change in life circumstances.

I now have to decide what to do. My doctor stated that I should (because of my young age) go on Hormone Replacement for quality of life. (I am close to my decision and believe that HRT is beneficial for me) - hopefully this will help with the terrible symptoms of menopause I have been having.

I am wondering if having the Mirena inserted had any part in accelerating my body into menopause. I am thinking of having it removed before starting HRT because even though the doctor told me that there is a very low hormone dosage in the Mirena, I don't want to over-do it with hormones as that could cause me even more problems. It would be amazing if I had it removed that I would feel the way I used to feel back 6 years ago (minus the husband)

FYI, before I had the Mirena inserted the first time I read and re-read the pamphlet which contained all the possible side effects, etc. But, as I stated above, my life changed dramatically very shortly after insertion so it never occurred to me that some of my problems may be related to the Mirena.

If this device does accelerate a woman's body into menopause, this should be well publicized as it would be tragic for young women who use this as a form of contraception early in their life to only find out later that they are no longer able to conceive due to their body going though "the change".

Update since removal:
I had the Mirena removed on Saturday evening. I just wanted to report that I felt so great last night. My husband said he hadn't gotten that much affection in 3 months from me! And we didn't even have sex.. LOL! I was just in such a great mood, and had so much energy I couldn't stop cleaning and playing with my kids!
Today I'm not as ecstatic, but that may be because my daughter woke me up 6 times last night, and both my kids are sick. But the good news is, despite my difficult day, I'm not in a state of despair. Ordinarily I would be crying, or trying to have a nap while my kids are napping. Instead I am doing laundry and writing to you all.
Some bleeding last night and today, but no pain or cramping. My joints are still really sore today, but I didn't expect it to disappear overnight. I just can't believe how I'm in control of my emotions!

My daughter is 10 and took Singulair for a little over two years. She struggled during that time with being anxious, irritable, sad, not wanting affection, crying often, and with easily taking offense at anything and everything. We were having difficulty with her being disrespectful. We even began taking her to a counselor. After about two weeks of being off of the singulair--all of the above symptoms have completely disappeared. I am so thankful that I took her off of the medication.

It seems that this subject has been extensively documented, but just wanted to confirm that I believe this drug is very dangerous. We JUST put our 5-1/2 year old daughter on it one week ago. She has NEVER had any issues sleeping, is most often in a great mood, and has been protected beyond belief by my wife from negative imagery, TV, etc. The last week was unbelievable. Night terrors every night, with the most vivid and negative imagery when asked to describe the content of her dreams. Things that I would have thought she must have gotten from watching a Stephen King movie. Given the lack of fitful sleep could have been a contribute, but her mood all week was very downtrodden. Hard to say a 5 year old can be depressed, but I would have to say she was, very sullen, moody, despondent to affection.

I can positively say this was a blind test. We didn't really read the label on the medicine until yesterday, so we were not looking into things that weren't there, nor were we focusing in on the sleep issues. We took her off yesterday, and hopefully I will be able to report that the night terrors that I am 95% positive must have come from this drug will abate.

I hear because the chewable format is new, this drug is really being pushed. I hope this drug is pulled instead of being promoted. Buyer beware, especially administering to kids. I can't imagine if our daughter had been a little younger and not able to express herself to the level she can at 5.

Thought I would come online to check up about another possible side effect and caught a posting about male libido. I off Statins on 9th July this year after suffering all the pain related side effects mentioned on the site and in my previous posting in August. Last week my normal monthly cycle started up again after 8 months. I thought that I had gone through the change but with no side effects. Seems to me that Statins might also effect hormones, but as we all seem to be of a similar age groups, we blame the way our lives are effected on our age. I know that I thought that everyone who hit 50 experienced exactly the same fatigue, pain (arthritis - gout), weight gain, loss of drive etc. I have been off them for 13 weeks now and I haven't looked back. I really can't remember now just how bad I was feeling towards the end, but I know that I was very close to giving up I just didn't think that I could live feeling the way I did at the time and knowing that I was getting progressively worse. Now I am just very angry that people are having to go through what we have. I just wondered if any other women had their monthly cycle altered/ stopped whilst on this drug, only for it to return after coming off?

Hi - just to say firstly, I have my mirena in for almost a year and a half and am hoping to have it out next week, before I kill someone!! So I am in no way 'pro' mirena.
just wanted to comment on your hair loss posts- after my first daughter, this happened to me too, without mirena. I actually had bald patches and was super paranoid. My hairdresser told me that this is very common in the few months after giving birth - the hormones are trying to rebalace and this unfortunately is a side effect. My doctor confirmed that it was not alopaecia as I was self-diagnosing. I used to cry in the shower seeing all my hair in the drain - but now, 3 years, another daughter and mirena later, my hair is beautifully healthy again.
But on the other mirena symptoms I have. My poor husband has not had any affection in the bedroom for almost 2 months now, which is scary as we enjoyed a healthy 4-5 times a week sex life until a few months ago. My first year with Mirena was fantastic, I recommended it to friends, but the past 3-4 months have been hell. Who is this psychotic person that has taken over me???? My husband is almost afraid to talk to me some days, because I go from sweet and cheerful to a screaming, raving lunatic in seconds, without warning. The weight gain has been huge - about 45lbs in 16 months and then the days where I don't feel depressed, I look in the mirror and it makes me depressed with the huge gut I now have. I've always been a curvy lady, but I never had a big stomach and it seems that all of this 45lbs is just sitting around my tummy.
Now I have to decided to have it out, and I'm left with the dilemma of birth control. My 2 daughters are 18 months apart, the oldest just turned 3, so I don't want another baby just now. However I would like another one in the future. Pills don't work for me - I took them religiously and got pregnant with both my daughters whilst on the pill. Do I choose condoms? Would I actually stop a spontaneous moment of passion to go to the drawer to get one, lol? I'm kinda not really sure what to do. All I know is that I need to get this out next week, and pray that I find another form of birth control. But in saying that, another baby in the house couldn't be as bad as what this thing is doing to my mental health.
I'll post again after I have this out

My daughter has been off Singulair since March 29th. In my previous posting I explained that she had taken it for 2 years and last December started to experience stomach pain, and she became very anxious, agitated, and obsessive compulsive. We had every test possible and her anxiety only grew worse as the weeks went on. In February she was admitted for panic attacks and was given Paxil and Risperdal. When we stopped Singulair we noticed definite changes with her mood swings, personality, and affection. We saw a side of her that over time we forgot existed. She is so much better, but still on the medicines from her hospitalization. We have an appointment to discuss reducing these meds. But has SINGULAIR been out of her system long enough? She endured so much emotional stress that I know just stopping the Singulair will not be the cure all. Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

My husband and I found out he had Meatastic prostate cancer 13 months ago..We went to the doctor because his lymph glands were hudge.. He has been on the Lupron injections ever since.. He had really bad hot flashes for the 1st few months but that has past, but now he is very moody and angry for no reason.. He yells and gets angry over the littlest things i think he is going crazy and he is driving me nuts, he has no desire for me and is rude and acts like he don't even like me sometimes.. it is torture to me..He has depression he doesn't enjoy anything like he use to.. whenever we go try to have fun he gets all stressed and makes the fun turn into miserable..He acts as if he has no problems..He has some big rashes on his legs and crack and I am pretty sure it is from the Lupron shot also.. he has a little aches and pains. Very tired all the time..just about a week ago we found out the Lupron shot is not working very well anymore, his psa level went up to a 15..I am thankful for the shot because i know it has saved him some time to be here.. I love him so much, but the way he is now has caused me to feel like he is a grouchy roommate on his period 24/7.. There is other things like casodex to take but i heard it does not work as well as the Lupron..Hopefully one of these days they can find something that works even better then Lupron without the side affects..The lupron Shot has helped many people live longer, but what about the quality of life he is miserable but I am sure he rather be alive and miserable.. Good luck to everyone with the Lupron shot, it is a trying time when they or you go through these changes and do not understand why you feel negative and unhappy..

I had my Mirena inserted in July 2007, exactly 1 month after my second child was born. I had it removed today, thank god! I had discomfort putting it in and horrible cramps. I bled heavily for a month straight afterward and haven't had a day in 7 months without some blood or thick discharge leaving my body. And I am talking THICK disgusting discharge. I have had severe acne flare ups, hair loss (falling out in clumps), severe headaches just about on a daily basis. I have suffered from anxiety and depression before but now it is 5 times as bad. Put back on Xanax which I used to take as needed which would be about 1 or twice a month to reaching for it 1 to 2 times a day! Most recently I have had leg, arm and back pain. Irregular heartbeat, very dehydrated. Absolutely unbearable mood swings from anger to sadness on a drop of a dime. I have never had suicidal thoughts or though about death but find myself in panic everyday thinking I am dying and I'm only 28! I could barely walk up the stairs without being utterly and completely out of breath. I did not do any research on this before I got it and I really wish I did. Thank god for all of you writing your experiences so I don't feel like a nut. My doctor said today oh I rarely ever have anyone with a problem. You should really get an EKG to make sure you don't have a heart problem...WHAT? Since I had it removed this morning I literally have more energy. It may sound crazy and it may be in my head but I feel better already. I couldn't even function before I was so tired. PLEASE LADIES DO NOT GET THIS....IT'S HORRIBLE!