Breast symptoms and conditions

Well, I have one side effect I haven't seen anyone mention. My breasts feel weird, like they did at the beginning of my pregnancy. I've been trying to figure out a way to explain the way it feels, and its a combination of when I had a yeast infection in my breast while breast feeding (not nearly as painful though) and the way they felt when I was in my first few weeks of pregnancy. I also have constant cramping, its not terrible, but constant. Then I've also had joint pain in my hips, I've woke up in the middle of the night with my hands asleep. And you can't even imagine the weight problems I've had. I weighed 180 two days before I had my twins, 160 when I came home from the hospital, 135 in January, and now I'm 175. If I gain 5 more lbs I'll weigh as much as I did 8 months pregnant with twins. I've tried dieting and I still keep gaining. Then my DH also says that I am not the same person. He was the reason I started looking into side effects because he told me one night that I've changed since I got the IUD and it is making me crazy. I thought he was crazy, that it was just because I had babies and more on my plate now, but then I thought that maybe he was right, that my moodiness and weird feelings combined could all be from the BC. Then I started researching. There are too many woman posting problems with the Mirena. I think it should be taken off the market (and they should pay for everyone to have it removed). If you go to Google and just search for Mirena IUD, don't include side effects or problems, just type in "Mirena IUD", you will get an official site, a couple of drug websites, and the others are sites for side effects. That should tell you something. There's even an support forum.

OMG! SO glad I decided to research Loestrin24Fe. I am on my 2nd pack now well into the 2nd week. I used to be on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo, but that made me moody, emotional, crampy, bloody and fat. I was switched to Trivora which was 10 times worse. I quit BC pills for a year. Now, I am on Loestrin 24Fe. I have for sure experienced some changes good and bad. I feel my sex drive has gone up! But my eyesight is getting blurry, my breast and nipples are sore most of the time. I'm very constipated all of a sudden. I'm also feeling exhausted and started experiencing headaches. I do get heartburn, but I think that's not related to the pill. I will start paying close attention to the things you ladies pointed out. My husband wants me to stop the pill (due to the eyesight thing) but I want to see if things get better by the 3rd pack. I'll let you know.
-L.

Tried the NuvaRing 3 1/2 half years ago after being on depo for a few years. It came out a few times and I followed the directions to put it back in. After 3 months I got pregnant. I found out that I had actually used it a month into my pregnancy but thank god my baby was healthy and strong. Post-partum I used lo-estrin while I breast fed and when I was done with that I weighed my options. I am terrible at taking a pill daily. I tried Depo, but gained weight and I don't want to wait to try again when I decide to have another baby. The patch was just out....I heard too many bad things. I decided to try again with the NuvaRing. Thought it was a fluke that I got pregnant before. 2 months into it I felt the signs of pregnancy again. Home tests came out negative so I went to the doctor. Blood test came out negative. I was certain I was pregnant though. The doctor told me to go ahead and use it still, so I did. After a week it kept coming out so I said forget this. The next week I had a hard time getting a bridesmaids dress on for my cousin's wedding so I took another pregnancy test...and sure enough, I was pregnant. Went to the doctor and was dated at 6 weeks. My baby is 8 months old now and he is beautiful. I'm on Mirena now and have been for 6 months. Not completely happy, but not pregnant. Having migraines and mood swings so I'm considering taking it out. Now I tell everyone I know who is trying to conceive to try the NuvaRing!

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'm so glad i found this site. i cant sleep without meds. my headache is constant. the cramps for no reason. the nausea every time i eat. i cant lose weight and my breast are always sore. i'm getting this thing out of me asap.

I have been on the Yasmin now for nearly three months. I have no energy, chest pains, shortness of breath, tenderness of my breast, ribs and I feel REALLY TIRED even after having a nights rest. I thought this was perhaps after having a toddler and using my energy up during the day from lifting him and swinging him. I feel slightly anxious about different things in my life, sometimes depressed. I though my headaches and chest pains were stress/work related and so was the fatigue. I am popping vitamin tablets like it is an addiction thinking that if I don't have them I am going to feel WORSE( anxious/depressed). I also could not understand why I was feeling so nauseous and having stabbing pains in my stomach. - thought again this was just stress related - acid build up. I am going to see my Doctor today and get off this tablet!!!! I would rather have the odd pimple on my face than feel like this.

I had Mirena inserted about 2 years ago and I'm having it removed later this week (thank goodness). I have gained 30 lbs, suffered from terrible fatigue and joint pain, mood swings, thinning hair, depression, total lack of sex drive and worst of all DEBILITATING migraines (especially after an orgasm.....I suppose that's a good reason for lack of sex drive!).

I had no problem with insertion, but was immediately aware of vaginal odor that was never there before....just an unclean sort of smell....really annoying and still persists. I miss my old periods (very normal, one week of PMS, 4 days of bleeding, then done). Now I have about 3 weeks of horrendous PMS with breast swelling, weight gain, fatigue, depression, increased appetite then I "spot" for 8-12 days! Horrible! I'll take 4 days of bleeding over 8 days of "sludge" anytime.

I hope removing it will end these issues.

hi, I want to someone answer if feel like your breast hurts so much, I feel weird like am pregnant, I had mirena 5 years ago I replaced for a new one 3 weeks ago, I read all this comments and I think I found why I lose to much hair and have acne, please tell me its all this related with mirena.

I had my Mirena inserted on Aug 12, 2009. The insertion was very painful. I had taken 800 mg of ibuprofen before the procedure but it didn't touch the pain. I am 40 years old and have had two children naturally with no medication, I feel like I have a high pain tolerance. I had severe cramping and bleeding for about 24 hours. Luckily my husband came with me, I would not have been able to drive home. I have spotted or bleed ever since. I don't know when I'm having a period or just spotting. I have been passing chunks of what appears to be tissue????? I have an offensive odor. I have not noticed weight gain but I am bloated and my clothes are tighter. I am am very moody and get frustrated easily, no patience. I have a lack of energy and don't have much of a desire to do any of the things I love. I have frequent headaches......Now for my major complaints.....I have tingling leg sensation down my legs with a warming sensation, I get extremely nausea. I have had extreme crapping in my abdomen which goes around to my lower back. They tend to be more on my right side. Very comparable to labor pains but with no peaking just stays intense. My breast feel like I'm breast feeding again and hurt all the time. We no longer have sex because it hurts to bad, besides I bleed all the time and stink! Wow if that dosent take the desire away! At times I feel as if I have a UTI, I believe this all contributed to the Mirena. I too called my OB/GYN and he said theses are not side effects of the Mirena.whatever! It is coming out Oct 9, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. I wish I would have researched it more. Thanks for sharing your experiencing because I felt like I was just falling apart.

I had a Mirena IUD placed at my follow up appointment after my second child in November of 2004. I feel that I have had excellent results from this form of birth control. The strings disappeared after I had it in for about a year. They had to do a few sono's to see if it was still in place. It was but I had developed an ovarian cyst that didn't go away. I ended up getting it surgically removed and found out that this is a side effect of Mirena. the cyst caused me no pain and the only reason I knew it was there is because of the sono's. I will not have surgery again unless it is highly recommended by my doctor. I just had a new one placed this month. It was more painful to place than I remembered it being. The cramping lasted for almost 24 hours. I have had no periods since before my youngest son was born....he's 5 now. I have had it for so long I don't know if the problems that I have are related to Mirena. I am obese. I have been obese my entire adult life so that is nothing new. I do have a hard time losing weight but I don't believe it has anything to do with Mirena. My hair is thicker since starting Mirena. I do have some skin problems but most of them have been with me for more than 10 years (seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea). I have a history of depression...so nothing new there. I have varicose veins...a result of my obesity, heredity, and working on my feet all the time w/o support hose. I am 34 years old, married, and do not plan to have any more children. I plan to continue using Mirena until menopause. I am EXTREMELY SATISFIED with Mirena and I am sorry for those of you that are having problems with it. I hope you find a method of birth control that works for you. Sexual freedom is a nice thing for a woman to have.

Wow, what an eye opening experience it is to read all these posts! I was just about at the end of my rope thinking something was horribly wrong with me. Now I firmly believe it's the Levoxyl that is wrong.

I went on thyroid meds about a year and half ago for just slightly under active thyroid. I was actually lulled into it because the Doctor assured me it was a completely safe medicine and taking it would help me lose weight. Always a welcome thing. So I started on 50 mcg. I noticed some degree of improvement. I was sleeping better and having more energy during the day. Next checkup, the levels are in the normal range but just barely. So he doubled the dose. Two weeks later I broke out in a horrible itchy rash. I actually thought about the meds but then I didn't change meds, I was just taking more. I called the doctor and he said, "No this medication won't do that." So I change detergent, soap, everything I could think of and nothing worked. Finally I said, enough and I skipped a dose. During the day the rash got a lot better. Next morning I took another one and within and hour I was itching like crazy again. I stopped taking them, waited a week and called the doctor again and told them. His reaction was "You have to take this." I said, No, I don't and I won't. He actually argued with me that the rash could not be caused by the meds. Now I realize at that point I should have called another doctor but he's in my town, convenient, yada, yada, yada. Anyway he called me in another med which he said was the same active ingredient but different brand. Enter Levoxyl. I've been on 100 mcg for 3 months during which time I have felt progressively worse. Most of these things I didn't attribute to Levoxyl until later. Initially I noticed I was having the hot/cold flash thing. I have no comfort zone. I'm either flushed and sweating or chilled so my nights are spent constantly either searching for cover or kicking it off. Next thing I noticed is that my breasts would swell. Naturally that was a concern but about the time I would decide I needed to see about it, they would be normal for a few days. Sleep? What's that? Tired all the time. Started having confusion and forgetfulness. I even told my co-worker I thought I was losing my edge. I was all of a sudden forgetting things I had done automatically for over 15 years. Then the really scary stuff started. I would wake up in the middle of the night with my heart racing and feeling like I was in a fight for my life. I was afraid to go back to sleep. Joint aches and pains across my upper back, my knee. Tingling in my feet. It just keep getting worse and worse. Still didn't think of Levoxyl. Then Monday of this week I didn't have a pill to take. I forgot to get it refilled. Monday at lunch I told my husband I felt better than I'd felt in months. Tuesday took the regular dose. By noon the mental fog was back, back was hurting and I just felt like crap. Tuesday night went to bed early because I was so tired. 11:40 woke up with the worse anxiety attack I've ever had. Heart was pounding and I was breathless. Wednesday morning I got up and the light came on. I did not take the pill. Entered Levoxyl in google and found this site. I am so angry at my doctor I can hardly stand it. I even went to the official Levoxyl website and all these side effects are listed except for the swelling breasts and confusion but I've noticed several posts here that list those. During those two days I didn't take the freakin' pill both problems improved greatly. This morning, I reluctantly took half a pill. I plan to to that every other day for a few days then skip two days, then three, until I'm off of it. I don't know at this point what I'll do about my thyroid but I won't take this stuff and I won't ignore feeling like crap again. This is crazy. Where is the FDA? Oh yeah, being entertained by the drug companies. What a shame.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post here. It is a sad commentary when we can't rely on our doctors to take care of us but we sure can't. If he had just told me about the bone loss, I would never have started this drug in the first place. My Mother suffered with that and that is something I would not trade for a few lost pounds and a little more energy. No thanks.

I was on Nuvaring for exactly 2 weeks and 1 day and for the first few days it was great. The only side effect I seemed to be getting was the breast swelling and tenderness. Then about a week in, I started getting cramps that were very short (5-20 seconds or so) but very painful, and then came mood swings. I was very depressed. I didn't want to go anywhere or be around anyone.I would get angry at my fiance and want him to shut up and go away if he tried to have a conversation with me, but then I would cry hysterically if he was on the computer or not paying attention to me for any longer than about 20 minutes. I didn't want to move from the couch. All I wanted to do was nap or eat. If I wasn't doing either of those I was yelling or crying. So, my fiance and I did some research and found that the nuvaring could cause all of that. I took it out, and my mood swings immediately became less severe, and now, after having it out a week are almost gone. The problem is, I just started my period this morning and I am just pouring blood like no one would ever believe, and I have cramps worse than I have ever felt before. I am wondering if I should go to the emergency room or wait this out and call my Gyno on Monday.

UPDATE!! I had my evil IUD removed today and the hardest/worst part was conveniencing the Dr. I wanted it taken out! She kept telling me that my symptoms (headaches, achey all over,panic attacks, quick temper, high blood pressure,sinus infection,cant sleep at night,no desire for sex ) were NOT related to the IUD and I just spent a lot of money to have it inserted.......she would be glad to write me a script for Wellbutrin (sp?) to help with my "issues". I was even more upset when I asked if she had ever googled "Mirena side effects" and she just laughed at me asking me if thats where I got the idea to have it removed. I was very disappointed as this has been my gyn for the past 12+ years and with my family history of breast and ovarion cancer we have always been on the same page. Well, I asked her if she was refusing to remove because I would be glad to get another Dr. to do it and thats when she agreed. It only took a breif 10 seconds and it was out(didnt feel a thing) I instantly felt better but feel that was just because I felt like a huge burden had been lifted and now I can focus on getting back to my old self. I wish others the best of luck for what ever they decide but would encourage you take some kind of action if you feel there may connection to your health issues.

I was on NuvaRing for 3 years. 3 months ago I stop using, because TTC. I got my first period and second, but now I was due for next one on September 7, and still nothing. Pregnancy test came negative, my breast are sore, I have terrible cramps. I wish I never use NR.....

Seriously this is ridiculous. I have been dealing with all of these same issues and have been debating on whether to see a counselor because I feel like I am losing my mind! My boyfriend tells me I have mood swings and my mom says she cant even talk to me anymore. I had an acquaintance at work tell me that she hopes that I am okay because I look so down. I am anxious and depressed - have to self talk just to get out of bed. During the month if I am not cramping - my breast are almost to sore to move. I read someone on hear define a side effect of vibrating sensations throughout their body I get that for at least a week and a half every month. I would describe it as how you feel when you first are coming down with the flu....kinda achey. I was actually off for a week a few months ago due to extreme vertigo. I wondered if there was a correlation...from what I read I guess so. I have severe lower back pain -sometimes to much to stand straight and walk. I am so frustrated because I was told no side effects. I had Norplant back in 1991 and gained 70 pounds in 5 months. Well I am up to 19 pounds with Mirena - it hasn't been quite a year. I told the doctors that I had significant weight gain with Norplant and developed a blood clot while using the pill. I was assured no such side effects with Mirena. Mirena was a great choice for women who cant take anything else! I feel so misled!

I had the mirena put in when I was 17 and I absolutely loved it. I was like yay no periods and no forgetting to take the pill. I am now 19 and within the last two weeks Ive been having mood swings from hell, I cry for no reason, my breast have been sore, break outs and I feel like Im being ripped apart from the insides on and off. I have no sex drive....what 19 year old girl doesn't want to have sex? I haven't ever been pregnant so I don't honestly know why they gave me the mirena. With all the things going on that I just listed I definitely thought I was pregnant but my new boyfriend and I just started having sex like two weeks ago so its too soon to show these symptoms and thats how I knew it was the mirena. I don't have insurgence I cant go have it removed. I cant feel my strings which worries me too death I have no idea what to do. Heres a video about a woman whos mirena got lost in her body! ******

I had mirena put in nov 2007 after my son was born
at my 6 week appt it was the worse pain ever I bleed for
months had a uti with yellowish fawl smelly discharge
took 2 rounds of antibiotics before it was cleared up
about 6 months after having it inserted I hemriged real bad
made an appt with a interalist doctor. Under went 2 ultarsounds
blood work and an appt for a cat scan not never did test results came
back as cytes on my overies witch ruptured and indometreosis
this nov2009 will mark 2 years my friends and family think that
this mirena is the cause of all my issues every month I bleed at least 3 weeks out of every month and bleed heavily after sex every time I recently
got a real bad cold and was on antibiotics for 10 days had sex 4 times during this 10 days know I'm showing signs of pregnancy the pre milk from the breast as well as fatigue depression mood swings dizziness over all I think that mirena has a lot to do with all of this I will take aprego test in the morning and hope for the best

I just started taking birth control after not being on any for 3 years. I have had 2 children and breast feed them. So at first I was put on a low dose pill, but I experienced break through bleeding. So the doctor recommended trying a higher estrogen level pill, Apri. The first month seemed fine, then the second month I bleed in the middle of the pack. Just like a period. I was so annoyed. I then bleed a little during the non active pill week. I cannot have 2 periods a month. I finally got my prebaby body back and then starting gaining weight with this stupid pill. My sex drive is really gone. I'm glad I know that I do have a sex drive when I'm not on the pill. I never realized how much it affects that until I was finally off it during and after pregnancy. I have dealt with bad headaches for years but did not realize it could be linked to the pill. These last two months I have had so many headaches. Some have lasted for days. After doing research I see it can affect migraines/headaches. After all this I was more than ready to stop Apri. I don't know what I will take now. I just want to see what my body really is like without the pill. It was stupid to take the pill to prevent pregnancy, because we didn't have much sex due to the lack of drive. Overall, this pill is bad news!

I was on ortho-tricyclene lo for years and had no problems. I had a baby a year ago and was on a progesterone only pill due to breast feeding. I recently weaned him, and wanted to go back to the ortho. My doctor prescribed me the Ortho, and when I picked it up at the pharmacy it was the tri-sprintec. I gained weight with in the first week of taking this medication. I weighed less when my breasts where engorged with BFing!! Now my breasts are not full and I eat less and work out more and still gained weight!!! This is really discouraging because I work really hard to stay in shape and I am a petite girl, so a few pounds goes a long way on my frame. Anyway, because this is the brand name and not the generic that I want, it is a pain to request the brand name now to get it covered by insurance. I am hoping to go back to the ortho and get rid of this excess weight!!!

Well I've had mirena for about 7 months. I bled for maybe 3 months or so but after that no period up until 3 days ago I noticed that i have gained a little weight, my breast were tender, and at first i started to spot but then i got heavy bleeding since. Im going to make an appointment to see my doctor on Monday but i want to know if anyone has had this happen to them or does anyone know if this is a side effect of mirena.

I been taking BC since was 15 then i stopped having sex for about 9 months, so i stopped taking the pill! I started taking Aviane 16 days ago. Gosh the first day I took the pill, I felt so sick i couldn't eat anything I just wanted to vomit. This continued for like the whole week. I then became so irritated, like everything just got me super angry. I was yelling so much at everyone for very stupid reasons. The thing that freaked me out the most was i bleed for like two weeks (I wasn't sure if i had a miscarriage) I still have bad cramps! and still have super bad mood swings. From reading all of these comments it seems like my body just isn't use to all the hormones, a lot of people mentioned that waiting for 3 months is the right thing to do. Everyone's body is different, I'm emotional as it is when it comes to my period. So will see what happens! I mean it sucks to go threw these symptoms especially when your only 17 and not sexually active! Oh yeah I want to add one more thing, i haven't experienced any weight gain. I'm already tiny (108 pds) so I actually wouldn't mind gaining like 10-15 pds! and my breast's haven't gotten bigger =( there's no swelling. So I think I'm fine. I just want the moodiness to go away!
hope I helped!

It has been a month now since I had it removed and I am feeling much better but STILL not 100%. My joint and muscle aches had almost all disappeared, and I have more energy. My skin has cleared up nicely and my breast are back to their original size with no more pain!! I haven't had a period yet but I am sure it will take some time. Saw the dr today and I am down 2 lbs, which is great and my lifestyle habits have not changed a bit. Hopefully the other 15 or 20 lbs will go AWAY sooner than later!! I am still a tad moody but my dr said it will still take time to have this thing completely out of my system, so I'll keep you posted! All in all I am SOOOO glad that I got it removed. I only wish I didn't wait so long to feel half-normal again!!

I've been taking Yaz for about a year now, and I've noticed that I am not as irritable as with other, less expensive pills. I also have experienced reduced pre-menstrual breast swelling vs no pill, and my mild acne has disappeared. I did encounter nausea when I took it in the morning, lasting for about 8 hours. I addressed this by taking the pill at night, and I either do not experience nausea at all or maybe I just don't notice because I'm sleeping. Taking it at 6:30pm every day works well, though it is harder to remember it. I set my cell phone alarm.

My girlfriend and I have been dating for over 3 tears. She just switched her birth control 3 weeks ago to this from Ortho (no problems at all with Ortho, just got to expensive). Ever since then she has been very irritable and upset. One day she was fine and then the next the smallest things set her off. I was wondering how long these symptoms are going to last and if her body will finally regulate it. Should she switch again?

Thanks.