Brochure symptoms and conditions

Horrible device in my opinion! I'm on day 17 with Mirena and the cramping, bloating, pancreas pain, sharp pain all over my body, diarrhea on and off, mood swings, headaches, flu like symptoms, major hair loss, extremely tired all the time, sleepy, can't sit in a certain position, can't walk without pain on my sides (stomach) or shooting pain through my legs and the list goes on!

I am going in ASAP this week to have it removed. I am aware of the possible side effects warnings, but many side effects I am experiencing are not in my brochure given to me by my doctor. I believe my body is rejecting the device and anyone experiencing similar or same symptoms as me should run to the doctor and have it removed. Unless of course you like torture and are willing to torture your family members along with you. :(

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.

This is my less than 24 hour update from yesterday since I had my Mirena removed. I had my yearly appt. yesterday and explained to my dr. all the problems I've been having over the last year. I thought he would try to talk me out of having it removed but he was very sympathetic and removed it without question. So, I'm definitely relieved about having it out. I'm sure it will be a while before I will be able to notice any changes that I can directly relate to the Mirena coming out. But, I can tell you that my husband and I can already tell the difference during intercourse without the Mirena. It is so much more comfortable so, we are very excited about that! I requested Yaz for birth control since I've been on it before and never had these emotional issues while on it. He also gave me a brochure and DVD on the Essure which is the in-office permanent sterilization procedure. So, I'll be doing research on that to see if that will be a good thing for me to do.
Another thing, too, during my gyno exam, he found a lump in my left breast. I have never had any problems and definitely no history of any kind of cysts. I'm not blaming the Mirena but all of this is just way too coincidental. Now at 35, I'll be having a mammogram and ultrasound to determine what this lump is. I'm just praying hard that it won't be anything and definitely trying to stay positive. I'm just very relieved to have the Mirena out and I will stay posted as to any additional changes in the future.

I am SO glad I ran across this site.I am not crazy! My Mirena was put in about 3 months ago after my gyno finally put it together that my birth control pills were causing menstrual migraines. I will say the Mirena helped with the headaches, but lately I have not felt like myself. I have gained 10 lbs. in 3 months (even though I have been eating well and exercising more to avoid this side effect), my hair is oily, I have little dry itchy patches on my skin, fatigue, joint pain, no interest in having sex (after we do have sex sometimes I get horrible cramps and pain, like when the Mirena was inserted) I am super moody, and have anxiety/depression/anxiety problems, bloated almost constantly, and I feel like I can't focus or concentrate on anything! I called my gyno this morning because I do not want to feel like this anymore, and told her about all my symptoms. The only thing that makes sense to me is that Mirena is causing all my problems, since I never had any of them until I got it put in. The gyno tells me its not Mirena, that it definitely does not cause all that, and to get my thyroid checked because that is my problem. However, after reading all these stories, I am convinced that it is Mirena, and I am definitely getting it out. There is no way so many women can only have Mirena in common and have the same problems, even if they are not listed as side effects on the Mirena brochure.
So I am definitely getting it taken out, but I am curious about experiences after having it removed. How long till you feel like yourself again? Do the side effects go away quickly? Does it hurt more or less than getting it put in? Does the weight come off easily?
Hopefully this post helps someone as much as the other posts helped me. Thank you all for taking the time to post.

I had a mirena installed after the birth of my second child. I was 6 weeks postpardum and any bleeding due to child birth had ended 2 weeks prior to installation. I felt little pain during installation and began bleeding right after. After reading the provided brochure and hearing that it was normal to have bleeding after installation I thought nothing of it. I began to also feel a strange sensation in my stomach as if something was moving around inside me. The bleeding wouldn't stop in fact it worsened. I was having clots larger then a dollar as well as discomfort. After 2 1/2 weeks it lessened and disappeared for maybe 3 days only to return again still fairly bright and in large clots. I was breastfeeding so all this bleeding really made no sense. My doctor had requested that after 4 weeks I have an ultrasound and return to see him to ensure proper installation. The device was not in my uterus the bleeding was from outside the uterine wall where it was sitting. I found all this out $400 later. My doctor did offer to replace it free of charge but after all the complications I wasn't to keen on the idea of having it reinstalled.

So I read about mirena and my ob said that I should def get it. It sounded wonderful! My insurance covered 100% of it so I said I should do it now while I still have my insurance coverage, not many insurances cover this. I had mirena inserted on the 21st of May 09. (I had had my first child in March of 09) I got my period a couple days after insertion, Which was normal I was supposed to. But now it's June 17th and I'm still on my period! I thought mirena was supposed to lighten or even loose your period. Not for me. I called the OBs office and they said it's perfectly normal. It's just my bodies way of getting used to the hormones. I still don't think it's normal. I want to have sex again! My partner and I have only had sex once since my daughter was born, with all the pp bleeding and periods we haven't been able to! Now I have not yet had any of the symptoms all the other ladies have talked about, and I pray I won't. But who knows?? How can you know? I'm scared reading all this!! I'm thinking should I get it removed???? What do you girls think? Should I do it before all that happens?

Wow, who should I believe? Placebo controlled studies which suggest Avelox is a perfectly safe drug or a bunch of crazy people who like to TYPE every OTHER word IN all CAPS who are probably all middle aged women with psychological problems and/or fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or other made up diagnoses.

Here's a hint morons: The reason why every drug in existence now lists every possible side effect is because of crazies like you. This way, the drug company can protect themselves from litigious idiots like the poster below who wants to join a class action lawsuit. This only compounds the problem, though, because then more crazies look at the side effect profile and when they see that "Oh my gosh, it says right here it causes x, y, and z" it just validates in there mind that this is somehow a dangerous drug.

I swear, if all of the pampered babies in this country were put to work in a rice field in Cambodia, there would be a lot less nonsense in the world. You would see what true pain and suffering is about.

my ob/gyn recommended this IUD highly..said she had it in herself and it was great for all her patients...i read the physicians brochure on the mirena website and i think that should have been provided to me...if i had known that this thing causes blood pressure, anemia and blood sugar problems...i never would have gotten it since i already had those problems to begin with...i wasn't given enough info..i wish i had researched this better beforehand...the nurse wrote me last night and said it needed to come out as it has caused a pelvic infection from the insertion...this wasn't put in for birth control..as i haven't had anyone to be with in over a year anyway..it was put in to stop heavy bleeding...sounded like a great idea...i have every symptom you guys have had except fot the acne and hair loss issues...the anxiety and pain is the worst ever ..and sweating...geez...how long after it comes out does one get back to normal...i'd rather hear it from your experience...than listen to the "experience" of my doctor...i used to have the copper T and if it's still avail..i'm getting it back...i don't like the idea of hormones running loose that don't need to be...also if you read that brochure it increases breast cancer rates for some...and lots and lots of other symptoms...i expected the breast and abdominal tenderness and maybe some mood issues considering it was a hormone...but this is ridiculous....i'm 43 and feel 143! if i had the nerve i'd pull it out myself...but with my luck...something i need might come with it..lol ..don't need the reproductive junk anymore since that did it's job and there are no returns...i checked..lol...thanks for listening

I had mine put in on July of 08. Finally stopped bleeding, but I have always had a shooting pain down my leg. my doctor said that i was trying to ovulate.(not sure why i would feel it in my leg) the worst part is i have this horrible rash that kinda comes and goes. i never had it before the Mirena. It is on my neck, chest, sides and arms. i have read that other women have experienced this too. my doctor also told me it was ok to breastfeed while having the Mirena, but if u look in the brochure..it says do not use if breastfeeding. my daughter also got "thrush" (that what my OB said) because i had a yeast infection on my breast and that it was pretty common. The Mirena was never mentioned. I am going to have mine taken out. Has anyone else had these symptoms?

Very high tolerance for medications incl 60mg morphine, 20mg oxycontin 4x day, however, I just cannot seem to tolerate Fentanyl. Have tried it two times in past, both the 25mcg and 50mcg. The first week or so is great, after that the side effects are more than I can tolerate. All of these side effects were extreme and unbearable not just mild. They affected my ability to function and sent me to bed on more than one occasion. Extreme fatigue, nausea, sweating, anxiety and weakness. I felt as though I had a very bad case of the stomach flu. Both occasions I stuck it out for 2-4 weeks till I finally had to quit using it. Any suggestions as to why would appreciated. Some of my side effects aren't even listed in brochure.

I had a Mirena inserted October 2007. I had it removed in October 2008. I am SO GLAD I had it taken out!!!! When the device was in my body, I had instant weight gain. 5 pounds the first two weeks. Put on a total of 10 in about 3 months. I was working out liek a fiend!! I even did two a day cardio sessions for a month and did the Special K diet with it. Couldn't lose a pound. It was awful.

I had horrible acne. Not just on my face. On my scalp, my back, really gross on my neck. I even had occasional zits on my legs. AND I have DRY skin.

I had no sex drive. And just felt generally in a funk and had frequent headaches. I still had weird sludgy periods at irregular intervals. It just wasn't right. It was a grey mucky color. It was thick. I had never had a single yeast infection in my life until Mirena. I can't tell you how awful this thing is.

Since having it removed a little over a month ago, things have gone back to normal. My face cleared up in a week. I just feel better. I lost about 2 lbs. of water weight the first week. I have since lost another 3 that just slipped off (I cardio about 30 min. 5 times a week and lift weights 3 times a week, but that's not new. It is my routine with or without Mirena.). My husband even commented the other day how much healthier I looked.

DO NOT PUT THIS THING IN YOUR BODY!! My new GYN said to me, "If I won't do it to my wife, my mother & my sister, I won't do it to my clients." He doesn't recommend Mirena and won't use it except in very rare cases. He said if you have one you're unlikely to have your pap come back normal as long as it is in because of the strings. Really, don't listen to the sales pitch. These devices are high profit items for the Doctor's so that's why we women are getting the big sales pitch on them. Don't fall for it!!!

I just want to thank everyone for their experiences with Mirena. I went to the GYN on Tuesday for my annual exam and inquired about birth control since I am now in a relationship. I am 42, no children. She recommended Mirena and gave me a booklet on it. I have been researching it.

I am now deciding AGAINST this. I will stick with condoms for now and start researching another type of birth control. I don't want weight gain (I am already overweight but have lost over a lot of weight thanks to Weight Watchers). I don't want acne or bleeding everyday.

It helps so much hearing everyone's experience with this. The brochure doesn't list all these side effects. The doctor was pretty honest with me but thinks I would be a good candidate but I think I really need to rethink this.

Has anyone had any good experiences with other types of birth control?

Thanks!

I have had Mirena for about three months and I want it out now. I have had stomach cramps everyday, headache everyday, bleeding for no reason (all the time). My hair is coming out in clumps after my showers, and I have started to have blurry vision. Sometimes I feel like I cant even focus on something. My back hurts all the time and I feel sick every day. I have an appointment to "talk" to the doctor about it, and when I go there I will tell him to remove it then and there. If he doesn't, I will make it known that I am not leaving until he does, or I will take it out myself right then and there!! That's how sure I am that all this is from this poisonous thing. I also have had a short fuse and feel so fancy all the time. I would not recommend this to anyone. Plus, isnt it illegal for them NOT to list all of the side effects in the brochure about Mirena, because Canada does; the US does not!! Good luck to all of you.

I was absolutely miserable on lupron. It all started with a softball sized cyst on my L. ovary that burst and landed me in the hospital from the pain. I didn't even know it was there! The Dr. went in to take it out with the scope, and told me that I had stage 3 endometriosis. I never had any pain, so I find it hard to believe that I even had endo. At any rate, he told me in order for it not to come back, I would have to go on Lupron. He told me I may have some hot flashes and vaginal dryness..I read the brochure on it and I thought the side effects would be worth saving my reproductive tract.
I gained 30 lbs during my 4 months on lupron. The hot flashes were terrible, I would have 2 or 3 in an hour, drip sweat, and then freeze. The vaginal dryness was so bad it itched internally, I had to use massive amounts of lube to have sex--which was nearly impossible because my boyfriend couldnt stand to sleep with me constantly moving around, dripping sweat, throwing blankets on and off. I began to have anxiety attacks and terrible mood swings.

I wouldn't recommend this medication to anyone, ever. I was on the monthly dose,refused to stay on the medication after 4 months (June), and just finally got my period a few days ago. I still get occasional hot flashes, especially during or after drinking alcohol. I am doing about an 1 1/2 hours of cardio a day, besides using my bike for transportation, eat clean 90% of the time, and weight train a few days a week. The scale is not budging and I've been at that for about 6 weeks. It is frustrating to say the least. Does anyone know how long it takes your body to get back to normal??

My 12 yr. old son has to start this drug tomorrow. It's a long story I don't want to go into right now about why he has to take it, sort of irrelevant to the side effects he will experience. I'm glad I found this site and I will post our experience as we go along. He's going to be on 60 mg for 2 weeks, 45 for the next two, and it drops from there but they expect him to be on it for 4 to 6 months. Our doctor did not tell us much about side effects but gave us a brochure on it which definitely glosses over everything you all have mentioned here. One of my concerns is how this will affect his growth since he is just starting to grow a lot. More later.

Did anybody have horrible hair loss? I only had mine in for 6 weeks and i got it removed yesterday!!I have a 4 month old and i am following weight watchers and going to curves fitness centres 4 times a week . When my daughter was 2 and a half months old i had lost all my baby weight plus 17lbs..since Mirena i have continued my program and gained 7lbs!! in 6 weeks!! my joints are screwed up it hurts to stand up my knees are so bad..Nausea..depressed..but the worst would have the be the hair loss!!! my hair line had receded over an inch in the last 6 weeks..unbelievable..why are doctors so quick to say it's not the Mirena..I live in Canada and the dam brochure did nto even mention hair loss..i am a Pharmacy Tech and my CPS which is a reference the doctor's use does not mention it either...so horrible iam now 25 and balding..i have post phoned my wedding scheduled for mar 2009 indefinalty until i get my hair back..i can't believe how much this product has ruined my life in 6 weeks...

i was fitted with the mirena on the 25th of july (almost 3 weeks ago). it hurt more than anything i have ever experienced. i've never had a child before so there's the answer to that. besides cramping and bleeding for two days after it was inserted, i haven't had any troubles. i haven't been bleeding or even spotting this whole time. i'm just waiting for the day when it's all gonna hit like a freight train. has anyone else started off well without any troubles and then had problems later? i feel really bad for the women on this site with all the difficulties. i wish you the best.

-tracee.

Well I do have the Mirena. It's been 4 years now. I've hated it since day one. I know I should just get it taken out. I really need to. My periods have never went away. The first year I would bleed 3 months then maybe have 2 months off and so on. It was soo annoying. Now I do have them monthly and they are light but I cramp more now then I ever have. I really didn't have side effects in the beginning. I have them now. I never thought it could be the mirena till I came on here. I'm always dizzy, have headaches, nausea, cramping, anxiety, gain some weight, depression, no energy, ance (never had that before), etc. Ya, even my doctor never told me these things and the brochure never said anything like that either. I would never suggest Mirena to anyone.

I had Mirena put in on April 23rd. Since then I feel as though I'm a rollercoaster of emotions. I'm filled with rage one minute, crying the next, out of my mind...Bleeding, cramping, back pain. I delivered my 2nd child in Feb. and experienced post partum depression with my first child. I was feeling very good after the birth of my 2nd child until I had this thing put in my body.

I called my dr and was directed to 3 different people. One woman when I was trying to explain why I wanted it out actually told me to "ride out the hormones" and hung up on me!

I never got to speak to my Dr. and today tried to call again. I'm going in on Tuesday to get it out of my body. I feel very strongly about this. What upsets me the most is that this is MY body and regardless as to why I want it out of me, they should be respecting my decision NOT hanging up the phone, not acting like this "miracle" drug can do no harm when clearly it can as stated on the brochure they give you in the office. While not many may suffer there are some that do and it should be respected and not dismissed when brought to a doctor's attention!!!

I don't like how the doctor's office tried to make this as though I'm just CRAZY or this is in my head. I've been seeing a therapist for three years and she encouraged me to get this thing out of me if its causing me that much anxiety!!!

We are NOT crazy and we know our bodies best. Quite frankly I feel violated as there is a foreign object in my body that my Dr. doesn't seem to want to take out despite the fact that this is my wish.

My experience and a question...

Hello all,
I had mine placed 6 days ago. First 2 days were a little painful. But I was able to go to school and work (in my final year of college and am having a hard enough time in Calculus without missing a day). I have been on many different kinds of birth control (patch, pill, and shot). My problem is I suffer from severe migraines. At the worst point in my life, they were 3-5 times a week. The patch worked the best for me. I lost weight, periods didn't change at all, migraines went to 2-4 a month and I (still to this day) have never really experienced cramps. However, because of the cost and my financial situation at the time, I couldn't afford it. The shot was the worst. Gained 10 pounds every 3 months, very emotional and depressed all the time, and the migraines slowly became more frequent. Changed to the pill (Kariva) and took it so that I only had a period every 3 months. My migraines almost went away completely but I had a lot of lower abdomen pain. Had every test under the sun and they found nothing wrong. My doctor suggested changing my birth control so here I am. My question is are there any signs of complications from the placement of Mirena? About once a day or more I get a sharp pain in my lower left side. Not sure if this is just the same pains I had from the pill (didn't take anything for birth control for 2 months and all the pain stopped. didn't start up again till placement) or if others have experienced this when something was wrong. I am scared they may be something wrong but being a broke college student, don't really have $100 to spend at the doctor to have the usually *shrug*. Thanks! email ******

SO HAPPY to have found this forum. I had been having ALL of the symptoms already mentioned here, except that I actually lost weight(maybe from the stress the damned little demon was putting me through). Anyway I had been searching various health sites about all this stuff, and just on a whim decided to google mirena side effects because I did not remember there being very much listed in the brochure or much mentioned by my obgyn, but because I was so foggy headed all the time, thought I may have forgotten something....well as you all know, none of this was brought to our attention prior to insertion and I actually googled Mirena b4 having it put in, and never found any info like this. That was in May 07...so I got mine out April 9th, 08 started my period 4 days later, and still fluctuating between heavy down pours and spotting after 6 days. ?'s for anyone who had theres out....how long b4 you saw improvements on problems....especially acne, moodiness and my worst thing has been excruciating joint and back pain every day....but I want to know about any of the symptoms and how long b4 they got better. Hang in there girls and give yourselves a big pat on the back for dealing with this mess and having the courage to make your voices heard. Thank-you for listening.

I experienced a severe, exceedingly painful scleritis after my first dose of Fosamax. The ophthalmologist treated it as as "allergy" with prentisone drops. I was prevented from taking a second dose and the eye cleared up but recurred in full force after resumption of the medication. I accidentally noticed "Rarely, eye involvement" in the brochure that comes with the drug. But who associates Fosamax with the eye? My doctor didn't believe it until I was able to find several medical reports of such instances. The reports emphasized that the affliction did not clear up until the medication was stopped. I have not taken it again and have had no further trouble. I suppose I should try it once more,but no thanks! It hurt too much!

I have been taking Geodon for 3 yrs and have been trying to get off of it. I started on 40mgs once a day and was driving crazy from the Withdrawal side effects my pdoc and I did not anticipate. Geodon should be taken twice a day to even out the effects. Geodon has a wear off effect. About two yrs ago I was upped to 100 mgs a day and dealt with many side effects. I take 40mgs in the am and 60mgs in the pm. Now I deal with constipation, facial twitches, something stuck in my throat constantly, feeling cold all the time. I would complain to my pdoc but we never made the connection it was Geodon doing this to me. I am considered bp1 w/psychotic features and have not had a major episode since my dose was raised to 100mgs a day. Off and on I try to wean myself off Geodon but I find it impossible. My body screams for the Geodon when I don't take it. Nausea, hot & cold flashes, a feeling of total unwellness, dizziness, loose stools & stomach cramps all start about three days after I start the weaning process and last till I take some more Geodon to make it subside. I only have Ativan to help me get off this stuff and it is not much help. I am also on 75mgs a day of Topamax. Since I was raised to 100mgs I have had real troubles with insomnia. I go to bed at 9pm and I am fully awake between 3 to 5am. I never got up that early before Geodon. Ambien does not help to keep me sleeping. I will admit my mania is gone on Geodon but I still have some low lying depression that never seems to go away. I hate Geodon because it is next to impossible to get off this medication. I have tried to wean myself down several times without success. I don't want to be attached to this drug for the rest of my life. The addiction factor of this medication is not talked about in the brochure for this medication. The Withdrawal effects are horrible if you want to taper down or get off of it all together.

I am 57yr. old male who has been taking Omeprazole continuously for 7yrs., not knowing that it should not be taken more than 14days at a time, this was never stipulated on the bottle,my bad for not reading the accompanying side effects brochure, some of the effects I experienced were sweating, dizziness, weak legs, hair loss, fatigue, depression, joint pain, loss of sexual drive, erection dysfunction,difficulty in urinating,and most embarrassing of all, enlargement of breast. Starting today I am finished with Omeprazole, thank God for this site,I thought I was just getting old.

I have been on mirena now for 10 months. I was on the depo for 10 years prior. I loved my depo adn only went off of it after Kaiser said I could not do it any longer. I was told that mirena was a god send and a lot like my depo. I can say that the combination of depo and mirena I have not had any period at all. but that is where the happiness ends. I have experienced moths of breast pain. it hurt to touch them let alone put anything on them. after about 6 months and numerous trips to the vet it disappeared. then I got a small rash on my neck and by my arms. went to dermatology and since then I have been there, or to my primary or an allergist every week since then. the rough severley itchy skin is constant. remarkably every 29 - 32 days it fades for 2 days or so and just when I am sure it is going away wham back it comes and each time it is getting worse and worse. having never had any skin problems before I believed the doctors tha tit was folliculitus, then they said dermatitus, then they said uticaria and then hives or the last straw i was causing it that it was in my head. i just got a new allergist and while she doesn't knwo if it is my mirena she can tell me I have histamine levels that are off the chart. my husband is allergic to a lot so we already use free & clear everything and my housse is spotless but I am still being told it is soemthing I am doing to myself. I have also been reevaluating my things and I relaize I have been experiencing a lot of numbness and joint pain. so much so that my primary sent me to a rhuematlogist and he ran every test for lupus, and many other diseaeses adn even cancer. I was going crazy. Iwas beginning to think maybe I was mental. I have since been researching mirena and I am finding it so much more than what the pamphlet says. I finally got the nerve to call my ob, adn she ahs since been researching things with me and we know for sure that no matter what next week I get my mirena removed. I am just feeling so alone and depressed. I am 33 years old and instead of enjoying my new marriage I am contemplating a divorce becasue I do not want him to be stuck with soemone who might be crazy. seeking support and anyone else who feels this way.