Control weight gain symptoms and conditions

I had Mirena inserted 6 weeks ago and just had it removed. My medical history includes TIAs (mini-strokes) and migraines. I had a migraine EVERY DAY while I had Mirena. I also experienced ZERO LIBIDO (so what was the point of birth control!?), weight gain and mood swings. I had Paragard inserted a few days ago and I am already slowly returning to normal. My point - if you have had problems with hormones in the past, not only estrogen, but also progesterone, you may want to stay away from Mirena. My OB/GYN argued with me the entire time that there is no way Mirena could cause these symptoms since progesterone is not released in the bloodstream - BULL!!! Women, listen to your body and trust your gut.

I am a 45 year old woman (NOT a new mother) who had the Mirena inserted in January of 2009. I had gone off of the pill in 2003 after 16 years of being on it - told my hub I was DONE with hormonal birth control (weight gain, headaches, etc). After the pill, the weight fell off, headaches were gone, and my brain-fog and forgetfulness vanished. 6 years later I couldn't stand the heavy periods after so many years of light ones and decided to give Mirena a try since the hormones supposedly stayed in your uterus (YEAH RIGHT!). In my head, those 5 years of Mirena protection would buy me time until menopause and my doctor agreed it was a good choice. Fast forward 7 months. The weight came back (over 20 lbs) with NO change in diet. The headaches are back. The almost constant discharge is still there - and is not pleasant smelling by any stretch. I am not a new mom and am very in-tune with my body (thank you very much to the rude posters on here who have suggested it is all in our heads) - yes I did the research and expected some side effects, but the worst side effect I have and can't stand any longer however is hip joint pain. It is so bad that I feel like an 80 year old woman in the morning that can hardly move! It gets a little better during the day, but is constant. I can't lift my grandchildren without severe pain and this is NOT NORMAL! This did NOT happen before the IUD was inserted and I just now put 2 and 2 together that Mirena could be the cause. I also have virtually no energy - my house has fallen apart since January and my husband is beside himself. I just sent an email to my doctor asking her opinion on my suspicions and will more than likely have it removed SOON! Ladies, I want to say that this is NOT IN YOUR HEAD and the people who suggest otherwise should be ashamed of themselves. If you have Mirena and have no problems, good for you - just don't criticize those who do. It works differently on different people.

Hideous skin break outs like teenage acne, pain inside vagina like a needle pain, out of control weight gain even when exercising seems to make me hungry constantly cant sleep properly.
Bloating and gaining up to 3kg in fluid in 24 hrs .take a diuretic and wee it out within two to three hours.
happy not to bleed but cant handle the weight gain and acne, spend so much on skin treatment rather spend it on tampons and get back to bleeding but feeling healthier

Hello All,

I was surfing the net a few months ago and found this site. Ever since then I have been wondering if my health problems could be my BCP. I have been on Yasmin for nearly 3 years now and I came off of it in March of 05 in order to get pregnant with my daughter. I was taking Lexapro for anxiety and depression that had been diagnosed before Yasmin too. During that time, I felt great. I didn't really have any anxiety attacks or major depression for that matter.

Ever since I had my daughter though, I just keep having these terrible mood swings. One minute I'm happy as a lark, the next minute I just feel like Blah. I don't want to do anything or be around anyone. My sex drive is null in void. I don't even WANT to have sex. Honestly, I could care less about sex right now. I have episodes where all I want to do is cry and I've noticed my anxiety attacks have been getting worse.

My doctor put me on Yasmin because it was supposed to help control weight gain, yet I'm the biggest now that I've ever been. In 3 years I've gained 40 lbs. I am scared to talk to my doctor because I'm afraid he'll think I'm nuts. Do you think it could be the Yasmin and are there any "creditable" sites I can go to and get information about these side effects to show him? Thanks for the help.

Charity

Topamax? Did you mean "Dopamax"? That's what my new doctor said it is reffered to as in the mental health field. Dopey is exactly what I was while I was on it. I was prescribed it to help control weight gain while on anti-depressents. Hours after taking the first dose, I turned into a zombie. My head felt heavy. I could not focus enough to even read. I felt like everything was happening in slow motion and I wasn't able to drive. My family said I looked like I was constantly "doped up" and my eyes were always glassy. After a week of dealing with this and having to have my family drive me around, I decided enough-was-enough. The worst part was the withdrawl symtoms from it-constant ringing in my ears, sudden and frequent light headiness and the feeling of passing out. The cake-topper was the feel of a sudden electric pulse going through my head. My new doctor warned me before that I would experience that. Thank god, because I would have freaked out.