Drawback symptoms and conditions

I LOVE my Mirena!!!!!! I don't know who you all are out there complaining, but this is the best thing I have ever imagined! No pills to remember, no periods to deal with, and I can't even tell it's there. I had the most minor cramps when it was placed, and felt totally normal the next day. I had minor spotting for the 1st 3 months, and then absolutely no bleeding, cramping, bloating or weight gain. My libido is completely unchanged, and I feel carefree and with a lot less to worry about than with any other birth control I've ever used. The only drawback to this thing has been mild acne, which got much better after the 1st 2 months, and is controllable with Proactive. I loved my Mirena so much I talked my 3 best friends into getting it too, and they love it just as much as I do, only they didn't even get the acne. Sorry you all got so unlucky... my experience is completely opposite of yours...

I am 31 years old and I FINALLY have relief from the pain caused by endo. I have been dealing with this crap for about 14 years. I have only been on it for 1 month. The hot flashes are TERRIBLE!! But I guess it beats the pain. I have been reading some of the other people that have posted their side effects. Some of you are saying that you have been on Lupron for 1 year or even 2 years. My Dr. says you can only use if for 6 months. I guess I should've asked more questions. Any suggestions on what to do about the hot flashes - other than put a fan in my face??

I just started my first pill of loestrin24fe and am very scared from some of the comments i read on this site like worse acne, no sex drive, hair loss, weight gain, etc. My gyno put me on this pill because of my endometriosis. But I have hormonal acne and I really don't want it to get worse.

I had my 2nd child in June '08 and had Mirena placed on 8-8-08 with no discomfort or problems of any kind. I had already heard great things about it from two co-workers who LOVE theirs. This past weekend I finally started poking around on the computer because of my husband's constant complaints of the "whiskers" poking the head of his penis when we have sex. Lo and behold, I find this page and am BLOWN AWAY. I felt so relieved. I have never been one to have headaches, nausea, back pain or low sex drive. I had been attributing those things to a combination of being significantly overweight, having two babies under the age of 19 months and being on Prednisone (for rheumatoid arthritis). I also have been experiencing a lot of fatigue, night sweats/hot flashes, weight gain, swollen breasts, dizziness, swollen hands/feet, and crazy mood swings. I know that all of these symptoms can probably be explained away as being due to the prednisone, my weight, my life right now (two babies and working full-time) and any number of other things, but there are so many women who have Mirena who are reporting the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. I can't just be a coincidence. So anyway, I went to my doc today to have it removed and he, of course, told me that he doesn't believe that any of my symptoms are due to Mirena. I had it removed anyway, but he did tell me something I didn't know: the tiny amount of hormone is delivered locally, as opposed to oral contraceptives' systemic delivery in a larger amount. Go figure. In any case, I am disappointed and have mixed feelings, but I cannot wait to see if my sex drive returns and my lower back pain subsides. I also want control of my moods, weight and breasts again! We discussed the Essure, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to put something foreign in my body again right now. I don't want anymore kids (I'm 40 and have two already), but the options for 98%+ are limited. Everything seems to have a drawback. Oh well. I'll just be glad to see if the symptoms were related to Mirena. If not, I'll get it put back in.

Severe breast pain, bladder infections, hot flashes.
More than a year after stopping Ambien I still have some pain, cannot wear a bra. As a sleep aid, though, Ambien was fine. I went to sleep when I wanted and woke up with a clear head in the morning. I can
see how some people who don't have
side effects like the drug.

Hey all! I've been on Loestrin 24 for an entire month (just finished my pack today) and things have been smooth. No tender breasts, no weight gain, no depression, nothing! ***EXCEPT I still haven't got my period! I'm almost completely positive I'm not pregnant.. my boyfriend and I are extremely careful. What's weird is that I keep expecting to get my period because I'm getting the usual signs I get right before my period..

**Has anyone else experienced no period on this birth control???

I've been on Ortho Evra patch for a couple years. Absolutely loved it. My symptoms of moodiness were almost nonexistent, periods were very regular , brief and light, breasts were growing a bit and tender sometimes, but it did not bother me too much. I did not notice any big weight changes, no cramps or pain. The best thing about it was not needing to remember to take it everyday like a pill. The only drawback was that the patch could move, slide, fall off, bend, or leave a black glue stain on skin or clothes, but you learn how to deal with it after while. Then I switched to another insurance and patch became awfully expensive. After that I started hearing of all the legal issues involved and terrible side effects, and was happy I got off of it, although it never caused me any problems personally.

I must say I love the NuvaRing. I've been on it for almost 3 years. It is extremely convenient. I do have some issues with weight and depression, but I've had those for a while so I don't think I can blame them on NuvaRing. I was previously on Depo for 3 years, and before that various pills (which I could never remember to take). I loved the Depo for it's convenience, but I think it caused a lot more weight gain and loss of sex drive than any other birth control method I've tried. I also tri-cycle my rings (I only have my period after every third ring cycle). The less periods the better in my opinion. I have very very light bleeding during my period. The only drawback is I have one day of horrible cramps that I never used to have. I just take some Ibuprofen and remember that it's only one day every three months.

Unfortunately I have crappy health insurance that won't cover NuvaRing, so I'm thinking about switching to Mirena. I'll miss the Ring, but hopefully Mirena will be good to me.

Yasmin - Sudden Panic/Anxiety-

I have been on Yasmin for 7 years. I started a new box and pack 3 weeks ago and 72 hours later had what I thought was a "panic attack". I had never suffered panic or anxiety before and I am 32. Then, the chest pain and anxious feeling wouldn't go away (not normal with panic I hear). I went to the Dr and my bloodwork was all "great". I went to a cardiologist and they tested my heart. It was indeed beating "extra" so I had to be one a monitor. Still, the entire time I was miserable and wondering what the heck had happened to me. How could I go from being a normal, well adjusted women to a crazy lady in one day. I was crying and couldn't function, concentrate or eat. I felt like an "out of body" type of experience almost, like it wasn't really me who was feeling all this. Very disoriented feeling. Well, the Dr gave me anxiety pills and I was going to take them. But, in the meantime I went on the "sugar pills" of my Yasmin and guess what? 72 hours after I stopped the pills I felt normal again!!! I'm still not 100%, I'm 90%. Now I have no hard evidence that Yasmin caused this, particularly since I've been on it so long but I can't help wondering if they changed the dosages or something. I have NEVER experienced any level of anxiety or panic before this and going off the pills was the only thing I changed when I started feeling better. Sounds like more than a coincidence to me.

Has this happened to anyone else recently???

I love the RING. I was on the pill FOREVER then I changed to Seasonal. I hated that because i ALWAYS had my period. Then I switched to the patch. I loved that but hated the tan lines (i know.... very vain). Also, the risks seemed MUCH higher than any other bc (health wise). So, I got on the ring. I love it love it love it! I don't have any breast tenderness before my period. I used to ALWAYS have breast soreness for about a week before my period.
The one drawback i have with the RING is the DISCHARGE!!!! It's pretty gross. I pretty much hate the constant discharge. But.... i fee like it's worth it.... not having to remember to take a pill, no breast tenderness, no severe moodswings.... I think it effects everyone differently. I think if you lead a fairly healthy life style, the side effects will be few to none. but i'm not a doctor. try it yourself to see....

I have been on prednisone for twelve days, due to my Inflammatory Arthritis. I started on 15 mg of pred for 4 days, then 10 mg, and down to 5 mg. Today is my last day of prednisone, although my doctor told me that I could continue to take 5 mg, if I'd like. I have had mild anxiety and diarrhea, which I think is caused by the anxiety. My joints have felt great and the inflammation has gone down. The only drawback that I am had has been the anxiety and headaches. I'd take it again, but I do not like the anxious feeling that I am experiencing.

I was prescribed effexor 150mg daily as an anti depressent. I swear up and down by it. It has increased my saratonin level and I now get a good nights sleep. Clearly more focused at work and less moody. I am clearly more focused and better able to concentrate on variuos task.
The one major drawback in my situation is noticeble weight gain. Thirty-five pounds. Noticeable awareness in sexual drive, longevity and discharge!