Hormonal changes symptoms and conditions

I had mine removed this week - thank the lord above!!! However, it has been rough and be forewarned that I experienced horrific cramping and HEAVY bleeding for nearly five days. I also had terrible back pains and some pain down my legs as well as some mental fogginess. I only had it in about one month and had gained 3 pounds and outgrown my bras! So now, two boxes of tampons later, I finally stopped bleeding altogether about 24 hours ago and the cramping has subsided. I feel mentally clearer and, believe it or not, have some semblance of libido - my husband is thrilled!

I am exploring other options for managing hormonal changes in perimenopause - including evening primrose oil and am still doing lots of yoga (even during the pain periods I did lots of yoga to help me manage)...Mainly, I feel so betrayed by the doctors (two women half my age) who insisted my symptoms were "all in my head" - to those of you planning for removal I encourage you to tell the medical professionals you work with that you are NOT crazy and NOT the only one experiencing these side effects. I personally believe that many women get too much progestin in the Mirena (which is not Progesterone, either) and this, in addition to overloading our estrogen, is enough to make us completely insane and miserable. I say let nature work its course as regards my own perimenopause and to those out there using Mirena for birth control I managed to avoid pregnancy with little concern using natural/rhythm methods and condoms as well as a diaphragm, conceiving my two beautiful (now teenage) sons without any intervention from hormones except my own. I am going to do peri and menopause the same way here on out. !!!!

Would love to hear how long it took for weight and stomach fat to go away after the removal from anyone who has been there - I eat very healthfully and exercise daily so I knew the pregnant look I got after that month with the Mirena was not due to one too many cookies )as my doctor seemed to infer !

I have had Mirena for 18 months now. I love it. I have had no side effects that you all are describing. I have 4 friends that switched and all love it and only one had to have a follow up to have the strings shortened.

As far as the weight gain, ladies, let’s be honest. We are not 18 anymore and as we get older it is only going to become more difficult to keep weight off. Blaming it on a B/C....lets think about that last chocolate bar we ate because we were busy carting the kids off to a sports practice HMMM....
With any drug comes side effects, headaches, nausea, and some other terribly worse, but lets again be honest, all of these were pointed out in the literature available.

I just thought I would take the time to write my support as this does work and work well for some women, just not all, same as any other form of B/C.

Hello,
I also had Mirena for a few months and did not like it. I experienced cramping comparable to labor pains, weight gain, mood swings, oily hair, hair loss, anxiety, felt depressed most of the time, and also zero sex drive. Since I had it removed I have experienced the heavy bleeding, and clear watery and stretchy discharge kind of when your ovulating so I'm not sure if I am ovulating or if it's just hormonal changes. I however don't like it. I also had mood swings after having it removed. It's been two months since I had it removed and I feel a lot better than when I was using Mirena.

My 9 year old daughter got her first shot in Dec. 2008 and her second in Feb. and the last in June. We have have been to the doctor a lot of times due to headaches with the doctor's opinion being that it's "allergies". She is now on allergy shots with still no relief from the headaches. I listened to her pediatrician and got her the shots. I feel so bad now after reading all the problems others are having with this vaccine. She also has had a change in her attitude aggression,moodiness,cries often, and she says she's depressed. If anybody has any suggestions for us please let me know. I love my little girl and know I'm worried.

wow- glad I found you guys! I'm female, 54, thin, healthy, have always exercised and watched my diet. cholesterol went up to 280 a couple of yrs ago- tried more diet/exercise but it only came down to 250, so since then have tried 4 low-dose (40 mg) statins (crestor, lipitor, zocor, and now pravastatin), all of which after 2-6 months made me feel like I was jumping out of my skin and caused chest pain and palpitations that stopped almost immediately when I discontinued them. Also, I've always fallen asleep quickly and now take an hour or more, and recently my fingers have started falling asleep/tingling. I'm stopping the pravastatin today! Maybe 250 isn't so bad, if this is the alternative. Does anyone have any remedies to suggest besides low fat/low sugar diet? I just read that we should avoid reduced-fat milks (I drink 1%) because they contain oxydized cholesterol, which irritates the artery wall.

hi there. well it's been 2 weeks since I had the mirena removed. I don't really notice anything different, although I have been extremely emotional and depressed, which may be a side effect of the hormonal changes going on since removal... My breasts are not as big and sore which is a good thing. My measurements seem to be the same although I don't feel or appear to be quite as puffy as I was. Could be all in my head-who knows? I DO KNOW that I am still achy and even more so now with a sick ache in my joints. Hopefully this will subside. I had a liquidy smelly discharge and went to the doctor and he did a culture-no results yet, but he said it most likely is bacterial vaginosis. Anyhow, will keep you posted. I feel better psychologically just knowing that it is not inside me anymore.. I wish I knew how to detoxify my system-any ideas??
thanks

This is for the women that have had it removed and are still suffering from the alleged side effects (trying to stay politically correct here, so no hate mail lol) - I've been following this blog/post site carefully since i've come across it, and have learned what i feel is quite a lot. The mirena is like any other drug in that it sticks around for a long time even once the source is gone!
from what some people have replied w/ - post removal was a lot like withdrawal from most drugs. the first bit of time you may or may not feel better - but in the overall the symptoms will subside in time. women who had it removed after an extended amount of time, or were super-sensitive to hormonal changes seemed to take longer than others for the symptoms to pass. not to scare anyone, but there have been a few that had it removed over a year ago that are one just now feeling 95% themselves. for the sake of awareness, I'm going to mention that a couple women feel that the mirena has ruined their life, b/c now they cannot safely conceive due to the imbalance and damage it's done. give it time, but you'll start to feel better.

PLEASE HELP! Had the Mirena removed on Monday. Still extremely tired, irritable, and headaches are MORE frequent. Is this normal? How long will it last? My poor hubby shouldn't have to deal with me snapping at him over every little thing. And I just want to feel awake!

My wife had one put in about 3 days ago. On the second day, I slipped and made a semi-rude comment based on some mis-information I had. In a few minutes I realized I had spoken based on bad information so I apologized to her. She blew up and got twice as mad, and for the next 14 hours it was pure emotional agony. She brought up small issues that happened years ago and some of it wasn't even true. I was in trouble and getting pounded for little things she had forgiven me for long ago. I knew it was because of the hormonal changes from her Mirena. Also, we hadn't been close sexually for several days before the insertion, but now she has no interest, and just casually pushes me away. Touching her back and kissing her neck means nothing. I hope she has some of these other symptoms quick enough that she puts it together, because if I suggest anything to her at this point, I will lose my head. This is totally unlike her. The change was sudden, and it is clear it's due to the hormonal changes.

I was on Desogen for over a year and a half, during which time I had symptoms similar to IBS. Frequent diarrhea, severe intestinal cramps after almost every meal, bloating, weight gain, gas, and subsequent depression and lethargy. I even went to see a GI specialist, who asked if I had recently started taking a new birth control or had any other hormonal changes. At the time I had been taking Desogen for a year, so I didn't connect the two. Now 9 months later I finally got off of Desogen and have had no more IBS symptoms. The doctors I have spoken to since then have no explanation for it, aside from 'hormones can do strange things sometimes'. I don't know if I have been depressed since I have been on Desogen, aside from the anxiety and depression caused by IBS, but I am so glad not to be on it anymore. I hope the symptoms stay gone and I am able to lose the weight I gained while on it.

I guess that my side effects were not as obvious as some of the ones described before me, but after reading these posts everything starts fitting into place! I've never have had big mood swings etc.. the hormonal changes did not affect me that way even during pregnancy or with the Mirena but i have actually bought pregnancy tests thinking i am pregnant again since i had it inside! Lightheaded, dizzy, nausea and tons of discharge is more of what i get, on top of it, i've had the Mirena for almost 3 years now and after my baby was born i lost weight very rapidly but a few months later i never was able to figure out how not to gain, I am about 15 pounds overweight even in places were i've never had weight problems. My blood pressure is perfect every time i see the doctor (of course) but at home i know it's not great all the time that is why i stopped birth control in the first place and no one told me about this when the Mirena was recommended. I've gone to the OBG to talk about my discharge, i never get any blood (last period was nov of 05) but i cannot keep on one dry pair of underwear for 15 minutes!! I am going crazy, i feel odd around people and sex thinking i smell, sometimes even my pants get wet, i know this is not normal and the doctor keeps telling me this happens to women all the time. c'mon!!!!!
After seeing this site i have decided to take it off but it has been decades since i check things inside.. maybe is get my doc to take it out, i guess no way to coach this right?
I will post my effects after the Mirena is gone.

i had the mirena put in approximately three months ago (nov. 08). i have been thrilled with it! (so far.) i have been on antidepressants (zoloft, depakote er) for years, and although i have never really had any physical side effects from my menstrual cycle, the mental ones were total anguish. basically 2 weeks (or more) of the month i was in misery, severe depression (pre-pms, pms, post pms). since i have been using this iud, my moods have been great! none of the outbursts, depression, etc...that goes along with hormonal changes of a cycle. HOWEVER, i am only three months into using this, and unfortunately have not been keeping up with my "cycles" (since i have had little or no bleeding). this month i am a little more aware and am noticing feeling bloated, ab. pain, a little difficulty sleeping, some cravings, etc...i do notice a vaginal itching that seems to happen mostly around a particular time each month (which i am assuming is my "period".) so far as sex, it seems like it may have improved, probably just because i "feel" good. basically, what it seems like is that i am happy (maybe too much so, perhaps from the antidepressants?), when i am not having my "period" and during my period, i'm just pretty much level. unfortunately, i am enjoying the "highs" very much, and am thinking i may put up with my side effects (as long as they don't get too bad) in order to continue having them. (i have had the paragard in for the past 10 years, 2 children before that). it feels good to feel good, and not have to "dread" and schedule my life around my periods, pms, post-pms. i am soon to be entering into menopause (i'm assuming) which is something i have really been dreading, thinking i will not be in the bed (but under it) for years. i am hoping that mirena will make menopause a little more manageable. another HOWEVER, i have gained weight, probably 10 lbs. that again is almost a trade off. although i have never really suffered much physically, i have suffered mentally for years, and though it's hard for me to judge with no experience, i certainly think i would rather have the physical! (at least when i'm in the throes of it!)

My serious hell started at age 43 and I am 49 now. Diagnosis was hormonal changes. My doctor put me on Zoloft, klonopin, xanax, flexril, pain killers, and prescribed many other meds to control my very frightening panic attacks, depression, fibromyalgia, migraine, arthritis type pains, knee pains, insomnia, restless legs, tingling, numbness, hot flashes, and many other indescribable symptoms.
Nothing helped. I stopped going to work and stayed in bed most of the year and a year later stopped taking all of the prescription meds because of the serious side effects etc. I continued the Zoloft though. Zoloft helped with my panic attacks but all other symptoms are intact and some new symptoms have joined the list.
New development is that about 6 months ago I started feeling very tired, drained, exhausted, thinking became slow; weight won’t come off (put on 40 lbs last couple of years). My depression and other symptoms listed above worsened.
Now in Dec. of 2008 I got my annual physical done and the blood test showed that my thyroid hormone was low (hypothyroidism) so my doctor put me on Levoxyl which drove me even more crazy (manic depressive type symptom, restlessness, blurry vision, and vomiting. Ear infections, sore throat, cough that won’t go away for weeks. But there were moments here and there when I found myself feeling good and happy but the moments didn't last longer than half hour. There was one week when I didn't get any migraines and my appetite reduced but then there were times when I felt very very hungry and ended up eating a lot.
Fed up with my indescribable hell and the doctors I decided to check into some alternative medicines, home remedies, and herbs. A friend who is a nurse and has been going through worse hell recommended that I start taking Thyroidinum 30cc, a homeopathic tincture, and slowly stop the Levoxyl. So I ordered it online. Then I researched on Black kohosh and bought it in liquid form from whole foods. I also bought chamomile liquid form and progesterone cream. I looked for bioidentical hormonal creams but didn't find any so decided that I will try progesterone cream.
OnDec. 26, 2009 I started taking Thyroidinum 30cc 10 drops in 1 ounce of water three times a day and at night before going to bed I started taking black kohosh only 10 drops in water. Recommended dose of black kohosh is 30 drops in water three times a day (total 90 drops a day). I was little afraid to take that much because I read some reports which said that it can cause liver damage. I tried it couple of times during the day but it made me feel funny so I stopped taking it during the day time.
Now I don’t know what’s making me feel good whether it’s Levoxyl adjusting to my body or Thyroidinum 30cc or black kohosh. Believe it or not I have never slept like this in my whole life before as I have in the past one week. I go to bed at 10 PM and wake up at 9 AM. I have no idea what happens in between. I am happy. Energy is great. I go out to do things I had lost interest in in the past 6 years. No migraines. No joint pains. No body pains. It almost feels like I am woken up from a very long sleep. I don't know what’s making me feel good. It’s too early to tell but I will keep you all posted if anything changes. Please give me feedback regarding my condition and the meds I am on. I will also be posting this message for the greatest and the best homeopathic doctor Pankaj Varma /Max Varma and see if I can get some help in that forum. I started Thyroidinum without consulting a homeopathic doctor and I want to quit Levoxyl and Zoloft in the next week or two. I am afraid to do so but I am really fed up with the doctors heavily medicating me for the past 6 years and all I have felt is minute help in couple of symptoms and gotten twenty additional side effects from the prescriptions. I have not had a normal life since I turned 43 and I will be turning 49 in Feb this year.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) about 9 years ago. My teenager was diagnosed 2 years ago. I have done a good amount of research and have also learned a lot through experience.
*The most critical thing is to NOT accept a generic brand of thyroid replacement. My GYN, family doctor, and my endo (who specializes in thyroid) have told me that generic pharms are only required to match the original drug's ingredients/strength by 75%. As my GYN said, if you're in the business of making a profit, and you can get away with putting in 25% less of the expensive (and unfortunately, the essential) ingredient, that's what you're going to do!
*Measuring T4 alone may not reveal hypothyroidism in the early stages, and it will probably not show everything that is going with your thyroid. I knew something was not right, but my old GYN (got rid of her) tested T4 only and said I was fine. I went to an endo who measures 1/2 dozen indicators, including antibodies and thyroid uptake, and I was correctly diagnosed. He also diagnosed my son early on, albeit, my son was exhibiting numerous symptoms. Which brings up another point -
*Everyone exhibits a different degree of different symptoms. So don't be surprised if your thyroid levels are higher or lower than you thought they would be based on your symptoms.
*Find a doctor that will work with you. I had a doctor that insisted my dosage was correct, even though I was still feeling very tired, had dry skin, etc. I finally found a doctor that acknowledged that there is a range of "normal" thyroid function. He upped my med a little, and I've felt much better.
*Know the signs of too high of a dosage - restlessness, eye and muscle twitches, trouble sleeping, etc. Our endo has us come in 1 month after prescribing a new dosage to make sure it is enough or not too much. If I was exhibiting hyper symptoms, I would not wait 1 month to be rechecked.
*Hormonal changes of any kind can wreck havoc on your thyroid - whether you're a male teenager or a peri-menopausal woman. Your thyroid levels can change quickly. If my son or I experience any new symptoms - fatigue, rapid weight gain, unusually dry skin, muscle aches/pains, etc. - I make an appointment w/ the endo. My son's thyroid had plummeted the last time I took him in, and the endo adjusted his med. Illnesses (flu, pneumonia, etc.) can effect your thyroid levels, as well as stress, so have your levels checked after going through a serious bout.
*Once you have your dosage correctly set - watch your appetite! Hypothyroidism can reduce your appetite, and once you've got that corrected, your appetite comes back. Keep a food journal to track your calorie intake.
*Have an annual thyroid ultrasound to make sure your thyroid is not enlarged and to look for nodules (very common w/ hypothyroidism.)
*TAKE YOUR THYROID 1ST THING IN THE MORNING BY ITSELF 1 hour before you eat. I had a friend who was taking her calcium supplement along with her thyroid every day and later found out the calcium was basically canceling the thyroid. Her doctor should have warned her about this, but I think they assume we know these things. Vitamins, herbs, cold medicines, certain foods, and other medicines/supplements can greatly interfere with your thyroid replacement.
*Women with hypothyroidism should take a calcium supplement (take one with magnesium for better absorption) because we are at greater risk for osteoporosis. I take mine at night, so it does not interfere w/ my thyroid replacement.

ive been on levothyroxine for about 6 years...... for an underactive thyroid gland and i am stunned reading all these side effects as for about 4 years ive suffered from severe joint paint, fatigue ,very low moods , foggy brain, mood swings hair loss, all i want to do is sleep and even then im still tired.
I am 35 and feel about 80 as my back hips legs calfs and feet all hurt so bad.
I have been to the doctors so many times and got no where.
ive been told your in pain because your depressed( who would not be depressed ) but i said i am depressed cause im in such pain.
i remember asking once if it was due to the thyroid or the drug and the doctor said your levels are fine and the drug gives no side effects.
I feel like stopping it right now to be honest.
I only got it after my third pregnancy and i remember reading once it can correct itself as it could be caused by pregnancy ????? any ideas.
ive copied and pasted a lot of these comments and i will be making a trip to doctors to be fobbed off again im sure ....but its worth a try

Hello, told my doctor today of leg cramps, facial rashes and numbness in feet....and specifically asked if they were related to Synthroid? He said no, I have been on it for 2months...and just upped script to .50mcg....and cramps are worse....I am going off the meds. I am in excellent health @ 64 and only went to this Doctor because of back pain.....was tested for a myriad of things...I had none of the symptoms for hypothyroidism.....what natural remedies are there for this . E.

Yeah I don't know why physicians just put us on this Aviane because its "cheaper" than Alysse. Mine told me it was basically the same thing but it's obviously not because I've been breaking out in zits like crazy ever since I went on it. I also got harsh mood swings, intense fits of anger (broken furniture can attest to this) and it comes completely randomly; one tiny thing can set me into a fit of rage. I had previously been using Alysse since I was 16 (I'm now 22) and it worked perfectly - didn't have harsh breakouts, my moods were normal, didn't gain weight. I've been taking Aviane for more than six months now and the zits (which are often huge and painful) haven't gone away :( I wash my face day and night, haven't changed my diet at all... So I can only assume it's because of hormonal changes - which only leaves Aviane.

I'm definitely switching back to Alysse - hell I'll pay the extra five dollars if it means a clear complexion and my/my boyfriend's sanity!!!

I have been on the NuvaRing for about three years now. It is great, I loved it. For the past year I have been experiencing the most awful cold sweats. They last for about two weeks on and off all day. Then subside for two weeks or so. I can not seem to find an answer as to why. My gyn told me that if it doesn't coincide with my period than it has nothing to do with it. She suggested a tooth infection...it wasn't. I am beginning to think it is the NuvaRing...although not sure because I have yet to find someone with a similar symptom. I just don't understand why now after I have been on it for soo long without a problem? That's the only thing making me wonder if it is a side effect of the NR or not. I took it out about two days ago....Has anyone experienced this reaction? This has really become unbearable.

Im so happy I found this site, as I too thought I was alone in this. I really beg someone to tell me, oce they came off the pill, how long did it take for them to recover? and for their first period to come? I was on the pill for less than a year, and came off it in Feb 08. It's now Sept 08 and still have not had a single period since. My weight has been fluctuating ridiculously, and the mood swings have made me lose SO many friends its unbelievable. i don't have energy to do anything, ive it a total depression. Im begging someone to just tell me how long after they stopped did everything feel back to normal? im worrying as its been 6 months for me and still nothing!!

I've been on Yasmin for almost 3 years and have had no bad experiences except for a little constipation that cannot be cured by an apple a day. Prior to yasmin I tried Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Ortho-Low which both made me gain weight and become moody. I also tried the patch that made me gain a lot more weight and become extremely moody! tried the NuvaRing, and they you cannot feel it but I could and also felt really moody on it but couldn't tell with the weight since I had gained so much on the other stuff. My friend recommended Yasmin to me and since then I have loved it. You can't be on oral contraceptives and live a lazy lifestyle. You've got to be healthy and active. Exercise increases positive endorphines that will help you keep a healthy mood. When I went on Yasmin I lost 40 pounds of the weight that I gained from the other stuff. In addition some little acne I had cleared up. I have not experienced moodiness on Yasmin but again I eat healthy and exercise A LOT which I think helps tremendously.

My doctor did have me try taking "yaz" for 2 months and please DO NOT confuse the two. Yaz was completely horrible for me and my period became wacky. My OB explained that all women have hormonal changes throughout their whole life and that Yasmin may not be right for me forever but right now it seems to be the best choice. She said all women are different and some may experience it horribly.

So those of you reading all the negative posts below - please do not be scared of by it because you do not know what is good for your body by the basis of someone else experience.

If you do research on Yasmin as with any other drug you can see that there are something that you need to consider when deciding to go on this drug. Yasmin is also different because it uses potassium.

Hi all, I have had the Mirena since May of 08. I had twins in Feb of this year and was given the little plastic ring for birth control. That gave me TERRIBLE migraines. i hardly ever even have headaches let alone migraines. It was impossible to take care of twin infants along w/migraine pain. I really shouldn't be on estrogen anyway because of a clotting problem in my family. So my doctor recommended the Mirena. I wanted it anyway because I can't remember to take pills now, (I'm a little busy.) Since I had it put in I have been losing my hair in unbelievable amounts which my doctor attributed to my just having twins. My depression and anxiety meds are NOT working anymore. My fourth and fifth toes on my right foot are completely numb and stiff, almost like I have arthritis or something. I have NO interest in having sex w/my husband. But after taking care of twins, who does?? Just kidding. I am not very happy with this IUD, but have decided the alternative (being pregnant) is not a better option at this time. So, for now I will continue to be a bitchy, balding, arthritic, celbate mother of two. Good luck to everyone else

I am 41 and like another poster, I use the ring to help regulate my period as I am in perimenopause. I have had no sex drive, fatigue, extreme change in discharge and a lot of vaginal pain. This is my 4th ring to use, and I am considering taking it out and talking to my doctor about something else. Maybe I just need to deal with the side effect of extremely long amounts of time between periods, but it sure doesn't make me feel secure since I can still get pregnant!

I am 26 years old and I thought I was having a heart attack last night. I seriously thought I was going to die. At work my feet and hands started to swell up really bad, but that went away pretty quickly. Then I started getting dizzy and feeling nauseated. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of it's chest and all I could do was think about it! I went and had my blood pressure checked at Walgreen's and they said it wasn't high enough for me to go to the ER, but I was scared. I was told I was having a panic attack to take deep breathes and try to take my mind off of it! Well that is hard to do when you are convinced that you are having a heart attack. Now I am experiencing pain in my lower back and having sharp stabbing pains near my left ovary and in my left shoulder down to my elbow.......when will this end? I just want my body back again!

I had my Mirena inserted about 4 months ago and I have felt like I'm falling apart ever since. I have experienced the following symptoms: numbness/tingling in arms and legs, EXTREME fatigue, depression, anxiety, acne on back, my hair is thinner, bloating, sore stomach, lower back pain, etc. Most recently, I have had a lot of heartburn and my voice is kind of hoarse. Also, when I went to the doctor, they did a urine test and found that I have a trace of blood in my urine. Along with this I feel like I need to pee all the time, but I seem to have no bladder infection. I am fed up with this device and feeling like total crap all of the time. I have no energy and can't seem to get enough sleep. The only thing good about this thing is that I don't have a period. Of course, my doctor swears all of these symptoms can't possibly be due to the Mirena, but I don't see how it could all be coincidental. Please let me know if anyone else is experiencing these weird symptoms like the bladder issue or the heartburn/hoarseness.

I have been on Singulair for 6 months and have experienced anxiety, depression, mood swings, fogginess, low frustration tolerance and very poor sleeping. All of which I thought may be due to hormonal issues. I am 38 and had not considered singulair as the possible culprit. Before seeing any reports about side effects I began taking natural sinus remedies and took myself off of singulair. I began to feel better almost immediately but still not thinking it was the singulair until I saw the reports.