October 21th
2009
9:55 PM
I had my Mirena inserted yesterday afternoon during a hysteroscopy. The procedure went fine, and other than some cramping (and bleeding - which I knew would happen), last night I was feeling fine.
I woke up this morning with the absolute worst migraine headache I have ever experienced. I believe the nausea and dry heaving I've been experiencing all day are from this huge headache. So far, I am not impressed with Mirena - I wish I had found this website prior to my surgery. Although I'm not entirely sure at this point whether my migraine is due to the Mirena, or the anesthesia from my surgery. My doctor was VERY high on Mirena, and basically talked me into it. I went to her with the intention of having a robotic-assist hysterectomy. I have three children (and don't want any more), and have severely heavy periods - I get anemic every month. She seemed to indicate that she'd like me to try the Mirena first, and if it doesn't work out, then the hysterectomy. With three small kids, I don't think I can withstand the months and months of side affects that I have read on this site.
-- By condanchri | Reply | Private Message me
October 17th
2009
11:22 AM
If you experience migraines, and you are like me and never had a headache your entire life. My advice is to call your doctor and have a brain scan.
-- By kahmrk | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
June 15th
2009
12:47 PM
IT'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!! What a mess I went through. For those who missed my prior posts, I got my Mirena in June 2008 after I got married. Even though I'm 29, I'm a medical student and not ready for a baby.. Within weeks I had oily skin, oily hair, hair loss, sore breasts, and no sex drive at all. But I never had a single period after the second month, so I was happy!
By August or September I was gaining a lot of weight (20lbs) and started feeling "brain fog" and fatigue. By December and January I was seeing neurologists for SEVERE migraines and dizziness. In April I developed symptoms like MS such as tingling/numbness in my head, face, and one foot... profound fatigue, and incapacitating dizziness.I've had every test done from thyroid workups to MRIs/MRAs and nerve conduction studies. I was on 3 different migraine prescriptions and was even getting nerve blocks in my neck for them.
In May I became withdrawn, irritable, depressed, and had anxiety attacks. I'm not ever a moody person, and never had PMS. But here I am, crying for no reason, yelling at my husband, snapping at my mother, and SO FREAKING EXHAUSTED that going to work is impossible, driving the car seems dangerous (severe brain fog.... like I'm drugged), and even just doing the dishes or feeding the pets takes all my effort (with tears) to complete. I don't feel like myself at all.
I found this website and thought perhaps all these symptoms were from the Mirena. So I found a new OBGYN who was awesome and said he'd take it out. I went to have it removed but the first a$$hole who put it in for me cut the strings too short so they could not be grabbed. The new doc tried to reach them but couldn't. I ended up having to have THE MOST PAINFUL PROCEDURE OF MY LIFE.... I had to take cervical dilation pills and then get a hysteroscopy which is where they shove a camera into your uterus to look around and find the little sucker. The cramps were unbelievable.... 10 times worse that getting it placed. (Mind you I've never had children so it was really bad). After he found the strings, he grabbed them and pulled. I thought I was going to die.... my poor cervix had a scope in it, an instrument holding it still, a dilator in place, a speculum in the hole, and then an instrument went in along side the scope and pulled the little bugger out. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I was in a hot sweat worse than menopause I bet!
So here I am, home, bleeding, only minor cramps. But now I wonder... how long will it be until the depression and brain fog go away? I want to be myself again. I want to be happy. I want to laugh instead of cry. I WANT TO HAVE ENERGY. My greatest fear is that I went through all the pain of putting it in, taking it out, and the cost, and the depression, fatigue, and brain fog won't go away, meaning it wasn't the Mirena to begin with. (If that was the case, I could have dealt with the weight gain, oily hair, and migraines as long as I had the nerve blocks). But I find it hard to believe that the Mirena is not the cause since so many of you women say the same thing. BUT.............. most of you had the Mirena placed after having a baby, so it's possible it was PPD?
THIS IS MY QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.... did any of you WHO HAVE NEVER HAD CHILDREN have these things after getting the Mirena? Also, isn't it weird that the severe fatigue, depression, and really bad brain fog started after 9-10 months of having it and not sooner? I was on OCPs before the Mirena and did fine.... but this time I am so depressed and irritable, dizzy, and FREAKING TIRED TIRED TIRED.
:( How long until I feel better if it was the Mirena?
-- By ameigh | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
July 11th
2007
2:25 PM
Acne, decreased libido, depression, inability to lose weight (even with exercise and dieting), among other side effects. I have never had an acne problem but not a week went by without major pimple outbreaks on my chin. Sex is totally unappealing and my decreased sex drive has really effected our marriage. Mood swings have not been fun. Also had some backpain that I can't understand. Had it removed today and it was a nightmare - the IUD had migrated and was way up high in my cervix, had to have a hysteroscopy to have it removed. I have had two vaginal deliveries and this was far worse than either of those. Painful, terrible cramping, thought I was going to pass out and I normally have a high pain tolerance. Would never recommend the Mirena IUD to a single person!
-- By amie_milton | Reply | Private Message me
June 14th
2007
12:28 AM
Had mirena inserted 24/5/07 whilst having a hysteroscopy, all was ok for 2 days then suffered severe bleeding with pain. passed a massive clot now awaiting scan as doctor & nurse cannot find coil.I think it is around somewhere because I feel so terrible. No energy so tired despite sleeping like a baby. If I sit down I fall asleep. I feel like a zombie. I am not able to work because I feel Unwell. Has anyone else had these experiences?
-- By jennyf | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
December 13th
2006
2:27 PM
.Hi this is Sue again guest#33546. I am writing to follow up on my previous article, posted on 11/29/06. I saw my gynecologist on 12/1/06, after the prometrium he had me on failed to stop the bleeding. On December 4th I had surgery to stop extremely heavy bleeding and clots the size of a quarter that lasted 24 days. After speaking with Bristol Myers about my side effects, and them informing me this could continue until the drug was out of my system I decided a premarin injection probably would not work either, since the prometrium did not. I could not go on bleeding the way I was for several more months until this drug ran it's course and was out of my system. I was extremely tired, weak, and dizzy due to blood loss. I had a hysteroscopy, D and C , and an endometrial ablation also known as , performed to stop the bleeding. I was dehydrated and was given 5 bags of fluid in the hospital probably due to blood loss. During my pre op testing my blood pressure was elevated to 162 over 90. I have always had low blood pressure. They did an ekg and my heart rate was also elevated. Another side effect I failed to mention in my previous article was severe charley horse type cramping in my calves and feet while sleeping at night. The bleeding has lightened up to a brownish discharge now which is normal and can last for up to 2 weeks post-op. Besides informing Bristol Myers of my side effects I also contacted the FDA.
-- By sues_crossing | Reply | Private Message me
September 12th
2006
9:07 PM
I am having surgery in two weeks (laparascopy, hysteroscopy, and uterine ablation). My doctor gave me a shot of Lupron to prepare my body for the surgery. I had to ask for information regarding the drug as none was offered. One side effect stated was increase in depression, which concerned me because I am on anti-depressants. I talk to my psych med doctor and he didn't seem concerned. Well, I immediately had symptoms of forgetfulness and confusion. My depression increased significantly (I cried for six days straight), I could not function normally, I broke up with my boyfriend whom I love very much because I thought my world was coming to an end, and on and on, migrane, hip and pelvic pain, weakness, sleeplessness, lack of appetite. Two weeks after the injection I am finally starting to come to reality and trying to fix the mess I made emotionally. Apparently, there was a medication I could have been given to counteract or lessen some of these side effects, but no one bothered to tell me. My advise, if you are feeling any side effects, contact your doctor immediately. I"m only glad I only had to have one shot and would NEVER get another.
-- By ttorp2000 | Reply | Private Message me
August 15th
2006
8:17 AM
Well, I'm 29 I have three boys 1, 4, and 6. Between My one year old and four year old i had a miscarriage. I've always had bad periods but i learned to deal with it. After my last baby who was born at 27 weeks gastation. My periods got worse!! Besides that i started passing blood clots. ?@## What in the world was wrong with me?? Well, i went to see my doctor and i told her i had bad pains with my periods and passing blood clotes. We decided to do a Hysteroscopy, a Laparoscopy and a DNC!! Well, the test results came back that i have servere Endometriosis!! I seen my pictures AND THEY DON'T LOOK GOOD. But i don't like either of the options... Lupron shot or complete hysterectomy including my ovaries..NOT LIKE'EN THAT EITHER. RRRRRRR someone help me!! It's been a little over two weeks sence my surgery and i started reading about it endo. I got the book ENDOMETRIOSIS The Complete Reference for Taking Charge of Your Health By MARY LOU BALLWEG and started on an Endo Diet even started takeing Vitamins "MEGA VITA MIN FOR WOMEN". I just don't know what else... learning from the book over 600,000 hysterectomys are done a year and only 100,000 are really needed! AND after learning more about Lupron... i don't like it!! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT! Who wants to face all this at 29... and go through menopause at 29...Not me...but this is what i was delt..
-- By stephfine | Reply | Private Message me
July 1th
2006
8:39 PM
I am only 36. I had a Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy of my uterus. I was in surgery for over 2hours. My uterus was attached to my stomach, my ovary attached to my uterus. I had my right fallopian tube all twisted like a telephone cord. My left fallopian tube had a huge endometrioma in it. The doctor put everything back where it belonged, and cauterized some of the severe endometriosis. After surgery, I took Lupron for the recommended 6 months. Yes, it helped my Endometriosis, while I was on it. But, it is now ONE year later, and I am in just as much pain as I was BEFORE I took this medication. AND NOW on top of the endo pain, I HAVE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS MEDICINE THAT WON'T GO AWAY. I have had Foot pain since the first shot. I had leg pains, deep in the bones. I have had tendonitis in every limb, it just keeps moving around my body. (Lupron supposedly dries out your tendons) I had memory loss (though that was mostly temporary, mostly words) I had the night sweats and insomnia, though those both went away for the most part. I too was extremely emotional, both angry and upset. I also began to feel helpless and almost suicidal. The pain from the side effects made me feel this way. I gained about 20lbs. I have Osteopenia now, which is bone density loss, everyone should have a bone density test after Lupron. My feet are still killing me though. I wish they weren't, I would give anything to turn back to before Lupron so that I could say no thank you. Good luck to anyone who takes this, but hopefully all these posts will help you decide not to take it. It really isn't worth messing your life up at such an early age. I will never be the person I was before.
-- By dragonfly24 | Reply | Private Message me
October 23th
2009
8:00 PM
I've had my Mirena out for nearly 2 weeks now, after 15 months of living with the side effects. I've posted before about fatigue, crankiness & irritability, low-grade depression, weight gain, poor sleep, headaches, etc -- same old story as everyone else -- that came on gradually over the months. I'm still SO grateful to this website for making it clear to me that this wasn't just typical exhaustion due to having 2 little kids (now 3yrs & 16mos) or post-natal depression. Anyway, getting the Mirena removed turned out to be an ordeal in itself -- the strings disappeared and the doctor couldn't see anything with a speculum, so I had to wait 3 weeks to get an ultrasound and it turned out to be in the right place (phew!). Then I had to wait nearly 2 months to have a hysteroscopy -- they dilate your cervix and poke a camera up inside your uterus so they can see where the coil is, then they can pull it out. The poking and prodding was a huge drag, uncomfortable but not excruciating. When they actually pulled it out it barely hurt at all. I was a bit sore for a day or two, like mild period pains but nothing serious.
So, here's the update so far: My sex drive came back the very next day after being completely gone for ages! That was such a nice feeling again, to actually want to be with my husband instead of just going along for the sake of the marriage! I haven't felt sick or achey in my joints since it came out either, and the headaches are pretty much gone after being a constant in my life. I'm sleeping easier, and generally feel healthy again -- such a relief! My energy levels are still really really low though; I sure hope they start to come back soon. I think it's going to take awhile since I'd pretty much stopped exercising due to feeling so ill and tired all the time. I'll have to build myself back up through eating better and getting back to the gym, so unfortunately I think the weight-gain and fatigue are going to take longer to 'cure'. But still, I'm so glad to have it out and know that whatever happens to my health now, at least it's not being caused by hormones that just don't belong there.
Hang in there everyone; and don't be afraid of the pain in having it removed.
-- By luluweezie | Reply | Private Message me