Laid back symptoms and conditions

I have been on Mirena since September of 2006 (6 weeks after my youngest was born). I can't ever remember to take the pill, I've always had really heavy (super tampon and overnight maxi) periods for 7 days with really bad cramps, and I'm not sure if I want any more children. I had seen the commercials, read about it, and decided this was what I wanted. Well during the settling period (about 9 months - 1 year) I experienced the cramps, bleeding and bloatedness. However I've now had it for three years with no problems, that I thought anyways... until this month. I haven't had a real period (other than spotting for three days or so) for over two years now. Well this month I started spotting and didn't think anything of it. Then it slowly got worse. Luckily I had an appointment with my Dr. coming up (this past Monday), so I figured I'd talk to her about it then. Well, when she checked she said that it looked like the Mirena had come down a bit, as the strings were several inches longer than they were on my last visit. She has now scheduled me for an ultrasound this Friday to see if they can find out what's going on. It's been two weeks since the bleeding started, and just as I think it's gonna stop, it gets heavy again and I pass more clots. After reading everyone's posts, I'm a little scared. I start to think about how I've been over the past couple years and wonder if maybe some of my moodiness and irritability has been because of this little thing. I'm usually one of the most laid back people, but I do tend to snap at my children and boyfriend a lot. I know now that I also have the side effect of the lack of sex drive. I had trumped that up to having a little one, but that's probably not really the case. I hope I will find out more tomorrow. Just on another note, my boss also had Mirena put in. I'm not sure that she had any side effects, because she never mentioned any to me, except about the discharge because we both had that. Anyways, she had hers out in March and she just found out she is pregnant (but only a few weeks along).. but she's been bleeding, so she's going in twice a week to make sure her levels keep going up. Anyways, I wasn't aware that the way Mirena worked was just by self aborting the embryos. I don't like that idea at all, so after I figure out what's going on with me, I need to really sit down and weigh all my options because right now my side-effects aren't near as bad as anyone elses on here. Anyone know of another IUD that doesn't have the side effects like this one?

I am 45 and had the device inserted in June. Since then I have had an annoying constant red-brown discharge and my period three times. My menstrual cramps are definitely greatly lessened but what is freaking me out (apart from the discharge) is the anxiety I am experiencing for no reason. I am also feeling depressed. I am greatly concerned as being on the pill many years ago I had a mild stroke and my doctor assured me that the hormones ion the Mirena stay in the uterus. Why then the sudden anxiety attacks? I have always been a really laid-back person - I can only relate this sudden appearance of anxiety to the Mirena - it started about two weeks after I had it inserted.

I am now debating whether to ride it out - has anyone had the anxiety subside?

I cannot believe I happened to find this page today!! Thank GOD!!

I was looking up reasons for being exhausted and irritable (which I feel I am ALL the time lately) and thought- maybe it has to do with my birth control pill. After reading these posts it sounds to me that it does!

I have been taking Aviane for 10 months now- prescribed Alesse after the birth of my daughter but was given Aviane by the pharmacy because it is a generic that is supposed to be the same as Alesse. I have been depressed, irritable, unable to sleep, overly exhausted, spotting for 3 weeks, and am beginning to gain some weight. I brushed the depression off because I thought it was my hormone levels returning to normal after the pregnancy. Unless I have postpartum depression (which I don't feel I do) then my hormones should have stabilized by now!

As for the weight gain- I'm not eating any differently than usual- maybe less do to the stress of being in school part time, being a mom and wife, and working, so this gain is not typical for me. Generally, when I'm stressed I lose a few pounds.

My irritability is out of control! Since I've been on Aviane I have been angry and mean. My reactions feel out of control. I can't count the times I've told my husband that I don't know why I'm acting the way I am and that I feel my "freak outs" are beyond my control. I have destroyed some of my husband's personal property as well as my own during fits of rage. When I pull myself outside of these situations I say to myself- who the hell is that person because It's not me. I used to be very laid back, easy going, and rarely angry in the past.

Every night I wake up at least 3 times on my own. My daughter sleeps through the night so I can't attribute my lack of sleep and night waking to her. I can't seem to get through the day without a nap. Sometimes I take two because I feel so tired.

All of these behaviors are so uncharacteristic to me. Before I had my daughter I was a competitive soccer player and enjoyed running, hiking, and biking. I traveled the country working as an archaeology field tech where I would work 10-12 hours outside all day, sometimes walking 4 miles or more a day in the hot summer sun. I enjoyed life and was light hearted and funny. I would never raise my voice to the people I care and never considered myself someone with a temper. Sadly, for the last 4 months I have been walking through life wondering what is the matter with me and wondering why I couldn't get myself together. I never even thought to research the side effects of my pill!!

Thank You EVERYONE for posting your thoughts or problems because it has helped me to see that maybe this pill isn't for me!! I am going to stop and will post again in a few months to let people know if my life has changed for the positive since quitting this monster of a pill.

My eight year old son was diagnosed with mild asthma by our GP and was taking Ventolin for a persistent cough. When this didn't relieve the cough the doctor prescribed Singulair. He started the Singulair in March 2009 and within 2 months we realized that his personality had dramatically changed. It has taken us a while to figure out what was going on because eight year old boys are starting to assert themselves more and I think the side effects have been escalating over the last month. He was angry most of the time, very hateful towards his siblings, saying very dark, nasty, hurtful things. He argued every time we asked him to do something and would snap into a screaming inconsolable emotional wreck at the drop of a hat many times a day over trivial or imagined problems. He was having nightmares and bursts of hyperactivity that were overwhelming. He told us he felt frustrated all the time and hated everything. When we tried to calm him he was unreachable. Just yesterday he had his fist clenched and pulled back ready to punch me when I was trying to help him with a computer problem. He was shaking and his face was contorted with rage and he just wasn't my little boy anymore.
It has been devastating for our family and we were ready to take him to a psychologist. He is normally an incredibly considerate, perceptive, loving child, highly intelligent, helpful and fun loving with a great sense of humor.
He has also complained of leg pains and has been wetting the bed again. It was only yesterday that I began reading about other people's side effects and have taken him off Singulair as of last night. Whilst he has still been argumentative today already the aggressive intensity seems to be easing.
I am absolutely mortified that I allowed this to happen to my son and my family and I am so grateful to others for sharing their experiences.
We still need to address his asthma and will make an appointment with a specialist next week, but given his asthma is so mild he should not have ever had to suffer these side effects.
I only hope now that he has not sustained any long term effects and that his younger brother has not been scarred by the truly horrible things that my son has said to him.

Ladies,

I hope you don’t mind a male posting on this forum but I do have a reason for doing so. I am a Coroner’s Officer in England. I will not at this time disclose whereexactly I am based as I need to protect the identity of the family. I would however like to use you as a sounding board in the hope that you can help me, help the family and perhaps, just perhaps, I can help you.

Sadly I am dealing with a suicide. The lady in question, who has taken her own life is in her 40’s, married and has children (all over 11 years). The lady has no history what so ever of any form of depression during her life.

The lady has described her life as being perfect with a family that loves her and who she loves in return and as the Investigator I believe she is truthful in that comment. She states she has been extremely happy until last week. She makes comments of - I am just very ill, cannot sleep, feel dizzy, cannot concentrate, sometimes lose my vision, feel sick all the time and sweat at night. She cannot understand, but it makes her feel bad. I am not myself, something has made me ill which means I can’t be my normal positive, active busy self. I can’t bring myself to do anything that I normally love, like gardening, cooking etc. I am losing my memory badly going fuzzy in the head.

Her final comment, which is the one that has prompted me to post on this forum (with the permission of the family) is ‘I just don’t understand this – I’m so sorry . I can’t understand myself or what is wrong with me or what I’m doing so sorry. Just remember I’m not myself somebody else has taken over – I don’t know if it is all the anti-histamine pills that has mixed up my chemical balance along with the Mirena coil or is it just me’.

The mention of the Mirena coil has therefore prompted me to investigate it. I am not, by any means suggesting that this is responsible but it would be wrong of me to discount it after having read the posts on this forum and other places on the Internet.

The lady in question had the coil inserted in 2004/5 and it would appear that there were no problems or side effects reported.

I am therefore looking for some help from you. Some comments on what I have posted etc. Some advice on where to obtain expert advice (although I am trying some avenues of my own).

I may also ask, depending on what help you can give me if you would be willing to identify yourself to me.

Thank you

P.

Hi everyone,

I decided to go online to look for Mirena side effects because I have been having a lot of problems every since I got mine. I felt so relieved when I found this website because I realized I wasn't alone. I've had my Mirena for 3 and half years, and I have experienced almost every single side effect that the other girls on here have. I didn't have any of these symptoms before getting Mirena. After my first child I didn't have any side effects but after my second child I got mirena and this is what happened.

My hair up front on top has gotten very thin and I have always had very thick hair. I have always been a very laid back, friendly, happy person but since I've had the Mirena I've been moody, irritable, depressed, and I have had anxiety attacks. It also seems like I have a harder time feeling satisfied or happy about anything. I've had migraine headaches and joint pain which I never had before.

I'm 5'11 and I had always been extremely thin. I didn't have any problems losing weight after my first child, but since I have gotten Mirena I have gained a lot of weight in my stomach area but nowhere else. It's almost like a swelling or inflammation that won't go down. I've also had the strange feelings in my abdomen of movement that the others had, but I know I'm not pregnant. I've had these feelings for almost 2 years now.

It hurts really bad sometimes when my husband and I have sex, especially if he hits the spot where the Mirena is. My sex drive is completely gone, which seems like a common problem among the others here. I also noticed that fishy smell that the others have talked about that won't go away no matter what products you use or how much you wash. I also have gotten acne on my body which I had never had before in my life. I have some on my arms, face, chest, and back. It's terrible. I also have had the lack of energy so many of you said you had.

Even though there are all these terrible side effects, I think the worst one is that I don't feel like myself anymore. My husband says I don't seem to get excited about anything, and I seem more withdrawn. I have much more social anxiety than I did before, and sometimes I feel like my heart is racing and I can't get it to stop. I would have it taken out right now if i had the money to get my tubes tied. Unfortunately I don't have health insurance so I'm trapped for now.

i started Yasmin and this is my 2nd month. I am normally a very grounded laid back person but since starting this pill i have become a horrible nasty very angry and depressed person i have head aches and vomiting and i just feel miserable - it is so not like me and i am really struggling - i have just had a baby who i love dearly and was very worried that it might of been post natal depression. i have never been depressed before. i decided it must be my hormones or something and have made an appointment with my doctor - then i got to thinking my bad skin, head aches, awful mood swings, weight gain and general miserableness all started with this pill - i will be coming off it straight away and will be advising anyone i know to stay away from it. Thank you to everyone on here who has written about their experience with Yasmin for making me realize i am not crazy!!! - its a huge weight lifted off. Hopefully i can return to my normal happy self and get back to enjoying my baby daughter and son.

I started taking Loestrin 24 Fe two weeks ago today. I first accredited the bad period symptoms to just that, bad period symptoms, but after reading this, I realize it was the pill. I was paranoid and stressed out and cried three times, and for someone who's generally laid back and cries maybe twice a year, this was a little concerning. But, I'm willing to stay optimistic and chalk it up as being the first week on the pill to blame and not evidence of anything that will continue.
Yesterday, I had light spotting, but I assumed it was resultant from some rough sex my partner and I had had. Today when I wiped, there was a significant amount of dark blood and I've got cramps like I'm on my period. It's only been two weeks since my last one! I'm kinda freaked out and plan to call my doctor tomorrow morning to find out what's going on, but I'm assuming it's just an effect of the extra hormones that's got me jacked up. It's a little weird, though, since it resembles blood spotting I get halfway to late in my period week rather than the first day, because it's so dark.
Aside from the spotting, I've had a day where I had a horrible headache, but it was no worse or better than severe allergy migraines I've had in the past (it's fun being a severe allergy sufferer *snort, reassert glasses*.) I broke out along my jawline when I first started, but it was only slightly worse than what I normally get during my period. I haven't been bloated, but I do find that I have the munchies more often, so I'm working to control that to avoid weight gain. I have been a little moody and somewhat paranoid lately, but I think it's a combination of family stresses, finals, and basic worries that come with being in a new relationship.
It was mentioned earlier that the last four pills have iron in them, and it is important that you talk to your doctor or do a little diet research to determine whether or not it's even necessary because taking too much iron can be bad for you. They are there because during and around their periods, women generally are iron deficient, but if you are getting plenty of iron in your diet (especially if you take vitamins) you really don't need this extra dosage. That is, after all, what the Fe in the name is for, by the way. ;)
So, aside from seemingly having started a whole new period two weeks after my last one and having some mild mood swings and a single day of headaches, it hasn't been so bad. I had worse symptoms after taking ortho tri cyclen for three months. No pill is ever going to be completely symptom-free, so we must all keep that in mind.
I'll post when I find out more about this strange spotting deal.

Lumps under the skin all over my body and severe pain that feels like it is under my skin--like I've been skinned and the skin just laid back down raw and bruised feeling. I have to take time-released morphine for this pain and no doctor can explain the lumps other than to say it might be a side effect of the prednisone. I have never heard of anyone else having these lumps and skin pain, though. One post I read said their tongue was sore, which mine also gets when I take it.

One thing I want to emphasize is that the last time I read the printout that comes with an unopened new bottle of prednisone and that the pharmacists don't give you unless you ask, it said that the newest research suggests that you take the prednisone only EVERY OTHER DAY. Some symptoms may become a bit worse on the day off, but unless you are dealing with a potentially lethal disease, this keeps your body on its regular rhythm of making its own form of prednisone and thus prevents many of the side effects. I have been back on prednisone for 3 months now with the new one day on, one day off schedule, prescribed by my pulmonologist, and have much less of the side effects--no ravenous appetite and thus no weight gain, no swelling, no "moon face" and my lungs are still functioning much much better.
Please ask your doc about this or get the info sheet from the pharmacist (it is the very long one on tissue paper, not the one-page info sheet they are now giving us with each Rx.)

I Have just spent $90 AU Dollars = $120US and after using the ring before, thought i would give it another go...its the 15th April 2009...and after two weeks of being on it i have experienced "The dreaded weight Gain" it feels more like water retention and tightness, not necessarily fat, as i am an active person, weigh 52KG , my height is 156.6 CM witch is considered normal for my age, I am 23yrs old.
BUT......now i remember what my side effects where, i stopped a year ago as i finished with my boyfriend there was no need to use it, as i have a new boyfriend now i have started it again...and my side effects are the same but now i can add two more effects its had on me:

Last year- dryness, loss of sex drive as when your body isn't naturally lubricating during the sexual experience this intern stops or disrupts the sexual process...ie foreplay and flow of intimacy.

This year- Only two and a half weeks with the ring in and i weigh
54-55 KG'S, that is 3 kilo grams (think of 3 bags of sugar) in two weeks tight upper thighs...and bloated abdominal. Pulse dryness and i guess the loss of sex drive will kick in again....so as of today i have taken it out ...and i haven't even finished the first ring....

I am not one to air these things but the weight gain was sooo sudden, i'm not allergic to anything i'm a very happy person, laid back,never broken a bone in my body...thats not important but you see my opinion is that i think the makers prayed on the fact that most of us skipped a pill or two....

( witch I was prone to do that's the
biggest reason i went on the ring)

and thought well so many women want connivance no fuss contraception and rushed an appealing concept to us lady's and the forgetfulness in most of us took it hook line and sinker....I'm a graphic designer so i can see how they may have marketed this....look it worked on me and i study marketing....soo good luck i hope this was helpful.....

Regards,
Cc

I think Yasmin is great. I understand, though, that not everyone is going to react the same way to a certain birth control pill. I have been on some that have made me pretty close to impossible to live with. I do, however, have a problem reading about all these so-called side effects of Yasmin that can be attributed to something else.

For one, Caffeine. Birth control slows the metabolism of caffeine in our bodies, making that one cup have a much stronger effect on our bodies. If you drink caffeine daily, look at the symptoms of too much caffeine, as that usually amount before Yasmin can now be an overdose for your body.

Symptoms of too much caffeine:
-Jitteriness
-Difficulty sleeping
-Headaches
-Anxiety
-Flushed face
-Nausea
-Accelerated heartbeat
-Increase Blood Pressure
Etc. (look up in google more if you want)

So if you experience any of those symptoms on Yasmin and drink caffeine of some kind, try cutting back first. It might not be the Yasmin. Any birth control will increase the effects of caffeine on your body. (Some possibly more than others)

Secondly, look at how much water you are drinking. Yasmin has a diuretic in it, causing our bodies to lose more water. Are you drinking enough to replenish what is lost?
Symptoms of dehydration include:
-dry mouth
-the eyes stop making tears
-sweating may stop
-muscle cramps
-nausea and vomiting
-lightheadedness (especially when standing).
-The body tries to maintain cardiac output (the amount of blood that is pumped by the heart to the body); and if the amount of fluid in the intravascular space is decreased, the body has to increase the heart rate, which causes blood vessels to constrict to maintain blood pressure.

Seriously, if you are thirsty, don't reach for the soda. Grab some water. It might be what you need.

So, again, I know, not every birth control will work the same for everyone, but at least look at what you are doing first to see if it's you or the birth control causing the problems. Don't blame Yasmin for giving you anxiety when it could easily just be the amount of coffee that you drink.

If you've cut back on caffeine (for more than one day now) and been drinking more water and you still have problems, switch, by all means. But make sure it's not something else first before blaming the birth control.

I was on Mircette for 7 months. The worst 7 months of my life. I was absolutely crazy on this pill. I am the most laid back person, and on this pill I became very violent, yelling and screaming for no reason. I'd cry for no reason, and feel anxious a lot. I also had SEVERE stomach problems. The pain was very comparable to giving birth, which i have done twice. The only difference was instead of the pain being in my lower abdomen, it was just below my ribs and above my belly button. The constant mood swings and pain turned me off to Mircette. It has been 7 weeks since i have been off of all bc pills, and i feel great. I just wish my stomach problems would end. It's a lot less severe now, but I am going to make an appointment with a gastrointestinal dr.t. I would never recommend it to anyone. Ever.

i was extremely excited to start the nuvaring but after about six months i start to get extremely emotional. i am a very laid back person and every little thing started getting to me. Things i would not think twice about before. then the headaches started. i get headaches starting the week before my period and go thru the week im on my period. my sex drive faded and seemed to get worse the longer i was on it and once i actually did have sex it hurt. the pelvic pain had me worrying i had PID or something. very strange. I have never had a yeast infection or a bacterial infection in my life and i have had both at the same time with this!! its terrible. i talked to a friend that was also using the nuva and she was having problems with infection too. both of us stopped using the nuva. I switched back to Yasmin. happy with it just didn't want to take a pill everyday but its well worth it compared to the side effects of the nuva. i haven't had any of the symptoms since i switched. emotional i feel sooooo much better and no infections now.

Yaz was a nightmare for me.
I had been on birth control for several years, and had minor symptoms, but they were tolerable and mostly physical- ie, some bloating, headaches, etc. But Yaz came with more mental/emotional side effects than I ever thought possible.
The worst has been the depression/anxiety. I always considered myself happy and laid back... this pill made me an emotional train wreck. In the middle of the day, I would usually be fine, but in the mornings and at night, I felt much different- very sad, anxious, irritable. Nothing was triggering this- everything was going fine in my life, no reason to be depressed. Most mornings I would just wake up very sad and hopeless, wanting to cry, but not sure why. Then later in the day, I would think back and wonder "why was I so upset?". It was the strangest thing. I felt tired most of the time, loss of motivation, loss of "zest for life". The things that I usually LIKED to do, I had no interest in. It was tough.
In addition to the crazy mental nonsense, I also experienced hot flashes- especially at night and in the first couple hours of waking up. No weight changes that I noticed. Headaches often. Anxiety often.
Ugh. I stopped taking Yaz about 3 weeks ago, and I feel like my hormone levels are still out of whack.

I just finished my last pack of Yasmin. I rarely post messages on sites such as these - I'm not in the medical field and don't have the expertise to tell anyone what they should or should not be taking. However, after my experience with this drug, I feel like I need to contribute to the large population of women who had bad experiences with it. I'm not the kind of person who cries easily and am usually a very laid-back and easy going person. I started taking Yasmin in June after 8 years of not taking the pill. It was great for the first 3 months or so - my periods were like clock work, they were short lived, I stopped having cramps. Then I started getting upset for no reason - crying at the drop of a hat, getting unreasonably angry and irritated at my poor, incredibly sweet and patient fiancee for the smallest things. I was exhausted - even though I'd sleep a routine 8-9 hours a night. I'm normally a happy person and I literally stopped being happy 3 weeks out of the month. The first week after my period - when the drugs were in the first week, I would be happy as a clam - in fact, happier than I normally would be. I'd feel every day like I'd won a marathon. The second week into the drugs, I'd become quiet and anti-social. Near the end of that second week and up until the end of the pack - I would completely change into a different person. You could track all of this with military timing. I wondered for a long time if I was becoming depressed or anxious - I've had ADD my entire life and been through bouts of depression and anxiety in my teens and early 20's. Since starting my ADD meds 5 years ago, I'd never had another issue with them. This pill brought it all back. Though it cleared up my acne and gave me regular cycles again, its effect on my mental health was just not worth it. I have started to take a new pill and if that doesn't work, I'll try again. I just wanted whoever reads this to talk to their doctor, especially those women with a history of depression, ADD, or anxiety, and let them know the concerns you have. If you take Yasmin or are starting it, call them immediately after you start getting these symptoms so that you don't have to suffer through months of wondering what the heck is wrong with you. Life's too short and there are other forms of birth control out there.

My 6 1/2 year old daughter has been on Singulair for 3 1/2 to 4 years now and we have had horrible experiences! She was having night terrors, mood swings, angry issues, self control issues, crying over small things, etc. We have been to psychiatrists and psychologists who have diagnosed her with mood disorder, sensory processing disorder and anxiety disorder! Well she has recently been having stomach problems so we have been going to a GI to figure that out. I got online to research and found numerous sites that told how Singulair causes all these things in children. We took my daughter off the meds and within 3 or 4 days seen a tremendous difference! She is a totally different child! It just really frustrates me and saddens me that all these children and their families are going through all this and the doctors do not seem to care. The allergist or psychiatrist didn't believe me. They say no study has ever proven such things. I don't care what they say we as parents know our children and we are the experts when it comes to seeing how they change when on this medicine, we are the ones that live with them and are with them everyday not the doctors! I think they just don't want to lose out on their money from prescribing this drug 90% of children with allergies and asthma!

My 6 year old son was on Singulair for 2 months for viral induced asthma. After about 2 weeks we started noticing that angry tears were pouring out of him about minor problems - his brother didn't want to want to watch the same TV show as him, etc. By 2 weeks later he had started having daily major meltdowns, yelling that he didn't love us and never had, refusing all physical affection and calling himself a loser. This was behavior we had never seen from him before. After a month of this, we were really beginning to think that he either had a mental illness or was having a nervous breakdown. There was a wild look in his eye, and it was obvious that his behavior was confusing him, too, but he was powerless to stop it. My husband had the insight to check the Singulair side-effects the evening of a particularly bad day and we pulled him off immediately. The next day I talked to an acquaintance whose normally laid back and happy 7 year old had started saying he wished he were dead after 3 months on Singulair!

The "edge" my son had to him while on Singulair that made us think of mental illness went away almost immediately after taking him off Singulair. He was still quite irritable and quick to tears for two more weeks, but right now he's been off 3 weeks and I think we have our son back.

Thank you!! You have no idea how relieved i am to read these posts....i am usually such a laid back, carefree person but i have been on NR for 2 months now and especially in the last month i have felt, well, nutty! I have been trying to explain to my boyfriend about hormones and PMS but being a boy i think he just thinks i am complaining about nothing. I have nausea for the first cycle and that seems to have gone so i was thinking i was getting better. That was until this last week when i just couldn't stop crying and being completely irrational.

I had talked about it with my BF and decided to give it one more month...that was until today when i read this, i know this is not going to get any better and i am just putting my relationship with my BF (who ordinarily i love very much) at risk.

I am going to print out your posts and let my BF read them, hopefully then he will understand that it is not me and the ring really is what's making me horrible. THANKS GUYS!!

I began taking birth control pills at 16 to help control excruciating cramps that have now been diagnosed as endometriosis. Every pill I have taken has regulated my period but seems to have some other side effect. Aviane however, is most definitely the worst I have tried. I was taking Allesse, but had to switch to Aviane because of mild anxiety problems. It turns out, since taking Aviane (approx. 5 months) my anxiety has gotten worse, I suffer from nightmares, as well as extreme irritability. I become furious over the smallest things and I am typically a laid back person. I spend 3 days in bed during my period vomiting and with severe cramps, but this is due more to the endometriosis than anything. PMS starts about 2 weeks before I get my period, and I am extremely irritable for about a week after, this has not happened on any other pill. I go through periods of extreme depression, hopelessness, and am extremely tired. Also, since switching to Aviane I have battled with severe acne which I have never experienced before. I have gained a huge amount of weight. I am just waiting to see my doctor to get me off this horrible pill.

Hi....Gosh and I glad I found this page! I was beginning to think I was Bi-Polar or having some kind of hormone imbalance! I have 6 children. And I have always been so laid back and had the most patience in the world until now! After baby # 6...I had the mirena put in because I did not want to have my tubes tied and did not want to go back on the pill because of the side effects I have had. I have had the mirena in now for about 16 months....and since I have had it in I am so moody and irritable all the time....just snapping at everyone and getting upset over little things that never used to bother me...no sex drive what so ever....weight gain....and I feel like I am forgetting things and that I am just scatterbrained! LOL! Also my Boobs hurt so bad....to the point where I took a PG test because I thought I was PG. When I went to by OB for my 1 year check-up I discussed all these symptoms with her...she did not believe it was all coming from the Mirena but that a lot of the side effects could be like the low sex drive and breast tenderness....and as for the mood changes just said there was medication that could help with those. So up until now I was really thinking something was wrong with me...but reading everyone else's comments I know now that I am not the only one...and that this really did not become a problem till after I had this put in. I love the fact that I do not have to worry about birth control...and periods! I have been period free for over a year now....but at the same time do not see how that is normal. So I do think I am gonna make an appt. after Christmas and get this taken out. My husband does not want me to....because he thinks we will end up with another 1/2 dozen kids...LOL! But I need to get back to my normal self and cannot do that until I figure out what is going on with me and getting this Mirena removed is my 1st step! If anyone would like to email me and talk more feel free to email me at ******. Thanks!

I am so glad I came across this site. I had the Mirena put in last December two months after having my baby girl. For the first few months no big deal. But lately, irrational mood swings, cramps when i'm not on my period, fatigue, back pain, my legs ache, I stopped running because my knees have begun to hurt and I attributed it to running but now i'm not so sure. Now my arms are aching too, especially when I try to fall asleep it seems they fall asleep before I do. Shoulders hurt, my bowels are weird. Pretty much you name it I've got it. and i'm normally pretty laid back and not a "drama queen" I am making an appointment tomorrow to get this dang thing out.

Wow.....how horrible to hear about your experiences, but I too am glad I found you and want to share my own experiences as well. Was using natural family planning for birth control and it was going great, then all of the sudden, started bleeding frequently and heavily, so my gyn put me on it to regulate the hormonal imbalance or possible endo and I have been a mess....people have noticed I'm really anxious and I am a pretty laid back person, I am irritable, depressed, cannot sleep, decreased sex drive, sore and stiff, and had several incidents of crushing pain in chest and numbness and tingling in my arms. The weight gain is horrible, I just got back from getting professional pictures done and itr was so evident that my face is so round and puffy and I cannot wear a lot of my clothing now. I have only been on it two months, but quit taking it a few days ago and am calling the doc tomorrow to get her advice. This pill is the worst birth control I have ever used-and I've tried several kinds......

Hello all! for everyone considering getting off of yaz because of the side effects, from experience i say DO IT!! I took it for about a year and definitely became a different person. I've never been really emotional, i've always been active, and never had many heath problems (fortunately!) - It took me a long time to associate my changes with yaz, because they didn't come suddenly, but became gradually worse after a few months. I started getting worried about everything, and acting irrationally...especially in my relationship. I got insecure, needy and moody, and that obviously didn't help, especially when he was used to being with someone laid back and easy going!! things mattered to me that would never have before. i hate drama, and i just seemed to be causing it! i also gained some weight, but didn't notice that right away either. at one point i began having sharp pains that my doctor said were at my bladder, and i only felt them during sex. I went to two doctors and they couldn't figure out what they were so i just had to deal. they were horribly painful, and i've never had anything like it before, or since. i ended up getting off the pill by accident when i didn't realize my prescription had run out. at this point my boyfriend and i had broken up, and i now know a big part of it was how emotional and irrational i had become. i decided to stay off of it, because i don't medication anyway unless its truly necessary.

I didn't start feeling any different for about three months. i didn't know there would be a completely different set of side effects for coming off of it either!! so about 3 months later i started having these awful stomach pains. i had no idea what it was, i had never felt anything close to it. a friend suggested it was gas but i knew better...it was very odd and lasted almost 2 weeks. i felt nauseous almost every day. i didn't know what was wrong with me! i couldn't find anything exact online, so i planned on seeing a doctor shortly. i lost weight suddenly, and another friend asked me about it. i hadn't changed my diet or activities so i was confused! then i thought....maybe i lost this weight bc of my birth control, and we continued to look up symptoms online. WOW. everything i felt was described perfectly, and many sources said it took about 3 months to get out of your system!

i noticed i felt emotionally stable again too. it was me again! i figured it was relationship probs that made me feel crazy before, but at this point i was able to sit back and think about everything rationally. i think my craziness caused a good amount of them...i cant believe all of the changes i had, and didn't even know it.

anyway, ive been off of yaz for almost a year now and its great. i have a new boyfriend, and everything is great- i'm no emotional wreck, i don't make issues out of nothing, and when we do have an issue we're able to discuss it like normal people. life is much more simple. and its nice knowing the decisions and acts i make are all just bc thats how i am...not because of some medication!!

i know that was long, but hopefully it was helpful :)

I had the Mirena IUD inserted six weeks after having my youngest son, which was August 2007. I have always had a bit of a weight problem, but when I was pregnant with my son I started exercising, eating right and when I gave birth to him I was 20 lbs lighter than when I got pregnant. I was told the Mirena was great. No weight gain, period will stop and can have it in for five years. So I got it. It's been a little over a year and I am getting it out! I gained 30 lbs. and I barely eat anything. I dieted, exercised and tried my hardest to stop the weight gain, but nothing worked. And now I look 6 months pregnant again. I have been depressed and had thoughts of suicide at one point. And I DO NOT have that type of personality. I am usually a very laid back, happy person. My advice to anyone thinking of getting the Mirena IUD. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!

Well ladies and even gents, who may be concerned about your loved ones. I am an African-American/Puerto-rican woman of age 23 with no kids. I had Mirena placed in about 3 months ago and to be honest- I love it and I hate it.

I've cramped tremendously, have had prolonged periods, and a dry/flaky scalp but it's much better than my ultimate hypothetical fear. I've been a little be nerved lately but I can control myself but it feels as if my nasal passages have become smaller. At first I thought it came from allergies which I don't have and then since I've moved back to Germany it could only lead to one thing-this anchor I have inserted in me.

I know the first day I had it inserted I was totally delirious.I immediately laid back down on the doctors chair and cramped for appr 10 min. I couldn't even drive home; in which i happened to puke outside while I was waiting for a stop light.

But to counter the negatives I haven't gained any weight. My face is clear-thanks to Clarins, and I'm assured that I will not get pregnant. I couldn't be any happier.

To be honest, since I haven't had an children I'm thinking about taking it out; side effects are totally relative and one day when I do want to have children I might be sterile. Additionally, the relativity of all our side effects are not even worth the exposure-esp. if it's for a bloke.