Lithium symptoms and conditions

I have been on Lithium Carbonate (1800 mg/day) for over 4 years. Lived with diarrhea, acne, tremors, etc. throughout, but otherwise loved the drug. After filling toilet with blood several times last week, I went into the hospital. Colonoscopy & endoscoopy revealed severe diverticulosis and severe Barrett's esophagus, respectively. All involved are shaking their heads, as these tests were relatively normal 3 years ago. I suspect Lithium.

I take lithium, 1350mg/day, for 5 years now, and about 2 years ago I started getting tremors but worse in my left hand, so it was actually painful and for a while the doctor thought it was carpal tunnel but it turned out not to be and he didnt know what caused it-now ever since then my left hand has gotten worse & typing with it is a little problematic, its like the nerves are messed up in that hand, it won't always hit the right numbers. Its starting to freak me out a little, but in the last year I've started having episodes where my entire left side goes tingly like its asleep, my vision blurs, I get shaky all over and have such rapid heart palpitations it feels like my entire body is in shock. This lasts for about half an hour usually, has landed me in the ER twice, & they claimed each time not to know what caused it and looked at me like I was making it up, and didn't give me anything for it. I also get the typical symptoms- mild hair loss, memory loss, speech impairment, weight gain (I was 120 now I'm 160- luckily it distributed so its not too obvious), & it does not stop depressive episodes, just shortens them, and I still get anger episodes fairly often, usually as a split second reaction to something very small. I'm definitely looking into getting off of this as it is worrying me, more about the episodes and my left arm/hand issues than anything else, especially that now I have trouble with coordination in my left hand,which sucks because my desk jobs always involve a LOT of typing.

Lamictal with lithium was the latest sentence for a lifetime of depression. Not only did the depression then intensify over anything I've dealt with for the last 40 years, but anger, rage, weight gain, memory loss, difficulty communicating, (could this be dementia at 60 yrs?) and loss of taste especially coffee and chocolate were now defining my life. I had been a happy, productive, exciting, witty, professional self-employed woman. So, I've been reducing my 250 mg dosage for the last 6 weeks with Dr. oversight. My last dose of 25 mg was last Wednesday. Throughout this experience, I've experienced confusion, head aches, zombie days, spatial disorientation, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, jumbled speech and thinking, and THE FOG. But, guess what? Today, I'M BACK. My head is clear, I have a plan for the day and I'm 4 pounds lighter than I was last Thursday. The surprise about the weight is that we went to dinner in restaurants twice in this last week and I haven't taken any special steps to lose the pounds. I knew it was time to evaluate myself without medication when the Dr. wanted to add just one more medication to level off the mood swings. Of course, this is a continuing drama, but it's great to be able to see me without the drug-colored lenses. I would not have done this without Dr. supervision, and I'm so glad he co-operated with my wishes. Sometimes you just have to throw the project away and start fresh. Have a beautiful day.

Hello I was diagnosed with Bi polar about 2.5 months ago and I am taking 100mg of Lamictal after being on Lithium after a nervous breakdown, in which the inpatient facility tried to have me committed beyond my will. My side effects include high sex drive, headaches, sleepiness, nausea as I increased the dosage, and being itchy but I'm not sure that is due to the Lamictal. At first bipolar was a horrible diagnoses for me, but now I am not so intimidated by the diagnoses. However, I seriously doubt that I will have a normal life or kids. I'm 24 and haven't got it right yet, perhaps my 30's will be something to be proud of. I also got into legal trouble on my way to my nervous breakdown I'm kinda scared of what else this freakin illness has pour moi!

I have been taking 25mg per day of Lamictal for five days now. I am also on (and have been for five years) 200mg Zoloft per day. I was recently diagnosed bipolar (no surprise) and after seeing a psychiatrist, this was the med I chose, Lithium and Depakote being the other two choices, I felt that Lamictal would be the most appropriate in my case, because it is supposed to help with anger/rage issues, according to the leaflet provided by my Dr., as well as the 'rapid cycling' of my moods. So far I dislike this med, despite the fact I started it with optimism. Side effects are as follows:
Sleepiness - started the first day, I took the first dose the night before.
Lack of energy/motivation - I was doing ok as far as motivation was concerned until I started Lamictal, I was on a positive mood swing at the time, now, it's taking all my effort to stay focused and finish this.
Feelings of disassociation - I don't want to go anywhere, or see anyone, take any calls, etc..this is a problem I have had prior to Lamictal, but it suddenly got worse upon starting it.
Sudden anger/rage - I have felt overly aggravated at times, fast to discipline my son without taking a minute to think it over, it's pretty spontaneous. Day two scared me a bit, I have been making a serious conscious effort to not lose my temper or react suddenly. Today I actually had a spontaneous thought of suicide during a moment of anger, which also alarms me.
Loss of appetite - I'm a skinny guy, can't afford to lose any weight or go without eating, this stuff has pretty much killed my appetite, I'm forcing myself to eat at least once a day...and it isn't easy, I tell you.
Hypersensitivity to noise - Seems like the volume on everything has been amplified, it's making me nuts..
Unpleasant taste in my mouth - since day two. Hard to describe, sort of metallic.
Decreased urge to smoke - I have been smoking for 23 years, a pack per day regularly. I noticed at day two the urge to smoke was dramatically decreased, I smoked about eight cigs total today. Being asleep helped with that too, I'm sure...gotta be conscious to smoke, right? This would be the only positive effect I have noticed thus far.
At this point, I'm really not sure if I will continue with this med due to the above effects. I am a bit disappointed because I had hoped this would do the job and I could avoid the Lithium (icepick up the nose is the only thing left if Lithium doesn't work) and the Depakote, because the effects of those are far more serious by comparison according to what I have read and heard from others who have taken it.
I don't know what to do next, honestly. I have taken nearly every type/kind of antidepressant, Zoloft seems to do the most good, but I'm still having mood swings/cycling while using it, so a mood stabilizer was the plan to fix that...seems like I'm pretty much hosed.

started taking seoquel 25 mg an hour before sleep, then 50 mg. went up to 75mg because i wasn't "tired" enough to sleep. it was working okay, but my friends had warned me that i might experience weight gain and absolutely uncontrollable hunger for carbs and sweets. and as a 46 yo woman that already weighed 200 lbs. that was not a happy prospect. but i ignored that; maybe it would be different for me. btw, i am diagnosed as bipolar 2 and am taking lamotrigine, celexa, lithium and now seroquel. i was in a couple months ago for anxiety and loss of time, for lack of a better term. my pdoc told be to get off the 75mg of benadryl i was taking and gave me samples of seroquel to help me sleep, etc.. so, after experiencing weight gain, sore breasts, bigger stomach (i don't have a scale), labored breathing when walking to the freakin' mailbox and feeling like a truck has run over me for at least half the day, then anxiety immediately following, i have decided to pitch the seroquel. also, i am going off lithium and my blood pressure med (i was taking that for migraines associated with pre menstruation and now am menopausal). i'm going to start melatonin again (which i used for years and it worked) when i'm weaned off the evil seroquel... sigh. and no, the docs DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT GAIN!!!! THEY JUST WANT TO KEEP YOU ALIVE AND UPRIGHT IF POSSIBLE! i'm more depressed knowing i could easily balloon upwards to god-knows-what. so if your doc hands you "free" samples of seroquel, please keep track of your symptoms. maybe it will work for you but be cautious, please!

well I haven't read all of the postings but make sure you drink plenty of water and get your blood tested often. I ended up in the ER with lithium poisoning.

Hi, I'm rapid cycling bipolar. I was taking 300mg of lithium a day and it helped a lot. Then started the crying and paranoid feelings again. I also took venlafaxine 150mg. My psych doc increased the venlafaxine to 225mg time released and the lithium to 300mg twice a day. I have really bad headache that make me sick to my stomach. Bad hand tremors, weight gain, extreme thirst, dry mouth, constant urination, confusion, memory loss, bad concentration, heart palpitation that are very scary and problems with my balance. I've been taking these meds for a year now. I'm hoping that I just need to get used to the new dosage. On the plus side mentally I'm great, it's just the physical aliments that are getting me. I have an appt. with my doc on the 13th. I'm hoping that he'll have some answers for me. Hang in there I know how you all feel! please tell me if anyone else has these same symptoms. Thanks,

Hello I am clinically depressed. They doctors said I was "severely depressed." I haven't done these post ever so I apologize if I can't make my side effects clear and easy to understand.

Well to the point I am taking Lamactil and Wellbutrin for over a year now. The side effects I have are acne, laziness, always tired. But the side effect I hate the most is really perverted thoughts. Every waking moment I am always thinking about sex of some sort. I can't enjoy a movie because I am always thinking of sex with the person I am with, be female or male. I am straight but I just can't shake thoughts and hate it to no end. PLEASE let me know if anyone is experiencing these side effects.

hi i have posted before you i have been through all you said what to do then there are some positive points r there this tab lamictal generally suits the people who does not react to other med as vaporate ,carbamazine,lithium it works differently from other tabes i think people say that while you take a medication there are side effects and there r problem so with every every thing you put into your stomach why you eat food it is because it is necessary to keep you alive wee r leaving in science age people in the past the people who use to have symptoms like bipolar disorder and schrizophenia use to either suicide or where burned to death thinking they r wiked thingk even positive side of this and friend look at each problem separately don't mix them and try to find answer increase your reading learn more about this disease read self help books and eat the tabes you need to eatwe r not wrong people just taking this tablets to feel well but normal people to live normally live life and enjoy it fully ............i have acne problem thinking of using accutane i hope it will work

Hi ! I'm French and bipolar 2 rapid cylcing (every 2/3 months for about 3 weeks each taking anafrani)l. I'm 50 years old and I had lithium for many years. Since July I have lamictal. It's very recent in France and my doctor doesn't know if my problem to sleep I get since I have lamictal will go away or not and if lamictal is responsible.
I describe the problem : I have difficulty to get asleep, I wake up during the night and I wake up very early in the morning even if i go to bed late. So I'm obliged to go to bed before 10 pm. It's very hard but since I take lamictal I had no down since September (6 months it's wonderful for me)
I only had some variations during the day at the beginning but it seems to be better. I feel really better than with lithium. But there is this problem of sleeping. In France nobody could answer to me and my doctor told me to go on internet with USA of Canada where you use for long time lamictal. Do you know something about that and do you know if it can be better after a few month more ?
Could you please answer me here or on my email : ******
Thanks a lot in advance and sorry for my bad English. I hope you will understand me.
Kind regards
N.

When I started my little emotional rollercoaster @ age 35, they classified me as being bi-polar with generalized anxiety disorder. I put myself into a treatment center after feeling like I was going to go crazy. I used to work in the medical field and I should have known better. They doped me up on 1000mg of Lithium, and 9oomg of Depakote. Lithium can be hard to regulate and dangerous; coming from a person who can sneeze and lose two pounds Depakote just turned out to be a fat pill (180 to 210 in three months). I went through the guinea pig stage Every SSR they put me on had a very bad side effect, Paxil being the worst. After two days of taking it the racing thoughts and feeling out being out of control made me want to jump out the window. I could not even call 911 as I felt I would go even more insane. I really almost did not make it through it. I discussed it with my new Dr. and he suggested Lamictal. I have been on Lamictal for over 4 years at 300mg a day. It has stabilized my moods but I still argue with the doctor about my diagnosis as I feel I am more Cyclothymic , my mood swings are not as pronounced and can last from a few hours to a few days. Since first taking the med I noticed the memory loss, my train of thought going out the window, bloated, the feeling of having a fever, but not. One of the most important affects, if I am an hour or so late from my regular scheduled dose I get dizzy and my shoulders and neck start to tingle and get numb. Just two weeks I requested an increase in the dosage to 400mg to see if it would help with my underlying depression that every other combo has not addressed. Since then I have been a bit more of a whack job. (Emotionally)Two days after the increase I had a very hyper mania day, I had to leave work early for fear I would lose control of my mouth, do or say something very ADHD. I took two days off and seemed to be fine after that. This Sunday I went downhill as soon as I woke up. I wanted to cry, but couldn’t and I did not know why; I felt void of emotions except for sadness, lacked the energy to want to deal with people, even my other half, wondering why I was even here. (Physically) I have noticed heart palpitations and muscle spasms in my face and arms. I looked up side effects and found this site and wanted to add to it. I have tried just about everything out there that I can and nothing will really work as good as this one. Combos with it do nothing for me either. It really freaks me out that the thing I am taking so I do not feel the way I do is making me feel that way to the extreme. I am letting my Dr. know that I will be taking myself off this dosage.

Wow, just wow I can't even begin to say how happy I am to have found this site. I am actually choked up. A little background:

I got the Mirena in about three months after the birth of my daughter in July of 02 (our second child), at around this same time my husband and I were having severe marital issues, we were a VERY happy couple before this. I was extremely irritable, was so mad at him all the time over anything he would do that would remotely annoy me, we attributed this to the baby blues and tried to work through it. My sex drive was non-existent, and I hated him more than anything. Well, about three years ago we divorced... after much counseling and anti-depressants, even being diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder and being put on Lithium (which I refused to take) I was NORMAL before all this, why did I snap? I had one baby and was fine!!! That was the greatest mystery to me, and I felt like a horrible worthless person. :(

The now:
I have met someone else, and we are engaged to be married and just bought a home together, when we first started seeing each other I was VERY shocked that my sex drive was back (which I now attribute to it being new, and I was free for the first time in years), however, over the past years we have been together it has all but completely vanished again. We will have sex maybe once or twice a month, and really it is to make him happy. My temper is outrageous, my kids are very touchy when it comes to asking me to do something etc.. I find myself stuck to my couch or to my PC playing WoW because it takes little or no effort on my part. I have no energy to do anything. Cleaning the house, or simply helping the kids with the homework is just.. exhausting mentally. My fiance takes the kids out because I never want to. We will make plans together only to have me break them, the ONLY thing that he can get me to do is eat out.. because and here is a shocker, I just want to stuff my face so long as it is prepared by somebody else. I used to love to cook and I don't want to anymore. I don't know how much weight I have gained since the insertion, this was 7 years ago and two Mirenas in. But I am HUGE in comparison to how I was.
About one year ago, a few months after the 5 year replacement was put in I started having problems with walking, which again Mirena didn't even cross my mind as being the culprit. I woke up one morning with slight cramping in my feet, within a month I was unable to walk. The doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me, I was getting odd lumps on my legs, and the pain from trying to walk was just unbelievable. They tested me for lupus, and it was a no go. Did the talk of birth control ever come up with the doctors? No. But after about a month.. it just, went away. Just as suddenly as it came.
Someone on here posted about "panic attacks" hun.. I have the same problem. My heart like to fly up to my throat, and it is the equivalent of feeling as though I were drowning.. but only for a few moments. Heart doc said.. I am normal. HAH! Really? NEVER had this problem before the Mirena... hrm.

So in a nutshell MY side effects I believe are (some not listed in the above background):
Insane mood swings
Walking problems
The inability to relax
NO sex drive, zilch gone
Laziness, no ambition to do anything even small daily chores
Discharge and odd odors
Never feeling clean downstairs
Facial hair thats right ladies, growing a beard :(
Large amount of weight gain
insatiable appetite
Depression
Dryness
Diarrhea
Sharp pains in my abdomen and breasts
"Fluttering" spasms in my abdomen almost feels as though a baby is kicking
One divorce and a quickly fading engagement...

PLEASE take it from me, DO NOT get this. It is just not worth it. It has changed my life for the worst, I have made do with my past and am actually happy for the divorce, the Mirena actually helped me to see what I would ignore in him. But everything else, has been nothing but a long painful road. It has made a normal healthy woman, into a fat lazy woman that has lost her lust for life and everything in it.
I am making a doctors appointment on Monday, I can't express how shocked I am that this birthcontrol has done this to me, sure some people may think that some of the problems I am dealing with or have dealt with may not be directly attributed to it... but think about it. I was fine and nothing was wrong until I had this inserted. And there are far too many coincidences to allow myself to turn a blind eye. I will keep you updated in my "rebirth".

Again.. thank you.

I am a 44 year-old woman. I have been taking Topamax for 13 years! I take 100mg at bedtime (would NEVER take it during the DAY--that's ASKING for sedation). I take it along with 400mg of Wellbutrin & 30mg of Lexapro!!! I've taken various doses over the years. It was initially prescribed as a mood-stabilizer for my bi-polar II, and so happened to control my migraines. Happy Days!

When I FIRST took Topamax I remember having the strange feeling of small miscroscopic "fish" (or something) swimming under my skin, across my cheekbones and over the bridge of my nose. I never got a rash or anything. I did not feel that this passing side effect was anything I "couldn't deal with" as the medication stablized my mood without the HORRID side effects of Lithium, Depakote, Valproic Acid, etc!!!

All this time I have done very well and have NEVER had any health problems from the Topamax. I am VERY confused by folks who claim it gave them "mood swings"--as its effect is to make your mood stable!!! I don't understand how that could happen. Also this is a LOT of people having MAJOR effects from VERY low doses of the drug (50- 75mg mostly). Perhaps folks are medication sensitive OR something else is going on as well???

Hi Everyone...I've been on a bipolar cocktail for 3 years and one ingredient is LAMICTAL along with Lithium and Wellbutrin. Overall the drug has worked and I feel pretty healthy mentally. Of course I am particularly concerned about my memory loss, putting a sentence together and finding the simple words for basic objects. I really do feel dumb, especially at work, as I am in sales. Many times I stutter, fumble and go blank in front of customers. I have not told my boss or anyone else that I'm on the meds, so I know they think I'm just a dumb-ass. I'm ok with that. I also quit going to school for my master's because of the short term memory loss and general mushiness of the brain. I was once an honor student and very outgoing, now I just keep my mouth shut when I can in fear of making a fool of myself. My balance is off and as weird as it sounds I have trouble parking my car straight in a parking space. My co-workers have commented a few times that I don't know how to drive. At first I thought it was my car, the tires, alignment, etc...but when I got another one, it's still happening no matter where I park. I'm 43 and have acne and underlying bumps on my face, chin and neck. I did lose weight though! So, I can empathize with most of you. I'm not thrilled with being on these drugs for what may be forever, so I guess I need to decide whether to stay on this stuff, reduce, taper or change drugs. LOL to all.

I have gained 60 pounds in 6 months since I first started taking Lexapro. I have to admit that this is the first time in my life that I feel happy, care-free and no more worrying all the time. I am bipolar two I think but my doctor is skeptical about the diagnosis since all I ever do is get severely depressed. I was on Lithium and Depakoate 13 yrs ago and then I switched to Topamax and Wellbutrin with a new dr. Life seemed to get 200% better - I lost a ton of weight. 8 yrs later the drugs just weren't working anymore and I switched to the Lexapro and Lamictal. Its seems good but the weight gain is so dramatic that my whole body aches and its just not healthy. I have trouble walking in the morning - getting up, sitting down. Its ridiculous and I am thinking about stopping my meds.

I have been on Lamictal for 8 years and take 200mg every night. I take it in combination with Lithium, Seroquel, & Wellbutrin. My diagnosis is rapid cycling bi-polar. There was also Depakote for about 12 years but that's gone, thank God. The Lamictal, combined with the Seroquel, can knock me on my butt, I feel like a drunk. I stagger and my speech is slurred, and I am very sleepy. I have dry skin in my ears that never resolves and that is itchy & painful. I have bowel issues. I also have vivid dreams but not violent ones. No sex drive but I'm single so that's not a problem. I also need a nap every day. I'm sure that there are others but it's hard to tell because of the other drugs I take. Glad that I'm not the only one with issues.

I have been on 1500 mg of lithium day and never really had too many side affects but recently i have been gettin really bad headaches,anyone else have this problem?

Hello All. Diagnosed bipolar in 2004, been on and off meds realizing that I guess I can't really be off of them, though having a hard time dealing with it. Been on Lamictal, Lithium, Geodon, and several anti-depressants and others I can't remember honestly in the past, now just Geodon, 80 mg at night (can't do it in the morning, can't work). It's now 2 a.m. and I'm desperate. I feel worse on my meds than I do off, though I get suicidal and sabotage my life and my marriage and kids. I have experienced insomnia, tired in the morning, my muscles ache, I dance all morning long and my co-workers think I'm crazy ( I guess I may be). I have landed in crutches because my "dancing" has caused shin splits. I hold a good job and I have two kids that I need to tend to. My husband travels a lot and I just can't seem to deal with the Geodon. All others caused similar issues. I'm desperate on my meds, but I suffer schitzo symptoms off meds. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. BTW, just found two great doctor's, one for therapy and one for med admin. Only been back on my meds and doctor's appts for 2 months after being off meds for 9 months and suffering another "great" relapse. Help me!!!!

I've been taking Lithium (800 mg) for about 15 yrs.after experiencing severe post partum depression. I've experienced the common side effects like headaches, nausea, muscular weakness, however I've been lucky not to have hand tremors.
My issue is with my memory and with recalling words. Lately I've been having a hard time expressing myself and it's really frustrating and embarrassing! I feel stupid. I'm also bi-lingual so it's worse.
I've also been taking Xanax (.05 mg/day) for the past 5 yrs, for panic attacks that started after I started taking Lithium. I only get these panic attacks in my sleep. So I'm wondering if panic attacks are a side effects of Lithium?

I had been treated with Depakote, Lamictal, Lithium, Fluoxetine and more (I do not even remember all of them...).
I have been depressed most of my adult life I guess.
My depression caused me to destroy many relationships, loose friends, making me unable to build a carrier and ruining my marriage too. Wasting years of my life feeling always an unworthy mistake. I have had many suicidal thoughts too.
Then this past August I started to loose A LOT of weight, suddenly and for no apparent reason... I would also be so terribly tired and unreasonably nervous (but you know...being a dark depressed looser... that was usual and "normal"), feeling week and exhausted. Being summer and having always had low blood pressure I did not pay too much attention to all that until I did by chance some blood tests...
I AM HAVING BIG TIME THYROID PROBLEMS!
...I am not crazy! My depression had an actual physiological problem and I have been always treated with medicines that would actually make the thyroid gland worse!
I hated Depakote, it made me sick even while I was sleeping, waking up dizzy and nauseous! And I hated all the rest!! These medicines poisoned my liver, my memory and intelligence!
Check this out... to any of you that my have a thyroid problem instead:
*******
That's my experience and I hope it might help you. If it doesn't... good luck. I do understand the pain of being ALWAYS "under the weather"....
(PS. You'd might like to look at this too if you do not already know M. T.... IT DOES HELP! ****** )

Ive had really good results with this drug. Ive been happy alert cheerful etc.. like a "normal" person. I was taking it for about a year when Lithium was added to my cocktail and some very bad sexual side effects occurred. Thankfully a touch of real (im not going that here) Wellbutrin eliminated that but right now im off and in the wonderful land of generic budeprion. Im switching back to Effexor ASAP!!!

Cymbalta has been a lifesaver for me. There is one annoying thing though... constipation. It's probably due to my other meds. as well but it is well worth the "effort" to stay on it. I have tried virtually every anti-depressant out there. I've had allergic reactions to many medications that have left me with proximal muscle damage (muscles closest to your body) and during the 10 years I was on Lithium (the first and major cause),. then cholesterol meds. such as statins, I had to have several surgeries to fix what muscles were breaking down (total rotator tear from simple exercise). Anyway, all this to say I had severe depression, was officially un-diagnosed bipolar, got off the statins, Lithium and got somewhat better. Then three other meds. did this to me so my body really reacts strangely to meds. Cymbalta has really helped me to function and not want to just die. Stay on it if you can. There aren't many better choices out there.(I asked to be put on the highest dose 300 mg 1 per day to see if I'd get the muscle pains that start at the top of the thigh and shoulders)

I don't know what is wrong with you people but its like you can't handle anything. I had the mirena put in November last year and yeah ok i had cramping for the first month or so and yeah i had spotting. But unlike some of you fools i knew what the side effects were i read what came in the package which means i knew what to expect before i got it put in. And yeah there are loads of possible side effects but if you read everything and know what could happen you shouldn't complain if something does happen. Not everyone who has the mirena has these things and for people who are considering it i would recommend trying it and after 3 months if it doesn't feel good then get it removed. That especially goes to people that have just had a baby... i mean really in the first 3 months after having a baby who is really seriously interested in sex right away. The reason i am here was to see if there was more information about them now because UNFORTUNATELY i had to have mine removed for an operation. I had a cyst on my fallopian tube which was not mirena related. In fact almost all women get them when they are menstruating but they go away. Unfortunately with me they don't go away and this is the 2nd cyst to be removed in 3 years. I am planning on getting a second mirena inserted next week. Because frankly i find it ideal. And yeah i may have had mood swings on occasion while i had it but come on think about it what woman doesn't have mood swings. So sure you can blame everything on the Mirena but for the most part besides then for the people where the mirena got stuck or moved during the time you had it... its all in your head. And like i said before i would recommend the mirena and if after 3 or 4 months it doesn't suit you then go for something else... but don't dismiss it because some people have too much time on their hands and like to spend it whining over everything on the net. Remember with the Mirena you have a 50/50 chance of having symptoms or not. Take that risk before taking the risk of going on the pill and forgetting to take it or going on depo provera and putting on 20 pounds.