Nuva rings symptoms and conditions

I can't believe I didn't find this sooner! I was on the Nuvaring for about 4 years and just last month traded it in for the Mirena.

At first, I was thrilled to find the Ring as I have a very hard time taking pills because I've always had a sensitive stomach. The patch was messy and sticky so I was excited to find the ring. For the first couple of years, the only problem I had was keeping it in place (it would continuously fall out) so I just got used to having to push it back into place every time I used the restroom. Every. Single. Time. But it was worth it because it made my periods much, much lighter and more manageable (i usually am down for the count for a few days). I also did the ring continuously without taking a week off because I still had some pretty terrible periods.

About two years ago, I started gaining weight uncontrollably, became very depressed, lethargic and achey. One day I came down with a terrible case of bronchitis and was put on a heavy duty round of antibiotics and steroids. After, I started having terrible heartburn and IBS symptoms which lead me to a gastroenterologist. Every test imaginable was performed, but nothing was found. I was told I had a nervous stomach. Unsatisfied, I got some bloodwork done and had abnormal blood glucose levels. My diabetic husband gave me a glucometer and I realized my blood sugars were totally out of range. I ended up at an Endocrinologist and all tests came back normal. I was also referred to a Rheumatologist for my achy body and joints. I found a list of symptoms of hypothyroidism and was convinced this is what I have, so I was put on a very low dose of Synthroid. At the same time, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and put on a whole mess of anti-inflammatories and pain killers.

Unsatisfied with my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and totally unwilling to admit this is something I have to live with for the rest of my life, I began working with a nutritionist who has helped me get off all the medications (except Synthroid). But still, I hadn't slept through the night in years (getting up 3-4 times a night to use the bathroom), I was terribly achy, irritable, nauseous, constipated and still gaining weight.

Recently, my insurance changed and I decided to get the Mirena. Within a few weeks, most symptoms have drastically improved, my family notices a major change. I actually slept through the night last week, only 3 weeks after using the Ring for the last time. I haven't lost any weight yet, but the fact that I even CAN exercise is monumental. More than anything, I'm thrilled at the prospect that everything was caused by the Ring, the one constant no matter what I tried, and maybe I won't have to live with Fibromyalgia for the rest of my life.

I can't say with total certainty that the NuvaRing caused all my problems, but it is absolutely astounding that all of us are experiencing the same terrible symptoms and none of our doctors have bothered to think that it could be the Ring. I'm angry about this. Why don't they know about these side effects??

Yes these side effects are listed in the package, but they're the same side effects from pretty much every medication... and I don't know about all of you but this thing came damn near close to ruining my life. I couldn't work, sleep, eat, exercise, clean my house, etc. etc. It's no heart attack or stroke, but definitely life altering.

I think health care providers need to be alerted to these symptoms and the possibility that the Nuvaring could be causing it all. It would have saved me thousands of dollars in medical bills and despair. Patients should be warned that the side effects are very real and can be debilitating. I'm almost sorry I found this so late (after I already got rid of it!) but I'm glad I found it nonetheless.

Good luck to all of you!

I have been on the nuvaring for about six months now, and have had the following side effects, lack of energy, increase in vaginal discharge, ichyness, and now, loss of scalp hair. Ew, gross. This is the last straw, I am getting rid of this thing. I'm not going bald. My man is just going to have to suck it up and wear a condom. Ladies, its time for us to burn our nuvarings. (figuratively of course, they are made of plastic)

I am on the nuvaring, but I am not having the same complications that everyone else seems to have. I have been on the nuvaring for about three and a half years. Everything seemed to be going great with this new birth control until about 4 months ago when i didn't start my period. So, my fiance and i decided to get a pregnancy test and sure enough it was positive. With me being in my third year of college and having to change our wedding date, our lives have taken a drastic turn.Now that i am 18 weeks pregnant i am trying to keep a close look out on any other nuvaring pregnancies. I had found 2 others around my area who were having the same problem as me, so i knew i was not alone. Then the most shocking news came to me when my brothers girl friend called me one morning telling me she hadn't started her period yet. She was on the nuvaring too, let me remind you. The odds of her and I both getting pregnant on a birth control that is 99.9% accurate is a 1 and a million chance. What are the odds of that? Sure enough she is pregnant too. So our question is, was there a bad lot of nuvarings sent out around the same areas or what? And its not like we misused them either. we have both been on it for a long time, so we know the do's and don'ts. So, id there anyone else out there with this problem?