Old blood symptoms and conditions

My experience with nuvaring:
I thought it was good at first. I have been on it for 3 months (with no break). I have skipped my period, but I did have some spotting after the second month. Actually it was thick dark old blood mostly on and off. I have noticed I my sex drive has significantly decreased, but I thought it was because I started taking Zoloft around the same time and I know that is a side effect of zoloft. After reading this, I see that the nuvaring must be a factor if all these other people are saying the same thing. The reason I was doing a search though is b/c I have had reoccurring symptoms of BV. Once was really bad but the other times were mild (including now), but I know when something is not right.
I just took it out (today) b/c I thought maybe not having my period could be a factor or the ring itself. Im going to give it a break for awhile to see if things change.
I do not seem to have the mood problems like the pill has affected me in the past, but I have had nausea, and stomach problems on occasion; yet I don't know if the nuvaring is to blame. I have lost my sex drive, and have had a problem with dryness about the second month of using it (or earlier), yeast infections, and BV symptoms.
Has anyone else had BV more frequently since using the nuvaring?

I have been on lisinopril for a few months now, as of this past Monday I stopped taking it. I am 55 years old, blood pressure was not going down extremely fast just being on Hydrochlorothiazide, but not over the border line either. Doctor suggested Lisinopril to lower my blood pressure lower in addition to the other.

I immediately developed the cough. I have also since been to the doctor for what I thought were symptoms leading up to a heart attack or stroke. Nausea, rapid heart beat, lots of anxiety feelings, even when trying to sleep, light headed, a sudden feeling of just going to fall. They have completed an EKG and a treadmill stress test, nothing showed anything abnormal.

I am convinced it is the Lisinopril. Also, when I questioned my Doctor a while back that my blood pressure was now very low, like 107/71 on some days, he did not seem to concerned, he suggested I take one or the other every other day, so much for follow up on the patient. Did not even bother to check to see if it made a difference.

I agree with the other people, Doctors do not seem to take you serious when trying to describe your symptoms especially if you are a smoker. I know smoking is bad, but if I were not a smoker would I be treated a whole lot different. I just know that I want to see the difference being off of Lisinopril then I will approach my Doctor.

Thank you so much for all your posts guys!! I just googled Mirena side effects today just trying to check ANYTHING that would explain my recent experiences. I sat her bawling while calling my doctor to insist it's removed immediately.

I had it inserted in December after having baby #3 in October. I finally got my girl after 2 boys and a few miscarriages and wasn't certain what to expect. I am only 25 and didn't want something permanent or really any drugs put into me on a consistent basis. When the doctor pushed Mirena I happily said okay! Sounded like a god send. I have extremely high blood pressure and his strong sale point would be that it would remove the need for meds. Liar! My regular doctor flipped out when she found that he had removed me and of course, I went back on meds a few weeks after having it inserted, after 4 readings 200+/110+... amazing he didn't cause me a stroke. That should have been red flag #1 but I figured it was just an error in judgment on his part.

I felt no pain with it going in and didn't cramp at all.. spotted for a few hours then it was over.. My first cycle lasted 2 1/2 weeks and the next started a week later.. All side effects I was warned of so didn't really concern myself.

I started having phantom kicks (uterus contractions) and stabbing labor pains back in February which I figure was it doing its job trying to get my system on track. I had numbness and pain down my left side and would constantly find myself hunched over in pain.. The bleeding had slowed down so much that I was so grateful and just kept popping pain pills like candy hoping it would go away soon.

These last few days have been a flu from hell. Can't leave bed, can't speak, constantly throwing up, loose stools followed by extreme constipation, achy muscle tingling skin.. you name it!! Went to the bathroom earlier and when I wiped, had a small bout of black blood.. Old blood that sometimes you will find at the end of your cycle! I checked the calendar and had indeed finally skipped a cycle.. The cramps and pains have been there as though I was going to start, but no bleeding for a week now.. So apparently to skip a cycle I'm going to be bed ridden with the flu.. I have a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a 7 month old who can't have mommy sick. This has been hell..

I too have experienced
terrible headaches, stomach pains, DEPRESSION, short fused tantrums, sitting and crying for hours on end, no passion for life, numbness of limbs, tingling skin, sinus infections, yeast infections, temporary blindness and now spots in my eyes which aren't regaining vision, 5 months ago I dyed my hair and it came out by the chunks, now that the dye is gone, I'm still losing hair and have bawling spots which I blamed on the dye.. Now I wonder..I also look like I'm about 6 months pregnant and people keep asking.. I HATE IT!! its been devastating to my self esteem. I lost so much weight after my boys so I blamed the weight gain on having a girl.. Now I wonder about that too.. The weight is only about 10 pounds but ALL in my belly..

I wonder so much..

I got about 5 posts into this horrified before I called to insist it will come out.. I have to wait 4 weeks.. but I can't wait to find me again.. I'm gonna just stick with condoms until I get my body back.

Thank you so much for speaking out on this.. I know the doctor is going to insist that it's not to blame.. but I now know better.. Thank you so much for helping me find answers.

okay, so i was just reading everyones posts on here, and everything on here i have been experiencing. I immediately took out the NR. The sex drive, actually the lack there of, was the thing that hit me the most. One of the posts read that she was avoiding her husband because of the fear that he might want to fool around, well i have done the same thing only not my husband but with my boyfriend. I had to pretend to fall asleep because i didn't want to have sex. And my boyfriend is gorgeous, and before the nuvaring we were having sex at least 2 times a day. But what was most concerning to me was bleeding. I started to bleed about a month ago and i am still bleeding now. The blood is not red though, it is brown. I looked this up and apparently it is blood that has been there for a while(old blood). Depression is also something that has been happening to me, crying, even sobbing, was something that was an everyday thing. I was over analyzing everything in my life to something negative. I am not this kind of person either, im positive and always smiling, and i didn't notice any of this until i red all of your blogs. So to finish this up, i want to thank you all for this, and i hope that we can help someone else too :)

I recently gave birth to my 2nd child in November 08. Before my second child, I had tried birth control pills (which gave me 2 periods a month) and the Depo shot ( which completely killed my sex drive and I gained 47lbs. in 6 months). After my 2nd child I had heard so many good things about the NuvaRing, so in Jan. I decided to give it a try. The first month was great!!! Although the 2nd month is when I started having problems. I was having dark brown bleeding before my period and serious mood swings. The 3rd time I removed it, I decided it was not for me. I gained almost 20 lbs. in a matter of 3 months and was a total bitch to everyone. After reading all of these side effects, I am relieved that I am not the only one and that I didn't throw a clot that could have possibly cost me my life! I took my Ring out on 3/1/09 and think that this is the best thing for me! Good luck to any women who continue to use the Ring!

have to agree with Mrsbarrett's post right below mine...I have been a lurker on this board for the past couple of months and thank God for it or who knows how crazy i'd be right now!! Here is a list of my side effects and pertinent information:
DOI: October 2008
Side effects were gradual and most evident around the Christmas Holidays:
Dizziness
Weird eye/vision disturbance where i'd lose focus for a moment and then be okay.
Constant spotting of "old blood" nothing much but did require pantiliners 24/7
Anxiety
Hypertension (more than ever, like when I was pregnant, 150-170s/100)
Panic Attacks
Face Dryness
ZERO SEX DRIVE
No "natural" lubrication, but who cares when you have no drive, are spotting all the time, and it hurts to have sex
Vaginal Odor
Mood Swings
Depression
FATIGUE to the point of wanting to stay in bed despite having to care for my 7.5 year old.
Chest pains (kept thinking maybe I had heart trouble, had cardiac workup that came up PERFECT and bloodwork was perfect, Thyroid test was perfect)
Nausea (morning sickness type, would get slightly better in evening but not so much)
IBS symptoms (diarrhea)

DOR: January 23, 2009
2 days later heavy bleeding for a couple of days.....had somewhat of a "crash" the first week where I was still not better. By the 2nd week post removal I was still nauseated in the morning but improved in the late afternoon and got energy boost in late afternoon.By the 3rd week I was totally back to normal!!!!! (well what's normal for crazy me! hahahahha)

My husband came with me to the doc, and she had no problem with removal. I went back for a follow up this past Friday and she saw how normal I am and that I have lost several pounds as well. She realizes I am extremely sensitive to hormone changes but says i'm the only one that she has seen like that. (how many have problems that don't think it is the Mirena...that's what I want to know???)

Anyway, that's my story and i'm sticking to it!!! If anyone would like to chat or share please let me know. I will also add that I have a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (just not practicing since becoming a SAHM) and so I looked up tons of information to figure out what was wrong with me, I really am thankful to have found this site....medical mumbo jumbo is NOTHING when you have your body telling you something and all you fine ladies......Thanks again!
~G

I had been using the Nuvaring for over 3-years and took it out for a couple months (simply due to an insurance issue). Anyway, I JUST started using it again-- because i LOVE the Nuvaring, it has been great... up to now. I put it back in about a week ago and I am now experiencing serious tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, a brownish discharge (that I feel like might be due to the excretion the ring already causes and is maybe mixed with some old blood (spotting?)). Has anyone had a similar experience? Might you share and tell me what the outcome was?... please tell me it gets better and goes away!

Wow! I finally have answers to all my questions. I had a baby in 6/08 and 10 weeks later had Mirena Inserted. I only had 5 lbs or less to lose to be back to pre pregnancy weight, all my clothes still fit. Today I am 15 to 20lbs heavier. I have a bald spot on my left temple(Christmas time). I thought that my husband pulled my hair out I woke up and looked in the mirror and couldn't believe it, it didn't look shaved it was out by the roots but it wasn't painful whatsoever or any redness, now I know after reading,on top of that, thinning of the hair.
My vision especially at night is just horrible I cannot see. Dizziness. My moodiness is almost unbearable I am so hateful and stay mad at my husband. I do not get out of bed until around 11 am and don't even feel rested (fortunately my daughter sleeps in late) so I have to force myself to do the bare necessities.
Now the discharge has been around about a month after I had Mirena put in. Like others have said old blood, white non smelly discharge, and I bleed after sex every time it isn't painful but its almost like it hasn't healed.
I do not want to get my tubes tied and I absolutely do not want anything with hormones in it so after more research I'm thinking about getting the Essure Coil as a form of sterilization.

Hi ladies, i have had mirena coil since august 2003 and was supposed to have it removed august 2008. Due to a crap childhood i don't like anyone coming near me and my doc will not let me get it removed under general anaesthetic, but i so want to get it removed.
I have had the same problems, weight gain, depression (which doc gave me prozac for, and still taking), pains in the stomach, hair loss, mood swings (felt really sorry for the person on the other end of them), stringy brown blood (old blood),poor concentration, really bad memory and so on.
I put all my problems down to an under active thyroid which i do have, because some of the symptoms are the same. I am so glad i found this site and to know i am not the only one.
For anyone reading this site and considering having a Mirena coil fitted, i strongly suggest you think about it long and hard, i know some people have no problems at all and think it's the best thing since sliced bread, they are the extremely lucky ones.
Good luck everyone

I have had Mirena since Oct. 2007 and ever since have had frequent yeast and bacterial infections. Also my stomach has these gas pain attacks where I feel like I am going to die, it hurts all the way up my back and feels like a huge ball of air is trapped in my stomach. I also have pain all the way up both sides of my chest as this happens. I never made a connection to the mirena just thought I had some weird problem. My strings also disappeared and I had to pay nearly 300 just to make sure the thing was still in there. I was told if he can't get them he will need to do a surgical procedure to remove it- great and I got this to avoid surgery of have tubes tied! I have also been moody, depressed, no sex drive and when I had strings they poked my husband and made sex difficult. I spot constantly and I too have ruined all my panties from this brown old blood that comes out unexpectedly. My husband insists that I have it removed and after seeing that I am not alone in what I am experiencing I am going to see my doctor as soon as he opens. I have been up most the night with one of those gas pain attacks and I am miserable! I recently have been feeling as though something is kicking me in my intestine or stomach area too and I too look pregnant all the time and in fact the 20lbs that I need to loose is all belly! Thanks everyone for all the great advice wish I would have seen this before!

I had my mirena coil fitted 7 months ago by choice after an early stage miscarriage in April-my second in 15 months.My husband and I decided that we would not go for another baby(we have 3 great kids aged 4-14)and the mirena was the obvious choice.I had previously had the mirena 9 years before with absolute success and only had it removed as it was 5 years old. I experienced all the usual early settling niggles(bleeding,bloating,tiredness etc)but for the last 6 weeks every time i visit the loo there are strandy brown blood clots (old blood)My first thoughts were that the mirena has moved but length of strings suggests not.I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this as i know i did not have this problem with my last mirena?

I am 17 years old. I started taking this pill on October 13th, 2008. I had just finished my cycle and went to the OBGYN to do a check up because my last sexual encounter had left me bruised and hurt. I also wanted to start taking birth control again. She put me on this pill and by the next day I was bleeding again. The blood wasn't heavy, and it was dark and tissue. My mother and I didn't think anything serious of it because I had just gotten off my period so it wasn't weird that old blood would still be flowing from me. The next weekend, I was hanging out with the guy I was seeing and some friends. We went to our friends apartment to watch a movie. The boy and I were sitting outside and he began to ask me questions. I got really paranoid and protective and almost completely shut myself off from everyone. Even though the questions were simple and friendly, they made me moody and depressive. for the rest of the night I was upset. I could tell that the boy was unhappy with my mood change so I tried to be happy. But almost immediately, I began to feel depressed again. My mood was so different that the boy ended up leaving me for another girl because "he realized it would never work out between us."

I bled for the remainder of my first month pack. I had severe mood swings similar to the ones I get right before my period, all month. After I took the four brown pills, my bleeding stopped and I thought that would be the end of the mood swings too. And for a while, it was. I started my second pack. I am currently in the second week. I missed my pill yesterday, and when I woke up this morning, I was bleeding again. I took my Monday and Tuesday pill together and I hope that will stop the bleeding.

I have no way of knowing if the mood swings are from the pill or if I am depressed from the break-up. I haven't had a loss of sex drive (although there is no way for me to really test that considering I haven't tried to have sex since I have been on the pill) but I have had a change in appetite. Because this is my senior year, I am usually able to sleep from 10:00 pm until 7:00 am but lately, my fatigue hasn't change but I have been unable to sleep soundly through the night. This could all be due to my recent relationship mishap but I can't help but feel that I am handling this differently.

The depression comes and goes. For the most part, coping has been easy. I have been a lot more relaxed about the relationship situation than I would normally. But I do get sad. And when I get sad....its unbearable. I considered suicide and almost made an attempt. It was an out-of-body experience unlike any I have ever felt. I don't want to wait for the sadness to come again.

I want to stop taking this pill but the doctor says that by the third month the symptoms should even out. I hope so

I know I just posted a really long post but I also have a question. Warning the question is kinda nasty and personal. To any reading that is willing to answer: When I get my period now (since I've started the pill) I don't bleed regularly. The only way I can describe it now is the blood looks like Old blood and to me it is just disgusting. I was wondering if anyone else had had this issue....?

I am so glad I found this website. I had my IUD put in January of this year. I have had cramping that feels like sharp pain shooting through my lower abdomen down to the top of my thighs. The discharge is my main problem. I figured it was related to the IUD because I haven't had any more problems "down there" in quite a while. The discharge I have completely fills up a pantiliner. For some reason, it gets worse the latter part of the day. The odor is embarrassing. I have been to the doctor twice. Nothing was found. No infections of any kind. My doctor did give me on the second visit some sort of antibiotic because he said the discharge was "old blood". Well, it helped for about two weeks, and not it's back. I have visited other sites and have read similar complaints. I really believe that I should have this thing taken out. I miss being normal.

I've had Mirena for about 14 months now. Yeah, I HATE it.
The day they put it in, I was in the category where it took forever to place. Like 3-4 tries to place it. Thank God I'd had experience in handling this type of pain, having 2 children w/out epidurals.

I bled for 6 weeks straight, so the day I went for my follow-up, I stopped bleeding. Figures. I'm looking at the brochures in the office for a different type of contraceptive. The doctor thinks I'm stupid, why would I want to do that? Um, because it pokes my husbands penis head and I can see the red poke marks on it. So the doc trims the tail and loses a piece of it somewhere inside me. CRAZY!

The following month, I really started having low back pain. Then I herniate my L-5. I'm not sure that any of that is related to the IUD. Just speculating. Also speculation, I battled with thrush the entire 13 months I nursed my son. That was never the case with my first child.

So I go about a year with out a period that I can really speak of. Maybe some spotting, but I haven't thought about the thing much. Although, I don't remember ever having a positive thought about it. I could feel it during sex. I can't explain that feeling, but, it's like I could feel it poking my husband at times.

Now, I am having some CRAZY stomach bloat and I'm extremely exhausted. My back is still constantly hurting me. I'm spotting ALL the time. Mostly brown blood, though. Does that mean it's old blood? Every time I have sex, I will spot within the 2nd day. I've held off going to get it removed simply because I don't have insurance and am not looking to get pregnant again. However, I know that it needs to be done. There is something wrong inside me. I never had the weight gain issues other women had. But I am up 5 pounds right now and my belly looks to me like I'm 4 months prego. Matter of fact, I'll probably take a home test tomorrow so I don't have to pay for one at the GYNO.

Anybody know much about getting pregnant with an IUD? And why are doctors so gung-ho for IUD's? Is it because they are like $2000?

I STARTED TAKING YAZ IN NOV.07. I AM 49 YRS. OLD AND MY OBGYN GAVE ME 2 SAMPLE PACKS IN HIS OFFICE AND SAID THEY WERE SAFE FOR ME TO TAKE AS LONG AS I NOT A SMOKER(WHICH I AM NOT)THESE PILLS WERE TO HELP ME GO THROUGH THE CHANGE WHICH I WAS STARTING TO GO THROUGH.WELL IN JAN 25 08 I WAS RUSHED TO ER. WITH PAIN SO BAD I COULDN'T WALK IN MY LEFT THIGH. I WAS TOLD I HAD A LARGE BLOOD CLOT AFTER THEY DID A ULTRA SOUND.THEN THEY DID A CATSCAN AND FOUND PARTS OF THE CLOT HAD GONE TO MY LUNGS! THEY KEPT ME IN ICU FOR 6 DAYS GIVING ME HEPRIN AND SHOTS IN MY STOMACH AND STARTING ME ON WARFIN.AND GOT MY BLOOD THINNED TO A 2.5. THEY LET ME GO HOME AND TOLD ME TO FOLLOW UP WITH A DOCTOR IN A WEEK! WELL WHEN I GOT AN APPT. HE SENT ME FOR ANOTHER ULTRASOUND AND FOUND OUT THE CLOT HAD INTENED TO MY GROWING SO HE PUT ME BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 MORE DAYS AND MORE SHOTS IN THE STOMACH. AFTER I GOT OUT IN WENT BACK TO HIM FOR A FOLLOW UP AND MY LEG AND FOOT WAS SWOLLEN UP WORSE SO HE CALLED A SURGEON AND HE DID SURGERY TO REMOVE THE CLOT FEB.27 08. WELL A WEEK LATER AFTER THE SURGERY ANOTHER ULTRASOUND SHOWED I HAD CLOTTED BACK UP AGAIN. SO THIS SURGEON SENT ME TO ANOTHER SURGEON IN DALLAS,TEX. AND THEY DID AN EXPERMENTAL SURGERY ON ME THE 19-20-21-22 DAYS OF MAY!!! JUNE THE 27TH HE DID ANOTHER ULTRASOUND TO SEE WHAT I LOOKED LIKE AND I HAD CLOTTED BACK UP TO MY FILTER (WHICH WAS PUT IN MY FIRST SURGERY) SO NOW I HAVE A CLOT FROM MY FILTER(WHICH IS BELOW MY LUNGS) ALL THE WAY TO MY LEFT ANKLE. AND THE DOCTOR SAID HE CANT DO ANY MORE SURGERIES FOR AT LEAST A YR. AND FOR ME TO STAY ON MY WARFIN AND WEAR A COMPRESSION HOSE ON MY LEFT LEG FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!! I HAVE TALKED TO 3 LAWYERS AND THEY ALL TURNED DOWN THIS CASE . I GUESS THEY ARE AFRAID OF BAYER. I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS IS BLOOD CLOTS . BUT THIS IS NOT NO PLAIN OLD BLOOD CLOT. THIS HAS AFFECTED MY WHOLE LIFE! I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN 6 MO.AND I HAVE HOSPITAL BILLS I CANT PAY. THESE PILLS HAS DONE SOMETHING TO MY BLOOD!!!

I received my first kenalog shot around the 25th of May. I was due to begin my period around the 1st of June. I have always had regular periods. Since this shot, it seem like I was going to start like normal. There were signs of red and brown blood. For around 3-4 days I would bleed very very lightly. Then, now going on for about 3 weeks I am continuing to spot bleed. The blood seems to be old blood, because it is brown. The only thing that has been different to my body is the shot. I am assuming it is from the kenalog shot. My doctor did not tell me that this would occur.

Hi there,

I had the Mirena IUD inserted on my 32nd birthday, 4 months after my son was born. The cramping was reminiscent of having my period but I felt better the next day.
I have been happy with the fact that I have had absolutely no trace of a period and maybe just a smidge of spotting here and there, until last week when I actually had to use pads for a week and then had old blood showing days later.
So far this is the first day that I haven't had to use a pad and I've noticed that I'd had migraines for the first time, I am exhausted but then I have a 9 month old who often gets up to feed during the night. I can't comment on my breast because I am breast feeding right now too.
I am extremely hot all the time. Just feel like there is an internal heater or as if I were pregnant again, I have noticed pimples around my face that I never used to have. They are big and painful. I am now cramping off and on and it can sometimes be quite painful.
My eyes are extremely dry and I often have to try to make myself cry to get tears to moisturize them while I am driving, My body does feel itchy often - until reading this site I often put it down to the fact that it was during winter and my skin just dried out.
My biggest concern is that my knees are extremely painful, and my lower thighs above the knee are often sore as though I have been lifting weights. I am out of breath when walking up our stairs and yet I have managed to lose 20 pounds of weight since having my baby, so the sensitivity and pain in my knee just does not make sense.
I've also experience light headedness and every once in a while out of the blue I'll get some tingling in my left hand. Weird.

I think I will print this out and show it to my OBGYN because he is very dot the i cross the t type.

Wow, thank you everyone for sharing your info, maybe all my symptoms are that from Mirena too. I certainly didn't have them prior to MIrena insertion.

Take care

i was prescribed femcon because i have been on a million birth controls and i always have some spotting. however with femcon i am into my second week of a very odd period. not to be too graphic, but the bleeding has an abnormal color and texture. it resembles old blood moreso than an actual period. i am also having cramping. during my first pack of pills, i also had spotting after sex. i stopped taking the pill 2 days ago. i am done with hormonal birth control! hopefully the bleeding will stop soon.

Has anyones back pain been severe i have a 2 episodes of severe back pain i mean not being able to move or hardly walk i have been wondering if it is from the iud please reply and let me know does this mean something is wrong or is this a normal side effect i hope not

I started my ring on 12/16 and started bleeding the next day. Today is 12/24 and I'm still bleeding. Has anyone experience this? Should I take the Ring out? I normally bleed for three days and spot afterwards. I've been bleeding heavy since 12/16.

I have been of Nuvaring for 2months now and I started getting this trouble itch where the lining of my panties lay and I started my period Sept. 25,2004 and til this day which is Oct. 11,2004 I am still bleeding old blood. And the itch is still there. I itch so bad that some of my skin is missing where the lining of my panties lay at. I know it is not a yeast infection because I do not have a discharge. What is the problem I really like the product but I don't like the side effects.