September 26th
2009
7:29 PM
Wow, to hear that it was not all in my head and I am not the baby that I thought I was. I had my mirena put in July 29,2009 and did it hurt. My ob/gyn asked me if I had taken some ibuprofen before hand. Of course, no one told me too so I had not. So, I cramped all evening in pain. I had plans to run some errands after the insertion and did but had to do child birth breathing just to make it to the next light. I even went so far as to pinch myself hard enough to leave fingernail indentations on my forearm several times to take my mind off the VERY PAINFUL cramps. After about two days of cramping, I thought that I was in the clear. Well, come to find out that I should have bought stock in Tampax since I have pretty much have been wearing a tampon every day since insertion. Now, that it has been two full months, I am considering having it removed. I have already had my children, my husband is "fixed" and I have no reason for birth control. I just wanted to have lighter monthly periods not lighter DAILY periods. As to the weight gain, my doc told me that that would not be an issue. Well, I work out four to six days a week and have gained weight that I can not lose( also in the belly) since the insertion. What is up with this thing??
-- By swensete | Reply | Private Message me
August 10th
2009
4:20 PM
I had my Mirena put in 3 months after having my fifth child in December o8...i tried mirena because in the past birth controls have failed for me such as the pill even depo so me and my doctor decided that mirena would be a good birth control for me i am 29 and have been getting my period since i was 15 and never have my periods ever lasted more then 5 days but since i have gotten the mirena put in i have bleed in excess of 15 days or more currently i am on day 15 and still going the bleeding is so heavy at times i will go through at least 5 tampons a day and most of the time i have to wear a pad also cause i bleed through especially when i just wake up it seems as if the blood just collected all night so when i get out of bed it just comes gushing out sometimes starts running down my legs...im always tired and lately i been crying a lot just out of the blue for no reason i get really irritated very easy and it seems to get worse my sex drive is none i want to have it removed but ive heard stories of the symptoms getting worse after having it removed and i also don't want to get pregnant again but i refuse to get a tubal because the women in my family who have had them always ended up later in life having to have a hysterectomy i am also paranoid even with the mirena that i will get pregnant and end up with a tubal pregnancy. HELP ME LORI
-- By mikenlori | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
July 16th
2009
12:13 PM
I have severe endometriosis & a double uterus(yes, that means 2 separate periods). My periods would last between 7 & 15 days w/ heavy clotting & very painful cramps. Last year my dr. said he didn't think it was good to bleed every month, so he put me on Jolessa. The 1st month was great w/ no period & no side effects. Then I started spotting & had a period on & off for about 2 months. Then, I didn't have my period for 2 months @ all & the following month had a 3 day period. The next month(May), I started spotting & it continued until 2 weeks ago(2nd week of July). Then an actual period started & is still continuing. So that's 7 weeks of spotting & 2 weeks(so far) of full bleeding. Besides the on/ off bleeding, I have had no other side effects. Although this severely irregular bleeding is annoying, it is still better than my regular periods so I am reluctant to stop taking them. My dr. said it could really take up to a year to fully regulate my cycle, so I am willing to wait.
-- By roselee | Reply | Private Message me
July 13th
2009
10:37 AM
I have had the Mirena for a year and half now. I had very painful cramps when it was first inserted and still experience painful cramps at least once a month. I have lighter periods however, my periods now last a min of two weeks vs 5days. Within the last few months I've had a constant vibration in my pelvic area on the left side. I was wondering anybody else has experienced the say thing.
-- By telly7 | Reply | Private Message me
July 3th
2009
6:06 AM
Hi Ladies, like all of you I too have my share of Mirena issues. I have had my IUD in since March 2008, so a year & four months now. To start with the positive- I do not get periods. I haven't had a period starting the following month I had it put in. Now for all the Negatives- Bad Acne and usually I have great skin. Not anymore. They are more like red bumps mainly on my forehead, Constant migraines, mood swings, constantly stressed, pain in my lower abdomen, lower back pain (Doctors thought I had a kidney infection- all urine, blood tests, pelvin ultrasound, CAT scan were normal), constant urinating & cannot hold my urine (like a bad UTI), I have noticed when I comb my hair after washing it, I am losing a lot of hair, I get a lot of dizzy spells all the time, painful cramps in my legs, fluttering in my stomach (like a baby moving/kicking- I thought I was pregnant), I have a lot of discharge- I will be walking a big gush just comes out, my sex drive is barely there- I am in my 20's and just about every time I have sex with my husband I will just go dry in the middle of it & just about every position hurts, I have very itchy skin now. I am always scratching especially my legs. I am always applying lotion to help with the itching, I also developed a ganglion cyst in my hand next to my wrist. It was so painful my hands would swell, numbness & tingling in my fingers, pain in my forearm, I just had a needle aspiration done a few days ago. Now that I have confirmed the side effects with this site, as soon as my doctor's office opens I am calling to have this trash removed!!! Thank you Ladies.
-- By prdrmom | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
June 21th
2009
11:08 AM
After being on several birth controls for 5 years, the past 3 have been on NuvaRing. It was great for 2 years but the past year hasn't been great. I was getting my periods on Tuesdays and very light flow that lasted 3 days. Now I get it on Wednesdays and it lasts 5-6 days. Not to mention the horrible, painful cramps I get when I take the ring out. I have gained an enormous amount of weight and become very emotional with constant mood swings. I know with the other birth controls I have been on my body got so used to them to that it started rejecting the hormones. I have to say that the same thing is happening with NuvaRing. While by body was accepting it, NuvaRing was a great alternative to a pill. But, all good things must come to an end so today was my last day on it. I'm curious to see what happens next.
-- By acj116 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
April 14th
2009
9:33 PM
I get these painful cramps in both legs the back of my legs above my
calf muscles. They always come after midnight when I am asleep. i
get up and I have to walk 30 minutes or more until they stop,and for
two days my legs are sore.
April 9th
2009
10:31 PM
I am 56 years old and was on Advair for about a month and found that I was having night time leg cramps. I have always had occasional problems with night time leg cramps, but the Advair was causing cramps every night. Many nights I was having several episodes which would cause me to get out of bed and walk off the cramp. One night I counted about six times that I got up with very painful cramps. So I stopped the Advair and now I am sleeping again. I think it will take a while before I feel rested again. I am so tired from this whole experience. Leg cramps are not listed as a major side effect for Advair, but it should be. These leg cramps were agonizingly painful.
-- By mary444 | Reply | Private Message me
March 6th
2009
1:37 AM
Hi . I am a 69yr old male. My doctor has recently increased my Lipitor from 20 to 40mg. My cholesterol reading was 3.6 which he considered to high after a quad bypass. I am suffering painful cramps down the front of both lower legs as well as cramps down the back of my lower right leg. I plan to revert to 20mg to see if the cramps stop. I am not sure if I should stop completely.
-- By superdraft | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
February 26th
2009
12:55 PM
Hello, I had mirena put it on Oct of 2009. And I was in a lot of pain on left side when they inserted it in the first placed. Felt like a cut. So like every one else, Mood swings, No interest in sex. Painful cramps. And all the worst side affect there is. So then in January I Had my doctor remove it, And He could not take it out. And ruptured my insides. And now Im in so much pain. And have to get cut open to see what is up. And a nice Law suit against my doctor and mirena is in progress now . So just to any one that wants to get this crap installed . DON'T DO IT!!!!
-- By innab | Reply | Private Message me
February 25th
2009
5:35 AM
ITS GONE….. finally after four months of feeling that I am going mad, feeling depressed and crying for no reason the dreaded thing was removed yesterday. The consultant I saw about the side effects a month ago asked me to give it another month, I did and when he saw me yesterday he said he expected me to bounce into the room feeling great, and was shocked at my appearance…. I felt dreadful.. the worst thing is the dizziness, its constant!! Even today, day 1 of removal the dizziness is still there, I still want to cry, but the thought that I cant surely feel like this forever is keeping me going… luckily for me I have a very supportive partner who has been there and looked after me.
My side effects:
Painful cramps
Dizziness
Depression
Crying
Backache
Leg Pains
Head Muzziness, loss of concentration
Terrible Fatigue
Headaches
Feeling Sick
Loss of libido
Breast Tenderness
I just wanted to say thanks to all the women who have posted on here and who have made me realize that what I was experiencing wasn’t just me and in my head, they are genuine side effects otherwise there wouldn’t be so many posts…. Unfortunately I found this website after I had had the Mirena inserted… I am sure that there are many women out there who Mirena does work for, but they have to realize that it doesn’t work for everyone, and I am sure there aren’t many websites that have been set up to say how good it is… also, if it works for them, why are they looking on a website for side effects if they aren’t experiencing any??
-- By hopefulnow | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
February 12th
2009
8:08 AM
What a relief to be reading everyone's stories. My symptoms all built slowly over the last 7 months and have really reared their ugly heads in the last 3 months especially. In fact, I have been crying for days with no good reason. I feel like I am going crazy and am unable to cope with the simplest of things, things that in the past may have caused stress but not an emotional breakdown and feelings of despair. I had the Mirena put in in July 2008 because of painful cramps that led to several ER visits. My doctor raved about it, said she had it before and after her children and yes it does affect everyone differently but it's pretty much a miracle. The research I did conveniently didn't lead me here so I thought I'd give it a try. It sounded the same as a pill but just without the daily obligation. Well, the last 7 months of my life have gotten progressively worse and more frustrating. I have become irritable, angry, moody, depressed and anxious. I have experienced a complete loss of sex drive, along with worsened acne, and unexplained weight gain (despite generally healthy eating and consistent exercise) . I feel horrible for my fiance because it's like I am not me anymore. I was such a happy, friendly, fairly consistent person but now I'm a mess and my moods are all over the place. I hate feeling so fat and sexually blah. It's miserable! I actually feel depressed and I have no good reason. I love my life and it's a very good one, challenges and all. Needless to say, I am having this awful thing removed tomorrow. I've been waiting for a month for this appointment and if I were braver I think I would definitely remove it myself to put an end to this craziness. I want myself back.
-- By angelarose | Reply | Private Message me
January 30th
2009
9:41 PM
I have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for 2 years and it is the best BC for me! I am a newlywed and our sex life is great! Previously I had tried OrthoTriCyclen Lo and Yaz. Both did not work for me at all!!!! I felt awful with both, especially Yaz. On Loestrin 24 Fe I might have a very short period or sometimes I do not even have a period at all and it is amazing! My doctor said that is okay and normal. I love Loestrin! It has saved me a whole lot of pain that I used to go through once a month. I had the worst cramps and bleeding in the world. I would have to go to bed I was so sick and take tons of alieve and ibuprofen. Now I take nothing but my multivitamin in the mornings! I feel great. Actually I just went to Disney World and my period was due, but I felt great and didn't even have a period!!!!!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE! Life has changed for the better. I hope you all can give it a try. I will forever be thanking my OBGYN!
-- By lllwww | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
January 28th
2009
10:49 AM
I haven't been on this site since about 7/08...and I am sorry to hear of all really crazy, uncomfortable side effects that many women have experienced. I had the mirena put in 3/15/08. It was recommended by my doctor because I have stage 2 endometrosis.
Overall, I would say that I have adjusted pretty well. My symptoms were and still are: occasional dizzy spells (less than a minute), some occasional tingling in my hands when I wake up (as if I was laying on them when I was asleep but wasn't), and I have had 2 REALLY heavy periods, the first was about 3-4 months after it was inserted. I bled for 3 days straight and was using super tampons and pads and was soaking through them in less than 30 minutes. I called the doctor on the 3rd day to see if this was "normal". I was told it usually takes at least 6 months for your body to adjust. At this point, I still have breakthrough bleeding for about 3 weeks a month and need to use pantiliners about every day as a "just in case". I still get my period but it is definitely shorter and lighter than before and most noticeably, less painful cramps overall.
January 24th
2009
7:10 PM
i am 37 and I have had a history of heavy periods that have made me anemic over the past years. I had a tubaligation in my late 20's so this is not for birth control for me. my main symptoms were extreme fatigue, vertigo, depression (only during my periods) and isolation. i had mirena inserted Dec 2008. after the painful cramps and heavy period that immediately followed for over 2 weeks, i thought everything was going to be okay--that i would have very light or no periods at all. Since that time i have experienced hair loss (a huge breakage spot on the crown of my head--the size of a saucer), dark acne bumps on my face that won't heal properly, hair under my chin, painful acne on my back, increased appetite, decreased ability to lose weight--despite exercising vigorously 3-4 times a week. On top of that...all my previous symptoms are back! I am dealing with a period that has caused me to have extreme fatigue and depression. all i want to do is go to sleep until my period is over. the sad thing is i came to this site before i made my decision for mirena. I trusted my doctor in believing that these side effects were not typical. My desire was to have a uterine ablation--that's where they "lightly burn" the uterine lining and stop your cycle. my doc gave me sooo many reasons of this not working. the main one was it only last 5 years...i am going to go to a different doc and insist i try this...i don't like the mirena and i wish i had listened to your posting a long time ago. good luck to all of you and i hope you keep putting your comments here--good, bad, or indifferent.
-- By marsha4410 | Reply | Private Message me
November 30th
2008
8:56 AM
Im 35 have 2 children and had mirena fitted in Feb of 2008. It was the most painful thing i have ever experienced. There was a med student in the room when he did it and she said after it was over that was the most brutal thing shes ever seen. After it was inserted i bled for about two weeks but it did let up. In the months that followed I experienced the acne,(i have always had clear skin), the weight gain, the fatigue, the headaches, the fogginess, and the worst to me was a major personality change. I was miserable. Depressed and extremely on edge all the time. I blamed my constant crankiness on the fact that I could no longer fit into any of my clothes, and the 15lbs that i had gained. In August my mom asked me if i was pregnant cuz she said I looked like i was. The day after my mom said that I went to weight watchers and did manage to lose 10 of those lbs. Which isnt that great considering i lost 42 lbs in 4mths when i went on it after i had my 2nd daughter and it took me 3 1/2 mths to lose 10! Anyway, 2 weeks ago i started with this dizziness and the tingling feeling in my arms and legs. Went to the doc and she said I had an inner ear infection. Took the meds she gave me and still felt crappy. Then last Monday i had a total breakdown. I couldn't get out of bed, the left side of my face was feeling like it was numb. My cousin came to see me and asked me what was wrong and I simply said "I think im losing my mind!" She said well u haven't been yourself since you had "that thing put in". So her and i got on the computer and googled mirena side effects and WOW!! I could not believe what I was reading. I could relate to every woman's story. I called my doc and had to fight with the idiots at the front desk but I got an appointment tues the 25th to have it removed. The doc looked at me like I was crazy when I told her what was going on. She said theres no way mirena was causing that and i should go see a neurologist but shed take it out for me anyway just to ease my mind.
Well let me tell you how I feel today 5 days post mirena. I feel WONDERFUL!!! I actually felt better within an hour after she removed it. The tingling and numbness stopped and that foggy feeling was gone, and my insides no longer felt like they were being squeezed together. I started heavy bleeding on Friday (at walmart on black Friday, to give you a laugh). Im going through a tampon every two hours but i have to say it feels wonderful. I just feel great I don't care about the bleeding at all thats how good I feel. My stomach is flat again, and when i weighed myself this morning i was 7lbs down from Monday, and i haven't been dieting at all, ate like a cow on thanksgiving. I even look different in the mirror. I swear my skin had a grayish tint to it when i had the mirena and today im all pink and rosy again. When i think about how i felt and the mths of my life that i lost, i cant believe a form of birth control caused that. They really need to educated people more on this device. Yea the thought of not having a period is cool but at what expense? Ill take my period over feeling like that any day!
November 10th
2008
11:12 PM
I just recently had the mirena iud inserted. Oct 30 2008. 3 months after having my first child under a normal vaginal delivery. When I have asked my doctor regarding any side affects he stated that women may have heavy bleeding the first 6 months/ and that after those 6 months that your periods will actually disappear.
The first week that I had the mirena in, I began bleeding almost instantly. Blood clots the size of my closed fist came out of my body from the uterine wall I suppose. I went through a super tampon/ and a pad in an hour and a half. ( I am one of those women who normally use a super tampon maybe once in a while/ normally a reg. size does the job) This bleeding has not stopped since the mirena was inserted.
Looking at a computer screen is part of my daily routine at work. It seems as though my eyes feel blurry through out the day as I am working. Towards the end of the day I can barely stand to look at it. This has never happened to me before. It is almost like I want to turn all lights off and sit in the dark, with no noise(headaches).
Of course sex drive is at the all time low. Who is in the mood to go for it when you are bleeding with a terrible headache?
The first few nights I had a horrible time falling asleep and staying asleep.
Well... at this point I have had headaches... all day for a week now. My head hurts like someone is pounding it against a wall. I have not had a headache in years. My stomach has been upset/ feeling as though I may have to throw up.
I am afraid that I may start seeing the other symptoms that ladies have talked about.
When you had the symptoms did they all happen at once or one at a time over different time periods?
September 29th
2008
9:41 PM
I have been on Singulair for about one month and am experiencing extremely painful cramps/charlie horses in my legs. I am taking Singulair for adult onset asthma. Have a horrid cough, been told over the past 20 years, yes, 20 years, it is caused by allergies but no medication stops the coughing. Then they figured it had to be caused by acid reflux. So prilosec is prescribed. Still have the cough. Now this specialist deems it to be adult onset asthma. The Singulair does not stop the coughing - so what is next? Major leg cramps/charlie horses.
-- By judy327 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
September 18th
2008
4:04 PM
I have been taking 100 units of Lantus at night for the past 4 months. I have gained 25 pounds, my legs and feet are swelled up, my joints in my fingers hurt, my right shoulder hurts like it has been injured but it hasn't, I have days where I can sleep all day and then sleep all night without a problem, my A1C is 9.1, I have the most painful cramps in my calves and feet, I feel like I am 100 years old and I am only 42.
Houston we have a problem.
September 17th
2008
10:28 AM
I have been on Aviane since January. I started taking it for extremely painful cramps that induced vomiting and dizziness. I wasn't taking it for birth control, acne control, or anything else. It worked wonders for my cramps. I had a regular period, no spotting, and no excruciating pain. That being said, the rest of my life was awful. I break out like crazy, put on a little bit of wait (nothing to really complain over), and worst of all, I have been in a hazy slump since I started taking it. I wouldn't say its been depression, but it is definitely a fatigue that I can't shake. I don't care about my friends or boyfriend or family until something or someone makes me aware of my blatant rudeness and apathy and then I burst into tears and cry for a whole day. Its awful, and I plan to not start the new pack on Sunday. I'm cutting birth control entirely and hoping it will change things. Has anyone else done this? I'm kind of scared of the side effects of stopping...
-- By bristj | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
September 8th
2008
2:47 PM
Well just like most of you, this thing is giving me so much trouble! I got Mirena in February of 2007 and have had problems ever since. At the insertion, I thought I was having a child it was soo painful! Cramps instantly and bleeding like crazy! Now, over a year later, I'm still cramping everyday and I've bled pretty much the entire time on and off and it's never predictable. I have no desire to do anything, I'm tired and irritable (my poor boyfriend always catches the bad end of it, both sexually and mentally) and I'm always uncomfortable (something just doesn't feel "right" down there). I've gained about 15 pounds, and HATE IT. I'm only 20 years old, I shouldn't feel as bad as I do. My biggest fear is that it will end up ruining my body and I won't be able to ever have children. I mean, just because I didn't want them while I'm still in college doesn't mean I won't want them in the future. I made an appointment to get mine out on the 17th of September and CANNOT wait, of course they weren't happy at the doc's office but o'well, they "couldn't get me in" for 3 weeks. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has felt like this was a bad idea.
-- By kp13 | Reply | Private Message me
September 4th
2008
3:09 AM
I've been on the pill for a couple months without much of a problem. I initially started taking Femcon, along with an antibiotic (for acne) which caused me to contract a severe yeast infection. I then immediately stopped taking the antibiotic thinking that the problem would be solved. However, a couple months later new symptoms had arised. I found myself having painful cramps in the abdominal area, foul cloudly smelling urine, light brownish spotting, light white milky discharge, and slight itch/discomfort. I used an over the counter yeast infection kit on two separate occasions which seemed to be unresponsive. Are my symptoms normal or a possibility due to taking the Femcon? Does it sound like I have more of a UTI or a yeast infection? I don't have insurance so It's very difficult to run back and fourth to a doctor. Has anyone tried the over the counter yeast and UTI tests?
-- By lil_mizz_pebbles | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
August 30th
2008
1:24 PM
My new Dr. put me on Femcon to alleviate extremely painful cramps and very heavy bleeding. I am in the 2nd month of taking it, and am experiencing many of the symptoms mentioned here. Extremely painful, swollen breasts, crazy insomnia for days and days, depression, leg muscle spasms, headaches, acne and weight gain. But flow is lighter and the cramps are mild. Trade-off worth it? Not at this point. But I'll go thru the 3rd month to see if things improve. Yikes.
-- By dicebabe | Reply | Private Message me
August 21th
2008
3:11 AM
I'm a 30 year old woman and I've been taking Yasmin for 4 months now. I've been reading what people have been posting here and I'm wondering if I'm alone in having the following symptoms:
-severe breast pain for one day in the middle of my cycle, followed by mild breast pain until I get my period,
-painful cramps in the middle of my cycle,
-weird sharp internal vaginal pain, (sorry for the graphics, but especially during climax),
-acne problems,
-depression
The last two, I did see that people wrote about on here. I called my doctor today and I'm requesting a new pill. I thought that after a couple of months the symptoms would equalize, but after this last month, I decided I couldn't live with it. The breast pain especially has been very painful.
Mirena (17) Loestrin 24 Fe (7) Femcon FE (4) Lipitor (4) Yasmin (3) Cyclessa (2) Advair HFA (2) Kenalog (2) NuvaRing (2) Jolessa (1) Lamictal (1) Singulair (1) Lantus (1) Albuterol (1) Aviane (1)
October 2th
2009
2:28 AM
yea im eighteen and got mirena inserted last year December when i was seventeen. i've never had a baby so i was worried that it would hurt a lot. but my mom and aunts pressed on for me to get it done. so i agreed because they claimed it was the best birth control ever. the actual insertion wasn't at all a difficult experience. but as soon as i got into the car and sat down excruciating painful cramps would hit me in waves. that has to be the worst pain i've felt yet to this day. at work i'd b on the ground crouched over trying to wait the pain out. i could have cried if i'd allowed myself. soon i became hooked on taking advil everyday to escape the pain. it worked as long as i remembered the little pill every morning. the cramp last from December to march. they are gone now i guess. and ever since a month after insertion i've been having odorous discharge. its very embarrassing so i use tampons to 'plug' the discharge from going out. i realize it probably isn't the smartest thing to do but i have no choice.
-- By dannyg | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me