Pantyliner symptoms and conditions

I have posted a couple of times previously about negative side effects, i.e. migraines, weight gain, acne, chin hair, eczema, lower back pain, no sex drive...and the list could go on. As a mature 36 year old woman I have educated myself over the past couple of years and can really only attribute all these issues to having the Mirena inserted 4 months after the birth of my daughter 3 years ago. Although at this time my doctors will not openly acknowledge these side effects, I am confident that one day they will. I encourage women to report adverse side effects to the FDA. It onlt takes a minute or two. Who knows, it may be the hormones or it may be the silicone plastic? It has to be something. It should also be acknowledged that some women, my very best friend for one, have had wonderful experiences with the Mirena. I really think it may just depend on the woman and her own body. I am having mine removed tomorrow after researching all of this for about 8 months. All I can say is, thank goodness. I am also scheduled for the Essure(permanent birth control). Food for thought for the older women in the group. Whatever each of you decide, realize you are not alone and you do not have to continue to feel the way you do if you believe that the Mirena could be making you feel so bad. Take care.

I am booked in next month to have a mirena inserted due to heavy bleeding having fibroids, causing anemia but I don't think i can go through with it after reading all you stories
thanks for sharing them with us, you think the doctors and nursed would

I just wanted to post my experience/perspective. I am 30, never had children...

For the most part I love my mirena and would get it again in a heartbeat. Negatives: I have had it for over 2.5 years (I had to get it reinserted after the first month because it had started to expel, but the removal was pain-free and the reinsertion was less painful than the initial insertion). My period does generally last 8-9 days (compared to 3-4 before); BUT, I love that I only have to wear a pad or pantyliner because my flow is so light. My cramps are not necessarily worse, but different--I swear I feel myself ovulating!

Positives/Neutral: I have actually lost weight since getting my mirena (about 30 pounds), but this is because I joined weight watchers not because mirena helped me lose weight :) I have always shed a bunch of hair and haven't noticed a difference. My sex drive has been low lately, but I think it's because my significant other gets home from work after I'm asleep so my motivation for sex succumbs to being tired. My period is so light that I only have to wear a pad (first time since 6th grade!). I've always had some acne since I was about 11 and have noticed no changes. My significant other can't feel the strings because they are way up by my cervix (I have to struggle to feel them to check that it is still in place). I love not having to remember a pill--I am very forgetful and busy!

Okay, I had Mirena put in by my doctor a little over a month ago. I had my first period as scheduled, but I bled for 2 weeks. I have been spotting ever since. This is getting on my nerves. My question to everyone else is this: has anyone noticed a metal or copper smell with their discharge? I seem to be having more discharge than usual, and it has a coppery smell. It doesn't matter how many times I take a shower, it's still there. I am currently waiting on a call back from my doctors office. This is frustrating me more than anything. It is making me smell like I'm dirty. UGHHH. I'm leaning more and more towards getting myself permanently fixed because nothing else is working for me. Someone please help me. I can't help but think that I'm not the only one having this issue.

Thanks

I had mirena inserted in 02/06. Initially i had bad migraines with blurred vision, it happened almost every month...I didn't mensurate for a few month although i have my period regularly and a pantyliner is enough for these days. my worry is recently i been having sore lips, they are dry on the outer and swollen in the inner part. Had them in oct and went away on its own and now its back....I am not sure if its mirena.I am also feeling nausea and tired... And i have no interest in sex anymore....Anyone feeling the same...

I had the Mirena inserted in July 2008 during my period (as I was told it had to be). I was also told to give my body three months to "get used to" it. Where should I start? I had some cramping, followed by contractions five days later - yes, I said contractions (ladies with babies, we know the difference between cramps and contractions); I had itchiness outside (vulva) and inside which was a yeast infection that was treated twice - once with OTC medication and then with antibiotics. My period ended in July; when I thought I was getting a period in August, it started as that thick brownish gunk. It was like this for 4 days; then I started bleeding, thinking I was gettting a normal period. Well, since August, the bleeding would come and dissipate - not totally go away - until within the last couple of weeks (since the end of August - beginning of September) it has become heavier. This is not normal or natural. I have bled through a pantyliner. I bled through to my pants using a tampon and maxipad. I've had to change the tampon and pad within one hour. I've had bleeding that is bright red followed by small clots and then one huge one (approx. 6 inches long, and 1.5 -2 inches wide). I repeatedly called the OBGYNs office throughout this ordeal; they have told me to give it time, this normal, "well this is better than the alternative - what would you do (re:pregnancy)" and have at times reacted as if I'm overreacting. Last week I went there to express the concerns, to have a checkup, and to express that I want it removed; the PA could find the strings and wrote me a script for a sonogram. But before I left the office, when I mentioned that I wanted this out, she said, "You really don't want to get this out - just give it some time- give it another 3 months - really, you don't want to take this out."
I went for the sono on Saturday and the tech asked when I had my last period. When I mentioned a brief synopsis of what has been happening, she mentioned that my uterine lining is very thick. I questioned, "Shouldn't it be thinning out if I'm having my period?" I also mentioned that it should be thinning out because of the Mirena. She couldn't afford any answers in regards to the Mirena but did confirm that during a period the lining thickens up and then thins out - sheds - but that mine was very thick.
Ok, now I'm totally freaked-out. I hope this isn't anything serious.

I decided late 2006 that I was tired of the pill. I'm in my early 30's and I wanted something easier... After what I considered a good deal of research, I discussed it with my doctor and he highly recommended Mirena. We've always had a very good dr-patient relationship, and I've never had reason to not trust his opinion. He warned me the insertion could be painful (I had a LEEP procedure a year earlier), and he said I could have headaches. I've always had headaches, so I could live with that.
The insertion hurt horribly! They had to dilate me manually, and it hurt so much I though I was going to pass out. I had the worst cramps, like post childbirth cramps, even Vicodin did not help. After the cramps went away, I had heavy spotting (more than a pantyliner, but not enough for a tampon or pad). The spotting lasted for 4.5 months! I called the dr and they said it was my body getting used to it, symptoms stop after the first six months, etc. After the 5th month, the spotting stopped and my periods became very light (2-3 days) but this was short-lived. In the 7th month, I started spotting again, and the spotting would last for 5-7 days. It was disgusting, dark brown and sticky. I called the dr again, and they said it is due to the way the lining of my uterus is affected by the IUD, it's not serious. I also asked about acne. I've never had a problem before, but now I have acne (pimples big enough to scar) on my shoulders, back, and scalp. They said Mirena does not cause acne. My headaches had gone from 2 Advil to a painkiller and sleeping pill in the evening. When I mentioned weight gain, which was quickly attributed to quitting smoking. I did not believe the weight gain was due to quitting smoking, as I replaced smoking with working out. I had started working out everyday, for at least 20 minutes. I know it's not a lot, but it's better than nothing, After 2-3 months of weight gain, I added weight training 2-3 times a week. I also changed my diet to eat smaller, more balanced meals every 3 hours rather than 3 larger meals per day. I started a food journal in case I was sneaking in food I hadn't thought about. My sex drive was gone.... the 4 months of spotting started the downward spiral, but the continuing spotting, weight gain, bloating, and acne didn't help. Eventually the idea of sex disgusted me, how very sad! I noticed that I cry very easily now, and I've even had thoughts of suicide... to the point of planning it out. Even my vision has changed. In the 15 months since getting Mirena, I've gained 25 pounds, went from a size 9 (USA) to a size 14, my back and shoulders have acne scars, and I am depressed.
Thank you... From the bottom of my heart, I thank every one of you who have taken the time to detail your experiences. I finally feel vindicated, that I am not crazy, I'm not lazy, and something is truly WRONG. I'm calling my OBGYN Monday and scheduling the removal.

I am soooo happy i LOOKED THIS PILL UP! I was wondering why my sex drive has decreased... now I know! I t is the pill I would also find myself lashing out for no reason. I am on my las brown and I only have a very small amount of brown discharge just enough to fill a pantyliner that's how you gain weight and I don't want to do that at all I want to stop taking them before I HAVE TO START ANOTHER MONTH ON Sunday does anyone know if I will get my period because I am off of them? And how long it takes before you get your sex drive back? My poor husband is going crazy!! Needless to say I don't want to stay on this pill! I was on OTHRO TRI CYCLY LOW and everything was fine I think I will ask to go back to that. Everyones body is different and responds to meds different but it seems like the same thing is happening to everyone it must be the pill!

My Mirena Removal....
So i posted here a few weeks ago after I found this site. I had EVERY side effect listed and was so freaked out that i immediately made an appointment for removal.
For those of you reading and wondering what the removal is like..
Well, NOTHING like the insertion. I was so so nervous and it was over before we actually started. The DR was surprised that i was back in his office to have this removed. He then proceeded to do an ultrasound to be sure it was placed properly before removal. And yes, all was OK on the position of it. I explained to him my reasons and he looked at me like he had never heard this before. I honestly can not imagine with all the women he sees that NONE of them have complained. But...as I was getting dressed afterwards, I took a good look in his office. There was Mirena literature ALL over the place. In fact, that was the ONLY thing he was advertising. Not to mention...they made me pay up front with the insertion back in Nivember...billed my insurance and I still have yet to receive my reimbursement. Oh yeah, and that...they charge more than the actual Mirena costs, then they bill your insurance for the price they know they will pay and the DR then makes about $150 profit. Nice.
Ok, back to my side effects post Mirena. The removal was not painful at all. I did spot for about a week- nothing too heavy but it was clotty and def there.
A couple of days after the removal it felt like I was coming out of my skin something terrible. I figured this was my body adjusting to the lack of hormones. I also had some headaches.
It has now been 2 weeks and the spotting has disappeared. I also can see the bloating of my stomach is starting to go away. It looked like I was about 4 mos preggo while I was on it. I also have an increased sex drive. And sleep-- well let me tell you, I have not slept this good in a very long time. I am actually sleeping more than 6 hours now and the night sweats have also discontinued.
I can't believe EVERY time I come to this site and look up Mirena ALL the people that have posted their experience as being negative. Yet, the DR looks at me like I am crazy! I have been seeing him for years and I have never complained about something like this. I really am so happy that I have it out and wish I would have done my research on this prior to insertion (which was one of the most painful things ever!)
So..for those of you out there that are either contemplating having it inserted...I say NO WAY. And for those of you out there that are nervous about the removal or not sure..I SAY YES, DO IT! For our bodies to be reacting this way, it is clear to me that it should not be inside of us. Listen to your bodies...they really do speak to you and let you know when something is not right. Forget about the DR saying it is safe or he has not heard of any of these side effects...YOU be the judge.
Good luck! And I promise it gets better once you get that lil' demon out!
Mona

Ok. This is crazy. My doctor is a VERY good doctor, and has denied my charges against the Mirena. I had not looked into the reported side effects when I complained to my doctor. I have had my Mirena since 2004. No problems at all until about 3 months ago. (maybe longer than that adding the mood swings, loss of libido since the birth of our last son, vaginal irritation, dryness, yeast infections that I never had before the IUD, breast tenderness, joint pain, recent bleeding that lasted a month) I began having heart palpataions so severe that I thought I was having panic attacks. Like a heavy weight being laid upon my chest, too small of an area for my heart to be able to properly beat, loss of breath, loss of sleep (causing me to take tylenol pm to be able to rest). I went to the doctor, and was concerned about the symptoms. She was alarmed, she has known me over 5 years, and I have been in her office only a handful of times. She ran an ekg, did chest x-rays, and found nothing. She sent me on to the cardiologist to have blood work and an echo. They found nothing. I asked her about the possibility of the Mirena being the problem. She thought it was doubtful, but wants to look at it during an exam anyway. My hubby and I are considering having it removed. We can't figure out what other problem there would be. Please email me if anyone has had symptoms similar! I am VERY concerned.

I had my mirena inserted May 30, 2007. Since my insertion, I have experienced the same scaring acne that others have complained. As soon as one painful pimple goes away, the next one pops up. The other side effect that I have experience is the water retention or weight gain. My hands are so swollen that I can only wear my wedding ring a few days out of the week. It feels like arthritis. I have not had any heavy bleeding, but my period is only a day or two with a pantyliner. So no real complaints there. I asked my GYN about the water retention and was told to eat mushrooms and cucumbers as they are natural diarretics. You can only eat so many mushrooms/cuc. I am not at the point that I need to have it removed. If I gain any more weight, I will give it more thought. It is unnerving to pay hundreds of dollars for something that would have to be removed prematurely.

I have been on the nuva ring for almost a year. I did not start noticing the side effects until I read about the side effects. I have had a headache since I started the nuva ring. When I wake up in the morning I have to lay in bed for a while because if i get up to fast my head will hurt so bad. I have also been on the patch, the shot, and the pill. I have tried almost everything. The shot was okay minus the 50 lbs. weight gain I would never get on that ever again just the weight gain alone made me depressed. Then I got on the pill I loved the pill I did not have a hard time remembering to take my pill. For some reason I wanted to try the patch and I got off of the pill. The patch turned me into the devil I was so mean to everyone. I did not have any side effects of weight gain with anything but the shot so all the other bc are okay in my eyes. Now the nuva ring is okay it's just my sex life is gone my husband just got back from Iraq in Jan. 06 you would think that I would be all over him. Wrong. I don't have the energy I don't even feel like playing with my daughter I just have no energy. And I realize that I cry a lot more and I never cried before this bc. I will be getting back on the pill I can not wait. I love Ortho tri-cyclen it made my acne go away. No more nuva ring. Oh yeah the discharge is really gross also you have to wear a pantyliner all the time.