Paragard symptoms and conditions

My nightmare began Feb 24, 2009 when I had the Mirena IUD inserted. Amazing how crazy we all are! I have an almost 3 year old daughter and my husband and I are pretty certain that we are just having one child, but just in case we changed our minds, we wanted a form of birth control that was not permanent. Before I had this IUD placed in I talked to my ob/gyn about the Mirena vs the Paragard, I decided to go with the Mirena because my ob/gyn explained to me that because of the low level of hormone that would be absorbed into my bloodstream, that I should be okay and not have any side effects and I would have a very light period. I have tried other birth control pills and the nuvaring and all of them have affected me from anxiety to headaches to cold sores.

I have experienced the same symptoms as all of you. dizziness, foggy brain, numbness on right side of body, anxiety, acne, irritable, moody, bloated, headaches, weight gain (although I do exercise 3-4x/wk I gained 5 pounds in 2 mos.), hives( I have a history of allergies which I have been able to control with antihistamines 2x/wk and then all of a sudden I could not control it--saw my allergist who switched my meds), GERD which I was diagnosed with 10 years ago and had successfully arrested the symptoms after treatment), spotting, period every 3 weeks, etc.

I called my ob/gyn a couple of months later to tell her about my symptoms especially the anxiety and was told that it was probably related to my cycle and for me to chart my symptoms and to let her know how I was feeling a month later if things did not improve. Well after putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together, I figured it out that it was the Mirena that has been causing me this hellish nightmare.

On June 15, 2009 I went to go see my pcp to address my GERD issue and to start meds again. I told her that I was considering having my IUD removed because of all of the side effects that I was having. I told her that I was going to go home later and call my ob/gyn to make an appt. She told me that she would be able to remove it for me and so she did.

I instantly felt better--it seems like all of my symptoms have lessend or disappeared, and I had a bit of spotting which my pcp I was a happy person again--I was nice to my husband and was actually laughing when my 2 year old was having a tantrum in the bathtub! About 2 days later I began to bleed heavily and began to feel lightheaded, heart palpitations, cold sweat, and I felt like my legs were going to give from under me. I was thinking that I needed to go to the er. This occurred at 11:00 pm. I called my pcp and spoke to the on-call doc and he told me that if the symptoms continued that I should go to the er; I also called my ob/gyn on call doc (answering service) that I needed to have the symptoms addressed by the doctor who removed it and not my ob/gyn ( I was livid because I have been her patient for 10 years). Anyhow today I called my ob/gyn and spoke to the np who I am not very fond of and she told me that only the bleeding is expected and that all of the other symptoms are related to something else and that I should see my pcp for those. I disagree with her and believe in my heart that all of the symptoms are related to the removal of the IUD. Unfortunately I was not able to talk to my ob/gyn because she is off today. Anyhow I feel like I am feeling better although I feel like it will be a slow recovery and hope that there are no long term side effects.

What makes me the most upset is that the drug manufacture does not disclose all of the side effects, which I am sure that they are all very aware of. There are thousands of women with the same complaints and yet this birth control is still allowed to be distributed to women. Shame on them.

To all of you considering the Mirena: DO NOT HAVE IT INSERTED

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 have had the Mirena for 3 or 4 years now. The first few years was great I didn't have any systems at all and i just loved it. Well over the past year I have had nothing but trouble I have gained over 30 lbs, I've became so depressed to the point I won't do anything get dressed, do my hair, leave my house, I break down and cry for no reason, I keep migraines, and I'm to the point I hate waking up. I've tried to talk to my Dr. about having it removed but they just make me feel as if all this is in my head so I keep it. They did tell me about another IUD called the Paragard which is what I want because it is non hormonal but they say they can't do it at their office and I can't find no one else to do it either. So I'm still stuck with the Mirena until I can get the Paragard. That's if I don't get fed up before than and take it out myself.

i had the mirena put in approximately three months ago (nov. 08). i have been thrilled with it! (so far.) i have been on antidepressants (zoloft, depakote er) for years, and although i have never really had any physical side effects from my menstrual cycle, the mental ones were total anguish. basically 2 weeks (or more) of the month i was in misery, severe depression (pre-pms, pms, post pms). since i have been using this iud, my moods have been great! none of the outbursts, depression, etc...that goes along with hormonal changes of a cycle. HOWEVER, i am only three months into using this, and unfortunately have not been keeping up with my "cycles" (since i have had little or no bleeding). this month i am a little more aware and am noticing feeling bloated, ab. pain, a little difficulty sleeping, some cravings, etc...i do notice a vaginal itching that seems to happen mostly around a particular time each month (which i am assuming is my "period".) so far as sex, it seems like it may have improved, probably just because i "feel" good. basically, what it seems like is that i am happy (maybe too much so, perhaps from the antidepressants?), when i am not having my "period" and during my period, i'm just pretty much level. unfortunately, i am enjoying the "highs" very much, and am thinking i may put up with my side effects (as long as they don't get too bad) in order to continue having them. (i have had the paragard in for the past 10 years, 2 children before that). it feels good to feel good, and not have to "dread" and schedule my life around my periods, pms, post-pms. i am soon to be entering into menopause (i'm assuming) which is something i have really been dreading, thinking i will not be in the bed (but under it) for years. i am hoping that mirena will make menopause a little more manageable. another HOWEVER, i have gained weight, probably 10 lbs. that again is almost a trade off. although i have never really suffered much physically, i have suffered mentally for years, and though it's hard for me to judge with no experience, i certainly think i would rather have the physical! (at least when i'm in the throes of it!)

I am trying to hold back the tears after reading all of this. Everything that is posted happened to me. I had my Mirena removed this morning after discovering that it may be the cause of my high blood pressure and weight gain. I had it inserted 6 months after my daughter was born (11/07). The doctor really promoted this method and had info posted all around the office. I chose this dr. after I had a major concern with my OB. She gave me the ring-while I was still breastfeeding!!! As a result of struggling to produce milk for my baby and knowing that I was possibly feeding with this unapproved method of BC for breastfeeding moms, I thought I was doing the right thing about choosing the Mirena with the new dr. Unfortunately, I could not find any thing on negative side effects or probably didn't look hard enough. At first, I thought that I was in heaven- no nausea or side effects like all of the other methods and I can even keep breastfeeding. Long story short, I gradually began to loose my mind!!!! I thought I needed to see a doctor for drugs ( moody, anxiety, irritable, confused, shortness of memory). Then all of my hair fell out. I have shortness of breath. I too could look in the mirror and see between the strands of my hair. And it continued to fall out and I now wear very expensive weaves and I hate it. I was loosing lots of weight and around the time my periods changed to just spotting for a day or two I gained 15 pounds. No matter what I did- close to starving myself, treadmill 5 x a week, no loss only gaining. I had cravings for sweets and I never did before. Almost everything that has been mentioned by others has happened to me. The headaches and dizziness caused me to go the doctor yesterday. She said that the Mirena works like Depro provera, (sp) aka the 3 month shot, and I used that almost 15 years ago but the doctor took me off after a year because of the weight gain. I could not believe I was using something similar. If I get back on an IUD I think I will use the one without any hormones or estrogen. Until that time, I will give my body some time to heal before our next baby, no BC for me. Please be careful with this drug and thanks to all for sharing.

my ob/gyn recommended this IUD highly..said she had it in herself and it was great for all her patients...i read the physicians brochure on the mirena website and i think that should have been provided to me...if i had known that this thing causes blood pressure, anemia and blood sugar problems...i never would have gotten it since i already had those problems to begin with...i wasn't given enough info..i wish i had researched this better beforehand...the nurse wrote me last night and said it needed to come out as it has caused a pelvic infection from the insertion...this wasn't put in for birth control..as i haven't had anyone to be with in over a year anyway..it was put in to stop heavy bleeding...sounded like a great idea...i have every symptom you guys have had except fot the acne and hair loss issues...the anxiety and pain is the worst ever ..and sweating...geez...how long after it comes out does one get back to normal...i'd rather hear it from your experience...than listen to the "experience" of my doctor...i used to have the copper T and if it's still avail..i'm getting it back...i don't like the idea of hormones running loose that don't need to be...also if you read that brochure it increases breast cancer rates for some...and lots and lots of other symptoms...i expected the breast and abdominal tenderness and maybe some mood issues considering it was a hormone...but this is ridiculous....i'm 43 and feel 143! if i had the nerve i'd pull it out myself...but with my luck...something i need might come with it..lol ..don't need the reproductive junk anymore since that did it's job and there are no returns...i checked..lol...thanks for listening

I had my Mirena put in 1/07 and I had it removed 08/08 because my hair would not stop falling out. At first I thought that it was from just having the
baby but after 20 months it just wasn't that. The doctors tried telling me that hair loss is not a side effect from mirena but i beg to differ. My hair has stopped falling out and I am glad I had the Mirena removed before I went completely bald. Now I am taking Yaz which seems to be ok.

For all of the poor girls who are searching "mirena experiences" because you are looking for a sure thing contraceptive-
This site is only for people who have had BAD experiences. Read them all if you want, but take into consideration they are the 3%, or whatever number, that had problems. None of these women deserved it, asked for it, needed it, or wanted it, but unfortunately their bodies responded to it in such an ugly manor.

Here's my experience so far....Had it inserted 8/06/08. Insertion was fine. Felt that speculum more than I could feel the actual insertion of the mirena.
Slight cramping afterwards...not immediately-went home and for like 20 minutes had cramps lighter than my period cramps.
For the first week bled lightly, second week had an actual period, week three and week four just spotting. The doctor told me this can go on for up to six months...kinda worth it if you think about it.
No acne problems so far, my hair is fine (and trust me, if my hair was thinning, falling out, or anything like that I would take the mirena out!), muscles and joints feel like they did before pregnancy, still breastfeeding (I know that they say that the mirena will make you produce less breast milk-tell that to my breastfed 13 pound 24 inch long 2 month old. he would disagree)
My breasts are a little tender and at first I was slightly bloated (less than if I were on my period) but that has subsided. Abstained from sex for a month after insertion per my doctor's orders, so I will come back and post if there were any problems with that...NEXT WEEK! yay!
Know that I understand the side effects could show up later.

Now again, EVERYBODY will experience something different. We are interfering with nature. Birth control is one of the most unnatural things we could do to our body.

Again, since this site commonly comes up when searching the mirena, I want for women to know that it might work for them better than it did for others.

so i posted on here a week ago to see if i was going crazy. turns out i wasn't. i have had this horrible mirena for a month now and the side effects are not getting better so i called the doctor today and said i wanted it out. the girl that answered the phone put me on hold went to talk to the doctor and said the doctor was going to call me and she scheduled me a day to get it out. the doctor called me this evening asked me what was going on and i told her that i was feeling really depressed, having a hard time sleeping, horrible back pain that my kidneys hurt and that i was sick of this bc and want it out. she told me that the mirena should not be causing these side effects that that it had to be something else. i told her that i have never had these issues before getting the mirena. i don't see why all these doctors think we are the ones that are going nuts. what is the big deal in wanting it taken out if its not right for you? she finally agreed to take it so i have an apt thurs so we shall see if i go back to being NORMAL after its removed. i will keep you posted.

also does anyone know of any other bc that does not have a risk for blood clots? that was the whole reason for me being put on mirena cause there was no risk for that. i have had them in the past from and IV and no doctor will put me back on normal bc.

email me at ****** i would love to get in on a class action lawsuit cause these people need to be stopped they messed my body up and ladies don't need to have this as an option

After reading everyone's posting on August 10th, I finally came to decision to remove my Mirena.Well ladies, I had it removed on August 12th, and I immediately started having my period the next day. I must say I feel so much better. I no longer have the foggy feeling in my head, no dizziness,my acne is clearing up from my face and back, not as tire,my vision is better, my arms are not weak,neck pain went away, etc....All these symptoms started when I had my Mirena inserted in on January 2008. Luckily to have found this wonderful forum and to realize that I am not alone out there. I wish everyone the best of luck! For the ladies who step forward like me to remove it, lets celebrate life again!! Yeah, no more living in the fog!!! P.S I heard there is another form of birth control call Paragard, it is similar method except it does not have hormone release. Does anyone know anything about it? Thanks!

I never put two and two together... but starting thinking that my mirena's hormones may be causing my issues. I had the mirena inserted a yr ago when I had the copper IUD removed. I told my OB/GYN that I was scared of the pill after trying it in college. Hormone-based birth control doesn't seem to work well for my family. She said it was a tiny dose and wouldn't get in the bloodstream so I shouldn't see side effects. HOWEVER, over the last year I have struggled with my weight. I have always been reallllly lucky. I am 5'8 and weigh about 135 without trying too hard. I have a high metabolism. But, I've started to feel pudgy last few months so have really tightened up my diet. I thought it was because I am getting older (29)...

As far as exercise, I used to be very active (mini-triathlons, 5Ks, sports etc.) but haven't felt like working out this year. Just can't get motivated. Today I was working with a personal trainer. We checked my records from January and I have gained 7 lbs!!! This is after I have really firmed up my diet. I have stopped eating carbs at night and trying to not eat after 7ish. In the past, this would really help my body look its best after a week or two. But, these last few months hasn't seemed to help me at all... Maybe it's the MIRENA?!

In addition, my cycle is about 7 days lator than it used to be. However, I still have the PMS symptoms I used to the week before my period but now they last forever! They start on the 20th and last until my period starts on the 7th!!! I get so irritable with my 5 yr old its ridiculous. It's not fair to her or my husband. I just wanted to share, that even with an athletic body type and a ridiculously high metabolism I am struggling. 2 yrs. ago I could eat 2300 calories w/out exercise, 2500 or more if working out that day. I used to eat as much as my 6'2 husband.

Just an update from some of my previous posts. As back ground, I had a need for birth control beginning about a year and a half ago. It was time for my annual anyway, so I asked my OB/GYN of over 20 years what my options were. He mentioned that there were two pills for women "of my age" (42 at the time)...Yaz and Loestrin 24FE. He mentioned that he had heard less about libido issues from his patients on the Loestrin, so I opted for that. 5 months into it, I had an episode of I'm not sure what...felt like I was having a stroke...rush of heat, extreme dizziness, headache the next day...went to my GP on Monday and found out that my BP was slight elevated (I'm normally on the low side) but what was alarming was that my cholesterol was way up and my blood sugar was off the charts. Although high cholesterol runs in my family, no one has ever had any blood sugar issues. Stopped taking the pill right away, retested my sugar in two weeks and it was back to normal.

My OB/GYN said NO NO NO, no more pills...let's try an IUD. two months later, went back since I had my next cycle and I got the Mirena. I spotted for like a month and a half straight. Lots of bloating, headaches. As the months progressed, I started having anxiety issues (again, never happened before), had severe cystic acne (always had good skin), bloating to the point that I looked the way I did when I was 5 months pregnant, headaches every single day, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, complete inability to concentrate, mental fog, insomnia and my libido was in the toilet.

Went back for my annual in Feb and had it removed (I had it for 5 months at this point). Dr was wonderful, said that he had been hearing of these side effects more and more from his patients. He said that we'd give my body a break and then consider a Paragard with my next cycle. I feel the fog lift before I get to the parking lot. Next cycle never came. Hot flashes and heart pulps start in March. Gets worse and worse. Have my hormone levels tested...they indicate post-menopausal. Have the blood work repeated first week of June...confirmed post-menopausal at the age of 43. No family history of this. Start on an estrogen patch and within 2 weeks start feeling a lot better, flashes gone. Am taking Prometrium 10 days each month to protect against uterine issues. At day 8 I really start getting dizzy. I am obviously very sensitive to any progesterone although this natural version is more tolerable.

From the time I had the Mirena out, however, ALL my side effects are gone except that my vision is still worse...having my annual eye exam in 2 weeks. The concentration issues, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety...all that GONE. Libido is almost back. Very distinct diminishing of symptoms once the Mirena was removed.

If Mirena works for you, that's great. It's good at least that you are aware of issues others have had so that if it happens to you, you know that it could be the Mirena, contrary to what some doctors say. My doctor has been wonderful and never doubted me. I wish everyone had such a doctor! Just trust your intuition and take care of yourself. No sense jeopardizing your health, relationships, etc just to maintain this type of birth control. I apparently don't need birth control any more....not certain why I blitzed through menopause so fast...could be related to the hormonal assault on my body in the past year between the pill and the Mirena.

Bottom line, take care of yourselves and don't be dismissed if you feel that something is just not right!!

I have had the Mirena for 1 1/2 yrs now. Within the past six months I have started to develop acne, all the while my period was starting to fade less and less every month. Now, the acne is severe and the periods are completely gone. I'm just wondering if this is all related. I have scheduled a appointment with a skin clinic, and also called my gyno. I am waiting on a reply from the nurse at the gynos office to see if I need to go on to the skin clinic, or if I just need to get this removed. I have never had more then a pimple or two on my face at one time. Now, I have them completely covering my hair line, almost like a rash.

Has anyone had extreme heavy bleeding/clots after having the Mirena removed? This is day 3. The last time I had such heavy bleeding I had just had my son. When do you start to worry about the bleeding?

basically, this was my experience with the paragard:
1. Dec 2004 - Paragard iud was placed post-partum after my 2nd daughter was born. i was breast-feeding, and had no noticeable symptoms until Nov 2005.
2. Nov 2005 - had my first period since my daughter was born. it was heavy and crampy, but i thought "i haven't had a period in 2 years, so this is the price i pay..."
3. Each period hence was heavy, long at 6-7 days, and cramps were intense. again, i just decided that i could manage.
By the end of 2006, my periods were so bad that my husband and i decided i had to see the doctor.
4. Jan 2007 - saw the doctor about removing the copper IUD. she said that the paragard should not be causing such bad symptoms, and since i was did not want to get pregnant, she decided we should try to control the symptoms with birth control pills and Prometrium. I did not want to try Prometrium since I was unsure of how I would react to the hormone. she believed that i might be suffering from severe pms, called PMDD. note that i loved and trusted this doctor - i had some complications during my 2 pregnancy, and some problems post-delivery, and she was attentive, personable, and caring. i was very comfortable and trusting, so i listened to her recommendations. i tried yaz, yasmin, and 2 other pills over the next 3-5 months, but was extremely nauseous and sick with all of them (plus break-thru bleeding).
5. Feb - September 2007: i started having pre-period symptoms of nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramps, severe fatigue. the first 2 months that i had these symptoms, they were so bad that i believed that i had an intestinal virus - same cramping, throwing up, and bad diarrhea, plus this was BEFORE my period. I then made the association between my symptoms, and the fact that they occurred 3-5 days before my period, and then they would subside about 3 days after my period started. my periods were still long with heavy bleeding.
6. September 2007 - was having same symptoms, but started 7-10 days before my period, and they were so bad that my husband had to take off from work to take care of our 2 girls each month (i stay home with them). i went back to the doctor during September, and was told to modify my diet (no white flour, sugar, low fat, high protein, lots of water) and to try some vitamin supplements since i didn't want more medications. she again recommended taking 100 mg Prometrium to help ease the symptoms. I asked to remove the IUD, again, and she said that "before she took out something that expensive, she wanted to make sure that something else was not wrong" - I was shocked at her statement, but agian I liked her and trusted her, so i went along for the sonogram.
7. October 2007 - In the meantime, I was desperate, so i took the vitamins and Prometrium, which sent me into what i can describe only as a psychotic episode. i had severe emotional outbursts, i was irrationally angry and irritable, and had absolutely zero patience. i am usually a smart girl, and in my normal "mental state" would have associated that the Prometrium had caused this severe reaction, but I was no where close to my normal state of mind, and i just thought that my physical symptoms were now affecting me mentally.
8. LAte Oct 2007 - BY this time I am so down and really ready to get my life back. I am still sick with nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramps, severe fatigue, and now my abdomen stays sore and tender through the whole month. FINALLY the doctor calls with the ultrasound results. she said that there were 2 small ovarian cysts - and i was relieved - i thought that FINALLY, we were getting somewhere - but in the next sentence she said that she didn;t think that they were responsible for my symptoms. i was deflated - and at such a loss of words. i listened to her tell me how she thought that i had IBS, and that she was going to refer me to a GI doctor. i know that IBS is a catch-all category of symptoms that some doctors throw on people they can;t diagnose. and remember, i was just a few days out from recovering from 1) having a severe personality reaction to a drug, and didn't know it was because of the Prometrium - i thought i was going mad, and 2) i was just getting over being sick before my period - AGAIN.
I finally called her back a few hours later and left a message with the nurse "since she doesn;t think that the cysts are causing the symptoms, could we please remove the copper IUD?" i never got a reply.
I called my niece who is an RN at a respected women's health center in NC and cried a lot and told her what was going on. she got me an appointment with a doctor there for mid nov 2007.
10. Mid Nov 2007 - tell the NC doctor my medical history, and she says "we need to get that IUD out". in less than 30seconds it is gone with minimal discomfort, 25% of the abdominal soreness and tenderness is gone within 24 hours of removal, and completely gone within a week. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS THAT MY TUMMY WAS NOT TENDER OR SORE!!!
i have a follow-up appointment for mid Jan 2008 with the NC doctor and possible placement of the Mirena
11. Nov 29, 2007 - have my first period in over a year where i am not sick etc - it is heavy and a bit crampy, but is shorter in duration.
12. mid dec 2007 - i start to suspect i may be pregnant, but think that we have been cautious, and my period is probably going to be irregular with all of the crap that has gone on
13. jan 5 2008 - yep - i'm pregnant!! but that was ok - we wanted another anyway.
14. jan 7, 2008 - catch the respiratory flu that has been going around and stay VERY sick for 4 weeks, and i just know that something is unusual - i can't eat i am so sick and am so weak that i shake whe i stand up - call a new local OB doctor and see them.
15. jan 30, 2008 - have miscarried the pregnancy
16. April 2008 - the new ob doctor places a mirena
17. first of may 2008 - my husband is asking if i feel ok, that he has seen similar but much less severe symptoms in my mood as when i was on the Prometrium. i have never had acne this severe on my face, neck and back - it actually hurts and i have some scarring even though i have not picked at it.
By the way, my new local OB told me that HE WILL NOT PLACE PARAGARD COPPER IUDS FOR HIS PATIENTS BECAUSE THEY WORK BY CAUSING INFLAMMATION IN THE UTERUS.
however, he also said that i shouldn't have any issues with the mirena, and now i am starting to wonder if i am going slightly mad...
i want my life back...
i now realize that there is a side effect to EVERYTHING that you put in your body...
i am terrified of getting pregnant right now even though a few months ago i was excited about this wonderful possibility...
i am now talking to a counselor to try to work out the events of this past year+ so i can move on...
i feel like my voice was NOT heard or even acknowledged...
the reality is that WE are ultimately responsible for our own well-being, both physical and mental, and that doctors do treat with preconceived notions about the way health should be and how medications and devices should work...they listen to pharmaceutical reps and not their patients...
i don;t know what to do about birth control now...i suspect the mirena is making me feel this way, but i am terrified of getting pregnant, i can't take birth control pills, and am hesitant to put any thing else in my body that is a chemical...however, i have no libido anymore (my poor wonderful husband) and i use to enjoy the closeness and intimacy of being with my husband...
i don't know how this affects your decision about the copper iud, but i just caution about 1) be careful with sex after the mirena is removed and 2) be mindful of anything that we eat or place in our body.
i do know that i could not find any other information from women who experienced my symptoms, but i find it very difficult to believe that i am the only one who experienced this.
lots of luck, and thank you for sharing your experience with the posting site! it has helped me make an informed decision about removing the mirena, and i hope that the information here will help you make an informed decision about the copper iud.

I am getting mine removed FRIDAY!! And Friday can't come soon enough. I am kinda bummed tho for having to go back on the pill but I can't hack this ANY LONGER!!! One of my friends works for a GP and I went to him because of some of my side effects. The flu like symptoms minus having the flu (had it for at least 2 to 3 mos now) NO sex drive (causing trouble with my marriage. Hubby is taking it WAY to personal), swelling in my hands, feet, legs, and face. (my face will feel flush and BAM I'm swollen!!) VERY BAD MOOD SWINGS!!! Very Bad isn't the word for it!! There are no words to explain my moods!! ANYHOW..... I sent this to my friend to read and she pulled it up at work. Well the GP said that this isn't a reliable place to go for information on the side effects. "There are NO positive side effects to anything." Which is true BUT he seems to think going to Web MD or some sight like that is more reliable than here. And that this sight shouldn't scare me and he wouldn't urge me to have it removed after reading this. (OH YEAH I forgot to mention joint pain, I have HORRIBLE joint pain in my hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. The worst of it is in my wrists and elbows) Back to what I was saying. To that (this sight not being reliable) I say go to Web MD and post there too! I pray that I can get back to me after this comes out!! I hope it don't take too long either! I MISS the old me and HATE the new me!! But FRIDAY HURRY UP AND GET HERE. And for anyone who has had it removed........ anything I should be repaired for??? Thanks for your time!

paragard is the IUD that I have-I don't know why it's not listed on here--but here goes---i got the copper iud and it has zero hormones in it! so you don't gain any weight and i have actually lost weight by having it! it has its downsides though--heavier periods that last about 7 days--give or take--i have not had any break through bleeding between periods. you will cramp before you start but midol will take care of it. i'd like to add that in my case, the first period i had was about like the ones i have now but it felt like i was literally having contractions that came about 10 min. apart---though i haven't ever had kids--it hurt!!!! but that was the only time and i have had it for 3 years--i think its like a foreign body that your uterus isn't used to--but it stopped after a few days so don't worry---and you may not ever have that happen so --unlike the mirena--you don't gain weight--hope this helped a little for anyone interested.

Has anyone had any sleep disturbances with Mirena? I have had horrible nightmares and wake up feeling really shaky and horrible, and still really tired. Maybe this isn't caused by the mrens, but I can remember when I was younger i used to get pre-menstrual insomnia, the night before I got my period...just wondered if there was a link with all the progesterone/progesterin. Also, people who have had mood swings, have you noticed if they are particularly bad at one part of your cycle? Mine I would have to say, are really bad a few days before bleed and 3 or 4 days into the bleed, when I feel suicidal.

I've still not taken it out yet. Maybe 'm being a bit stupid, but I'm so scared of getting pregnant-I'm still at uni-and I can't think of any non-hormonal contraceptives....cept maybe something I've heard of called the 'sponge'. Has anyone heard of this or used it/know where I could buy it in the UK?I'd appreciate any replies! Thank you

This site is the absolute life saver. I have had my mirena in for two years and am getting it out as sson as I post this I will call my GP. I ahve been sent for every test for every disease under the sun and have only now come to the conclustion that it is all the mirena. Numbness down my left side (I had tests for ms and other serious neurological disorders), abdominal pain, swelling, headaches blurry vision acne like I never had before not efven in my teens. The good thing was it stopped my period all together but now I now haow unatural that is. Thank goodness for all your posts. If I wan;t in Australia, I would be joining in the class action. I have lost two years to this thing with constant doctors and worry about more serious implications. I have had stress leave off owrk and all the time my GP has said it would not be the Mirena.