Piece of cake symptoms and conditions

Hello Ladies,
I am extremely happy to say that I had my Mirena removed on Thursday Nov. 5th.
It was a piece of cake taking it out- no pain at all. I have had minor cramping and light spotting since. Nothing compared to what I had for cramping while it was in place though.
The day that it was taken out and the following day I did go thru what felt like withdrawals. Massive mood swings, shakes, etc.
Today I feel almost normal. I haven't been bloated, gassy, crampy, moody, completely exhausted or anything else since then.
I am SOOOOOO HAPPY !!!!
I noticed that someone asked what it would cost to have it removed- I was only charged the cost of an office visit- $70.
All that I can say is that having Mirena removed was the best decision I have made in awhile.
I am enjoying my family, instead of snapping at them. I have more energy- it is 8:30 PM and I just scrubbed my bathroom walls from top to bottom and I am about to start on another project. This on top of dealing with four kids that have had the flu for the last week and I haven't slept much for 4 days, but still have the energy !!. Before, I could barely drag myself out of bed to get the kids off to school and then go outside to do chores.
So much has improved.
There is hope ladies !!! We are not crazy...it is the Mirena !!
Oh I should mention...the doctor insisted that it wasn't the Mirena causing all of my side effects. I brought up the other women out there, and his comment amounted to that we are all just crazy and needed to find the real reason for our problems!
I gave up arguing with him. Told him that we could argue all damn day long on whether or not mirena is the problem, but that I didn't give a damn about his opinion, I knew what the problem was.
I guess that I got a bit rude, but oh well it needed to be said. He is a stubborn old doctor/rancher/ cowboy and nothing would change his mind anyway.
Best of luck everyone !! Take care

I researched mirena before going ahead and having it placed and was skeptical about all the side affects women were reporting. (I'm pretty much always skeptical about side affects and usually just attribute them to people psychologically making them up.) A friend of mine has had a mirena for over a year and loves it, has had no side affects and therefore lead me to getting it. Insertion was awful awful awful. I was extremely nauseous (you know face going white, sweating, shaking, that awful feeling) during the processes as well as for an hour afterwords, which made for in interesting car ride home. Anyways the insertion is the least of the problems. My face completely broke out with the painful under the skin cystic acne. I have NEVER had bad skin in the past and therefore thought I would not have a problem with mirena, boy was I wrong. I only had the mirena for two months because I could not stand the constant cramping, continual bleeding and the terrible acne. Needless to say I had it removed (removal is a piece of cake, literally 5 minutes NO pain) and sure enough my face cleared back up in about a 2 weeks. I feel as though this device is extremely different for everyone and totally depends on the individual. As a said before I have a friend who absolutely loves it. (I am 25, no children and I am awful at remembering to take the pill and therefore thought this was a good idea.) I say if your health insurance covers it, try it out for a couple months, if health insurance doesn't cover it I wouldn't even bother.

Just an update, had my Mirena removed this morning. I was expecting to have to convince my doctor but when I told her I felt it was the cause of my side effects she agreed. She is not the doctor that inserted it and said she does not recommend it to her patients. Removal was a piece of cake, no pain at all. Felt cramping about 5 minutes after and I am bleeding already. I am preparing my self for the crash, but I will push through that knowing that at the end of it all is the old normal me. Will keep everyone posted.

I have had the Mirena since Feb. of 2007. I still have heavy periods that last approx. 10-12 days and my cycle is every 26 days. I do have the bloating and extreme fatigue as well as the "lazy" feelings. I have no cramping, no back pain, or headache. It was a piece of cake to have inserted...it was done during my 6 week post partum pap smear and it was painless. While it sucks to have my period for ½ the month (which does nothing for the sex life) and it sucks to be bloated and feel tired, and it sucks when we DO have sex that we can both feel it for the first 30 seconds or so, AND it sucks that I can't wear a tampon with it...I'd much rather have this than have to take a pill (I'm not a good pill taker) and it does prevent pregnancy, and it doesn't have NEAR the side effects of estrogen based BCP's. That being said...I am almost 42 years old with a 3 yr old and an 18 month old and that in itself makes me extremely tired. Also, to bond...I didn't think they would put the Mirena in someone who had never had children??? At any rate...I have really had no problems with it, but I am considering having my husband get a vasectomy so I can get this out of me and maybe the fatigue will leave, and hopefully the periods will get shorter and less heavy. I am also considering an endometrial ablation as well...but knowing my luck, I'll probably still have periods considering I'm in the 10% of Mirena users who still have a period after a year of use. Girls, you just have to accept the fact that we are women with crummy hormones that will give us headaches, and hot flashes, and back aches, and acne, and cramps, and bloatedness, and tender breasts, and a myriad of other symptoms for our entires lives. It's just the way God made us.

I was wondering.......it hurt like hell when it was inserted. For those of you that had it removed, "HOW BAD DOES THE REMOVAL HURT?" I am afraid to have it removed but know it is necessary.

I've called my doctor and am waiting on a reply from the nurse. I want my Mirena removed. I posted my symptoms on May 8th. I've had mine in for 4 1/2 months.

My symptoms are in order of severity:

*heavy bleeding 3 out of 4 weeks (pads or tampons with breakthrough bleeding and pantiliner 24/7)
*acne on my back, butt and jawline (going to Derm. and using ProActive)
*I've gained 15 lbs in the past 4 months and it won't come off
*headaches
*a sore spot in my spine (I was fearful I had cancer)
*facial hair
*bloating (I look 4 months pregnant 1/2 of the time)
*low libido
*irritable and moody more than usual
*sore breasts

I was given Levaquin for a prostate infection. They prescribed me 750 mg for 30 days. I have been off of the drug for 3 weeks and I still have pain in my tendons. Shoulder tendons, knees, elbow and hands. How long can this last? I feel like I am dying.

Okay...so I first posted the day I had Mirena inserted, Oct. 1. ( and had wished i found this site prior to installment)
It has now been two weeks. So lets up date:
I bled for only a few days, maybe 5 days tops. Which was great, I just thought " hmm maybe I'm a lucky one, maybe they put it in right, or maybe my body is handling it better than I though it would" But then 5 days later I started bleeding again.
Like I said, I have had this thing in for TWO WEEKS.. and I've had sex.... TWICE! I don't even want to have sex, no wonder it is so good for birth control.
The first time was great. My boy friend didn't feel anything, and was enjoyable for the both of us.
Needless to say, the second time was great... until it was over.
The second it was over, I was doubled over in pain. Literally, 30 seconds after sex, I had a severe hot flash, and felt like i couldn't breathe. I started shaking, and started crying. I felt like the " insertion part" was happening allllll over again. ( insertion, is miserable.. that alone makes me not want to recommend it to ANYONE) I thought i was going to pass out, and standing felt impossible, I couldn't even roll over. A few minutes later I stood up and went to the bathroom, I was nauseated and felt sick. I tried to pee, and couldn't. It just burned and felt like my whole body was trying to squeeze this thing out.
I went back to bed and layed there for about 45 minutes in agonizing pain. My fiance was so sad, he felt completely guilty that he "caused" the pain... he thinks it should be removed immediately. And so do I.
The one word to describe this pain was INTENSE.

To add, I have noticed dry, itchy skin. And my skin is now sooo fragile. My scalp is sooo itchy that when I scratch I actually bleed and scab.. it is DISGUSTING. And yes, my hair is slowly getting worse. Everyday I notice a little bit more shedding than usual. My complexion is not getting WORSE, but the few pimples I have are deep, painful, and are actually scaring. Never before did I scar.

I also feel the extreme fatigue, and occasional mood swings, I will admit, I have Always had an attitude but this is a little more than even I am willing to except.
I have not gained any weight, but it's only been TWO WEEKS and, I have intentionally weighed my self everyday... and I am now fluctuating 6 lbs a day in water weight.My belly is 23/7 bloated. The only time I am not bloated is after the first pee in the morning for about 45 minutes, and then it starts allllllll over. People have noticed my fingers are chubbier, and are sore. For 2 days my toes and feet were a light blue-ish color... that "symptom" was enough to make me WANT to go to the E.R. but I opted not, as there was no discomfort.
A major discomfort, like i said was sex, and the random times throughout the day when I bend over or wiggle into a chair... it just feels like it is STABBING the right side of my body. There is truly no comfortable way to sit without favoring my right side.
It is weird, painful, and is getting really old.
I tried calling my doctors all day today, and it was still left on their " night time recording" so, I am a little angry.
I thought about pulling it out myself, but this time I read " REAL PEOPLE INFORMATION" and apparently its not a good idea. SO DON'T, if your thinking about it. lol.
Anyone that has had it removed, is it painful? Does it feel anything like the insertion? I am scared to death.. and I am a little upset that i have to continue to wait to get through to my nurse practitioner. I just want this to be over with. The last thing I need is to have it get " lost" like so many other women.
I tried, but I'm listening to my instincts, and this just isn't right.

I had been on different versions of the pill since the age of 15 due to debilitating and horrific periods. After having migraines, a TIA (mini-stroke), and discovering that I have a small hole in my heart (PFO), my doc told me that I really should not promote estrogen in my body via the pill. So.... after nearly 20 years on the pill, I had to find an alternative. My ob/gyn suggested the Mirena. She told me she has one and that she doesn't have any side effects, I'd love it, it lasts for 5 years, no periods really, etc. I went for it! Not only was the insertion one of the most painful things I've experienced while being 100% awake and alert ---- Motrin and a light numbing cocktail --- and I've never had a baby!????! But the pain afterwards and for the following weeks was amazing. I have had several surgeries, stitches, broken bones, etc. in my life. I'm not a woosie girl. However, that pain was something I had not prepared myself for whatsoever. The first month was really rough. The second month was better. After 3 months of toughing it out, I started to be happier about having made the choice to go with the Mirena. Months 4-6 were pretty good actually. Virtually no period, pretty much no cramping other than once a month, and no glaringly obvious side effects. However... as time kept on, and my life continued to change, I can now look back at Months 7-13 to see how things truly did change albeit at a slow enough pace not to cause any red flags and make me consider pointing my finger towards the Mirena. Work was stressful, but I've always dealt with it... but it was SO much harder to shrug it off, suck it up, and just deal with it! I never sleep enough, but for some reason now, no matter how much I sleep, I'm ALWAYS still tired!! Being single was not as much fun anymore... because I apparently am depressed, even though I've never been depressed a single moment in my life! I freak out about deadlines, but have never had a problem hitting them so why? I clearly have anxiety issues which weren't there before... Lastly, I am BUSY BUSY BUSY, working out regularly, eating quite healthy for me, and consistently gaining weight instead of losing weight..... what the he**? I went to my family doc because I didn't feel "right" and was sick over the weight gain!! He ran blood work, which came back "perfect". He prescribed a med for anxiety and a med for mild depression to get me through "these stressful times". I went to my ob/gyn and she prescribed a diet pill. My sis found this site... I have read 7/14 thru 7/21 so far. I'll read more before making my decision... I will also read more on other sites and talk to my ob/gyn. However, I must admit that the mid-section weight gain, moodiness, anxiety, depression, etc. are all sounding oh so sadly familiar. I also must admit though, I am bummed out if this is the case because as I mentioned, I had high hopes for the Mirena and had enjoyed about 4-5 months of "good" time with it. It's the months after that and right NOW which is seriously in question. I do think it is right for many people, just maybe not for me. Good luck to you all... Oh, P.S. for those of you who have had it taken out, if any of you don't mind saying, had you had a child/children before? I'm really nervous about repeating the horrific pain of the insertion given I had not had a child. Thanks!!

Had Mirena fitted 7th Feb 2008 and having it taken out on 12th June 2008. My stomach is huge despite eating sensibly and exercising. Also suffer from cramps on a daily basis, craved chocolate and have felt down in the dumps!! Can anyone tell me if having it taken out is as painful as insertion and will I bleed as much as when it was fitted. Am very nervous about the whole procedure.

Many thanks

I had my Mirena removed last Friday. I had a meeting in the afternoon and I can swear that I was thinking much clearer. My doctor was very supportive. When I told her that I was removing the Mirena due to side effects she listened and took note of them. She told me she is not as satisfied with the device as before and that she was going to check the literature for side effects. She is getting some other patients with side effects. I felt relieved thinking it was not in my mind. Removal was a piece of cake. I'm now just waiting for the symptoms to clear up. I was able to use my contacts yesterday without the feelings of dizziness but I am still experiencing the headaches, palpitations, some joint paint though not as strong as before. I am much calmer. I don't have the constant anxiety and worry I had before, just the normal stress levels. One thing I noticed immediately was my energy coming back. On Saturday I woke up doing my laundry, breakfast, cleaning and my husband came to me asking me if I wanted him to help. I was surprised!! On the past I was always asking him to do stuff for me, but I felt so energetic that I was doing all things by myself without thinking about it. I just hope my normal self starts coming back slowly. I am drinking lots of water just in case. For people using contacts, how long it takes for your vision to come back to normal?

I am 39 years old. My cholesterol levels have been between 250 and 370 since my mid-twenties. I started on Lipitor and noticed after a few years that my loss of memory, muscle pain, fatigue and difficulty sleeping were just plain annoying. I quit talking in August of 2007. Since then I have changed my diet to a vegan diet where I have zero cholesterol intake. After 9 months my cholesterol levels are still 270. My body produces it anyway. The only time I saw my cholesterol levels drop (on Lipitor) was when I was doing Atkins (high fat, protein) and my levels were in the 170s. I was prescribed Zocor this spring by another doctor, however still found myself unwilling to take it. While only taking a diuretic blood pressure medicine, I began experiencing some chest pain, headaches, shortness of breath, numbness in the face and hands and got scared. I began taking the Zocor on Friday 4/25/08 - I haven't had a good night's sleep since. By Tuesday night I broke out with a rash on my arms and hands (itchy). I thought it was hives. By Friday 5/2/08 my head was in a fog - I couldn't remember what happened on Monday, it feels like it was 6 months ago. I stopped talking last night Fri. 5/2/08 and this morning the rash was gone and I slept fairly well. I believe in choosing the lesser of two evils; however, with the obvious effects of this drug I wonder what it does to the inside of my body where it isn't so obvious. As young as I am, I really worry about the long term effects of this medication, and others like it, that would make heart disease seem like a piece of cake.

i experienced all the above mentioned symptoms but in addition did anyone have problems with their vision as a sense of having blurry vision and sensitivity to light?

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

About eight to ten years ago i had a violent reaction to lactaid. I had taken it numerous time before with no problems and then I woke up one morning - had a bowl of cereal and a lactaid pill - within the hour I was experiencing severe stomach pain along with vomiting and diarrhea. I thought it might have been due to the fact that i had had very little to eat the day before and only a bowl of cereal that morning with the extra strength pill.

the following weekend i was brave enough to try it again with some ice cream at night (this time i had a full stomach from dinner). BIG mistake - this time it was worse - the stomach pain was out of this world (i have a high pain threshold but this had me in the fetal position) and i couldnt leave the toilet and trash can for a few hours. My girlfriend was scared and called one of those nurse hot lines. they told her to coat my stomach with some kaopectate - which seemed to help. I checked the bottle of lactaid - and the expiration date had passed - so i threw it away and swore off of lactaid pills. fortunately they came out with the lactaid milk!

Fast forward to now - never touched the stuff again. well the other day I was out of lactaid milk and my wife (yes the same girlfriend) had picked up some samples of lactaid pills at a trade show - so I guess with the passage of time - I forgot how painful and miserable the other experiences had been - so i took the pill. Nothing happened!

Last night i decide to take another one because i had a craving for ice cream (had been awhile!). I figured it was ok since i had no reaction a week ago. Well sure enough - within the hour I was on the floor in severe stomach pain - followed by vomiting and diarrhea. This time we had kaopectate in the house - so i started taking it - well i just threw it right back up.

This episode lasted about an hour and a half this time. There was a metallic taste in my mouth about the third time i vomited, and the fifth and final time, there was puddle of yellow liquid that came out at the end.

I have been on this drug for a year. I have never felt worse in my life. I am a 54 year old woman who works out daily and am not overweight but I have HBP. My side effects did not start until 6 months after being on this drug, so I didn't think right away that it was this drug.
I would wake up with severe leg cramps at night that would not go away. I had severe pain in the lower back and on both sides where the kidneys are. I thought I had a terminal illness. I could not function in my life at all. My dr. changed my RX to Benicar which is in the same family the results were worse than the lisinopril. I took myself off both drugs for two days and all symptoms went away except the HBP. I am now on amlodipine for two days so far so good no cramps no pain. The only side effect is flushing which is a piece of cake next to what I lived with.
I am also so happy I found this site I thought I was either dying or going crazy.

I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!