Thinking the same thing symptoms and conditions

Here's an update to my previous post from a couple weeks ago. After reading all the posts here, and talking to several close friends, I had mine removed last Tuesday, May 26, 09. Wow! I can already see and feel the changes. I do want to say one thing though, I did not gain weight with the Mirena. In fact, I lost weight. Now I'm concerned that it will have the opposite effect on me and I will start to gain. I hope not since I am very happy with my current weight and hope to maintain it. Tomorrow will be a week and I can already tell a difference in my sex drive. Plus, my partner could feel it. He said it hurt and was starting to leave a permanent "place" on the end of his penis. But here is my dilemma. I'm a smoker. Yes, I know, bad, bad, bad. Trying to quit but not having a lot of luck. I am also 41 yr. old. There are not a lot of birth control options out there for women over 40, let alone those of us who smoke. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who is in the same situation as me.

Also, I'm sure that the Mirena is a wonderful thing for a lot of women. I agree with Kimboslice that it is an individual choice for each person. Don't let all the comments scare you. It's just not the choice for us. Do what I did, try it for a while and if you don't feel it is the right thing for your body, have it removed. But give it long enough to make sure. Personally, I think you should give it at least 6 months. Good luck to everyone!!!

I had Mirena inserted in August 2007. I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure, and the doctor had to take me off of NuvaRing because of the connection of the hormones in birth control and HBP. My Gyno said that Mirena was very low hormone and would not affect my BP. Since I have been on Mirena, my BP has stabilized, but now I get dizzy spells, often, and I constantly have a headache. I also have cramping, sometimes very severe. I have gained ten pounds, and I have bad acne. I work out religiously and eat very healthy. I kept wondering how I gained this weight, and couldn't get it off, until I found this website. Also, I have never had an acne problem, and at 31 years old, I don't think I should have the skin of a sixteen year old, especially because I had perfect skin at 16. I found this website because I was having spotting, again, tonight, so I decided to GOOGLE the phrase "Mirena Side Effects." The spotting is not unusual since I have had the Mirena. It is one of the side effects that I experience regularly, especially after intercourse. Intercourse has been a problem, too. I have been married, happily, for ten years, and our sex life was great until I had the Mirena put in. Now, I don't want my husband to touch me, and I have even told him several times, since having the Mirena implanted, that I want a divorce. I think this has to do with the physical and emotional changes that I have had since getting Mirena. I have thought about having it removed, but I am finally starting my career after staying home with my three children. So I am torn because I don't want to get pregnant. My husband has said several times that he thinks that the Mirena has caused the problems in our marriage, and after seeing what others have to say, I am sure he is right. Although I have been thinking the same thing for months. Just a couple more points to make: Like some of the other woman, I have insomnia. When I had the Mirena inserted, I think I experienced TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) because I had an extreme pain where it was place, followed by immense dizziness, nausea, blurred vision and a rushing sensation in my face and head. When I went to get a checkup, I was told that the Mirena was "lost," and the doctor had to do an ultrasound to locate it. I have lower back pain and strong, period-like cramps. And I have an irregular period with spotting throughout the month. (It is getting expensive having to buy new panties all the time.) I think that I have made my decision to have the Mirena removed.

I am a 31 year old mother of 3 boys. I had my Mirena inserted in June 2006 at my Dr's suggestion to trying a "worry free" birthcontrol. I had it inserted while on my cycle & it hurt pretty bad. I almost passed out & it took the Dr almost 30 mins to do the procedure because I wasn't dilating. I cramped for a couple days afterwards and then that was it............the beginning of the worst decision I ever made for my body! Since I've had my Mirena in, I've been back to the OB/GYN 4 times with pain & complications. I also have not had a period or any bleeding at all since insertation. About 1 month post insertation I had to go to the ER because I developed a Cyst on my Ovary that had ruptured. A pain VERY simular to labor! I visited the GYN Dr again at about 6 months after insertation to make sure it was in place & because of pain and back aches/cramps & I had developed more cysts on my ovaries. The Dr said that 20% of women who have the Mirena develop these Cysts. Shortly after that visit another one ruptured. At 9 months after insertation, I began experiencing pain with intercourse, still was cramping, having headaches and I went back to the Dr. The Doc said everything "looked" fine. But I was NOT fine......I had started gaining weight slowly about 2 months after insertation & have not STOPPED! My GYN Dr keeps saying that it's all in my head & can't find cause to my issues,his Diagnosis... Pelvic pain & Over Eating.

Today, I have had my Mirena in for almost 2 years and here's what I have been experiencing:

ME----------------------------------------------
Weight Gain---60lbs to date
Daily back aches---Constantly taking Ibuprofen & Tylenol
Depression---Family Dr gave me Prozac last month
Anxiety---Family Dr gave me Xanax last month too.
"Feel Like I losing my Mind" feeling
Ovarian Cysts---was given Naproxen by OB Dr
Enlarged Breasts--went from a C cup to a DD cup (1st side effect I noticed)
Acne---developed on my back
Headaches---Lots of them!
Night Sweats/Excessive Sweating
Hot Flashes
Mood Swings---(Bad!)
Dizziness

HUSBAND-------------------------------------
Says "That D*mn thing is Sticking me" & he's always "sore"

Due to Insurance issues I was not able to have it removed. My employer at that time did not cover BC. My family DR has been my Best Friend lately and Tells me to have it removed. He feels that it is what is causing all my problems and that suggestion was also recommended by the ER DR. I saw last month with my Anxiety attack.

I recently became eligable for Ins through my new employer & call my Dr yesterday to have it removed and to go back on the pill. I made my Appt for April 22nd.

BUT.......................................they called me today & told me that before I can have it removed I have to come in for a "Consultation" with my OB/GYN DR and explain to him WHY I want to have it removed, so we can "TALK". ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I explained why, all that I've been through, the weight gain, the past visits to them should be reason enough. I was told that I'm the "ONLY" patient who has had/mentioned these problems and if my Family Doc had any test or any records that support why I should have it removed I should bring it with me. I'M SHOCKED at their answers and you better believe My hubby & I are going to that "TALK with the Doc" next Wednesday! I Will have it removed on the 22nd!

I've done alot of research on my Mirena lately & I wanted to tell my story about my "Mirena Struggle". I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has experienced these side effects and that I wasn't really losing my mind. I hope that after removal, I can get my life back and my health back in order. I wish you all the best in your decisions and I will keep you posted on my "recovery".

Wow! Very interesting! I was thinking the same thing about this stupid pill! My first 3 months were very spotty, my second pack was better, but then I decided to skip the non hormonal pills and start the third pack right away. I've basically been on the rag since 12/12/07! This is 02/07/08, and I have had this brownish discharge for about 3 weeks! What the hell! I'm pissed because I'm 36 and I'm taking it to normalize my hormones, which have been messing me up the older I get!

Sorry, me again.

Claudia:

You're telling the same story, that I went through!!! I too didn't leave my house, sometimes neither my bed anymore in my worst times with Yasmin!! And I really didn't think that this could get better again some day.

But believe me: IT WILL get better!!

All you need is time, as I already told in my last post.

1 1/2 months without Yasmin ist really not very long!! In my case it took about 3 months to feel a real change in me and a slight improvement of my symptoms started (got off Yasmin in February 2005!). But from that point on it got better month by month. Every month the symptoms (especially the anxiety and panic attacks) got less and today I'm nearly back to normal!! Well, as I already said, besides the hormonal chaos (don't have a normal regular period, yet) that really takes much longer for me than for many other women...

But you are NOT CRAZY!!!! I remember me so many times thinking the same thing "What, if it's really NOT the Yasmin and everything is just in my head?" But it WAS the Yasmin and today I feel so much better!!! All you need now is time and patience and hopefully some people around you that understand your problems, listen to you or give you a hug, if you're in need!!

And flowerbabies ist totally right with the supplements! It's really helpful to take some vitamine b, magnesium and other things!! And perhaps some valerian just to calm down a bit, when the anxiety seems to be unbearable!! That always helped me too during the last 2 very hard years!!

I wish you all the best and believe me, you've got the power to get through this, even if you don't really believe it now, YOU HAVE IT!!

Best wishes and god's bless!

Silke