Twinges symptoms and conditions

I am a 48 year old woman, 5'1" (now 145 pounds). I had Mirena inserted almost exactly 5 years ago, and am scheduled to have it removed in 2 weeks. I gained 25 pounds over the course of the last three years; prior to that, my maximum weight for my whole (non pregnant) life was 123 (I was at 120 when Mirena was inserted, four years after the birth of my second child). I have always been very healthy, never abnormal blood tests except during my two pregnancies was tested as pre-gestational diabetic and had to watch my carbs.

I never put it together with Mirena until just recently, when I started doing research on hypothyroidism after a friend told me that my symptoms could be due to that problem. Depression, hair loss, acne on my back, and the terrible weight gain. I went to see my G.P. who referred me for blood work. I hoped to see evidence of low thyroid function (actual TSH value, 3.12 -- I was told this is normal on a range of .4 to 4.5). I also discovered that I now have high cholesterol (269 triglycerides, 251 total cholesterol, 46 HDL, and 151 LDL). My fasting (14 hours) glucose # is 99 (I was told this is normal on a range of 65-99 mg/dL), and my vitamin D, 25-OH is 21 (also was told this is still normal but low on a range of 20-100 ng/mL). I tried to give blood six months ago, and was turned down because of anemia, so I've been eating a lot of spinach, greens, and more red meat than I normally would, so I was interested to see if I am still anemic -- the red blood cell count is 3.8 (told it was normal on a range of 3.8-5.1 mill/uL). I mention these specific results because although I was told they were normal (except for cholesterol), when I physically went to the doctor's office and requested a copy of the results and did some research online I see that my thyroid IS actually low-functioning -- according to guidelines revised six years ago, anything over 3.0 is considered hypothyroid and should be treated. Plus, isn't a fasting glucose of 99 pretty high? Yet my doctor's only suggestion: diet and exercise. Good grief, I've been on a diet since I had my first child, 13 years ago. True, I don't exercise regularly (I'm a teacher and mom of 2; I never seem to have the me time.) I guess I have an excuse to get a gym membership now.

Also, for the last year I've had increasing pain in my shoulder (I couldn't lay on my side, for example, and lately I can't reach behind me or over my head). An x-ray turned up mild bone degeneration, but not enough to cause the pain I've been having. I was referred to an orthopedist, who today diagnosed a shoulder rotator cuff injury (I've had no injury; he says it is a common degenerative complaint in the over-40 crowd). He gave me a cortisone injection and I'll be on PT for a while to see if the pain goes away. If not, I'll have to have an MRI and surgery to correct the tear.

I'm posting all of this in case it might be useful to someone out there who might be going through the same thing. I had a thyroid test done about six years ago at my OB/GYN, and it was normal then (though I don't have the number; I'll get it in 2 weeks at the OB/GYN). It will be interesting to learn whether my thyroid level has gone up since Mirena. Also, although my research suggests that the effects of these synthetic hormones do not wear off for some time, possibly even years, I will finally feel like there may be hope if my symptoms improve over the next few months when Mirena is gone. If so, I will share it with you.

If you are reading this, perhaps you have a similar story. I wish I had been more aggressive about checking out the possible causes of my many symptoms, but I let them go for years because, I guess, I just figured I'm a healthy woman who is no longer young. (Oh, one more thing: for the first year or even two years that I had Mirena, I had incredibly heavy periods. The blood flow was similar to that during the day or two after the vaginal births of my daughters. Don't know if that's significant, but it took a couple of years for my periods to get fairly normal on Mirena.)

I am thirty five years old, in good shape, and healthy. I had my Mirena in for 1 month and finally I couldn't stand it anymore and had it removed today. When I had it put in I was told I 'could' experience some of the symptoms, and it seems I experienced most of the ones listed...

I had a copper IUD for ten years prior to the Mirena and did not have any problems. The day I had the Mirena put in I cramped so bad I was absolutely in tears. All I was able to do for the rest of the day was sleep, take Advil, and just hurt. The pain improved gradually over the next few days.

Since the first day, I bled every day almost non-stop (sometimes spotting and sometimes heavy), had nausea, headaches, stomach pains/cramps, bloating, water weight gain, acne, breast tenderness, and my appetite seemed constant. I also think I gained a few pounds even though I worked out almost every day. When I would exercise or when I was out walking around I would notice my stomach would get bloated, cramp, and it felt firm to the touch as if I was pregnant again.

When I contacted my OB they encouraged me to give it a few more months and said the symptoms would lessen after 3-6 months. However, this was really affecting the quality of my life and I had too many symptoms. They really down played the side effects claiming most people felt fine. Obviously this is not true by what you read here. I have had a hard time working because of my feeling so uncomfortable further into each day. I think activity would cause further irritation?

Today I had it removed and I thought I would be in absolute pain all over again. Other than the few twinges of getting it removed I have not cramped since. My headache has lessened and I feel significantly better already. I assume it will take a while for the hormones to completely go away. I did not want to put the copper IUD in at this time and really wanted a break. If I go back to anything it will be the copper IUD which I remember the only side effect symptoms I experienced was cramping on the first day.

I wanted to share because I have read many of the comments here and found most of the reviews are negative and not positive. I did contact Bayer health and they said I could send in a letter with my receipts requesting a refund and I hope they do. They said the cramps should go away and could be an indication my body was trying to expel the device. These side effects do concern me in how this will effect me long term. I had to sign a sheet that stated the same risks applied when removing the device as having it inserted.

I am glad I trusted my body and instincts today and had it removed.

Trust your body! This is not for everyone.

Was on Lipitor 2 years ago and had to come off because of side effects - sever muscle pain.. Prescribed Niaspan instead .. 2 months ago my cholesterol rose to 7.1 and my doc put me straight back on Lipitor - 10mg.. Feeling lousy - neck pain, leg pain, dizziness, fatigue ... head feels fuzzy all the time and get sudden twinges in my chest.. Had stress test done last week and all ok.. Also have severe digestive problems. Going to wait until 2 full months done and going to get bloods done again

I am so upset just reading these posts! I started on a regimen of 500 mg of Levaquin on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 along with an Advair inhaler for treatment of a bronchial infection. On Thursday I started feeling twinges in my knees when I went up and down steps. By Sunday, I could barely bend my knees so I called the Pharmacist. She suggested it was the Advair so I discontinued using it but still called my MD in the morning. She prescribed massive doses of ibuprofen (800 mg) which in a 32 hour period did NOTHING to relieve the pain. If anything it has gotten worse. I spoke to a friend the same evening who said her husband had severe muscle/joint pain in his hands when he took Levaquin this summer. This morning I called my MD twice in tears (she didn't respond until 3:30 PM.) She still doesn't seem to think it's the Levaquin but told me to take Benadryl (after I told her that this is what my friend's husband's MD told him to do!) I am going in to see her on Thursday morning and I will go armed with these comments from all of you brave people who are suffering from the effects of this awful drug!

I had a fever of 100+ degrees for 7 days and went in to the ER to see what was going on with my body. Anyway they said I must be getting over a virus and that they usually last about a week or so. On the 14th day of continual fevers I went to see my doctor as I was getting angry with not knowing what was wrong with me. Blood work was done and I was put on 750 mg of Levaquin for 7 days in the event I had a bacterial infection. My temps spiked to 104.1 and again I went to the ER and had more blood work done. On day 21 my fevers reduced and I had more blood work done. Apparently I had CMV a virus that 80% of the population has or had. Needless to say I have been off the Levaquin for a couple weeks now. I have pain in my right arm the entire length of my arm between the elbow and shoulder and if I extend my arm the wrong way the pain is so bad that I cannot breath and almost throw up. The pain is a true 10 out of 10 and I am beginning to feel soreness in my thighs. I will be contacting my doctor tomorrow morning as the pain will not go away as I was hoping it would. This is bad.