Utis symptoms and conditions

my name is Brittany and i have had my mirena since around February 2009 and at first i had some severe pain for a few days and bleeding non-stop for about three months.. but other than that for the first two months I had no problems or complaints! i thought it was the best idea any could have thought of! But i was so wrong..the constant UTI's and Yeast infections are unbearable! I have never had a yeast infection or this many UTI's in my life! I have a feeling it is due to the mirena! I'm completely uncomfortable all the time and can't wait for it to get removed! I would never recommend this to anyone!!! yea i didn't get pregnant, but i'd rather have 20 kids then be in the uncomfort that i am in! Also, I am now on zoloft and an anti-anxiety med! i have never had any of these problems before this and im hoping they will all go away! plus the oily skin and acne!! omg!! i had the most perfect skin and now i can't even walk out of the house without make-up on! Mirena is not for me!

I had been on BCP a couple of years ago but was really terrible about remembering to take a pill every day. I went off of those because I was no longer sexually active, and I didn't see any reason for it. When i met the man of my dreams and became active again I wend to my Dr. to go back on Birth Control I told her about my previous lack of ability in the pill-taking department and she prescribed the NuvaRing for me. At first I thought it would be great! I couldn't ever feel it, I never had the problems with slippage that other people seemed to complain about, and it didn't even bother my boyfriend or I during sex. After 2 months on the ring though, last night was my day to put it back in, and I didn't. My libido wained to absolute zilch (in talking with my BF about this last night, we realized that we had only made love 3 times in the past 2 months) I just never wanted it. The times that we had made love, I suffered from extreme dryness, to the point where it really hurt a lot, even using lube. I also suffered through 2 UTIs and a Yeast infection in the last 2 months. (not to mention the 10 lbs I've gained, and the crazy irritabless/depression that the poor guy has had to put up with for the last 2 months... best described by me as "a boat load of crazy")

My BF and I discussed it last night and we decided it was best for me to stop using the NR to see if my libido comes back (it seems to be on its way already) and see if the dryness improves. I think my boyfriend put it best when he said "if it makes it so that you never want sex, and when you do - it hurts, that's one hell of a birth control. Can't make babies if you never make love!"

We decided to just continue using condoms as we have even with the BC. (I know they're not perfect) We realize that there's a risk of getting pregnant, but like he said "We'll cross that bridge if we come to it."

I'll see how this next month or two goes... if I am back to normal, it's got to be the NR.

I had my Mirena inserted Jan. 2008, and just had it removed a month ago. Prior to the Mirena insertion, I had been off BC for about 2 years, following a terrible episode of severe dry eye (to the point of corneal ulceration) after using Mircette continuously (no sugar pill week) for about 3 years. I was told the Mirena was safe and that my symptoms would most likely not recur because of the low dose of hormones. I told myself that if my eye symptoms came back I would have the Mirena removed immediately.

What I wasn't counting on was the fact that many Mirena symptoms can come on gradually, and didn't have any idea that the almost continuous cycle of UTIs and Yeast Infections, as well as constant thick mucous discharge that I think now must have been mild BV, that I'd been having since the insertion could be related. I am only 28 and have had a few different partners since the insertion, and frankly was ashamed that I was somehow not being safe or clean.

About 8 months into Mirena I started having bouts of severe IBS, and after testing it turned out I had developed multiple food allergies, as well as many bacterial infections in my intestines, and a yeast overgrowth. I have been terrified ever since that my body is attacking itself, and none of the dietary and pharmaceutical treatments to treat the IBS has really helped. I also started having intense night sweats many times nightly, a dizzy foggy feeling, recurring sinusitus for the first time in my life, and shooting joint pain into my hands (which scares me to death because I'm a musician). I have also had episodes of intense anxiety, insomnia, and heart palipitations that I marked down as stress. I seem to have a doctor's appointment every other week, and for months asked if I should get the Mirena removed -- every doctor, including my excellent GYN and Naturopath, said the Mirena was not the problem.

But the worst of this is, that after all this time with comfortable, healthy eyes, my eye symptoms returned in full in Nov. 08 and no medication has been able to adequately keep the dryness and inflammation under control. It seems like a no-brainer that Mirena and more hormones brought the eye problems back, but because it had been so many months since the insertion, I couldn't make myself believe it was the problem.

Well, after searching Mirena, IBS, and yeast infections and finding so many women with similar stories, I became certain that Mirena, if not the whole problem, created a hostile environment in my body and had it removed. I immediately felt a release from depression (which I hadn't realized I had been feeling), and my sex drive went through the roof. I know it can take a long time for the body to regularize itself after so many fake hormones have been circulating for so long, and am desperately hoping that in time some of the worst side effects of the Mirena will disappear.

Hi, Im an 18yr old female. I recently went to my gyno because im starting college in a month and a half and I thought getting on bc would be a good idea. I went in on the 24th of June, and she told me to try nuvaring. She told me to start that day when I got home. she told me to leave it in until the 1st of July then take it out and wait to the 5th to put a new one in, and progress in that cycle.
Well, less than two weeks into having the nuvaring, I got a really bad uti infection , I have had a history of utis..so i try to do the most I can to prevent them, but this was different. I felt like my bladder was going to explode!. It was so painful and it felt like it was contracting, I was spotting blood and I felt like I was going to pee my pants all the time.. . and horrible burning sensations. I put the ring back in on the 5th, and that day I spotted blood a little heavier and clumpy but not a period. I took it out on the 9th because I did not feel like the infection was getting any better...the ring has been out for 3 days now and I feel so much better bladder infection wise, but I have been having horrible headaches, and nausea. Any ideas?
The only problem is that I have no idea what is gonna go on with my period.
Before the ring, I would usually start anywhere between the 10-14..and I have not had unprotected sex.
Anyone have any ideas on the whereabouts of my period?.

I was on Yasmin and then YAZ for about 5 years and started when I was 19, and am now 24.

ON YAZ: I got a lot of urinary tract infections, had mood swings, depression, snappiness, and anxiety. I also felt swelling and occasional bruising in my legs ( started when I was 23). I stayed really thin and never felt bloated (5''7 120). I also never got pimples.

OFF YAZ: I have actually gained a few pounds and I KNOW its from going off the YAZ because it happened almost instantly. (5"7 126) YAZ does have a diuretic in it, so it really does help with the water retention. I feel bloated for the first time in my life. I broke out a little bit on my face and back. However, my mood swings have gone away, and my depression and anxiety have been almost non-existent. I am so much happier! I no longer feel swelling and bruising in my legs. My Urinary tract infections are gone as well.

Overall, I am a little bit chubbier, and have a few more pimples. But- I am happier, less irritable, anxiety free, and generally have a better, healthier outlook on life. The swelling in my legs and UTIs have also disappeared.

Any suggestions on a new BC?

I have been having recurring UTIs and I had taken Cipro which did not clear up the first infection. My doctor prescribed Bactrim and wanted me on it for two weeks.

During the first week, I would feel dizzy for 2-3 hours after taking a dose. I had body aches as well, but thought I was getting the flu.

At the beginning of the second week, I broke out in hives. I have very sensitive skin and figured I had touched something that irritated my skin. I took benadryl and the symptoms went away.

The next day I broke out again, this time worse, and I noticed I had hives all over my body including on my feet and on my head- (which alarmed me, because I now realized it was coming from something inside). I thought it was something I ate. I took benadryl when I got home from work and they went away.

The day after that, I broke out again, and a co-worker mentioned that she had an allergic reaction from Bactrim and I should check online. Her reaction was dizziness and feeling sick to her stomach, but I looked anyway. When I saw that hives a side effect I called my doctor. They told me to stop taking the Bactrim and that I was allergic to it.

It will be a week tomorrow that I stopped taking Bactrim, and I still have hives everywhere. Last night, my entire back was covered with a red sunburn-looking rash with long snake-like hives. My boyfriend says the hives look like worms under my skin.

I would suggest to anyone that has any kind of reaction (dizziness, headache, body ache, rash, hives, etc.) to call their doctor ASAP. I should have know to call when they were making me dizzy in the first week, but sometimes you don't realize what is going on until you have severe symptoms. Doctors should tell people about the possible side effects when they prescribe this stuff.

Our government is allowing these big drug companies to kill us. I only took Cipro for two days for UTI and quit it. I am so much sicker now and it has been 3 days since I quit. I am bloated severely, my neck hurts so bad, I am nauseated. It won't go away.
I feel so bad for the elderly and the people that can look these poisons up.
The companies that make these should be sued. It is terrible. My UTIs always got better immediately on the old sulfa medicines I was given before and never had these side effects.
I can't sleep either.
Don't let anybody take this poison.

where do i begin? i started the ring three weeks ago my gyno put it in for me. she convinced me for my age (20) this was the best method for me and she'd feel better, because ppl. my age are so careless! I've taken the pill before and stopped for over a year because ortho killed me, and i had no insurance. I should also fill you in that before I had the ring put in I had two utis back to back. I obviously can get them very easy, so i don't understand why my doctor would push this on to me! Anyways, I just suffered from a horrible uti and was so excited to feel "ok" again and honestly from day one or maybe two of the ring being in place I felt irritation! I have felt these awful cloudy adomonial cramps(all day long), pelvic pain, chest pain, sore throat, discharge, carpel tunnel, depressed, crying, mood swings, anxiety, bad dreams, tired, not sleeping through, loss of appetite, and god knows what else..It just seems never ending! So today I just happened to pick up and read "welcome to NuvaRing" and all it had listed for side effects were the commons ones such as vaginal infection, irritation, and vaginal secretion...thats it! I couldn't believe that I was feeling this horrible and this is all the information I had! So thankfully I found this website! I told my mom and she made me take it out today(supposed to take it out Friday) and honestly I feel better already and its been a hour! I have an appointment with my gyno tomorrow anyways so hopefully i'll find a better method of bc. I just wish we didn't have to go through all of this! They need to make a bc for men!!!!!!! LOL

I've been reading about Mirena for months and seen that everyone is having the same side effects. I gained about 30 lbs. I got cystic acne along with oily skin with this flakey layer on top. Instead of gaining weight evenly it seems to have started collecting in different areas. I've gone from being a size 2, to having a spare tire. It also gave me mass amounts of cellulite compared to what used to be there. Especially on my legs and butt. It seems to have thinned my skin and hair. Constant bloating, infections and terrible odors, loss of sex drive, UTIs and bladder infections for the first time and a few in a row, etc.
Well after trying so long to get someone to take it out without insurance, I found a post from a girl who took hers out herself. She said she squatted down, grabbed the strings with two fingers and gently pulled it out. I read that 5 minutes ago and mine is OUT. I ran to the bathroom, I was so excited!! washed my hands and did the same things she described and it's finally gone. GIRLS, DO IT NOW! It's easy and painless and maybe we can get back to normal. I've tried every diet, every cream, every face wash.... I work at Sephora and I use great products on my skin... and none of it has been able to do a bit of good. You're not paranoid, it's the Mirena. When I pulled it out it actually had a mucus plug on it... And I read that one of the ways it works is to change the chemistry of your vaginal discharge. Anyone else notice a creamier almost chalky consistency? I think anything that stops your periods for so long, and does so many different things to the way your body works, all at once, has to be terrible for you. It's bad news. I'd rather have another baby than put my body through this again. I feel like it aged me in body and mind. Please don't be scared, go take it out.
And everyone who does, or gets it taken out should update the rest of us on any positive or negative changes. I will post regularly and anyone feel free to ask questions or tell me about your experiences... Let us know if you find a birth control method that doesn't have life altering side-effects.

okay...so I thought I have been losing my mind...I have had mirena for approximately two years...and I in the past year have had a least 4...and the first year like 2..never had problems with UTIs before...at one point it got so bad the infection went to my bladder than backed up into my kidney..thought I was dying..
I also can't seem to loose weight for anything..in fact I have gained weight probably about a good 20lbs..and I eat the same as I always have if not better and am somewhat active. No reason why I should be gaining weight..anyway I am suffering right now with a UTI I don't have insurance...luckily my oh knows me...so they called in lab work and then my script...however since reading everyones post...I am convinced it is Mirena causing all of the UTIs...I am in a committed relationship, no how to wipe, don't put soap down there...hell I am 30..I know how to prevent them...I even started taking cranberry supplements...but it seems like the infections are coming closer together..last one was August..so every 3-4 months or so...I am seriously thinking about getting this thing removed. Going through all this is not worth it.......

I've been on NR for almost 2.5 years. I have to say that I loved it at first. I have really loved it the entire time because I didn't have to worry about remembering to take a pill every day. But, in retrospect, I really think I have experienced a loss of libido since I've started it. I've had two boyfriends through the last 2.5 years and I've had libido issues with both of them (from a previously health libido). I kept thinking it was just me, but after reading through these testimonials, I am starting to think it is the ring. I've also had increased UTIs of which I NEVER used to get. Itching, burning, discomfort. Etc.

I have switched my diet in the past four months to that which is much healthier and natural (raw vegan lifestyle) so birth control in the form of pills/ring, etc. seems unnatural. I think I am going to go off for a few months and see what happens. I'll let you know how it goes.

bladder infections after sex every time

I am 45 with four kids and had the Mirena inserted in October 2008. Within a couple weeks I could barely get out of bed, cried all the time and was feeling of fair bit of discomfort. My only historical health issue was chronic UTIs and I thought perhaps I was suffering a low grade infection that I just couldn't shake. We were also undergoing some business stresses and winter was setting in so I even bought a 200 dollar light for SAD ( seasonal disorder).

Called the OB/GYN whom I really trust and went in after hours the same day. 361.00 in the garbage after only six weeks . Within 48 hours felt 200% better , just so RELIEVED to have had it out. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY !!

Wow! The day before yesterday, a friend of a friend reported that she had her IUD taken out. It was Mirena. I have had mine in since last December and it never occurred to me that this could be the problem. In June, I started having symptoms that were like UTIs but I've never had one. I had to pee all the time and when I did, it burned. I felt nauseous but then, before going to the dr. the symptoms would pass. Finally, after a month, I decided to stop ignoring it. In the meantime, I started having all these lower gut/uterine achy feelings that moved toward my groin and pelvic bone/thigh area. I've never had anything like it. Sometimes, it was hard to walk. I went to my gyn. and she said she saw nothing and I had a sonogram and they saw nothing and said my Mirena looked great. In the meantime, I have been more and more tired, drinking three or more cups of coffee a day to stay awake. I have a 1 year old and I feel so tired I sometimes feel frustrated with her. I also have had rage during my PMS which I've never had before in my life. I used to get a little weepy-sometimes. Now, I find that I'm so irritable about the slightest thing. Until this friend of a friend mentioned her trouble (which was similar to mine) I never even thought of the Mirena. My GP told me that it was a pulled muscle (even though I had no recollection of pulling anything). I can't wait to get this thing out! Oh, also, someone mentioned vaginal dryness--YES! I've never had a problem with this before but it has been getting harder and harder to ignore during intimacy. I was never, ever told about any such side effects! I am having the Mirena taken out on Thursday--I can't wait.

my effect after 6 months are nausea, racing heart, dry eyes, cuticles breaking. my 6th UTI already...I'm thinking this BC has to low of estrogen level for me, I used to be on a triphasic pil which worked much better...going back to it.
The best thing was an IUD, but here they make such a big deal of it if you didn't have a baby yet....

I have been on Nuvaring for 11months and wasn't on any birth control previously. I was prone to migraines before going on Nuvaring and they worsened to the point of 3 days straight in bed, but my doctor told me it wasnt because of the ring. And I'd never had a UTI before and had a LOT of them in the first 5 months. I also got depressed and really emotional, and I am not usually very emotional or moody. If I skipped a period, I would get period pain and symptoms but no bleeding anyways, and when I didn't skip them, I had crippling period pain, and have also gone up a clothing size since being on it. Lately I realised I had a really decreased libido, so I removed the ring and got the mother of all UTIs. Now 3 weeks off it, I'm getting headaches and absolutely no libido so I'm not sure if it is still the effects of Nuvaring, but I'm defiantely going to try something else

I have never, ever responded to any of these "side effects" websites before! As a healthy person who very rarely requires medication, I had to find something on the web that would "explain" my suspected side effects for the Levaquin I've been taking for the last three days. This was prescribed for a UTI. The "new" side effect (that I didn't see addressed anywhere here) was what I can only describe as "asthma-like," to include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Anyone else with this symptom? I was also overcome with a great sense of futility that just scared me. I am normally a positive, "the-sun'll-come-up-tomorrow" type person, but this just knocked me for a loop!

I have a history of UTIs and have taken several different antibiotics over the last few years. Currently I'm taking Bactrim and I took it last time I had a UTI as well. Last time it caused me to get a yeast infection, an no other antibiotic does this for me and I woke up with a HUGE swollen lip. I didn't think anything of it and figured I had bit my lip in my sleep, but I just started taking Bactrim again a couple days ago and here it is again: Another yeast infection and my top left side of my lip ballooned up. My doctor ignored my statement about the yeast infection when he prescribed Bactrim last week, but you can bet he's going to listen when I go back tomorrow!! I already took tonight's dosage, but I'm not going to take tomorrow morning's and get in to see the doctor asap. Not only is my lip swollen, but it gets more and more painful as time passes and it slightly itches.

I started Bactrim for a UTI and felt horrible the whole time. Sick to my stomach, trouble breathing, headaches, loss of appetite. Once I asked my husband to call 911 because I almost passed out. But then I said, wait, let me settle down. I did that and continue with the medication thinking it was the UTI. Then I went to urgent care because I was suffering from a yeast infection from the Bactrim too. The 9th day on Bactrim I got worse, I started to break out in hives. By the 10th day I rush to urgent care covered head to toe in hives with trouble breathing and bumps on my tongue and mouth and throat. The doctor said, you're are having an allergic reaction to the Bactrim. He gave me a shot of cortisone and Prednisone l for the inflammation. My stomach is swollen, my body aches, I still have a terrible yeast infection and read that if you have fungal and are taking Prednisone, that's not good either. So I am at odds because my breathing is labored and I am hoping the Prednisone works and I can make it another day or else, I will go to the emergency tonight. This is no fun....I sent this list of complaints to the FDA's attention today. I hope they listen and look at this page seriously and all those who continue to write.

I posted a question to anyone who used Tri-Sprintec before, but now it's been several months & I'd like to let everyone else know how it's worked for me! Tri-Sprintec has been the best birth control I've ever taken. I have been on other birth controls over the years, and up to this point Yasmin was good but I still had some side effects. I've just started my fourth month on Tri-Sprintec, and I feel more like myself again. I don't have any crazy mood swings, my skin has cleared up, my periods are regular again & my appetite has gone back to normal. I recommend Tri-Sprintec to anyone who is looking for an affordable & reliable birth control (it's offered at the Wal-Mart pharmacy for $9 a month if you don't have insurance.)

Today is my sixth day on the nuva ring, yesterday the symptoms started. I was extremely sick, nausea, muscle spasms, my entire body felt weird as if my blood was not circulating right, I also had this weird pain in my neck and chest and could not sleep last night. Today I have a bad urinary tract infection (which i know is due to the NR because i drink plenty of water and eat cranberries on a regular basis) I have never felt this way before

I'm so glad I found this sight!! I knew the ring wasn't for me, but my OB said I was crazy, and that my experiences were more stress based rather than birth control based. My sex drive has diminished, I experience pain during intercourse, I've had 5 UTIs this year, I have extreme mood swings - especially the week before my period, and I can not lose any weight - no matter how much I exercise or how healthy I eat.

I KNOW that the Nuva Ring is the cause of this and I won't stay on for another month. I will be giving up convenience, but my marriage and family is more important.

It must be that Yasmin is okay for people already depressed or experiencing PMDD. The first time i was put on Yasmin it was for those reasons and it helped me tremendously. After 1 1/2 years I did get Yeast a lot, UTIs and some break through bleeding..but no depression/axiety/insanity that all of you are talking about. Now I am back on it and once again, no side effects yet! I guess for those who are already a little anxious/depressed/crazy, it helps. Thats the way it seems to me. The only BCP I can take without crying every day or being in pain every period.

Hi everybody!

I can't believe what I've been reading. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and my gyno put me on Yasmin. I have started to have panic attacks, aweful pain in my back, mood swings, UTIs, had every test done under the sun to see what might be wrong with me, and extremly bad bloating. I go to the hospital almost every period because I'm in so much pain, and there I get needles of pain killers. I had no idea this stuff was so bad for you but I'm going to talk to my gyno about it. I was just wondering if any other women here have endometriosis and how bad their bloating has gotten with it. Apparently with this period I've gained 15-20 pounds of water weight. Has anyone else had this problem?

Kate

I am just now discovering that my problems may be linked to fluroquinolone. Where do I start? I have been prescribed Levaquin on and off for years for UTIs. I have insomnia, headaches, severe back and neck pain, tingling/numbness and shooting pains in my hands and feet, dizziness, heart palpitations, difficulty walking, depression, disorientation, pain when lifting my arms, unexplained pain in my legs and arms, mystery bruising, listlessness, overwhelming tiredness, achiness in bones of upper arms and upper legs and a general sense of "I don't want to be here anymore." No one has ever mentioned that any of my symptoms could be caused by the medication.