I had the Mirena inserted a little over a year ago. Over the las...

I had the Mirena inserted a little over a year ago. Over the last year, I've grown increasingly not myself...wanted to crawl into bed and do nothing. My relationships with everyone changed-husband, parents, children, neighbors, work. I became a hermit. My skin looked unhealthy, it actually hurt to the touch, my body ached like an 80 year old woman. I felt hot all the time. I felt 4 months pregnant. Could hardly climb the stairs often. I weigh currently 155 and am 5'6". At my 6 week checkup postpartum, I had lost all but 8 lbs of baby weight. Couple of months later, had mirena inserted, and voila gained 15 lbs over the next couple of months. It was a cumulative effect...over the next several months, my face was swollen, my hair, skin, chest was extremely gross oily. I couldn't think straight, my and get through the day. I couldn't remember simple things. What got me out of bed was knowing that my children had gone outside and I didn't want them to run into the street. I knew something wasn't right, but it didn't occur to me that it would be the mirena. I went to my general doctor complaining of EXTREME fatigue. I thought maybe it was my thyroid. The doctor ran 3 blood tests...TSH, mono, blood count. All came back normal. Doctor wanted to put me on anti-depressants and recommended therapy. Not that I'm opposed to the recommendation, but it just didn't sound like the solution. I went to another doctor for a second opinion. Also wanted to put me on antidepressants. I didn't want to mask whatever was going on. I wanted to get to the bottom of this. There was a reason for my feeling this way. I just was not myself but truly didn't think antidepressants were the answer. Meanwhile, I scheduled my annual gyn appointment. The IUD hurt at times, I was constantly aware of it anyhow with sharp jabbing pains, and my husband could feel it during intercourse. So I went in thinking I was pretty sure I'd ask for it to be removed. Still not attributing all these dramatic changes to the mirena. When I saw the dramatic weight gain after the IUD insertion, it sealed the deal in my mind. I wanted it out right then and there. Much to my surprise, joy and relief, I instantly felt better in my abdomen. That night, I put my jeans on and they were actually looser. My body was in constant swelling/PMS mode - due to the artificial progesterone. Within a couple of days I had lost 5 lbs and my jeans continued to get looser. It's been only 6 days now, but each day I feel more and more like myself. My weight is dropping, I have more energy. I want to garden again, a hobby I no longer enjoyed whilst having the IUD, I want to take walks again and exercise, which I had no energy to actually do. It feels better to "be in my skin" - weird to say, I know. Before the IUD was removed, my skin felt uncomfortable. My neighbors noticed the weight loss and the already noticeable change in my complexion. I'm able to engage with my children and meet their needs, whereas before I was barely getting by. It's going to take more time I know, to get rid of this awful acne, remaining weight, greasy skin, etc. but I am 100% certain all these changes to my body and mood were because of Mirena. Today, I have a headache settling in. I think it's because my body has been artificial progesterone heavy, suppressing the estrogen, natural balance. It's got to learn to kick in with my own normal hormone function. I'm expecting some ups and downs, but am thrilled that it's out and I'm on the road to recovery. One thing I question is why doctors so highly recommend the Mirena? I asked for the copper IUD and they steered my toward the Mirena, even when I was nursing. Why don't doctors warn patients of the likelihood of depression and the whole host of other problems that I had and so many other women report? I'm very glad I didn't start taking antidepressants because they come with their own side effects, and I would have had a harder time getting to the root of the problem. Only when I had the IUD removed did I google mirena side effects and realize that thousands upon thousands of women have been through the same thing.