Monthly wicked migraines, right before period starts. Sometimes ...

I finally got the frickin Mirena IUD removed August 2008 on my own advise after having it in since January 2007.

I started getting monthly migraines right before my period. This started slowly in June 2007, increasing to severe migraines in Jan 2008 with a visit to the Emergency Room. My gyne and her nurse said Mirena does not cause migraines, however, the Mirena physician information does mention migraines as a possible side effect, including that removal should be considered if patients develop them after insertion. That would be me. I told her on 3 separate visits about them, but she just brushed it off. I had considered suing her because of this.

After my own extensive internet research, migraines may be caused by the levonolgestrel in the Mirena IUD. Also, I visited the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago in December 2008. She said that it may take 6 months to clear out my system and maybe I will never have migraines again. Merle Diamond is a hormonal migraine specialist. She has written books on the subject.

I have not had extreme irritability since getting it removed. I feel more like a human being. Other people have noticed as well.

Previously, I had gone to a neurologist and he said it was unusual for a woman of my age (43) to develop migraines like this. (He did not look into the Mirena as a possible culprit).

So far, this last period was 11 days late, but I feel like something has changed dramatically after this last one, like a huge release and now I feel like a real person again. I have not had a migraine as of Dec 30 2008. I will keep you updated.

If you have migraines, Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago is the best in the USA.

Well, it is now May 5 2009 and it has been 1 month now without a migraine. Just as the Diamond Headache Clinic doctor said. Each month my migraines got less and less intense and finally I have been without one for a whole month!!! I will never go on this type of birth control again!!!

June 4, 2009. The last migraine I had was March 2009. I just went back for a follow up at the Diamond Headache clinic the other day and told her and she thinks that it took that long. I notice that almost 8 months after removal, a few months afterwards the migraines had decreased in severity, to the point of not having to take anything, just maybe an Aleve. Before with Mirena, I would have to take Treximet that was prescribed along with Frovan at the onset or I was in pain for almost 3 days, now I feel a little sensation but no big deal, just like I need to eat and it basically goes away. So Dr. Diamond did say when I first consulted with her that it could take 6 months. I am now starting to write a letter to my gyne about this whole experience and how they need to read the physician statements and warnings about this. The Mirean product monograph is over 50 pages on this IUD! With a ton of possible side effects. Always listen to your own bodies ladies, not just what your doctor says. Doctors can be wrong!!