I've had my Mirena for almost 3 years now, and I'm contemplating having it out. I didn't know that some of my symptoms could be linked to it, but after reading this, I have the same story as many of you.
It's been awesome having no periods, and it's nice not to worry about birth control, but I'm not sure if it's worth the side effects.
I've recently had such bad anxiety and depression that I've been seeing a therapist and have been prescribed antidepressants (I am not taking any right now because I did not like the side effects of Lexapro). There is really nothing in my life right now that should be depressing me (just got married, doing my "dream job"), so perhaps the Mirena is to blame.
I've also had a terrible time sleeping lately (for the past several months). I used to sleep like a baby. Now, I'm beginning to have to rely on sleeping drugs, and I hate that.
I've always suffered from lower back pain, but you'd think my new memory foam mattress would be helping. It's not.
I've also been super tired lately, and have had bouts of random nausea. Strangely, I also cannot handle my caffeine anymore. I used to drink tea all day, but now one cup is my limit before my head feels like it's going to explode.
Besides all that, probably the worst part is my dead sex drive. I KNOW there used to be a time when I wanted to have sex, but I can barely remember it. Being 26 and newly married is a shitty time to have no sex drive. Besides my not being thrilled about sex in the first place, it sometimes hurts! It's like the Mirena is stabbing me!
All of my symptoms have been around for approximately the past year. When I first had the Mirena put in, it hurt like HELL! I have never had a baby, so I'm sure it hurt extra for me to have it put in, but I swore right then and there that I'd never get another one put in, no matter how well it worked. A few weeks later, during one of my last periods, I passed a HUGE blood clot. Like, the size of a walnut. I mentioned this to my doctor several times, but it never seemed to concern her. The periods eventually went away (yes!!), and everything seemed to be good for several months before my current symptoms began showing up. I'm wondering why I would just be seeing the symptoms now (they started about a year after I had it put in), and not right after insertion.
Luckilly, I have not had any problems with weight gain. I've always lost a lot of hair around the house, so I'm not sure I can blame that on the Mirena. I did have some weird acne, though, in places I've never had it before (back, chest).
This thing hurt soooo much to have it put in; I'm wary of having it taken out now. I hear that it doesn't hurt nearly as much to have it taken out. Can anyone confirm this?
Also, a side note: my friend had one for a couple of years before it became lodged in her uterus and she had to have it surgically removed.