Vertigo, weakness, fatigue, exhaustion, aching numbness in arms, numbness in face arms and legs, extreme pressure in head and neck, burning feeling radiating from the base of my neck through shoulder blades to arms, foggy brain, waking up feeling (for no reason) like I have a major hang over, chills, aching feet, weight gain, feeling very fearful of my symptoms because they feel like nothing I have ever experienced.
THESE LAST 4 WEEKS HAVE BEEN HELL!
I had my Mirena inserted on June 30 2008. I experienced mild discomfort for the first 4-6 weeks. The spotting was the worst of it and that was no more than an inconvenience. I was happy with my choice of birth control.
Then this hell began about three months after insertion.
During the last week of September the symptoms listed above started. They were mild at first but by within a week and a half I felt HORRIBLE. I suspected that it may be the Mirena, but at the same time I thought I was dying.
October 1 or 2nd (it is all a blur) I was home by myself when I started feeling the numbness and head pressure coming on again (my symptoms were coming and going, not constant) so I laid down on the couch to get off my feet. All of a sudden I felt like I was losing consciousness. I grabbed the phone and called my husband to get me to the ER. I thought I was dying. A blood clot or something. Once there, they did blood test after blood test, an EKG, urine tests, and basically I was told that there were no major system problems. I know this sounds a like classic anxiety, but I know it is not. I have to say they were very good there and encouraged me to see my family physician (whom I had already been to earlier that week) again.
I called to make an appointment to have the Mirena removed the very next day. My GYN kind of shrugged off what I was going through saying that it was anxiety and asked if I still wanted the thing removed!!! of course I did. Having that thing removed was very empowering. I was feeling so helpless and it was the one thing that I could do to possibly help my situation. The feeling of relief was amazing.
I did see my family physician again who agrees that what I am going though is related to the Mirena. She did ordered a CAT scan (came back negative) just in case.
Post removal (It has been 17 days) I have been slowly getting better. My "episodes" are getting more and more diminished and further apart. I have noticed that I am flooded with exhaustion after each of these "episodes". I also never know when there going to strike making it hard to make plans. My husband has been very supportive through out and was convinced before I was that it was the IUD. He has volunteered to get a vasectomy.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL YOU LADIES.
If you have stumbled across this because you are desperately searching for answers, all I can tell you is that I believe that the Mirena IUD has had devastating effects on many, many women, but hang in there you are not alone and you are not insane. What you are experiencing is very real. Have it removed ASAP!!!!!!!!!!