Having My Mirena Moved Tuesday

Just to start- here's a little about me. I am 38, no kids, and I've been married for 13 years. When I got the IUD, I was between 145-150 lbs at 5' 9". I now am at about 160 lbs, and I have much more belly fat than I did in June of last year when I got my Mirena inserted.

This morning, I scheduled an appointment to have it removed next Tuesday. The midwife I like is not available, so I agreed to have a male doctor do it, one whom I have never met. I hope it goes OK, because I can't find my strings, and I have read where many others have had trouble getting their IUD removed when this happens. I hope it has not migrated somewhere where it will be hard to take out.

Ever since I had this put in last June, I have had many of these same side effects people have mentioned: migraines, no energy, foggy memory, all over fibromyalgia-like pain, pain over my right iliac crest around to my lower back (sciatica-like back pain too), anxiety and depression, 10-15 pound weight gain, long periods that seem to happen more frequently...every time I have looked up one of these specific symptoms (like last night, when I looked up "pain over right hip"), I have stumbled across people who had Mirena and were experiencing these same symptoms. So weird that it took this long to put everything together. I thought - "Oh, my depression is worse because of normal stress at work", or "My mom has fibromyalgia, so maybe I am just starting to have symptoms". While these things may be true, it also seems to be true that the Mirena has amplified these things. I have had three major migraines over the past three months that literally put me out of commission for a day - had to leave my classes where I teach because I couldn't keep it together from the pain and nausea (I would get them previously, but not as bad or as often). I also attributed the weight gain to my sedentary lifestyle, which yes, I should exercise more. But- I have not had the energy and have been too achy to really get into a workout routine. I have been craving sugar like crazy, and I've just watched as my belly and thighs have gotten fatter and fatter. My sex drive has also decreased quite a bit (part of which is because I am not happy with my body).

I am somewhat upset with myself, because I was just going to get the copper IUD (which might have its own set of problems), but I let the doctor talk me into getting it. I had reservations about the constant flow of hormones and possible side effects, and now I am having to deal with the consequences. All I have to say is listen to your intuition when it tries to tell you something isn't right. :)

So anyway, this thing is coming out Tuesday. I hope it goes well. In the meantime, my back is really giving me fits, but I have too much to do to slow down. Good luck to you all! It sounds like we have all been through some really rough times, but it is good to know we are not alone in this, and we aren't just imagining that all of this is related. Stay strong!