Mirena and allergic reaction

I've had mirena for ten months now and it's the only birth control that i didn't have these mental breakdowns with. but the physical side effects are more annoying than anything. I had my period when the doctor put in the mirena and it never stopped... i had my period constantly for 7 months. and i'm STILL spotting. not only that i have this constant discharge that my doctor seems to say it's normal. well it doesn't feel or smell normal that's for sure. i have to use a tampon and change it at least twice a day to keep it under control. i'm embarrassed by it but it's the ONLY birth control that doesn't screw up my emotional system. condoms don't even work because i usually have an allergic reaction to it, even sheep skin! i'm so pissed off about it. my doctor says i'm fine and it's normal but i'm not gonna do this for the full five years...

I am literally in tears after reading all of this, I'm beginning to think that Mirena ruined my life and I didn't even know it.

I stumbled upon this site while searching for Mirena side effects related to periods. I had mine inserted in October 2007, at my 6 week checkup after my daughter was born. I had severe cramping and irregular periods for about 3 months, but after that, my periods have been completely regular and pretty much the same as they had always been before my pregnancy and Mirena. But, just now, I've started my period 2 weeks early and was slightly curious if it may have anything to do with the Mirena. Apparently, it may. And now I see that having an early period is the least of my worries.

I've been experiencing so many of these side effects without even realizing they were side effects! I had put everything off on stress, disliking my job, then losing my job, the fact that "pregnancy changed me," and numerous other things. Now I feel sort of stupid for not even thinking that it could be Mirena.

I had my daughter in August 2007, at 23 years old. Mirena was put in during October of the same year. I was overwhelmed with motherhood and suffered from post-partom depression and severe anxiety attacks. I thought that this was what was causing my complete lack of sex drive.

Seriously, the thought of sex physically made me ill. And on the rare occasion that I did give in and have sex with my husband, it was so painful that I would cry. For a long time I thought that it was just because my body was not finished healing after giving birth. I had been told by several people that it isn't uncommon for sex to hurt for up to a year after giving birth. A year passed, and it still hurt. Now it's been almost 2, and it still hurts. I've probably had sex a total of about 10 times since I started Mirena. It's been 21 months.

On top of this, I've also had serious rage issues. I fly off the handle over the smallest things. For the longest time, this rage was directed mainly at my husband. Everything he did was wrong, hurtful, stupid, or just plain irritating. I'm even getting angry right now, just thinking about him. I left my husband 5 months ago, because I simply could not stand him anymore. But when someone asks me why we're getting a divorce, I really can't come up with a good reason. Sure, he made some mistakes, and did some stupid things (don't all men?), but he never really did anything terrible or life altering. He was always faithful to me, was generally a good husband, and loved me unconditionally. So why can't I stand him? Why don't I love him anymore? I can't logically explain it.

So now that I don't have him around anymore to be angry at all the time, I'm starting to direct my anger at my daughter. She'll be 2 in August, and has started that "terrible 2's" phase. I'm very quick to just completely blow up and yell at her for the littlest things. I've been starting to think that I'm just not cut out to be a parent. I love her with all of my heart but I have no patience with her at all. If this rage issue is, in fact, caused by the Mirena, I have to admit that I'll be somewhat relieved.

Other than anger, I'm pretty much emotionally dead. I've cried ONE time since my husband and I split up (well two now, since reading all of your posts actually made me cry). I'm jobless, husbandless, living with my mother, and pretty much have absolutely nothing going well for me in my life right now... and I have not cried. I don't even feel very sad. There has seriously got to be something wrong there.

I'm constantly tired, and if given the chance, will sleep 14-16 hours at a time. I don't feel like doing anything. I thought this might be signs of depression... but again, I don't feel sad. I can't keep up with my daughter. She's so full of energy and I often have to get help from my Mother. I'm 25 years old and I'm so tired I have to get help from a 48 year old woman!

I get headaches almost daily. Migraines weekly. I've got severe anxiety about just about everything. I freak out about driving, being around groups of people, anything new, anything fairly difficult, or anytime my daughter is with a sitter or relative. Even when my husband has her, and he is a wonderful father, and very responsible with her. If I had insurance, I would probably already be on anxiety medication.

I've started getting acne, which I never ever had. Not even as a teen. Now I get those really deep pimples that never come up to the surface, and they ache very badly.

I haven't had a lot of the physical side effects that have been talked about here. No weight gain or loss (120 lbs pre-pregnancy, 145 lbs at 9 months, 125 lbs now). No hair loss. No bloating. No breast swelling/soreness. Normal periods until just now. No pains or flutters or anything. Really the only physical symptoms I've had are the headaches, acne, and tiredness (all of which I attributed to stress) and the pain during sex.

Do you ladies think that my symptoms are all the cause of Mirena? Does my story seem to fit the bill? It seems to all fit, to me. But maybe I'm just looking too hard for an answer. Please give me your opinions! I need to decide if I should start saving up some money to get this thing taken out of me!

I got Mirena in April 2009. After 2 weeks I started noticing I was getting hives. At first it was not that bad but the hives got worse and worse. I reacted allergic to my supplements and started to react to food. Even though I was on a strict diet to avoid anything that could possibly cause any reaction the hives were getting worse. I had Mirena taken out yesterday. My doctor thinks I had an allergic reaction to Mirena. I still have the hives. I have lost lost of weight and life is pretty hard when you have hives non stop! I hope it get better.......

Wow, I can't believe the bad experiences everyone has had. I guess I was one of the lucky ones because my experience was WONDERFUL! I had it inserted about 2 months after baby #2. I lost all 60lbs I gained during pg PLUS and additional 10. I have to admit the insertion was awful but the almost non-existent periods for 5 years were wonderful. If my insurance hadn't changed, I'd have another one in a heartbeat. I don't want to be on the pill because I just had an allergic reaction and my husband is resistant to get his end taken care of. So, we're still looking.............

I am is a chase to figure out what is wrong with me. I had the Mirena placed at thanksgiving. Starting in December I continue to get swollen lips. I thought that it was the weather but they continue to happen and I am religious with anything and everything you could put on your lips. They hurt and are red and swollen. I am also having lower back pain on my right side right above my but that does not go away. I have had a mri, see a back doctor and all have told me there is no reason for the pain. I have called my OB she treats me as if I am crazy and says it has nothing to do with my female parts. I think from reading all of this I am having it removed. I hope some of this weird stuff goes away.

cecilrs, I need to urinate much more too...haven't even connected it to that! I have an itchy scalp too! I don't think this is an allergic reaction, just how some women react to this.

I also had a pin prick stabbing pain low in my abdomen today...more side effects?

I got the Mirena in August 2008 after having our second child. We thought it was a great idea b/c I wasn't ready for my husband to have a vasectomy in case we ever did change our mind about having more children. Although, we definitely have decided that we won't have anymore. Anyways, I have had spotting ever since and the three months of spotting is a joke because it has been way longer than that! The last two days I have had SEVERE lower back pain through the tops of my legs aching. Reminded me of having back labor it was so terrible. I couldn't sleep at night good because it was awful. I called my doc today and I am having it removed tomorrow. Can't wait!!!! I just wished I had read this website before I had decided on Mirena. And the comment I read about the hurt you experience having it inserted is the darn truth! If I had knew that I wouldn't have gotten it either. Besides that, my doc had to clamp my cervix while trying to insert it...so needless to say it was horrible!!!!!!!

I've been on Mirena for about 14 months now. For the past 3 months I've experienced this awful allergic reaction on my face. I'm not completely sure it's being caused by the Mirena but it's weird to me that every time I've gotten this rash it's been between the fist and last day of my period. the rash starts with hives on my nose, chin, under my lower lip, and cheeks, and by the next day is blisters that crust over. By the 4th-5th day or so it's just very dry looking skin. It itches and burns so badly though and I don't know if I go through this again. If anyone has any insight PLEASE email me at ******!!!!

For me having the Mirena removed just last Thursday was the right decision. I was not using it for birth control but as hormone therapy for heavy, crampy periods. I had it inserted in July 2008 and bled every single day for the entire time, I had it removed last week and now I am bleeding very heavily but hopefully that will stop once all those hormones are out of my body.
While on Mirena I lost all sex drive, I became severely anemic and with that fatigued terribly, and moody, crying at nothing and screaming at my kids or husband for stupid reasons, I felt bloated and gassy and didn't have those problems before.
I am 42 years old and I hate my heavy bleeding in fact I want a hysterectomy, but not sure now what I will do.

For those of you who had the Mirena removed, how long did it take to stop bleeding afterwards? This is draining every last ounce of energy for me and I am taking iron supplements.

What sucks is the cost of this, Even with insurance I ended up paying a lot out of pocket to get this thing and then all the Dr. visits due to bleeding and side affects in the 4 months it was in and now the removal of it. I am wondering if there is any way that we can get a Class action lawsuit against Bayer for this horrible thing they are trying to sell to women.
I know there are some out there who have not suffered all these horrible side effects at least not yet or that they are aware of, but I truly believe that there is nothing good about this IUD and those of us and there are a lot of us who have suffered with this should be reimbursed or compensated for the pain and loss of parts of our lives and expenses with this. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Yes, I was told I had genital harpies and turns out I didn't I had a allergic reaction after 1 and 1/2 in me. My body all the sudden decided to reject it and I almost died. I went one week with 107 degree temperature and my doctor wouldn't ultrasound me.. She took a swab and it came back positive for harpies. I knew that couldn't be true. So went to another doctor and they found the Myrina inside me causing this horrible pain and fever. I also suffered a mild stroke. Once cleared I retook the swab and my harpies was gone.. It is the weirdest thing. The doctor said that yes this has happened before were a birth control caused an STD reasing on a test. I also tested positive for shingles. So please keep an eye on it. I also work for a doctors office and they have told me the same thing. Jessica

Had my Mirena fitted over 3 weeks ago and since then i have been having this foggy and dizziness. concentration is difficult and can´t help but to think that i am having an allergic reaction to the hormone released by the mirena. I had arranged appointment already with gp to have it removed next week and hope the tiredness and the fogginess will go away as quickly as it came.

Hello ladies! I have had ny IUD in since Tuesday and have not enjoyed one bit of it. I should have known when the doctor couldn't put it in the first 2 times. As soon as the procedure started i instantly began to feel severe cramping, it was like having full blown contractions. I also was very dizzy and my vision was blurred. As soon as I sat up I had to lay back down for 15 minutes before I was able to drive home. Since Thursday morning I have felt like a walking zombie. I have had no energy, peeing like I am pregnant, I am also having severe swelling and severe allergic reaction. I woke up at 4am this morning because my hands were itching, so I started scratching and it got worse, and then my hands swelled up to the point that I could not bend my fingers. This rash then spread all over my body. I am not sure if the skin reaction is due to the IUD, but I can definitely tell you all that this has never happened from taking ou using any kind of medications. I also am allergic to bee stings,but I haven't had one of those.I have 4 daughters and never really used birth control before.I thought it might be a good time to start taking something, but I was wrong about this product. All I can say is DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT!!!!!! I would rather not have sex with my husband than use this!

This website has been a blessing for me - a person who seemed to feel crazy for all the symptoms I was having. I had mirena put in place in March 2008 after the birth of my second child in December. I was so excited that I didn't have to worry about birth control - I could focus on taking care of my family and work, etc. I couldn't have been more wrong about it. All was fine at first until April of 08 (two months later). I started to notice a red, bumpy rash on the trunk of my body. It progressively got worse with each passing day. It began to look like hives on my legs (behind my knees) and then on the inside of my arms. It has gone all over my back and finally to my face last night. I looked at the mirena website and it said to call your doctor if you had a rash with hives. So I did and they assured me that mirena WAS NOT systemic and couldn't be the problem. They maintained that it was probably an outside source. Instead they offered an anti-depressant. I needed something to help with what I was going through, so I started on Lexapro. That has been the only positive thing that has kept me from falling apart. What's the use in calling them if they don't listen to you? I have finally decided to have the mirena taken out in two days. I am so ready to get back to feeling normal. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there with similar side effects with the rash. If someone would have told me that this was a possibility, I would never have signed up for this!!!!!!
I will post again once I have it out and give an update!!

Just an update about the class action suit discussed previously, and Aamaya had provided us with the Florida attorney, Justin Wikin: I got a letter in the mail yesterday stating that they would not be pursuing suit against them. They said that they deal mainly with wrongful death cases and it does not mean that the case does not have merit, just that it is not their specialty. I will be doing some research here locally in Ohio to see if I can locate a practice to pursue this. If anyone comes up with something, please let us all know.

I had had Mirena for 2 1/2 years now. I was enjoying the freedom or not having to worry about pills or condoms, but i realized my sexual appetite was becoming nonexistent. Finally I decided to just get back into it, more for my husband's sake, and now every time we have sex I bleed. It's not dark or thicker like a period would be, but instead it is bright red, like if i were to slice my finger. I don't know what to do about this problem. Doctor's all seem to think Mirena is great, but as I sit here in pain soaking my third pad of the day, I want this thing out of me!!!

I completely for got about my rashes. I had an odd rash, starting behind the knees and in the inner part of my elbow. It moved around to my stomach, back, neck and up to my face. It was odd because it would be identical patches on opposite sides of the body. Very scaly and a burning itch. I went through 3 sets of cortisone treatments and as soon as I would stop each one, the rash would come back. Doctor said it was an allergic reaction and possibly form the drug in Mirena. The rash is why I finally had it taken out. I am still getting the rash when I am about to menstruate but not as intense, this is why I still feel like the hormone is in my body. The rash I felt almost drove me crazy. And I do still have lack of sex drive.

Hi everyone, I just have to tell you all what a comfort this site has been for me. I really feel like a crazy bitch frankly with all of my mood swings, ill patience and irritability....among so many other side affects. It upsets me to think how much this is affected my family. I just had Mirena removed last night and I've been on the verge of tears all day. Has this happened to anyone else? How have you all felt after you had it removed?? How long did it take before you started feeling normal again? I'd had had it in for a little over 2 years and I almost feel like I don't even know what normal is for me anyone. I take an anti-depressant and hate the idea of needing to be on medication. I've been trying to wean myself off and every time I have tried in the past I crash really bad. I'm sure that has something to do with me feeling so crappy but I'm hoping that things will even out soon. Thanks for listening.

I came across this site when looking for information on Mirena lawsuits. I feel I should be part of one. I don't care about the money- just about getting this device off the market. Here's my story:

I had the Mirena inserted in April 2006 (eight weeks post birth of my first child). At insertion I had the usual pain. Nothing compared to birth! Within a week I was experiencing painful intercourse, foul odor, and stabbing pains in my stomach. I had lost a lot of baby weight by this time, but now that I look back, I really didn't lose much since. I worked hard just to stay at the same weight. I also developed a rash all over my body, which I later had diagnosed from a dermatologist as some sort of skin disease, usually caused by an allergic reaction- bad news- once you get it, you have it for life.

After several rounds of varying degrees of antibiotics (I was nursing at the time and for one round had to pump and dump), my doctors felt the infections were gone and I was okay. Soon though, I'm back in the office still complaining of these stabbing abdomen pains, painful intercourse, etc. My doctor tells me it's not the Mirena, it's something else. He convinces me to keep it in, after I asked to have it removed. (I'm the one who spent the money here, right?!) Now I have gone through PID diagnoses, you're in menopause diagnoses (I'm 24 at the time). They check to make sure the IUD is in place, and it is, so they basically write me off as crazy.

My next step is to go to my primary care and ask him if the stabbing pain could be something else- I do that and he sends me to a gastro doctor. I end up with a colonoscopy and endoscopy which reveal nothing wrong. After a few more months of pain, I go to a new GYN. This one says, let's do a new ultrasound and get the thing out. But unfortunately, I had to have shoulder surgery before he could schedule- so I'm out of it for a few months (and pain medicated so not feeling the pain down there).

In January 2008, I finally have the time to schedule to get the IUD removed. I get it out and it's not painful at all and I don't even bleed. I start menstruating normally again (hadn't had a period most of the time I had the IUD in). A few weeks later I start hemmoraging. I get an ultrasound. I have a mass on my uterus. I have surgery to get it removed. Biopsy comes back. It's benign (praise God). But, it's inflammatory tissue, cause from the IUD. More money down the drain and more time and mentally draining. Basically, the IUD got so infected that the tissue formed around it and attached to my uterus. YUCK.

Now I'm not one for lawsuits, but if ever there was a product that shouldn't be on the market- I'm going with the Mirena IUD. Every girlfriend I have that has had it, has had it removed within the first year (save my mother- but she had that old IUD in her for over 20 years-another yuck).

It's a money making machine for doctors and the drug company. And it's a super-pain. I'm feeling so much better and I'm losing weight again! Now if I could get rid of this rash! (Not likely!)

I thought I was going crazy until I found this site. I had my Mirena put in on Nov. 19 2007. It was a pretty painful insertion. I never got dilated nor was I told to take anything before hand. My doctor (Who is a man and not a Ob) Told me there would be slightly to no pain at all. I got into the car and immediately started having horrible cramping on my left side. I felt extremely dizzy and hurried home. When I got home I began spotting pretty severely. Almost blood clot type spotting. Two hours after I was balling my cramps were so bad. I could barely pick up my 9 month old daughter. That whole night and the next day I was miserable. I felt like I had morning sickness. I had an allergic reaction to Ibuprofen so I usually only took Tylenol. I took three still with no help with the pain I called my doctor to see if he'd call in Tylenol with codeine. That helped a little but I was still pretty crampy. After a week of bad cramps with little help from the Tylenol, I started to get really nauseas. I can barely get out of bed in the morning though I stay awake most of the night. My body is always achy especially in my legs. I have shooting pains down them. I am severely depressed and started having anxiety attacks which I haven't had in years. The cramps aren't as bad but the emotional side of it as well as constant back pain is making me miserable. Not to mention I have gained 8 pounds in less than a month. I am normally pretty consistent in weight. I am really considering removing it. I had a very weird period that came a few days late and consisted of only clots of blood. I am already kind of a hypochondriac but I have been feeling the exact same symptoms most of you have posted. Even the shortness of breath with a tightness in my chest. I was just starting to run everyday before i put the Mirena in, I can barely do a brisk walk just a week after it was put in. I have an appointment tomorrow to talk about removing it. It will suck since my insurance didn't pay for it. I paid 698.00$ cash. But if it gives me my life back I will get it out as soon as possible. Has anyone had these symptoms and had them go away after a few months? All my friends are saying stick in there but I don't know if I can. If I had found this site before I got it put in I would have ran the other way! Thanks for all your posts!
Rachael

Oh my goodness!!! I am SO glad I found this site. I got my Mirena April 2007. I had been on Depo for far too long and as my husband and I still don't want children for now, Mirena seemed the next best bet. I HAD done research and at the time didn't find anything that scared me off. I wish I had dug around more! I have been having various side effects, one of which is the HORRIBLE itchy and sore breasts I get every couple of weeks or so! I have had to hide just so I can rub the dang things to get some momentary relief! I also get the worst dang migraines once a month...about 2 weeks before I spot. The lightbulb recently went off that the weird acne I've been getting is likely related to this dang thing inside me too. I have NEVER had acne and am used to getting compliments on my "good skin". I am 29, have a good skin care regime and have the worst skin of my life! Add that to bloating and sore, itchy boobs, and oh boy, do I feel just great about myself! I didn't even mention the arthiritic-like pain I've been having in my hands and my carpal tunnel symptoms that started about July...I am going to make an appt with my doctor asap. Even if there are many possible explanations for everything, this is too weird. Getting this thing out of me would be a good place to start!

I had the Mirena fitted and taken out the next day. The actual fitting was not as painful as I had expected, and all ok for an hour.
Returned home and started to get cramps and some spotting, then my abdomen swelled and was extremely bloated ( I thought this was just like the period pain that was described from having it fitted) however it went on and I couldn't work, just sat and ached and hoped it would improve. Then I noticed red marks on my stomach and went back to the Doctor. They told me that I had an allergic reaction to the hormone in the Mirena.
After 20 minutes of it being taken out I was feeling so much better, after 4-5 hours the red marks were fading and the bloating was slowly going. I also felt really depressed, and had spinning moments when I felt like I was about to faint. But I have also had levonelle (the morning after pill) which has the same hormone, but with no side affects what so ever.

I was using Mirena for 1 year, since I had it inserted I felt discomfort and pain, I talked to my OB GYN, but he said that was normal, after months I developed an allergy on my pubic area, so I went to a Dr. recently and he removed it, he told me that I have an allergic reaction to levonorgestrel (the releasing hormone from mirena). Another side effect was pain during and after sex.