Mirena and joint pain

Well, I have one side effect I haven't seen anyone mention. My breasts feel weird, like they did at the beginning of my pregnancy. I've been trying to figure out a way to explain the way it feels, and its a combination of when I had a yeast infection in my breast while breast feeding (not nearly as painful though) and the way they felt when I was in my first few weeks of pregnancy. I also have constant cramping, its not terrible, but constant. Then I've also had joint pain in my hips, I've woke up in the middle of the night with my hands asleep. And you can't even imagine the weight problems I've had. I weighed 180 two days before I had my twins, 160 when I came home from the hospital, 135 in January, and now I'm 175. If I gain 5 more lbs I'll weigh as much as I did 8 months pregnant with twins. I've tried dieting and I still keep gaining. Then my DH also says that I am not the same person. He was the reason I started looking into side effects because he told me one night that I've changed since I got the IUD and it is making me crazy. I thought he was crazy, that it was just because I had babies and more on my plate now, but then I thought that maybe he was right, that my moodiness and weird feelings combined could all be from the BC. Then I started researching. There are too many woman posting problems with the Mirena. I think it should be taken off the market (and they should pay for everyone to have it removed). If you go to Google and just search for Mirena IUD, don't include side effects or problems, just type in "Mirena IUD", you will get an official site, a couple of drug websites, and the others are sites for side effects. That should tell you something. There's even an support forum.

I am happy that I have come across this website. My son was born in July 2nd, 2009 and I had the Mirena IUD inserted on August 24th, 2009. The insertion wasn't all that painful, but the cramps that followed were. It lasted for approximately 2 weeks following and I had some spotting here and there. I have had serious cramping on my right side and after sexual intercourse, I always bleed and cramp on my right side. I have complained about my right wrist hurting bad and my thumb seemingly being dislocated. After reading these post I see that I could possibly have joint pain as a side effect. I can honestly say that the joint pain didn't start until after the Mirena insertion but I never associated it with that.

I thought that I'd love the Mirena because I wouldn't have to worry with pills or having to remember to take birth control, but the side effects are not worth it. I have also had some weight gain. Serious mood swings. Depressed moods and very emotional. Ive been short tempered about just minor things and I haven't been motivated to do much of anything around the house.

I'm debating on whether or not I should have the Mirena removed. I'd hate for any of my symptoms to get worse.

I just want to say how happy I found this site. I'm not alone! I thought I was going crazy or that my body was shutting down completely. I had my mirena put in Sept. 2006 and my body has become something I don't even recognize. I am extremely bloated all the time and it hurts every time I eat and use the bathroom. I keep on thinking maybe I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but it doesn't make any sense because the symptoms showed up after I had the Mirena put in. I thought it might be food sensitivities so I got tested and have been trying to cut those foods out but it doesn't seem to be helping. I have tried all sorts of natural remedies but it never seems to go away.

I have gained 40 pounds since I the Mirena put in even though I have never have had weight gain problems before, I eat healthy and I am active. I also have a difficult time concentrating and focusing on anything. I also get dizziness, depression, irritability and mood swings. I also have been experiencing a sharp pulling or stinging in my uterus at times as well as joint pain (especially in my hips, knees) and painful intercourse with bleeding afterwards. My hair is also falling out and I have lost my desire for sex.

I've also noticed a drastic decline in my immune system. I have never been as sick as I have been in the last three years of my life. I seem to always be getting sick. For the first three months after the Mirena was inserted I had frequent bouts of yeast infections, bladder infections and still three years later I have these types of infections frequently. Not only this but I seem to catch everything that is going around when before the Mirena I hardly ever got sick.

Finally after reading the posts on this site I can trace all the changes in my body to when I had my Mirena put in. I am so upset that I have been suffering for 3 yrs with these side effects and it has taken until now for me to figure out that the Mirena doesn't just effect your uterus it effects your WHOLE body. I cant believe I trusted the doctor I went to when I had it put in that said that the hormones would only affect my uterus. NEVER, NEVER USE THIS PRODUCT!! It is coming out as soon as I can have it done! Please ladies if you know what it is like to have it removed let me know.

I'm partial to Mirena. I had it for all 5 years, but still debate as to whether my weight gain, hair loss and joint pain were related. I got it shortly before my boyfriend of 2 years broke up with me, starting drinking a bit more and was in general stressed out. So stress & alcohol equals weight gain. Weight gain (30 lbs in a year) equals joint pain. The hair loss is another story. It might be stress, but I went long periods afterward without stress and I could pull out rat size clumps of hair once every few weeks from my shower drain. I had it removed on October 6th 2009. I immediately started NuvaRing. 3 weeks later, I'm DONE with that. That's another story. Overall, though, I don't think the majority of the side effects were caused by Mirena and the 5 years I had it in were good. I won't get another one, just because I'm still skeptical. I think I'm going to take some time off birth control with hormones. We'll see how it goes. I can't say I'd recommend Mirena due to all of the horror stories I've read. Maybe in a year, if all my symptoms go away, I won't be so wishy washy.

I'M SO GLAD THAT I FOUND THIS WEB SITE BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST FALLING A PART. I HAVE HAD THE MIRENA FOR 14 MONTHS AND I HAD HEAVY BLEEDING FOR THE FIRST 8 MONTHS AND THAT ENDED. I HAVE SEVERE HEADACHES, INSOMNIA, DEPRESSION AND NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN MY FEET. SOME MORNINGS I WAKE UP AND IT'S LIKE I CAN'T GET OUT THE BED BECAUSE I HAVE JOINT PAIN. I'M ONLY 38 YR OLD. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE MIRENA. ONE LAST THING I HAVE ALSO LOST THE DESIRE FOR SEX! IT'S GONE. I'M IN THE PROCESSING OF TRYING TO GET THIS THING OUT OF ME. ASAP . LADIES THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU GET THE MIRENA.

well im so glad i found your site. i thought it was just me. the headache every single day. the strange cramps for no reason. the joint pain. the unexplained mood swings. im getting this thing out of me asap

I am so glad I am not crazy and all alone. I've had my Mirena since January for perimenopause and was still getting my period every month until this month. No I have such cramping, joint pain I can barely walk and my lower back is killing me. I am scheduled for a hysterectomy this Wednesday, I CAN'T WAIT, I'll be done forever.

Has anyone had terrible joint pain from the Mirena? I didn't know where it was coming from, every time i would sit down for awhile then get up my joint ached so bad, i had never noticed this before, i told my doctor about it and he said i was just starting to feel the effects of getting older, i couldn't believe that, i am 38 years old and already being this stiff, i told him that i would not be able to move around by the time i was 50 if i felt like this already...and i was going to the gym at least 3 to 4 times a week so i was getting a lot of exercise, well i had my Mirena taking out about 3 weeks ago, mainly because my blood pressure kept going up and i had never had problems with this, so i thought maybe it was from the Mirena since i wasn't on anything else and i ate right and exercised, well i happen to notice the other day that i no longer have the joint pain i was having, i couldn't believe it, it had to of been from the Mirena, i feel so much better now, my sex life is back to normal and my blood pressure is staying down without medications, please don't listen to the doctors when they say its not the Mirena, we know our bodies more than anyone.

I had Mirena inserted about 2 years ago and I'm having it removed later this week (thank goodness). I have gained 30 lbs, suffered from terrible fatigue and joint pain, mood swings, thinning hair, depression, total lack of sex drive and worst of all DEBILITATING migraines (especially after an orgasm.....I suppose that's a good reason for lack of sex drive!).

I had no problem with insertion, but was immediately aware of vaginal odor that was never there before....just an unclean sort of smell....really annoying and still persists. I miss my old periods (very normal, one week of PMS, 4 days of bleeding, then done). Now I have about 3 weeks of horrendous PMS with breast swelling, weight gain, fatigue, depression, increased appetite then I "spot" for 8-12 days! Horrible! I'll take 4 days of bleeding over 8 days of "sludge" anytime.

I hope removing it will end these issues.

I had the Mirena placed in 2004 after the birth of my second child. I had weight gain, mood swings, hungry all the time (i would sleep eat), depressed, joint pain and was tired all the time. I eventually got it removed 3 years later and my symptoms got even worse. I was severely depressed, my sleep pattern was abnormal, my mind was fuzzy, couldn't concentrate, joint pain worsened and had absolutely no energy. I started itching and having tingling sensations and "bug biting" pain/sensation especially in my extrementies. It was weird. It stimulated a hormonal response that affected my central nervous system. I know it did. I will never be convinced otherwise. It was a shock to my system. There needs to be studies done in this. I finally drug myself to the my general practitioner 3 months later and I thought that I would get admitted in a psych ward. I was hardly functioning. No kidding. I had no reason to be depressed. My life was better than ever. I was not admitted, but I was put through the ringer for tests and my healthcare bills became outrageous. I had tons of blood work, sleep studies, saw a neurologist, had a myelogram, mri, and put on several medications which added to the weight gain. It has been almost 2 years now and I am just now starting to feel like myself. All of the tests were inconclusive. The neurologist dx was something neuromuscular. I am not on any medication now, but am not 100%. But I know that damage was done and I am older. So I'm afraid that I will never feel great again. I wish I had never had the Mirena. Never. I know I miscarried once and suspect that it happened twice. I didn't have a period for those 3 years but it was not worth it. This product should be recalled.

OMG!!!! Okay, I have had the Mirena since may 2007! Over the past two years I have been through more testing than I care to admit... Severe and constant nausea, headaches, anxiety, depression, acne, sleepless nights, joint pain, no sex drive whatsoever ( my poor poor husband), lack of energy, and just overall moody! I have asked my doctors many times if it could be the mirena causing this.... No! I have also gained about 20 lbs over the last 6 months! I am normally 106 and have never in my life been able to gain weight! This is insane!!! I am calling my doctor today to get this thing taken out of me!!!! Thank you to all the women who have posted! I just thought I was going crazy...

I have had my Mirena since May of 2007, at first it was wonderful then about 1 year in I started gaining weight, particularly in my mid section. My mood swings were out of control, anxiety, restlessness, joint pain, acne. I spoke to my doctor and told my stomach issues were probably IBS and acne was probably stress or hormones. I was put on lexapro for the mood swings and anxiety. I have been watching what I eat and working out and nothing has helped.Finally last week I decided to do some research on my own and googled "midsection weight" and articles linking this to mirena flooded my screen. I spent the rest of the day reading and called my doctor the next day. I have an appointment tomorrow to have it removed, I will keep you posted. Part of my is angry that these side effects were not listed in the pamphlet I received from the doctor but another part is so relieved to have found an answer to the madness.

i had some joint pain and lower back pain, high migraine and heart burn when i insert the mirena the hospital not charged me everything covered from the insurance when i didn't wanted mirena and told to removal the hospital charged me the fee it was not covered from the insurance because it is a different insurance now.

I am so glad that I found this site. I had my Mirena put in February 2009 when my son was 10 months old. I wan't even looking for options for birth control. My doctor kept pushing it on me every appointment we had. I knew 2 people that had it and they loved it so I thought why not. The day I had it inserted I had major major cramps. But the doctor said I would experience cramping. Well the next day the cramps were so bad I was doubled over in pain. They felt just like contractions from active labor. After about a week they went away.
Then came the rest. Heart palpitations. Tossing and turning at night. Night sweats. My contraction cramps came more and more frequently. I started getting pimples and I never get pimples. Joint pain especially in my left shoulder. Mood swings like I've never had before. I don't even want to be around my son who is now 16 months old. Most days I feel like both him and my husband would be better off without me.
I went to my doctor in June and she told me they're was no way it could be from the Mirena. I then called the Mirena clinic. They told me the same thing and said not only would I have to go through my family doctor for a referral to have it removed, I would then have to wait 3 months for my appointment. Needless to say I felt backed into a corner.
I made another appointment with my doctor planning on telling her we were going to try and have another baby and hopefully we would get a better response.
Well in walked in a new doctor saying my old family doctor no longer works there! So I told the new doctor about my symptoms. She took out a pen and pad of paper and started writing everything down. She told me that it's rare for it to happen but few people have serious side effects. I felt like giving her this website.lol
Anyway, 4 days later I have an appointment on Oct 6th the have it removed!!! I am so happy. I will post an update.

Hi, just wanted to follow up. I HAD my Mirena in for roughly 3 months. I had it removed after a lot of speculation. I must admit, I feel a lot better. My hair is no longer falling out by the handfuls, my moods have evened back out, joint pain is still there but not nearly as bad. The weight thing...I lost 10 of the 25 pounds within the first month, and have not lost an ounce since then despite a strict diet and moderate exercise. But, the odd thing is, that 3 days post removal, I started my period, bled HEAVY for 4 days and back to normal flow on days 5 thru 8 (yes, 8) but now, a month and twelve days later...no period, and I'm right back to retaining water in my hands and feet, and again have the bloated gut, with lots of cramping. It's very odd...

If anyone can offer some insight, it would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and I forgot to mention, I'm actually dreaming again!!! It's awesome. Sleep is good!!

And another thing, I couldn't help but notice that a lot of women are saying they had theirs inserted more than a year ago...the "IUD" Mirena hasn't been on the market that long. The previous Mirena was a coil, not a silicone IUD. I've been told by one of the doctors at the hospital I work at, that it's more so a reaction to the silicone than to the hormone...food for thought...

And, along with the few lucky women who have been successful with their Mirena endeavor, I also have 2 friends who absolutely LOVE theirs! No side effects, no weight gain, nothing! That's why I decided to get mine, but I knew within a matter of days that something was going on. I wasn't my self, and after never in my life struggling with weight, I all of a sudden was outgrowing all of my clothes. It wasn't pleasant. So again, congratulations to the lucky ones, and for all others, my sympathy. Removal is quite simple, no pain at all. It was over before I could even hold my breath. Felt similar, but not even as bad, as a pap.

I am 26 years old with two kiddos.
It has been 4 weeks since the removal of my Mirena (it was in for a little over a year). So far, no more dizziness, nausea, joint pain, nor cramping. I made a list of all of my symptoms so that I can check them off when they disappear. Symptoms that I am still suffering from are: Eczema (fingers, arms, elbows, legs), tired, acne, cloudy thinking, moody, not much of a sex drive (but getting better), emotional, no patience, hard to focus, having and overwhelmed feeling...like I can't multi-task and handle lots of different things at once, just having no desire to clean up around the house...kind of and "I don't care" attitude. None of these symptoms were in my life prior to Mirena. I really hope these go away in the NEAR future!! I heard about the Mirena "crash", I don't think that I experienced that, just the same stuff with some symptoms vanishing. Best of luck to all and God Bless!

I am also really glad I have found this website. I had my mirena placed in March 2006. I loved it, told all my friends thought it was a miracle. I have completely changed my mind. I have dizziness, headaches, joint pain and my PCP put on Lexapro for anxiety and mild depression in September 09.
I have a 3 and 4 year old, but am so fatigued at times I don't want to do anything but sit around. I can not lose any weight. I tried nutrisystem and
that didn't help. I am also having having a symptom that hasn't been mentioned on the site. I have done some research and noticed that the mirena can also cause blood vessels to constrict. In December 08 after having some (quite a few) drinks and smoking cigaretts at my husbands
Christmas Party the next morning my forearms and hands were a dusty blue color. I have had this happen one time since. A couple of times the bottoms of my feet were a purple/ bluish color looked as if they were badly bruised. After researching the cause of this, the only thing I can find is that the mirena can also cause constriction of the blood vessels. Has anyone else had this happen???? I had and echocardiogram done, that was fine all my blood work has come back normal. Am seeing a neurologist, he has me scheduled for a nerve condition test, but he thinks
I may need to see a vascular doctor.

I've posted here before right after I removed my mirena. Well it's been 27 days since I've had it out. At first I felt great. I had a period two days after I removed it. That period lasted a week long. Right after my period I CRASHED MAJORLY!!!! I had severe depression, severe anxiety and really bad leg and joint pain. All of that lasted about a little over a week. I got put on clonazapam and 20 mg. of celexa. So far I'm doing pretty good. I still get a little leg and joint pain, but not as bad and it doesn't last as long. I feel 90 % better and am expecting my second period on the 9th. I really hope I don't crash again. It was awful!! While on the mirena I had high blood pressure, fast heart rate, low grade fever, joint and leg pain, anxiety and depression, bloating like I was 4-5 months pregnant, nausea, heartburn, headaches, body aches (like I was sick), carpul tunnel syndrome (which I only get when i'm pregnant just like the heartburn) and more! Everything went down or completely away within a couple of weeks of having it removed. All except my heart rate. I am on a low dose of beta blockers to keep my heart rate from going over 100. Just like many of you I have been tested for many things like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and so on. i have also been suspected of having hyperthyroidism, but with negative results from blood work. We are experiencing a major hormonal imbalance from this mirena. I just hope and pray our dr.'s will do their research and realize we are all right about our experiences and something can be done about this IUD. There is hope. Your bodies will regulate. It's only been about 4 weeks for me, but I am feeling better so far since my crash. Don't hesitate to tell your dr.'s about any depression and anxiety you may be experiencing as those are very serious side effects and can be treated even if it's just temporary to get you through the crash. I also take a one a day multi vitamin. So maybe that will help to.

This website is a joke! After I had my Mirena inserted 4 months ago I started reading on the internet about possible side effects. I was furious with myself that I hadn't Read up on this before the appointment. There were so many horrible reviews involving hair loss, weight gain, acne, and mood swings! I was so scared and actually thought about removing the Mirena that week. I then found multiple reviews on websites not owned and operated by other drug companies that are trying to scare people in order to prevent the sale and use of the Mirena and the side effects listed here were a 180 degree difference. I have not experienced any weight gain, in fact, I recently was able to shed 5 pounds from picking up running again (so it is possible to LOSE weight on the Mirena as well). I have had zero hair loss, have not had a pimple anywhere or any random hair growth. My live in boyfriend and I have discussed if we've noticed any mood swings or changes and my mood which is usually optimistic and positive has been the same since I had the Mirena inserted. My periods are much lighter and although they can last an extra day or two more than what I was used to, they are light and I have not had any cramping. I'm writing this review not because I absolutely love the Mirena, I think it's a fine form of BC but who LOVES their BC, isn't it all kind of a pain. The Mirena is by far the most convenient form of birth control and I don't worry at all about missing a day and the chance of getting pregnant. I'm writing this review because I encourage everyone to talk more with their doctors about the side effects and look around on the internet for REAL websites.

Hello, I had the Mirena inserted in May 2008 and have just had it removed, August 2009. I do not have any children and was 25 at the time insertion. It was a terribly painful experience. The doctor gave me multiple pain shots inside of my uterus, tremendous cramping, bleeding, etc. and, when she was cutting the strings, accidentally snipped the inside of my vagina. Needless to say, the thought of going through that experience alone was enough to deter me from wanting to have the Mirena removed.

Over the next year, I went through a significant lifestyle change (SF to LA). I attributed many of the symptoms associated with hormones to this shift: weight gain, depression, anxiety, aggression, fatigue, joint pain. I always had some cramping pressure in my uterus and my periods became cramping events that took me out for a few days each month.

In the spring of 2009, I became concerned that these experiences were not just a change in environment. In addition to the Mirena, I have a congenital autoimmune thyroid condition (currently hypo), that I monitor 2-4x a year. I took multiple tests and started exercising and adjusting my diet in an attempt to balance things out. Regardless of the exercise and diet changes, I kept on putting on weight. I have suffered from the flux's of thyroid my entire life, but was flustered by my inability to effect any positive change.

I didn't associate the Mirena to these challenges until I began to do research on the internet. I believe that an IUD may aggravate thyroid and autoimmune symptoms (foreign object in the body). I also think that it is compounding my weight gain tendencies. After a three week late period, terrible joint pain, extreme bloating, cramping, and blister like acne, I went to the doctor today and he removed the IUD without any question. (This is NOT the same doctor who inserted the device). He was extremely supportive and sympathetic. I simply told him that I did not feel well and he suggested the Mirena's removal and did it IMMEDIATELY.

Unlike the insertion, removal was a breeze and I was amazed that my uterus instantly felt relieved. My body has been relaxing since then...a little sporadic cramping, a bit of a headache and nausea, but nothing significant. Emotionally, I feel much more grounded (though I'm sure this will shift ...as always!). For birth control, I am going to be taking Yaz for now, starting immediately. He recommended not having sex for a few days and using a secondary BC method for a month.

I am going to start cleansing my body through increasing my water intake and sweating (exercise and sauna). I am also going to see a homeopathic specialist next week to help with the hormonal shifts. I will check back in and share my Mirena removal experience. Take care, and listen to your body.

So I'm back again to update you all since I've removed my mirena myself on Monday night and started my period this morning. So far everything seems to be going normal. I have lower back pain slight tenderness in my lower abdomen and some irritability. The bleeding is medium which I consider normal. I do have some slight joint pain, but I believe it's only from the bleeding as I didn't have it yesterday the day after removal. All on all so far so good. I hope it just continues to get better in time!!

Was diagnosed with Lupus in 2003 and told by my Rheumatologist to get the Paraguard IUD for birth control. He said anything with hormones is off limits. So, I go to my OBGYN to get the copper iud and go on with my Lupus Life for 6 years which included severe joint pain in my fingers and shoulders, sun sensitivity, constant fevers of 105 degrees and infections that resulted in hospital stays and hair loss so bad that I had to wear wigs for 2 years, greenish discharge from my nipple, depression, severe fatigue and rashes. Well, I figured that if the Mirena was causing these same symptoms in women that maybe the Paraguard was too; so I made an appt to have it removed. Well, when my Gyno pulled it out, he freaked out because to EVERYONES SURPRISE, I WAS MISTAKENLY GIVEN THE MIRENA BACK IN 2003!!!!!!!!! SO, YES, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MIRENA ABSOLUTELY CAUSES SEVERE PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OUT OF ME FOR OVER 6 MONTHS AND I FEEL PERFECT NOW!!!! My doctor's don't even think I have or ever had Lupus in the first place. They will retest me next month but they think I was diagnosed with Lupus too soon (after only one visit) then going right away to my quack Gyno and getting the Mirena instead of the Paraguard was what was causing all the problems. Will see soon what the bloodwork says but that Gyno who put the wrong device in me is going to pay for wrecking my life for the past 6 years!! My medical records even say he was supposed to insert the Paraguard. This experience has caused me to have zero trust in people because no one does their job right anymore. I could go on and on. . . Will take personal contacts if anyone wants to chat or vent about the poison that's inside of them. But, be ready for my response, GET IT TAKEN OUT NOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS. Remember back in the 80's when women were getting silicone breast implants and getting Lupus? It's the same thing with the Mirena, our bodies are rejecting it! Good luck and God Bless you all ~ Teecee007

I had the IUD inserted in September to help with heavy periods. It worked awesome for that. I love it in that respect. However, I gained about 15 pounds in two months. I play soccer 2 times a week and was training for a marathon so it didn't make sense. I had sever back pain and joint pain that I blamed running for. I all of a sudden had ZERO focus; tons to do and all I could do is sit and stare at the pile of to-do's. Zero sex drive to the point that I wanted to hit my husband if he even asked. One night I yelled at him so meanly it didn't even sound like me and scared the heck out of him (and me). Super depressed and angry all the time. I try not to talk to people and I don't really know why. For some weird reaso I kinda chalked it all up to turning 40 until I saw this site. I had it removed today and was told that the hormones would be out of my body in around 48 hours-hopefully they take the weight with them!! My husband had a vasectomy so I just did it to help with periods. I wish I would have seen this site before. My doctor wasn't surprised at all at my symptoms and gladly removed it. She said that some women just react badly to the hormones and some are fine. I was NOT FINE!!

I am SO glad I ran across this site.I am not crazy! My Mirena was put in about 3 months ago after my gyno finally put it together that my birth control pills were causing menstrual migraines. I will say the Mirena helped with the headaches, but lately I have not felt like myself. I have gained 10 lbs. in 3 months (even though I have been eating well and exercising more to avoid this side effect), my hair is oily, I have little dry itchy patches on my skin, fatigue, joint pain, no interest in having sex (after we do have sex sometimes I get horrible cramps and pain, like when the Mirena was inserted) I am super moody, and have anxiety/depression/anxiety problems, bloated almost constantly, and I feel like I can't focus or concentrate on anything! I called my gyno this morning because I do not want to feel like this anymore, and told her about all my symptoms. The only thing that makes sense to me is that Mirena is causing all my problems, since I never had any of them until I got it put in. The gyno tells me its not Mirena, that it definitely does not cause all that, and to get my thyroid checked because that is my problem. However, after reading all these stories, I am convinced that it is Mirena, and I am definitely getting it out. There is no way so many women can only have Mirena in common and have the same problems, even if they are not listed as side effects on the Mirena brochure.
So I am definitely getting it taken out, but I am curious about experiences after having it removed. How long till you feel like yourself again? Do the side effects go away quickly? Does it hurt more or less than getting it put in? Does the weight come off easily?
Hopefully this post helps someone as much as the other posts helped me. Thank you all for taking the time to post.

Update. I received a response from my Gynecologist regarding my email listing the symptoms I have been experiencing since having the Mirena placed. She said some people are sensitive to the hormone that is in the Mirena even though it is a low level. She acknowledged the headaches could be related, but didn't think the weight gain was (I was told the same thing about the pill, yet the weight literally FELL OFF once I stopped taking it). She said she doesn't know about the joint pain - that it's not usually a side effect, and that there shouldn't be an odor to the discharge. She wants to evaluate the discharge & said I can have the Mirena removed at that time if I am more comfortable with that. I just don't understand how there can be SO MANY WOMEN who have these symptoms yet the doctors aren't aware of them being side effects! I truly believe the only research they do is read the literature the manufacturers supply them with and that's that. I am going to print out as much info as I can to present to her and tell her she needs to look into it further. And yes, I am having it removed on that visit because I CAN'T STAND the hip pain any longer.

Well for the longest time I assumed that my side effects were because I was a new mom. Even though my friends had babies and were fine I figured it was just me. I just found this site and told my OB that I wanted it out but they insisted on running tests for my thyroid {norm} and anemia {norm} and I'm still waiting for the results of my STD {yes they went that far} panel, but considering me and my husband are faithful it really makes me question their sanity. Plus I got 3 kinds of pregnancy tests, Blood, Urine and Ultrasound which also paired to make sure my IUD was in the right place and checking for cysts. Yea all normal and no pregnancy. Go figure.

I've had my mirena since jan 07 right before I turned 19 and 2 months after I had my daughter. In the beginning I didn't notice side effects that is until jan 08 when I noticed I went from a fit 190 {which with my height and bone structure it was muscular and fit} to 250 which for someone who's life didn't change was odd. I went on a research weight loss drug which actually helped with some of the symptoms and dropped my weight to 195 but I still had the 4-6 month pregnant belly not happy at all. After the weight loss pills were done, I remembered the horrid effects. Severe migraines, pelvic pain, strange sensation to push while peeing {yes labor push}, nausea, mood swings, sore breasts, fluttering in abdomen, joint pain, lower back pain, Low to no sex drive {I'm 21 and its NOT NORMAL} and this fatigue its ridiculous! A sensation like the presence of a baby rolling you know that weird pressure? I honestly can't stand it anymore I want to be a normal mommy. Not weird and like an alien is living in my belly.... I love this birth control because it is good but the side effects are crippling. Between the pain, fatigue and migraines I can't hardly function, I'm 21 and SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE THIS, It's actually rather saddening.

Is anyone else in their 20's and feels like this?

I am a 48 year old woman, 5'1" (now 145 pounds). I had Mirena inserted almost exactly 5 years ago, and am scheduled to have it removed in 2 weeks. I gained 25 pounds over the course of the last three years; prior to that, my maximum weight for my whole (non pregnant) life was 123 (I was at 120 when Mirena was inserted, four years after the birth of my second child). I have always been very healthy, never abnormal blood tests except during my two pregnancies was tested as pre-gestational diabetic and had to watch my carbs.

I never put it together with Mirena until just recently, when I started doing research on hypothyroidism after a friend told me that my symptoms could be due to that problem. Depression, hair loss, acne on my back, and the terrible weight gain. I went to see my G.P. who referred me for blood work. I hoped to see evidence of low thyroid function (actual TSH value, 3.12 -- I was told this is normal on a range of .4 to 4.5). I also discovered that I now have high cholesterol (269 triglycerides, 251 total cholesterol, 46 HDL, and 151 LDL). My fasting (14 hours) glucose # is 99 (I was told this is normal on a range of 65-99 mg/dL), and my vitamin D, 25-OH is 21 (also was told this is still normal but low on a range of 20-100 ng/mL). I tried to give blood six months ago, and was turned down because of anemia, so I've been eating a lot of spinach, greens, and more red meat than I normally would, so I was interested to see if I am still anemic -- the red blood cell count is 3.8 (told it was normal on a range of 3.8-5.1 mill/uL). I mention these specific results because although I was told they were normal (except for cholesterol), when I physically went to the doctor's office and requested a copy of the results and did some research online I see that my thyroid IS actually low-functioning -- according to guidelines revised six years ago, anything over 3.0 is considered hypothyroid and should be treated. Plus, isn't a fasting glucose of 99 pretty high? Yet my doctor's only suggestion: diet and exercise. Good grief, I've been on a diet since I had my first child, 13 years ago. True, I don't exercise regularly (I'm a teacher and mom of 2; I never seem to have the me time.) I guess I have an excuse to get a gym membership now.

Also, for the last year I've had increasing pain in my shoulder (I couldn't lay on my side, for example, and lately I can't reach behind me or over my head). An x-ray turned up mild bone degeneration, but not enough to cause the pain I've been having. I was referred to an orthopedist, who today diagnosed a shoulder rotator cuff injury (I've had no injury; he says it is a common degenerative complaint in the over-40 crowd). He gave me a cortisone injection and I'll be on PT for a while to see if the pain goes away. If not, I'll have to have an MRI and surgery to correct the tear.

I'm posting all of this in case it might be useful to someone out there who might be going through the same thing. I had a thyroid test done about six years ago at my OB/GYN, and it was normal then (though I don't have the number; I'll get it in 2 weeks at the OB/GYN). It will be interesting to learn whether my thyroid level has gone up since Mirena. Also, although my research suggests that the effects of these synthetic hormones do not wear off for some time, possibly even years, I will finally feel like there may be hope if my symptoms improve over the next few months when Mirena is gone. If so, I will share it with you.

If you are reading this, perhaps you have a similar story. I wish I had been more aggressive about checking out the possible causes of my many symptoms, but I let them go for years because, I guess, I just figured I'm a healthy woman who is no longer young. (Oh, one more thing: for the first year or even two years that I had Mirena, I had incredibly heavy periods. The blood flow was similar to that during the day or two after the vaginal births of my daughters. Don't know if that's significant, but it took a couple of years for my periods to get fairly normal on Mirena.)

Has anyone had side effects pop up after 3 years? Yes, you heard me. Three years. Hair falling out. Joint pain. "Foggy headedness." Chest discomfort. Gotta be that. Please share.

I had the Mirena inserted almost 2 years ago. Over the past 6 months, I have had horrible joint pain and swelling in my ankles, knees and hands. I have not been able to wear a wedding ring in 4 months. I hurt so bad that I can't sleep and recently I have felt that my fingers, toes and palms of my hands are cramping. My calves get so swollen, they shine and no one knows why. I have had MRI's, X-rays, innumerable blood tests, nerve conductions and a bone scan. Other than the bone scan showing inflammation, EVERY test is normal.
Because of these increasingly debilitating symptoms, I started wondering if they were related to the Mirena. That is how I found this website.
I had the Mirena removed yesterday and I think I may see some decrease in swelling today. Even though I still hurt, I am not cramped.
I see that many people experience swollen joints, has any one had their fingers swell. My swelling never goes down, I have it 24/7. If so, can anyone share there experience after having the Mirena removed. Did your joint pain and swelling go away?

I cannot believe that I found this site. I just had yet another symptom pop up within the last few days -- joint pain. The pain is so extreme. I got my Mirena put in April 13, 2009 and it's been awful. I also have a sensitive cervix and bled all over the table and it was so extreme that the nurse had to use a handful of nitrix things to cautirize the area. Anyways, I was lucky that after my third child that I lost the weight almost immediately. I also have a low thyroid, which makes the weight loss all the more remarkable. I had the Mirena put in 2 months after having my son. I haven't stopped bleeding. I experience both the red and brown blood. I'm passing blood clots daily. I get light-headed and put on 10 pounds in 4 days. My hair is falling out. I have horrible abdominal pain, lower back pain and feel overall pretty lousy. As if my symptoms weren't enough to discourage intimate relations the severe bleeding any time we do have relations would. I surely thought that these symptoms were from my thyroid. I just had it tested. My levels were actually in the hyperthyroid range at 0.3 -- it's never been that low. Now, I'm wondering if like a lot of you that the MIRENA may be to blame. It's ridiculous how awful and woozy I feel. I haven't felt this bad ever!

Hi everyone,

I decided to go online to look for Mirena side effects because I have been having a lot of problems every since I got mine. I felt so relieved when I found this website because I realized I wasn't alone. I've had my Mirena for 3 and half years, and I have experienced almost every single side effect that the other girls on here have. I didn't have any of these symptoms before getting Mirena. After my first child I didn't have any side effects but after my second child I got mirena and this is what happened.

My hair up front on top has gotten very thin and I have always had very thick hair. I have always been a very laid back, friendly, happy person but since I've had the Mirena I've been moody, irritable, depressed, and I have had anxiety attacks. It also seems like I have a harder time feeling satisfied or happy about anything. I've had migraine headaches and joint pain which I never had before.

I'm 5'11 and I had always been extremely thin. I didn't have any problems losing weight after my first child, but since I have gotten Mirena I have gained a lot of weight in my stomach area but nowhere else. It's almost like a swelling or inflammation that won't go down. I've also had the strange feelings in my abdomen of movement that the others had, but I know I'm not pregnant. I've had these feelings for almost 2 years now.

It hurts really bad sometimes when my husband and I have sex, especially if he hits the spot where the Mirena is. My sex drive is completely gone, which seems like a common problem among the others here. I also noticed that fishy smell that the others have talked about that won't go away no matter what products you use or how much you wash. I also have gotten acne on my body which I had never had before in my life. I have some on my arms, face, chest, and back. It's terrible. I also have had the lack of energy so many of you said you had.

Even though there are all these terrible side effects, I think the worst one is that I don't feel like myself anymore. My husband says I don't seem to get excited about anything, and I seem more withdrawn. I have much more social anxiety than I did before, and sometimes I feel like my heart is racing and I can't get it to stop. I would have it taken out right now if i had the money to get my tubes tied. Unfortunately I don't have health insurance so I'm trapped for now.

I had my Mirena put in back in June of 2008 right after I got married. I, too, was lead to believe that the effects of the progesterone were purely "localized" to the uterus and would not cause any symptoms at all.

Since then I've experienced SEVERE migraines and dizziness, loss of libido, greasy skin and hair, weight gain (size 6 to size 10/12), numbness/tingling in my feet, crying, irritability, and SEVERE brain fog. For the migraines, I went to a neurologist who wanted to prescribe me topamax and said the only major side effect is cognitive difficulties! HA!!! I already have the worst brain fog, can't remember anything, am tired.... rather..... exhausted all the time, and can't function.

This Mirena surely works well as birth control, seeing as I have NO SEX DRIVE at all! LOL. But seriously, it's great not to have a period, but I knew something was wrong when I was needing medication (antidepressants for the mood swings, provigil for the fatigue, botox nerve injections for the menstrual migraines) for this medication IUD!

Since no OBGYN believes me when I say I think it's the Mirena, I've began to think I was crazy and this was all in my head. So I started on the internet and all my symptoms sounded like MS. So I had thousands of dollars in testing including a full body MRI/MRA. Negative. Had ENT see me for the vertigo. Lots of tests. Negative. Anemic? No. Thyroid? Normal.

HOW MUCH MORE DO WE HAVE TO SPEND ON HEALTH CARE TO FIND OUT WE ARE "FINE" WHEN WE FEEL THE WORST WE'VE EVER FELT???

Then I found this site!!! I think it's the Mirena now! So I want to get it out. But then on the other hand, I feel SO GUILTY that my husband paid $900 for it and I only kept it 1 year. That's expensive birth control! But then again, all the tests, doctor's bills, and feeling lousy cost more! (Not to mention that my doctor cut my strings too short so we can't "check" them each month so to be certain that my IUD is in place he makes me get an ultrasound every 6 months for $250!!!)

My ONLY FEAR is that I will have this out and the symptoms WON'T go away and it was NOT the Mirena after all. Then I will have gone through the pain of putting it in, taking it out, and the cost of "throwing one away" and then what am I supposed to do? I'm 29 but in school and can't get pregnant for a few more years. I don't want to go back on the pill because the mood swings were terrible. But I never had migraines or anything on those, so why is the Mirena causing problems?

Any feedback or encouragement would be helpful right now. I need advise!

I will have had the Mirena IUD in for 3 years in July, and I have gained 55 lbs. Hair loss, acne on my back arms face chest, hair growing where I don't want it to grow, stomach cramping, bleeding at irregular times, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for hours, sometimes spotting, sometimes I have a heavy downpour. Joint pain, and headaches I also have, and my breast size has increased another cup. my sex drive has decreased. I need something else, I have tried depo, which I gained 35 lbs on, lost the weight, then went on the patch which I gained 25 lbs on, lost it, and now with the IUD gained 55 lbs!!!! I also gain another ten lbs every time I get my period, from bloating or something, and then the day after my period end i lose 5, and then lose another 3 to 5 the week after that, but never anymore. Any suggestions on a different BC maybe WITHOUT the hormones?????

I had my Mirena for a little over a year. I started getting really bad acne approx. 4-5 months ago. I believe it was due to the hormones in the Mirena. I saw a dermatologist and she said that the hormone can make you more androgenic thus causing acne. I had my Mirena removed about 1 week ago and I am having really bad mood swings, loss of sex drive, tender breasts, and headaches. I also had a problem that started with my wrist back in December. Has anyone else had wrist pain or any joint pain?

I thought I was going crazy. I went to the doctor to have Mirena removed and she talked me out of it. I had it inserted after my second child in Sept. of 2006. I keep having all of these problems but no explanation and no one has linked it to Mirena. My sex drive is a big ZERO! I have had nausea, joint pain, back pain, severe mood issues, severe fatigue, chronic sinus infections and unexplained weight gain. I feel so bad for my family having to put up with all of this. I have an appointment to have it taken out on Thursday and it could not be soon enough. There is no way to get back the time that I have wasted being miserable the last 2 1/2 years!

My symptoms started with aches in my ankles and I thought I should stop wearing heals for a while. But then the tingling pain moved up into my lower legs and then my arms/wrists over a period of a few days. I felt like I was having constant shin-splints. I was heavy joint/muscle pains. Then the back of my head hurt really bad on the left side, just at the top of my neck/bottom of my head, and was also really sore to the touch. Then massive headaches. Probably migraines, although I have never had them before. My MD immediately put me on celebrex, which did nothing. I was eating Advil and Tylenol like candy and couldn’t sleep. So the doc put me on steroids (prednisone). That took the pain away. After a few days, while at work, the vision in my left eye went in and out (perfect vision to completely gone). I have never had any issue with my eyesight before - perfect vision. Then at one point (actually while I was in for my first MRI) my vision never came back. No one thought it was serious enough until I demanded to go to the hospital. I spent three days in the hospital, where they ran tests after tests (including MRI, Lumbar Puncture, blood work, neurological tests, echogardiogram, dobblers, etc). Upon leaving the hospital actually diagnosed me with Optic Neurosis, and gave me a 15% chance of getting MS later in life. We were all relieved it was not MS, like they originally suspected. After going to the Eye Dr, they told me that was not the case. This kind of eye stuff only happens to people in their 80’s! I will never regain my vision. If my diagnosis had been optic neurosis, it would not explain the joint pain. I have seen specialist after specialist over the last two months, and they still have no idea. Every test I have undergone has come back clear and I am perfectly healthy. My doc said we might have to go with the retinal specialists theory - which was a piece of cholesterol that clogged the artery in my eye. I just don’t get why a piece of cholesterol would have caused me so much pain over the rest of my body. After viewing this site and the Mirena pamphlet that I found online they give to the doctors, I really think it was the cause. The packet even notes, if you have symptoms like visual loss and headaches/migraines for the first time, to remove it immediately! I did not get mine removed until a month after my vision loss. Every doc I have seen I have asked if it was Mirena and not one of them thinks that could be the cause. But it is ironic, that when you see someone for the first time, the first question they ask is if you are on birth control or any other medications! I think I need to show them this site, so they can read other women’s symptoms. I did also have all the other symptoms as well - weight gain, irritable, oily skin, cramps, moodiness, vaginal odor, gross discharge, headaches, nausea, low sex drive, hot flashes, anxiety, restlessness at times, fatigue, and the list could really go on and on.

Hello,
I posted earlier and here is an update "POST MIRENA"
It hurt for only about 20 seconds and it was over. EASY You can do it!
I had the mirena put in Oct. 2007 and nursed my daughter for a year until Sept. 2008. Just the last 6 weeks started having these symptoms and went to my MD/Osteopath because when I called my OB-GYN she said it has nothing to do with the mirena and to see my regular MD. He has been fabulous and I have had several tests that I have listed as well as taken the mirena out!
My symptoms:
Lower back pain
tingling in my arms, feet and lips
cramps
low energy
I had my mirena taken out on April 30, 2009 and am just starting to feel better post mirena. I had these tests:
* MRI on back/spine
* MS test(Vision Evoked Potential)
*blood work
*Thyroid (it's been low since Oct. so I'm taking Synthroid)
*Vitamin D
ALL NEGATIVE ...Thankfully!:)
You never know....I just pray I continue to improve and get my life back and feel healthy!:)) From other posts it sounds like it takes a little while. Does this sound familiar? Please respond....

Ironically, when I was in high school, I was sick for 2 years; I had migraines so bad I couldn't read, write or even watch TV. I was nauseated every day.. felt a bit better in the evenings. But my eyes were so sensitive to movement, if i was to move my eyeballs just to look at something move on the TV screen, I would be in agony. At the time, my mother was so worried about me, she took me to see every specialist there was in the city (Winnipeg), I missed 2 years of high school. After seeing about 50 doctors, finally one asked me if I was on the birth control ill and told me to get off it. 3 months later I was completely cured! Since then, i have been so afraid about birth control. i have used nothing but condoms.. until my son was born, my maternity doctor recommended the Mirena. I was skeptical because it had hormones in it, but she assured me they were different hormones then what were in the BC pill, and she said the risks were so low. I thought I would try it, and be on the look-out for the same symptoms I had with the pill. But I didn't have any. No visual problems, no nausea, no headaches... so I thought it was the greatest thing on the planet. Meanwhile, I was miserable, angry at my husband all the time, had no interest in sex whatsoever, was not sleeping.. I thought it was post-partum hormones. We decided our son needed a sibling so i had Mirena removed to get pregnant, and after our daughter was born in Dec '07, i had it put back in... again, thinking I had post-partum depression or something. Even 6 months later after I quit breast-feeding, I still couldn't lose the weight. I was eating chocolate and peanut butter by the cup every single day, crying all the time, had no energy to look after my kids and wanted to nap all the time, and cried when I couldn't! Then a few months later all of a sudden my joints started hurting. My wrists, elbows (like tendinitis), then a couple of days later I was limping because my hip or my knees hurt or my ankles felt swollen and weak. I felt like a hypochondriac because I was always complaining of something. Did I mention the hair loss?
So, sorry for the long story. But most of my symptoms have disappeared since removal if the Mirena this past Valentine's day 2009. However, as I was forewarned, I have recurrent symptoms every month while PMSing. I have never suffered from PMS in my life, until I had Mirena removed. I get depressed, eat more, and my joints hurt so bad, and sex repulses me. My poor husband; A couple of weeks ago I got so grossed out during sex that I made him feel like a creep.
These last 2 weeks, I wasn't supposed to have joint pain, because i wasn't PMSing anymore. But it has gotten worse. That's when I put up my post asking if anyone else has this pain. I was beginning to think I had Fibromyalgia. I also have very dry burning eyes, which is also a symptom on Fibromyalgia. I saw my doctor twice last week, and she thinks I may have it too. Is anyone out there in a similar boat?

I an 34 and have one child, 7 years old. These are the changes I have experienced since I started the Mirena in December 2008. Each is something that wasn't the case before.

Until now, May 2009, I have gained 15 pounds. My stomach is bloated, my hair oily, no sex drive, and depressed and tired all the time. I get a lot of infections, and a yellow-brown discharge all the time. Spend a fortune in pads/pantiliners. I get joint pains on my legs and hips, and my nails have become brittle. I itch a lot like something bit me. My period is lighter.

I'm 23 years old and had the Mirena put in 6 weeks after our first daughter was born. The first 2 weeks of having it were fine... other than a little struggle implanting it all was going well. Exactly at the 2 week mark I wound up in the ER with what I thought were a bladder infection, hemorrhoids, and swollen lymph nodes in my hip-flexors. Now none of this has been linked to the Mirena, so it could be a fluke, but none of the doctors could figure anything out! My urine sample was clean, my pap was normal, they couldn't find hemorrhoids, and it was a frustrating un-diagnosis. The doc sent me home with pain meds and a local numbing cream, but using the bathroom hurt so bad I had to bite down on a towel to pee! Taking a poop... HA... I've been putting it off for days because I feel like my rectum will tear open! Has anyone else had any of these things? Maybe I'm just ill with a strange disease, but this site has me curious if it isn't the Mirena!

I actually found a new doctor today that believed me! She said, when it comes to hormones, anything is possible, and everyone is different. She was actually interested in reading the posts on this website.
Just a note of encouragement... since I've had the Mirena removed, my hair is growing back, I lost my last 15 lbs, I am no longer depressed, I have energy, I haven't had a nap since i had it removed. This new doctor did explain to me that it can take up to 18 months to get all of the progesterone out of your system, which is why I have had relapses premenstrual every month with the following symptoms: joint pain, sexual repulsion, depression, moodiness. But it's so nice to know I'm not crazy and that this too will end!

Mirena vs. Marriage Its only been 3 months since I got my Mirena; and I am having it removed in 3 days. Thanks to your posts on this site which have confirmed my concerns. My most ALARMING side effect are pin point, sharp pains on the surface of my skin, on my legs especially. I kept thinking that I had just been bitten by a very small bug and I would swat at my leg; even though I couldn't see a bug. Another time I was in a restaurant and it felt as if a large drop of water fell from the ceiling onto by back. I looked up to see if the air conditioner was leaking (or something else...maybe a bird in the rafters...???) I even asked my husband, "Is there a wet mark on the back of my shirt? I just felt something fall on me." With a condescending smile he answered "No honey, there is not." After 19 years of marriage, 5 kids and CLEARLY not enough good birth control: I had just handed him all the evidence he needed to blame me for the next 20 years of marital bliss (AKA: symbiotic dysfunction)
Additional side effects (of Mirena...and Marriage too!): severe joint pain -knees, hips & elbows, fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, hard time falling asleep, muscle ache, mood swings, lack of concentration, depressed, forgetful and what else....I cant remember ;)

hello again ladies. i'm 3 weeks 4 days post removal of mirena and i'm just having my first proper period. it is heavier than normal, but bearable. i was just wondering if anyone else has really bad headaches after removal. i'm not usually a headache sufferer, i was wondering if it could be hormone related.
the heartburn i was previously experiencing has completely cleared up, (so far) the pregnancy feeling has gone and i'm no where near as agitated or moody. i'm so glad i had the evil device removed i do feel better but not completely yet.

also i don't know if anyone else has the the same problem, but i've been having blood tests because i was feeling ill and having joint pain. i had blood tests which showed a raised esr level. i had the test repeated 3 weeks post removal and its the level has dropped quite a lot. it was 20 which is the lowest result i've had so far. i've been tested for lupus arthritis etc, could mirena have been the culprit all along? hmmmmmm..........

I know that so many of you have said it but I will say it again: THANK GOD I'M NOT ALONE!!!! I thought that I was going mad! Im a 27 year old mother of 3 and decided to get the Mirena because it seemed soooo easy. What was not to like??? 5 years of worry free sex?!?!? Sign me up!!! Well, I had it inserted Sept of 08 and it did not hurt as much as I anticipated (that was a relief). First of all, I bled what seems like nonstop for the first 5 months. Right when I was thinking about having it removed due to the bleeding, it stopped! Suddenly! That made me very happy. But yesterday, as I laid on the couch, in pain, watching my kids destroy the house and helpless to do anything to stop them due to pain and lack of energy, I started thinking really really hard. I said to myself 'self, something is not adding up here'. It suddenly dawned on me that my chest pain, intense lower back pain, my right side hurting so bad that sometime I can hardly stand it to walk, coincidentally started shortly after having the Mirena inserted. The more I thought about it the more it made sense! You see, I have never been a sickly person (thank God!) hardly ever had a headache. But for the first time in my life, I felt as if my body was falling apart!!! I woke up every morning feeling as if I was ran over by an eighteen wheeler! I mean, sometimes I can't even function well enough to get through the day. This is causing so much stress on my children, my fiancee, my school, and work! Everyone (including my DR) thinks that its just stress and that I have too much on my plate. I accepted that for a long time and struggled to simplify things. My Dr. has tried Naproxen for my chest pain, muscle relaxers for what he thinks are pinched nerves causing my backache and stiff neck. But dude, seriously... its getting worst! And besides I do not want to take 50 pills everyday just to function! SO here I am researching side effects and BAM!!! So many women are experiencing the same symptoms. So 1st and for most, thank you all for sharing your experiences. Now I know what is ailing me. But Im not sure that I want to take it out because I love the freedom that comes with the Mirena. I will talk to my doctor about ways to manage or eliminate my symptoms if possible. Does anyone know of another worry-free birth control method? Other than abstinence :-)

Thank everyone for posting. I was lying in bed last night trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I finally decided to do a search of side effects of the Mirena this morning, and stumbled upon this site. I literally thought there was something seriously wrong with me. I just had mine put in on March 6, 2009. Today is April 16th, 2009. I have had the bleeding nonstop from the start, but my other symptoms popped up three weeks ago. I thought I had strep throat, but I was missing the fever. I went to the doc anyway to get a throat culture. Of course it came back negative. So to all of you thanks! I really do not know what I would have done if I didn't find this site. I am a Mom of three, and I cannot stand this exhaustion I have had anymore! I have an appointment tomorrow at 2:30 to have it removed. Here is every symptom I have felt that I never had prior to the Mirena:

Extreme joint pain in neck, shoulders, hips, and back
sore throat
Constant severe headache
Severe exhaustion, can't even function
Dizziness
Low sporadic and severe cramping
Forgetfulness
Nausea
Uncontrollable sugar cravings (very weird)

If anyone has anymore links to other websites that I can print off and give to the doctor tomorrow, I would really appreciate it. Here is one that I found that tells about side effects as well as making a statement that breastfeeding isn't as safe as they want you to believe while using Mirena. Which I am currently doing with my six month old.
******

It's been a while since I've added a post. I had the Mirena removed on Feb. 14/09. I have been feeling great, except for some bad spells while PMSing and ovulating. My last PMS wasn't half as bad as the first one without Mirena. I think next month I will be 100% again. My hair is growing back, have a sex drive again, my joint pain is gone, I am no longer depressed and anxious, I don't hate my husband anymore.. (maybe just 1 or 2 days last month..LOL), and I'm not binge eating anymore and have lost 16 lbs! Not sure about the insomnia yet, as I am taking sleeping pills still.. But I am so happy to be me again!

IF YOU FEEL/EXPERIENCE ANYTHING ABNORMAL FOR YOU OR DO NOT FEEL QUITE YOURSELF SEE YOUR G.P./NURSE AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER GETTING THE MIRENA COIL REMOVED
This medication may be suitable for some people but if you experience any of the following, I urge you please, please please, 'demand' that you want the Mirena removed. My symptoms were noticeably worse around my time of ovulation. I've also found out that people previously treated for/suffering from depression should not be prescribed this medication. (I've been on Prozac in the past). I had it fitted in Aug 2007 to combat very heavy periods and severe PMT at the recommendation of my G.P.and had it removed Sept 2008. Symptoms I experienced :-

Dry/furry mouth
Headaches (over time these became migraines)
No concentration
Poor memory
Lethargy (constantly tired and drained)
Smelly discharge (still noticeable straight after washing)
Very heavy legs
Numbness in my legs
Joint pain and clicking (mainly in my shoulders and knees)
Developed facial hair (mainly under chin and jawline)
Hair loss
Weight gain around my stomach (without increasing my food intake)
Feeling constantly bloated.
Spotting randomly for duration of Mirena being fitted. (Brown spotting)

Panic Attacks ( awoken in the middle of the night with them) escalating to the following:-
Palpitations (for no apparent reason)
Clammy/sweating palms and feet
Aggitation ( during an episode if someone was talking to me I wanted to really yell at them 'Just shut the **** up! You're doing my head in!)
Feelings of madness (actually wanted to run away from my own mind)
Pins and needles/Tingling in my hands and feet
Electric shock like surges going through my body (my nerve endings were obviously suffering)
Muscle tremours/shaking (mainly arms and legs)
Eyes became extremely light sensitive
Heightened awareness of sound

Insomnia
Terrible nightmares
Depression
Feelings of detachment from the real world.
Visual disturbances
Episodes of blurred vision

These symptoms did not appear straight away but appeared gradually and with more veangance the longer I had the coil. The more concerning episodes I experienced happened after about 3 months and very erratically. I could not predict when or what time of day I was going to have an episode or pinpoint any reason for bringing on an attack. I had no control over the effects, was absolutely petrified when I experienced a panic attack and just had to ride it out.
All my G.P. did was prescribe me anti-depressants to which I reacted badly. Blood tests also failed to show anything abnormal.
I even tried herbal medicines as an alternative and experienced similar reactions to the prescription drugs. I've now become very pill-phobic and would rather ride out and get over symptoms myself. Paracetamol & Ibuprofen being the only medicine I trust to take now. I had a horrendous year and everyone suffered. Not only my family, but I was signed off of work for 3 months. It was a very worrying time for my husband and my children, who all had to keep an eye on me and witness the effects of my symptoms. On looking back now, I don't know how I managed to function at all and even do my job. Most of the time my energies were spent concentrating on trying to appear normal and held-together to the outside world.
Although I feel 100% better in myself, I noticeably experience more migraines and headaches than I ever did in the past, along with palpitations, usually during my week before. Two days before it I often really feeI like I'm losing the plot! I also really bloat up now a week before my period, feel sick and have a feeling of being ' very full', so am hungry but don't really want to eat. One of my big toe-nails has gone black over the past few months and not through injury. This has just been sent away for analysis. The one on the other foot is raised/ridged/thick/yellow, but normal growth has resumed half-way up now, which I feel co-incides with the state of my health on having Mirena removed. The nurse I saw recently explained that it is true that nails and hair show the history of our health so, for me, this would seem true.
I wish I'd been made fully aware of all possible side-effects of this medication and am now actually concerned that the effects I've suffered may have left some permanent damage.
In spite of all this, it's so good to be me.

anybody having heartburn? i've had so many symptoms now, i don't know whats mirena and whats not!
sex drive is slowly dwindling away, that is not like me at all, but then its hard to feel sexy when i'm bleeding all the time and my nether regions smell not to pretty. lol.
other side effects to date are
depression, anxiety, agitated, joint pain, constant bleeding, unpleasant smells, low libido, pains under ribs (not sure if down to mirena)

I need any kind of advise, I had my mirena for 3 months and never stopped bleeding, well after much arguing with the nurses, I finally had it removed, well going on 2 weeks this Monday I still haven't stopped bleeding and it's only getting worse, have any of you been through this and what did they tell you?

I'm 42, I had the Mirena coil fitted February 2008, due to 'disfunctional bleeding.' Although it has stopped the constant bleeding, I suffer from terrible joint pain, which I never did before, especially my hips, knees and ankles. Weight gain, which in turn is making me miserable, lots of vaginal infections, itchy and tender breasts, along with palpitations.....I think I'd rather live with the 'disfunctional bleeding!'