Mirena and light periods

As of last night, I was so excited about my choice to use Mirena. The informational piece of art they gave me sounded wonderful. No period. No Cramps. No babies for 5 years at MY CHOICE. As a 19 year old woman, having the ability to decide when I'M READY and not become a statistic, I was SOLD.
Well, I had Mirena inserted this morning! It was the worst pain I have ever felt. I have never given birth, so they alerted me that they were going to give me 4 shots to numb my cervix... first the nurse practitioner who promised me she would be doing the procedure.. DIDN'T. She let the " doctor" do it. Who i had assumed would be knowledgable and would have years of experience. Not kidding here ladies, she sat there and said " did I do it right?" " did I give her enough numbing medication?" " should I cut the strings more?" I was ASTONISHED. but when your laying on the table, feet in the air and your cervix dilated, you just want the whole thing to be over.. but I sarcastically said " have you ever done this before" and i got " of course, I'm so sorry it was more painful than we had described." I wanted to burst into tears. I got extremely hot and felt dizzy, I told the nurse, and she started to fan me down. Afterwards I sat up, and saw the surgical tools, I wanted to vomit. Once they left the room, I stood up and blood just gushed. As they told me to come in on my period at my heaviest peak of flow, it was just 3x worse.
Apparently I didn't do enough research, I read all of these ladies opinions and concerns and I'm starting to question if it's the best choice for me. My aunt, and cousin had them NO PROBLEMS. And my soon to be mother- in - had hers surgically removed in the 70's for perforating her uterus. I figured it was new technology and Mirena would be better.
And now I'm just worried sick. 20 lbs in months... I'm 5'4 and weigh 107 pounds, 20 lbs would be OBESITY. Acne? Hair Loss, dry itchy scalp?? A FOREIGN OBJECT GETTING LOST INSIDE MY BODY?
The thing is, my OBGYN cant even take in appointments when I have an emergency UTI, yeast infection or need to make my annual pap.. but they " squeezed me in" for the following day to insert something that is causing so much pain for other women. I asked the valid questions, I did my research by reading allllll of the information. I asked about weight, they said it wouldn't affect me. Acne- they said " if it does cause acne, use this topical" and prescribed me cream. I asked about the expulsion, and they said " it never happens, we do this all day, everyday. We highly recommend it, we use it ourselves and have no problems" I also asked about discomfort that it would cause for my fiance... " he wont feel a thaaang, don't worry about it sweetie, those strings will wear down as your body's natural acids break them down, they'll become soft and he wont notice it unless you tell him." I'm just wondering, If some many women have these problems over the last several years, why isn't anything being done, and why is it so silent. Problems with Mirena seemed impossible to the doctors, in fact when I asked the doctor about acne, she seemed shocked and said " well, I have had some acne on my back, but I dont believe it's cause by Mirena" almost as if she hadn't done any research herself.
Well, this site has officially freaked me out. I don't need any more acne than I already have. Nor do i need to have any problems in my relationship.
The only thing I have noticed so far, besides the MAJOR pain during placement, is mild to heavy cramps throughout the day, which I have used 2 Vicodins to ease. I felt tingliness in my feet and ankles, but wasn't sure if it could have been caused by other random things. I've always had SOME joint pain, and I believe it's too early to see any new changes. I will keep posting.
*Also, have any of you women that have had problems been smokers" I occasionally smoke and wonder if this could cause any EXTRA problems?

I got Mirena put in Feb of 07 almost a year after my second baby. I thought it was the greatest thing one earth for almost the next year and a half. I always had light periods so I stopped having periods completely since it was put in. I had no side effects whatsoever until Aug 08. I started having mild headaches that turned severe and did not go away for over 20 days.

That was my first sign. I started having pelvic pain (which has since gotten much worse) resembling ovarian cyst pain. I started bloating like crazy and my clothes were very tight and uncomfortable. I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms which worried me so I took a pregnancy test and it came out positive. I took another one later and it came out negative. I went to my regular Dr (because she had to order the tests for insurance purposes) and their tests came out negative. I've been pregnant 9 times (7 miscarriages) so I don't need a pregnancy test to tell me I'm pregnant. I know I was but my lack of periods wouldn't allow the uterus to hold a pregnancy.

I looked up my symptoms online and found hundreds of women with the same experiences. My Dr looked for the Mirena and couldn't find the strings or the device so she ordered an emergency ultrasound (lucky for me I have great Drs). They found the Mirena pushed further back in my uterus and that I had a large cyst (which I already knew I had from all my pain). My headaches got worse, my uterus pain got worse, I had back pain like crazy, I became so tired I could hardly move, and I was constantly nauseous. With a husband, 2 kids, and a job there was no time for all of that. I talked to people at work recently and they said when I was experiencing the best of my symptoms they were talking to me and I was looking at them like I was telling them to F*** off with my facial expression. I had to explain to them that it was the extreme headaches and the pain I was in and not them. I didn't realize it got so bad that my facial expressions showed it!

I went to my Ob/Gyn for an appt I had scheduled weeks before my pain started and told the PA about my symptoms so she looked for the strings and found them so the Mirena was back in place. She asked if I wanted it left there and I told her HELL NO. She pulled it out immediately and called it a demon, which makes me believe she knows about the horrible side effects. She didn't try to talk me out of it at all, not that I would have let her. Both of my Drs were very understanding to my need to have it removed and were willing to do it.

After I had it removed I continued having those symtpoms but they are beginning to fade off. I did have one day where I woke up and I was a raging B**** from the minute I opened my eyes and I don't know why. I apoligized profusely to my family and I knew it was my hormones but I could do nothing about it. Later that day I had my first ever anxiety attack and I freaked out. It was TERRIBLE. I've had continuous spotting since then. All these are our bodies' way of telling us to stop polluting our poor bodies. It's called "the crash"

Well ladies good luck with your little demons and remember the side effects continue until your body can regulate itself again. Don't give up cause it will get better.

My experience has been alright with Mirena...

I'm 18 years old. I got it inserted on January 17, 2008. The first day I had horrid cramps, and would get pretty bad cramps randomly for the first month or so.

I spotted and got break-through bleeding for about 3 months or so afterwards, and then my cycle started steadying out some. My period became lighter with minimal cramps, but it didn't become shorter. Finally after about 6 months my period was back in order. I now have lighter bleeding with minimal cramps, but the amount of time my period takes has not changed any. My period has always lasted around 8 days and these light periods I'm having also last around 8 days (maybe longer), but I LOVE the fact that it has virtually gotten rid of my cramps. I used to get awful cramps that would put me in a cold sweat on the floor with nausea and feeling faint and all that stuff. My period also used to be very heavy the first few days.

As for side effects... I've never had a weight problem and it didn't lower or make me gain weight. I've always had a history of anxiety and depression so I can't really say if it has aggravated either of those disorders. I sometimes get problems with my stomach and intestines (usually just mild to moderate cramping, mild to moderate nausea, and sometimes constipation), but my anxiety has always given me GI trouble.

So, to summarize my experience... I had about 3 months of irregular light bleeding on top of regular, and sometimes heavier, periods. After about 3 months my body gradually regulated itself back to no virtually no spotting or break-through bleeding and I now have a regular monthly period again in which I experience pretty much no pain, lighter bleeding, but how long my period lasts is still the same.

All in all I'm doing alright with the IUD. The most annoying side effects are the possible GI side effects and just generally adjusting to it with the spotting, break-through bleeding, etc. It can take up to a year for your body to fully adjust to Mirena though, so I'm going to wait at least a year before I decide if I want to keep it or not. But so far my experience has been alright. I would like to see my periods be shortened and a little more predictable (they usually are predictable, but sometimes they last longer than my period used to last), but that's about it. :)

Oh my oh my, reading all ur posts is like ive written it myself. I thought i was going bonkers, i think i did actually!! I was on the pill for 16yrs and came off it to have my 1st child, aged 34. Never had any probs with the pill. I had my mirena coil fitted 2.5yrs ago and have had no end of thrush, discharge, itchy vagina and sharp cramping pains on my left. Greasy hair and falling out in shed loads. No weight gain or spots tho. I had the coil removed 2wks ago, that was hell in itself!!!!!!!!!! was looking for the gas and air!!! it took 2 nurses and 4 extremely painful tugs before it finally came out.I was nearly having to go to hosp to have it removed. The nurse said it had embedded into my skin. Bled due to the removal, but then it mustve triggered my period, which lasted just under 2wks. I have never felt so crap in all my life. Within a day i felt low, tearful, sad, headache everyday, face full of spots and very dry head to the point of bad dandruff. Still having cramps and period type backache, i don't feel as low, but still feel chocked & huge sore boil spots. Nice...not. This must be the 'crash' that ive only learn about from everyone on here, not my doctors, which is where u think u'd here it from. Thank all of u women willing to confide.

I got the Mirena inserted in May 2008, and had it inserted while on my cycle. Everything went fine and then I didn't stop bleeding for 1 1/2 months. I had severe cramping and even headaches. It is now 2 months later and now I am having tingling in my breasts and am bloated like nothing else. I feel like I am 4-5 months pregnant with how bloated I am. I have also noticed I am extremely tired all day every day. I try to please my husband but have no sex drive. I love the idea of not having to worry about any b/c for 5 years but I don't think the side effects are worth it. I have also taken 4 prego tests because at first I thought well is there a possibility. But all the tests were negative. I think it's just the Mirena. Can anyone relate to this?

I've had my Mirena in for about a month now, and honestly, it hasn't given me any problems. Of course I had cramps in the first week, and spotting for the first 3 months or whatever...but I can truly say that I love this birth control, and I hope not to get the negative side effects like most of these women. If you are considering the Mirena for birth control, talk with your doctor. If you have problems, talk with your doctor...if you're pissed off because you feel like you wasted your money, maybe you should take a second to think about it...neither you nor your doctor can look into a crystal ball to find out how something will effect you. But please, if you are considering the Mirena, don't decide against it because what a bunch of middle-aged women (with less than healthy reproductive systems) said. I'm 20 years old, and this IUD is a blessing.

I had minor cramping when I first got the Mirena put in. But, it was much milder than when I get period cramps. I didn't have any trouble with it (unless you count extremely light periods as a bad thing) until I did air travel (cross country airplane flights). Now, keep in mind, I travel a fair amount by car & have had zero Mirena issues from sitting in a cramped position for hours in car travel. Flying on the airplane caused really weird lower back cramping that put my out of a lot of activities. It was quite definitely core muscles cramping severely, to the point of pulling my lower back vertebrae & tailbone slightly out of alignment. After 3 weeks of pain, I finally went to a chiropractor & got realigned. This has happened with 2 flights thus far out of 4 (it doesn't seem to happen on short 1 hour or less flights). I have NO idea why this happens. I normally have no issues when flying. The mirena is the only thing that's changed. I can only assume it's the combination of the position when in a plane seat for so long & the mirena. Maybe it's poking one of my fibroids in that position?

Mirena has had zero effect on my PMS. PMS is just as bad as without any BC. My acne is just as bad as it is w/o BC. I guess I need Retin A & Midol. LOL

Things to keep in mind when reading the above: I've never had a child. I've been pregnant once & miscarried. I'm in my early 30s. I'm a light smoker. I have uterine fibroids. I rarely drink. I have lupus. Some of these things may or may not have an effect on what happened to me. So, keep that all in mind.
Also, as with all of these experiences, keep in mind it's personal experiences & we're all unique individuals. I'm keeping my Mirena because this is the only big issue I've had & I don't travel a lot.

I have had my Mirena IUD in for 5 years now, and am having it removed tomorrow - yay!!! The only thing I'm NOT looking forward to is the contraction to have it removed (my Doctor reminded me to take a pain killer 1 hour before removal!). Whilst I have had a relatively good time on the Mirenda IUD and didn't have a single period once it was inserted - compared to a friend who also had hers in for 5 years and still had monthly light periods - I am beginning to put 2 + 2 together and have seen the reason for some of my "medical" problems as being linked to the Mirena!

I have had a decreasing sex drive for the past 5 years - which my husband says is "psychological" and I should be able to "think" myself into wanting sex!!! (I've told him that us women don't think about sex every minute like men do and it is impossible for me to feel like making love in the build up to actually doing it!!) I have also experienced weight gain - I am the heaviest I have ever been and my diet hasn't changed much from before I had the Mirena put in!

I think it may work for some people, and I am glad I have tried it; but I certainly don't intend to get another Mirena after I have this one removed!

I wrote earlier about having a nose bleed after having the IUD removed.... Today (3 days later) I have had massive bleeding and lots of clots. It is weird because I haven't had a period in soooooo long but also because I have always had really light periods. I will be glad when this is over!

Hallelujah, its OUT!

I got mine out today!!! I made sure to take ibuprofen before I went in and thank heavens the removal was NOTHING like the insertion! Quick, easy and pretty painless!
I sure wish I could go "au naturel' at this point but my husband and I just can not risk pregnancy right now. I am grudgingly going to start on a low hormone pill on Sunday...

I will post in the future to share what changes happen now that the thing is gone!

Good luck to all you ladies!

Had mirena inserted Jan '05. Spotting and such for months afterwards but overall have been pretty happy. Love having such light periods, but I said to hubby this morning that I feel like my pmt is getting longer and longer. At the start I had breast tenderness, bloating, and feeling down for a few days. This month breast tenderness, bloating, and mood changes seem to have started 10 days before expected period. In addition I have been seeing a skin specialist for acne for over a year and still can't seem to get on top of it. Most important for me though is that for the past 18 months I have had trouble with my voice (my voice feels deep and thick and talking is often uncomfortable and I can't possibly sing). Have seen heaps of different specialists and had stacks of tests but there doesn't seem to be any physical reason for the problems. Has any one else had voice problems?

I have been on mirena now for 10 months. I was on the depo for 10 years prior. I loved my depo adn only went off of it after Kaiser said I could not do it any longer. I was told that mirena was a god send and a lot like my depo. I can say that the combination of depo and mirena I have not had any period at all. but that is where the happiness ends. I have experienced moths of breast pain. it hurt to touch them let alone put anything on them. after about 6 months and numerous trips to the vet it disappeared. then I got a small rash on my neck and by my arms. went to dermatology and since then I have been there, or to my primary or an allergist every week since then. the rough severley itchy skin is constant. remarkably every 29 - 32 days it fades for 2 days or so and just when I am sure it is going away wham back it comes and each time it is getting worse and worse. having never had any skin problems before I believed the doctors tha tit was folliculitus, then they said dermatitus, then they said uticaria and then hives or the last straw i was causing it that it was in my head. i just got a new allergist and while she doesn't knwo if it is my mirena she can tell me I have histamine levels that are off the chart. my husband is allergic to a lot so we already use free & clear everything and my housse is spotless but I am still being told it is soemthing I am doing to myself. I have also been reevaluating my things and I relaize I have been experiencing a lot of numbness and joint pain. so much so that my primary sent me to a rhuematlogist and he ran every test for lupus, and many other diseaeses adn even cancer. I was going crazy. Iwas beginning to think maybe I was mental. I have since been researching mirena and I am finding it so much more than what the pamphlet says. I finally got the nerve to call my ob, adn she ahs since been researching things with me and we know for sure that no matter what next week I get my mirena removed. I am just feeling so alone and depressed. I am 33 years old and instead of enjoying my new marriage I am contemplating a divorce becasue I do not want him to be stuck with soemone who might be crazy. seeking support and anyone else who feels this way.

I had the Mirena put in last year and since then it's been anything but good. I had consatnt spotting to light periods that would last weeks and I would be flow free for one day maybe two days if I was lucky. After, about 9 months with no change I was put on birth control pills to help regulate my cycles, Ohh how could I forget the Mirena also caused the worse cramps EVER I had them on a daily bases. Anyhoo, The pills didn't help just caused more problems. It ended with me having to have it taken out because one night I was having sex with my hubby and I got a very painfull feeling on the left side of my vagina. The doc said I had to have it out right away and it turned out the mirena was slightly bent and was rubbing against my insides and my hubby just shoved it more. I got and infection and it was painful to have it taken out. tear...

I had the iud inserted last September due to very heavy periods. My doctor told me I would have very light periods or none at all. It was very painful to have it insered. I experienced heavt bleeding for 3 months straight which has since become very irregular but heavy periods with spotting in between. There are probably only 6 days a month when I don't have some kind of bleeding. I never know when it's coming. I have had very little acne but defintley experienced cramping, headaches, leg pain, tired all the time, very low sex drive, not that that matters because of all the bleeding. Thanks god my husband is very patient. I have made an appt to see the GYN in August. My only other option is a hysterectomy. I think it would be better than this.

Everything everyone else said.

Got it 3 years ago. Within 2 months, went from 130lbs to about 155... break out all the time... mid-section weight where I never had it before.

By the time I figured out what it was - went to the doctor, and it's "stuck". Has grown quite attached to my uterus, I guess and after MUCH pain and an ultrasound, the doc says I need surgery to get it out.

The good side: very light periods. And... I'm not pregnant, but hey! What birthcontrol could be better than having a bunch of zits and getting fatter?? What's next? Are my teeth going to fall out, too????

Wasn't worth it. When this comes out, going back on Alesse birth control. I was thin and zit free...