Mirena and new doctor

I am 35 years old and LOVE my Mirena. I have NEVER felt better. All these "side effects" sound so crazy to me. I know 10 women who use this product and not one of the complain about anything. They all love it. Its their word of mouth that inspired me to look into it. I have had mine since March 06. I fear for all of you who are having "side effects" that you might be blaming this product, and ignoring that there can be some thing other than the IUD causing your problems. All of these comments are hell bent on blaming Mirena. I'm not saying that its not causing any of these side effects with some of you, but for some, I am wondering if your too busy blaming it, then finding out if there is really something else wrong. I didn't think it hurt that bad at the insertion, a little crampy, but nothing we as women couldn't handle. After I saw this site, I literally contacted the women that I know use it and they all were shocked that people were having such a hard time with it. You would think 1 out of us 10 would have something to say if there was a problem. The only thing in common that we all have is that we went to the same Dr. So maybe that could be an issue with some of you. I didnt bleed for weeks or months. And the pill NEVER could regulate me . Within 3-6 months I had a 90% decrease in my periods ( just like this product states it would do) i had used the vaginal ring before this and that caused some moodiness and was a bit odd during sex, But Mirena has made me feel free, not moody, no pain, no period, I have a strong sex drive ( mainly because I no longer have the worries such as did I remember my pill? Is the ring still in place or did it fall out?) My boyfriend never feels it or the strings ( and I have a short cervical neck!) Nor have I heard such things from my friends and family who do use it. I think if I was having some problems and stumbled across this website I would panic and blame Mirena as well. But in my opinion all these symptoms are things we as women will have happen due to stress, age or routine ob/gyn issues. i actually read in one of these comments someone asking about a lawsuit.... Are you kidding me??? If I were all you with these problems I would seriously check with your doctors and make sure there is nothing else causing your issues...Don't just blame a product with out making sure you know everything thats going on within your own body. I wouldn't take that chance but I am not the one with any problems. I'm sure this method isn't for everyone but my point is that I hope you don't overlook a more serious or undetected problem. good luck to all.

I had the mirena inserted in late August of 2006 and have had consistent pelvic discomfort. Prior to mirena I delt with cysts and endometriosis and the one thing that mirena DID do was take away my cycle. Since not having a period I no longer had the monthly cramping from the cysts or endometriosis. However, the down side to the mirena is that I felt like I would have stabbing pain in my pelvic area where the mirena was at. I did have cramping from the mirena as well (not associated to period cramps at all). In July of 2007 my husband and I were taken by surprise when I miscarried at 1 months gestation. How could this have happened??? I was not given any answers, I was not given a proper check to make sure that the mirena was still in place, and when I mentioned the pain from the mirena I was told it was 'common' and 'should go away'....well I had finally had enough of the pain and lack of energy...weight gain as well and decided to have the mirena taken out on September 5th 2008. I went to a different doctor to have it taken out versus going back to the same doctor who put it in and didn't give me any answers. The new doctor explained that the chances of getting pregnant are rare and the pain are factors of the mirena most likely not being in place correctly. She explained that it needs to sit in/at your uterus and it can sometimes slip down to your cervix, making pregnancy possible. It was a relief to get the mirena out. I have been bleeding though non-stop since the 5th and it is now the 13th.

My son was born March 2007, when he was 8wks old, to much of my surprise I found out that I was pregnant again. Mirena sounded perfect!!!! I had it placed 7 weeks after my 2nd son was born in Jan 2008. I had what I still assume is normal with any type of birth control method, irregular bleeding,cramping,some slight mood swings. That all seems normal to me when you mess with you body like that. Aug 1, 2008 I woke up at4am with awful abdominal pain sooo bad that I turned to my husband and said that I think I have to go to the hospital. I decided that if I could fall back asleep then its probably nothing major. I fell back asleep (or passed out, I don't know) The next morning I was hurting so bad I couldn't lift anything, couldn't stand up straight, felt weak and felt as though I had rocks in my stomach but had an empty feeling at the same time. The pain was all over my abdomen, stabbing, shooting,pinching. I also had pain aroung my belly button and a noticeable discomfort about my pevic bone. Finally I called my husband to come home, went to the hospital, they took blood, cultures, did an exam and did a ctscan. All normal! WHAT!! Aug 11th still having pain and now having MAJOR HOT FLASHES. I find myself getting so hot and irritated that I cant be around the babies because I am afraid I will yell at them. If I get in a little disagreement with my husband it will most likely end with me saying I want a divorce (I noticed another lady with that same problem) Today I had a ultra sound done and it came back what my (new) doctor says is normal. The problem with that is that one of my ovaries is split and is NOW shaped like a horse-shoe. I was pregnant for almost 2yrs straight and had lots of ultrasounds NOT ONE TIME did anyone say anything about a odd ovary. I'm just going to make a educated guess that it wasn't deformed till after the Mirena. Now I am wanting to remove it but feel like I should get every test known to man first to rule out any other possibility. I really don't want to remove it. I am afraid of getting it removed and even more of getting pregnant when I already have two 10 months apart and still in diapers.
My biggest question is wanting to know if hot flashes are related or if I might be having something else going on. Am I the only one with he hot flashes? I have them all day long!!!!!!!!
Also I noticed after reading other post that some other things may be related like, piercing headaches, itchy flaky oily scalp, weight gain, ear drainage, lower back pain, oily skin, increased smoking, in-grown hairs in inner thigh area, joint pain, fatigue, decrease sex drive.

I'm so glad I found this site! I thought I was going crazy! I got my mirena inserted about 2 months ago, and I feel horrible! I cramped severely when they were putting it in, after they put it in, and still now. I have really sharp pains every now and then that almost completely takes me to my knees. I've been moody, my l sex drive is shot, I have no energy, I'm bloated ALL the time, and I can't seem to loose any weight what so ever! I was previously on depo provera and experienced weight gain so that's one of the reasons why my doctor changed me to the mirena. I have not had any children yet. I thought maybe that was why I was experiencing such horrible cramps. I also, can feel it in me. My doctor asks as if I'm crazy too when I've told him what I'm experiencing. I am going this morning to see a new doctor. I know my body and there is something wrong! And the more I read these blogs the more I'm convened that it IS THE MIRENA!!! I'm just so glad that I'm not the only one experiencing these same side effects and that I'm not insane.

I've had the mirena for 3 weeks. I got it when my non-hormonal IUD was starting to fall out, and my new doctor really pushed mirena on me. I was sure my insurance would cover it but, surprise surprise, I was billed a hefty $1,000 for this little thing inside me that is making me crazy!!! I have not stopped bleeding since it was "installed"--THREE weeks ago. I have backaches, headaches, and though I have not noticed any weight gain, I haven't noticed any loss either (even though I am at the gym 6 days a week and chasing around an 8 month old baby all day, you'd think I'd drop some pounds by now!). I have no sex drive anymore and though I have never been an emotional person, I am weepy all the time. My old IUD never made me feel this way, and I would NEVER have gotten a mirena had my doctor not absolutely insisted it is the "best form of birth control on the market". I'm so frustrated because I just got the mirena, haven't even paid the bills for it yet, and to remove it will be another huge bill I'm sure!

Hi all.

I just found this site and all of your posts. I *never* connected my Mirena with all the health issues I've been having. I've had the Mirena in since about August/September 2006. Within 6 months I started having side effects. Due to other things going on in my life I thought my problems were related.

Now I am seriously thinking it's all related to the IUD. I've had chronic fatigue, increased hair falling out, acne that won't go away, uterine cramping, pelvic sensitivity, mood swings, ridiculous irritability, decreased focus and concentration, increase in my depression, weight gain of about 50 pounds within 1 year, decreased libido down to next to nothing, increase in pain and length and frequency of migraines, and that annoying string. I seriously never related all these things to the Mirena. In fact, if you had asked me a week ago, I would have raved about it and sung it's praises. I do love that I don't have to worry about pregnancy and not having to think about the birth control every day and so on. I also love, love, love that I don't have a period at all but for maybe 2 times a year.

I have sought the help of a Doctor in trying to figure out what all these symptoms might mean. This is not the same doc who inserted the IUD, she quit the practice. My new doctor at first thought my thyroid must be messed up so we had it tested. Ummmm, nope. Then she did some more thinking about it and had me tested for diabetes. Nope again!

I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and I think I want this fool thing taken out. I'd rather have periods again than have all these other things wrong with me. I'm normally very energetic almost to the point of being hyper and I now sleep about 16 hours a day. I'm not being a good parent to my daughters, and I'm trying to go to Nursing school and it's wrecking my ability to make it to class and get homework done. At this point I think the worse thing that can happen is I have it removed and nothing changes and I'm really sick with something we haven't identified. Best case scenario, it fixes the majority of these problems. I don't expect some things to go away. I've always had migraines, but maybe they will be less severe. I've had depression for as long as I can remember but maybe now it will go back to being controlled as it was before. I hope to have my energy increase again and to gain my focus and concentration.

I can't tell you just how incredibly thrilled I am for having stumbled onto this website and to be able to read all your comments and thoughts. Even though we don't know each other and we're likely spread all over the United States, and perhaps other countries, we've managed to come together and share. Thank you all.

Clarissa S.

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

I posted on here last week about my experiences. I thought I'd give a little update. I was supposed to get it out yesterday, however my stupid insurance requires that the doctor give a written request after I've had a pap before they'll "allow" it to be removed. When the nurse first told me this I was furious! I thought it was going to be hard enough to convince my doctor, and now we've got to convince my insurance. However, since I've had it inserted, I have moved to another state. That meant I was at a brand new doctor yesterday and didn't know what to expect. As she walked in the room, she was reading my chart and was asking about my periods. When I told her I didn't have any while on Mirena until two weeks ago, she became VERY concerned. She said that is not normal, and you should be getting your period, even if you have an IUD. She asked if I was having any other symptoms, and I said the most obvious one was my weight gain. I have gained, I learned after being weighed yesterday, almost 45 lbs in the last 6 months. She stopped what she was doing and looked me square in the eye and said "That is NOT normal! Have you ever gained that much before?" I told her no, never that much in that short period of time. That was all the information she needed to decide I needed this thing out immediately. She quickly did my pap and explained to me that with Mirena, it gives off different hormones than the pill. That is why when people have problems with the pill, they usually suggest trying Mirena. However, there are people who react badly to this different hormone. And the first obvious sign is when you don't get your period, especially several months in a row. She couldn't believe this was not explained to me and gave me the impression that she does not regularly recommend Mirena to her patients. (A stark contrast to my previous doctor who could not stop talking about how wonderful Mirena is and that "all" her patients love it). While I was getting dressed, the doctor went to the front desk and filled out the necessary paperwork to get this taken out. She also told me to make an appointment to have it taken out - which is Jan 8. What doctor takes the time to do paperwork right then and there?! I was very happy that she was taking me seriously, but it also concerned me that she was so worried about me getting it out too. I just don't understand how two doctors within the same field can have such vastly different reactions! She also told me that after I get it taken out I need to have blood work done about a month later to make sure my hormones are going back to normal, because if not, there may be other things wrong. (How scary is that?! Mirena may have caused other, more permanent problems!) Now I'm just hoping the paperwork goes through and I can actually get it out on January 8!

Hi, I've just had my Mirena taken out ( thank Heavens) and can now get my life back. The only good thing was no periods for five years. The hormones gradually ran through my system and all the side effects crept up on me.
My allergies got MUCH worse.
My skin thinned.
I felt three thousand years old , ALL the time.
It stripped a goodly amount of calcium from my body, my teeth started crumbling.
( after two months post removal, my bone and teeth density has improved out the site! WITHOUT supplements My dentist and doctor are now a lot happier)
I had NO sex drive at all.
My weight crept up with NO lifestyle change, 30 kilos! - I have lost on average half a kilo a week since removal. NO diet change, NO activity change.
I've always had slight hormonal acne on my face and nowhere else... with Mirena I had it all up my formerly crystal clear back and diarriere, bust and even scalp.
Lots of other minor crap.
Please, if you have sensitivities to the pill and other hormone treatments, DO NOT go here. I thought I was just aging rapidly- bull dust! I'm just glad that my husband gave me all the support I needed to bring this tragedy to my doctor and Gynie's attention. For so, long I thought it was just me.
Now I'm having my tubes clipped. Hormonal interference just doesn't work for me