Mirena and phone call

I had Mirena placed March 11, 2009 after being post partum for 1 and a half months. It was great. It hurt a little and I cramped for about 48 hours after it was placed.

Now my problem: The first day of my last period was 8/19/09 (5 months into having Mirena) I haven't bled a tiny tinge since that day. So I have been without a period for nearly going on 2 months now. October 11th will be two months no period. Anyways about 4 days ago I took a pregnancy test which was negative. Today I began horribly cramping but still no period. I don't know what to do or who to turn to. I am getting this thing removed hopefully within two weeks. The nurse has to return my phone call within 3 days. Gotta love the military...ehhh I want this out now I feel like I am DYING...the pain hurts from my pelvic bones all the way up to the top of my tummy. I am nauseated and have taken all the pain medication that I can. I might go to the ER I am hurting that badly....I just feel as if I would feel better if I had a period...the pain is like labor pains. Anyone had anything like this happen before????

Well, I've finally figured out how it is that Mirena works as birth control: if you're not having sex, you can't get pregnant. The first few weeks after having it inserted (about 2.5 months ago), I was fine - spotting pretty regularly, and having significant cramping, but nothing I couldn't handle. Then slowly I began having other side effects: dry, brittle hair that falls out in handfuls, dry skin, irritability, depression, fatigue, lack of motivation to do anything physical, extreme bloating through my mid-section (I am too terrified to get on the scale to see how much I've gained, but it's been about 4-6 dress sizes), swollen hands, migraines, and no sex drive. I mean, ZERO. My husband and I had a very active sex life which has now gone down to a couple times a month if I'm not too tired at night. I was a runner up until this summer (used to do 4-6 miles three or four times a week) and now I can't go more than a mile without becoming completely exhausted. I absolutely intend on getting it out, but ironically I'm so brain-dead tired all the time I can't seem to remember to make the phone call.

I did my research prior to getting Mirena, and read page after page of women who had extreme side effects from the hormone, but somehow assumed I would be one of the blessed few to escape them. That was big, fat, giant mistake. Bad pun intended.

Hi ! I posted on July 4th = serenity@42 ... I had mine inserted on June 18 during surgery as I posted, I was going to have it removed when I returned back to Canada. I called my doctor and he told me that to remove it, it take a second. He also told me that the side effects would diminish within 3 months, he also said "it is in your body, not mine", no problem to remove it. He told me to give it a week. This coming Tuesday will be a week to call him back. Now I went to a health food store to see if I can find something natural to assist in my side effects and I am taking Apply Cider Vinegar 600 tablets. They help reduce the bloating, along with my issue's from surgery *(lack of bowel / urine) = so this is helping me, you have to find the one that has "dandelions", which helps the urination of the excess water, I look 6 months pregnant at the time, now I look about 4 months, but this is helping me. As for the other side effects I had, the headaches have gone away, the moodiness is somewhat in control because I am aware of it and I make sure that I watch for it before I go off ! The swelling feet are still there, but I just had surgery 3 weeks ago, but still apart of the water retention ... I have not had sex with my finance yet because of surgery suggestions plus very minor spotting from surgery. The positive is that I have not had any period or bleeding from my period, but just spotting in the last day .. my doctor was surprised by that, and he said without bleeding, then this should outweigh the side effects, but totally up to me ... so I am going to give it a few more weeks to see if the weight comes off and the swelling in the feet go away, then I will decide what to do, I know it is a phone call away from removing it ... I want this to work so I am going to hang in there. Sleeping is getting better, I could not sleep plus having crazy dreams and waking up a few times a night, plus I forgot to add that I tend to be hot at night only, without sweating though, thank goodness. I have not had any hair loss during this whole time, and the acne has slowed down. I know that these are REAL symptoms because I know my body !!! I think that everyone had REAL feelings / symptoms as well and we must all honor what other women are going through and support each other not disregard others as EZRUST and NIAHSMOMMY have done ... This is a FORIEGN object in each of our bodies and some react differently but that is for everyone to decide if it is worth it or not pending their side effects. So to all that have had or are thinking of this for themselves, you read these postings and you have to make a decision for yourself on whether you either remove it and don't wait till it gets really bad or take the chance that you may only have minimal side effects. This is a great site to have support by most of us and to express your thoughts and feelings and know that you ARE NOT ALONE feeling these things ! Take care to all and I will update you as the days / week pass to see what come of this ... I will not let this Mirena Rule or Ruin my life that's for sure !!!!!!!!!
Take Care ... Serenity@42 !!!

HEY EVERYONE! well i'm 20 and after having my daughter in may 08 i decided to get the mirena because i've heard nothing but good things about it from my doctors.I received a phone call from my younger brother telling me that I needed to go to this site and look up these side affects that everyones been having.And now looking at what everyones side affects are it got me thinking about my own.I've never lost my baby bulge,my periods are completely bizarre,I started to get achne all over my back that I haven't had in YEARS! and a little bit on my face as well.I have been gaining weight and wondered why I wasn't loosing it.One day i got a SERIOUS migraine,constant nausea,once in a while i would get depressed for no reason at all and stomach pains were constant.I honestly thought it was all just in my head.Everyone was looking at me like i was some freak coming up with things to complain about.haha. Truth is Mirena was a HUGE mistake.Some months my periods where lighter,while others lasted almost a whole month!! My suggestion to anyone who has Mirena,TAKE IT OUT NOW! don't risk your health.Theres other ways of preventing pregnancy.

I had posted wed. morning that I was getting it taken out, well my doctors office said they had to check with my ins. comp. just to see if they would even cover it which to me meant big money for a simple procedure. After waiting 3 hours for a return phone call I got irritated and my husband helped me to remove it. I was hoping that I would get immed relief from the horrible pains I was having in my upper abdomen and back but it took exactly 12hrs from time of removal to feel better. Today I still felt sick like I could throw up but after I got some water in me I feel much better. I was unable to eat or drink much in the last 24hrs. It didn't hurt at all to get it out and I am glad I did. I feel better just knowing it is gone! Good luck to everyone I hope the people who are suffering get relief soon.

Wow, I am amazed guys. As far as not really having a period, I love it. but, just recently I have started questioning my Mirena. I have been complaining about being totally and completely exhausted. I have to get my 2 older kids off to school and lay back down for more rest. I just cannot seem to "catch up" on sleep. Everyone says, oh its because you have 5 kids, but the more I think about it, it has come on since I have had the Mirena. The biggest problem has been that my husband and I are on the verge of divorce because I have absolutely NO sex drive. I could care less if I ever had it again. I am only 30 years old, I should be in my prime shouldn't I? I have started counseling to try to save my marriage, and while I think there are some other issues too, I truly believe since I have had the Mirena, it has taken my sex drive from little to none. I cannot stress "NONE" enough. Unlike many of you others my husband is not as patient. I think I need to make a phone call to my GYN. Oh yeah, I have had severe acne since I have gotten it as well.

My Mirena Removal....
So i posted here a few weeks ago after I found this site. I had EVERY side effect listed and was so freaked out that i immediately made an appointment for removal.
For those of you reading and wondering what the removal is like..
Well, NOTHING like the insertion. I was so so nervous and it was over before we actually started. The DR was surprised that i was back in his office to have this removed. He then proceeded to do an ultrasound to be sure it was placed properly before removal. And yes, all was OK on the position of it. I explained to him my reasons and he looked at me like he had never heard this before. I honestly can not imagine with all the women he sees that NONE of them have complained. But...as I was getting dressed afterwards, I took a good look in his office. There was Mirena literature ALL over the place. In fact, that was the ONLY thing he was advertising. Not to mention...they made me pay up front with the insertion back in Nivember...billed my insurance and I still have yet to receive my reimbursement. Oh yeah, and that...they charge more than the actual Mirena costs, then they bill your insurance for the price they know they will pay and the DR then makes about $150 profit. Nice.
Ok, back to my side effects post Mirena. The removal was not painful at all. I did spot for about a week- nothing too heavy but it was clotty and def there.
A couple of days after the removal it felt like I was coming out of my skin something terrible. I figured this was my body adjusting to the lack of hormones. I also had some headaches.
It has now been 2 weeks and the spotting has disappeared. I also can see the bloating of my stomach is starting to go away. It looked like I was about 4 mos preggo while I was on it. I also have an increased sex drive. And sleep-- well let me tell you, I have not slept this good in a very long time. I am actually sleeping more than 6 hours now and the night sweats have also discontinued.
I can't believe EVERY time I come to this site and look up Mirena ALL the people that have posted their experience as being negative. Yet, the DR looks at me like I am crazy! I have been seeing him for years and I have never complained about something like this. I really am so happy that I have it out and wish I would have done my research on this prior to insertion (which was one of the most painful things ever!)
So..for those of you out there that are either contemplating having it inserted...I say NO WAY. And for those of you out there that are nervous about the removal or not sure..I SAY YES, DO IT! For our bodies to be reacting this way, it is clear to me that it should not be inside of us. Listen to your bodies...they really do speak to you and let you know when something is not right. Forget about the DR saying it is safe or he has not heard of any of these side effects...YOU be the judge.
Good luck! And I promise it gets better once you get that lil' demon out!
Mona