Mirena and synthroid

I am 45 and had the device inserted in June. Since then I have had an annoying constant red-brown discharge and my period three times. My menstrual cramps are definitely greatly lessened but what is freaking me out (apart from the discharge) is the anxiety I am experiencing for no reason. I am also feeling depressed. I am greatly concerned as being on the pill many years ago I had a mild stroke and my doctor assured me that the hormones ion the Mirena stay in the uterus. Why then the sudden anxiety attacks? I have always been a really laid-back person - I can only relate this sudden appearance of anxiety to the Mirena - it started about two weeks after I had it inserted.

I am now debating whether to ride it out - has anyone had the anxiety subside?

Just want to survey everyone and ask for responses for the following 3 questions:

1. how long did you keep your Mirena and if you no longer have it, why did you have it removed?

2. how many of you had your thyroid checked? who's came back abnormal? what were the levels?

(I'm a medical student doing research on this one since I believe the levonorgestrel affects our thyroid hormone. My TSH was elevated to 5.2 which is considered "subclinical HYPOthyroidism". This was mid cycle when my natural progesterone AND synthetic progestin were cumulatively high. When I had it rechecked 6 weeks later (around my period when any natural progesterone level is gone) it was normalized at 1.5. So I think that the P+P screws up our thyroid and can throw us into a high TSH and "hypothyroid state". The opposite effect may be true during menstruation and we can become HYPERthyroid for a few days... hence the really bad anxiety?!)

3. where is everyone from? perhaps we can have support group meetings?

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....

I had the mirena placed about 2 months ago, a year after my daughter was born. i was ready to start dating again and i figured this was a safe second protection for me. 2-3 weeks later i had a yeast infection, i've never had a yeast infection in my life, i'm 29yrs old. I was so scared i thought i had an STD. I scheduled an apt ASAP with my primary care Dr. yes it was a yeast infection but i did not think it was the mirena. After that my "girl" hasn't been the same. ive had this slight burning sensation all the time. my "girl" is swollen and irritated and i now have another yeast infection. I became concerned and started to research yeast infection and came across this site and instantly I knew what was wrong. i'm getting this thing out my body instantly. I'm also hypothyroid because of thyroidectomy surgery and thought my new symptoms were because my synthroid doses were being adjusted once again but now it seems the mirena is also to blame. Either way i'm getting the mirena out because of the yeast infection alone. this is making me crazy.

I have had a merina in for 12 months to reduce heavy periods as tehre was no change I went back to the doctors to have it removed only to find it had been out of position, so had another one inserted and some blood tests as i was feeling unwell, depressed,weight gain,itching eyes, feeling cold, insomnia,heart palpitations,headaches the tests showed i had hyperthyroidism yet i had more symptoms of hypothyroidism i feel this was caused by mirena but the doctors deny it yet looking into different sites the above symptoms are very common so i don't know if i feel unwell due to the merina of the thyroid will be going to the specialist this week hopefully to find out has anyone else had hyperthyroidism diagnosed while on mirena

Wow. I am so relieved to find people like me ! I got the IUD when my son was 6 weeks old and It has been over a year and a half. ( I cannot take regular birth control because it affects my blood pressure)I thought everything was great with it at first- no period- no fuss. but when you have a new baby you are just exhausted and your body does weird stuff anyway. Most of the symptoms I noticed started in the last 2 months. I did not contribute them to the IUD because I have hypothyroidism and I thought my meds needed adjusted. I have not been able to lose weight despite trying- VERY FRUSTRATING! I was exhausted a lot of the time- sleeping 9 or 10 hours a night and still tired. My hair was falling out but not an extreme amount- I started having dizzy spells- No Sex drive- yuck! and I had spotting for over 2 weeks. So I had my thyroid checked and all was well and all I could think was " what the heck is wrong with me?!?!?!" and I found this site. Luckily I had the IUD removed 2 days ago because we are going to try again for a baby- I have felt ok- the first day I was still tired and I had an extreme nosebleed which I have never had before?!?!?! You know I think it is just safest to use natural methods of birth control cause all this medication can really mess you up!