Mirena and thyroid condition

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.

I went to have my Mirena taken out today. I must admit I will not be looking forward to having a period and this coil did do what it said on the tin but at what cost.

I told the nurse all of my side effects in the hope that she would be sympathetic. She told me that my weight gain was not due to the coil. What about my heavy painful breasts?. Well yes they are a side effect. She told me I was depressed because I had gained weight and that my sex life had stopped. Who said it had stopped just didn't enjoy it as much. What about my tiredness. She then went off and got a doctor who came in and told me that my weight gain and tiredness was probably due to a thyroid condition. But I had my thyroid checked last year. I then said that I need to exercise and that I did not want to put on any more weight because my father died at 48 of a heart attack and she then told me that i needed councelling because I am obsessed with my weight. I am totally convinced that all of my side effects are from this coil and I no longer have it. Hoorah. I will let you know how I get on. I feel I have totally made the right decision. I never thought I would wish to have periods and PMS. Bring it on at least I will be normal. By the way I didn't feel it being removed and nothing now.

Hi Everyone,
My experience with Mirena is still causing me distress, and I had it taken out on 9/1/08. I've been Mirena free for 5 months now, and still waiting for my hair to grow back. I do see some small, short hairs around my hairline, and I'm hoping that it's growing back, but maybe it's breakage? Any thoughts?
Here's my story: I have always had very heavy periods, so after one botched ablation two years ago, my doctor suggested Mirena. I had it placed in June, 2008. Almost exactly 3 months later, I figured out why my hair was falling out. Every time I brushed my teeth, I noticed how thin my hair had suddenly become. You could see each individual hair from the front of my hairline backward about 2 inches - each individual hair surrounded by lots of space! There was hair loss at the temples as well. I had my thyroid checked first, because my mother has a thyroid problem. My bloodwork was fine. I thought maybe my last highlight/foil might have caused it...but it was not breakage, it was an all-over thinning out. I finally realized that the only thing different was the Mirena, so I insisted it come out immediately. My doctor told me that at 45, I should expect thinning hair, which was probably the cause, not the Mirena. I told him to JUST GET IT OUT!
I really wish I had researched the matter beforehand, but am thankful that I put two-and-two together in a matter of months.
If anyone else has experienced hair loss, please post. We have to get the word out!

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!