Mirena and urge

I have had the Mirena since October 2006. My Public Health Nurse suggested it...It was to help with my mood swings, such as crying all the time, and the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Once I got it,,,I noticed that I did not cry on a whim, in fact I could hardly cry! My nose and sinuses would actually hurt if I did have the need to cry...almost like my body was fighting the urge to cry. I did get neck pains and also I was not having my period for MONTHS! Until, I went to see a traditional healer and he told me that I was very sick...he gave me a special root to help me...and I bleed for 7 days straight..I felt so much better! and lost a little weight. But, the feeling of panic went away. But, now i notice that I am getting dizzy constantly, I cannot even bend to put my socks on. I walk with my hand on the wall to help me just in case I do fall....I have fallen 2 this week alone. I did have some neck pain recently, and I went to the doctor he basically told me I have fluid in my ear and it would take 6 weeks to go away...I told him about the neck pain in my neck on the right side...he never even bothered to check it. I am starting to wonder now If this birth control is even worth it...and I am seriously thinking of having it removed and then getting my tubes tied. I hope anyone out there who has the same symptoms like me would send me a message....******

I got the Mirena in Jan 2008. My periods were lasting 2 weeks long (light) every 2 weeks. I had EXTREME fatigue and actually had to go in to take a pregnancy test because my last period came late and I had ALL the effects of pregnancy (had 1 in 2006). I had nausea so bad I actually had to miss work because I felt the urge to be sick, but I couldn't get sick. I had it removed on July 7th, 2008 and felt a difference as soon as I left my doctors office, but now I'm faced with another dilemma. I may be pregnant again! My period never came after I had it removed and have the feeling of being pregnant. My doctor finally told me that my body thought it was pregnant and is going through the motions. I have to wait 2 weeks before I will know if I am or not! I NEVER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE MIRENA AND DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE DOES EITHER! I have a hard time remembering to take a pill everyday, but that is much better than the side effects of this thing. I agree with a previous posting, IT IS EVIL!!!!

I got Mirena put in on July 5, 07...never had a child but Dr. said since I was 36 and not planning on having children, Mirena was a good alternative to the pill which I had been on since I was 19. On the pill I had very light 2-3 day periods and with diet and exercise, could lose weight. Now, almost a year on Mirena...the only good think that has gone away from when I was on the pill is the migrane headaches that I was starting to get on a monthly basis...but, in their place...I have gained weight, tired, have acne, cramps erratically throughout month, never know when my period will show up...some months it does not, some months it lasts 4 days (like last month), and I always feel bloated - esp. in the abdomen. I've even wondered on occasion...am I pregnant?? why do I feel so bloated?? One other weird thing, since I started running this year, I get this weird sensation that I have to go empty my bladder...this also occurs while doing intense stomach crunches...but it is not incontenance..nope never have bladder problems...it is just this funky feeling - sometimes almost a burning feeling around my uterous. Have not seen anyone post this - but it did not happen before Mirena when I ran or did sit ups...now it does - doubt this is coincidence.

Some of these symptoms truely could just be simply the result of ovulating again - that is what my Dr. told me...that on the pill I never released an egg...so now my body was getting used to ovulating again. Well...if that is the case, I just can not stand it anymore...I get it removed June 26th - next week so hopefully I'll be able to post back that these symptoms are gone or have removed. Going to go on the pill again...which has its own side effects...but I sure did not have as many when I was on it. Husband has offered to go under the knife to take care of him...but I'll see how the pill does again. Hoping to reclaim my life and actually lose weight as I've been dieting and exercising while on Mirena to no avail!

Thank God for the internet. Seriously.
I am really trying to give Mirena a fair trial, however, some of the side effects are worrying me.
I have been having hot flashes (I just turned 40), my mood swings are disturbing, and my breakthrough bleeding happens often without warning. I also have the weight gain. However, to be fair, I don't know that I can really attribute my weight gain to Mirena. This is pretty important; has anyone else out there experienced addiction feelings? To cigarettes? Alcohol? I have never had strong urges for drugs and alcohol, however, I have lately... Again, can you really say that Mirena is to blame?
The upside is that my periods are, blessedly, light. This is a definite upside for someone who had heavy periods. I also don't feel the strings, nor does my husband. After reading some of the postings on this site, that concerns me.
Thank you.
MaryKay

After reading many of your experiences, I feel the urge to tell my story. I got my Mirena put in back in June 2007. My doctor had been encouraging me to try Mirena because I was having such problems with my periods while on the pill and I had tried different types and brands and nothing seemed to be helping me. So, finally after about 2 years of her telling me to try it, I did. Since I have not had children, she said I needed to have it put in while on my period so that my cervix was more open. I called her on the first day of my next period and got it put in. It was very painful to be inserted, and the horrible cramps lasted about 48 hours, but then went away. My period also got worse during that time, but then completely stopped two days later. I didn't get my period again until two weeks ago, which stunned to me. My doctor had said that I may have spotting the first couple months, but then that would stop and I would no longer get my period. Since it has been 6 months since I've had it, I thought it was very odd for me to suddenly be getting my period again. Along with the actual menstruation, I got the cramps, headache, bloating and everything else wonderful that comes along with a full blown period. I only had menstruation for 3 days (the shortest period of my life) but the cramps have continued constantly for the last 2 weeks. I decided I should look up the side effects of Mirena to make sure it wasn't abnormal. I got the same information from their website as I did from the pamphlet I'm sure we all got from our doctor - saying that only a very small percent of woman have any side effects at all. So, I thought I was making things up. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized all the things that have changed for me since I got it put in. That's when I stumbled across this site and found I'm not the only one and I'm not imagining all these things! I gained 30 lbs in the first 3 months - I blamed it on stress because we had just put our house on the market, however I had never in my life gained THAT much weight in such a short period of time. I am now over 200 lbs and I'm only 5'3". I have been desperately trying to take the weight off, but it won't budge and I'm only continuing to gain more. It is getting to the point where my weight is starting to cause other health concerns. Also, I have not had a single good night of sleep since I've had Mirena. I again blamed it on stress (but to be honest, I've lived through much more stressful times in my life without the tremendous weight gain and insomnia). After several weeks of trying OTC sleep aids, I went to my doctor and she gave me a 10 day supply of Ambien. The first 2-3 nights it helped, but then that also stopped working and I was back to sleepless nights. I found there is an herbal supplement that helps me sleep, but it only works for a few hours at a time, which obviously is better than nothing. I have also had cramps on and off throughout the last 6 months, sometimes they are very sharp stabbing pains that make me buckle over in two. I have also realized that I may be having depression - I don't feel suicidal, but I get very down very easily and stay that way for much longer than I ever have. I have actually had such horrible down days that I've called my husband at work crying and begged him to come home. I have never in my life done that until Mirena. I'm sure that I have more symptoms, but I have been able to persuade myself that they are "normal" or explained them away otherwise. I think that Mirena and the OBGYNs must be in cahoots. I was not warned about any of these problems - I was only given the small pamphlet and told it was so wonderful. I think there are a lot of other women out there experiencing all these side effects but their doctors are telling them it's normal or blaming it on something else. And they aren't realizing it is Mirena that is causing all these problems! I have an appointment for next Tuesday to get mine taken out and I cannot wait! I am finally going to be able to sleep again!

I am getting mine removed FRIDAY!! And Friday can't come soon enough. I am kinda bummed tho for having to go back on the pill but I can't hack this ANY LONGER!!! One of my friends works for a GP and I went to him because of some of my side effects. The flu like symptoms minus having the flu (had it for at least 2 to 3 mos now) NO sex drive (causing trouble with my marriage. Hubby is taking it WAY to personal), swelling in my hands, feet, legs, and face. (my face will feel flush and BAM I'm swollen!!) VERY BAD MOOD SWINGS!!! Very Bad isn't the word for it!! There are no words to explain my moods!! ANYHOW..... I sent this to my friend to read and she pulled it up at work. Well the GP said that this isn't a reliable place to go for information on the side effects. "There are NO positive side effects to anything." Which is true BUT he seems to think going to Web MD or some sight like that is more reliable than here. And that this sight shouldn't scare me and he wouldn't urge me to have it removed after reading this. (OH YEAH I forgot to mention joint pain, I have HORRIBLE joint pain in my hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. The worst of it is in my wrists and elbows) Back to what I was saying. To that (this sight not being reliable) I say go to Web MD and post there too! I pray that I can get back to me after this comes out!! I hope it don't take too long either! I MISS the old me and HATE the new me!! But FRIDAY HURRY UP AND GET HERE. And for anyone who has had it removed........ anything I should be repaired for??? Thanks for your time!

I have had the Mirena in for about 8 mos.I love having no periods.But that is the only good thing I have found!I am 5.7" and weigh 186.I was 145 before I had my son.After I had him I was going to the gym every day and even had a personal trainer.It seems No matter what I eat good or bad I cannot lose the weight.I thought maybe it was just because I had a child, but Ive found other woman are having the same problem.Just cannot lose a pound.Until they get it removed.Before I got the Mirena I was already pretty emotional but now its ten times worse!And the acne, OMG!!! I have it so bad I am using face stuff everyday nothing is working.I have it on my face,arms,back and butt.Absolutely hideous.I feel like crap.I cant even walk in front of my husband without thinking he is thinking something bad about how I look.This has upped the depression,I am feeling like everything is screwed up in my life (but its not) its just my perception right now.I have found that the doctors look at me like I am lying to them, like its all in my head.I should print everyones blogs and show them to my doctor! It makes me mad that the medical industry will present something so perfect and screw how it effects peoples lives.I had to pay cash for the freaking thing too!That makes me even more pissed off.I want this thing out so bad.Now my husband and I are talking about vasectomy because its much easier then a tubal.Its sucks that we had to come to that.

I had my Mirena IUD put in May 1st of 2007 and all the side effects that came along with it......the constant spotting, acne, itching breasts (which I thought was due to new bras that I had just purchased), nausea, depression (which I had to go back to taking Wellbutrin), no energy; tired all the time. My biggest side effect which I have not found any others to have is Allergies. I know it sounds crazy, but I have never had problems with allergies until a month and half after getting the IUD, extreme allergy symptoms, swollen glands, neck pain, very shortness of breath; to the point that I was down for a whole day here and there, I am having to take Allegra; had to get a steroid shot. Now that it is cold, I thought I would be getting break from the allergies, nope. I joined a gym hoping that it would help in giving me energy, nope.........I have talked to my Dr and the nurses that work with my gyno and they act as if I am making this stuff up. It is very frustrating when you know that your body has done a complete 360 in the wrong direction and everyone seems to think your crazy.

Well I am having my IUD taken out as soon as I can!