Question
Mirena IUD side effects??? Or am I crazy?
I guess its not like it really matters anymore. But I had my IUD removed this morning because of the God awful side effects I was having from it. PMS all the time, bad acne on my face and back, and worst of all I gained 20 lbs!! I only had it for one year, and I know the IUD was the culprit. None of it started till a few months after I got it. I was just wondering if there was anybody else who was or is going through the same thing as me....Hopefully now I can return to my normal self 
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381 Answers
I just got Implanon birthcontol Monday. (it is the one you place underneed the skin in your upper arm) My OB said she recommends this one above the IUD because it is not in an organ and she has had less complaints about it. I asked about PMS also, she said has had only one person complain to her about worse bleeding and other side effects. She told me that more than likely my period will be very short with Implanon, like most of the other women said. She also said that during the first few months I may have bleeding out of the blue but it should not be bad and after the first few months I shouldnt have any problems. You should talk to your OB about this, like I said, I just got it Monday but my cousin has it and she loves it. Hope I helped!
I am THRILLED to know I am not crazy, alone, or dreaming this stuff up! My husband and I have been on the verge of insanity dealing with my "change" since I had our daughter. First, let me tell you---I am a mother of two children (a boy who is 4 and a girl who is 22 months). After our son was born, I was on the NuvaRing, which I know is contraversial right now, but I loved it. I had no real side effects. I am a thin woman, but I gained 80- yes 80- pounds with my son. Afterwards, it literally "fell off" without me doing a lot of hard work or diet changes. Then, when my daughter was born last October, I had gained 50 pounds (which I thought was really good considering my 80 pound weight gain before). She was in the NICU for a month, so that helped with the weight loss- but when we stepped out of the NICU, I only had about 15 pounds to lose to get back to normal. Within the next month (I was on NO birth control) I had lost it all. I got my Mirena put in when she was two months old. About six months later, I experienced these weird dizzy-like flashes throughout my body. I don't know how to describe it- but I would be walking and have to stop, brace myself against the wall, and wait a few seconds until it passed. I didn't think anything of it, but after the "wave" of dizziness went through me, my heart would pound readily for a few minutes, and then I was back to normal. This occurred about 3-4 times daily for about three months. I went to my family doc who said that the Mirena would've caused problems "a long time before this" if it was indeed the culprit. (I had the IUD in for about 9 months at this point.) He blamed it on Migranes (which I had never experienced before in my life) and sent me home with the strongest Migrane medicine they had. It didn't work. Then, the REAL Migranes came about three months after that (12 months into the IUD)- and let me tell you what- I was dry heaving over the toilet and everything. Those lasted about three months---then one day, I was visiting my friend who had a scale. She had recently had a baby and was worried about her weight. I told her I had lost all of my baby weight shortly after Ella came out of the NICU. I stepped on the scale to show her and SURPRISE
.....I had gained every pound of that weight back! I was now the size I had been when I brought my baby home. I was tired, irritated, moody, and had daily headaches. Since March of this year, I decided I would dedicate myself to losing the weight by summer. I ran three miles a day, dieted (for the first time EVER), cut out all soda and carbs, etc. and guess what? I started fluctuating, which is where I am now. One day, I will wake up at 145, the next at 133, the next at 140, and so on. In two weeks of running and hard cardio workouts, I had GAINED 7 pounds! The next week, I loafed (probably as a result of my failing attempts to lose the weight) and lost 6. I have also tried cleansing, yoga, and meditation. It is erily familiar to everyone elses last-ditch attempts to figure things out. You truly do feel as though you're going nuts. This is a physical and emotional roller-coaster! My husband says I am more stressed out now than what I was when our daughter was fighting for her life in ICU. I am calling my Dr. first thing in the morning to set my apointment. I was hesitant to blame it on the birth control until I read all of the other testimonials. THANKS SO MUCH! I am not knocking the Mirena IUD, because I am sure it works well for some women. I, personally, like the NuvaRing (and NO I do not work for them- could I make this stuff up?!) but there are many women who have lawsuits out against the NuvaRing and HATE it. I think it is a matter of finding a birth control that your body accepts and adapts to. I chose the IUD because it is cheap and convenient- but it's not worth this. Thanks for sharing your stories---you may have saved my sanity and my marriage 
!!!
The Killer IUD Mirena
My big mistake experimenting with the Killer IUD Mirena My first week using it a big pain. 07/22/08The second week my period arrived but just brown spotting and I began feeling kind of sad and depressed for no reason at all... the pain subsided, but my mood had changed dramatically. The third week during a weekend that my son had a little altercation (a fight) I began feeling nervous and jittery and and a feeling of deep emptiness in my chest. The following day the sadness was worse and every moment thereafter it intensified, I had this horrible feeling of anxiety and panic and all types of negative thought that came to my mind and just would not stop. I had this overwhelming feeling, everything made me nervous, sad, fearful and lonely. I felt completely unhappy and cried for no reason at all, spontaneously. I felt as if though my life had no meaning, no significance at all; completed depressed! My mother was very worried about me; I explained to her everything including that I started using IUD Mirena. She suggested we go to church. Every night, every instant I would pray and ask God to cure me, I did not understand why I was feeling this way; I was so scared because I thought I was losing my mind, because I did not have any problems at all to validate these feeling in my mind, in my heart. I could not sleep, therefore the the nights felt long in fact, I had no sleep at all! My mother continued to pray for me and asked God to provide her with a solution that would help me in the process. She awoke one morning and asked my sister to investigate on the computer the side effects of the IUD that I had used and to my surprise it outlined exactly was I was experiencing! Moments after I went to the see the doctor to have it removed they questioned me as to why I decided to have the IUD removed, when I explained my reasons and the emotional and physical reaction I had been experiencing, they mentioned that some people react differently due to different hormonal levels and that each case is individual. They had also examined my blood pressure, which was high and that has never happened in my life. The same day when they removed that "Killer" The IUD Mirena on 08/18/08, I instantly began to feel different; that night was the first night that I could sleep peacefully. Today, two days have passed I am still feeling a bit nervous, with every passing day, thank God, and the emotional and loving support of my family, I am feeling better and better. Are you are trying to use the Killer IUD Mirena? PLEASE, I urge you, DON'T!!!!!
alison21 wrote 4 min 13 sec ago
OK ladies, I'm not a blogger, never have before but I just had to share my story with everyone...I am the mother of 7 year old twin boys, I had the Mirena put in June of 2004. At first I loved it!! I cannot take the pill because of the hormones, every one I have ever been on, including Micronor (the mini pill) have made me fat and irritable to say the least. My doctor suggested Mirena saying the hormones would not go into my bloodstream and it has almost no side effects. I have never had a weight problem, I'm 5'7" and my normal weight is 125-135. I'm currently 160. I do not have a problem with food, I have very good, healthy eating habits and I exercise regularly. I have not been able to lose a pound no matter what I do, I've had 2 pelvic ultrasounds due to extreme bloating that will not go away. Here's a quick rundown of all my symptoms:
weight gain
inability to lose weight
feeling like there's something in my throat
bloated after eating
constant water retention
moody/short tempered
tired
not sleeping well, if at all
extreme muscle soreness in my upper back, I feel like I was in a car accident for about 2 years!
breakouts on my face, I actually had to buy zit cream, I haven't had breakouts since I was 13
memory loss
I've always been hypoglycemic, but I feel like it's getting worse every day
I went to a new doctor last week, she said progesterone=pre-gestation. My body is holding onto water and fat for the baby ( that isn't there). I was about to hire a personal trainer until I found this blog, thank you!! I'm not crazy! I NEVER would have attributed all these symptoms to the IUD. My doctor said GET IT OUT NOW so I'm going to keep updating this for all you ladies that think you might want it, or want to get it out. Mine is coming out Sept 2, 2008.
Also, I just found a website that said do not have sex less than 1 week before having it removed, as sperm can live for 5 days, so when it's removed and if you're ovulating you can become pregnant. Glad I saw that!
I will keep everyone posted as to my progress weekly
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Hi
I read your blog. Please keep me updated. I had mirena inserted in June. I have gained 10 pounds and my face looks like a giant zit. I feel pregnant. I am always spotting or leaking. My antidepressants no longer work. I go for weeks hating everybody and everything.
I want this mess out of me asap.
Nicole
Oh my God!i had mine inserted on the last week of feburary and since i've had heavy bleeding n leakage at any random time.Mood swings, constantly tired, and i've gained weigh which doesnt help my self esteem
I was seaching for birth control methods and decided not to choose Mirena after reading this thread. Anyway, concerning your symptoms, it sounds like you could possibly have fibromyalgia. I have it and was diagnosed by a rheumatologist 2 years ago. I recently found a new term called secondary fibromyalgia which results from a first illness or disease like hypoglycemia. However, I cannot find anyone willing to diagnose me with that. What type of specialist did you talk to in order to be diagnosed with hypoglycemia?
hello i read your blog about your experience with the iud i'm sorry that you had to deal with all that im sure it was hard . I have had it for about 4 months now and I've been dizzy have headaches i have vertigo though so I dont know which it is. I m curious about the weight gain . I have noticed that i'm feeling hungry all the time so i think im confused what should i do ? Part of me want to wait it out and see what happens and the other part of me is not
Hi Alison21,
Did you also tell your doctor about the feeling like something is in your throat? Because that with memory loss, water retention, hypoglycemia, and weight gain are also symptoms of thyroid problems. I have hypothyroidism and I'm glad I got diagnosed because it will drive you crazy. Did having the Mirena IUD help matters? If not, you may want them to do a thyroid panel just to be safe. I'm not a doctor but I do know that thyroid disease often gets skipped over sometimes.
I hope you are feeling better.
Tracy
I had all the same symptons & yes I have had my thyroid checked. My Mirena is coming out at 9:15 tomorrow morning & I can't wait! I am so disgusted & mad at myself that I have had this monster in me since June 2007 & it has taken me this long to figure out why i have morphed into the person I am today. I have gained approx 30 lb's for no reason. I ache from head to toe. I considered getting a wig a few weeks ago as I have almost no hair, my 4 year old has thicker hair than I do. One minute I am kissing & hugging my children (4 & 7) the next I am beside myself frustrated at the most benign incident & getting upset way out of proportion. My vision is blurred, my hips, & knees ache & burn. I go back & forth between sadness & anxiety at the drop of a hat. I went on antidepressants & then a medication for high blood pressure, (mine has always been low, even thru pregnancy). Please, I implore all women looking for a long term birth control to reconsider this option. It may work for many but if you are amongst that it disagrees with it's not worth the convenience.