Bloodwork symptoms and conditions

I have had it in for about 4 months-
It was very painful at the time of the insertion but within a couple of hours I was fine. But over the past months, I have noticed some changes , my hair seems to be thinning, it seems to be greasy all of the time, I have joint pain in my wrist. I just went to my primary doctor who is running all kinds of blood work and testing my Thyroid-But I am seriously thinking it can all be from The IUD.
I have my 3 month IUD check up ( i had to reschedule the initial checkup)on Tuesday and then my doctor appt on wed( where I will get the results from my Bloodwork)

I was only on Yasmin for one month. After 2/3 weeks of being on it I started getting really bad migraines. I've had a severe migraine now ever since I got off of it. Does anyone know how long side effects last? Does anyone have this problem too?
I ended up in the hospital twice for the headaches. After the bloodwork, and CAT scan I was discharged, but to this day (I stopped taking the pills during the second week of October) I am still in constant pain. It feels like something is moving in my brain (as weird as that sounds). I am now debating to call a neurologist.
If anyone has any type of help or advise please help me!!

I had Mirena placed in Sept 2007. I have 2 girls, wasn't ready for more at the time, was horrible with taking the pill (both in remembering to do so and with the side effects). Since Mirena is only a "local" hormone, I thought it would be a great choice for me. This past summer I got online to find out why my periods were so odd... brown, clumpy, really short but frequent... and came across this site as well as a few others. I couldn't believe the stories everyone was sharing! I could easily dismiss all of my symptoms away to something else... constant exhaustion (I have 2 kids under 5 and work full time, maybe my thyroid), anxiety and even a few panic attacks (started a new job), no libido (tired and stressed… How funny to spend so much money on birth control and have no desire for sex!!!), irritable (2 kids), hair loss (didn't even think of that one, but it is true), night sweats (maybe I am just dressed to warmly to go to bed?), unable to lose some weight (gained 5 pounds post insertion now that I think about it) even though I had joined a gym, was working out with a personal trainer and really watching my eating (maybe this is my new weight... I am 35 and my metabolism is supposed to slow down), weird pain/bloating in my lower abdomen (gas??? maybe something I am eating???), the described ‘Fog’… how true! I saw my doctor about 1 ½ months ago and we discussed taking it out. I had my thyroid checked first just to see if that may be the problem. It was, but after putting all of these pieces together I just needed to get this thing out!!! I had it removed one week ago. I felt better immediately. I am sure that was psychological, but who cares! Bled for a week and now it has stopped. Feeling some cramps still, but overall really good, especially emotionally. I asked my doctor about the ‘CRASH’ and she hadn’t heard of such a thing. I am kind of on the fence with this one… just waiting… hoping it won’t happen. If anyone is about 1 week out like me, I would love to hear more from you! I am sure Mirena is good for some, but I am sure it is not good for me. I am happy to be out of the fog.

I had mine put in Dec 2007 shortly after the birth of my second child. I was a little sore after insertion but thought it was great until a few months ago when I realized I was gaining weight and still looked pregnant. The bloating became more severe and I experienced a lot of cramping. Sometimes the bloating would go away but 3 weeks out of the month I looked like I was about 6 months pregnant. The CNP at my ob's office didn't think these were side effects of Mirena especially since I have had it nearly 2 years. She noticed that I had gained abt 13lbs in one year despite diet and exercise (which I NEVER had to do before! With my first child I gained 60lbs and was back in my pregnancy clothes by the time I went back to work 12 weeks later) For the past 5 months I have been running about 3-5Ks A DAY and taking 2-3 one hour exercise classes a week and the weight will NOT come off. I had the IUD taken out after my blood work and pelvic ultrasound all came back negative. It's been about 2 weeks now and I am looking forward to being hormone free for awhile. I am glad I am not alone....

Hi there,
I took this medication for a supposed sinus infection, which after taking Azithromycin and than Doxy I have been really sick! I guess I had the flu and I panicked (because I am prone to sinus infections) and went on antibiotics without knowing for sure- after bloodwork and an x-ray there is no infection... so... after taking Doxy for 10 days I have been very exhausted-but mostly, flu like and muscle aches, its on day three after taking the last dose so I hope these muscle aches and tiredness goes away soon. I have noticed in the past that i get the same symptoms, like with Biaxin, and Cipro is really brutal... not to mention that I am allergic to Penicillin and Sulpha... so much fun lol

I took cipro 500 mg just this past thurs Sept 25/2008 only 3 pills. One thurs lunchtime, one that evening and then another fri lunchtime. By Friday morning I was starting to experience a sore throat and flu like pains.When it came to that evening my throat had red really red blisters and swollen glands. I didn't take that pill friday night. I stayed up all that night and at 4 am realized my sore throat and swelling had subsided. I called my pharmacy Sat. morning and told them what I had experienced. They said I did the right thing. I then had to contact my doctor to get another RX for my kidney infection. I have since had pain that hasn't went away. I have had a ultrasound on sept 9 and bloodwork on Oct 1 and a CT scan. All tests were ok. I was told just now on the phone to finish the new antibiotic and then 48 hrs later get another urine culture. I had to be given pain relief patches from the doctor.

I am 36 years old and LOVED my Mirena UNTIL I started getting all the side effects. I have had it for 3 months now. I also know about 10 women who use this product and not one of the complain about anything. They all love it and that is why by their word of mouth also that inspired me to look into it. I have had mine since June 08. By researching it more I have found that everyones body is different and this product is releasing a very small amount of progesterone that can make you gain weight. That is the male hormone that causes this. I was on the Pill for 15 years and had to get off and some people have side effects on that. Everyones body is different and some people get effected by the pill. But my stomach looks like Im pregnant and is a big huge ball and my breasts were huge and now are enormous and I cant even fit in a bra. I have gained 30 pounds in a short time. The weight that I gained went directly to my middle and I gained it in 3 months which was 10 pounds a month. Insane considering I am a person who hasn't gained weight in 10 years and have had 3 kids. Just anyone taking this product be careful if you do see a difference. I do love it, but everyone is different and what I think is you wont know till you go on it. Like I said my friends are fine. Who knows, maybe being on the pill so many years, my body is different. But just wanted to give my input. I have lost my migraines that I received from the pill and don't have them anymore which is great. But then see some people have migraines on the Mirena, but not me. And I went immediately to the doctor to have major bloodwork done because I knew something was wrong. And every blood test down to a thyroid test came back fine. So my only issue that it must be is the Mirena. At this time, I am deciding whether to take it out or not, and have come to the conclusion either I am going to look huge and leave it in or pull it out and get my body back. Still deciding on that right now as I do not want to get pregnant after 3 kids. But I will say my sex drive on this product is awesome compared to some peoples side effects on this, but thats why I say everyone is effected differently by this product so don't not try it because you are scared. Kindly someone please let me know if you have had the weight gain, and you had the Mirena pulled out if you lost the weight???? Please someone let me know? I would hate to pull it out and then still look HUGE. Supposingly it should go down from what I hear, but who knows. Thanks and Good Luck to Everyone????

-- By msnbf1306 | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail September 24th
2008
11:00 AM
I have had the mirena for 7 months now..
I never realized that I was having all these symptoms until reading tons of websites..

I'm constantly suffering from severe sharp stabbing pains, and my migraines are back are like hell now.
I'm having crazy lower back pain(to which I believe only 1/2 of it is to be blamed on mirena.. other half is to be blamed on my 9 attempts of an epidural)..

I'm going to get it removed today so we can ttc #2(Presleigh our daughter is 1 yr and 2 weeks old:)) I'm terrified of what it will be like to get it removed.. anyone been through this?

-- By keytibeth | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 24th
2008
6:32 AM
Let's face it....this site is for side effects and there is unlikely to be a site for women who think Mirena is fab! I've had mine in for a week (so maybe it's too early to tell if I'll get any!) it was uncomfy having it put in but not as uncomfy as childbirth! I haven't had any bleeding so far...and so far better than the pill for me!

-- By ekky | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
1:52 PM
i had the iud since sept 2006 and had it removed last week. i had felt it the entire time ive had it. id go thru hell with cramping and no bleeding. my weight would fluctuate from 135 to 150 in a matter of days, i haven't been able to get back down to my pregnancy weight of 117. i was so depressed that i tried to commit suicide. id cramp and bleed after sex, during i could feel it sometimes my husband could too. i had migraines that would last for days multiple times a week. my eyelashes, brows and hair has thinned out a lot. my skin is horrid with acne that would last for months with the same break out. i was bloated all the time. i was super moody, didn't have patients for anything or anyone. i am usually a pretty layed back person on mirena i was completely opposite, im surprised my husband hung in there! i was constantly constipated, frequent urges to pee, didn't want to out outside. when i was having it removed, my doctor couldn't find the strings, luckily she found them. my experience with mirena was horrible. i don't recommend it to anyone. after it was removed my stomach felt so much better. wasn't constipated, didn't feel a hard uterus, the pain that would shoot down to my feet stopped. my doctor did tell me i might have a mini period, which i am now. but im telling you i feel a lot better now that it is out of my body. if you knew me while i was using the IUD, you would think i am a different person now. i wish i had never gotten it in the first place...

-- By woman | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
10:46 AM
I got the Mirenda IUD inserted about 3 1/2 months ago. Since having it I have had nothing but trouble. I have been bleeding almost everyday for the last 3 1/2 months. I probably have had 5 days of no bleeding. I also feel so bloated. I haven't weighed myself b/c I am scared to know but I am bigger now than 6 weeks after I had my baby. My doctor said that this device cannot cause weight gain but I am not a believer. My clothes are so tight and my tummy area is so swollen. I also have started cramping recently. I made an appointment to have it removed on Friday. Anyone have any other suggestions of birth control?

-- By dontdoit4 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
8:38 AM
I have very little little sex drive since putting the Mirena in in early June 2008. I figured maybe it was the constant bleeding/spotting (maybe less then a week blood free days a month) for more than three months (i was warned but now am taking extra hormones to stop that, but still bleeding after two weeks). I've had very very frequent headaches and find myself taking painkillers 4 times a week, this is the most worrisome for me personally.
But a very big problem is that my husband can feel the strings during sex and finds it really uncomfortable, basically, session over straight away. I've had the strings shortened recently but it hasn't changed in his perception. Feel like we've given it a fair trial but Mirena has basically meant an end to our sex life, not just from me feeling rather uninterested in it and trying to avoid it, but also from him being seriously affected by it! It may be the position of my uterus.

-- By vbecky | Reply | Send Private Mail September 23th
2008
1:31 AM
i had the mirena placed in me after i had my last child 2005.i had the mirena inserted in me when he was about 2 1/2 months old.when he was 2 months old i started to notice that my hair was shedding like crazy.i had long beautiful full hair to mention.well it's about 2 years and 10 months later and my hair is still falling out.dry brittle,and unhealthy.i went to me primary care physician and she tested me for all kinds of things...every thing came back negative.i have smelly discharge everyday no matter how much i bath. i can't keep the weight off even though i constantly work out and eat healthy.i am so sick of this in me,i haven't enjoyed it since i had it....but then again,not one birth control method ever worked for me with severe side effects.i didn't even know that mirena had hormones in it.

-- By shinediaz | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
11:11 PM
I started mirena 7weeks after the birth of my daughter. As i had forgotten to take the pill previously and fallen pregnant my doctor recommended it. After careful though i decided to go ahead and have it. Ive been bleeding for 16days straight now, have been feeling faint very often and having difficulty focusing at times. Not only this but ive been experiencing chest palpitations on some occasions and abdo and pelvic pains. Has anyone else experienced the same so soon after having it?

-- By bkg143 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
8:35 PM
I have had my Mirena for 14 months. I am looking into having it removed. I have gained about 5-10lbs with it and I have 2 menses per month. I only have about 5-7 non period days each month. My sex drive is at a all time low. I went from a female who wanted to have sex everyday of the week... to 1-2 times per month.
I am always nasty with my mate of 7 years and short tempered with my children. I already had a problem with headaches and I am now having many migraines per week. I just want it out. My new insurance doesn't cover the removal and I may have to pay out of pocket, but I cant get in with my GYN until November. I did read all the side effects and I have them all. Aside from not worrying about getting pregnant... This thing is the worst and I do not recommend it to anyone.

IF YOU CAN TAKE A PILL EVERY DAY, DO IT

-- By dmarijhazz | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
5:13 PM
I have had Mirena for about a month now and for about a month i've had funky discharge. Now, it's not the normal discharge it's brown. It's starts out like the "pre period" brown then turns dark dark brown and then light brown and then back dark. What the hell? I haven't had pain or cramping but have started getting acne. I've never had acne before. The acne I can deal with but the brown discharge, NO! Does anyone else have this and does it ever go away?

-- By kvoges | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
3:41 PM
I am 30 , have two kids and are done with having kids, wanted to get Mirena so I would not have periods and it sounded like a great form of Birth Control. I have had it for 1year and 9 months now, when I got it I did have cramping and some bleeding for a while, then the bleeding stopped no periods, I have occasional spotting but that is it no actual period. I am thinking about getting it removed before I got it I was a steady 150 never up or down, now I am a HUGE 185 and it keeps going up, I am depressed, do not like to get up in the mornings, have not energy, always tired and very, very mooody with everyone, my husband & children and I never used to be that way and I feel so bad because I am just not my self. I was reading all the other comments and it sounds like what I am going through!!! I am thinking about going in next week and getting it out and just use the pill again, hopefully I will fell better soon after getting it removed.

-- By 27asweem | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
1:56 PM
******
I would recommend that everyone read about Mirena at the link above. I had mine removed today and I will post in a few weeks about my experience with it and how I felt after having it removed.

-- By kneupperb | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
11:49 AM
I got Mirena put in Feb of 07 almost a year after my second baby. I thought it was the greatest thing one earth for almost the next year and a half. I always had light periods so I stopped having periods completely since it was put in. I had no side effects whatsoever until Aug 08. I started having mild headaches that turned severe and did not go away for over 20 days.

That was my first sign. I started having pelvic pain (which has since gotten much worse) resembling ovarian cyst pain. I started bloating like crazy and my clothes were very tight and uncomfortable. I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms which worried me so I took a pregnancy test and it came out positive. I took another one later and it came out negative. I went to my regular doctor (because she had to order the tests for insurance purposes) and their tests came out negative. I've been pregnant 9 times (7 miscarriages) so I don't need a pregnancy test to tell me I'm pregnant. I know I was but my lack of periods wouldn't allow the uterus to hold a pregnancy.

I looked up my symptoms online and found hundreds of women with the same experiences. My doctor looked for the Mirena and couldn't find the strings or the device so she ordered an emergency ultrasound (lucky for me I have great Drs). They found the Mirena pushed further back in my uterus and that I had a large cyst (which I already knew I had from all my pain). My headaches got worse, my uterus pain got worse, I had back pain like crazy, I became so tired I could hardly move, and I was constantly nauseous. With a husband, 2 kids, and a job there was no time for all of that. I talked to people at work recently and they said when I was experiencing the best of my symptoms they were talking to me and I was looking at them like I was telling them to F*** off with my facial expression. I had to explain to them that it was the extreme headaches and the pain I was in and not them. I didn't realize it got so bad that my facial expressions showed it!

I went to my Ob/Gyn for an appt I had scheduled weeks before my pain started and told the PA about my symptoms so she looked for the strings and found them so the Mirena was back in place. She asked if I wanted it left there and I told her HELL NO. She pulled it out immediately and called it a demon, which makes me believe she knows about the horrible side effects. She didn't try to talk me out of it at all, not that I would have let her. Both of my doctors were very understanding to my need to have it removed and were willing to do it.

After I had it removed I continued having those symptoms but they are beginning to fade off. I did have one day where I woke up and I was a raging B**** from the minute I opened my eyes and I don't know why. I apologized profusely to my family and I knew it was my hormones but I could do nothing about it. Later that day I had my first ever anxiety attack and I freaked out. It was TERRIBLE. I've had continuous spotting since then. All these are our bodies' way of telling us to stop polluting our poor bodies. It's called "the crash"

Well ladies good luck with your little demons and remember the side effects continue until your body can regulate itself again. Don't give up cause it will get better.

-- By lovebeingamama | Reply | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
10:39 AM
I've had Mirena for almost 2 years. I am bloated and fatigued. My joints hurt, especially my hips. I've gained 5 pounds and cannot lose it, even working out 7 days a week. I workout regularly but not with the stamina I used to have. I am 39 and in great shape. I can't make it through my classes the way I used. I struggle and it's very depressing. For the past few months my sex drive is zero. I am considering having it removed. Was it extremely painful?

-- By victoriav | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 22th
2008
4:25 AM
Hi, i have had Mirena for over two years and only recently have started to experience really bad cramping and spotting. I am so incredibly bloated, i look like im in early stages of pregnancy! I have gained about 20 pounds since in the time ive had it and ive had problems with my joints. I was beginning to think i had arthritis, im only 25 years old! I didn't realize that was also a side effect until i started reading more about it. Well Friday, i went in to my doctor's office to have it removed. Unfortunately my doctor was not in so i was seen by the nurse practioner and she could not find it!!! she said it most likely traveled upward to where she cant see or reach it. She poked around for about 20 minutes before finally giving up and saying, sorry i just cant get it. So im scheduled for an ultrasound this Wednesday to find its exact location and hopefully getting it out of there. Im so worried because i have read about other women having to get it surgically removed. Has this happened to anyone else?

-- By leticia09 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
11:06 PM
I'm 21 years old and i had my daughter 9 months ago. I had MIRENA put in June 2008 and so far all i have experienced is BLEEDING and BLADDER PROBLEMS!! How n tha hell do these people who created these damn IUD's expect a young mother like myself to have a normal life!! I understand all the side effects about the spotting and possibly bleeding up to 3 months but BLADDER PROBLEMS! oh hell no im 21 years old and thats not suppose ta be happening to me....At first people was like maybe you have a Urinary Tract Infection, so i looked up the symptoms and i ain't go none of them...so tomorrow im calling my Gynecologist and getting this damn thing removed even if i have to go back to tha pill so what..its better than dealing with this...

-- By laniya | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
9:42 PM
I had Mirena inserted in July, 2008. I was feeling pretty good about it, but have come to realize I am experiencing some side effects. Right now, I can say the side effects are worth it compared to the horrific periods I was having for the past 6 years. I have extreme breast tenderness and need to get a Mammogram anyway. I'm sure when the results come back normal, my mind will rest at ease and I will know for sure it is a side effect from Mirena. I've been extremely fatigued, however I used to get the same effect the week before my period. So I'm not sure it's a side effect or normal. I do experience waves of nausea but they pass and I eventually feel better and get back to normal. Other than that, I'm okay. I just hope I continue on this path. I'm sure I'll know after a couple more months.

-- By sweetelle13 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
7:27 PM
I just had Mirena inserted 2 weeks ago. I'm 45 and was sold on it by my Dr. to help with heavy bleeding. It was very painful to be inserted. Every day since I've been very crampy, diarrhea, bloating and lower back pain. It feels like when I was going into labor at about 5 cm dilated. I hope this goes away quickly, this is a nightmare. I'm scared.

-- By sueh | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
6:35 PM
Hi all again! I posted on Sept. 15th and 19th and I'm here again! Since I had my Mirena removed, I've had some heavy bleeding which has started to go away. I started to take Slow FE, an iron supplement because yesterday I was ready to drive myself to the ER - I felt lousy - drained to the bone and ready to pass out. After listening to my boyfriend, I went home, gave my kids something to do, and rested for a few hours in bed.
Later on I ate dinner and started to feel better. This morning I really started to feel more like myself (!). I have some bleeding, but it's turning brownish, like toward the end of a period. I am going to the OBGYN who delivered my kids (different doc's ofce than the one where I had the Mirena inserted); I want to get another opinion about the thickness of my uterine lining, the sono report, etc. just to rule out anything serious. My boyfriend thinks that I may have had a miscarriage without realizing I was pregnant (ironically, I was feeling like i had eight years ago when I had a miscarriage and a D&C and didn't realize it until he asked how I had felt then and compared it to now). I would need bloodwork to determine any hormone levels at this point; I'd just like to be reassured that it's not cancer.

Ladies - listen to your bodies. Yes, there is such a thing as allowing your body to adjust and some women haven't had the side effects which a lot of us are writing about; just don't overlook anything that is telling you "this is not normal, this is not natural." Trust your instincts and yourselves; you'll know if it's for you or not. And for crying out loud: if you want it out - insist upon getting it out - don't be coerced into doing something that you don't want to to.

-- By jnoto | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
6:00 PM
I have had my Mirena for 2 years. My main problem is that about 6 months ago I started having bad cramps and a period again. Sometimes it lasts 3 days, but now it is up to 8 days. I have also had cramping after sex. Also, I have had some lower back pain, and bloating. The strings irritate my husband sometimes when I am on top. While I love the effectiveness of this IUD, the costs are starting to outweighs the benefit. I think it is time to get this sucker taken out.

-- By alisonengland | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
1:11 PM
All I can say is that since having it inserted in Oct. 2007 I began rigorous training to lose extra weight for a breast reduction, I found it extremely difficult to lose 1 POUND let alone 20. Went to the gyn who inserted it and she was not sympathetic at all she said women over thirty just have those problems.....What problem? Walking/jogging at least 5 miles three times weekly, drop your caloric intake by more than half AND STILL ABSOLUTELY NO WEIGHT LOSE?? I am at my ideal weight, just the far end of it and seriously after 7 months training not one pound lost. New gyn thought Mirena might be the cause, I had it removed two days ago and I already feel a difference in my energy levels!!

-- By a_catchy_name | Reply | Send Private Mail September 21th
2008
12:25 PM
I have been reading everyone's side effects. I know everyone is different. I have not experienced hair loss, bad acne, or horrible mood swings. I HAVE, however, gained about 40 pounds since having Mirena inserted in February 2007. My periods stopped after about 4 months; I would have the brownish discharge everyone else has spoken about, plus feeling like I didn't smell good. It did help with my migraines, but here in the last 3 months, I have been getting a migraine once a month, with severe pain and vomiting AND I have started to try and have a period again. This past week I actually did bleed enough to be a nuisance to me. I have had so many problems with birth control I am at my wits end. I am 34, have one child and 2 stepchildren; my fiance and I don't plan on having any more children, so I am seriously considering getting this thing taken out and having my tubes tied. I enjoy the fact that I don't have to think about birth control, but the weight gain among other things is just too much.

-- By gsb474 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 20th
2008
2:44 PM
Anyone experience vaginal swelling??? I'm kind of freaked out. I got it placed 2 weeks ago and was supposed to start my period a few days later, I did and have been bleeding for 10 days now. I normally have 4 day ong periods. I have had some pain in my left side really low but then about 4 days ago I noticed it was hard to place a tampon and felt like things were swollen in there. I looked in a mirror and had my hubby check too. It looks like the side of my vagina has collapsed and is laying across the opening of my vagina! When I push (like giving birth, but not as hard) it kind of pushes out. My hubby said it looks like guts coming out instead of a baby head (we have 3 kids, so we are familiar with that sight). Has anyone else had this side effect??? My midwives can't get me in till Monday but I am worried NOW!! She told me I could find the strings and remove it myself BUT with all the swelling I don't know that I could find the strings or that it would even be safe to pull out like that! HELP!!!!!

-- By lmdmom | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail September 20th
2008
1:20 PM
Mirena has been AWESOME for me. Everyone that is looking for the IDEAL birth control needs to consider this!

Its the MOST reliable form of BC you can have (besides abstinence), and the side effects are less than any form of BC you can be on. Think about it people, every kind of BC has an effect on your body. This one is a no brainer. You don't have to take it at the same time everyday, you don't have to worry about a patch, you don't have to worry about a ring sitting in your vagina. It can lessen, even STOP you from having periods...it did for me! AWESOME!!

I just got mine removed after 2 years, and will definitely get it after we have another baby. I am an OB RN and recommend them to all of my patients!

-- By dawntruck | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 20th
2008
2:29 AM
I am not a Mirena user, but was seriously considering it until I came across this site, and read all these comments. I also came across a site warning that Mirena is a levonorgestrel uterine implant, the same progestin that was in Norplant (which is several small implants that are placed under the skin in the upper arm). Once I read that, I definitely would not try this form of birth control. I had Norplant implanted in my arm, many years ago, after the birth of my two children. It was horrible, there were maybe a few days out of the month that I had no bleeding or spotting. They said my period should regulate within 6mths, well I gave it almost 14mths, and couldn't take it anymore. Romoval was not quite as easy as implantation. I used to joke...that it was great birth control, who'd want to have sex when you have your period all the time, well it was no joke.
Read all these warnings, do research, glad I did. I would have made the same mistake I made 15yrs ago, with Norplant.

-- By drums61 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
9:10 PM
hi I had a mirena instu in dec 07, had bleeding on and off, noticed now in sept 08 bad cramping, swollen tummy, very uncomfortable, and bleeding a lot. They say 6 months it will take, I think I will get it removed, and see how the bleeding is without, then a hyster if that s the only answer. Feel nausea, headaches, depression, and stomach pains all exist.T.G.

-- By kuresa1 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
7:28 PM
I have had my mirena for about six months. I have bled all but two weeks of the six months. Because I am always bleeding, even when Im not "bleeding" I am having this brownish discharge. And just when I think its going to stop, I get this clear discharge that smells like sewage. I have never smelt anything so horrible in my life. I have had this three different times in the six months. I don't know what I am going to do. I got the Mirena when I started college because we can't afford a accident pregnancy right now. It was free with my insurance. Now, I have no insurance and I can't afford the 250.00 to remove it.

-- By e_wollitz | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
6:06 PM
I wrote a couple days ago. My gyno finally called me back. She admitted that hair loss, fatigue, etc. are symptoms of Mirena and I should get it removed and try something else. I am definitely getting it out Monday. Hope everything works out for the rest of you .

-- By wglidden8 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
4:28 PM
I got my Mirena inserted in June.....I persevered with the cramps and bleeding which did settle down, however, I permanently have swollen breasts, weight gain, spots but have also noticed that I no longer have much energy am 43 and fairly fit.Furthermore, I seem to now be suffering from anxiety attacks which I never suffered before but also ARTHRITIC pain in fingers, knees in fact all over. I did expect some side effects however am getting it out, after finding this site, its more than a coincidence the other effects it is having on woman and which is not covered when prescribed.

-- By bluemia38 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
3:55 PM
I got my mirena in April 2008 and loved it at first. Before getting mirena i tried the depo shot and had my period for the 3 months i was on it and became anemic so i was really happy when my period finally stopped after getting mirena. The insertion was extremely painful even though i was given pills the day before to dilate me. I vomited during the insertion and almost passed out but is probably just because i had never had a kid before so they had to dilate me a lot. I had severe cramping for the rest of the day and minor cramping for about a week after. After about two weeks i started getting some of the normal symptoms listed in the mirena information.. bloating, mood swings, depression. None of them were severe so it wasn't that big of a deal but i've also had a major lack of sex drive, some hair loss, and periods that last about 3 weeks. About 2 months ago i started having extreme pain during sex. Even if my boyfriend stops immediately i can't stand up straight for a couple days after and have to walk kind of hunched over and even that is terribly painful. I thinks it's time i look into getting it removed.

-- By kdaver | Reply | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
2:12 PM
I was just wondering if anyone else has a yeast infection type of effect from this. The insertion was horrible since it came out the first time they put it in. i was bleeding for almost 2 months and now spotting off and on. i have horrible itching and dryness. they thought it was a yeast infection so i treated it with the yeast infection medicine and did the 7 day one. then 2 weeks later it started again. she think i stopped using the hydrocortizone cream too soon. i don't think that's it. i think it might be the mirena and if it is i want it out asap. i've never had itching or dryness. anyone else had these side effects?

-- By mamii2daend | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 19th
2008
2:02 PM
I had mine inserted the first week of July. Yes, it was freaking uncomfortable getting it done and I had cramping the rest of the day, but my OB warned me of that and I made the decision to go ahead. I'm not in a position to complain about it now.
I bled/spot for 2-3 weeks after insertion. Only heavy enough to require a tampon for the first week, but I had it inserted when I was supposed to be starting my period anyway. Again my OB suggested this and warned me about the possibility of bleeding for up to 6 months. Again my decision to go forward!
Since then I have had cramping once a month like I'm going to start my period and never do. Within the last few weeks I've started getting the acne and an oily scalp. It's all over my back and not poppable. I'm hoping it will eventually subside when my body gets used to the new hormone level I'm giving it. If you think about it, it's the same thing in puberty (ie change in hormones) that kicks off the acne so it doesn't surprise me that this is a side effect. If it doesn't subside I'll make a decision then whether or not to have it out.
I have not had any of the other side effects. In fact I had terrible headaches and neck pain before I got this and those have gotten much better.

I was on the pill for 15 years before getting mirena and I had much worse side effects with that (extreme moodiness, loss of sexual desire, bad cramps, long periods, etc). I tried multiple brands of pills and never found one I was 100% happy with. But I dealt with it because I made the decision to go on B/C.
I'll take the acne over those any day! (not to mention I got pregnant on the pill!!!)

I understand that these side effects suck, but you act like it's the company's fault. They specifically list the common side effects and the majority of the ones you're complaining about are listed in plain site Taken directly from their website:
Menstrual changes
Lower abdominal pain (cramps)
Acne or other skin problems
Back pain
Breast tenderness
Headache
Mood changes
Nausea
Ovarian cysts have been diagnosed in about 12% of Mirena® users. In most cases, the enlarged follicles disappeared spontaneously during two to three months of observation.

Did you think that's just for show? Did you ever stop to consider (before getting the product) you might actually get those side effects and what you would do if you did? It is your body... YOU are the only one responsible for what goes inside it. No one held you down and forced you to do this. Mirena didn't hide anything from you or trick you into it. Take some responsibility for your actions! Quit blaming others. This is a great example of what is wrong with our society today!

Take responsibility! Do your research! Make your own decisions and deal with the consequences of them without blaming others!

If you look at the mirena website it gives you the FDA number to call to report side effects. If you're having major ones call the FDA and report it so that more than just people that stumble upon this forum know about it!

-- By trsturself | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
11:26 PM
I can't believe I came across this. I have been having the weirdest things going on with me and had no idea they were attributed to my IUD: Mirena. I have had Mirena for a little over a year and actually love it. I stopped having periods all together on it after only having it for 2 months. Never had any cramps, bloating or spotting. I also didn't gain any weight on it. In fact, I lost a lot of weight. However, all my other symptoms are the same as every one else on here. I have an extreme amount of hair loss. I am terrified of the amount of hair I have been losing. I have extremely irritable with my husband and think just don't feel like anything matters anymore. I just feel depressed. Having a two year old doesn't help. :) I also have zero sex drive. I have chronic headaches anyway, but I have had an increase in my headaches. I have had weird low back pain and joint aches in my knees and feet. I have also had a lot congestion and sinusitis, which I read can be a side effect. I have also had some eye and vision problems. Not to mention fatigue, acne, flaky skin, numb fingers and just basically, for the past year, I haven't felt like myself. I am having it removed on Monday and hope that I start to feel like myself again. I am so happy that I started to do some research and discovered this, otherwise I might still be miserable, wondering why. If anyone knows anything about a lawsuit let me know.

-- By wglidden8 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
8:56 PM
I had my Mirena put in on 9/11/08 last Thursday. I got it done on the recommendation of two of my co-workers that recently got theirs a few months ago. I had been having stomach problems, found out I have food allergies and than suddenly couldn't stomach my birth control that I had been taking for several years. Mirena seemed to be the answer. I had it put in on Thursday which hurt like hell. I was a little sore Friday and only spotting from my 2nd day on my period. By Saturday I was very sore and felt nauseous. By Sunday I was bleeding heavily, nauseous and had migraine headaches. By Monday I couldn't keep water down and had the worst headache. I called the doctor and she told me that the side effects were normal and I needed to give it time. I had read these post from Saturday and was getting worried. On Tuesday I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow. I woke up with my hands in a cramped position and couldn't feel them or my feet. I had tingling and numbness in my hands, feet and lips. I called my regular doctor who got me in right away. I had to be rolled in a wheelchair to his office because I couldn't even walk. I throw up about 4 times on the way down to hall to his office also (thankfully they had trash cans along the way). He immediately took the Mirena out and I got feeling in my hands and feet about 10 minutes later.

I was finally able to go back to work today after being out sick. I still have a dull pain on my right side around my ovaries and my stomach is very tender. I have felt like I was in a fog all day today and still a little sick to my stomach. I hope these symptoms wear off soon.

-- By dcaston | Reply | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
12:17 PM
I had my Mirena implanted after my son was born in May 2006 and at first it was okay but now I am ready to get rid of this thing. My hair started falling out really bad and it is not as bad now but I still have spells where I think I might go bald if it doesn't stop. I am always tired, always bloated, and I cant seem to get the scale to get below 160 no matter how hard I try. But the biggest problem with the side effects is the low sex drive, it is affecting my marriage. There is no way for my husband to understand what I am going through mentally and he has been very patient but if things don't get better after I get the Mirena taken out, Im afraid he might leave me.
We had a disagreement this morning and of course I was in tears most of the morning and could cry now.
Can anyone tell me how soon they got back to "normal" after having the IUD removed, especially with regards to the sex drive problem.

-- By abyrd77 | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
8:46 AM
I had Mirena implantewd in June of 2008. The first day was horrible for cramps, but then the next day everything was back to normal. 1 week later I started bleeding, extremely heavy, but that is what is mentioned as one of the side effects. My bleeding went on for almost 2 months before it finally stopped. Now my periods are a little irregular. Some times they last 2 days others go for 5 days. Other than that it's not been that bad. I had the standard side effects that my doctor covered with me and that were also mentioned in the pamphlet on Mirena.
I'm sorry to hear about the everyone misfortunes below, but I really think that you doctor should have explained it better to you, because some of the things listed below are common side effects that were mentioned.

-- By dedeja | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail September 18th
2008
1:02 AM
Hi - I posted a couple of days ago (around the 15th). I had the Mirena taken out yesterday. Yes, still bleeding. Yes, with medium to large-sized clots. Oh, I forgot this side affect also - for some time when I had it in, I had a tinging or numb-like feeling passing through my top lip - I thought I was going crazy at first but I realized it had been happening more and more and it wasn't my imagination. I've had this also since it was removed; not as often though.

Could it be that we are the "3%" that has a problem with this IUD??!! I am following up with a second opinion with another OBGYN because I was concerned that the radiological tech said my uterine lining was "very thick" and my friend's mom (who is a nurse) asked right away if the doctor was doing a D & C...(!) Any suggestions or ideas or comments???

-- By jnoto | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
9:02 PM
I just had my Mirena removed today because of some ridiculous side effects (and a couple other reasons). The side effects I had were - fatigue, nausea, headaches, NO SEX DRIVE AT ALL, vaginal dryness, hot flashes...

MY question is - about an hour after I had it removed I began to get tired. I mean REALLY tired - hard to keep my eyelids up kind of tired. Is this normal? Will this extreme fatigue pass soon?

-- By leighznich | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
4:16 PM
HI Everyone! I am a 21 year old mother of a 6 month old little boy. I have had the worst experience with the Mirena. I had it inserted in May of 2008. I am trying to have it removed but my ob/gyn won't do it. I have had severe pain everywhere especially in my head. I have been put on migraine meds but nothing has helped. I have had bleeding beyond belief. I have been bleeding almost since it was put it. Pads after pad after tampon after tampon. I have never had bleeding this heavy. I am so frustrated. I rather take a pill everyday than go through these horrible feelings

-- By vmmiller1987 | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
11:00 AM
Hi everyone, i had the Marena fitted on 1st july 08, lasted 11 weeks and gave up, nothing but bleeding, cramps, weight gain, being bloated, pelvic pains too much too mention, i had it removed 11th September best thing i ever done, i have not felt this great since before i had it fit, yeah i admit after effects are not very nice, 2 days after removal i had chronic cramping and very heavy bleeding which has all stopped now. i Feel on top of the world, i think i will just go back to my Heavy bleeding and cramps which admit only lasted 2 days, better than that awful ALIEN

-- By minigirl | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
10:21 AM
I got my Mirena inserted in February. I only had pain for the first month's period but I spotted constantly for 3 months. My mood went from 1 day of weepy PMS to as of September - 3 weeks of complete depression, moodiness, anger and I even had 2 days where I was completely not able to function. I've put on 20 lbs and even that was a fight to keep it to that. I had it removed yesterday and my Dr. said it couldn't be the Mirena because it is supposed to be non-systemic and in the 4 years she has been using it, no one has asked to have it removed. She also told me that it could be other hormone issues and she hopes the depression doesn't clear up otherwise she'll be mad that the Mirena caused it. I'm pretty sure that is what has caused it and I will prove it.

-- By mress67 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
8:04 AM
Ive had my mirena in for 6 weeks now and Ive only just turned 22. I was never informed of the real side effects of this before it was put in. I have bead depression, and very bad lower stomach pains which I am very concerned about as they come and go but are causing a great deal of discomfort from one side to another. I am very worried that it hasn't been put in properly or that it is infected so I am off to the doctors today to ask about having it removed and go back to the pill as I can no longer put up with this. Another problem is that it is also causing my boyfriend great discomfort during intercourse as he says its hurting him as it is sharp, I regret choosing this form of contraception so quickly without really looking into it first - it just seemed like an easy option but it definitely aint worth the side effects - id so much rather take the pill!

-- By lady_chloe86 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 17th
2008
7:57 AM
I am 24 with 2 children and had mirena inserted in February after going crazy with implanon. I have never really tolerated the pill either and this was the last option. 2 weeks later I was in excruciating pain in my stomach that i could barely look after my kids. My stomach was so distended i looked about 8 months pregnant. After tolerating the pain for a few days i went to my doctor and she sent me for a pelvic ultrasound. they found cysts on each ovary. 1 measured 3 inches in diameter and the other 1 was slightly smaller. Even after they dissolved i was in pain for at least a month afterwards due to my bowels and bladder being pushed around. Since then I have had no problems (touch wood) I have had minor cysts in the past but not to this extent and after doing some research found that mirena caused it. I have opted to leave it in for the time being as i am not having any other side effects that i know of from it. But if I end up getting cysts again I will definitely be getting it taken out.

-- By kendra83 | Reply | Send Private Mail September 16th
2008
4:56 PM
Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I'm a 34 year old woman. I gave birth to my daughter in October 2005 and in December 2005 I had the Mirena coil inserted. It's due to finish up this December as it's approaching the 5 year mark.. In the last 6 months, my skin has gone from being clear as a frosty sky to that of an acne ridden 15 year old. I'm breaking out on both my cheeks, neck, jawline and chest. Could this be a side effect of the "winding down" hormones in my coil? I've had the coil in almost 5 years but I'm only getting really bad skin now...... for the past 6 month or so. I've always had relatively good skin so as you can imagine, this is most distressing for me. Could it be the "last of the hormones" in the coil? Could anyone shed light on this for me? I would have thought that if my skin was going to "break out" with the coil, it would have done so almost immediately after inserting the coil in in the first place..... Not almost 5 years later! I've no allergic reactions to creams, lotions, foods, etc. My diet is quite good (I've never changed my diet so it's not diet!), I'm not stressed. I get at least one new spot every day. They last for days, or a week. They are really deep rooted so most of them I can't even "pop"! Can anyone help? It's my birthday next week so it would be the perfect birthday present......

Regards and thank you in anticipation

Y. xx

-- By yvie74 | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail September 16th
2008
9:32 AM
I have had the mirena coil for a year and a half now the insertion was incredibly painful and much worse than I was led to believe. I felt ill and for several days with feelings of being pregnant. I am 46 with 2 children age 9 and 11 so just wanted a change from the pill. I am really interested to read all the comments as I thought I was doing alright - no periods great, no particular weight gain even better but have had a backache that has just got worse and worse. I always did have a lower back problem but that had got better over time and also I do horse ride so put it down to that sometimes. However it has got a lot worse over the last year - constantly aching and over a greater area and at night I can hardly move sometimes I am so stiff. Is this anything to do with the coil? The osteopath I see suggests I check this out with the doctor but I can see from all the comments that it is a common problem. Anyway decided I can't stand it any more so about to make an appt to see doctor. And yes no libido - poor husband! and feeling irritated all the time and very tired. Difficult to know whether this part is an age thing though - gets confusing when there could be a menopause issue lurking as well - don't now how you would know!. will be eager to find out if the backache is linked or not!.

-- By mag1 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail

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Numerous side effects including but not limited to: spontaneous tendon rupture (right distal bicep), CNS agitation accompanied by anxiety and panic, extreme fatigue, digestive problems, on-going fluctuations of blood sugar level, rapid changes in body temperature, nausea, etc.

Some here insist on reporting the "good" this stuff has done (other than lining some peoples pockets with profits). I disagree. As I post this I see 2250 adverse effects have been posted previously. I urge yo all to look deeper ask the question: "Why so many problems with this class of drug?" The 2250 number is only for Levaquin..... don't forget to add in all the responses for all of the other drugs in the quinolone family. And while you are at it, find out how many other drugs have death as a side effect and how many have been reported. This is a defective drug.

Endo Cancer?

It has to be listed and discussed.
All you ladies out there that have had the Mirena removed:
Are your periods lighter than they ever were?
Are they still?
What is the time frame of having the IUD removed & your return to what is a normal period for you?

If you're still experiencing a "light" or "lighter" flow than what is your norm after having the Mirena out, get yourself to the doctor's office (NOT your Gyn), tell them you were using the Mirena & ask for an ultrasound to measure and look at your uterus. Chances are, like me, you'll have an unusually thickened endo lining. Not just thickened, but irregular as opposed to smooth.
What does this mean? Well, you shouldn't have a THICK lining that keeps growing or stays the same.
I was normal before insertion. (u-sounds done 2 weeks prior)
At about 10 days after removal, u-sounds showed an irregular thick lining measuring at 10mm.
At almost 8 weeks after removal, u-sound test showed the lining to be at 13mm.
NOTE: The "C" word starts getting used if you head toward the 15mm range.

Has anyone in your GYN office addressed this side effect with you?
Mine certainly didn't. Not one word. They didn't even tell me what to expect after my insistant demands for removal. (I called them after to report severe bleeding and clots of tissue, to which they responded was "normal".)
Ok....so if I had a heavy bleed, one would assume that the lining would be completely shed. So, why, after two cycles, and only 21 days of actual Mirena usage, is my endo lining growing like a banshee?

OMG! I thought I was losing it. Have had the Mirena since April and have gained weight (an entire dress size) for NO REASON, been foggy, moody, no sex drive, joint pains, cramps, etc.I thought I was alone, Did I mention EXHAUSTED all the time and acne on my face and back-sever enough to get antibiotics from the dermatologist?
I also suffer with PCOS--does anyoen else on the Mirena suffer with PCOS? Would be interested to see how it has affected you. Tried BC pills and after awhile they stopped working then switched to the YAZ--DO NOT GO THERE--the worst Pill ever--so not many options for those of us with PCOS. Just can't wait to go to the DR and get this thing out.

I've been taking levoxyl for 8 years now with mostly good success. My endo doctor recently upped my dose due to lab results (I think the test results were bad). Now I feel horrible. Headache, dizzy/lightheaded, blood pressure increased, tightness in throat, and muscle cramping. I've been to many specialists concerning the dizziness - everyone says I'm OK; cardiologist, ENT, and neurologist. The symptoms started a few weeks after the dose increase, and have worsened in the last week or two (about 2.5 months out).

My 17 yr old daughter received her first Gardasil on April 17,08 with only pain at the injection site on June 16th 08 she received the 2nd within days she started complaining of severe headaches and eye pain so I scheduled a routine eye exam thinking that her glasses may need to be updated. After her exam her optomatrist called me intot he room telling me that she had severe swelling of her optic nerve and scheduled her for an MRI before we could get that done she went to the ER for severe pain in the eye and headaches there they did the MRI and it was normal no tumors or anything that would cause such headaches. On July 3 she called me from work asking to be picked up because the pain was so bad she could not function at all she was weak, dizzy and overall just not feeling good. I took her to the ER again where they performed a spinal tap and tons of bloodwork and admitted her for pain control on July 5th she had a 2nd spinal tap and every day more bloodwork was performed so far ALL tests ran have come back normal. She was in the hospital 5 days. She seen her ophthalmologist a week after being released and we talked to her about the Gardasil and she felt there was enough "coincidence" to have my daughters pediatrician file a adverse reaction form. That has been done and my daughter has learned to live with the pain since nothing seems to help it anymore. Also the last 6 weeks she has had bad insomnia and nose bleeds.

46 years young now and had nine years of "no period at all" bliss. I did have heavy periods up till then. First few months a lot of spotting and crampy pains to the extend that I nearly gave up. Now, I would never go without. My daughters are jealous as they are advised that they are to young for it. I already had my 3 kids so why suffer any longer.
Any one know a cure though for a low libido? I think it got worse since the Mirena.
Also, can anyone tell me how I'll know that my menopause has started seeing that I don't have any periods?

My experience with Yasmin was decreased aggression, mood stability and increased breast size. when I stopped taking the drug, I had an increase in aggression, less fatigue and no weight loss.

My T-3 levels are fine. My blood work is fine. Not many headaches. My mood became more depressed when I stopped taking Yasmin.

Not sure if I am suited to take the drug. So, I am starting Yasmin again to see if I notice side-effects. My estrogen levels were low prior to starting Yasmin the first time. So, I am wondering if my testosterone is a bit too high, and if Yasmin levels me out so to speak.

I think those with normal estrogen levels, prior to taking Yasmin, are badly affected by Yasmin. I wonder if those of us, with lower natural estrogen levels are as badly affected by Yasmin.

Will let this site know in a few months.

ALSO get this pill from Canada - ******
It costs $22 and it is the exact same packaging, etc.

Hope this helps

I was prescribed Bactrim for 10 days. On about the 7th/8th days, I noticed my lymph nodes under my jaw were becoming very painful and swollen. By the next night my lymph nodes continued to become more swollen and painful under my jaw and spread all along under my jaw and in my neck (I looked like I had two chins!). I also then developed a fever of 102, chills, severe headache and ached all over (oh yeah, my heart was racing for days). The fever and chills made me absolutely miserable! I could barely get out of bed or off the couch for almost 4 days. The next morning after fever, chills, headache, I woke up with a red, splotchy, sunburn-like rash from my neck to my ankles, which got itchier and more painful in the next two days. My MD said the rash was a reaction to Bactrim but did not seem to know what the other symptoms were from so ordered blood tests and told me he was "concerned" for me (I was freaking out)! The bloodwork came back negative (thank God). He still didn't seem to put the other symptoms with the rash and Bactrim. I then started to research Bactrim allergies/side effects online and found this website. I found that others had experienced some of the same horrible side effects as I had. It was pretty scary until I realized this was all apparently related to Bactrim, as my MD apparently had no clue. Other's experiences helped validate what I was experiencing so thanks to you all who shared your Bactrim horror stories! I started feeling a little better 48 hours after the last Bactrim dose and at about 72 hours, I pretty much felt back to normal. No more Sulfa for me!

I was on Yasmin for a number of years and had chest pains. I also have 2 red "dots" on my hair line that formed about a year ago. I noticed my hair thinned out too. I never made the connection that it could be related to the Pill. I also had frequent headaches, but would just take some Aleve and be on my way.
Anyways, I went off in February, and it is now June, and I still have no period. I've seen the gyno, tried to take Provera, and nothing is working to help me get my period. I ended up getting some bloodwork done. My estrogen levels are extremely low (like someone that is in menopause). I AM ONLY 25!!!! I am guessing it is related to coming off Yasmin somehow. Please contact me if you have similar things, as I am now getting all the symptoms of menopause (severe hair loss, night sweats, hot flashes, uncontrollable moods).

Glad I took the time to read the noncommercial posts! During my thyroid check last year bloodwork showed high cholesterol. I was put on Crestor in addition to having my Synthroid dose adjusted. A few weeks later I was absolutely miserable. Couldn't get out of bed. Everything hurt. My doctor thought I was "depressed" and asked if I wanted anti-depressants. Not needing to add another pill to my daily repertoire - I declined. Six weeks later I am feeling worse and just want to lay down and cry. The doctor had no idea why I would be feeling that way and was convinced it was either depression or thyroid issue. I was getting ready to leave for a trip to Mexico that had been planned a year in advance and was non-refundable - and I didn't have the strength to even pack the stupid suitcase. The trip was a bust - I laid in a pool chair just feeling crappy. What a waste!

Funny thing - nobody stopped to consider I've had a thyroid problem for 20 years and this horrid nightmare just started after I started taking Crestor! A few weeks later I stopped the Crestor entirely and after a couple of months I felt back to normal. Now, three years later - I've been talked into taking Lipitor. In my naivety (because I explained to the doctor that Crestor made me ill) I trusted that it would be different. It's taken three weeks for me to put two and two together - but here I am again - muscle aches - can't get out of bed. Everything just hurts. My knees, arms, mostly shoulders and in between. With all that is an overall lethargic feeling. Lipitor stops today -and if the pattern continues and I feel better in a few weeks - it's no statins for me ever again. I'll just have to eat like I'm supposed to and hope for the best!

I had my Mirena removed three days ago and I already feel like if my life is back. I had Mirena since January of 2006 and I had been feeling like another woman for the last six months...The horrible side affects included: Lower back pain, fatigue, depression, cloudiness, slurred speech, rapid heart rate, thinning hair, high blood pressure and the list goes on.....I can't thank one of my co-workers enough for opening up my eyes to take this thing out of me....Of course the doctor told me that the Mirena had nothing to do with the way I was feeling, but I decided to have it removed anyways. He sent me to do some bloodwork, so I did this morning...He's blaming the way I felt on my thyroid....I'll keep you posted....No matter what.... I am glad the Mirena is out!!!

I'm not a person who usually has bad reactions to antibiotics but I've never been so miserable as I was taking this drug. I felt excruciating pain in my stomach all day, every day, while taking this medicine. I stopped taking it almost a week ago and I still feel like I have a big lump in my throat making it very painful to swallow. And the worst part is that it was prescribed to me "just in case", so I didn't even have to be taking it. Luckily as soon as my bloodwork came back negative for any bacterial infection things, they let me stop taking it, but like I said, I still feel ill and my throat is killing me.

I got mirena inserted in august of '07. I have always been the most laid back and happy person. over the last 6 months I have turned into an anxious, depressed, and physically ill person I do not even recognize anymore. The right side of my face and head have gone partially numb. I got an MRI and various bloodwork done which all came back normal. My doctor says that i now may be suffering from an anxiety disorder which shocks anyone who knows me. I feel depressed most of the time and feel like a bad mother to my 3 kids. And my hair is falling out so bad that I have bald spots on the back of my head and my hairline is also receding on my neck. I used to have unusually thick hair. I have been trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with me and now seeing this website I will talk to my doctor about it at my appointment on Friday. Thanks for your posts. Will update after appt.

I received my first shot of Gardasil in January 2007. It could have started sooner, but about a month later my hairdresser noticed a bald spot in the back of my head. I rushed back to my ObGyn and asked her if the Gardasil could be the cause as nothing else had recently changed. She said that she had not heard of this, but she referred me to a dermatologist. I asked him if my hair loss had anything to do with the Gardasil. He replied that I had Alopecia areata and one thing had nothing to do with the other. He advised that I continue with the Gardasil and that he would start treating me for the alopecia. I wish that I would not have listened. I don't know what would have happened if I had stopped then, but I didn't I proceeded with the treatment to the end now over half of my head is bald!!!
I don't know what to do. I keep going back to the dermatologist for treatments for the alopecia, but it just keeps getting worse.
If anyone has had a similar experience and would like to share or has found some other treatments that work, please post a reply.

Melissa

Like most of you state in your posts.........I cannot begin to describe how relieved I am to have found this site. I honestly thought I was losing my mind. I had Mirena placed in December '06. It was uncomfortable during the actual procedure, but not too bad. Then within a day or two I was in severe pain and bleeding like crazy with severe lower back pain. I was told to take ibuprofen and allow my body to "adjust". I went for my follow-up ultrasound and the placement looked fine although I was still bleeding like crazy and very uncomfortable. After several more calls they brought be back in for another ultrasound, told me that my uterus must have gotten bacteria in it during placement and that I had an infection. They sent me home on antibiotics and pain medicine. I bled pretty regularly for 6 months straight accompanied by lower back pain, fatigue, and headaches. Finally the bleeding let up only to be followed by a multitude of other nasty side effects. Depression, anxiety, fogginess, forgetfulness (severe), waking up with headaches every morning, nausea (to the point that I can't tell you how many pregnancy tests I've taken), weight change (redistribution, thicker waist, tummy, and hips even though actual number only changed by about 5 pounds), feeling swollen and bloated when I wake up in the morning, NO libido whatsoever and feel like crying during sex because it's nearly impossible to reach orgasm (this has never been a problem previously), hair loss (becoming more noticeable over time), dandruff, boil-like acne on my face and back, dry eyes and blurred/double vision, chronic yeast infections and dryness in that area too. The list goes on and on. I went to three different doctors and had tons of bloodwork done, all came back normal (thyroid, hormones etc....) I was told over and over that it couldn't be the Mirena. HA! How can this many women be delusional? I called last week and got an appointment for May 20 to get it removed. After reading this forum my husband called the doctor himself and I don't know what he said, or how he managed to do it.........but I'm going in tomorrow morning at 10:20 am to get it removed and you better believe I'm going in armed with this website and others I've found. Physicians need to be more aware of this! Even if it's not common, it's miserable for the 1 in 1,000 woman who gets the worst of the side effects. It's literally ruining my life and my marriage. It's impossible to be a good wife and mother when you feel terrible everyday.

-Amanda

Yasmin - Sudden Panic/Anxiety-

I have been on Yasmin for 7 years. I started a new box and pack 3 weeks ago and 72 hours later had what I thought was a "panic attack". I had never suffered panic or anxiety before and I am 32. Then, the chest pain and anxious feeling wouldn't go away (not normal with panic I hear). I went to the Dr and my bloodwork was all "great". I went to a cardiologist and they tested my heart. It was indeed beating "extra" so I had to be one a monitor. Still, the entire time I was miserable and wondering what the heck had happened to me. How could I go from being a normal, well adjusted women to a crazy lady in one day. I was crying and couldn't function, concentrate or eat. I felt like an "out of body" type of experience almost, like it wasn't really me who was feeling all this. Very disoriented feeling. Well, the Dr gave me anxiety pills and I was going to take them. But, in the meantime I went on the "sugar pills" of my Yasmin and guess what? 72 hours after I stopped the pills I felt normal again!!! I'm still not 100%, I'm 90%. Now I have no hard evidence that Yasmin caused this, particularly since I've been on it so long but I can't help wondering if they changed the dosages or something. I have NEVER experienced any level of anxiety or panic before this and going off the pills was the only thing I changed when I started feeling better. Sounds like more than a coincidence to me.

Has this happened to anyone else recently???

My 15 y.o. daughter has has first hand experience with weight gain on Advair. About 6 years ago at about 9 y.o., she gained 20 lbs in 6 months - and it started happening exactly when she started the drug. She was very active (swim team, gymnastics, etc) and did not overeat. It is very frustrating that both her pediatrician and her asthma/allergy specialist deny that her small dose of Advair is to blame.

For some reason, and I have talked to others that this has happened to, switching to Singulair did not help her with the weight problem. Seems the people who are hypersensitive to inhaled steroids are also sensitive to Singulair. Concerned about her rapid weight gain, and because she was always so thin, I took her to an endocrinologist to rule out any other problems. After a lot of bloodwork, he concluded that he could not rule out that it was a side effect of the Advair and/or Singulair, and that they may have elevated her blood sugar. I have read tons and tons of postings on the internet about children & adults rapidly gaining weight from inhaled corticosteroids (i.e. Flovent, Advair), along with the round face, bloated stomach, stretch marks, thin skin, easy bruising, etc. but nobody ever says what happens after stopping any of these drugs. Do people ever go back to normal? Do kids look like themselves again? Do any of the side effects disappear?

She is now 15 y.o. and cannot reverse her weight gain no matter what (30 lbs overweight). The last 2 years, she has only been on a small dose of Pulmicort (a different class of corticosteroid even safe to take when pregnant) since she has mild persistent asthma, and allergy shots have helped trememdously. My husband and I have been looking for 6 years now on how to avoid our daughter's weight gain with asthma drugs. If you run into any info., please let us know. Any experiences or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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!