Mirena (hormonal IUD)

[laurelbrittney]

Just to let anyone know who read my earlier post I am now getting my Mirena removed on July 11. I don't want it to hurt like it did getting it put in but I want it gone. Also I have now noticed other symptoms that influenced my decision making- I have HORRIBLE acne on my face and chest, swollen ankles/hands/ feet, oily hair, nausea and have gained weight and now AF is kinda crazy. I had not had AF since October when I got the Mirena but now as of a few hours ago I am spotting.

[Eva37]

so sorry that you cant get on with the mirena, laurel. All the best for its removal Fri. You'll be fine. I got one removed a few months back. (it had run out). It kind of feels like a little bit of scratching when it comes out, but nothing horrible.
eva

[Blue03]

OK, now you ladies really have me thinking. I was just dx on Wednesday (07-16-08) and my Dr wants to put me on Mirena. Now I am really nervous about it. I am still physically trying to recover from getting Depo shots 14 years ago. That caused all kinds of problems that have never been the same for me. I already have a lot of weight to lose so I don't want anything that is going to make me go even higher. To be honest, that scares me more the anything else. Can you give me any more info that could help?

[farmgrrl]

Mirena won't make you gain weight or give you the same side effects as depo. The hormones in Mirena stay in the uterus. It is very helpful to women with PCOS as it keeps the uterine lining thin, which reduces the risk of hyperplasia and cancer. It was a very positive experience for me. The only thing is I wanted to TTC very soon after having it removed, so my doctor put me on meds to build my lining back up faster than it normally would.

[Eva37]

i was worried about my weight, too blue. Ive had 2 mirenas - 1 lasted 4 years, had this 2nd one about 6 months. It's been fine. Not effected my weight either way.
eva

[Blue03]

thank you that makes me feel so much better to hear about the positive results too.

[BJewels79]

I should update my story here....on July 1st I went in to havemy Mirena removed after having it just over a year. Mostly due to non stop bleeding after my son weaned, but also because I've always had odd painon my right side. Well, she couldn't get it So I went for an u/s to determine exactly where it was and it couldn't be found. Finally I had xrays and it was seen. I had laparoscopic surgery yesterday to have it removed. That was a breeze compared to the insertion and then the attempted removal of it! I am only a bit sore around the incision made in my belly button. In the end, the IUD had perforated my uterus and was sitting behind it! It was moving into different positions (based on my xrays, one was standing and one was laying down) hence my pain coming and going. Just want everyone to be very aware if you start to have any strange pains or bleeding...it very well could be problems with Mirena!

[CurlyChica]

WOW! Scary stuff! I'm glad you are ok! I just got my Mirena put in on Monday and it's stories like yours that definitely make me second guess myself. So far I have been ok- no bleeding, some cramps (none today) and a little headachy off and on. Other than that I have felt normal.

I haven't read the entire thread (I'm gonna go back and read) but in case you didn't mention it, when did you begin feeling pain? And when do they think it perforated the uterus? While it was in there or during insertion?

[BJewels79]

Just thought I'd add my experience here since I am currently researching my BCP options....

I got my Mirena a little over a year ago, 8 wks after having my second son. At the time I was breastfeeding and as with my first son, I didn't expect to see AF at all during that year until my son weaned. My initial issues with the Mirena was the pain. I spotted for a good 3 months and had sharp pains that continued for about a month or so longer. Then it seemed to just stop bothering me. No AF, no cramps, etc. In March of this year (after BF for 13 months) I got pneumonia and my son weaned during that time. Within one week of him weaning I got AF. A very very heavy AF worse than my post partum bleeding had ever been. It lasted for almost 2 weeks, but I decided to wait it out and see if my body adjusted. It's now almost June and I have had heavy heavy AF every 2-3 wks since March. In the past month, I've also gotten horrible acne which I never had before. So I finally made the decision to have it removed (July 1st, I can't wait!). I'll try to remember to update if things get better after it's gone. I never had "regular" AF, but I did have one at least every 3 months, but come on, every 2-3 weeks is crazy and each time I was left extremely fatigued I just hope to find a BCP that will work well for me.

Just quoting my very first post about it above....Basically, I've had pain on and off since getting it, but I think most of it was either initial pain from the insertion and cramps (even though I wasn't having AF at the time). That lasted for maybe 6 months straight, but then seemed to get better. However, once the bleeding started the pain did come back. Most of the time I thought it was either wickedly bad cramps or cysts. My OB leaned towards it being cysts. I just knew something had to change for me.

That was until we discovered the missing IUD! I was the very first case she had ever had of a perforated uterus, so don't be too scared I love my OB very much, she is the best doctor I have ever been to and I trust her fully. However, she was initially shocked to discover the IUD gone. Actually, before she even attempted removal she tried to talk me into keeping it a few more months to see if the bleeding stopped (since DS had just weaned), but I told her I was DONE with it. In the end it was found behind my uterus and she even printed out pictures that she took during surgery for me. So yeah, it was done with me too apparently.

I just recommend being very aware of your body and if something doesn't feel *right* as far as pain/bleeding, then have it checked out, it definitely can't hurt! And if you or your OB can't feel your strings, insist on an u/s. I had an u/s after my initial insertion because of missing strings (it was in the right spot at that point about 6 weeks after insertion). So at some point after that it broke through my uterus and ended up where it was found. My OB leans towards the fact that I was 8 wks PP and nursing when it was inserted, she said my uterus would have been weaker and shrinking down slowly and that the perforation probably started then until it was fully out. However, thankfully, my uterus appears fine and ironically I had absolutely NO cysts on my ovaries at all! In the past I had the classic *string of pearls* on u/s but my OB saw nothing but perfectly healthy ovaries. She thinks the only thing that saved me from getting pregnant was the small amount of localized hormones the Mirena has since it's placement obviously was doing nothing for me

I'm just happy to have it out. AF started the day before surgery and cramps from that are worse than the pain of surgery. The pretty much constant pain I had on my right side seems to be gone, granted I'm only just now over 24 hrs since removal, but it is a marked improvement from what I was feeling. I'm starting Yaz on Sunday, I just hope it works well for me!

[CurlyChica]

wow!

Well I'm not BF and I am 5 1/2 months PP (just got it this past Monday) so I guess my uterus should be more than prepared for it... It is just still scary that u had an u/s 6 weeks after insertion and all was well... what did they say about the strings missing? Did they go up inside of you at that point? My dr also said that perforation is very rare but I have read of a few more cases of what happened to you online on other forums when I was researching... Thanks for your tips- I will definitely request an u/s if I feel anything is wrong... Good luck with the Yaz!

[BJewels79]

Well, actually my OB was surprised that she couldn't find my strings at that first check to be sure it was correct, she thought she'd left them too long! But she assured me after seeing it on the u/s that they were just *sucked up* into my cervix, but that eventually they should/would make their way down. Obviously not in my case. But I did see it clearly on the u/s that day, so I wasn't worried a bit! But heavy bleeding and pain I can only take so much of ya know?

[BJewels79]

And I just noticed your siggie My youngest baby boy was born February 5, 2007!

[Eva37]

bjewel - sorry youve had such a bad time with the mirena.

[CurlyChica]

Bjewels- I hear ya on the pain and how much you can take! I am giving myself to my follow up- which is on the 29th of August for any uncomfortable side effects to run their course. Spotting I can deal with... some cramps I can deal with... the occasional headache I can deal with... but any of these excessively and I may reconsider. However, I have felt great the last two days- minor cramping and just the slightest bit of headache every now and then. Hope fully it is a good sign!

[BJewels79]

Definitely give it a fair chance. I really really wish it had worked out better for me. And honestly, if it hadn't perforated, I think it would have been a good match for me. I think all of my issues with it were solely from that one rare complication.