Any one have Mirena IUD? (cysts, ovary, implant, infection)

[Izuara]

I don't know. But I had regular copper IUD for almost a year now. And I fed up with it. I'm that type of person who can't take any Pills. I will experienced all sides effect listed on their leaflets. And I tried many of those Pills (same effect). Patch did the same job. So, I decided to give a try IUD. I used to have one many-many years ago back in my country. It was made in Finland, a regular T-shaped device. It went in easy, but on my way back home I almost passed out in the bus. I had one for 3 months, it got misplaced and Doctor removed it. It cost me $10.

Here, in America, was another story: I paid $480 to the company ParaGard directly and was reimbursed by insurance after about 10 calls and 2 hours of conversation, b/c first Insurance claimed that they covered it 100% and later they told me that in their OWN papers this device cost only $260. I’m not bringing up now the fact that I told them about $480 hundred times before taking that road and every time got assurance that amount is fine to them….

Anyway, the insertion of IUD was more or less OK. I got home happy that that was over. But woke up at night b/c something was poking me from inside. I quickly realized strings were left to long. And next morning I rushed to the Doctor office, who trimmed them down. The bleeding itself was heavy, but soon it stopped and I was expecting some discomfort at beginning.

Tampons. My only concern was “Can I Still Use Tampons?”. I called ParaGuard and they told me that it is not advisable if not against it. But my Doctor Okayed it. If it was so easy… Heavy bleeding brought Super size Tampons and they are not so easy to remove, every time I had to make sure that strings of IUD didn’t somehow attached to Tampon… One time I thought I really pulling out my IUD and had to stop to pull and got really scared.

Cramps. I always have cramps. But now they've become really crampy and happened much more often. Sometimes I have to sit down and wait till they will pass. They are sooooo painful. My Doctor told me that it will go away. (A year is not enough?)

Spotting. Spotting is driving me mad. They usually occurs after cramps. And always unexpected. I'm mentioning the fact that ruined most of my paties(Doctor told me that this will go away too, but I think I 've got it even more now.)

Bloating. This one is horrible. I actually never had it before that much. But now, I’m not only bloating I can feel something is causing a discomfort inside me as well. (Call it all being in my head, but that’s how I feel it…)

Sex. Sometimes it’s painful. And my husband feels strings sometimes. The time for sex is shorting too. It’s either period (which is longer now), either cramps and spotting.

As to me between having cramps, and spotting, and heavy bleeding during periods, a so-called freedom of safe-sex, doesn’t appeal to me anymore. I think good old way of using condoms is more humane way toward women….

Nausea. Yeah, I begin to feel nauseated the very next day after inserting the IUD. And it never went away (as my Doctor promised me). In fact, this summer I spent in my Gastroenterologist’s office thinking that my GI may be the reason behind nausea.

Dizziness. That was my latest development. On top of nausea, cramps, spotting, I developed dizziness this summer. And it’s here with me almost every day. As you understand it less and less makes me wanted to have a sex as I’m lying down after a full day with 2 kids all I’m thinking about is a rest.

To tell the story short I have decided to remove IUD as of this January. It makes me sad to think about wasting money for making myself feeling sick. But to live like that is almost impossible.

I think there are some people who can develop other than a listed side effects due to, who knows copper toxic (one can be allergic to it easily). Or, due to allergic reaction to foreign object into body (may be my body is rejecting this IUD and developed all those”side effects” for me to let me know about it…). Who knows. But one thing I know for sure: it was very unpleasant expensive experience.

So, if you decide to go with it and have IUD – best of luck, honestly, may be it will be the best solution for you.

(In my country they used to offer IUDs to every girl, who was having an abortion and was looking for other protection than pills and most of my friends did have one without any problems and complications.)

All the best!

[Mattie Jo]

Izuara,

I am glad to hear that you are taking your IUD out. What will do do then?

[fjtee]

I know this is an old post, but I'm bringing it back. I'm pretty miserable with my IUD - depression, cramps, PMS, dizziness, and all sorts of other lovely side effects. So, I'm going to have it yanked out. To those of you who have had it removed, did it hurt? If it did, how long did it take to recover from the pain?

[Izuara]

Here is an update on my IUD story:

Yes, I took it out. In March of 2008. After having it (and feeling miserable) for a year and 2 months!

It went out easy and smooth, although I was prepared for pain. It didn't happened.

My Doctor agreed to take it out after checking the list of my complains (and, boy, he was so happy for listening me!). After removing the device he told me that it looked like it have been in me for at least 3 years (so worn out it was). Also, he told me that my body was rejecting it by producing all those "side effects", that I'm simply allergic to (if not to copper) but to foreign objects (I guess breast implants wouldn't work for me either ). My Doctor told me about 5 times that it was the greatest idea to remove IUD and how much trouble it would bring me in the future.

In about 2 weeks most of my "complains" were gone, literary. Every day I felt better and better. No more spotting, cramping, pain, heavy bleeding, nausea, dizziness is almost gone (almost!) .... Freedom!

And you know what? May be it will sound cruel and harsh, but screw men: why we always have to suffer in order to make them "happy"...? Let them "protect" themselves, so we can relax and enjoy the moment! (I can not use Pills, IUD is not for me. Which leaves me with only one way of protection - a classic one... so it is now his turn to go to "after" shower while I can watch TV !!!)

It's just so not fair, that the burden of "family planning" is put completely on us, women! We are the ones who are playing with our hormones and health after all...

[fjtee]

Thanks, Izuara. I'm glad you are feeling a lot better. I hope to be free of my complaints soon, too. If not, then at least I've eliminated one culprit. I'm looking forward to not having to use BC, too, as my husband promised get a vasectomy soon. If not, then I think he'll suffer more than me. Unless I cave in during the heat of the moment and we end up with a 3rd child. Yikes!

[moonshadow]

Originally Posted by fjtee

I know this is an old post, but I'm bringing it back. I'm pretty miserable with my IUD - depression, cramps, PMS, dizziness, and all sorts of other lovely side effects. So, I'm going to have it yanked out. To those of you who have had it removed, did it hurt? If it did, how long did it take to recover from the pain?

Hi fjtee.

I'm late to this thread I guess but I have had a Mirena removed and I can't say it was the best experience I've ever had by a long shot but I did recover from the pain quite quickly. I had the Mirena inserted under general anaesthetic after my gynae made several attempts at insertion at a general consult. I had it in for about 12 months to help with hyperplasia and it did, however I discovered that my hair was starting to fall out. When I had eliminated all other possibilities for the hair loss, I investigated on the internet and could see that other women had also experienced hair loss from the IUD even though it wasn't listed in the product info as a side effect. Armed with that information I went to my GP and we discussed it, she made enquiries with a colleague, a pharmacollogy specialist who agreed it was most likely the IUD and that others had had hair loss as a side effect. I immediately made an appointment with my gynae and after a discussion had it removed that day. I've felt much better since I had it removed and luckily there has been no return of the hyperplasia AND my hair is back to normal.

As far as having the Mirena, I was very happy with it but for that side effect but I am more happy without it.

The pain at removal, well I didn't like it at all but it was quick and apart from some cramping afterwards I was fine. Hope that helps.

[mirena2186]

Feeling cramps or any kind of abdominal discomfort during the first week is completely normal.
I have had my Mirena IUD for three years now as of July 20th and i had those same things in the beginnning but since then haven't had any side effects or symptoms what-so-ever.

My mother had the Delcon Shield which was the first IUD that was ever made and it made it so that she couldn't have kids (I was adopted) and she is still getting paid hundreds of dollars by the government every year for it. IUD's have been researched more since then and have gotten exponentially better.

My advice is not to worry about! Don't let these other women scare you!

Originally Posted by galval

"The copper IUD is very safe (as are all IUDs for that matter). "It's not your mother's IUD!"

You are sadly mistaken!! I had a MIRENA IUD placed on June 27, 2007 (that's pretty recent times I would say) and not only did I have crazy side affects from day one, when I went back two weeks later for an second ultrasound to check it (the doctor confirmed correct placement with ultrasound since I have five children and would kill her if I got pregnant) the stupid thing had POKED THROUGH MY UTERUS INTO MY PELVIS!!! She had to send me for a CAT scan to see where it was, and I had to go through laparoscopic surgery to remove that piece of crap!!! This device IS NOT SAFE!!! I have told every woman that I have come into contact with since then what happened in hopes that the MIRENA will be off of the market. The incident was the second occurence in as many months for my doctor who had suspected that the first incident was because the lady had a c-section and had a weakened spot in her uterus, but I have never had a c-section and in her opinion was the perfect candidate for the IUD. My doctor no longer carries MIRENA IUD's because of this! I know every woman is different, and some have no problems with this form of birth control, but NEVER claim that something is safe when there are SO MANY horror stories that are recent on the web about this topic!!! That is just IRRESPONSIBLE![/quote]

I would like to know, what crazy side effects exactly you had from day one? I just got the Mirena placed on August 8th of this year (4 days ago) and I'm having bad cramps and pain in my cervix. Your story got me very nervous. Please explain what where you feeling the next weeks after you got the IUD.
I apreciate your Information.[/quote]

[skbs]

Originally Posted by winters816

I got my IUD after my third child and have had it for 2 years. I have been suffering from nausea and dizziness since. Im not sure if its related to the IUD. I never did well with the pill so now im wondering if I just don't react well to hormones. I have talked to my doc she said it is not a side effect, but I just don't know anymore. Has anyone else had similar experience with the IUD. Please post all your experience with the IUD. I am thinking about switching to the 10 yr copper cause it is hormone free, I would also like to know experience with that as well, Thanks!!
If you are a health proffesional please state so.

I had the 10 year and my body rejected it... I would spot and the cramping was unbarable... my dr suggested I have it removed and I did after my hubby had a vasectomy a year ago... I was glad to not have to deal with the pill ona daily basis... but the amount of time I spent cramped and spotting wasn't worth it.

[Butterflybaby]

I had the Mirena inserted after the birth of my 2nd child. The insertion was excruitiating, like childbirth again. I loved it at first, if anything, I felt more stable emotionally. But it made me have terrible acne. So I decided to have it removed.
At my pap exam, 1 yr after insertion, In November to be exact, the strings were located confirming that it was still in place. I n February, I had about 2 weeks on light, unexplained bleeding, but no pain. I call the Doc and she suggested stress. I knew that wasn't it. But the bleeding stopped, so I thought no more of it. In March I went to have it removed so I could have the Essure procedure done. They couldn't find the strings. No big deal they said, sometimes the strings get pulled up inside the uterus. He would remove it at the same time I went under for the Essure procedure. When I woke up, he said it wasn't there! It must have fallen out and I didn't know it. How is that possible? I thought. But, whatever.
I went in for a dye test to make sure my tubes were blocked, and radiologist was studying the screen and lo and behold---there it was, my IUD, floating free in my abdomen. It had perforated and migrated thru my uterus. He said to leave it there unless I experienced any pain.
I got a new Dr, and its getting laporoscopically removed this Friday. 11-7-08 If it migtrated thru my uterus, whats to stop it from going thru my bowel?? It may not cause a problem now, or in 10 years, but when it does and I need emergency surgery, what if I don't have health insurance at the time? My instincts say Get It Out!

[doglover29]

I have briefly considered other forms of birth control, including IUDs, but after reading all these horror stories, am glad that I have always went with condoms. I have never used any other birth control method, and have been married for almost five years. Yes, they don't allow you to be spontaneous, but I'd rather take that than risk messing with my hormones, having pain and spotting, etc. I also don't think it's wise to alter the monthly menstrual cycle or eliminate it altogether. One of the helpful things physiologically about the menstrual cycle is that it rids the female body of excess iron, as we menstruate.

In general, I don't think it's fair for women to have to subject themselves to messing with their hormones or having to use devices which cause pain and so many side effects, while men don't have to do any of this. If physiologically, men were the ones who had to bear most of the birth control burden, do you think they would be so enthusiastic about subjecting themselves to pain and side effects? I guess I don't understand why any woman would want to endure even the most mild side effect for the purpose of being able to have spontaneous sex, when condoms are readily available, convenient, and side effect free.