Discovery Home & Health

Hi All,
There are many women who have had their Mirena IUD/coil removed due to negative experiences (weight gain, bloating, back pain, foggy thinking, etc.). I thought it would be great to have a new topic where women who have had the IUD removed can share their experience post-Mirena.
Alison

Hi All,
To get us started - here is my story

In May of 2003 I had my Mirena fitted. Insertion went very smoothly for me. During the first couple of years with the coil in I didn't have too many concerns with the Mirena. I started Wellbutrin soon after having the coil inserted and lost 20 lbs in the first 3 or 4 months (common side effect for Wellbutrin). I stopped after about 9 months and gained some of it back. Then, last year I started Lexapro. I gained about 5 more pounds and was a lot more fatigued than usual but blamed it on the Lexapro.

It was about 7 months into taking Lexapro, however, that things took a turn for the worse. I had a rapid weight gain of about 7 lbs in less than 2 weeks and was feeling very bloated and puffy (especially in the face). My fatigue also got worse. I went to the Dr. and they did some blood tests and everything came back normal.

Over the next 4 to 5 weeks I gained another 10 lbs and still felt like crap. I went back to the Dr. and they ran some more blood work including a Thyroid check. Everything came back normal. I stopped taking the Lexapro at that time hoping maybe that was the problem. This was back in December of last year (2005)

During this time I had been doing some of my own research. I read that estrogen dominance could cause some of the problems I was having. So, I ordered a personal saliva test. The results came back about 3 weeks later showing extremely low free estrogen and progesterone (my free progesterone was off the charts low). I showed them to my Dr. and thinking they looked low (he isn't that well versed in hormone levels) he referred me to an Endocrinologist. My appointment was scheduled for 3 weeks later.

While waiting for the appointment with the Endo I began to suspect the Mirena might be the cause of my problems. After all, I had stopped having my period and was pretty sure I wasn't ovulating either. That had to have some effect on my body.

So, I made an appointment with my GYN to have it taken out figuring that is the only way I would really know. I showed up for the appointment and the Dr. was prepared to take it out. She asked what I didn't like about it and I told her that I actually liked it a lot, I was just concerned that it might be causing some of the recent symtoms I had been experiencing. It was at that point that she suggested we hold off and do some additional tests before making the final decision. She ordered some blood work (to check and see if I was perimenopausal) and also ordered a sonogram to check for PCOS. Of course, everything came back as normal.

I decided to hold off on making a final decision on the Mirena until I had met with the Endo. The Endo didn't seem too concerned about the low estrogen and progesterone. She said that it was pretty normal for someone who wasn't ovulating any more. She instead ordered some additional tests (including a more detailed thyroid check...supposedly the basic thyroid screening isn't always accurate).

At this point I started to read a lot about hypothyroidism and became convinced that I had a thyroid problem. All the symptoms fit. After 2 grueling weeks waiting for results, and becoming more confident every day that it was a Thyroid problem, I finally got the results. NORMAL. I wasn't even borderline.

So - back to the Mirena. Could it really be the cause of my problems? Given the fact that I didn't really have many problems for the first two years on it I wasn't fully convinced. But, it was a variable I had to take into consideration.

SOOOO - long story short I made an appointment with my GYN and had the IUD taken out yesterday (3/1). It was a painless experience for me. I didn't feel a thing. I'm sure the fact that I have given birth to three children (the last which was almost 9 lbs) had something to do with it.

After it was removed I experienced some mild cramping, a little bit of bleeing and a very slight headache for the remainder of the day. That's about it.

There was no change in the scale when I jumped on it this morning but I do feel a little less bloated (could just be my imagination).

I figure it will take a little while for my system to rebound. I'll keep everyone posted.

Alison

Hi everybody,
Its been seven days since i had mirena removed i was feeling great till today had a bad day, feeling very down has anybody else felt like that after removal of coil. I had a very heavy period over the weekend which was large clots and made me feel very tired. The foggy thinking came back today and tiredness, hopefully this will disappear? [|)]

Hi There,
I'm new to this forum but I am getting desperate to have this Mirena coil removed. I was persuaded to have this coil instead of being steralised and that was 2 yrs 3mnths ago. Since then I have never had it checked and the side effects are utterly draining. I feel sick all the time and the pain in my front feels like I'm going to come on all the time. I have never had heavy periods and this thing has never stopped my periods, in fact, I bleed for 5 days and look pregnant for 2 wks of the month. I rip my boyfriends head off constantly with shocking mood swings and I don't recognise the person I have become.
I do have a serious medical condition aswell, but this was never taken into consideration and I'm not sure if it's affecting the illness. Thats M.S.I'm not even sure if I'm posting on the right forum

B3cca...... there is huge thread of women sharing their negative mirena experiences over here:

http://discoveryhealth.co.uk/forum3/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1472&whichpage=1

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!


My Mirena was removed December 2005, it had been fitted for over three years and although things had been fine in the beginning the accumalitive effects of long term use really started to hit me at the two year point. Of course, i didn't immediately attribute these side effects to the mirena, after all, it had been there 2 years already!

I had many of the classic symptons that have been discussed in the main thread, mood swings and weight gain being the worst, but coupled with abdominal pain, acne, lank greasy hair, fatigue and a non existant sex drive.

my poor husband! but what a great contraceptive, after all, who wants to get close to a bloated spotty woman who may shout at you or burst into tears with no warning? no chance of getting pregnant here!

After removal i did feel better straight away (probably placebo effect tho!) and am now up to my third cycle (had no periods at all whilst on mirena) cycle has come back very regular, tho quite heavy, but manageable. My libido resurfaced almost immediately (was a happy christmas!) and spots had cleared up by second cycle. Energy and moods have gotten better gradually, so didn't really notice it happen but looking back i can see i am much better and even friends have noticed. Have tearful pms tho, but once a month thats ok, on mirena it was constant.

i put on at least 35 lbs whilst on mirena and in two months have shed 16.5lbs, so almost half way back. This is not disapearing by accident, but with a healthy eating plan and increased activity levels. Weirdly enough since the mirena came out i find it far easier to eat healthily and no longer have cravings for chocolate and doughnuts. I believe this has something to do with how the progestin in mirena effects insulin levels.

I know that some women have reported a mood crash at around 7 to 10 days after removal, this didn't happen to me but it makes sense as our bodies have to relearn how to make progesterone rather than accept the synthetic hormone in the mirena. after removal of the synthetic i will take a few days to clear out and the natural process will not have gotten it together yet.

Just hold tight ladies! we have to think of it as a slow recovery that will hopefully be complete around 6 months after removal.

amanda c

Seems to be perfectly normal reaction from what I have been reading. Had my Mirena out nearly three weeks now, bled like mad for 2/3 days with huge clots, very draining, but all that stopped, really bad mood crash days 9/10 was really angry and weepy, that also has passed and am now feeling so much better. Boobs back to normal no more pain! sex life back on track, all the old feelings back, and enjoying it!! Not cranky any more, actually laughing again! My partner cant believe it, hope it lasts!! The only thing that hasnt changed is I still feel really tired and tummy bloated, but not as bad as it was, so all in all things getting much better, so glad I had it removed, I am a different person! Good luck, things will get better!
[]

Hello ally_cat,
and, Thank you BettyBean for the link.

Hi everyone
i have posted several times on 'mirena weight gain' thread but have decided to post here as i have now had the mirena out for about 14 weeks.

When it first came out i felt great! but after a couple of weeks all my symptoms i had when it was in came back but much worse (nausea 24/7, backache, moodiness, bloating stomach pains, ibs) to name but a few. However i decided to ride it out as i had read on others posts that this can happen as part of the detox.

So 14 weeks down the line and things are looking up. I have had 2 'normal' periods which although heavy were regular and didn't last longer than 5 days in total so i'm pleased with that side of things.

However, and this is where i'm after some advice, on about days 25-30 of cycle i still suffer pretty bad nausea and have to tell myself that its just hormonal and i'm not coming down with norovirus or something. Does anyone else suffer like this or know if its a common symptom of either PMS or ovulation? It does feel familiar to morning sickness as i get bad fatigue as well.

I am taking magnesium, a B complex and multi vits but was wondering if anyone had any tips i havn't tried yet.

I do feel better that now i have a regular-ish cycle i know it is almost certainly hormone related but would love to be able to lead a more normal life and not have to avoid going out to eat etc. on days when i know i am going to feel 'yuk'!!!

Any advice welcome

thanks

stephe

It's interesting you say "flu like" I have a thread somewhere describing my fatigue, and flu like symptoms (aches etc) a few days before my period. (This was pre-mirena and pre-post-mirena). I've assumed it was when my progesterone dropped.

Fis 23

Thank you so much for your reply it has given me hope that i will come out of this post mirena blues. There are so many women suffering like us out there i am so glad i found this website. I am now on day nine of removal and things seem to be getting better slowly. []

Hello! I had originally posted on the "mirena and weight gain" thread, but I think I kinda got overlooked. I have an appt. on Tuesday to have mine removed. I LOVED it up until I stopped nursing my daughter. She was completely weaned (night time feedings) around 18 months and every since then my body has been in shock. I couldn't sleep, was BEYOND moody and gained about 20 pounds in about 6 months. I plan to get back on the pill but wondering if I should not be on any type of hormones until my body gets back on track. I also read someone was taking primrose oil and a few other things to feel better. I've been taking a B-complex and multi vitamin. Hope I can continue to get more insight and suggestions! Thanks in advance!

Hi All,
Well, it's been 4 days since I had it removed and I wish I could say that I feel better. I feel a little less "in a fog" and my boobs don't hurt anymore, but I am still bloated & fatigued and am more irritable than usual. My back is also starting to hurt. I'm not giving up hope, though. Having not ovulated for at least a year I assume my body needs time to readjust.

Just curious...how many of you feel that the lack of ovulation that results from Mirena use is the cause of your symptoms?

For me, I think this is the case. I feel that the lack of ovulation caused a hormone balance. I think it affected me in three ways.

1) Over time the lack of ovulation caused my progesterone levels to drop very low (ovulation is required to produce progesterone) which resulted in low progesterone symptoms:

PMS, mood swings, cravings for sweets, breast tenderness, anxiety, irritability, heavy menstrual flow, water retention, headaches, fatigue, irregular periods, infertility, depression and sleep disturbances.

2) During the first 1/2 of my cycle, when my body "attempted" to release an egg, my body would continue to produce some estrogen which caused my levels of estrogen to become disproportionally high compared to progesterone. This resulted in estrogen dominance. Symptoms of estrogen dominance are as follows:

Mood swings, PMS, breast tenderness, nervousness, irritability, headache, migraine, fibrocystic breasts, heavy menstrual flow, water retention, weight gain in hips, uterine fibroids.

3) Then, in the times of the month where my estrogen levels dropped back down, I would no longer be "estrogen dominant" and would begin to experience low estrogen symptoms:

Hot flashes, might sweats, sleep disturbances, foggy thinking, memory loss, bone loss, depression, heart palpitations, urinary incontinence and vaginal dryness.

I think my levels of estrogen dropped overall because I never successfully completed ovulation.


Early on I think I ran through these phases on a normal monthly basis. However, over time I think my cycles got longer and longer and I think I began to spend more time in the follicular phase of my cycles (where body is trying to release an egg) and as a result was in estrogen dominance much of the time (thus the more recent weight gain).

Anyway, this is just a theory. Just curious what others think.
Alison

Hey ally cat. I think for some of us, yes, we stop ovulating, and that's part of why we feel bad. I also think that the herbalists are right that progesterone is "the feel good hormone". Progestin ISN'T progesterone and think that it doesn't have the same "feel good" results. But does mask things a bit. Then, we have mirena taken out, the fake stuff goes away, but we STILL don't ovulate, which means we STILL don't make progesterone...and we don't have the fake progestin mask. And we crash, and feel like crap. smile. Then, to make things worse, we may experience a dip in serotonin. And that makes us feel worse. It does get better. I am now ovulating again (I've felt it, and seen cervical mucous), and I'm using natural progesterone to help things along.... I've felt pretty good this whole cycle. I hope it continues.
And, yes, the boobs go back to normal, and for me the weight came off.
Good luck.

Amanda,

not sure if you are following the other mirena forum... but this is normal and will pass soon. Try some natural supplements like 5-htp at 50-100mg at bedtime. Many folks have experienced this crash and it is normal.

quote:

---

Originally posted by amanda c
[br]Hi everybody,
Its been seven days since i had mirena removed i was feeling great till today had a bad day, feeling very down has anybody else felt like that after removal of coil. I had a very heavy period over the weekend which was large clots and made me feel very tired. The foggy thinking came back today and tiredness, hopefully this will disappear? [|)]

---

Have it removed... many of us on other forums.. under general health forum.. mirena.. weight.gain.. you will read two years of accounts from different women with horrible side effects from mirena...

quote:

---

Originally posted by b3cca
[br]Hi There,
I'm new to this forum but I am getting desperate to have this Mirena coil removed. I was persuaded to have this coil instead of being steralised and that was 2 yrs 3mnths ago. Since then I have never had it checked and the side effects are utterly draining. I feel sick all the time and the pain in my front feels like I'm going to come on all the time. I have never had heavy periods and this thing has never stopped my periods, in fact, I bleed for 5 days and look pregnant for 2 wks of the month. I rip my boyfriends head off constantly with shocking mood swings and I don't recognise the person I have become.
I do have a serious medical condition aswell, but this was never taken into consideration and I'm not sure if it's affecting the illness. Thats M.S.I'm not even sure if I'm posting on the right forum

---

Hello BettyB.. thank you for your post mirena story.. I am most concerned by the mood crash and trying to find folks who have steadily taken primrose, borage, or 5-htp and see if that really leveled them out. What other affects can we expect as our body regulates over the next couple of months... I too have noticed post mirena .. I no longer crave the sugar that I was absolutely craving and I am just naturally eating less.. I was starving all the time and couldn't really get "full"... not to mention the intense sugar cravings..

quote:

---

Originally posted by BettyBean
[br]B3cca...... there is huge thread of women sharing their negative mirena experiences over here:

http://discoveryhealth.co.uk/forum3/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1472&whichpage=1

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!


My Mirena was removed December 2005, it had been fitted for over three years and although things had been fine in the beginning the accumalitive effects of long term use really started to hit me at the two year point. Of course, i didn't immediately attribute these side effects to the mirena, after all, it had been there 2 years already!

I had many of the classic symptons that have been discussed in the main thread, mood swings and weight gain being the worst, but coupled with abdominal pain, acne, lank greasy hair, fatigue and a non existant sex drive.

my poor husband! but what a great contraceptive, after all, who wants to get close to a bloated spotty woman who may shout at you or burst into tears with no warning? no chance of getting pregnant here!

After removal i did feel better straight away (probably placebo effect tho!) and am now up to my third cycle (had no periods at all whilst on mirena) cycle has come back very regular, tho quite heavy, but manageable. My libido resurfaced almost immediately (was a happy christmas!) and spots had cleared up by second cycle. Energy and moods have gotten better gradually, so didn't really notice it happen but looking back i can see i am much better and even friends have noticed. Have tearful pms tho, but once a month thats ok, on mirena it was constant.

i put on at least 35 lbs whilst on mirena and in two months have shed 16.5lbs, so almost half way back. This is not disapearing by accident, but with a healthy eating plan and increased activity levels. Weirdly enough since the mirena came out i find it far easier to eat healthily and no longer have cravings for chocolate and doughnuts. I believe this has something to do with how the progestin in mirena effects insulin levels.

I know that some women have reported a mood crash at around 7 to 10 days after removal, this didn't happen to me but it makes sense as our bodies have to relearn how to make progesterone rather than accept the synthetic hormone in the mirena. after removal of the synthetic i will take a few days to clear out and the natural process will not have gotten it together yet.

Just hold tight ladies! we have to think of it as a slow recovery that will hopefully be complete around 6 months after removal.

---

How long did your crash last.. did you take any natural remedies.. to help with it...
My husband has said for the first time in months and months.. I am smiling again.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fis23
[br]amanda c

Seems to be perfectly normal reaction from what I have been reading. Had my Mirena out nearly three weeks now, bled like mad for 2/3 days with huge clots, very draining, but all that stopped, really bad mood crash days 9/10 was really angry and weepy, that also has passed and am now feeling so much better. Boobs back to normal no more pain! sex life back on track, all the old feelings back, and enjoying it!! Not cranky any more, actually laughing again! My partner cant believe it, hope it lasts!! The only thing that hasnt changed is I still feel really tired and tummy bloated, but not as bad as it was, so all in all things getting much better, so glad I had it removed, I am a different person! Good luck, things will get better!
[]

---

When did you first experience the crash and the other symptoms post mirena.. how long did mood crash, moodiness lasT for? Were you able to take anything for it?

Has anyone been exercising post mirena and found that to be helpful..?

quote:

---

Originally posted by lesueur
[br]Hi everyone
i have posted several times on 'mirena weight gain' thread but have decided to post here as i have now had the mirena out for about 14 weeks.

When it first came out i felt great! but after a couple of weeks all my symptoms i had when it was in came back but much worse (nausea 24/7, backache, moodiness, bloating stomach pains, ibs) to name but a few. However i decided to ride it out as i had read on others posts that this can happen as part of the detox.

So 14 weeks down the line and things are looking up. I have had 2 'normal' periods which although heavy were regular and didn't last longer than 5 days in total so i'm pleased with that side of things.

However, and this is where i'm after some advice, on about days 25-30 of cycle i still suffer pretty bad nausea and have to tell myself that its just hormonal and i'm not coming down with norovirus or something. Does anyone else suffer like this or know if its a common symptom of either PMS or ovulation? It does feel familiar to morning sickness as i get bad fatigue as well.

I am taking magnesium, a B complex and multi vits but was wondering if anyone had any tips i havn't tried yet.

I do feel better that now i have a regular-ish cycle i know it is almost certainly hormone related but would love to be able to lead a more normal life and not have to avoid going out to eat etc. on days when i know i am going to feel 'yuk'!!!

Any advice welcome

thanks

stephe

---

I'll chime in about my "mood crash" and what I did.
First, my brief story: I got mirena in november '05 so beau and I could have more spontanaeity. It hurt going in, but not bad. Then I cramped for a week. First period was okay. But I noticed my nipples hurt 24/7 and I was quickly gainining weight (I am very careful with my weight). Right after christmas, all hell broke loose. I started experiencing blood sugar crashes and migraines (both of which I'd not had in years, not since I learned to eat healthy). I decided that was the deal killer. I was also begining to notice a dip in my libido. I had mirena removed on Jan 4, '06. Doc said I was ovulating, yet, I got a period 2 days later. Then I waited to ovulate again. HA. About 10 days later (when I should have ovulated) I had the mood crash. I was not expecting it, but knew it was possible, from what I'd read on here, and other forums. I crashed. bad. I could barely make it through the work day, then went home and went to bed. Sent beau away. Basically I felt tired, achy, depressed, weepy, and full of anxiety. The only good thing was, my weight went back to normal.
About 3 days into the crash I upped my natural progesterone cream, started taking vitex (chasteberry), and then 5HTP, along with a good multi vitamin, and a B complex. After a few days I started feeling better. By the time my period was supposed to come I felt pretty PMSy but okay. Then my period didn't come. Then it finally did. The following cycle, I am pretty sure I felt myself ovulate, and then spotted from that day, until my next period. ugh. By then, my mood was much better, my libido has been picking up. Last week I went to see a naturopathic doctor. She agreed with my "self-treatmnet" but felt I still wasn't making enough progesterone (sleeping issues, still feel a tad "off", quick to flare etc). She gave me a prescription for a compounded natural progesterone. MAN am I seeing the difference. I've been on that about a week, I have a few funky side effects (which were expected), such as a little constipation, and a pound of water weight gain. But, I'm sleeping great, feel much more calm, and, I've ovulated and haven't started spotting. I'm going to keep using the supplements, and the compounded progesterone for a few months, then go in and have my hormones tested.
That's my sitch. It does get better.

gryphon,

you had mentioned somewhere that you used liver detox as you were going through post mirena issues. I have had mine out 7 days now and I can feel the "crash".. I started 5 htp yesterday-hopefully that will make me feel good again within a day or two. What is the liver detox you used where did you get it.. Also, you mentioned healthy eating.. post mirena.. I have cut out caffeine, stocked up on eating raw veggies, low sugar cereals, juices, taking vitamins.. what other dietary changes did you make.. was anyone on antidepressants post mirena?