----------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for your reply. I have NOW dont just the search that you suggested and after much deliberation, I have decided to have the Mirena removed. 18th April, 2008 is the day. I wish it was now, now that I know what is causing all of my problems.When I look through this forum I realise that many of the things going on in my life are the result of the Mirena.Hair Loss - Wow I have a lot of hair anyway, BUT...MoodyDepressionUrinary Infections - 5 in the last 6 months... derr meDischarge - well with all the meds I had been on (trying to find what is wrong with me) I thought this was just a weird thrushSwollen and sore tongueNot being able to swollow - almost choking at timesThyroid/Goiter enlargementI can't believe I have spent a fortune on specialist trying to "figure out" what is wrong with me.I will keep all posted on how it goes.Cheers and thanks

---------------------------------------------------------

Thank you to all of your courageous women who have posted your experiences with Mirena. I'm so glad to know that I'm not alone.
I've had my Mirena IUD since September 2002 (5 years) and it's been a nightmare.
I've experienced extreme mood swings as many of you have mentioned. I don't even like who I am anymore. I didn't gain much weight but I have severe cramping, spotting for weeks at a time and the worst temper tantrums. My sex drive increased (ten fold) but was painful at times due to Mirena. My partner could feel the strings and I had to go back to the doctor to have them cut. Now he only feels them in certain positions. If he even comes close to my cervix - it's the worst pain and brings on cramping (again). I went to my obgyn but was told that as we age our hormone levels drop severely and that's why I have mood swings. She recommended that I take prozac to help me cope. She denied that it had anything to do with the IUD. I thought I was going crazy - I have all of you to thank for helping me understand that it's not in my mind - it's in my cervix.
I'm having it removed later this month but fear for what other options are available to women for birth control.

  -----------------------------------------------------------

Two months postpartum, I had my Mirena in for three months before having it removed. I started a decent list of side effects... depression, mood swings, irritability, complete loss of appetite, insomnia followed by never getting enough sleep, increasingly dying sex drive, nausea, muscle pains, cold sensitivity, cramping followed by the inability to lift anything heavy because of severe pain, and then I decided to get it out. Well it's a month later and I've only gotten worse. Every symptom continues, but now I cannot stand the heat any longer (had a bad fit one day when I woke up, I thought I was dying when it wasn't all that warm says my boyfriend). Heat now makes me absolutely weak, shakey, and I have palpitations. I've noticed some hair growth above my lip which absolutely was never there before, along with increased amount and darker color of hair on my legs. Noticing slight hair loss now too.Well, going by the fact that it got worse after the Mirena was removed, I decided it may be my thyroid. But it seems that I have symptoms of both hypo- and hyperthyroidism, and the combination of the two is fairly rare. I set an appointment to see a doctor, although sadly it had to be with the idiots of my town as it's all I could afford without insurance. I wrote down a list of my side effects so that I'd make sure that I didn't forget any, but the nurse (she was all I could get) was completely disinterested in them because the list was too long and simply wanted to get my blood test for thyroidism started, as that's what I asked for. I asked her to look over my symptoms and see if she had any better guesses as to what my problem may be and she wanted a hemoglobin test done as well (without looking them over still). I was suggested on another message board to have 7 separate thyroid tests run, and she refuses to do all but one, and will then do the others if the first one turns out weird. But from what I've read... it can still look normal while other tests turn out odd, hence the need to do more than one. If there actually is something wrong, I don't think it'll turn out low or high as I experience symptoms from both. I read about iodine here and wanted that checked, but that went ignored. I asked about my pains when lifting things, all she said to do was keep taking ibuprofen, I guess for the rest of my life. On top of it all, I won't know my results for two weeks. Then she seemed more focused on scheduling my yearly pap smear. She told me to stay off the internet.So I guess, I don't know, I guess I need the internet to keep being my doctor. As far as my symptoms, I think things that control body temperature would be the biggest hint as to what may be wrong. I wouldn't mind giving the iodine thing a try just to see, but I don't know what would be too much? Anyone figure anything more out?

 -------------------------------------------------------

Hi I had the mirena coil inserted about a year after pregnancy when my weight had nearly returned to normal except for the last 5 kilos. Soon after, I noticed that I was still excercising and putting on weight. Had a blood test, found that my thyroid was not working properly and started taking medication for that. After 6 months or so I realised that I was still gaining weight and I have just gone back to my GP to see if I needed more thyroid medication.Had another blood test and it came out fine. The penny has now dropped with my GP and suggested removing the Mirena as it could possibly be it. Thats why I came looking on the net and I found your message board to be very helpful...so now I have decided to have it removed next week! Lets hope I lose this weight now!

 --------------------------------------------------------

 Beware of the Mirena! If you are an active, fit, self-aware person, this is likely NOT the solution for you. The disruption to my life and my health that the Mirena caused were significant and had a stress on my relationship that I'm hoping I can warn others of. My recommendation: If you are unhappy with it in the early weeks, you will likely not be satisfied when the symptoms "taper off" and I strongly suggest you quit now. Normally a high-energy athletic person, I became fatigued and irritable. With no change to diet or exercise, my body transformed as if pregnant including a hard distended abdomen, doubling breast size, weight gain, oily skin and acne. And horribly, my normally high sex drive practically disappeared. The good news: within 60 days of the removal my body disolved back to its original form and my spirits returned. Overall it was a 6-month strain on my relationship that I wish had never happened. Please don't take the Mirena decision lightly.

------------------------------------------------------

This site is the absolute life saver. I have had my mirena in for two years and am getting it out as sson as I post this I will call my GP. I ahve been sent for every test for every disease under the sun and have only now come to the conclustion that it is all the mirena. Numbness down my left side (I had tests for ms and other serious neurological disorders), abdominal pain, swelling, headaches blurry vision acne like I never had before not efven in my teens. The good thing was it stopped my period all together but now I now haow unatural that is. Thank goodness for all your posts. If I wan;t in Australia, I would be joining in the class action. I have lost two years to this thing with constant doctors and worry about more serious implications. I have had stress leave off owrk and all the time my GP has said it would not be the Mirena

. -------------------------------------------  

Hi everyone. I had my Mirena removed back in March, so I am just over 4 months post removal. I had mine in for 4 years. I have had every symptom under the sun, but they come and go. They do get worse right before my period. You can read all of my symptoms in my previous blogs. I just completed a saliva hormone test that was surprisingly more thorough and detailed than a blood hormone test. It found that my Estrogen levels were dominant and my progesterone was normal to low. I think this might be what you are experiencing as well. The indication for treatment was low levels of HERBAL progesterone replacement for specific times of my cycle. After about 4-5 months, my hormone levels will start to self regulate. I did this test through my acupuncturist, not my GYN. I'm pretty angry with my GYN because she swore to me that the Mirena would not cause any problems...HA! The day I had it removed, the Nurse Practitioner told me that the Mirena was "toxic" and that it could have affected my entire body. She read a few of the Mirena forum messages and was not surprised. If I knew what I know now, I would NEVER have put it in. So...I hope this sheds a little light on the early menopause/out of whack hormone levels. It is definitely something that can be altered to return to normal. Do not give up. We will all get better.    

 ----------------------------------------------

My experience: Got the mirena IUS in March 2007 –  damn I thought he was going to puncture my brain! After a couple weeks of bleeding I spotted for a couple of months then that’s it – no more periods! Everything was great until January 08 (around a month after having my thyroid removed) when I started to put on weight at an alarming rate,  my hair started falling out & I had pimples everywhere. Oh, the mood swings! (Should note here that I was hyperthyroid up until Oct 07,  so that could have kept the weight at bay initially.)  I was expecting to put on a little weight after  the op as essentially my natural metabolism was lost –  but not 16 kg in 4 months! I would buy clothes one week and they wouldn’t fit me the next. My tummy bulged to the point I look 6 months pregnant. Did a bit of research & found that so many women have had the exact same problems with the  Mirena and decided to have it taken out. 

--------------------------------------------------------------  

I had a Mirena inserted last October, 6 weeks after my son was born. I had it removed from my liver the last day in January. The scenario: I was given a pamphlet in the office with a checklist on the back - one question was are you breastfeeding? I checked yes. The painful procedure continued. After insertion, the nurse practitioner said "I'll leave the strings long so you can make sure it stays in place" I became puzzled, asked why it would move and was told it can float around. After I was dressed, she said to watch when I wipe to see if I lose my strings - apparently an indicator the IUD has perforated - (although this was not explained). I was bleeding immediately. Was told to call if I was doubled over in pain. I called the following Monday, after a painful weekend and was told pain is normal. Went in for the 30-day check, couldn't find the thing. Said it fell out. When I requested an X-ray - there it was - in my abdomen. Having no insurance, I became alarmed that this was no longer a simple procedure. Not to mention the fact I have a newborn baby and a toddler at home and every time I lean over to hold them I have visions of a sharp IUD punching a hole in my organs and leaving them orphans. The doctor suggested leaving it in, said she had a 70-year old patient who decided to. The drs. office said "we put it in, we are responsible for it" and said they would perform the surgery at no cost, but I would be responsible for the hospital bills - $30,000. I opted for a general surgeon with more experience. Here's the question: Can I sue? Mirena or the drs.? Any advice is appreciated.
I have contacted both - Bayer Healthcare sent me the perscribing information and the drs. office said this happens.

------------------------------------------------------------

I have had my Mirena IUC in since November 11, 2007 (7 months). I am going Tuesday to have surgery to remove the IUC from my liver. Yes I said liver. My IUC perforated the lining of my unterus and managed to work it way all the way up to my liver. It is now poking into my liver & will be removed on Tuesday. I am researching to see if anyone one else has had this problem? Please help me if you can. All feedback is appreciated.