Mirena IUD failure?!

Posts: 2
3/31/12 11:15 P

I am still rather worried about the denial and defensiveness one comes against when you try to have Mirena taken out. The doctors or nurses go overboard to punch holes in what you experience and do their utmost to send you back home with the IUD in place.

Now, I am aware of the fact that each person responds uniquely to any form of drug, still my experience is what it is without embellishment of any kind.
I actually gained more weight after inserting mirena than i did pregnant! I also experienced low energy, zero sex drive, felt hungry all the time and craved sugar like crazy. The sugar craving was all I needed to have the thing taken out. Normally, I hate sugar. I hate the taste and it actually turns my stomach. I don't like cake and I certainly never cared if i didn't see a pie or cake in an entire year. On Mirena, I suddenly fell in love with them.
I looked pregnant. My belly was bloated, I was a 38DD after I delivered but couldn't tell what size I was after a while. It was like I was still breastfeeding or something. Also, I couldn't predict how much i would swell up one day to the next.
I went to the gym 3 to 5 times a week doing strength training, cardio and pilates and could initially limit my caloric intake but this went out the window once the cravings got worse.

Took it out over a month ago and didn't expect much change but this is what i have noticed. I lost 6 pounds in the first 2 weeks. (Went to the gym 2ce in that 2 week period by the way) No more bloating; I hardly wear spanx now since my belly has gone down. Before i wore them everyday. Also have more energy, better mood and my libido came back. The cravings and constant hunger are gone and I have gone back to hating sugar. Also, I have better muscle definition and the effects of the workouts are showing.
So I'd say in my case, Mirena was a bad thing and I do not recommend it. Still we are all different and will respond to it in our own unique way so even though I cannot recommend it based on my experience, you be the judge.

Posts: 73
6/1/11 9:50 P

I've had Mirena For 2 1/2 years and i'm happy with it since it seems to be working. My periods aren't nearly as painful and they don't last as long. My only worry is getting pregnant and not catching it soon enough that i or the baby could be harmed. I have wondered though if after so long if it looses its effectiveness....or if i should take it out sooner that the five year mark

SparkPoints: (5,872)
Fitness Minutes: (5,721)
Posts: 821
2/9/11 9:11 P

I have had my mirena for a year now and I have had several of the same symptoms that you are experiencing. Thought I was preggo a couple times too and that was scary. I think it is just a bad side effect, but check with your doc to make sure you are not pregnant. If you do get pregnant with the mirena it could hurt you and the baby so please get checked out to make sure.

Posts: 2
2/9/11 4:34 P

I tend to agree that Doctors and patients just aren't sure what the side effects are until it starts happening to you! I highly recommend a regular IUD. No hormones, lasts for 10 years, but you do get your period...oh well, have to take the good with the bad!

Posts: 977
2/9/11 3:27 P

I had it removed on the 24th because I just found too many women complaining of the same "non existent" side effects. Removal was NOTHING. It took litterally 20 seconds.

Since then I still have not had a complete period. I do however FEEL much better. NO more side effects my sex drive has come back at least 65%, I'm not crazy feeling anymore either! My husband is much happier and honestly I am so much better!

I did love the convenience and the no periods, but to me it was not worth all of the other side effects.

You gotta do what you gotta do and for me Mirena has been crossed off that list!

Posts: 2,604
2/8/11 9:34 P

I had a mirena in for 5-6 years and will never get one again. It wasn't too bad initially but I had all kinds of troubles with it that got worse the longer it was in. And FWIW, no, the hormones do NOT just stay in the uterus. My midwife told me later that she never would have recommended it for me (the overseeing OB did) with the issues I had/have with depression and having it be worse on any kind of hormonal bc.

I did have a m/c on it, as well; highly atypical, I m/c so early they said most women wouldn't have even known they were pregnant.

It works well for a lot of women but I just think it hasn't been around long enough for "them" to really be able to say what kinds of side effects there really are.

Edited by: VERA_MOM at: 2/8/2011 (21:35)

SparkPoints: (17,341)
Fitness Minutes: (7,109)
Posts: 115
2/8/11 3:02 P

I have the Mirena, and have had only minor issues. My biggest complaint is that I still have periods, they usually are not a big deal but I want them gone. Otherwise I occasionally get pain in the uterus area, but after a while it disappears.

I did get scared once thinking that I was prego, again, but the EPT came back negative. I had the same symptoms as my previous pregnancies, nausea, tiredness, tenderness; but just figured something else must be going on.

I will be going to the doctor soon for a new one, time is up, but I'm wondering what else I could do instead.

Posts: 2
2/8/11 12:42 P

Wow, am I glad to see this topic here, but I do not love the Mirena. I had a 10 year IUD, and then had the Mirena replace it in October. I have had nothing but complaints! I feel like I have every side effect - breast tenderness, weight gain, discharge, nasal stuffiness, etc. I thought that maybe I was pregnant the other day after having extreme tenderness (couldn't sleep on my stomach due to it), but i haven't taken a pregnancy test to confirm. Yes, the only thing great for me is no periods, but I am seriously thinking of removing the Mirena and going back to the 10 year IUD. Is there anyone else out there who didn't like the Mirena and had it removed, or is the pain worth it over not having periods for 5 years?

Posts: 316
2/2/11 10:42 A

I think that even though the Mirena only delivers hormones to the uterus your body probably still goes through hormonal changes with ovulation, which might explain the breast tenderness and other symptoms. I know I had those with my monthly cycles on the copper T. I'm glad so many people are using Mirena... I ended up having a hysterectomy last year because of adenomyosis (a tear in the lining of the uterus, which allows all of the tissue buildup each month to get into the muscle of the uterus and you feel like you're going through childbirth every month) and I can't say for sure that it was because of the IUD, but I'm a bit suspicious.

Posts: 220
2/1/11 4:35 P

I'm glad you talked with your doctor. I have the Mirena, too. A friend of mine recently DID get pregnant on it (scared the bejeezus out of me and my bf!) but she miscarried before it was confirmed. I'm interested to learn about these experiences of pregnancy symptoms without an actual pregnancy.
Good luck and I hope you're feeling better soon.

Posts: 7
1/30/11 9:01 P

I just got my Mirena inserted about 2 weeks ago. I was bleeding for over 3 weeks and the doctor thought this was a good way to go. I am glad you all have talked about it because it always nice to see how I may feel in the future. Good luck going to the doctor. Hope its nothing.

Posts: 366
1/30/11 4:14 P

I dont have the mirena but i have the ten year and just so happen this month i felt the same things and took a text to just ease my mind! good luck!

SparkPoints: (1,953)
Fitness Minutes: (1,321)
Posts: 36
1/29/11 8:33 P

I also have Mirena IUD and I LOVE IT!!! But.. I have also had the symptoms that you are desribing but no prego. Hang in there!!

SparkPoints: (280)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 40
1/23/11 6:29 A

When I had mine I bleed for 10 months straight and it completely fell out and I dont know how long before the doctor told me to go to the ER it had fallen out

Posts: 977
1/12/11 8:47 A

Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment. My Dr. was very unconcerned. Apparently Mirena has "no side effects since it only delivers hormone to the uterus". Funny I keep seeing this said by Dr.'s yet many women have all of the same symptoms. Yes I love the convienence and thoughtlessness of Mirena, but I'm pretty certain there are side effects and they should be acknowledged.
REGARDLESS... They did another urine test and it came back negative and I was told if I still felt unsure after some time (couple of weeks) they would order an UltraSound.
Again thanks to you all for your support!

SparkPoints: (10,999)
Fitness Minutes: (7,303)
Posts: 545
1/11/11 12:43 P

Either way, see your doc. I had a friend who had an ectopic pregnancy on the mini-pill, and she manifested preggo symptoms with a negative urine test. Good luck! I hope this works out in a way that is positive for you.

SparkPoints: (235)
Fitness Minutes: (256)
Posts: 8
1/11/11 9:37 A

This happened to me as well,breast tenderness, leakage, really thought i was pregnant, i bought a test, negetive! I also havn't had a period for past 4 years but when i got it in first i had period on and off for 6 months, then it just stopped. Hang in there it will eventually fizzle away, then happy days!!!

SparkPoints: (401)
Fitness Minutes: (45)
Posts: 13
1/10/11 12:51 P

This scared the bejesus out of me!!! I am a new IUD woman.. Had it for about 3 months.. So far I love it.. if these darn light periods would just go away!!! Instead I have them every two weeks for about 5-12 days at a time!! UGH

Posts: 64
1/9/11 6:27 P

Hello! I've had mine for two years, and I had that experiance once, about six months ago. It was confirmed by my OB that I was NOT pregnant, and it was a hormonal thing. Get it checked out, just to get rid of the stress on yourself!

PS - I LOVE mirena!

SparkPoints: (8,203)
Fitness Minutes: (5,301)
Posts: 56
1/9/11 1:56 P

Well, just in case it is pregnancy...with my experience unplanned pregnancies do cause alarm but my unplanned pregnancies have brought the BIGGEST blessings in my life....just a positive note. We don't always know what is the best for us

Posts: 977
1/9/11 1:25 P

Thanks Ladies,
I haven't had a period in 4 + years that I've been on it. So its hard for me to tell. This is the first time I've experienced this. No other troubles at all. And it kind of came on out of the blue. So I will go to my Dr. this week and we will know for sure.
:)
K

Posts: 7
1/9/11 11:48 A

I never got my period while on my Mirena, I had it for 3 years and I had what you are experiencing happen twice, freaked me out both times I ran to the dr and they did blood and I was not pregnant, but my OB explained that some women when on birth control no matter what it is, their bodies will act like it's pregnant becuase of the hormones. But I also know someone (BIL's sister) who got pregnant for real on it. I would make an appt with the dr. They'll do an us or take blood and then you will know for usre!

SparkPoints: (7,109)
Fitness Minutes: (3,051)
Posts: 484
1/9/11 12:50 A

is your monthly period late???
because yes you can get pregnant
it is a very very small chance but you can
wait for your period to be late and get a test again
and what ever the respons go see your doc
he will give you all the right answers

Posts: 977
1/8/11 10:44 A

Hi there,
I hope this is in the right forum, but I was hoping to find some other women out there with the Mirena IUD who have had unexpected problems.

I've had the IUD for nearly 4 years now and ZERO problems except it came out on it's own about 3 months after insertion and had to have a new one put in... No biggie.

Within the last 2 weeks I have been experiencing pretty noticable breast tenderness, nipple sensitivity, leaking (I nursed my now nearly 5 yr old for 14 months), irritability, weight gain in my lower abdomen, full feeling, severe fatigue (like falling asleep at my desk at work) etc.

I had some but not all of those symptoms when I was pregs with my DD but these just kind of started out of the blue. I took a home preg test and it came back negative, but I've done some "research" online and have seen that others have had the same things happen, neg hpt and then a positive bpt or ultrasound prooving pregnancy.

I'm sooooooo not ready for another baby and DH and I really were all set with one.

I'm hoping this is all just some odd occurance and someone else out there can confirm they've had the same happen, without pregnancy.

Sorry so long.... freeking out slightly.

Thanks!