Hi a new user here.
I had the Mirena fit yesterday and have felt awful ever since with bad cramps and backache.
I know these will subside but my biggest fear is weight gain, I have lost 5 stone in the past 16 months and have another half stone to lose, I have been reading that this coil can cause weight gain and now I am paranoid as no way do I want to gain any weight.
Anyone got anything positive to say about the Mirena as I am seriously thinking of going and having it taken out because I am so scared of gaining weight
Thanks
Hi there everyone.
I am have just reached the five year mark of having my mirena coil fitted and I just wanted to offer some encouragement to those who have just had it fitted and also get some advice from past users.
I am now 28 and up until I was offered the mirena coil my life was pretty dependant on my bleeds which were usually on three weeks and off one week and would include a couple of days of vomitting. I had to go private in the end to get any help as the normal NHS were pretty useless as I've never had children and am unable to take the pill as I suffer from migraines so they didn't really have any other suggestions for me except to keep a diary. I am sure the support from the NHS will probably have changed by now or at least I hope so.
Anyway I just wanted to tell my story to others as it really did change my life and I have had no periods for five years, no mood swings, no weight gain or any side effects. I know that everyone's story is different and of course the non-existence of periods is something that has always worried me as it doesn't seem natural but I know that I wouldn't be living the lifestyle I am now if I'd have had to go on with the constant anaemia, sickness and disruption.
I also just wanted to point out that most people will come accross this forum as they are looking for help or advice as they may be suffering from problems so the bad stories will tend to outweigh the good although of course I don't want to discredit these stories as research and knowing as much as possible is essential and is a support for others going through similar situations.
My big worry is how my body will react now when I have it removed as I want to start trying for a family within the next couple of years. Has anyone been able to get pregnant after having the coil removed after a long period of time? Or had any troubles after removal?
Lozzy x
I had Mirena fitted in 2007. 3 months later I began getting a clear yellow discharge from my left nipple. Sometimes with a little pain. I have had examinations, scans and mammograms which have found nothing.
The original problem I had was painful and heavy periods. After initial settling down the coil has reduced my periods to almost nothing. Ie, I may see a couple of spots once every 3 to 6 months, it seems. So, on THAT score, I got exactly what I was hoping for.
I am 55, and so I am possibly menopausal (I suspect I am getting mild hot flushes now). I have terrible mood swings and lose my temper very easily. It would be hard to say if this is due to the coil or my age. I have not put on weight, nor have I developed spots.
What I wondered was if anyone found they got a discharge from their nipples after having the coil, or is it just me?
Hi folks, I have only just found this page, I had the MC fitted nearly 4 years ago to help with heavy, constant bleeding at onset of menapause, sure it was painfull to insert, my GP couldn't do it and I had to go to hospital but until today I never doubted that I had made the right decision. My bleeding reduced to occassional spotting for about 5 months and I haven't had a period since, my hot flushes abated but I continued to get those aweful boils on my bottom for about a year, no weight gain to speak of. Everything was fine and I even forgot I had it. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I am currently living in Spain but am pleased with my consultant and the standards of the hospital here, my consultant wants me to start treatment in a few weeks but it is very aggressive with only 10 to 20% chance of complete cure. Hence I am trawling the internet for alternative treatment and info. Here's the crunch folks.... a friend put me onto a video of an interview with Harvey Bigelsen a prominent US doctor who has been studying viral inflammations for some 30 years. He says Hep C can be caused by surgical trauma, he found that IUDs cause inflammation that the immune system cant deal with thus causing the virus, cancers etc. He claims that removing the IUD in several cases has reduced the viral count by 70%. Of course I am now considering having mine out but am desperately looking for similar stories.
mirna coil
i had a termination and was fitted with the mirna it has now been 2 years, at first i thought it was great i had no periods and felt fine. but now im emotional all the time i cry at the littlest of things get angrey easly am quite paronid have more hair than what i have had before on my face which is now noticed by other people not great for a 20 year old girl i feel really depressed and am not sure if its because i am actually low or the coil is playing with my hormones i have had sucidal thoughts i feel i just dont want to be here any more, i have tried talking to my doctor but as i got pregnant on the pill and my partner does not want children and is allergic to condoms and because i got pregnant while on the pill he is unsure about removing it HELP what should i do who can help me ???
Mirena Coil
I had the coil fitted 6wks after my second daughter was born and it was alittle painfull and uncomfy at first but eventually got used to it.
My daughter is now 3 and a half and I know the coil does only last 5yrs.
Recently I have been getting breast ache (like a mild tooth ache) and I was just wondering if anyone else has suffered with the same???? do you think it could be coil related????.......I am also starting to see the odd day of spotting and alittle pmt which I havnt had before whilst being on the coil.
It is the best form of contriception for me, much better then the pill which made me evil!! lol 😮
Anyway, let me know if you have had the same as above
Dan1 xxx
Mirena Coil
I had a Mirena Coil fitted in February 2009 because I had heavy bleeding it was making my life a misery.
I was given various pills to stop the bleeding in the end nothing was helping. I felt my stomach constantly contracting and I was forever flooding. It got so bad I got tempted to ask one of my friends to call an ambulance for me because I just couldn't function. I wanted to know what the problems were, that I was experiencing. I kept going to the GP and she kept telling me stuff like, it's your age and menopause. I honestly couldn't believe a female GP would say something like that to another female. Did she really expect me to continue to bleed week after week month after month...? I could honestly say that I bleed non stop for about 5 months. Finally she listened to me as I sat in her surgery on the brink of tears as I felt I was dying because the bleeding was so bad, I couldn't walk up the stairs without getting out of breath and my heart racing. I started to look grey and I was constantly cold. I thought some days I would die in my sleep. I got admitted to the hospital they found a polyp, which they removed and the coil fitted. After the coil was fitted I had no period at all for about 2-3 months, then I started bleeding. It wasn't heavy normal pads instead of my usual industrial type. So I was quite pleased. However, it has been temperamental. As I sometimes don't have any bleeding for about 35 days then it comes so I am a bit :confused:puzzled as to what is actually happening.
When I speak to others in my office that has had it fitted they swear by it. Some actually say to me stick with it, it will settle down. I thought after nearly 9 months it would have settled down by now :(. So for me. It is 100% better than how it was before. I couldn't go to the gym - nothing. I couldn't laugh too hard as it would cause me to flood. So despite these odd bleeding, which I don't know what to make of it. I am kinda of pleased with it. When I compare my life and how I felt a year ago it is a vast improvement. I have never thus far suffered from back problems or mood swings. I haven't noticed it, but maybe others have, but I can honestly say I don't appear to have any problems and I hope I don't as it sounds dreadful. I have had the coil checked and it is still in place so why these odd bleeding is quite beyond me. I plan to go to the GP to get some advice, but if anyone out there can tell me if they have had similar experience I would love to hear your story.
l had my fitted on 4 months ago. i do feel some pain in my stomach when carrying my son , l have not had my pm yet and kind of wondering? beside that am happy with it as am not the pill taking type.
I had mine fitted 5 weeks ago. Before I was suffering periods every 7 to 14 days. The pill did not work in preventing this, and even when I stopped taking the pill my periods continued to be a nightmare. I had really bad mood swings 2 to 3 days before. I had the coil fitted in the hope it would sort things out, but since having it fitted I have only had 2 clear days where I haven't bled at all. Frustrating, and really starting to affect my life. The problems have been going on for 10 months now and the doc said if I didn't have the coil fitted I could expect it to continue for the next 10 years. I have had the tests I'm not going through the change. Now I'm just really fed up. It was painful having it fitted and I still have bad cramps when 'period' starts again but it never really stopped! I am wondering if anyone on this forum has had or heard of Microwave abrasion? This could be an answer for me but the doc hasn't even offered it!
I'm sure if this was a man thing there would be something that can be done. I don't want the bloody horemones......I also don't want more children.
Grin and bare it eh!
Any answers?
i have had my mirena about 2 months after having had my copper one removed after 17 years i was getting heavy painful periods. I am now experiencing really really bad mood swings I have just thrown my laptop and broken it, i just want to cry i have yelled at my 17 year old daughter. This is so unlike me i dont know whether to go have this taken out now as it didnt happen before i had it inserted. I have never had mood swings like this before i AM 48 years old, i'M NOT DEPRESSED anyone else experienced anythign liike this? Any suggestions?
i have had my mirena about 2 months after having had my copper one removed after 17 years i was getting heavy painful periods. I am now experiencing really really bad mood swings I have just thrown my laptop and broken it, i just want to cry i have yelled at my 17 year old daughter. This is so unlike me i dont know whether to go have this taken out now as it didnt happen before i had it inserted. I have never had mood swings like this before i AM 48 years old, i'M NOT DEPRESSED anyone else experienced anythign liike this? Any suggestions?
It could be the progesterone in the coil, have you ever been on the combined or mini-pill? Did you have the same kind of symptoms then?
I'm looking to have the mirena fitted as I am getting more forgetful about taking the pill.
Misunderstanding?
Hi, I am now on my third consecutive coil........every 3 years i change mine....I do not have hormoes in mine...but my periods are very heavy..and i am very very exhausted during this time. I refuse to go on pills due to the weight gain factor....overall I am happt with the Mirena coil...its doing its job!
Maybe I am misunderstanding, but if you are saying you have a Mirena, then there ARE hormones in it.
I had Mirena fitted in 2007. 3 months later I began getting a clear yellow discharge from my left nipple. Sometimes with a little pain. I have had examinations, scans and mammograms which have found nothing.
The original problem I had was painful and heavy periods. After initial settling down the coil has reduced my periods to almost nothing. Ie, I may see a couple of spots once every 3 to 6 months, it seems. So, on THAT score, I got exactly what I was hoping for.
I am 55, and so I am possibly menopausal (I suspect I am getting mild hot flushes now). I have terrible mood swings and lose my temper very easily. It would be hard to say if this is due to the coil or my age. I have not put on weight, nor have I developed spots.
What I wondered was if anyone found they got a discharge from their nipples after having the coil, or is it just me?
Follow up: Its early days, but I have had the Mirena removed. One week after removal my nipple discharge has decreased from a circle the size of a cigarette burn to being the size of a match head (I put one sheet of toilet tissie, folded in 4 in bra each day).
The reason for the coil's removal was that I went for a check up and mentioned I had been bleeding (lightly) for a few weeks. The Gynae did a scan and said he thought the coil should come out. He also removed a polyp. I was glad to see it go (the Mirena) as I hoped it was responsible for the nipple discharge.
I am now hoping that my intense temper flashes and general feeling of impending doom leaves me.
It is unfortunate that just weeks after the Mirena was put in, we moved abroad. We are very happy here, though not all is good (when IS it?),, I miss my sons, I also miss some of my friends. Of course it also means I am with my husband 24/7, which has proved to be 'interesting'. For his sake and mine I am hoping that my murderous rages :014: are due to the Mirena, and that its effects will wear off and I will return to the cheerful person I was before it being fitted :rollaugh: (and fingers crossed the heavy periods don't return), I am 56 and am thinking that maybe the menopause might be on me now and the bleeding is a thing of the past, time will tell....
All I know is that in the 3 years since I had it fitted, I have become increasingly reclusive. I have a feeling of dread. I get very frustrated about things and if I have a disagreement, I impress myself with how much I blow up. It is completely out of character, its like the safety catch is off and I don't care (at the time). Also, this discharge has been a big black cloud of worry over my life, even though the hospitals have said it was 70% certain to be nothing serious.
I am a realist though and I accept that I may have turned into Jekyll and Hyde purely because of my age. Also we have had such a huge change in our life circumstances that it cant be ignored as a possible contributing factor. -I think my husbandd will sleep easier if it turns out to be the coil...:009:
I am going in hospital next week to get one fitted due to heavy periods, fibroids and cysts. I am hoping it is going to be ok. I was offered a general but decided local as I can be in and out.
will let you all know how I get on.
Best wishes for that. I didn't find it particularly painful when it was inserted but about half an hour later it got pretty bad, and, to be honest, would be guessing if I told you how long the pain lasted. Certainly no more than an hour, I think. Anyway, I hope it does the trick for you, we are all different and it certainly did the trick for me, but with possible side effects. Certainly worth a try 🙂
thankyou Ibelieve
update
I had this fitted today, they also cut away a polyp plus took some tissue samples, it was a little painful at the time but not too bad. love it when they say you will feel a scratch lol
the pain is starting to get a little worse and i have taken painkillers, think i may end up going to bed with a hot pillow. they feel like period cramps. i did not realise that the bleeding can last 3 weeks, plus be heavier than a period.
hopefully this will put me right though in the end .
hi all, got up this morning no pain and no bleeding, I feel a little tired and achy but that is it. it is my birthday today and I put off two invites to go out as I thought I was going to be really poorly.
Who will insert with anaesthetic
My daughter had a mirena fitted for heavy period and anaemia, the periods were ruining her life and as she has not had children yet a hysterectomy was a non-starter. So far so good though it's only about 10 days. She had a general anaesthetic as she was having a hysteroscopy at the same time.
Another daughter (also in her twenties and childless) would also like to have a mirena fitted but she does not need to have the hysteroscopy and her GP said when she asked if she can have an anaesthetic 'oh you don't need that we just pop it in'. Reading on here, I think it would be pretty hard without anaesthetic (local or general) - although I remember having old fashioned coils fitted with no pain relief as a young woman - but this daughter has been known to faint at a blood test and had to have a colposcopy which she emerged from ashen describing it as 'hideous' so not sure we are talking a very good pain threshold here!
Does anyone know anywhere in London where they do this on the childless with expertise and local anaesthetic?
Thanks - hope you can help.
Wow! What can I say but what an incredible bunch of ladies to post all this here!
I am 42 years old and have had heavy periods most of my life... that is except for the 13 years I was on combined contraceptive pills: Ortho Novum and then later a less strong one.
I always suffered from mood swings and depression as well as migraines while on the pill, and I finally decided it wasn't worth it, so I quit. I have avoided synthetic hormones ever since.
A few years after going off the pill (presumably enough time for it to get totally out of my system), back in 2003, I had a period that lasted 3 weeks. After some checking and an ultrasound, it turned out I had a small uterine polyp. It was removed, and things more or less returned to normal.
In 2006, I started getting heavy periods again with clotting, so knowing polyps can cause this, I had another ultrasound that returned no masses of any kind. So I decided to just struggle along with it.
Three more years of heavy periods, and I woke up one morning with another period that came, went for a week, and then came back in spades. I was changing super tampon/super pad every 45 minutes at one point, which is when I went to emergency.
I had been exercising a lot lately, where I never have before: 1 hour at the gym every day, and I lost about 4 or 5 Kg in a month, and was also a bit stressed because I was out of work and looking for new work. I have an odd feeling this threw me into anovulation... but in any case, being 42, I'm probably somewhat perimenopausal.
The ER people put me on a progesterone tablet: 10Mg 4 times per day and then decreasing over the next 21 days. In the meantime, now that the bleeding has mainly stopped, I will be having an ultrasound on Tuesday to look for polyps, etc. Fingers crossed it's nothing SERIOUS!
Assuming it's just Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding from being perimenopausal, and after having an encouraging discussion with my GP, who had the same problem 5 years ago, and had the Mirena inserted for herself... she had ridiculous cramping for the first 2 days, but since has never looked back, I am seriously considering the Mirena.
Obviously, I am poring the web for opinions, and as so many have said, it seems to me that people either LOVE this thing or think it's absolutely evil.
I'm trying to get a handle on the different groups and their reactions. It seems to me that generally women who have had it inserted not long after childbirth have had less luck with it than those who are older, and perhaps perimenopausal like me. Is that safe to say?
I've been interested to hear your stories in any case.
I am also making some observations through all this discussion. When I was on oral contraceptives, I always assumed it was the progesterone that bothered me, and my GP actually told me to use this progesterone tablet as a chance to see how well I tolerate progesterone before deciding to have the Mirena inserted. I thought this was good advice.
Despite taking 40Mg for 3 days now, I am generally feeling fine. My boobs are a tiny bit swollen, and my spider veins feel more "bruised" than usual.. I remember this from the pill... I think it's some sort of vascular/water retention thing, and may also relate to the "weight gain" so many note. And for the first 48 hours, I was having definite mood swings, either happy or practically crying. But not as bad as I remember it on the pill.
So all in all, I'd have to say the progesterone is not bothering me all that much.
Like a few of you who have posted, I have a slight uterine prolapse. My cervix sits a bit low. I originally thought that this would exclude me from being able to use the Mirena, but it seems that's not always the case.
Can any of you out there who suffer from mild prolapse and have had the Mirena placed tell me about your experiences?
In addition, both my mother and grandmother have now had breast cancer. In my grandmother's case, they pumped her full of estrogen for menopause back in the 70s, and it was shortly after that, that she had breast cancer. Because of that, my mother, who was never on oral contraceptives, suffered through menopause unaided by any sort of synthetic hormones only to be diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year!
When I asked my mother what she thought of this IUD, she said, "Hey, I avoided progesterone and look what it got me? Breast cancer! Go ahead and get the IUD, obviously it doesn't make any difference!"
Does anyone have any experiences with Mirena in regard to breast cancer? I know that it is supposed to decrease the incidence of uterine cancer, so this is a good thing. I'm thinking if the breast cancer runs in my family then it's a case of getting regular mamograms and catching it early anyway.
Honestly, after reading this thread, I am inclined to feel as though the constant heavy periods, threat of anemia and generally annoyance of it all is worse than any of the side effects of the Mirena, and it is at least worth a try. Since it can be removed if there are serious problems, why not?
Of all the side effects, the one that bothers me the most is the weight gain. Has anyone out there NOT had significant weight gain on it? Has anyone had weight loss? I've worked so hard recently to lose weight, and I was feeling great, right up to the point I had the DUB. Coincidence? I think not. If it will be impossible to lose the weight on this, and I will significantly gain, that would probably be enough to convince me to have it removed... but I suspect I could handle all the other stuff.
I have noticed that I have had no migraines since starting the progesterone tabs, so this is encouraging. I am hopeful the estrogen was the culprit there! And also through the whole ordeal, I have had NO cramping and NO pain, which I actually think is a bit odd.
I have never had kids and don't ever want to, so I am curious how insertion of the IUD would go, but when I had the uterine polyp removed, they went up through my cervix, and I had no residual pain from the experience at all: I was doing laundry later that day, of all things!
I am hopeful, but somewhat tentative.
Send me more positive stories, especially if you're my age group and have tried Mirena for perimenopausal heavy bleeding, and/or you have any sort of prolapse! I'd love to hear your personal experiences.
Mirena Coil
Hi Everyone
Just thought it might be helpful to tell others about my experience with the Mirena. I had it fitted when I was 19 for contraceptive reasons only, and received absolutely no advice about it. It hurt having it fitted, but I was fine the next day. Had a bit of spotting for a while I think, but my periods decreased until I no longer had any. So my experience with the first mirena was really good - I would have recommended it to anyone: no periods, no period pain, and no babies either! However, I did have a number of bladder infections and one kidney infection which I had never had before, and at the time didn't realise the connection, but now, after reading other people have experienced the same thing, I wonder.
I then had my second one fitted and this hurt quite a lot, but I was fine after and the next day. I have now had this one nearly 3 years and I think I have experienced a build up of symptoms: I have gained about a stone in weight (could be due to it, or might be unrelated), and I have noticed that I am hairier! I am blonde so it is not too bad, but to me, it has definitly changed, and so I am wondering whether this is due to the fake hormones. I still get the odd spots (though, maybe that is unrelated), and in the last year my hair has got greasier. I mention all these things because they are side-effects I have read about others having with the Mirena.
Most worryingly, I was found to have developed a dermoid ovarian cyst (benign ovarian tumour) which had grown to the grand size of 9.5 cm! I have had to have major surgery to have this removed. It is possible in my opinion that the Mirena had a part to play in this, as one of the side-effects listed on the Mirena website is ovarian cycts.
So I have a mixed opinion on it. At first I thought it was brilliant (but it may have been causing bladder infections), but now I am not so sure. I am having it removed in a couple of weeks, as I don't think it is good for me, and going to use a combination of natural family planning (99% effective if done correctly!) and condoms until I have children. Think my husband can get the snip after that!
Hope this is helpful.
Best wishes x
Update
It is now over a year since the coil was removed. My breast discharge actually turned out to be Mammary Duct Ectasia and I had that operated on in October. All's fine.
The one thing I noticed, post coil removal, is that I no longer feel as if my uterus is dragging down. I was so sure I needed a hysterectomy (or repair), I no longer feel this way. I HAVE been told I should have a bladder repair, but I feel fine and don't pee myself, so I will leave well alone. :rolleyes:
BAD for me!!!
Hi there, I had my mirena fitted 2 years ago as ever since my periods first began they were terrible, i couldn't move and just sat around in bed all day with a hot water bottle taking around 10 pills every 4 hours (at 12 years old) including mefenamic acid then tranexamic acid solpadol, ibuprofen, buscopan, and a pill to counteract the effect the ibuprofen had on my digestive system. I then went on to use Loestrin for 1 year which didn't help at all, i bled through it constantly and had periods every 2 weeks which lasted 2 weeks. I went on a stronger pill which helped for a while however my periods were still agonizing and didn't allow me to do much. I had to change jumbo night pads every hour of the day as blood would seep through. this made school a nightmare. After a good couple of years I started researching the mirena and the doc told me they might not put it in as I was only 15 however I pressed on and got it put in at the family planning clinic, I was awake and in pain! and at first was an absolute god send, however for the last year I have had terrible abdominal and back pains, bloating, spots, mood swings which are just unbelievable, i am now seeing a counselor for these. Also I have had almost every invasive procedure you can think of by the gynecologist and am now waiting for an appointment to get a laparoscopy and have had to go for a very stressful breast exam due to prominent breast tissue. I don't know what to do as I am just starting a full time job as a nursery nurse and I think I'd be better without the mirena coil but I cannot go back to having such terrible periods. I have no official illness so when I take time off nobody understands and I have been left taking over the counter pain killers which do little good as I may get addicted to anything that helps!!!! All that and I've just turned 17 ha ha!!. Weight gain has been unbelievable too, starting off a size 6 and now a size 12 !!
Mirena Coil - A Dietary Change May Help
Hi Ladies!
Late last night I read (with interest) all posts made on this subject. To give you some background; I suffer from vaginismus and have had period problems practically all my life. Since I turned 40 (I'm now 45) the problems became much worse, culminating in me having to be near a toilet whenever I was on my period. I have also flooded in public (luckily it was at a service station) and very good friends of mine shadowed me to the loo so I could change my pad and my clothing so as not to bring attention to myself. It was dusk and I was wearing dark jeans so it could have been worse. They told the guys on the coach that I'd fallen, that's why I was crying but we know the truth..and my husband, who was brilliant on the day. Having said all that it was definitely the worst day of my life.
Anyway, all that happened in April last year. Up until that point I had been on iron tablets due to my anaemia, suffered because of my heavy periods. An under-active thyroid was ruled out as my weight had become an issue.
In October of last year I had an "exploratory" operation. I was told that the Mirena Coil would only be fitted "as a last resort" and, like a fool, I believed the female gynaecologist and signed the form, thinking she was going to find polyps.
It was horrible being treated like cattle. Lots of women had the same procedure done in Day Surgery. In and out in the quickest time, so when I found out the Mirena Coil had been fitted I was NOT happy. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about it. If I had the thing taken out I would be back to Square One so it is now nearly 11 months in and how do I feel?
Well, on the whole the Mirena Coil has helped me. I suffered cramps at the start but, fortunately, these are rare now. The blood flow has reduced significantly but the thing that really winds me up...there is no Menstrual Cycle as such. I could have a couple of weeks, blood free, then, back it comes and I have no idea how long the blood flow will last. However, I have not been prevented from going out. This is the major difference and one I am trying to embrace. I do not work at present.
One thing I have noticed regarding the posts on this subject is that many are experiencing cravings for sugary foods and that their weight is ballooning. I have hovered over 13 stone for a couple of years but, amazingly, when I weighed myself at Mum's recently I was DOWN to 12 stone 2 pounds. This really cheered me up as I was not expecting this. The last time I used her scales were at Easter.
Why the weight loss? Well, I put it down to two things.
1) I have drastically cut down on my alcohol intake. Please do not stick your heads in the sand over this. If you are over the daily recommended levels of alcohol per day please reduce it. I have gone from 2 cans of Holsten Pils practically every night to 4 a week and I am convinced this has helped me reduce weight. It was a New Year's Resolution of mine and I am sticking with it. All drinks with alcohol in them (including the lovely red wine people rave about) are fattening, end of story, so if you can reduce the intake, trust me, you will lose weight..and I wasn't consciously trying to, it just happened.
2) Try to change your diet. No-one within the medical fraternity EVER advises ANYONE about their diet. We have to do it ourselves. So, a couple of months ago I made a collective decision with hubby to cut down drastically on processed foods from the supermarket as they contain lots of chemicals and hidden sugars and salt. I now cook my own food and realise that not everyone has the same amount of time I do BUT, even if you eat meat and fish that does not come in a box and cook it with the basic vegetables, it will still take you the same amount of time to cook than the processed stuff.
Energy-wise there is an improvement but I still get very tired. This is something I have to put up with. I do eat breakfast, though, which is extremely important as it sets me up for the rest of the day.
At first I was determined to have this Mirena Coil out as it was making me miserable. But, I am glad I didn't have it taken out. I do realise that many women love sex and it's very important to them but if they have an understanding partner, then it SHOULDN'T be a problem. No woman should be pressurised into wanting sex, it's not the end of the world.
I should know!
Sorry for the essay but I would advise anyone who has heavier bleeding than before to INSIST on other treatments. It is interesting that hysterectomies are practically non-existent now. Is it all down to cost with the NHS or what? Under £100 for the Mirena Coil and probably a couple of thousand for the hysto. Does make you wonder!
Good luck!
Jane x
Mirena and weight
Hi
I've had the Mirena for almost a year and my weight has stayed the same. I had lost 3 stone prior to having it in so I too was concerned about putting it back on.
My only problem is that I have regular 'spotting' and a constant mucous discharge which isn't vaginosis as I have had it checked so the only other cause is the coil itself. Whilst not a great problem it is inconvenient having to use panty liners at times.
Other than that I really have no complaints about it and love the freedom it gives me as I have previously been on the pill and had the contraceptive injections.
Fi
Mirena coil...good or bad...
Hi all, I'm new here and so glad, after weeks of researching websites and forums, to have found some people who say the Mirena's been good for them. I got the Mirena fitted 12 days ago, and seriously had myself in a real tiz and terrified about it after reading about others' bad experiences, so I felt I had to share mine as people rarely take the time to share good experiences.
Why did I go ahead with it....well I'm 43 and a smoker, so my doc took me off the combined pill (which I loved), put me on the mini pill which was a total nightmare never knowing when my period would come, it was really heavy, would last for 10 days, go away for about 7 or 8 only to re-appear!! Hubby and I finally decided we'd use condoms but after about 2 yrs of frustration we looked again at our options : I had always been a bit freaked out at the thought of having something inside me, but when I spoke to my doc she explained lots inc periods getting lighter or non-existent....now interested as since coming off pill they were getting sorer and heavier the older I got!! Hubby saw his doc about a vasectomy which had freaked him out too but doc put his mind at ease!!
In the end, he went on the waiting list which, would you believe, is at least 12-18 months due to NHS cuts....so, plan B, I'd get the Mirena in the meantime while we wait...talk about being backed into a corner!!!!:(
I took 2 500mg paracetamol prior to going, crossed my fingers and hoped it would at least be quick!!! My doc and the nurse were both lovely, making it as light hearted and jovial as possible. It wasn't nearly as horrendous as I'd expected...not pleasant, but bearable. A few cramps initially followed by some intense sharp pains that lasted about 3 seconds and done. All in all, don't know why I was so wound up about it and wouldn't hesitate to do it again! Had cramps for about 2hrs, painkillers before bed and woke next morning feeling fab. I've had spotting/light bleeding every day since, and should be due my period in about 11-12 days so I'll wait and see what happens. Have had no pain or side effects as yet and hope it continues to go well, but I'll keep my eye on my weight as lots of you report weight gain, but then that was supposedly a side effect of the pill too???:confused:
IUD gave me severe PID, possibly sterile + symptoms from hell!!!
I had an IUD fitted when I was 26 (today 34), never had kids before. I was looking for a hormone-free alternative to the pill as I always felt a bit depressed on the pill or depo-provera.
I've always been fairly healthy, with a regular cycle, not overweight, not depressive...
I was in pain for 6 months after the IUD fitting, then it went away. In the meantime I had gone to doctor's several times to complain about the pain but was always told the IUD was placed correctly and the pain was because I had never had children so it would eventually go. I still had periods and everything was OK-ish for 2 years.
3 years on at 29, my periods stopped. I started having pain when sitting. Then a month or so later I could not go to bathroom anymore without collapsing to the ground in pain. After scans, MRIs and all these tests, was told I had "fluids and strange looking mass" in my abdomen. I went for surgery, they removed egg-size cysts, I had fluid in my fallopian tubes (they almost removed them) and scar tissue "wrapped" around my intestines. They had never seen such a bad case of PID. The doctor had pierced the uterine membrane with the IUD and infection had been there for years.
Since then have been suffering. I was told I couldn't have kids. Heavy periods, fibroids, cysts, mood swings, nightsweats, hormonal fluctuations, menopause symptoms although I am not even 35 yet.
I've posted this story roughly on the next thread (about nightsweats) and what I did to relieve the symptoms. What saved me was a book from Dr John Lee about premenopause. I learned many things about synthetic hormones, IUDs, and contraception, although I thought I knew a lot already (in my life, I've tried 5+ types of pill, depo provera, IUD, diaphragm... you name it), I really knew nothing. This book also explained why synthetic hormones are bad for you. In any form. It taught me how to deal with nightsweats, PMT, fibroids, cysts, etc.
After getting that book, I took natural progesterone and supplements and noticed that in very little time (1-3 months) and some tweaking that finally my symptoms were gone. My last sonograph revealed my fibroids and cysts were gone (those I was told I would always have, that weren't removed during operation). Last gyne I had seen had told me my next option was to remove my ovaries (I had severe pain at ovulation), and today I'm glad I did my own research and glad I tried other options than conventional doctors, who don't listen to you (well, a large majority). I am symptom free. Had they listened to my complaints about the IUD pain in the first place, perhaps I wouldn't have had all this trouble.
So I posted this for 2 reasons:
1. If you can, try to think of natural ways for contraception instead of an IUD, even if you have to complement with a condom in the middle of the month. Knowing your body will be your best asset later in life when you start getting premenopause and other symptoms. I wish I had done that before, but I didn't have that knowledge. Women are too often led to believe their symptoms must be suppressed, when in fact they are just part of the story, trying to tell you something. I could go on for hours on this topic. I've learned such a great deal by keeping a calendar of my cycle, even my boyfriend now knows about it. He's very nice with me before my period now as I'm definitely more sensitive on these days 🙂 He now understands why middle of month I can feel tired when ovulating, or before my period I can feel like getting into fights more, he forgives me more easily. It says alot also about my moods. I forgive myself more easily if I don't feel good somedays, as opposed to wondering what is wrong with me. Knowing where you are in your cycle and being able to explain why you feel some ways is just awesome. When I don't ovulate one month, I know it. I also know what to do about it. If you don't, long term you are exposing yourself to more trouble.
2. For those who have had a bad experiment like me or some other (not all) hormonal problems for which a doctor says hysterectomy, hormones, antidepressants and other common medical procedures are necessary, I really recommend the book by Dr Lee "What your doctor won't tell you about premenopause" (or menopause, there are 2 books). At least try something else before going down the conventional road. If you need help from a doctor if your case is complicated, there are conventional doctors in the UK and abroad that support Dr Lee's approach or similar approaches, and you can find some online. There are alternatives, you just have to do a lot of research yourself and see what works for you.
Positive experience of Mirena!
Hi everyone 🙂
I'm 38, never had kids or been pregnant. I had the Mirena fitted 5 months ago to try to manage my awful PMT & erratic menstrual cycle (anything between 12-24 days, usually at the lower end. Bleeding wasn't too heavy but the period pain was often unmamageable). I can honestly say it has improved my life immeasurably.
I had terrible PMT for around 10 days in any cycle so sometimes was only sane for 2-3 days at a time. I was deeply depressed, crying all the time, misreading comments, becoming terribly upset at the slightest thing. Even inanimate objects could frustrate me so much I ended up throwing them around & screaming myself hoarse at times.
The worst thing was that I was unable to stop upsetting my dearest people despite being fully aware that it was the PMT speaking rather than my naturally sunny & thoughtful personality (well, that's what others say at least :o). I just couldn't cope with the perpetual tearfulness and the knowledge I was causing hurt to the people I love.
So I went to the GP who put me on the combined pill which suited me well and reduced the PMT a great deal. A year later, being over 35 & a smoker, the
GP told me I had to come off the pill. I was given a flyer about contraceptive options (just a note - I was in a relationship with a woman at the time so didn't need it to prevent pregnancy ;)) and went home to resarch them. Despite reading hundreds of horrific stories about Mirena, it seemed to be the most hopeful option for treating PMT so I opted for that with a certain amount of trepidation.
It was inserted in May by my local Family Planning clinic. It was quite a painful experience, partly because I've never given birth I believe but I was able to breathe through it & relax as far as possible and it went in ok. There was some rotten cramping for a couple of days due I suppose to my body responding to a foreign object inside it but that passed. Thereafter my bleeding was substantially reduced and now it only requires a very light pad for a few days every few weeks (I use washables, always have & it's nice to be scrubbing so much less!). There is still a bit of period pain but it's much reduced. The best thing is NO MORE PMT!!!!!! I can't express the relief it's brought, how much happier, saner & nicer I am these days. Quite honestly, I can wholeheartedly reccomend it for reducing PMT & bleeding and regularising one's cycle.
I would never wish to diminish the awful experiences some people have with this method. It clearly isn't right for everyone. But I just wanted to let people know that it can be worthwhile to go through the initial discomfort for the benefits you could gain from it. I also suggest it's best to go to your Family Planning clinic rather than your GP - they do dozens every week & are thus much more experienced than a GP could ever become.
Best of luck to you all.
Hi a new user here.
I had the Mirena fit yesterday and have felt awful ever since with bad cramps and backache.I know these will subside but my biggest fear is weight gain, I have lost 5 stone in the past 16 months and have another half stone to lose, I have been reading that this coil can cause weight gain and now I am paranoid as no way do I want to gain any weight.
Anyone got anything positive to say about the Mirena as I am seriously thinking of going and having it taken out because I am so scared of gaining weight
Thanks
Hiya,
You know I've had the same concern since getting Mirena 7wks ago. Yes, I've gained 4 or 5 pounds but it's been up & down and always happens this time of year (winter thing).
I'm not saying it won't happen or hasn't happened to other women, but the "combined pill" had the same suppossed side effect but wasn't as widely put out there.
I think you should give it a chance, say 6 months and then decide, you must have got it in the 1st place for a good reason.:o
mirena coil
I had the Mirena coil fitted in sept 2011, i'm 38 and had it fitted cos of heavy and painful periods, since having it fitted i have not stopped bleeding and my breasts are so sore i cant sleep at night, ive put weight on but to be honest some days are worse than others, one day clothes fit great next day cant even get them to fasten, my appetite is all over the place, but honestly the worst thing for me is the sore boobs they are killing me and i suffer with a lot of pain in my groin and it feels like something dragging down from inside its awful, im gonna stick it out and hope things improve, i wish i hadnt had it in cos reading the stories on here iam dreading having it removed :mad::eek:
Merina coil
Hi there,I'm new here, I had the merina put in for the third time on the 3rd feb 2012, the insersion was of course painful, but not as painful as sitting waiting on the appointment. lol. Around 5 hours, 8-o, The next day i was still cramping a bit but no spotting or bleeding. This is my third as first time i ended up with very large cysts (i automatically blamed the coil. so demanded it out, second time i put on a lot of weight (of course i blamed the coil) Which i think everyone blames it for a lot of things but to be honest i think sometimes its just coincidental, Anyhoo, I'm going to stick with it this time just to see how it goes. And any ladies whose only had it in a few months i would say to do the same this could take up to a year to settle and any weight gain or anything else you think is coil related should die down to. I will keep you all up to date will how its going. But as of yet its going good ( I know I know i've only had it in a couple of days lol. ) i welcome any questions or statements 😎 thanks for reading