Hi I am new to this site, but have been reading with interest all of the views on the pros and cons of the mirena. I had always had heavy periods although no longer than 6 days I would clot and occasionally flood, but somehow just managed them without too much fuss, thinking they were my lot. Then last March (08) I had a 6 week period which became so bad that during a holiday in Tenerife I stood up in a resturant, and haemorrhaged so badly that an ambulance was called by the manager and I spent the next few days in the hospital having various tests and waiting to see if the doctors were going to allow me to fly home. Once back in UK I was put under care of a private gynocologist who performed a D+C, and hysteroscopy to ensure that I didn't have cancer, I was then offered Mirena,Provera or ablation. I have never been on the pill or similar but felt ablation was too invasive, so I said Mirena..however during the month waiting for the fitting I read lots of horror stories and since the bleeding seemed to have settled after the D+C I decided to try and carry on naturally...for 6 months everything was ok, then at christmas my periods became very long and heavy and I thought..here I go again, I went to arrange fitting of the mirena but as I had lost so much blood and was very anaemic I had to wait until another course of iron tablets had built me up before I could have it fitted. Well I eventually had it fitted on 26th March 09 (ironically just as my period had began to settle down) The fitting was not painful, although I do have 3 children and a high pain threshold, it was just a bit uncomfortable with cramping which lasted for about a day afterwards. I had spotting for 6 days then a period free day and then spotting again continously until 7 days ago when I woke up flooding, clotting and with stronger period pains than ever before (I have also had very painful breasts, which I never get, although these have calmed down since the flooding began) THe pains have now gone but am still flooding. I have not noticed any weight gain altough I am very careful with my diet anyway, I have had a couple of spots on my chin which is new to me also as I am 48 and way past teenage spots lol. I think I can feel the threads on examination so don't think the coil has dislodged itself. I am going to give this at least 3 months, although at the moment I feel no better than before and in some ways worse, I just want to get my normal life back. I am hoping that come the magic 3 month marker, I too will be singing the Mirenas praises, I have friends who swear by it. If not then I am going to schedule for the ablation, my periods have already taken up way to much of my thoughts in the past year.
Hi I had the mirena coil fitted around 4 years ago after years of heavy periods that got worse as time went on. For me it worked in that after the initial fitting (which was horrendous and supposed to take 15 mins but took over an hour and was very painful and had me throwing up in the car park afterwards) I was one of the lucky ones in that it seemed to agree with me, skin improved, hair became thicker, nails grew, and periods were almost non existent.
Eighteen months down the line it became dislodged and my gynaecologist had to remove it and refused to put another one in. I was also told that the only treatment left open to me was endometrial ablation which I agreed to despite my reservations and asking several times if there was any alternative. The ablation had to be one of the worst things ever, I had a course of hormone injections into my stomach to prepare for the op which affected my mood so badly - I was permanantly pre-menstrual and almost lost my job over it, it just wasn't like me. I also had a reaction to the pain killers after the op which left me covered in hives and itching.
The PMS type mood swings didn't improve after the op and it also pushed me into menopause so I had hot flushes and night sweats to contend with as well.
If I knew then what I know now I would never have had the ablation, for anyone in this position I would recommend Patrick Holfords book balancing hormones naturally, it might not work for everyone as we are all different, but if it saves even one person having either the mirena coil or an ablation its worth it.
Since discovering the book and learning about nutrition and hormones I lost 16Kgs and all the extra weight around the middle and have managed to get the hot flashes under control (still get the odd night sweat if I have too much wine lol)
Good luck to all of you that are in the position of making that choice, whatever you decide to go with.
Chris
1 month since having Mirena fitted
I was really interested in your experiences Chris, and so sorry that even the ablation has not been a success...that was my next plan if the mirena doesn't suit.
Well I had flooding and clotting for about 16 days, crazy cramping, which I have never had before, but (touch wood) the bleeding has now stopped for 5 whole days, the stomach pains have gone, I have not put on weight. My hair is much greasier and needs washed every single day as opposed to 3 times a week and I have a few spots that haven't been a problem for the last 30 years. My biggest concern at the moment is the very strong pain in my left breast, bad enough to wake me at night and getting worse instead of better..I have been to the doctor who is on the fence re whether it is a symptom of the mirena (I am sure it is, and just worry that the hormone could trigger something sinister if left unchecked) he just thinks it is early days and the symptom may or maynot be related but wait until 6 week check (about 16 may) before doing any further investigations.
Chris, I too read a book, well several actually by Suzzane Somers, called Ageless, The sexy Years and Breakthrough...all of which endorse the use of Bio identical or natural hormones,(great reads and very though provoking!) but when I spoke to my GP he wasn't really up to speed with these american concepts. I do worry that synthetic hormones may have toxins in that may cause other side effects, but as I say it is early days for me yet so I need to give it a fair trail before I go having it removed.
WOW what a lot of different experience!
I have PCOS and had a severe bleed of late which resulted in anemia.
My consultant told me that he wants me in for a scope, a biopsy & fit the
Mirena Coil.
It has been sold to me on the basis that If I havn't already got cancer then I could do if my womb is not kept thin.
I am 36 and at the moment feel as though there is no option.
Another bleed like the last one would weaken me so much.
X
WOW what a lot of different experience!
I have PCOS and had a severe bleed of late which resulted in anemia.
My consultant told me that he wants me in for a scope, a biopsy & fit the
Mirena Coil.It has been sold to me on the basis that If I havn't already got cancer then I could do if my womb is not kept thin.
I am 36 and at the moment feel as though there is no option.
Another bleed like the last one would weaken me so much.
X
HI survivor,
I had the coil to control the bleeding too, it seems to be starting to work, I have had 9 days with no bleeding, today is day 10 and have had a tiny amount of spotting...the cramps that I had a few weeks ago were as bad as contractions during labour, making me double over for a couple of days but they thankfully have gone and I am feeling better than I have in a long time, I feel like my anaemia that I have had for over a year is subsiding, and I have more energy and am sleeping better too, I went back to the doctor about my painful breast and he gave me ibroprofen gel to rub on it and I am being sent up to the hospital for a mamogram next week, although I am sure my problem is hormonal from the mirena as I have never taken any form of hormones before and have never suffered from breast pain/cramps etc in the past...but I am lucky that my doctor wants to err on the side of caution with regards to my health. I am really hoping for everything to settle down by 3-6 month period, I want the mirena to work for me as can't go on with the horrendous cycle of flooding/d+c/hysteroscopy/blood transfusion merry-go-round that i have been on for the last year...good luck to you, and anyone else that is suffering in a similar way, let's hope that we get lucky with this treatment
Apologies as this is the first time I have been on the site since February.
Hello VSG1963,
Glad you have had a positive experience with the MC as I have. I think its the best and easiest contreceptive device I have had, in that you dont need to think or worry once its in, no pills to remember to take etc. Having it fitted is uncomfortable and you have to be patient and persevere for a while for the body to settle down in order to feel the benefits. My periods now are almost none existent, the only time I know one is coming is that my breasts get tender for a day or two, then I get some little cramps known and again on my lower right hand side of my stomach just to let me know something is happening, I then get a few little spots for a few days and then its gone. No real need for tampons as such and life is great.
I have taken the pill for most of my adult life, so thought the MC would be ok as it too has hormones in it.
Its a shame so many ladies dont seem to get on with the MC. I guess I am lucky in that it suits me and I do think its a great device in that I know I dont need to think or worry for the next 5 years or so (fingers crossed I dont get any gyno problems).
Yikes - just had an MC fitted today....
I had a Mirena fitted earlier today and just before I went off to my appointment I did a quick search on the web and up popped this site. I'm not sure if reading everyone's posts has been a good idea or bad and now that it's done I'm back on site trying to find some postive posts, which I'm glad to see there are a few of! Over the years my periods have become very heavy and whilst regular and pain free, I'm always worried about flooding, especially at work! I hadn't really considered the Mirena as a way of controlling this, probably because I don't need to use contraception (hubby had the snip after our kids were born) but I have a couple of friends who sing its praises. It was therefore a bit of a shock to see the flip side of the coil!
Anyway, today went ok, just mild discomfort and some bleeding. I'm hoping for a good outcome and that I can enjoy my summer holidays but I'm really quite concerned about how long it may take to settle in, possible mood swings and weight gain, not to mention loss of lobido, which isn't exactly high at the best of times! I'm almost 48 but in fairly good shape but its hard work to maintain current weight without thinking about additional pounds. 😮
Anyway, on reflection, reading through these threads has at least educated me on what I might expect so for better or worse we'll just have to wait and see!
Mirena update....
Well, now two weeks since Mirena fitted. I have to say I am starting to feel a bit more relaxed about my decision. I haven't had any real problems, just some light bleeding/spotting for a few days which I expected. My period is now here (timing as normal) but it has been much lighter with no clots or floods which is such a relief. I did have very tender boobs right up until my period started but I would be inclined to suffer from that anyway. Weighed myself this morning and that was ok too. I'm not counting my chickens yet but it seems to be working out for me.....
4 months on
Hi, all.
It's now just over 4 months since having the mc fitted. I had frequent, although light bleeding for the first 3 months but now nothing for over a month! This is fine for me although anything would have been better than the heavy flooding and pain I was experiencing before. I do not have any other problems with the mc, threads still in place, tender breasts have gone and no weight gain or acne. So for me a good decision so far anyway!:D
mirena
I had the mirena coil fitted yesterday afternoon. I am a 22 year old women who has never had any children. I was told that after having the coil inserted I would get some cramping pains but this would improve after a few hours. The actual procedure was quite painful but very quick and the doctor was lovely. After the procedure the pain seemed to subside for about 30mins probably due to the relief of the initial awful pain. But within half an hour i started getting the most awful cramps imaginable. I have always had quite painful periods but this was much worse. I wanted to cry. To make matters worse when i tried taking any pain killers I would throw up violently. I was so worried that i looked at the forumns and i must say that they scared me to death. I though my cramps would last for ages and I had not been warned about this. Any way i persevered and I want to say that today 24hrs after having it was inserted the pain has drastically subsided. I feel able to return to work and i am not taking any pain killers. I just wanted to say this incase there was anybody else in my position. It felt awful but it did not last.
All the best
Mirena Coil
Hi, found this site by looking at side effects of this coil. I have found it all interesting reading.
I had mine fitted two weeks ago under general anaesthetic (had hysteroscopy and D&C at same time). I had dreadful cramps for a couple of days which settled down into mild cramps, with the occasional pretty dreadful one. Also I have been bleeding almost continuously since then. Today is the first day when I think it might be stopping. The bleeding has been odd, not heavy at all and with some small mucas type clots.
All the other side effects people have mentioned I already have, adult acne, hair growth, weight gain.... A lot of my trouble stems from underactive thyroid and polysystic ovary syndrome. Also I am 48, no kids and heading towards the big "m".
Reason for fitting the coil was to control periods. In fact it was suggested by my gynae over 6 years ago, but I chose not to do it. However, my last "proper" period lasted 44 days with horrendous flooding and feeling like I had a constant tap dripping. The only way to stop the bleeding was to take the same hormone as in the mirena, but in a mega dose three times a day. Decision made.
I hope that it will settle down. Every days seems a bit better, but then it can feel awful for short period again - two steps forward and then one back.
I shall persevere as I have a friend who is on her second one and has had no problems and no periods since then.
I will update progress as I have found it very difficult to get any positive feedback from the internet and this site appears to have very balanced viewpoints which I have found very helpful.
mirena coil
i had the mirena coil fitted 4 1/2 yrs ago. the doctor took me off the pill as i was having headaches and left me without contraception and it was taking a yr to get sterlised. however the family planning clinic sugested the mirena coil. so i had it fitted and its the best thng i did. my periods dissappeared and only spot very lightly monthly. however i am getting married very soon and want ot have another baby with my new husband. so has any1 who has had this coil had it removed and fell pregnant without any problems
Hi,
I have been reading the posts and cannot believe how lucky I have been, I had the mirena first fitted nearly 10 years ago, it was the best thing that I ever did after years of misery with such painful periods. I have not had periods since. I must admit it did take 9 months to settle down. Since then my 2 daughters who had not had children at the time also had the mirena fitted with great results. I have recommended it to many friends and their daughters. Of a bout 15 people that I know of who have had it fitted only one has had any bad side effects and had it removed the rest are delighted with the results. Give it time to settle before you think about having it removed it can sometimes take as long as 9 months.
Best Wishes
Kim
Hi all I had a Mirena Coil placed on the 31st of Jan 09 so it has been now about 6 months for very bad period pain and irregular periods (every 2 weeks), the bleeding is slowly coming to an end thank goodness, but now I get very bad cramps that come and go in my lower abdominal on my left hand side.
Has anyone had anything simalar problems as i am still not sure if this is working for me however i do not know what else is good as I have tried depo injection (8 yrs) and pill (12yrs) and they are not good at all
Thanks
hi all,
well, another story in the pot. I got Mirena fitted last May and had it for 2 months. Absolute nightmare! I think i had every single side effect it possibly had. I had swollen feet, strong pelvic pain (it reminded me giving a birth everyday, not something anybody would want, pain is even storing during period), acnes, weight gain and surpringly period for 4 weeks continuosly. I was so tired with it at the end of it, my doctor and i were hoping my body would gradually get used to it and it never happened. So i ended up begging my doctor and got it removed. such a relief...
i am on marvelon at the moment. Not too bad. Still gaining weight though. Being moody sometimes. well, could have been worse.
alright, good luck to all.
take care