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AIBU?

To think my mirena coil is making me tired and depressed?

20 replies

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 27/04/2016 22:38

I've had my coil just over a year. I had depression before, but since I've had the coil I seem to have gone rapidly downhill (whole days where I can do nothing except lie under my duvet playing candy crush).

Also I'm so tired all the time. I can rarely get through a day without having a nap at some point. I'm an otherwise healthy 35 year old, surely that's not right?

And my periods are a pain in the arse. I was looking forward to them stopping when I got the coil, but no such luck. Now, instead of 3 days, they last for 8 days. Which is a long time when you only have a 24 day cycle. My periods are very light now, but they just seem to go on forever.

I'm tempted to have it removed and get sterilised, as I don't really want any stronger hormonal contraception, and condoms are a pain. Seems maybe a bit extreme though! Has anyone else had tiredness and depression after getting a coil?

OP posts:

Report

Fwaffy · 27/04/2016 22:45

No personal experience but I'm a HCP and always counsel my patients about the risk of their mood going down with Mirena. Hasn't happened to many but I have removed at least one solely due to it triggering (at least in part) a bout of depression.

missbishi · 27/04/2016 23:24

If you only had 3 day periods to begin with, it might be worth thinking about a bog-standard IUD. It's true that they can sometimes make your flow a little heavier and longer but if you were only light/short to begin with, it might make an acceptable trade-off.

Ninefreerangeeggs · 27/04/2016 23:31

Yanbu. I had Mirena for 6 months and couldn't take the mood swings, exhaustion and skin breakouts (none of which a problem beforehand) which resolved as soon as I had it removed

busyboysmum · 27/04/2016 23:34

Yes I had exactly the same reaction. Put up with it for 6 months then got it removed and am totally back to normal now.

goldwrapped · 27/04/2016 23:34

YANBU. I was exactly the same, felt tons better as soon as it was removed. It's rotten as so many of my friends - actually all of the women I've spoken to about it - have had great results. Very disappointing! Good luck xx

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 28/04/2016 00:34

Thanks all, relieved to know that the mirena could well be the cause. I can't get the copper coil because I'm really sensitive to metals (can't wear copper jewellery). I think it could be time to get it taken out, which is annoying because it has been convenient contraception-wise.

On that note, how horrendous is the removal? I had it put in under a GA.

OP posts:

LetMeBe · 28/04/2016 00:42

Hi I got the coil fitted last July and lately I've been feeling so down, very tired, no motivation. Been sleeping 3 hrs in the day and just like you all I want to do is lay down or just watch TV. Been feeling that I really need to snap out of this but don't know how. Reading your post I could totally relate to it, never thought it may be linked to the coil. So thank you for raising this.
If you do remove coil, what alternative contraception is out there? I am not getting periods so would like it stay that way

DottyButtons · 28/04/2016 00:48

GP took my coil out. Quick shufty with a speculum, told me to cough, she pulled the strings and out it popped. Took about a nanosecond and didn't hurt in the slightest.
Hope you feel better soon.

ChablisTyrant · 28/04/2016 00:53

Yep . This happened to me. It's whipped out in a second so don't worry about it.

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 28/04/2016 01:18

Thanks for the reassurance re removal. I think that's going to be what I need to do. How long did it take to begin to feel normal again, for those that have had similar problems?

And re other contraception - I really don't know! I don't get on with hormonal contraception at all, which removes pretty much all of the options. That's why I'm thinking sterilisation could be the way forward.

OP posts:

Ninefreerangeeggs · 28/04/2016 01:22

Was there a specific reason why you had a GA for the fitting? As a medic it is unusual that this would have been recommended unless there was an underlying reason. Relatively speaking it is much less painful to remove than to insert.

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 28/04/2016 01:33

I was under a GA because I was having a termination. I really didn't want to ever have to be in that position again so the coil was a bit of a snap decision when they offered it.

OP posts:

crossparsley · 28/04/2016 01:38

I have a teeny (sore) cervical opening and I had to have a local anaesthetic and a specialist at the clinic to have my last one Iinnserted, but getting the old one out was 2-3 seconds of discomfort. I was all braced for misery, and it was gone. I'm copper coil all the way due to depressive tendencies but it has to be up to you. Best wishes

Ninefreerangeeggs · 28/04/2016 01:49

So sorry to hear that OP. The symptoms tend to resolve within a few weeks of removal.

DMHiresIlleterates · 28/04/2016 01:53

Mirena coil is notorious for causing depression. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole again. Getting it out is like pulling out a tampon to be honest.

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 28/04/2016 09:49

I've got an appointment to have it removed on 12th May. I can't wait!

OP posts:

Goldenhandshake · 28/04/2016 11:09

YANBU, I had a horrendous experience with Mirena, it seems to be either fabulous or a disaster, although I've heard more bad stories than good.

NotJanine · 28/04/2016 11:14

I had bad mood swings with it too, although my GP claimed that wasn't possible

I got on much better with the combined pill

mopants · 28/04/2016 18:13

I refused the Mirena coil because hormones tend to make me more than a little bit crazy!! But my doctor assured me that it has such a small localised dose of hormones that it wouldn't affect me at all apart from stopping my periods. I had it put in, cue 2 months of constant bleeding and wanting to kill myself before I took it out myself while in the bath. Be careful, an extra side effect of the Morena coil is the tendency for multiple pregnancies afterwards. I was pregnant with twins 2 weeks after the damn thing came out

LVRN · 03/10/2022 11:24

Oh my goodness, I've had the Mirena coil for 5 years (getting it out this month) and the entire time I have felt exhausted. I never have any energy to do anything, I struggle to get up and my confidence and general mood is often very low. Oh and not to forget the daily headaches! Not suicidal but just generally not myself.
It is so relieving to read this thread and no that it is highly possible it's the coil. I had spoken to the GP about it at the beginning and since had blood tests etc to find out if there's underlying causes but nothing. Hopefully I'll go back to normal after having it out!
Thank you for this post!

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