To Mirena or to not Mirena..?

[twojumpingbeans]

I have the most hideously heavy and excruciating periods, have a history of all sorts of cysts and have had a Fallopian tube removed. I'm now hugely anaemic as a result and have iron on prescription from the GP.

I have been referred again to gynaecology who have basically said that an ablation might help with bleeding but won't help with pain, I have tried many contraceptive pills but get awful migraines with them. Had tranemaxic (spelling?!?) acid. The consultant basically said that a hysterectomy is about all that's left - apart from the Mirena. I'm absolutely terrified of doing something that might make it worse to be honest, I've talked to friends who have had it and it's made their lives a misery.. I'm struggling to find anything positive on t'internet about it too. So, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of this at all? Anything welcome good and/or bad!

I'm feeling pretty desperate at the moment, I lost so much blood yesterday I felt absolutely dreadful, dizzy and nauseous. I ended up in bed before the DCs and slept for 11 hours straight, still in huge amounts of pain and feel like arse again today. Gah..

[LunaLoveg00d]

I have a Mirena, had it put in for the same reasons as you and at the start it worked perfectly! My heavy periods were caused by a fibroid which has continued to grow and the Mirena is therefore not working any more, but in the early days it was great.

I had cramps for a few days after it went in, irregular bleeding for a few months after that but just spotting, nothing serious and then my periods settled and were a LOT lighter. It made me feel much better for 2 years or so until the fibroid grew again....

It's definitely something worth exploring. Don't believe everything you read online either - people are always willing to give you the horror stories but less willing to give you a positive story.

[nbee84]

Positive from me. Sounds like my periods weren't as bad as yours but on my heaviest days I could flood through a super plus tampon in half an hour, though I never had horrendous period pains. My periods are now a little spotting for a couple of days each month and my pmt has disappeared. I'm on my 3rd one and did have to have one removed as it was in the wrong place - I knew this as my heavy periods returned. I have read lots of negative stories online but people do tend to post when it goes wrong. I only know 3 other women that have one and none of us have had problems.
It is obviously a much simpler procedure than a hysterectomy so maybe give it a go and if it doesn't work for you then it'll have to be the op.

[exexpat]

Here's a positive view, since most people are more likely to post if they have bad experiences: I didn't have anything like the problems you are having, but did have increasingly heavy and increasingly frequent periods (probably heading for perimenopause). I got a Mirena fitted a couple of years ago and couldn't be happier with it. There was some spotting for the first few months, but I am now period-free and feeling great. No sign of the other side effects people mention (mood swings, weight gain etc).

I'd say it's worth a try, and worth giving it a few months to settle in, unless you do immediately get migraines again.

[JC23]

I'm on my third mirena. It's the only contraceptive that's worked out for me and I love it. There's literally nothing to worry about - no periods, no cramps, no noticeable monthly cycle at all.

[whatever1134]

I hated mine, had it taken out a few weeks ago after 14 months in. The only good thing about it was the lighter periods even then it took almost a year for them to go lighter. Suffered for years with bad periods, horrible cramps.

It gave me headaches, exhaustion, weight gain, acne, thrush a lot!. Pmt what felt like was a month Long, low moods, constantly snappy.

I know a lot of people who have had the same reaction, hope it works for you op. But honestly if you start experiencing those symptoms I said about, get it taken out.

[FaithAscending]

What pills did you try previously? Combined or POP? I took the POP without many issues (except decreased sex drive) for a while so tried the Mirena. Personally I didn't like it, I had awful mood swings on it and felt terrible. However, in your situation I'd try it. It could radically improve your symptoms. The great thing with the Mirena is if you don't like it you can have it removed as soon as they can book you an appointment and the side effects wear off soon after it comes out.

[mudandmayhem01]

I am on my third, periods so light I only use a panty liner for two days, I do loads of sport and i used to dread a race coinciding with my period, don't even give it a second thought now. Also several female GPs I know have mirena which is always a good endorsement. I know some people have bad side effects but it has been genuinely life changing for me.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Positive from me, total lifechanger. My periods were very heavy after DC2, I couldn't use tampons or cups due to prolapses, now with the Mirena I have about 2 days light bleeding a year. It took a few months to settle down, but I'm on my second now and this one will see me through the menopause. No side effects whatsoever.

[Helspopje]

I adore mirena. Utterly wonderful. Should buy shares in the company for the number of iron deficient menorrhagic women that I refer for one (haematologist).
I've had 3 and will use it after this pregnancy is over. I go a bit vagal when it is put in but have no bleeds/just spotting when it is in and settled for years and years. Totally transformed my life.
Highly recommended.

[twojumpingbeans]

Thank you - some really good advice here. It feels like a big decision somehow. Great to hear all your experiences, good and bad! Now - thinking time!!

[biscuitbadger]

What did you decide op?
I had a mirena for a while, but chose to have it removed as I felt the hormones were affecting me negatively. And I always felt like I could feel it! (Maybe it was fitted wrong?)
I just wanted to say while some people don't get on with it it's probably worth a try, it wasn't nice getting it fitted, but having it removed was painless and very quick. Also I don't think any of the more common side effects tend to be sudden or extreme. It's not a permanent decision, you can have it taken out at any time.