AIBU to be uncomfortable by the thought of a Mirena Coil

[lozzylizzy]

I went to the doctors a few months ago due to very heavy periods which are gradually getting closer together. At times I am changing a night pad and super plus tampon every 20-30 mins. I once got as far as the bathroom door. It is particularly annoying on school run and travelling to work. I had a blood test and I was anaemic and was sent for a scan of my uterus at the hospital a couple of weeks later where it was found I had fibroids.

The doctor that referred me basically told me to see the lady doctor about having a Mirena coil. I am not comfortable with the sound of some of the side effects and I have booked in to see the lady doctor. Has anyone had any experiences with any of the above and what procedures etc did you have to put an end (or at least alleviate the pain and loss at that time of the month)

I would rather sort the root of the cause rather than masking it with hormonal contraception when I don't need contraception!

Can I ask how much weight people have put on with the Mirena?

None whatsoever.

3rd Mirena here, love it and minimal bleeding.. and am an obstetrician (and gynaecologist)
You don't need a gynaecologist for a 5cm fibroid if it is not inside or distorting the womb cavity itself (this will be known from scan).
Talk to GP who has (by the sounds
Of it) got a special interest in this area. Try it and give it 6 months.
Mirena doesn't make you gain weight but in a small number of people, it can stimulate appetite and obvs if you eat more...
Good luck!

Sorry to disagree with the others but you DO need to see a gynaecologist I would have thought for a hysteroscopy and biopsy to rule anything else out. They will be able to put a mirena coil in at the same time if it won't interfere with your fibroids.

I have menorrhagia and fibroids too and although the mirena worked to decrease bleeding I had a really unpleasant reaction to it and I'm apparently extremely sensitive to progesterone. But it is worth a try as it works for lots of people. I'm booked in for a novasure ablation under GA this week

I had my Mirena quite happily for about 18 months, it never stopped my periods but they we're manageable. Then I started having non stop heavy periods with huge clots and my Mirena fell out. Saw the GP who referred me for an ultrasound, diagnosis fibroids.

Referral to gynaecologist who tried to persuade me to get another Mirena, I refused. Sent for a hysteroscopy and biopsy, again tried to persuade me to have another Mirena, again refused.

Gynaecology then booked me in for an ablation. In theatre and they decided my womb was large & distorted and full of clots so not suitable for an ablation.

Final option was a hysterectomy. Had that done last year. Finally no more periods!

All in all took about a year and had periods nearly constantly during that time. Hysterectomy definitely right choice for me, I'm mid 40's and don't want any more kids. My reasons for turning down another Mirena was because I didn't trust it for birth control (might fall out again without me noticing).

Mind you it sounds more than trite that I am disagreeing with a gynaecologist :o sorry!

I think it's so different for everyone (based on a straw poll of women I work with). I didn't get on with it at all. It made me moody, my normally huge libido all but disappear, I put weight on too. The main reason I had it out was that it kept scratching my DP, even after them cutting the strings as short as they could go. He's quite ahem big but not record breakingly so. I don't have a tilted womb or anything either. It took months to regulate back to normal after having it out. I was gutted because having had very similar effects on the pill it was my last option. I can't use the copper coil because of the scratching issue. I am currently pregnant but thinking sterilisation is my only option if I don't want to use condoms forever, which I really don't!

I had the same period problems as you and became mildly anaemic. A mirena was inserted but I did suffer a lot of abdominal twinges and daily spotting for almost six months. I was on the verge of giving up and having it removed, when all of a sudden any bleeding just stopped - and I haven't had a period since (5 years ago). Just had a second one put in. Only long term side effect I have noticed is that facial hair has become darker / thicker / more of a problem, but perhaps that is age related too (early 40s).

I'd had heavy periods since I was about 15, and the Mirena was life changing for me. Just wish I'd had it about 10 years sooner.

I love mine - really heavy periods no more - just a liner for 3 days a month - my life has been transformed!!!

OP i got one put in after my 2 kids. Mainly for my endo as I have bad periods but also handy for contraception (would be happy to have my tubes tied but merina was recommended). I've had it for 9 months. Procedure was very easy, 2 panadol and went straight to work after.

DH says I'm much more emotional. Very up and down. Also I have put on about 2 stone because of the constant hunger. Like breastfeeding hunger!

On the plus side my periods are much more manageable.

I'm currently deciding whether to keep it in. Have changed my diet and have lost about half a stone in the last 3 weeks by eliminating trigger foods (I always find my head feels terrible when i eat badly). I've set a time period for removal if the weight doesn't shift and my hormones don't settle.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Thanks again everyone. It is difficult to attend a 10 minute appointment to discuss something like this when I knew virtually nothing about it other than the bad bits. Hopefully I will get a lot more information than a website address when I visit the doctor tomorrow.

The process of putting them in sounds horrible. Worse than a smear test and the last time I had one of those it was rather painful.

I'll stick with my heavy periods. Not ideal but they don't hurt.

I had my second one put in at my GPs surgery, @myfavouritecolourispurple - and it was fine. No more uncomfortable than a smear at the time (not a painful smear, either), with a little bit of cramping afterwards - I've had period pains that were far worse, and these didn't even justify taking a painkiller.

I am on my second one. I needed something I was bleeding heavily for up to 3 weeks out of 4 and had anemia . I was about to have it taken out at 3 months because I was still bleeding when it suddenly stopped completely. Plus no migraines, pain or tiredness. I love mine and hope I can get a third so it will take me through the menopause. It saved me I was so depressed I wanted to kill myself, the bleeding meant I was frightened to sit on people chairs incase I flooded and stained it. I had to wear trousers because it ran down my legs. Love the mirena .

I had to have my mirena removed after 8 months because I became
a hormonal libido-less nightmare.....

Also put on lots of weight.

After having it removed I went back to normal fairly quickly and it was wonderful to feel like me again.

I had no problem with the process of it being put in or taken out however.

Im also on my second one. didn't find the inserting or removing painful (sure its not the most fun half hour I've ever had..)

Weight gain - I'm fatter than I was ten years ago but I reckon that might be due to me being nearly 40, eating to much goodies and a not exercising.

Libido- Id say mine has increased, but that might also be the fact my children are no longer clingy toddlers who demand my attention 24/7.

I've not had a period in close to 10 years. Even if I had normal periods and not the horredously heavy ones the OP has, I'd recommend the mirena

Going to add my story which is similar to many others. I struggled with heavy periods for years after the birth of my third child -can totally identify with the soaking through pads, waking in the night, flooding, having to carry changes of underwear, pads, tampons etc. I was permanently on iron tablets and felt shite. Saw a very understanding GP who suggested referral to a gynaecologist and possibly Mirena.

I had the Mirena fitted in February 2014, and it was marvellous. I didn't have any side effects, or if I did they were mild and the benefits of not bleeding so profusely very much outweighed the effects. It was fab and I was very happy with it for 2 years until the bleeding gradually started to get worse again. Long story short - during the time I had the Mirena the fibroid had carried on growing and had shoved the Mirena out of the way. Fibroids are a law unto themselves - they appear to grow in spurts, mine was a large oval 10cm by 7cm and grew 3cm in a year. Ended up with a hysterectomy. If my fibroid had slowed growing when I had the Mirena fitted I would still have it now.

I would say Mirena is most definitely worth a try. It's non-invasive, easily removed if you don't get on with it, and a lot better than the fibroid treatment alternatives of ablation, embolisation, myectomy or hysterectomy, or the bleeding. There is lots of information about fibroids, Mirena and other options online but please remember that people mostly post horror stories on the web so stick to reputable websites when resaerching. I found the NHS Choices website very useful.

Been to the GP and she is referring me to the gynecologist, I may have the mirena fitted by them or if not some other suitable treatment. Thank you for your advice and experiences. [flower]

Love my Mirena. No periods at all. Loveitloveitloveitloveit.

I've had it no problem for 10 years but recently started having periods again