to be a bit baffled by approach to Mirena side effects by docs...

[ImSoNotTelling]

I had my mirena fitted yesterday. DH has been a bit worried about it due to the people on here who have had side effects. When I went for initial appt they said the hormone is localised blah and they'd never heard of anyone getting depressed (I suffered perinatal anxiety and depression and I'm only just getting over it - that's why DH was worried). Basically said my concerns were unfounded and that these things weren't side effects due to localisation of hormone.

Anyway I decided to go ahead on the basis they said it would be fine, and the no periods thing sounds good, and if I go wonky I will know it's probably the coil and get it removed. I read the leaflet thoroughly and it didn't mention and of the side effects women on here have mentioned.

The doctor yesterday also reassured me depression etc not side effect.

Afterwards she gave me the booklet which listed side effects and under "common side effects" - which they define as affecting between 1% and 10% of women ie what I would think meant really very common, were things including depression and anxiety, headaches, weight gain, spots, mood swings etc etc

So why on earth did both doctors and the initial leaflet not mention these things at all???

Is there some kind of conspiracy to get everyone onto Mirena? It is really weird. Normally the risks of things are explained in huge detail.

And in this second leaflet it said small amounts of the hormone get into your breast milk - which also wasn't mentioned to me at any point.

Am IBU to wonder why my concerns were dismissed when they are actual listed side effects, and to wonder why the initial leaflet only mentioned good things while the one they give you after you've had it inserted is a completely different story?

broxi I do hope that you get back to normal very quickly, other people have said that their symptoms have subsided very quickly, I am sure that wil be the case with you too

Broxi, I've never heard of anyone having stabbing pains from the Mirena, and can't help wondering whether it was badly fitted. The patient info sheet that I received when I had mine fitted does mention that it is possible to damage the wall of the uterus when inserting the Mirena. The fact that the pains stopped as soon as you had it removed seems quite significant.

If you were in such pain, so frequently, then pure stress could have had an effect on your supply.

The way to increase your supply is the same now as it would have been with a very young baby: feed, feed, feed. Babymoon, skin-to-skin, drink plenty, and relax.

Hi everyone and thanks so much for the replies. Although the stabbing pain is gone, I'm still having alot of anxiety, insomnia etc, and since the removal heavey bleeding is getting a bit uncontrollable, more then childbirth and i was classed as post partum hemmorage.
Yes I am in the UK and have already filed complaint with hospital. In spite of everything, i do feel like i am getting a bit more milk, and he has been breastfeding constantly.
And i would never in a million years have dreamt hormones ould affect moods so much!
Of course lack of sleep does too, i slept 2 hours last night which is the most I've had in a week. I just hope it wears off enough for sleep soon.
One other question, i did read it could cause chest pain, I have extreme pain in right lung after i lay down for a bit, not as bad the rest of the time. Have only just read Mirena not suitable for those with
Antiphopholid syndrome due. I really hope the chest pain is normal.
I am really annoyed too. I dont think it should be legal to give this to women with proper warning of side effects.
If anyone knows anything about class action suits in America, I would so love to give a deposition. It wouldnt matter at all thaT I couldnt collect, only that the company be forced to list all side efects.

Am really shocked reading through these posts. Just had ds2 and my gp was literally railroading me into having mirena fitted, despite me saying didn't want coil under any circumstances. Makes me very suspicious that gp was probably going to receive some financial incentive if I had agreed. She never once mentioned any of side effects that mumsnetters have written about!!

inahurrymummy - It's true. They get special extra payments for the coil. It's one of a few 'services' they get extra payments for. (Like treating alcoholics but they haven't caught up with me on that one yet ). No, but more seriously, I was shocked when I discovered that - even more shocked if you read the post on here about a doc refusing to take one out until the poster demanded it in writing. I mean I am sure that most doctors try and give impartial advice. But I'm afraid, human nature being what it is to suggest that there is never any bias because of a financial incentive...

I haven't read all the replies on here so apologies if I'm repeating anyone.
I was on Cerazette and suffering with dreadful moodswings and mild anxiety/depression which I've never had before.
I asked at the FPC if I could try the Mirena coil and they refused because the side effects are very similar to those on Cerazette (ie anxiety/depression/moodswings).
They put in a copper coil instead and I'm much better now.
Maybe its quite cheap and that's why GP's like using them???

Mirenas cost around £100 to fit (so a gp friend told me) and this is one of the reasons why she told me gps aren't keen on fitting them in women who plan to have children in the near future as it would mean removal before the 5 yrs is up, therefore not making it good value.
I had a Mirena fitted after dc3 and it caused all sorts of problems, sharp contraction-y pains, cramps, bleeding due to having shifted position a bit (not sure if it was becuse I had it done so soon after birth) so gp fitted another one after a fortnight and I've had no problems whatsoever with it since. Love it, love it! I can't tolerate pills and so this is a godsend!
Just wanted to put forward a positive for the Mirena! However, I do think that how people's experiences vary is often to do with how competent the person who fitted it is.
Not had any experience of depression with it,nor with Cerazette which I used for the 2 weeks between coils, despite having issues with hormones in pills.

My main side effect of the Mirena was getting pregnant

And now knowing I was pg because periods had stopped

DD is lovely though

I'm not in any way criticising Mirena or any other IUD. I know that loads of women love em. I can't personally comment on side effects because I've never had one - I just really really don't want one. Feel free to tell me I'm daft but i really really don't want one and yet it took almost an argument with a doctor to convince him.

Now I am Mrs Cynical Old Bag of Cynic Land. In the days when I was single - as in really really no boyf on horizon no action ultra patheticoid single - I used to, at times, get (mainly male) GPs (I've moved a lot with work and hence signed on at new practices) saying oh no the pill is really safe anyway just take it and please sign this I have received contraceptive services form. Then a school friend who was a GP told me they get paid a bit extra for that.

So when I felt pressurised to have a coil fitted recently, then being Mrs Cynical Old Bag I came home and did some research and lo and behold its an 'enhanced service' and they get a fee for fitting (was £75 at start of contract if I remember correctly and now presumably higher) and an annual maintenance fee. This is over and above any contraceptive services payments and specifically related to the coil. And the reasons given are eg fact percentage users here much lower than in Scandinavia, low failure rate etc etc all good stuff maybe and, as I said, I know many women love em - but I do wonder whether other women who don't necessarily want one feel pressurised.

what sad stories on this thread

my mirena gave me an enormous ovarian cyst -- the doctor said it might not have been caused by the mirena, I shouldn't have it out, and should have an additional hormone in pill form to deal with this giant thing

had had quite enough hormones by then and had the mirena taken out and the cyst disappeared

I did think then: "I actually do know better than you"