Mirena coil

[Lizzer]

Hi all, after my treatment (see smear tests) I am wanting to have the Mirena coil fitted. I've read the blurb but don't actually know anyone who has one. Really I'm interested more in the fact that it often changes / stops periods because of the small amount of progesterone in it, and was wondering how this affected people. Also I was told there is a lot of breakthrough bleeding when first inserted? I was under the impression that you can't feel it at all, but wondering if that's true? I've never had a coil fitted before so hope it is the right decision for me. My GP told me it was as affective a contraception method as man having a vascetomy!! Which sounds great for me at the moment... Any comments welcome.

Still feeling miles better without the coil (definitely calmer and less grumpy!) but have been experiencing pins and needles like sensations in my arms, hands, and feet for the past 5 days or so. Could this be related to my hormone levels changing? I did have these feelings once before... a couple of months after I had the coil put in... but never connected the two. What does anyone think?? Thanks, Lubielou xx

Just had my mirena out today!
Started back on Diannette at the beginning of the month.
My skin is clearing and i have lost 5lbs already - coincidence ?
I don't know.
It hurt a bit coming out cos my strings had gone up into my cervix - ye gods!

Hi - new poster here. i've had the coil for 11 months, and have gained about 1 stone 5 lbs. It took ages for my almost continual mild bleeding to stop but it has now, and i can't 'feel' the coil anymore. The weight gain is my only - but significant - concern. however it has coincided with me finally becoming anxiety-free after years of suffering from a phobic disorder (says my psychiatrist). i started taking prozac about 18 months ago, following lots of CBT, and it's magical. i'm happier than i have been for years - gone from being a notorious glass-half-empty person to a glass-half-full one. anyway, i can't separate the two - will the weight go if i remove the coil, or is it just a product of me being 40 and happy? one of my phobias was about getting pregnant, so i don't want to revive that one!

I have been without my mirena for a week.
My skin is clearing.
I have lost 6lbs.
I am not sweating so much.
My mood is much better.
Coincidence?
Think not.

a new twist tonight from my previous post - in an effort to lose some weight i'm trying to exercise more, and went for a run today for the first time in a few weeks. I've had short-lived but powerful cramps and continual bright red bleeding (no great quantity) throughout the day since then. Anyone else experienced this?

I've been without my coil now for 3 weeks and I'm very glad to be rid of it. After I'd had it put in I had a dragging, aching feeling around my cervix for nearly a year (which my doctor said was probably due to a slight prolapse and that I needed to do more pelvic floor exercises) but which has now completely gone. As has the backache and pain in my pelvis. My mood has improved, my energy levels are much higher, my anxiety has reduced massively, and I feel like me again. My period came yesterday bang on target and I've hardly had any PMT. I think the coil just didn't agree with me at all and I reckon my body was trying to push the damn thing out from the minute the dr put it in there.

Was thinking ofhaving a mirena. have had one previosuly ands it worked wonders (sorry about bad speiling, sm pissed) but having read all of this am reconsidering...

I'm considering having my mirena removed - more so after reading a lot of this thread. I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to lose weight since I had it fitted - I have lost 1st and a half but cannot shift anymore - despite trying really hard. I also suffer from frequent blinding headaches. My hair gets greasy really quickly and my mood is always low as is my sex drive.
How long after having it removed for am I likely to bleed for? I've a few weekends away and weddings ahead and I dont want to be stuck with a period during this time. I suffered from very heavy periods pre-mirena and with it fitted havent had one since them (almost 18months) - for those of you who have had it removed, did your periods come back as bad as they were before?
Sorry for all the questions

Meant to say also that since having the mirena my flawless skin has been greasy and am prone to spots - never had any when I was a teenager! I also noticed the increased sweating too.

Bump

I've had mine out for 2 months now, after having it in for 8 months, and I feel fantastic - back to my normal self. I had been feeling depressed, moody, aggressive, flat, had bad skin, no sex drive for months and it took me a while to realise it was the Mirena. Didn't bleed at all after it was removed, and had quite a heavy period exactly one month afterwards. Expecting my second period any day now. Back to having my usual PMT but atleast it's only 1 week in 4 now, instead of 4 weeks in 4!

Thanks for the reply. It was only when I stubbled across this part of MN that I realised the Mirena was what was causing all my problems - when I read this thread it was like reading about myself!

had my coil removed on the 6th april, no problems started to show on the 8th (due period)last nite started with terrible period pains "worse to date",feel very tender today not losing alot, has any one else had many problems after

It's funny isn't the midwife and the doctor did a real sales job on me initially. I was told me there was very little chance of side effects, makes you wonder.

I don't think they report side effects back to drug manufacturers.

My first period after removal was very heavy and quite painful. I've just had my second period and it's fine - not very heavy and not painful ( only mild cramps ).

I assume they have to notify of any removals but the side effects are often so anecdotal and hard to measure that I suppose they may well not get properly collated.

i have been directed to this thread by somebody after i came back from family plannig in tears this morning.i had a mirena coil fitted 10 days ago and have put on 10lb in weoght in that time(mainly water i think as i am swollen and bloated),but the family planning nurse said it was absolutley nothing to do with the mirena and that i was silly and probably have PND or something!
and when i said i knew of lots of other women who'd gained weight with it she said it was just coincidence!

if id known weight gain and mood swings were possible side effects then i would never have had the thing fitted,but i was told there were no negative side effects cos the hormone is released locally and not enough gets into the blood stream to cause a problem.

i dont know what to do now cos it looks like im stuck with it

divastrop you are never just left with it i have just had mine taken out after 6months had to go to gynea to have removed my doc rang and requested app straight away, dont put up with it

diva you should have it checked after 4-6 weeks anyway. Make sure someone different does it and complain to them. It may sort itself out in the meantime but at least you'll have given it more time. You should also have been given a leaflet with the pros and cons etc at the time.

Divastrop, you don't have to put up with it. It's your right to have it taken out any time you like, don't take no for an answer. I avoided my GP and headed straight for the family planning clinic. They took it out there and then.

i had it fitted at family planning.i spoke to my gp yesterday and she said side effects are rare but not unheard of and she advised me to give it a couple more weeks and if im still gaining weight then she will remove it.she said family planning will be reluctant to remove it as they cost them £90 each.she did say 10lb seemed like alot of weight though.i put 3 stone on in 6 weeks when i had the depo injection so i must be ultra-sensitive to hormonal contraception i think.

Diva - I put on 2stone with mirena. I have successfully shifted a stone and a half of it but the remaining half a stone will not budge no matter what I try. This, and other factors (greasy hair, spots, mood swings) have caused me to make an appoinment to have it removed in 4 weeks time. Good luck with yours - keep going back to your GP if you aren't happy and demand it comes out. So what if it cost the NHS £90 - we pay tax don't we!

diva, if you had had problems with the injection why on earth did they offer you a Mirena ?

i was told it doesnt cause side effects as the hormones are released locally!i actually asked if there was any chance of getting side effects and explained that i'd had problems with the injection and the mini-pill in the past which was why id avoided hormonal contraception,and i was assured there wouldnt be a problem with the mirena.

im quite annoyed now as i think i was misled somewhat!