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.

Loobz thats it think positive. I know it is difficult and the mood swings of highs and lows make it worse. Good luck with the thyroid results.

Hi,

just wanted to add a question to this thread. I had a mirena fitted 4 wks ago, and have had slight bleeding ever since. Is that normal? I've heard it takes a while to settle down, but I expected it to be irregular bleeding rather than constant (albeit small) loss. Before the fitting I'd had no periods sice giving birth, but felt I was about to have my first which I think happened about a week after the fitting, but it's pretty hard to tell what's going on at the mo! Any experts out there?

tia

Hi, I had a mirena fitted about three weeks ago and am bleeding every day, I am still getting cramps and pain down my leg. I am not sure if i am gonna carry on with it but i will wait till after christmas to see if its worth it or not. No weight gain, no mood swings, sore boobs.

I bled for about 6 weeks when I had mine fitted then things settled and I've only had two periods since February with no pain....BUT.....I am now two stones heavier and cannot shift this weight and have really hellish mood swings. It might settle and be fine for you Special, probably good idea to wait till after Christmas, especially if no other side effects.

i was just flicking through this thread. it seems the mirena is not always a good idea. what is its benefits over the old copper T & 7? i have had either one of those for the last 20 years (removed to get pregnant twice and replaced each time) and i have never had particular problems with it.

is the selling point of the mirena that periods stop or is it supposed to be more reliable?

Rosies,

the hormonal element of the mirena is supposed to counteract some of the doen sides of the copper coils (heavy periods, etc), and I think it also has a smaller failure rate. Can't remember the other details, but I think these are the main points!

Got mine to deal with heavy and painful periods. Had tried oral hormones but gave me bad migraines - because Mirena delivers hormones to where they're needed there's supposed to be less chance of side effects. I was also told that my periods would stop or would be very light - Mine more or less stopped. I had copper coil fitted years ago but had to have it removed because of bleeding between cycles. I'm begining to think a sex change is the answer!!!!

It has now been 2 weeks since it was removed and yes I feel so much better. I have not been depressed and have stopped taking the heart pills and feel generally quite stable and even energetic. I have lost 6 pounds already.

My thyroid tests came back normal. Need to get docs appointment to have this thing removed but have been too busy at work and also in one of my can't be bothered with anything moods. Need magic wand!!!

The Magic Wand is getting it removed. I honestly cannot believe how different I feel. Before I could not be bothered and was too tired to do anything. Yesterday I completely cleared out the bedroom, sorted out the wardrobes, moved the furniture, my energy levels are incredible. Take a day out for you and concentrate on your helath and well being, becuase no one else is going to.

Thanks Mirenadepressed. Made appointment today for next Wednesday to have it out. Funny, although I associated the mood swings and the weight gain with this coil I never associated this with this awful tiredness. I have a demanding job at the best of times - which I love - but today a colleague told me she was realy worried about me because 'I look like shit'. That was it - although I really wanted to cry - I went and phoned doctors and made the appointment for next week. Things can only get better - I hope!!!

Loobz, did you go to the appointment and have it removed? I have been thinking of you all day, especially since my daughter said to me today, what diet was I on as I look to have lost a lot of weight recently. I told her the diet was no hormones or medication.

Hi Mirenadepressed,
yes I did go and have it taken out today and I feel crap - really bad cramps - but also great sense of relief! If I'd known about all of this before I'd never have had the damn thing fitted. These men have got a lot to answer for - they don't know they're born not having to go through this. Will let you know how the weight loss goes. I'm glad that you're losing weight now. Can I also say thanks for your support - people who haven't experienced this don't understand how it makes you feel so it's been so good to communicate with someone who understands.

I have had mine fitted for three years now. I must say the first year was a bit up and down, got a few infections and irregular bleeding, but I kept thinking, better than giving birth again.
But since then my periods have stopped I have no bleeding at all, I do still suffer from migranes and bad headaches but I had these before I had it fitted. I must say been really pleased with it, and the weight thing has been no problem as since giving birth 3 years ago lost 5 stone.

Oh wow - please tell me how you managed to lose five stones - I struggle to lose five pounds! Well done you!!!

hi people. just wondered how long after the mirena the weight gain/mood swings happened - whether this was straightaway, or after a few years.

Weight watchers I did not go to the meetings just got all info from friends, then went to boots each week to be weighed, I bought one of those smart cards for £1.00 which gives you 5 weighs.
Then a lot of will power and hiding the kids biscuits, the goods thing about WW is all the family can eat the food you cook.Also the WW website has some really good recepies so you don't get bored.Good Luck

Hi Loobz, hope the cramps have started to ease and that you are still feeling relieved. I started to notice some difference in mood and lack of tiredness after a few days, so keep on going. At Least you have the weekend to relax a bit and by Monday morning you will be wondering who this new person is that woke up!
Mummytosteven, I had the mirena fitted beginning of March and was going to my doctor about depression in the middle of April and from then on it was down hill, anxiety, gradual weight gain, moods. I think that the change is gradual that everyone around you knows there is something wrong but dare not say anything and then you realise a bit late down the line that this is not what life is about.

Hi Mirenadepressed, cramps have eased now and I don't feel nearly as bloated as I did. Gained weight though - in the form of a plaster cast - fell down stairs and broke my foot! Funny thing is I didn't feel quite so tired yesterday and I've had a really busy week at work, so hopefully i'll be back to normal soon. Decided to go back to slimming club last week too to see if I can shift this weight - gonna be good fun getting weighed next wednesday with a plaster cast on!

Glad to hear that the cramps have stopped and that you are not feeling so tired. What a blow having broken your foot, that will add a few pounds to the weigh in but just weight for the weight lose when the cast is removed! I feel so much better now it is almost a month now, I will have to concentrate on losing the weight properly.

Went to get weighed last night and I was only half a pound up with the cast on. Have measured myself and have lost inches. Best feeling of the lot is that I no longer feel bloated. Had felt bloated for ages and had followed all advice like drinking more fluids but couldn't get rid of that horrible feeling. Will be interesting to see how I am when I stop these painkillers as I was tired and listeless all the time. Sleeping lots just now but that's the painkillers. Generally feel more positive though!

Hi I wonder if you can help.

I had the Mirena Coil fitted end off July when DS was 6 weeks. I bled for nearly 8weeks after. This was then put down to me having GBS and GDS. I took the antibiotics and bleeding stopped. What i thought was my period returned two weeks ago and isn't showing any signs of going. Do you think this could be the coil, or a return of GBS and GDS.

Any advice welcome.

TIA

Karen01, this seems to be a long time still to be bleeding. I bled for about six weeks when I had mine fitted then had a couple of really heavy periods. Do you have a practice nurse that you could maybe phone for advice? It wouldn't do any harm to have this checked out.

Hi, just an update, I think with all these negative messages about this particular coil it ought to be investigated. I am not a hypercondriact at all but this last year has been an emotional rollercoaster for me, I thought i was genuinely going mad...but since I have had this evil thing removed (mirina coil)I have become 'normal' again ie don't feel bloated every day, no abnormal mood swings, losing weight, more energy etc etc. It may be absolutely fantastic for some people...but the majority it seems there are more problems than it solves

Damselfly, was interested to see that you too mentioned feeling bloated. I got mine removed a week and a half ago and notice a difference with a few things but the major one for me is that the bloated feeling has gone. I am now trying to lose weight but even when I tried when the coil was in I could not get rid of the horrible bloated feeling. My moods also appear to be a bit more settled. I agree with you, it seems to cause more problems than it sorts! If I had known how it would make me feel I would never have had it fitted!