Mirena nightmare

[Pierrette]

I had the Mirena coil fitted 2 weeks ago to combat heavy periods and anaemia. I didn't really want it but my GP persuaded me it was a good idea. I started bleeding lightly almost immediately and have bled every day since. 6 days ago I started what I thought was my period with moderately heavy bleeding, but then 3 days ago I started bleeding heavily and today I am going through 4 tampons an hour (sorry, tmi). To add to that I've had daily headaches, really nasty ones, which I feel are connected to the coil. I know the Mirena can cause you to bleed a bit more than usual initially but I wasn't expecting this. God knows what my iron levels will be like after this episode, I'm trying to hang on to my blood! Anyone else had a similar experience and did it settle down? I already want this thing out.

It sounds extreme. I would go back to GP ASAP or at least phone and ask for advice. I have Mirena and it was nothing like that. I was warned it could take months to settle down, but had very little bleeding at all. Sorry.

I had Mirena fitted last Nov for the same reasons as you, was on iron tablets for 3 months. I had period like bleeding then brown gunk until may\june. Now things are great. NO bleeding at all, I would phone wherever you had it fitted and they will advise. I did almost give up with it but glad I stuck it out. Good luck

I bled almost continuously for first 6 months and randomly for another couple BUT it was all very, very light. In your position, I think I would call for advice asap as it doesn't sound usual to me. Good luck getting it sorted.

That bleeding is too heavy. You've got to ask yourself, how long can you tolerate that amount of blood loss and still be safe.
My role, has in the past, involved ascertaining what is a "safe" amount of blood loss and what needs emergency treatment by asking women, "have you soaked through a normal sized towel tampon more than once an hour for at least four hours?".

111 might make your mind up for you; lots of questions, but they are safe, otherwise A&E please op. Hope you are ok. If you are feeling dizzy or faint, definitely A&E.

I was reading about Mirena on the NICE guidelines:

cks.nice.org.uk/contraception-iusiud#!scenariorecommendation:10

I was thinking about getting one for HRT. Most of what was on here I have already seen. However, it did say that 60% of users give up before 5 years,

I'm on my second mirena and if you can stick with it they're brilliant.
Not had a period for 8 years, no symptoms.
I really like it.

cks.nice.org.uk/contraception-iusiud#!scenariorecommendation:10

Sorry - forgot to convert the link

It also said that it gets better after 6 months. There are options to use combined pills to control the bleeding in the meanwhile.

I had the mirena fitted a year ago and it took 6m for the bleeding to stop, but it was light bleeding. I would call your GP tbh. I love my mirena, but it sounds like you were pushed into it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I continued bleeding pretty heavily all this week but it seems to have tailed off today. I estimate I have lost as much blood as I normally would over perhaps 4 or 5 periods, drained!! I spoke to my GP and she seemed unconcerned saying it was awful now but would improve. Hmmmmm. Better to be severely anaemic now and better in the long term was her view. I am unconvinced. Also, she told me headaches were NOT a common side effect of the Mirena, but when I checked the leaflet she gave me at the fitting again, headaches and migraine are listed as a COMMON side effect (more than 1 in 10). It would be good if she knew the facts! I am still having nasty headaches, though I suppose losing a ton of blood doesn't help.

Irregular, light, or heavy bleeding is common in the first 6 months of use, and about 65% of women have amenorrhoea or reduced bleeding at 1 year.

This is what NICE says - that means 35% of women don't have ameorrhoea or reduced bleeding Hope you are one of the 65%!

One of my GPs tried to get me to have one, when I had to come off the pill as it could also be used for the progesterone part of HRT. When I went to another to see about getting one, she said that it was a bit extreme for so late in my reproductive life (49) and it caused bleeding problems for at least 6 months so probably was not worth the hassle.

Anyway, the doctor who put them in had retired, so I thought I would try Norgeston, which uses the same progestogen, to see how I got on with it. Lasted 8 days before it started exaccerbating my perimenopause problems, so I am glad I didn't get one now.

I hope your situation improves. Look after yourself - plenty of iron. Keep a diary of the blood loss in case you want it taken out. Here's a nice cup of tea

4 tampons an hour = a call to the GP TODAY at the very least...... Hope you get sorted soon. I have a mirena which took a year to settle down, but the bleeding was light.

Thanks summertime, if only your name were true Yes, I do hope I'm in that 65% but I'm not even sure I want to wait to find out now. I do feel like I was pressured into getting something I wasn't sure about, and the more I read about Mirena, the less I like it. Apparently there are all sorts of lawsuits going on in the US and I just hate the idea of this alien thing in my body releasing artificial chemicals. Anaemia is a bummer though.

I was fitted with a Mirena in lateMay and by the end of August was begging for it to be removed ASAP. Unbelievable headaches (GP classed them as migraines) & constant bleeding.

I've had it out for several weeks now and the headaches/migraines have disappeared completely.

I know it works brilliantly for a lot of women, but if you happen to be one of the ones it doesn't work for then the side affects are brutal. Do consider having it removed.

Good luck OP.