Am thinking of replacing Mirena with copper iud? Anyone else done this and was it successful in getting rid of symptoms?

[thatsnotmyfruitshoot]

I'm only 6 weeks into the Mirena but I want it out asap. I've never got on with hormonal contraception of any kind, and I feel constantly bloated, headachey and down on Mirena, plus I've gained 10 lbs which cannot be accounted for any other way (weight usually very steady!)

The nurse has almost persuaded me to have it replaced with a copper coil, but I'm still very wary of messing with my body at all. Anyone had any experience of this please?

If your symptoms are due to the progesterone which they sound v like progesterone side effects, then changing to a copper with no hormones should help with your symptoms.
Give it a try, if it doesn't help then you can always have it taken out after a trial period
I reckon you will be v happy with a copper IUD, I am

Thanks Darrell, I hope so as I really can't bear the way this makes me feel! It's like being permanently 4 months pregnant..!

Had my mirena removed last Weds after 4 months of stomach bloating, headaches 11lb weight gain, no sex drive...the list goes on!! Yep I agree very similiar to bein pregnant....copper IUD seems very popular and has good reviews from close friends

I did and it saved me from every symptom but the weight gain (unfortunately, even though you feel pregnant, there isn't an easy way of getting rid of it). I'd give it a try if I were you.

Thanks, I think I will. Is weight gain a feature of the copper coil too then? That's the biggest thing for me, I'm so bloated and can't get in any of my clothes. It's seriously tempting to go back to condoms and I never thought I'd say that..

No weight gain with copper coil

was on mirena for 18 months and really tried with it but as soon as i had it taken out i felt great. Have now got copper coil in and have had it for about 2 years and it has been good - no side affects at all but it does make your periods heavier. I am having to have the copper coil out cos of that.

I've had copper coil for a couple of years - didn't want hormones any more, really does help on the weight front (I'm a nice size 8-10 at the moment) it does make periods heavier - I've just had mine removed (TTC No3) and this month my period was a lot lighter. But, I'd have it again, I've tried the pill, implanon, injection, norplant and its the best option for me.

No weight gain with copper coil for me - it's just been hard to get rid of the 2 stone in two months left me by the mirena.

thank you all, I think that's made my mind up for me and I will give the copper coil a try. It makes me really cross that I raised my concerns at the time, and they were dismissed. No side effects were mentioned to me other than possible bleeding (which is irritating, but I can live with that more than the other things)

Typically, there are no appointments available for ages and I'm desperate to have this done. Going on holiday in a few weeks and want rid of the bloated tummy before I have to be seen out in public in swimwear..!

hooray, appt booked. Begone, nasty hormones!

i had a copper which I removed 2 periods ago.

Periods were slightly heavier, but the bleeding/spotting was pretty constant and I had dull cramping most of the time; the cramping got worse as the years went by.

I'm soooooooooo happy to have it out. After pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and giving up my life to have children that DH wanted - he can damn well take responisbility for contraception

I went the other way, because the progesterone improved my periods and reduced my PMS!

I know how you feel, Highlander! If only there was a fertility switch which we could flick on when we needed it, life would be so much more simple without all of this!

This will be my last shot at anything other than condoms so fingers crossed. Never had heavy periods and have had pretty constant bleeding with Mirena anyway so used to that.

Just invested in a mooncup as it was costing a fortune in pads and tampons..

I switched to a copper one after getting pregnant with a mirena one in. I'm happy with it now but i was surprised how much i bled after it was fitted. sorry if tmi but it looked like a small animal had been slaughtered when i change tampons and then couldn't use tampons cos the bleeding lasted so long (3 months). In the end the GP prescibed me something (progesterone maybe) to stop the bleeding and it has since settled down.

It's much better than the mirena though.