Mirena coil responsible for this?

[inksinkbink]

My summer has been ruined by symptoms mimicking rheumatoid arthritis - stiff and aching finger joints spreading to knees, wrists and feet. It's worst in the mornings then slowly improves through the day. These symptoms started three days after my coil was inserted.

I've put on an extraordinary amount of weight in this time. My weight doesn't fluctuate usually and I have a healthy diet and lifestyle. It's more than could be caused by summer holiday eating and I've been active throughout (admittedly I can't run due to joint pain which is unusual for me).

Doctors have insisted it can't be related to mirena. Despite this I wanted it removed as I'd read some anecdotal evidence online.

I got it removed on Tuesday. My period started last night. I have woken up this morning and for the first time in about six weeks, nine of my fingers are not stiff. The worst affected finger, which has been swollen and aching throughout, still does not feel good.

I hadn't realised the weight gain until this morning either and it's shocked me. I'm due to see a consultant to hopefully discount rheumatoid arthritis. My x-rays are normal which is reassuring.

Has anyone else experience of the mirena giving scary symptoms?

No...had one several years and no problems. Many of my friends have used as well with no issues....has been the best form of contraception I have used.

I had the mirena and didn't think it caused me issues until I took it out. When I first had it removed, my periods didn't return to normal, I had to go to a fertility clinic to get pregnant. I had been regular with my cycle before the mirena.

I definitely had the brain fog and loss of libido whilst I was on the mirena. It's often not as great as it's cracked up to be.

All the people who will say "no, i never had any side effects, it's amazing" are very lucky IMO! I hated the damn thing, it made me bleed all the time, pass huge clots, had cramps like i'd never had in my life, and the irony was it was fitted to supposedly reduce heavy bleeding!!
If your symptoms go away then I'd say it's probably been the cause.

I suffered with the mirena coil for 7 months until I gave up and had it removed. After having it fitted I started with lower back pain, which would fluctuate along with the spotting/bleeding. I also had an insatiable appetite and ended up putting on a stone. My bleeding never settled at all. Since having it removed, I’m still struggling with appetite and my back is still no better. I’m hoping to lose the stone soon and start doing yoga stretches to improve my back. It doesn’t help that at my age I could be perimenopausal soon so I’m conscious that similar issues can start with this as well.

@emmathedilemma

All the people who will say "no, i never had any side effects, it's amazing" are very lucky IMO! I hated the damn thing, it made me bleed all the time, pass huge clots, had cramps like i'd never had in my life, and the irony was it was fitted to supposedly reduce heavy bleeding!! If your symptoms go away then I'd say it's probably been the cause.

Exactly the same here. It was fitted to deal with heavy flooding periods and made things worse. It caused almost constant heavy bleeding for the whole 13 months it was in.

Weight gain and mood swings were an issue too.

Hated the little bugger and was so relieved when it was removed.

Seems 50/50 on mirena.

Love/ hate.

What pisses me off is the insistence from seemingly loads of docs that the hormones are 'localised' and so women who say it's caused xyz are often told they're imagining it.

I had low grade thrush the whole time. And other things but forgotten what.

I haven't had one, but am considering it (currently awake with 3 week old 3rd baby).

But, years ago I had symptoms of arthritis in my fingers, swollen and sore joints.

One day it just went away. It happened that I moved from a hot country (thus AC) back home to UK around that time but I have also just realised it coincided with me coming off the pill. Am now wondering if it was yet another way the pill did not agree with me.

I have to say it has been a God send for me. Had it in since September last year and has changed my life for the better. Completely stopped my debilitating periods so I have more iron, more energy. Plus my hair has stopped falling out! No side effects. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones.

I had the mirena in a few years ago and had to get it removed after 6 weeks as it totally disagreed with me. I had to really insist because the doctor said it would settle down but the side effects were so bad that I really felt I had to get it out. Most people get on great with it, but I definitely didn’t and couldn’t wait to get it out.
Some people with autoimmune issues can over react to things I think! So regarding the arthritis, anything is possible.
What age are you? Some women get aches and pains with the peri menopause too, so that is worth considering also.

Hopefully you will continue to improve now. All the best.

My mirena gave me facial hair, acne, extreme excess sweating (which lead to eczema and weird white build up on scalp), weight gain, constant back ache, feeling emotionally numb and suicidal thoughts.

All cleared up within a week of having it removed (still working on losing the weight)

Sadly periods back to their awful selves and gp keeps trying to put mirena back in - amazing what side affects they find "acceptable"!!!

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141116094120.htm

This is an old article, but interesting

How old are you OP? I all the same symptoms as you, it started with the joints in my feet being painful on waking then spread to my fingers, hands, shoulders and neck.

DM has Rheumatoid Arthritis so I was convinced I had too, investigations concluded I didn't although all my joints are hyper mobile. I just ended up thinking I was getting old at 44 years, specially after having DS at 41 who is full throttle all the time.

Over the next year or so I realised I had lots of symptoms pointing to peri menopause. Flushes, insomnia, anxiety, terrible PMT, periods every 16 days.

I finally found a good and knowledgeable GP. I had a mirena put in and started on patches. Within weeks all my peri symptoms have lessened massively but most surprisingly all my aches and pains have gone! I feel like a new woman.

Hi, low estrogen causes this, which can be absolute low levels or the balance compared with progesterone. I had a extremely messed up hormones due to PCOS including very low/menopausal levels of estrogen and cropping arthritic pain was one of my symptoms. Unfortunately you’ll probably have to go private as most GPs have no idea about hormones and health.

But yeah, in your shoes I would definitely get the coil removed.

@inksinkbink what did you end up doing ? I have had awful arm,hand and finger pain since ive had it! My hands feel so weak!
Dunno whether i should get ut removed or not! X