Am I the Only One? (Mirena issues) Repost/Long Post

muttpups

Am I the only one who has had a nightmare experience with Mirena? After my son was born, my Dr. asked about what kind of bc I was interested in using. I had been on the pill for 10+ years before and was tired of it. She suggested using an IUD and it really seemed like the perfect choice for me. DH and I knew we wanted more kids, but weren't sure how soon. I told my Dr. I needed to think about it because I had read about the horrible possible side effects (migration, surgery, ect.) and it made me paranoid. She reassured me that it was very rare for that to happen. Honestly, she made me feel like I was the ridiculous one for even dreaming that something could go wrong. So, after months of going back and forth, I decided that I should try it and I was probably overreacting (I should have listened to my gut).

I got the IUD last Feb. and went for my annual pap this past Sept. Well, my Dr. couldn't find the string. A week or so later I went in for an ultrasound to try and find it. (Side note: I drank and held too much water and got a UTI!). The tech did the regular ultrasound and the transvaginal one for 1.5 hours. No dice. I then went in for an x-ray and the IUD was found in my abdominal cavity. I was in disbelief and mad at myself for not listening to my gut instinct in the first place. In November, I had the surgery to remove it and needed to miss 2 days of work for the surgery and recovery. I'm now concerned this will affect any chances of getting pregnant in the future and have 3 scars as a daily reminder.

I knew the possible side effects and should have listened to my gut instinct, but am also in disbelief that a product like this could be on the market. I have also been seeing the settlement commercials for Mirena. I haven't called and was wondering if anyone else has been in the same boat and/or called the Mirena settlement #?

If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have gone on any bc at all. The risk and financial aspect of becoming pregnant is worth it to me. I was just trying to do what I thought was responsible. We are open to having more children at some point and I'm happy knowing that my body hopefully is getting back to normal.

Please note that I know that there are many many women who the IUD is a perfect solution for, and I wish it had been for me, too. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

NineTwentyOhEight

well, obviously you're not the only one as there are those settlements and of course these are known risks because they DO happen to people. For me the risks were worth it and I got the Mirena inserted Feb 2012 at like 13 weeks postpartum. 

I want to say starting in like June I started having a lot of weird back pain (like sciatic pain) that showed up for no reason and seemed impervious to stretching or exercises - the only thing that helped would be advil and then one day it would just be gone. 

I am still BFing and I never did get a period...then early December I went out for a bday party and left my daughter with my parents - I didn't nurse for 17 hours, the longest since she was born...about 24 hours later I started having what I think was my first postpartum period - it was awful! a week later I had a LOT of cramps and the IUD came out in the toilet (and yes, I put gloves on to fish it out to be sure that it wasn't just a huge clot). 

Now we're just pulling and praying...I think we would like one more child, but originally thought we'd start trying when DD was 2 (in Nov 2013). I have some more weight I'd like to lose first...

 

mben1119

Had you been checking for the string monthly like you're supposed to between insertion and your annual?  If you had, you may have prevented it traveling as far as it did. I have had Mirena for almost a year now, and freaking love it.

Meeshe

I'm sorry that you've had such an experience.  I've actually had two and like it.  That being said, when I had my second one inserted, my dr. did perforate my uterus.  That is approximately 1 in 1000 chance.  I will say that it hurt a lot more than when my first one was put in, now we know why.  My dr. said that it's not a huge problem, they just took it out, I waited a month for it to heal, and then they reinserted it.  My dr. said it's a problem when the dr. doesn't realize the uterus has been perforated and then it can "escape" and float about the body and cause damage.  My dr. realized it immediately and performed an ultrasound to check.

I guess my point is, is there a chance that the insertion was done improperly and the dr. didn't realize it? 

NineTwentyOhEight

Also just as an aside, my OB said that you don't have to check the strings - if I was doing that maybe I would have felt it coming out? She said not to do it because they trim them short and most people can't feel them (I never tried so don't know if this is true). She said they'd check them at my annual each year and that was sufficient. So much for that!

TwinnyMommy

I am sorry to hear you had and are having all of these issue with the mirena. You are not alone though. I had my IUD inserted in March 2012 and am having it removed on Thursday. During the last three months, I have been spotting for three week of out of month, I have had unexplained back pain for a few days, terrible migraines, and can not seem to lose the last 10 pounds of baby weight. I talked to my doctor a couple times and she does not think these side effects are related but I do.

 I never had any of these symptoms or issues before the IUD was inserted. I have heard horror stories with the mirena and should have listened to them. If would suggest going with your gut feeling and doing what you feel is best for you.

NewFamily09

I've read plenty of horror stories on here about Mirena.  When I had my yearly exam in October my doctor tried to tell me how fabulous Mirena was.  She said she uses it and gave me a brochure.  I have no problem continuing taking the pill.  We're probably done with kids, but I don't want anything permanent quite yet.  After reading your story, I am even more sure that I do not want Mirena.... ever.

muttpups

NineTwentyOhEight:

Also just as an aside, my OB said that you don't have to check the strings - if I was doing that maybe I would have felt it coming out? She said not to do it because they trim them short and most people can't feel them (I never tried so don't know if this is true). She said they'd check them at my annual each year and that was sufficient. So much for that!

 

I was not told I needed to check the strings monthly. I found out after the surgery that the strings were cut too short, so that wouldn't have worked for me either.

muttpups

Meeshe:

I'm sorry that you've had such an experience.  I've actually had two and like it.  That being said, when I had my second one inserted, my dr. did perforate my uterus.  That is approximately 1 in 1000 chance.  I will say that it hurt a lot more than when my first one was put in, now we know why.  My dr. said that it's not a huge problem, they just took it out, I waited a month for it to heal, and then they reinserted it.  My dr. said it's a problem when the dr. doesn't realize the uterus has been perforated and then it can "escape" and float about the body and cause damage.  My dr. realized it immediately and performed an ultrasound to check.

I guess my point is, is there a chance that the insertion was done improperly and the dr. didn't realize it? 

 

I suppose there is a chance that it wasn't inserted properly. The dr. who took it out was not the dr. who inserted it. I go to an office with 5 different dr.s. I've met them all throughout the pregnancy of my son, so I felt comfortable with them all. 

muttpups

TwinnyMommy:

I am sorry to hear you had and are having all of these issue with the mirena. You are not alone though. I had my IUD inserted in March 2012 and am having it removed on Thursday. During the last three months, I have been spotting for three week of out of month, I have had unexplained back pain for a few days, terrible migraines, and can not seem to lose the last 10 pounds of baby weight. I talked to my doctor a couple times and she does not think these side effects are related but I do.

 I never had any of these symptoms or issues before the IUD was inserted. I have heard horror stories with the mirena and should have listened to them. If would suggest going with your gut feeling and doing what you feel is best for you.

 

I'm sorry you're going through problems, too. I'm glad it doesn't seem to be leading to surgery for you though, Will this be an office visit? I wish I would've listened my gut in the first place, but I guess that's why I won't be getting one again. After my surgery in the recovery room, the actual surgeon (not my gyno) asked me if I would be getting another IUD. I didn't know if he was joking or being serious! I said, "hell no!".

CarolinaDaisy

Yikes! I have had Mirena after each baby, but the second one was not so hot. I had a lot of spotting and was so irritable. At the end of the time I had it, I was having a period every 14 days or so....supremely annoying. So I took it out and I'm back on pills. I just don't love that either, but my periods are much more regular.

 Does anyone have a recommendation for a bc pill that they actually like? I'm ready to try something else!

desdemona39

I had it inserted 8 weeks PP, and it migrated upward in my uterus. My OB said it will still prevent pregnancy, but there are no strings to check and if I get a lot of cramping it will have to be removed. 

I never had a problem with it, though. No cramping, and no period yet at 20 months.

rseam1

i got mine about 8 weeks after a c section and am not sure if i want more kids after it was put in it was extremely uncomfortable for a few weeks especially during intercourse and its been a year and i have not had any periods which i am happy about but i wonder if it could be a dangerous side effect has anyone else experienced this? i have not been back to see my obgyn but need to return soon i was just trying to figure out what to expect also i was not told to check strings either

jsong

I, too, had a very similar experience.  About 7 months after my son's birth, I went in to get the Mirena.  It was an extremely painful experience.  I didn't even scream that loudly during labor.  The dr had a hard time placing it b/c she said my cervix was "too short".  It was fine for a couple of months then I started feeling a dull sensation whenever I would bend down.  The OB had me go in for an ultrasound.  After 3 ultrasound/sonograms and seen by 5 different drs and technicians, they could not find it.  Finally, I was sent for an X-ray.  They found it in my left tube.  I had to have it surgically removed. I regret ever getting it.  It was a nightmare. 

Nikki Hebdo

I had my Mirena in after my son was born in March of 2010. While having it in I didn't think I was having problems at the time. But about a month after having it put in I had extremely high blood pressure which lead my doc to putting me on medicine, my ankles, hands and feet swelled so bad that I couldn't walk or wear shoes because of the swelling and it also hurt to walk or bend my fingers while they were swollen, I also had bad really bad lower back pains, I gained a lot of weight and also wasn't able to lose the weight I put on after having my son. I had it removed in December of 2011 because my husband and I want to try and have another baby. When I had the Mirena I never had a period ( which I know to be normal). But since having it removed I didn't get my first period until November of 2012 which was 11 months after having it removed ( and that was with the help of medication I think it was provera) after that I didn't have my next period until march of 2013. It is now April and still haven't had another period. I want to my OBGYN. In January and he told me that I was not ovulating and that there was a high possibility that I am now infertile so now I'm taking clomid along with the provera. Before having this IUD put in I NEVER had problems with my period or problems with ovulating or getting pregnant. Now though I'm having all those problems and getting stressed out because nothing is working and it seems like there is no light at the end of this very long tunnel. I wish I would never had gotten that its done nothing but give me problems.