A few months after my periods stopped, it seems, so did my sanity. Here is my list of side effects: I began having mood swings and depression. I became very high strung and irritable. I would have panic and anxiety attacks. The acne I had as a teen came back full force and then some. In a year I gained over 20 pounds. Granted, I was really tiny before I got it in, but 20 pounds is still nothing to sneeze at. I felt tired and listless all the time. I began to grow hair in places women don't want to have hair and losing the hair off my head. And then there was sex, I had no decrease in libido, but every time I had sex with my husband it was very painful.
I began to be irritable about every little thing, things that had never bothered me before. I was almost always depressed or withdrawn in myself. I felt as though my husband did not love me. With the added effects of the the Mirena, I was a basket case. Please keep in mind, I had not connected any of the side effects (aside from weight gain and acne) to the Mirena.
I was lonely, depressed, and just in a very bad place in my life. It was then that I really started to deeply at my life and myself as a person. I started researching the side effects of Mirena and found a site (http://www.medications.com/se/mirena) that had hundreds of women who have had very similar stories (well, side effects at least) as mine. As I read through them, I was bawling because I began to realize that this monster I was acting like came from somewhere. My emotions had been in hyper drive since getting the tiny monster put in. I decided to have it out and called that day to make an appointment.
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I can’t believe I am reading my life in your stories. My ObGyn nonchalantly suggested I get the Mirena right after I had my last daughter 3 1/2 yrs ago. The Pill hormones didn’t agree with me – and he absolutely advocated the Mirena! It took about 6 or 7 mos for my periods to not be 3 weeks on/1 week off – had an appointment to consider getting it removed, he said give it a while longer – made the “yes I want it out” appt and by that day my periods stopped and I cancelled.
ReplyDeleteAfter about 6 mos I had turned my life upside down, divorced my husband, was forced back to work after being a full time mom, missed by 2nd daughter’s babyhood because I was working – kept it together for a year or so – then about 2 years ago started with “depression like feelings” a few days before my period – then they’d be gone and I’d be my very happy go lucky, energetic self. I was in a new and excellent relationship, kids were doing well, money fine – just a few days I’d be “blue”. I had post pardom depression, so was told I was predisposed to that – New family Dr put me on Pristiq (antidepressant) which supposedly had very little side effects – by day 4 of me taking it I was so buzzed and my hands shook so badly I couldn’t type and could barely see straight so on the advice of my pharmacist I stopped that. I guess since it’d only been 4 days I shouldn’t crash too badly? WRONG – wound up in the hospital because I was suicidal – Same Dr suggested another anti depressant which he begged me to “stick out” for 2 months, and go to counselling. I did, losing all sex drive and ability to feel any joy or pain. I was just n…eu…t…r…a…l. Wound up quitting that one too, figuring that a few rough days per month were better than no feeling at all. Therapist said “no, not hormonal, something happened when you were young that makes you feel depressed a few days a month”…Dr checked hormones and showed OK. Since then the “lows” have gotten worse – In September I quit my job and staying home with my girls to reduce stress, gain some lost time with the youngest, maybe that was the problem? I kept it together ok for a few months, thought I fixed it and then CRASHED hard and was suicidal again, each month crashing, more and more thoughts have been put into planning my death to be as easy on my family as possible. I don’t want to die – but I can’t remember how to live. I am AFRAID that one of these days the thoughts will just be too overwhelming. The anxiety and depression is SO suffocating when it appears.
Finally I switched back to old family Dr who sent me for lots of blood work and an ultrasound today to see where that Mirena was (strings aren’t reachable or gone). I asked about PMDD, but he was the first to acknowledge some women don’t react well to the iud. All 4 Drs I’ve had have known I’ve had it – and NOT ONE suggested getting this iud out. I am absolutely getting an appointment to get it removed. I am terrified of the crash – I can’t imagine sinking lower, but at least it will be over.
My boyfriend was shocked when I told him I had an IUD (he works at a pharmacy) and any time I felt crappy he suggested that may be causing it. I naively said, “no, dr’s said it’s fine. My body got used to it after 6 mos or so”. I had no idea that maybe it didn’t. I have been very lucky that he’s stuck by me through the torturous moods, and irrationality. And I am super LUCKY enough that he’s getting a vasectomy so I can just be “me”. My girls (3&5) will be super lucky too; keeping their Mama.
I am so desperate to get this done! I would do it with a hand mirror and a coat hanger if I thought I could! Wish me luck! And thank you for all your stories. We are NOT alone.
I wish you the best of luck and hope that it goes well for you!!
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