Have you ever had a Mirena? (girly thread...)

[somo_chickenlady]

I'm getting a Mirena placed tomorrow, and I'm scared to DEATH about how much it will hurt to get placed, and how much pain I will be in afterward. I have a VERY low pain tolerance (I passed out when I had a Hysterosalpingogram to check to see if my tubes were blocked from a previous ectopic pregnancy about 8 years ago).

 

I am also scared with how I will react to it. EVERY time I have tried hormonal birth control in the past (patch and pill) they have made me VERY ill. Frequent vomiting (particularly the first 3 days after applying a new patch) and constant severe nausea. I have taken progesterone pills before to attempt to prolong a pregnancy, and I didn't have a reaction to them, but I don't know if this will be different. I'm worried about spending the money on this thing (getting it for extreme menstrual bleeding) and then it making me too sick to keep it in. I mentioned this to my doctor and she didn't seem concerned, but I still am b/c knowing me I would be that one person to have a reaction like that. haha! I have a disease that I cannot afford to start vomiting, b/c I will end up in the hospital.

 

If you have had it placed, can you tell me your experience as far as these two issues? Thanks!

[TheReader]

When I had mine placed it was mildly uncomfortable, but nothing terrible at all. Nothing that a normal dose of ibuprofen can't handle; just a bit crampy, truly.

 

I was maybe a teensy bit queasy the same day, I don't remember any actual illness though; the hormone is such a miniscule dose that it doesn't impact the way other hormone birth control does. I don't think you'll have any nausea to worry about.

[Laura Corin]

Very mild cramping - similar to a bad period. I'm on my third. I've had no bad reactions to the localised hormone release.

 

Laura

[Joanne]

I've had one for years; I am getting it removed in January.

 

I'll be honest, getting it inserted was the worst procedure I've had done. I have a HUGE pain tolerance (gave birth @ home to a 9+ pound baby!). It was an unexpected episode, and I passed out.

 

I have loved having the Mirena, however. I do think it's possible it's related to my inability to lose weight.

 

I am scared of having it removed, but I'm also concerned since I've had it for long past the recommended time frame.

 

Sorry to further scare and concern you. {{hugs}}

[TKDmom]

I've had a couple of them. The insertion makes you cramp up afterwards (and some light spotting), but the procedure isn't any more painful than a Pap smear.

 

The hormone dose is very low. I had some mild side effects while I was on progesterone pills, but none when I had the Mirena. And having very light/no periods is awesome.

 

I had mine removed a few months ago because I kept getting ovarian cysts. I don't know if they were related to the Mirena, but the only way to treat the cysts is to stop ovulation (estrogen pills or full hysterectomy). I was terrified that I had an ectopic pregnancy the first time I got a cyst, and that fear never really left me, so I'm not sure if I will get another IUD in the future.

[Mommy22alyns]

It just felt like serious menstrual cramps to me. I alternated Tylenol and Advil the next day and by the following day, I was fine. It was great to have no period for years.

[A.Balaban]

It was mildly uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable for a couple days afterwards, and bled for a couple weeks after insertion. I hope it goes well for you.

[Venia]

The Mirena and I did not get along. However, the insertion was not too bad though, just cramping afterword and light bleeding for maybe a week. I did eventually stop cycling all together, which was nice!

[OH_Homeschooler]

The Mirena and I did not get along. However, the insertion was not too bad though, just cramping afterword and light bleeding for maybe a week. I did eventually stop cycling all together, which was nice!

 

 

Same here.

 

I actually only had it in for a couple of months before I had it out. I was spotting nearly every day and I had bad acne and as Joanne mentioned, I was finding it impossible to lose weight even though I was really trying. And I didn't feel sick at all, but my mood was awful. (With Mirena, my moods were NOT as bad as when I was on the pill, just before I switched to Mirena--I think I am just really sensitive to hormones.)

 

I will say that If I had an issue with excessive bleeding as you do, I don't know if these would have been reason enough for me to have it removed.

[AK_Mom4]

For me, insertion was similiar to getting a Pap smear done - nothing I enjoy, but not bad. I took a couple of tylenol before and a couple of advil later as I had some uncomfortable cramps. Had a little spotting, then one more period (light) after insertion and haven't had another since. The doc said it could take up to 3 periods to stabilize. It's been nice and I have had no side effects.

[Mesa]

Like others, insertion wasnt a big deal.. not painful at all. I did have cramping with it off and on for a year before I had it taken out. That wasnt a big deal either...

Good luck!

[dancer67]

My endo biospy hurt a lot less then the Mirena placement. And I had 3 kids. I even took Ibuprofen beforehand. I honestly thought I was going to die in pain. My DH was with me and I think he has permanent scars from me squeezing his hand. It didn't last long though. Maybe 30 seconds. But it felt like a lifetime.

And I had trouble with it from the get go. I had the worse cramping ever, was prescribed percocets. I was doubled over in pain so bad. I had ultrasounds to make sure it was still placed properly, and it was. But I made them pull it out 10 days later. Getting it out is a piece of cake, just a small cramp and done. I will never have that placed again.

For some people, they love it and have very good luck with it. My body was just trying to reject it I guess. I had it placed because I had iron def anemia. I didn't care, I wanted it OUT. I just take iron pills now, and that has worked for me. I will deal with the monthly bleeding anyday over the Mirena. Good luck. Hope all goes smoothly.

[somo_chickenlady]

I'm not too concerned about the bleeding or spotting afterward, as they told me to have it inserted on one of my first heavy days of my period which just started yesterday afternoon. As for the pap smear, I never feel anything when I have one.

 

We were supposed to have friends over for dinner and cards tonight, but my husband insisted that we reschedule b/c he is convinced that I will be in so much pain afterward that I won't want to do anything. Like I said, on one hand I'm worried that he will be right, but on the other hand I'm thinking that rescheduling was unnecessary b/c it won't be a big deal. I hope it won't be a big deal.

 

For the couple of you that mentioned not being able to lose weight...does it make you GAIN weight, or just not be able to lose what you already have? Gaining weight wouldn't be the end of the world, I guess, but I'm not trying to lose weight at the moment or the foreseeable future.

[justLisa]

Take some Ibuprofin beforehand. Just breathe deep and think about something calming. It's not bad. Just feels like tugging inside. My midwife sprayed a lidocaine first. This was my second and it was removal AND a new insertion so I felt more tender but nothing a heating pad and a few hours on the sofa wouldn't fix.

[somo_chickenlady]

That doesn't sound too bad, and nothing worse than my regular cramps, which get me to the point where I can barely walk. Maybe I won't even notice? LOL I took some Aleve at 5:30am (that helps the best with my cramps and it lasts longer), and will take another pill before we leave. If I'm cramping too much, I'll take some ibuprofen when we get home. Thanks!

[jar7709]

For the couple of you that mentioned not being able to lose weight...does it make you GAIN weight, or just not be able to lose what you already have? Gaining weight wouldn't be the end of the world, I guess, but I'm not trying to lose weight at the moment or the foreseeable future.

 

I'm on my second Mirena and while I didn't gain weight, I thought for a while that it might have been partially causing my resistance to weight loss, too. But it turned out not to be the case and that the resistance to loss was mostly a natural result of an aging body...after I had an unrelated health issue that identified some certain foods I should not eat, and I stopped eating those foods, the weight I'd been hanging on to fell off.

 

It's a little different for everybody I think, but for me the Mirena has been wonderful. A little crampy for a day or two after insertion but nothing too different from period cramps...which I don't have at all anymore, so for me that is a good trade-off!

[gardenmom5]

It wasn't any more uncomfortable than a pelvic.

 

I had mine taken out after two years because I developed liver problems - which I still have nearly two years later.

[somo_chickenlady]

I survived!! Thanks ladies for sharing your experiences, I appreciate it. It wasn't as painful as I built it up in my mind, definitely uncomfortable, but not unbearable. My uterus definitely hates me right now, though. haha! We had to stop by Walmart to pick up some pads b/c she told me not to use tampons for a week (UGH!!! I HATE them!!) so walking wasn't my favorite thing to do, and the 45 min drive home wasn't fun, but I'm home now, hugging my cherry pit heating pad and comfy. :) I just hope it does what it is supposed to do.

[somo_chickenlady]

Okay ladies, I have a question....it says in the booklet that they gave me that if I develop severe pain within a few hours after the procedure to call my physician. How much pain is normal? It actually didn't hurt at all after I had it placed, and I had no pain going to my car. Like I said, it hurt some to walk around Walmart for the 5 minutes we were there, and the drive home kind of sucked b/c it is lots of twists and turns, but once I got home and got settled on the sofa my mild discomfort went away. It was placed at about 4:30pm.

 

Well, at about 9pm, my abdomen started to throb pretty badly and even with a full dose of Aleve and 4 ibuprofen it won't go away, and it kills to walk now or and when I stand up I get a really sharp pain in that area. Is it normal for it to not really hurt until this long after I had it placed? If it is normal, do you know how long it will last? Should I be concerned?

[A.Balaban]

I would rest and see if it goes away within next day. I had pretty moderate cramps after placement. Def. rest and take it easy. Your body has to adjust. Um, if anything else seems out of order though, it might be worth a call to the office when they open in the morning to see what a nurse thinks. :)

[TKDmom]

Okay ladies, I have a question....it says in the booklet that they gave me that if I develop severe pain within a few hours after the procedure to call my physician. How much pain is normal? It actually didn't hurt at all after I had it placed, and I had no pain going to my car. Like I said, it hurt some to walk around Walmart for the 5 minutes we were there, and the drive home kind of sucked b/c it is lots of twists and turns, but once I got home and got settled on the sofa my mild discomfort went away. It was placed at about 4:30pm.

 

Well, at about 9pm, my abdomen started to throb pretty badly and even with a full dose of Aleve and 4 ibuprofen it won't go away, and it kills to walk now or and when I stand up I get a really sharp pain in that area. Is it normal for it to not really hurt until this long after I had it placed? If it is normal, do you know how long it will last? Should I be concerned?

 

Is it still hurting? I'd be calling the doctor if it is.

[dancer67]

This what happened to me. Severe throbbing the next day. Went back to GYN they did U/S and it was in right place. Sent me home on percocets. Pain eased up a bit. But then it got bad again. It was bad I couldn't walk. Like I said, my body must of rejected it because I had it pulled 10 days later. And the pain was gone within 5 minutes of removal. Thank goodness I had that evil thing out of me. Just give it some time, I know most people will complain of cramping. If it is severe and will not let up, go back to the GYN.

Oh, and if you have to have it removed and you said you are a heavy bleeder, just take iron. Ask your Dr. first. They suggested ablation for me but since the fiasco with the Mirena, nobody is doing anything down there unless they rip out my uterus. That was two years ago, and I do not regret having it out one bit. And I am glad I have not had to have an ablation. Being in your mid 40's stinks. I am just waiting for all of it to be done.

[somo_chickenlady]

I wish I could just have a hysterectomy b/c we do NOT want more children after 12 years of infertility. My doctor wouldn't go that far, though. *pout* I'm feeling better this morning. I couldn't sleep b/c of the pain, so I stayed up watching movies last night until exhaustion got the better of me at 4am, and I slept until 10:30. The cramps are much lighter, barely noticeable as long as I just sit here, and I get a pinch if I bend just right, but otherwise WAY better than last night. I have been keeping myself pumped full of Aleve and ibuprofen, and drinking lots of red raspberry leaf tea which seems to help. It always helped with my bad menstrual cramps.

 

Thanks ladies!

[OH_Homeschooler]

 

For the couple of you that mentioned not being able to lose weight...does it make you GAIN weight, or just not be able to lose what you already have? Gaining weight wouldn't be the end of the world, I guess, but I'm not trying to lose weight at the moment or the foreseeable future.

 

I would say it was like getting water retention like I do with every period, except the water retention never went away. My body refused to let go of the excess fluid.