Latest update - over 2-1/2 years since Mirena

It's been a LONG time since I've updated. Seriously though how often can you really write about this when not much changes.

I noticed about 10 months ago that my periods for the most part have essentially stopped. Yes! That's right. I didn't think that was ever going to happen. It took a long time but yes, finally!

I still seem to spot during the week I used to get my period but most months I just use a pantyliner.  I still get cramps like I'm having a period every few months, but just minus the period.

This past month I had a bit more spotting but still not much even compared to a light period. Back during the end of November I had excruciating cramps for a couple of days but hardly any spotting.

So all in all I'd say the Mirena was a success for me.

Here's a question that I've seen many people have about Mirena and that is:  Did I gain any weight?

The first year my weight stayed the same.  The 2nd year I gained some weight but honestly I can't attribute it to Mirena. I got less active during the winter and started eating more junk. I'm in my third year now and gained a few more pounds but that's due to the junk food and I think some of being that I have Hashimoto's and my thyroid was majorly out of whack which it has been for a while.

I had my TSH tested the end of October and it was 46.  Yikes!  Before that I was barely in range at 4.45.  I've been complaining for a while to my Doc that I haven't felt like myself and I thought it was my thyroid. Unfortunately he refused to really listen to my complaints for the most part. For years I have been at the other end of the range (less then 1) and I did good in that range. Two years ago he reduced my thyroid meds and told me my TSH was too low and I didn't really check it out. So that explains a lot.

I finally went to see another Dr. and now my dosage has been raised back up. I will update again soon on my hopefully weight loss.

So while I would love to blame the Mirena on my weight gain, I can't.

Six (6) month update!

Hello!

It has been six months almost and I know I am long overdue for an update. Really though, daily or weekly updates don't seem feasible. It seems a lot of Mirena users have totally different experiences.

To recap, I got the Mirena IUD inserted  because of my extremely heavy periods. They were long too. I was fortunate to not suffer cramps to often. That still has not changed. I was also extremely anemic and my PCP told me to get my periods stopped because it has been a problem for years. 

I belong to 2 different Mirena groups on Facebook.  One is a positive group and the other mostly negative. The posters in the latter group seem to experience a lot of problems and I genuinely feel for them. I don't doubt there problems but it seems that most people having a good experience tend not to post or even think about posting about it. I can understand that too.  My experience is mostly positive and I do post in FB from time to time as I see fit in either group.

I spotted daily for what seemed a long time. Yes it was months. I knew to expect this from all the literature I read and the research I did.  It was not a surprise and I am not going to complain about it. I am still getting periods monthly. I had hoped they would have ended but that has not happened yet...maybe it will, maybe it won't.  The spotting finally stopped sometime in October, so about 5 months after the insertion. In addition I finally stopped having spotty bleeding after being intimate with my husband. That didn't happen all the time but it did happen. 

In addition my periods continue to be regular but not heavy and loathesome like before. The heaviness of my  periods went away immediately and my first period after Mirena I have only had to use regular tampons and maybe a super once in a while. That in itself is a huge blessing!  I don't have to wear double pads and Extra super tampons just to leave the house for a little while. I can leave all day and be fine. 

So there you have it. My verdict, I am happy with my choice to get the Mirena. Note:  I already had my tubes tied so birth control was not an issue.

Mirena - 8 days and counting

My first week with Mirena went pretty good. No pain. Minor cramps for about 5 minutes total the whole week - not enough strong enough to bother taking an advil.  My period stopped early and it was the shortest period I have had in years. Can I get a shout out?  Woot Woot!

I joined a Facebook Group for Mirena Support, I think some people sure do have a lot of problems with Mirena but then again that can happen with any medical device/procedure/medicine, etc.  That and you tend to hear the bad. I think people are more apt to not take the time to post a positive experience. Hey if things are going good most people just don't bother or think of it or get busy,etc.  

Nevertheless I have no complaints so far.  Today started Day 8 and I did have some very light spotting. I didn't have any liners handy so I used a light pad. I changed it a few times because I'm anal like that but honestly there wasn't much on it any of the times.  

Some of the side effects that I have seen people post about include: weight gain, migraines, bloating, back pain, leg pain, arm pain, dizziness, and loss of sex drive. So far I have not experienced any of these. I feel for the people who do. I am sure there are a lot of people who don't experience any side effects. So far I am one of them.  

So far, no complaints. 

New to Mirena

Hello,

I am 47 and had a tubal after the birth of my last child over 7 years ago so birth control has not been an issue for me.  However, after MANY years of long, heavy periods and anemia that is not improving, even with high doses of iron pills I was told by my doctor to get my periods stopped.  I liked the idea of having no periods, but getting to that point before menopause, well that I didn't know much about my options until recently.

My Gynecologist gave me the choice of the following to stop my periods:

1.     Birth Control Pills 

2.     Mirena UID

3.     Novasure

The first option was definitely out for me. I am a former smoker with a family history of heart disease and blood clots. Call me cautious and you'd be right.  That left me with the Mirena or Novasure. I read the pamphlets and they both have their advantages and disadvantages.  Either way I did have to have a pelvic sonogram beforehand to check everything out. I found out I had 3 fibroids but they were on the outer edges of my uterus. It is my understanding that if fibroids are located on the uterus then the Novasure procedure is not recommended. However I am not a doctor, nurse, etc. or in any way experienced in any area of the medical field so I have no advice.  I am in no way qualified to give medical advice. This blog is just a record of my thoughts, experiences, etc a  so I recommend checking out all of your options and doing research.  

I read a lot of information and other's personal experiences on both Mirena and Novasure. Lots of scary stuff for both options. However I think people are quick to talk about and share bad experiences and not so quick to share the good experiences. Not sure why that is but that is my thought.

Anyway, I decided to go with the less invasive option: Mirena. I checked out their website http://www.mirena-us.com/index.php along with lots of other sites so I could know about side-effects and what to expect with Mirena.

I took 800 Mg of Ibuprofen 1 hour before my appointment for insertion.  I was a bit nervous about pain during insertion. I felt a quick and intense pain for a moment, no worse then labor I would say. Then I felt very minor discomfort during the rest of the process. After it was over I could sense the Mirena inside of me, it felt creepy. I felt discomfort on my left side, like gas. I felt like crying when I left the office. However I was in no pain. I was pretty tired from being up late the night before so I went home and slept for 2 hours. Sweet!

I was towards the end of my period so I expected heavy bleeding but that did not happen. In fact my period pretty much stopped except for some minor spotting a few times over the next couple of days. Shortest period ever.

It sounds gross to get the Mirena inserted during your period but I was told that it actually makes the insertion process less painful. My cervix is about 1 cm dilated during my period as noted in the sonogram so maybe that had something to do with it.

Since then I have had no pain, just some minor sensations but nothing out of the ordinary or at least I don't think that is the case.

So far I am happy with the Mirena. I've read a lot of the positive reviews and a lot of negative reviews. I hope this continues to be a positive experience and I especially hope this stops my periods.

I'd love to hear more positive experiences of Mirena, I'm sure there are more out there then what I have read thus far.

Now I just have to figure out this whole checking the strings thing.