So This is the Dreaded Mirena Crash (and Burn)

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215 responses to “So This is the Dreaded Mirena Crash (and Burn)”

1. February 11, 2017

   Jamie

   Ohh ladies I feel your pain. I got my IUD out after 4.5 years (I’ve never had a baby). I got it out because the melasma it was causing on my face. I had no issues and then BAM a few days before my first period I felt like I got ran over by a bus. I’ve never had the flu but I don’t wish it upon anyone. I did a bunch of research and one of the mirena crash symptoms is feeling flu like. I started feeling nausea earlier in the day which is unlike me.. I eat clean and am never sick. Well that night I barely made it out of the store from wanting to throw up. I got home and threw up everything I ate plus ran a fever over 100* for around 15-20 hours. My normal temp is around 95.4-96 and I got up ton102 at times. My period finally came and it was heavy but short. I was so tired for the 4-5 days I could barely speak to anyone. Well… I am currently in bed since yesterday evening with a temp of over 100 again, aches, horrible cough and tiredness. I tracked my period since I got the IUD removed and this is all at the same time this same stuff happened last month. The only thing I have done this go around is throw up. So I researched more and there are actually law firms for Mirena Crashes. I don’t take any pills, eat additives, etc. and I’m wishing I would have researched this more 4.5 years ago before getting it. It makes sense though that the melasma on my face is all I saw for those last 3 years… I cannot imagine what it was doing to my insides. I did not have a period while on the IUD though. I’m hopeing this is the last month this happens.

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2. February 1, 2017

   Susie Q.

   Here is my story about the Mirena. Grab some pop corn or a snack and make yourself comfy. I’ve had two inserted for a total of 8+ years. The first one was when I was 22 and just got married and we decided we didn’t want kids at first. I had started a new job and was there for 10 to 12 hours a day and was totally exhausted all of the time. I remember I would work, eat, shower, sleep and go back to work. This job was stressful and I remember gaining 20 lbs. I am 5’1 and weighed 110 to 115 lbs. After I quit that job (or rather held captive in my home by my ex husband) I didn’t go back. I eventually lost the weight after four years and weighed about 120. Fight after fight with my ex husband and after the honeymoon phase was over, his true colors came out and I discovered he was abusive. I can’t tell if I started the fights because of the mirena or if he started them. Things got ugly. I had acne and breakout after breakout. Didn’t realize it was mirena causing this.
   Now fast forward to six years later. At my hospital they said the mirena was good for up to 7 years and I knew it was gonna expire so I made an appt to get it removed. (I could almost feel the IUD getting old.) My plan was to get it removed and get a new one placed back in. The midwife I saw at the time talked me into getting the nexplanon (the rod) since I was considering having kids soon. She said it lasted only 3 years and would work out better for my family planning. I agreed. Immediately, I gained weight, felt sluggish and terrible, my overall body felt off and everything hit me at once. I could only stand 6 months of this contraption in me. (Hurt like hell getting it out of my arm since tissue grew around and onto this plastic rod. Still have a scar from the extraction.) The Dr that removed it wanted me to get on norethindrone birth control for a few months to get my cycle regulated. I did three months of BC. Went back and got my second Mirena. Gained 15 lbs again. I had started another stressful job and I contributed it to that. I remember in 2015 I had gained so much weight I barely fit into my Camaro. Acne was still in full swing and this time around mood swings and depression hit hard. Granted my Grandma had passed and my sister was murdered in 2012 plus my brother went to jail, so of course I should have been depressed. I started thinking that this five year depression was getting ridiculous and out of hand. Sickness after sickness cold after cold, every year it would hit me. Five to seven colds a year. I just thought I was a real sickly lady. In 2014 I was experiencing dizziness and extreme bleeding, so I went into the hospital and they said I was lactose intolerant and severely dehydrated. No more coffee with creamer for me and my love of whole milk with my cereal went out the window. Started to drink soy milk and make green smoothies daily which helped make me feel a little better. Then the anxiety and panic attacks kicked in. Felt like I couldn’t breathe and I was hyperventilating. I blamed them on my work because it’s extremely stressful and there is bullying going on, overall, it’s just a bad work environment. I went to my supervisor and told him I wanted to quit and the work issues was too overwhelming. He reassured me and convinced me to stay and stick it out.
   My maternal instinct kicked in and I wanted to start a family. Every time I talked to my husband about starting a family he would become enraged and would knock me around. I endured his abuse for years and years (not only due to starting a family, but little things set him off as well.) I had enough. The last domestic violence encounter, he had knocked me around when we were out of town and that was the last straw for me. Filed for divorce. I’m not quite sure if the divorce was due to the mirena side effects or just the fact that he was an abusive jerk. We were married 9 years and together 12. I had to find myself. I finally admitted to my hospital that I was depressed. They got me to see a therapist and they tried to put me on sleeping meds because I had trouble falling asleep at night. Every night I couldn’t fall asleep-my bed time would be mid night or 1 am and I’d have to get up at 6:30 for work. Getting out of bed every morning was a task. On the weekends I would sleep and sleep. One weekend my depression got so bad I slept for 17 hours and woke up still tired. I could barely function. I had this bloated lower abdominal bump for the past 4 years. I called it my little pooch. It wouldn’t go down. I did eventually lose the 15 lbs. Last year was the first time in 4 years I hiked or ran. Seemed like every time I started to exercise over the years I would gain weight instead of lose any weight. It’s like I came out of my shell. I was definitely doing more activities, but seemed like every time I didn’t get enough sleep or get too stressed out I would get sick. I noticed at the end of 2015 my hair started to get frizzy and the ends started to break and get coarse. My hair is almost down to my ankles, and slowly it started to break at the ends. (So much so that the ladies I work with asked if I cut my hair-which I haven’t in almost 10 years.) The vision problems kicked in about two years ago, almost right after I got the 2nd mirena placed. Contributed it to working on the computer too much and things were blurrier. I used to get away with wearing my glasses only sometimes and now I have to wear them daily just to see. I would wear my contacts every day at work and my eyes became dry and I could only wear them for a few hours a day, two years ago I stopped wearing them at work.
   I started to go to the gym in August 2016 and I was running off and on all of 2016. I also walk my dog daily ever since Nov. of 2015, I should be losing weight right? Wrong. My weight increased: I weight 117 and it went up to 120 and it fluctuates between 120 to 125. I couldn’t eat a whole lot because of this lactose intolerant problem, so I was forced to eat bland food and eat healthier. Still no weight loss. Not that I need to lose weight I love my body and my size, but at least I should have more energy right? (I’ve had eating disorders in my teen years and vowed I would never dislike my body ever again.) Every day after work, I would barely have enough energy to run one errand and walk my dog. I would eat and then took a nap after that. (one to four hour naps.) I didn’t take daily naps for 3 or 4 months in 2016, but every day I napped. I felt like an old person. I blamed the depression. I never had any energy. I just thought this is how life is supposed to be. Every day felt like groundhog day. Same thing over and over. I would take my anger out on my loved ones. Massive bursts of anger on others and then I’d feel horrible. Fits like a toddler if I didn’t get my way. Bad thoughts all the time. I masked this “mirena depression” quite well. Told myself to put on a mask and act happy, but deep down I wasn’t. Stomach problems every day, daily gas and I had to pee every 10 to 20 mins. It was embarrassing at work. I was always thirsty and drank three or four 32 oz water bottles a day. I truly thought I was becoming diabetic. I would have daily headaches (took lots of ibuprofen to take them away) and even got my daith (inner ear part) pierced because it was supposed to help with migraines, they have subsided since I got the piercing in may of 2016. I had gotten multiple piercings in 2015 and almost a year later most of them are infected. Irritability up the wazoo. Everything set me off. Once a month I hated everything and everyone and pretty much let everyone know I didn’t like them. I isolated myself. Destroyed friendships and relationships. I would block them and unfriend them and they would never hear from me again. Dry skin especially on my hands and I was always itchy. Then the hair loss kicked in. I admit I had beautiful hair. Long, thick, shiny and pretty. One day I noticed it was thinning out, then about three weeks ago, it looked like I lost at least 1/4th of my hair. I became concerned. Then the heart palpitations emerged. Chest pains so bad it felt like mini heart attacks. TMJ-my jaw and left side of my face hurt when I would wake up. I had to chew gum daily just to help with the cotton mouth. But then all the chewing would make my jaw and left side of my face hurt even more. My throat was always dry. I kept drinking water to deal with the thrist and kept peeing because of the water. I spent endless money on makeup to cover up my acne and all of the scarring I had from previous pimples. I got bacne as well. Also some pimples on my chest. A huge cyst-like pimple formed on my back. It was the biggest pimple of my life. It was sore and hurt when my clothes touched it. I got random pimples in weird places: on my hair line, in my nose and ear and on my scalp. Oiliness- I was an oil stick and some days I could smell myself at the end of the day. My friend downstairs started to smell as well. Awful odor and it’s always been a pleasant smell- I attributed it to a new partner. Crazy weird dreams. For over a year now I dream every single night, four or five dreams a night-very vivid and occasionally some nightmares that were too real for words. Crying spells. I have never cried so much in my entire life. I am not a crying person. I’ve always resisted the urge to cry. I would make fun of my sister and Mom because they would cry at the drop of a hat. Suddenly I became a big cry baby and at one point and time I’d cry every time I saw a baby or an ultrasound. Nausea – I would turn into a mess when traveling. Driving down long and windy roads made me sick and I’d have to take dramamine. I would have excruciating pain that would travel when I would try to crack my neck. It was shoot from my skull all the way down the left side of my body. Daily neck, back and shoulder pain that I thought was from my extremely long and heavy hair. Increased floaters in my vision and cramps monthly where it literally felt like my insides were dying. I’d jokingly say “my egg is dying.” Minimal bleeding mostly after intercourse and would go away within a few days. Lots of spotting, I wore pants liners every day for at least 4 years. I never liked being touched or held. My therapist said it was probably PTSD because of the abuse I endured. I avoided any kind of event I was invited to, I was very antisocial. I would make up excuses just so I wouldn’t have to go. Breathing, it was like I would hold my breath and forget to breath sometimes. Foggy brain for sure. I’d forget things and I had a really good memory. I was on autopilot and it literally hurt to think or do anything out of the ordinary. Towards the end of my mirena nightmare, I became real forgetful and couldn’t remember simple things. I got varicose veins as well on the back of my legs. Hot flashes! All the time. I was always burning up and felt like I was always running a fever. I would get head rushes if I got up too quickly. I also had ringing in my ears and some hearing loss as well.
   I got my first cold of the winter season right before Christmas 2016 and as soon as I got better, I was sick again. This alarmed me. I was just sick, how could I be sick again? On a Friday afternoon, I was sick as a dog and sitting in my vehicle praying I’d get better, when I believe I heard the the Lord say, “you need to get the mirena out.” I called and scheduled the appointment for the removal. The judgemental receptionist said “you know it’s good for five years, right?” I said “yes, I know, but I’m having complications and I want to get it removed.” I had an appointment three weeks out. The following Tuesday I got sent home from work for my cold, and my heart was hurting from the palpitations, I also had been gassy all morning and had bad stomach pain. After I peed that morning for what seemed like tenth time, I had enough. (The two nights prior, I was scared I wasn’t going to make it to the morning. I was paranoid I wouldn’t wake up, that’s how badly my heart hurt.) I marched down those stairs at the hospital I work at to the OBGYN clinic and explained to the lady I needed a sooner appointment because I couldn’t wait three more weeks with this thing in me. She gave me a sooner appointment the same week on Friday 01/27/17. I started doing my research finally on the Mirena and came across all of these horror stories, much alike to mine and some were worse. I’m so sorry ladies that we had to go through this. (If you’re still reading this, you’re the real MVP.) I went in on Friday 01/27/17 and that’s the day saved my life and changed it. The Dr asked why I wanted this device removed and I literally had a huge list of side effects I endured and laid it on the table. I didn’t go into as much depth as I did here but I explained the big side effects and gave her some of my background. I’m laid back with my legs in the stir ups and I thought the Dr pulled it out because it hurt, but she tried to grab the strings and missed. No “one, two, three,” just a tug and yank and she got it out. It felt like she pulled out my uterus, it hurt so badly. She held up that “demon device” (as some of these ladies called it) almost in triumph because she got it out. That awful plastic t-shaped thing that ruined my life was covered with blood, possibly some flesh as well. But I was soo relieved to have it out of me. I had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon laid out with a heating pad but my boyfriend made me work out that afternoon. I ran my usual mile and we lifted weights. The weekend was calm and I didn’t sleep as much as I usually do. My size 3/4 jeans I couldn’t fit into without my muffin top hanging over were suddenly not as tight and fit better since my “little poof” had gone down. The bloating in the lower part of my stomach went down dramatically these past few days. My stomach problems have been going away. Sunday I had a big bowl of cereal with WHOLE milk which I haven’t been able to enjoy for over a year. It hardly upset my tummy.
   Saturday morning aunt flow came to town. I stood in the feminine product aisle with no clue what to buy. I haven’t had a period in a looong time. Flow stayed for four days and now she’s slowing leaving. I had one big major blood clot on Monday. Scary but expected from these stories. I have been reading everyone’s experience for the past week and a half and finally got down to the bottom part of this section. I wanted to share my testimony. It’s day five post mirena and I feel better. The anxiety and heart palpitations are slowly going away but I feel a lot better than a week ago. I haven’t taken my daily nap on Monday or Tuesday. Things I have been putting off, I have slowly been getting around to them. Had two fists of rage in the past four days. Hot flames are subsiding. Vision seems a little clearer. My frizzy hair feels a little softer and smoother. I currently have three huge pimples on my face right now (right after I found a routine that has calmed my acne down for the past month, it flared back up.) My overall mood is better and I feel more alive. I pray I get better and that the ladies who have shared this same experience (some better off, some worse) get well soon. Prayers and hugs go out to you ladies. I wanted to share my story and I hope it helps someone out there. I have been going through these stories and they’ve comforted me. Good luck and God bless.

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3. November 4, 2016

   Guadalupe Sanchez

   Hello there,
   I’m Lupe. I was reading your story and not to say it’s a good thing, but I feel much better knowing I’m not alone!!! I honestly thought I was going crazy. I’ve had so many Dr visits and they all say the same thing. I’m just depressed and have anxiety. I had my Iud for 5years. I took it off on August. Ever since then, I have not been the same. The nausea, vomiting, headaches, depression, anxiety, chest pain, stomach aches, heart burn, feeling of numbness on my hands and feet, hot/cold flashes, wanting to cry and scream, feeling like hopeless, I can keep going. The worst has been me fainting from not being able to eat. I was told I had an ulcer that was causing all of these problems. I don’t think so! I did my research because I wanted some answers. This all makes sense!! I am going through a mirena crash. I was on the verge on checking myself in a mental institution. I honestly believe the IUD removal is the reason for my symptoms. After reading everyone’s story it gives me hope that this will pass, slowly but surely! Any advise on what to do to make these side effects go away faster!!!!!! Please

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4. November 1, 2016

   Christine Roy

   Thank you so very much for your post. I had my Mirena removed 5 days ago. I have had a nagging headache since then and the crash on day 2. The general just not feeling right since day one and today started with the roller coaster of emotions. I go from wanting to cry to on the verge of anger in a matter of minutes. Yesterday started the slight progression on bleeding which started out as spotting and slowly increased since then.

   I too wish I would have done more research on this prior to getting this devise. Mine was removed due to it shifting and causing excruciating pain. I was planning on having it removed a little after Thanksgiving since my boyfriend and I are planning on having child. Which will be starting over for me since my son just turned 17 in Aug. But with the shift I had it removed early.

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5. October 27, 2016

   Amanda

   Thank you for all of the information and ability to share our experiences.

   I had the Mirena IUD removed yesterday morning and have been nauseous and tired since yesterday afternoon. Since the symptoms were similar to what I experienced in my first trimester of pregnancy, and I treated those symptoms during pregnancy with Dramamine, I took a Dramamine pill this morning. It actually helped relieve the nausea quite a bit. Fingers crossed that this will pass quickly.

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6. October 4, 2016

   Marilyn Hill

   Thank you for sharing your story. I just had my Mirena removed after 5 years. I opted to have it inserted as I have battled with Iron deficiency due to blood loss during my periods for many years and it was suggested after trying all other options that it was a good method as it would eliminate my monthly periods until I completed menopause. I am now 55 years old and hoping I am done with menopause. I had no trouble with it all over the past 5 years except maybe it caused my 20 pound weight gain (my doctor says no). We will see now that I am off it if I can lose the weight. I have never had a weight problem in my life until now. I have experienced a lot of tiredness and irritability since removal one week ago. I really don’t feel like doing anything and I am a reasonably active person. I am trying to drink lots of water and use Advil for the general all over achiness I feel every day. I hope this goes away soon because it is really depressing. Thanks again for sharing and congratulations on your pregnancy. It is a beautiful time of life for a woman. Enjoy!

   Reply
   1. October 14, 2016

      Mel Lockcuff

      Hi Marilyn, thanks so much for sharing your story. I hope that you are feeling better soon!

      Reply
7. September 18, 2016

   JuLia

   Reading this has been so reassuring to me. I’ve dealt with anxiety my whole life but when I get the mirena in a couple months ago it spiraled into constant panic attacks, depression, and just feeling so overwhelmed. I had the mirena removed a week ago and I was hoping things would start going back to normal but I’ve still been having panic attacks daily. I wake up feeling anxious and spend most of the day feeling like I’m losing my mind. Reading this makes me feel better knowing I’m not alone, but I still plan on seeing some about the anxiety, because it’s gotten bad enough that I can’t live my life the way I want to. Had I known about this hormonal disaster I wouldn’t have gotten it in, and I wish doctors were more transparent about the problems it can cause some women. Thank you for writing this!

   Reply
   1. September 19, 2016

      Mel Lockcuff

      You’re so welcome, Julia. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing all of this. I pray you find the encouragement and help that you need.

      Reply
8. August 23, 2016

   Victoria

   Thank you thank you thank you for writing this. This is the first time in two weeks I don’t feel like a complete looney. I had Skyla (lower horomone IUD) for a grand total of two months and it caused my life to turn upside down. Horrible anxiety out of no where, the elephant on my chest, the moodiness. I finally got the dreaded thing out and I think I’m going through a crash. The anxiety has improved, but I’m still crying in my bed. My OBGYN had no problem removing it, but didn’t seem to think it was causing my issues. For the life of me I can’t get back into my normal, carefree, busy bee routine. I’m just hoping the crash ends soon. Thank you again for writing this, you made my day a little bit better.
   .

   Reply
   1. August 26, 2016

      Mel Lockcuff

      Oh Victoria, you’re so very welcome. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope you are feeling better very soon!

      Reply
9. August 22, 2016

   Tracey

   Thank you so much for your article. I really thought I was going crazy. I got diagnosed with anxiety while on Mirena and I just had mine removed August 19th. After it was removed 4 days ago I have been having anxiety and depression. Missing work due to not being able to function. I’m so scared of what will happen when I get my first menstrual cycle. Hoping this gets better soon.

   Tracey

   Reply
   1. August 26, 2016

      Mel Lockcuff

      Hi Tracey, I’m so sorry you are going through all of this. I encourage you to get in touch with your doctor and tell him or her what is going on and your concerns. I hope you are feeling better soon!

      Reply
10. July 27, 2016

    Patti J.

    This explains why I am feeling the way I do today. It actually started last night. My fiance looked at me and asked what was wrong, i didn’t have an answer. But I have been having a bad summer so far-,I got hit by a car on June 17, I was a pedestrian. So I have some pains and issues and stuff related to that. then on July 21 I had the Mirena removed, along with having an edometrial ablation. So, what’s wrong??? Where do I start? But this overwhelming feeling of sadness, low motivation, lack of energy is more than I have felt since the first week after the accident. I have suffered with depression almost my whole life, so I know when it’s more than the “usual” for me. Seeing that others are or have been there helps. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. July 28, 2016

       Mel Lockcuff

       Oh Patti, I’m so sorry. It sounds like you’ve been through the mill, especially with the accident and all. I hope and pray you’ll be feeling better soon. Hang in there!

       Reply