I'm new to the sight and after reading so many posts, I thought I would post my Mirena experience.
I had my Mirena inserted in May 2011. No pain w/ insertion thankfully. However, I had spotting off and on for 8 months after insertion. I was determined to stick it out at least 6 months and the spotting was much better after then, but still had some spotting in months 7&8. I also expereinced a decreased sex drive for several months. Thankfully, that finally came back. I did have a few mood swings and seemed to get mad easier, but that too subsided after time.
Now I've had the Mirena 14 months and 3 days go I woke up w/ joint pain in my knees and ankles. I thought I just slept wrong, but the next day it was still there and in my elbows and wrist. Now today, the knee pain isn't as bad, but my hands were swollen this morning and still ache and now my shoulders are so sore. I feel like I have bad arthritis and I'm only 32 w/ no prior history of joint pain or any health issues. I used to go to a chriopractor after a wreck I had several years ago, but no longer need to go.
I started researching my symptoms and came across this sight and I'm so thankful I did. I had planned on getting the IUD out in a couple of months anyway as we want to have another child, but now I've made an appointment to get this thing out next week (which unfortunately is the soonest I could get in to my gyn).
I'm praying the joint pain will go away after removal. I've read mixed reviews about if the pain will completely go away after removal. Any more insights from anyone if the joint pain completely subsided after removal? And if so how long post removal did it take?
I will post an update after I have my Mirena removed and detail that experience as well in hope to help someone else out.
I never had the horrible joint pain UNTIL after I got it out. There just does not seem to be any specific rhyme or reason to how it affects different people differently. The one thing we all are in unison about is GET IT OUT! It is definitely poison. Tell EVERYONE you know and try to save them from what we've all gone through. I hope that you will have a fast and easy recovery. We're here for you. Keep us posted! :)
My joint pain improved after removal too, especially in my finger joints where I had a couple sore, swollen ones. My joint pain wasn't terrible - I had more problems with tendonitis in my wrist. But this was 90% better within a month after removal, and it had been going on for a couple years before that while the IUD was in (not even improving with a cortisone shot). It would flare up from time to time in the year AFTER removal, but only for a few days or so. I used a Bone and Joint herbal formula with a lot of anti-inflammatory herbs, and this helped things settle down. I have no issues with joints/tendons now.
I just posted my story before I read yours. At least you've discovered a connection a lot sooner than I did. I get mine removed next week. Here's to hoping all goes well for you and me. Please read my story and let me know if some of the pain is similar. I cannot find specifics connecting ligaments and Mirena but I'm almost positive that's what's going on.
Emily
I went to my GYN to get the Mirena out on a Wednesday and she couldn’t find the strings. She tried using something to reach in there and grab it, but it hurt so much she stopped and told me to reschedule an appointment and we would use an ultrasound to help her find the IUD and remove it that way. Thankfully, she prescribed some pain meds for me to take before I went in the next time, but the next available time was another two and half weeks. Well, the weekend following my appointment my feet and hands started swelling, my belly looked like I was 6 months pregnant, and I had a bad headache. I called first thing Monday and told them what was happening and thankfully they worked me in and I had it taken out that afternoon using an ultrasound to find it and help her take it out (was thankful for the pain meds!). I gained 7 lbs in one week and am now 10 lbs heavier than normal and I’ve never had weight problems, ever. I’m so thankfully it’s finally out and hope to try a detox to get everything out of my system faster.
I should note that after my original post I went to my regular doctor and got blood work done to include a complete arthritis panel. Everything came back negative except for my ANA, which could possibly be a sign of lupus, but he said it’s not a very reliable test. Lupus does not run in my family anywhere and I have always been healthy. In doing research online, I think I could possibly have drug-induced lupus due to the Mirena. Now I wasn’t diagnosed w/ that, but it would make sense how all of a sudden after having the Mirena 14 months I develop symptoms after always being healthy. I guess only time will tell if these symptoms go away now that the Mirena is out. I will keep you posted.
Sorry to hear that you have been affected by mirena. I wonder why many of us have been affected more than others, and why some recover faster than others. I like you never had any health problems prior to mirena and now I also have a positive ANA and many debilitating symptoms. I will be 3 years post removal in Oct and I'm still not back to normal. Crazy...
Thankfully, all of my symptoms listed above have gone. So sorry to hear you are still having symptoms after having he Mirena out for so long. Did you get on any other birth control? If so, that may be why you are still having symptoms. Artifical hormones are not good for the body.
I would highly recommend finding a naturopathic that specializes in Nutional Response Testing. There are so many things that the body does not like and every one is different. They will be able to find out what you have allergies to and help your symptoms to go away. For example, I've only been going for 2 weeks now, but my body has tested a sensitivity to benzene, which is what dry cleaners use (and I wear a lot of dry cleaned clothes) and it's in toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
Below is the journal I kept on my post Mirena experience. Hope it helps:
Day 1: no change
Day 2: started period (a couple days early, but nothing new since I had Mirena in)
Day 3: period REALLY heavy (also started a 10-day whole body cleanse supplement)
Day 4: heavy period
Day 5: period a little lighter but MOODY!! my husband wisely left half the day and took the kids, haha. Poor guy, but it was bad!!
Day 6: still pretty moody, but not as bad as the day before and light period
Day 7: period finished and mood stabilizing
I’m now 2 ½ weeks post-Mirena and all my symptoms are gone. I also now know that the Mirena was causing my stomach to look bloated. I just thought I was getting fat, but I’m back to my old self again and feel so much better physically and mentally. Another thing I’ve noticed (sorry to sound too personal) but is that it doesn’t take me as long to climax as it did while I was on the Mirena. In fact, I had trouble having an orgasm at all for several months in the beginning, along w/ the decreased libido.
I know my body is still trying to adjust to the hormone imbalance (I’ve started having Nutritional Response Testing done and that has come up), but the ailing symptoms have gone. I would not hesitate to get the Mirena removed if you are having ANY symptoms other than a healthy life!
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My Mirena experience 
