Kinda weird IUD question

[tiggersmom2]

No worries on the rides! It's not going anywhere; you can check for the wires to see if it is still there if you are worried.

FWIW, my Gyn also said that I wasn't the perfect candidate since I'm also child-free, but I did it anyway. It was torture putting it in. She told me that was the closest I would ever get to the pain of childbirth. OMG, I cannot even imagine how women did that in the days before epidurals.

Anywho, I turned out to be a bad candidate. I had constant cramping and pain radiating down my legs. After 2 weeks, that sucker was OUT. I would have pulled it out myself if I wasn't so chicken of reliving that labor-like pain. Removal in her office was much less traumatic.

My Gyn said that recent studies have shown that taking 2400 mg per day for 2 weeks (I think) of ibuprofen helps with the cramps and breakthrough bleeding. Yes, I said 2400. I was eating it like candy, and if it wore off in the middle of the night, it woke me up in pain to take another.

I switched to the ring and I just use it back to back every 4 weeks, so no period, and fewer hormones than the pill.

Mirena just didn't work for me.

OMG.....*I* was truamatized just READING that!! I am so glad I found this thread, I'm never getting this little torture device put in!

 

[druidia]

I would say that the 3 things you described above are side effects of any hormonal birth control method, unfortunately. I chose Mirena because of the HBP issue, but it didn't work out, so I figured the localized ring hormones were the next best thing.

 

[Annette_VA]

I've had a Mirena for about 2.5 years and never had any problems w/ riding rides & such.

I my Mirena! I did have cramping for a couple of days after insertion. But, I have not had a period since Dec 2002 and I figure that's a pretty good trade off!

 

[Pixiedust34]

Why is it that if you've never been pregnant that Minera might not be right for you? I've never been pregnant, but my ob/gyn recommended Minera during my last visit. I declined at that time, but the idea of getting it has been floating around my mind since.

And if it hurts that much when it is inserted, is there any chance of getting some painkillers before the procedure?

 

[jodifla]

I thought I'd made a mistake the first few months with the Mirena. I had pain and cramping. But after that, it's been PERFECT. All other forms of birth control are far inferior in my book.

You really can't tell after a week or even a few months. I'd say if you didn't like it after six months you probably won't ever like it.

 

[Melissa M]

1 - Anyone notice weight gain with Mirena? (I saw this as a side effect) -- I lost 27 pounds (from 140 to 113). I was on the Pill before. I may have been carrying Pill weight.
2 - Anyone notice a decreased "drive"? ( I saw this too!) -- My "drive" increased.
3 - Anyone with mid-high-blood-pressure (controlled, but still) use this? -- I can't answer this one, my blood pressure hovers around 110/70.

 

[grlpwrd]

So if the IUD and the uterus leave grand central station at the same time with the IUD traveling east at 12 MPH and the uterus traveling west at 15 MPH how long before they are 100 miles apart?

That makes a nice math problem! lol

 

[rie'smom]

OMG,just reading the title of the thread made my uterus cramp and I've had a hysterectomy-must be phantom pain.
When I had my IUD inserted( many moons ago),I had already had a child with 22 hours of labor and I never raised my voice. When the GYN inserted the IUD,my scream could be heard in the waiting room-no joke.

 

[grlzmom]

I just read this thread and then asked dh (an ob/gyn) whats the deal with having babies vs. not having babies and the iud (specifically the Mirena).

He said with all iuds (in general, there are of course exceptions to every rule and only your own personal ob/gyn knows the anatomy of your particular uterus) there is a higher risk of an iud coming out in a patient that has never given birth due to the shape of the uterus. He said that iud needs to T out fully once inserted in order to remain properly in place. He said that the shape of a uterus which hasnt carried a baby makes this a little harder and therefore a slightly higher risk of the iud coming out.

He does place them in patients who havent had babies but always tells the patient that there is an increased risk of the iud not remaining in place, along with the discomfort with insertion factor (which is higher if you havent had a baby).

He said he has LOTS of patients who are very happy with the Mirena.

 

[rparmfamily]

Great thread!!

Is the copper wire one better if you are trying to avoid the hormone side effects (like on the pill). I hate the pill, took it 5 yrs before realizing it kills my sex drive among other items.

 

[VAgal76]

Great thread!!

Is the copper wire one better if you are trying to avoid the hormone side effects (like on the pill). I hate the pill, took it 5 yrs before realizing it kills my sex drive among other items.

I can not believe I'm doing this.

Yes, there are non-hormonal IUDs. The pill and shot didn't agree with me so this was a great alternative. It may make you a bit heavier vs the pill or the IUD being discussed on this thread. Just thought you'd like to know. There are different types of these IUDs and is best discussed with your gyn in order to pair you up with the one for you. Going non-hormonal may not be what you are looking for either.

Mickeyfan2 - You totally crack me up!

Ok, crawling back under my rock now.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

1 - Anyone notice weight gain with Mirena? (I saw this as a side effect)
2 - Anyone notice a decreased "drive"? ( I saw this too!)
3 - Anyone with mid-high-blood-pressure (controlled, but still) use this?

1. I'm already heavy so I don't think I gained weight because of it.
2. Wouldn't say it decreased. No period gives more opportunity!
3. I have high blood pressure controlled by meds and there was no effect on it. In fact it is preferred over the pill (according to my personal situation with my gyn.)

Good luck. The break through bleeding was incredibly annoying but once that stopped I haven't had a period in almost 3.5 years - maybe longer (can't remember when I got it.)

My Dsis is very sensitive to hormonal changes (drama queen also). She refused to wait out any of the break through bleeding. Blamed her mood swings on the IUD. I blamed them on her being a witch!!

I took 3 ibuprofen prior to having it done and then every 4 hours through the rest of the day. While there was mild cramping with me I wasn't immobilized at all.

Good luck with everything.

 

[ntburns22]

Sorry to hi-jack but I have a question.: I have a new OB since we moved I really don't care for him but I go once a year and we are done having kids. I asked him about an IUD but he told me no. Because I have had 2 c-sections. Online I really haven't seen anything on IUD sites about having c-sections. Has anyone had one after 2 c-sections?

 

[U2_rocks!]

I didn't get much cramping with Mirena at all - then again, I had 3 kids naturally within 4 years with no pain meds, so maybe my tolerance level is now quite high!

Anyway, I love the lack of period, and I haven't noticed that I gain weight any easier or have a lower "drive" than before insertion.

Note that it does take a few months for things to settle down - bleeding may be erratic during that time. If you persevere, it settles down!

 

[druidia]

OMG.....*I* was truamatized just READING that!! I am so glad I found this thread, I'm never getting this little torture device put in!

Yes, even my Gyn freaked a little when she was done. When I get agitated, I have a lovely tendency to flush bright red. She looked up and said, "Omigod, you're breaking out in hives. Are you ok???" And I said, don't worry, it's just what I do.

I thought she was going to faint. She went and got the portable ultrasound machine to check it just to make sure it was in there correctly.

Ok, this is probably TMI, but what the hey.

I forgot to mention in the previous post 2 important things:

Hear ye, hear ye, my uterus is apparently retroverted, so that undoubtedly contributed to my enormous back pain and discomfort,

AND

Because I had not had children, she first MEASURED my uterus before inserting Mirena, so my poor parts were disturbed not once, but twice in that torture visit.

She asked if I had taken Motrin before the visit, but I was not instructed to. She said that might have helped a little. Highly doubtful. Demerol might have helped, though.

 

[charabby]

Just wanted to add that *I* was told when I got my IUD (not Mirena) that the reason you should be done having children is that sometimes the IUD causes scarring in the uterus that makes future preganancy difficult/impossible. Therefore, if you are hoping to have children someday, you should not have an IUD b/c of that risk. This was more than 8 years ago and a different type, so that may have changed, but that's what I was told.

 

[FreshTressa]

My experience with IUD's

First, I had the copper one. It was fine, but I bled much more than usual. I had it for 5 years, no real complaints besides a little more quantity.

August of 2005 I had the Merina put in. It was a disaster. The one good thing is I had no period at all, after 6 months of continual spotting. But, I gained about 40lbs over the past year that I need to now lose....I craved sugar like you would not believe when before I have never been partial to sweets. I broke out in terrible acne. My ankles were swollen and I seemed to retain extra water. I also lost my ability to enjoy relations. I could drive all night and never get to a destination.

I had it taken out 4 weeks ago. About two weeks after having it removed, the sugar cravings stopped and I stopped gaining weight. My acne cleared up and I have had no new breakouts after dealing with multiple blemishes appearing almost daily. My ankles are no longer swollen. The fourth side effect has not been fully tested yet. My uterus also swelled to the size of about a 3 month pregnancy.

My doctor claimed there was not enough hormone in the Merina to cause these side effects, but my uterus is back to normal and other side effects disappeared so I find it hard to believe. She says it is coincidence.