My Mirena experience. (Long read)

I was due to have mine taken out next month, and debating wether or not to get another put in, but I was worried it wouldn't be the same and that I wouldn't be as lucky as I have been these last 5 years. I haven't had a menstrual cycle for all of the last 5 years, and I was really dreading having one again. I was doing some research to see if anyone has had different experiences with their second IUD than they had with their first, and ended up discovering that my experience hasn't exactly been the best. Up until recently I had never thought there was a connection between my migraines, weight gain (and inability to lose ANYTHING) anxiety, depression, extreme mood swings and irritability, and the terrible acne and breakouts I've been battling, and my birth control. No matter how hard I've tried these last few years, I haven't been able to lose much weight or keep it off. About a year before I moved back to my home state I had lost about 20 lbs, and since coming back (been back a year now), and even before that, I've gained it all back and then some. I'm always bloated, and recently have noticed that I look about 5 months pregnant half the time. 95% of all my clothes, including things I've bought in the last 4-5 months, don't fit anymore. A huge thing I noticed during my research was that most women complained about their inability to lose and keep off weight, and their bodies retaining an excessive amount of water weight. Even those who are dedicated gym rats and health nuts, were not able to lose much weight, if any at all, or keep from gaining any more. Another big issue people had was their increasing depression, acne breakouts, migraines, and severe mood swings/rage. I kept realizing the more research I did, that I had all of the same issues that these women had, (with the exception of some women's continued monthly cycle and heavy almost constant flow) and all of their stories sounded just like me! Until then I had never thought my birth control may have been the problem. I just thought that my body hated me and this was how it was going to be now. Everyone says your body changes after having a baby, so I figured that was all it was, and that I just had to deal with it. 

The majority of all of these women said that as soon as they had their Mirena taken out, they immediately started feeling better. More than half lost anywhere from 5-20 lbs the first week or two after having it removed, and saw their water weight go away, as well as their depression ease up, their skin clear up, and their mood swings and migraines decrease in frequency. Some had had theirs removed to have another baby, had all of their symptoms go away, and then return as soon as they had it replaced postpartum. The only women I noticed who didn't really lose much of anything, or have their symptoms subside very much, we're those that were 200+ lbs with pre-existing health conditions. Most everyone else had never had trouble managing their weight before. (I was 21 when I got pregnant and weighed 104 lbs, I'm now 26, never had any problems with my weight before, I'm 5'3" and fairly petite)Despite their labeling, and doctors saying Mirena can not cause weight gain, or trouble losing, the vast majority of these women had that exact problem, which disappeared as soon as it was removed. The problem is that the hormone in Mirena that is slowly released over 5 years, is the same hormone women produce when pregnant. It basically tricks the body into thinking it's pregnant. Kinda makes sense now why people are having such a hard time losing and keeping weight off, huh? And part of the problem is also that doctors refuse to acknowledge or admit to this, and instead suggest that any weight gain or inability to lose is their own fault for either being lazy or not trying hard enough, despite all the time and effort these women put into eating healthy and busting their asses in the gym and at home. Bullshit!

I've suffered from migraines most of my life, but only would have MAYBE 1 or 2 a month. These last 5 years it has increased to 2 or 3 a WEEK. Until I got new glasses recently I had thought that maybe my migraines were getting worse because my glasses were so old, (I had had them since I was 14!) and hoped it would get better after I got new ones, but it hasn't. I still get them just as bad and as often. 

Before Mirena, I never had so much trouble with my skin. I would occasionally break out around my monthly cycle, but only a spot or two mostly on my forehead, and the occasional one on my chin. Now, I'm almost CONSTANTLY battling these little face demons, and they're everywhere! In places I never or rarely broke out before. My forehead is covered in angry, red, flaky splotches, and my chin is covered in tons of not so visible (thankfully), but clearly present little bumps. And nothing I try ever really works. 

My mood swings are ridiculous. I used to be a happy, social, charismatic person, who rarely got angry or blew up over anything. Now it seems I'm constantly angry or annoyed about the smallest little things, and the RAGE is just terrible! I've been struggling more and more with this the last 2 years especially. I should NOT get so bent out of shape at my son over the silliest little things, and I really don't mean to. Sometimes I really don't know who I am anymore, I'm not myself. 

Since doing my research and coming to the realization that it might not just be me, I decided that it was time to have it removed, and NOT replaced. But since I can never get a straight answer as to wether or not I have Medicaid coverage, and the fact that it can cost anywhere from $100-200 just have the stupid thing pulled out, I did some extra research on removing it myself. Yes, I know it's recommended that a professional do it, and yes, I know I could have landed myself in the ER. But you know what? They don't have any special way of removing it, or any special devices to extract the thing. They simply grasp the strings and slowly pull it out. And had it been embedded in my uterus and they were unable to just pull it out, they would have sent me to the ER anyways, so what's the difference in me doing it myself and driving myself to the ER if necessary? Short answer: NONE. I understood the risks when I had the thing put in, and I understood the risks of taking it out myself, and assumed responsibility for whatever may have gone wrong. And you know what? It only took me less than 20 seconds to pull the damn thing out. I cramped a little afterwards, which is normal, and I didn't bleed at all. It hardly hurt at all, and in fact, wasn't even as bad as those scratchy swab things they use when you get a pap. I only cramped for a little while that night, and by morning that was gone. My cycle will start again at some point, be it tomorrow, next week, or next month, (it varies) and I'm very well prepared for it. It's been 2 days since I removed it, and already I feel loads better. I was at 156 lbs when I removed it (only 2 lbs lighter than the day I gave birth! And heavier than I've ever been NOT pregnant), and today I'm at 149 lbs! Even though that's probably all water weight, it's still 7 lbs down, and I don't look so bloated and pregnant anymore! It's still possible that I'll 'crash' after taking it out, and that it might take a few weeks for my hormones to balance themselves out again, but that's ok. 

I know that taking it out isn't going to be a miracle fix-all, and I'll still have to work at dropping this weight, but it's a damn good start! At least now I know my efforts will pay off, and I won't have to feel so unlike myself anymore. 

There are plenty of women out there that don't suffer with these side effects, and are perfectly fine and love their Mirena, and good for them. 

But removing my Mirena was the right choice for me, and I will NOT be recommending it to anyone. As I said before, every woman is different, and everyone's body will react differently to any method of birth control. 

Do what feels right for YOU, and don't let any doctor or anyone else pressure you into keeping, or getting any kind of contraception you are not comfortable and happy with. I've heard too many stories of women whose doctors either refused, or convinced them to keep it longer than they wanted, instead of just removing it as they had requested. If your doctor refuses to remove it, find one that will! And DO YOUR RESEARCH before choosing a contraceptive!!! I can't stress that enough! I wish I had done more research before I chose mine. Instead I just took my doctors word for it and got what I thought was the Holy Grail of birth control. Boy was I wrong! I also want to note that there are more severe possible complications than this, such as the device migrating and perforating the uterus requiring surgical removal, and even though I was lucky enough to not have that happen, these other issues are still pretty bad, and not talked about or recognized nearly as much. 

I know that this is only the beginning for me, but things are starting to get better already, and I'm looking forward to being happy and feeling like myself again. ☺️