Because no one should have to suffer....

I have signed a petition to get the company who makes the IUD Mirena to disclose all of the possible side-effects to women BEFORE they have it inserted so that they can make a more educated decision.  I wasn't given a chance to read the information that IS included in the patient's information (although what I have read on their web-site sure doesn't sound too bad).  My OB just told me that after a few months of getting used to it I should no longer have any periods - for 5 years.  She told me that I might have some cramping, and spotting for a few months and then shoudn't have to think about it until it was time to get it replaced.  And if I decided to get pregnant again I could get it easily removed and within a month would be ready to try again.  I have found out since that there is a lot more information given in the physician's pamplets - with more possible side effects listed (although not all of them - which is why the doctors are unaware that so many women have had such horrible side-effects from this!)  If you are thinking of having an IUD placed - don't.  Here is what I have been through - all of which is due to this darn device.  This is what I posted on the petition to hopefully help others who don't have any idea that their symptoms are due to this device - I had no idea that they could be related. 

I'd had my IUD in for 16 months before experiencing any problems with it (which is one reason that my doc's didn't even consider this as the cause of my problems).  My hair suddenly started to fall out in huge handfuls, and what was growing back in was dull, frizzy and very brittle.  I had terrible acne on my face, back, and chest.  I had severe dizziness and lightheadedness, with headaches that were bad enough that I couldn't open or use my eyes.  All of a sudden I was sweating for no reason and had mood swings and depression and I felt like I was just walking around in a daze.  I had horrible short term memory loss - I'd turn a light on and then get upset at my kids because they must have left the light on....  I gained 6 pounds in 4 weeks, felt heart palpitations and shortness of breath on my daily runs (I'm a long distance runner and have NEVER had any problems with my heart or breathing before - I have since cut my regular mileage to less than 25% of what I used to do.)  I had no sex drive, suffered from insomnia and a total lack of energy.  I was feeling very depressed, but thought that it was due to my weight gain, hair falling out, acne, and other symptoms.  My doctors thought it was my thyroid so I had lab tests done.  Nothing - so another lab was done - everything came back at great levels.  I was sent to an endocrinologist who looked at me like I was crazy because there was nothing wrong with my hormones.  (He sent me home without doing ANYTHING!  I was very frustrated that I now have to pay him hundreds of dollars for NOTHING!!)   I had an MRI done to check my pituitary - it was functioning as it should.  My doctors were completely confused and didn't know what to do with me.  It makes you feel like you are crazy!!  Thank goodness my RN sis-in-law put it together that all of this might be caused by my Mirena.  After reading about all of the symptoms I had mine removed 2 days ago.  My OB was skeptical of everything but agreed to remove it for me if that was what I was sure I wanted.  She couldn't find the strings and had to use an ultrasound to finally remove it (NOT something I would recommend - it was very painful to have her try to find it).  During the ultrasound she found 2 large cysts on my right ovary - now I have to go back in 3 months to make sure that they have gone away on their own.   I have always been very healthy -  I never get sick, not even the flu.  I have always been in very good shape and try to eat the right foods.  I am hoping that I can finally return to my pre-Mirena health soon.  The dizziness and lightheadedness make it very hard to function - not to mention the depression, mood swings, insomnia, lack of energy etc. that make it hard to be a mother to my kids.  This has put a huge strain on myself and my family - my insurance hasn't paid for any of this so Christmas this year will be much smaller than I'd have liked, but I have to pay the price for being dumb enough to get a foreign object placed into my body.  All women should know of the possible side effects of this medication.  I feel that it should be pulled from the market.  I will no longer be taking anything for birth control - my husband will have to have a vasectomy.  After all of this I don't feel that messing around with my body is worth it.

The petition site can be found at:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/mirena-awareness-part-ii/

You can read about other's experiences with this IUD there.  I know that there is a lot of mis-information that can be found on-line.  I was skeptical at first, but after getting NO answers from my doctors, and finding so many women who were experiencing the same/similar symptoms I just could not deny that there was definitly a link.  I am hoping now to regain my health.  I have never given my health a second thought - I'm in good shape, I'm not allergic to anything, I've never broken a bone, I hardly ever get sick, I've never had problems with anything until now.  In a way this has been a blessing in that I am so very grateful for good health - and will be paying much better attention to my body and keeping myself and my family healthy.  I will no longer take good health for granted!!