IUD / Mirena?

[greycoral]

yeah, i was pretty bummed that it didn't work out :\

[sgtiger]

...he's getting snipped.

Best thing ever! Dh got his done by a doc who specializes in vasectomies (1,000+/year) and had a very easy time with the recovery.

[DDH]

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to refresh it and ask if anyone new has had the mirena inserted or and had any problems with it.

My obgyn wants to give me the Mirena to help regulate or get rid of my periods. I'm 45 and overweight and she doesnt' want me on birth control pills because of the problems they can cause. She tells me that the progesterone doesn't have the side effects that estrogen does.
So I'm curious, are there bad side effects that I am not finding with progesterone hormones? I don't need birth control because my dh had a vasectomy, but I am having problems with my periods.

Since I had my thyroid out last August my periods have been wacko. I have 8 to 10 day periods and two weeks go by and I'm having another. I don't have bad cramps or problems other than the frequency and amount of time. They aren't light periods either.
The docs say I am not menapausal as long as I'm having periods. I have asked if it is peri-menapause and they tell me no to that too.

I just know something has to be done about these long heavy periods and if this thing will help then I'm all for it.
My regular doctor had put me on birth control to try to regulate things and the OB doesn't want me on them.
I have fought acne for 13 years since my husband had the vasectomy and I went off of birth contorl. The lasst 6 months that I went back on the birth control before the OB took me off of them, my face and back cleared up so nice and I haven't had the acne problems.
Now I'm worried that is going to come back. We aren't talking a few little zits, I'm talking cystic type, big acne on my face and back.

Anyway, I just wanted to refresh this post and see if anyone new has gotten the mirena or those that have it have you began to have any side effects.
I'm sure I can handle the insertion cramps, and the month or so of adjustment as long as I know I'm not going to have a bunch of other side effects to deal with.
I've been through so much this last year with my health and I really am sick of doctors and going to appts, and getting one doctor telling me one thing and another one telling me something else.
I would tend to trust someones experience much more than the doctors lately.

[DDH]

Wow, I just noticed that this is in the general topic thread, shouldn't this be in the health thread?

I"m sorry I just did a search and responded to the thread I found. I didn't look to see what thread it was in. It kind of surprised me when I went back to the forum home and saw it hightlight in the general discussion thread.

[Irulan]

Um, so what as to what forum it's in?

You might look up some of the books on hormones by Dr. John Lee, he's got several on progesterone,perimenopause and hormones. He gives a LOT of information on progesterone, which can be taken topically ( through the skin). I've used progesterone with some benefit for other issues.

Just a place to look for info.

[Tuckervill]

I have a endometrial polyp and a raggedy endometrium which is going to be removed on the 17th, via D&C. And then, I'm probably going to get the Mirena, as well. It is my understanding that maybe the reason things go haywire is because the endometrium is growing wacky due to unopposed estrogen--not enough progesterone in the second half of your cycle. Which is definitely perimenopause related. (I'm 47, and I imagine the D&C is overkill at this point, but I might as well start fresh.)

The only symptom I have had, so far, is one period within 14 days of another. That only happened once. My doctors are super super aggressive, it seems. Unopposed estrogen seems to create ideal conditions for some cancers to grow, so they take steps immediately. And, I have good insurance (says the cynic in me).

I can't imagine why your doctors haven't been more aggressive. One reason I can think of...I go to a gynecologist, not an OB, because I don't want to wait in the waiting room while my doctor is delivering babies. And I chose a practice that specializes in menopause, and all the doctors are women.

If I were you, I wouldn't go to your family doctor for peri-menopausal stuff. And when they look at you and say you're not in perimenopause, they have NOTHING to base that on. They just don't know, and can't know, so why they are so definitive is beyond me. You're not too young.

Karen

[DDH]

I think part of the problem with my doctors is the fact that I am on an HMO.
Even on the HMO though, women can choose and obgyn without having to go through the general practitioner. So I sought her out, and read up on all the obgyn's for this hospital and insurance and she was the one and only that deals with menopause peri-menopause, the rest were specialist in infertility and delivery.
I know one thing for sure. I am sick to death of doctors and not being able to find one that will really take a look at me rather than make me feel like I'm being a hypochondriac. I want to look at them and scream, "look, every time I have come in here it's been because there was actually something wrong" "so when are you going to recognize that I know my own body, I'm not seeking pills, don't even like to take them, I don't want attention cause I really would rather not be here, so just listen to me already".

[Tuckervill]

I know the feeling! Ack! I hate being condescended to. And that's why I'm very happy with my current doctors (two women in the practice, and only one of them is a surgeon, so I have to see them both for this issue). The regular one is sometimes condescending in an overly solicitous way, but I recognize it as an attempt to keep from being condescending in the old-fashioned, pat-your-pretty-little-head way. So, I forgive her.

I hope you find the answers to your problems!

Karen

[Mistie]

I got Mirena 8 weeks post baby. I had cramping (I was warned by gyn to take ibuprofen about 30-45 mins before appt), but it was not too terrible, certainly not on par with LABOR. For about three months, I would spot irregularly and only a small bit. I have had about 7 total periods in 3 years, but these are very light and panty liner tops. I usually get a period when I return from my summer off (am a teacher) and become confined with my department of AMAZING female teachers (Science). It seems by the third month back, everyone is sync'd. Kind of funny in a way. My gyn will NOT give Mirena to a single, non-mom woman. She says there is a risk of uterine puncture which may leave the woman without an opportunity to have a baby.
I used Depo for about a year and had to stop. It was terrible. I gained weight, mostly water, had horrible mood swing, and finally had a 3 month light period without break. This was not a good choice for me. However, it was an excellent choice for my friend who had none of these conditions and recommended it to me. I think it is more about the person. I tried to love it as I can not take estrogen (I am a clotter) but progesterone is an option.

[Mistie]

My cousin had heavy, terrible periods with short times between each. After 2 years of this, she went to her gyn and she had this procedure done. I do not know the term, but am looking for it now: the doctor put her out, and somehow "burned" her uterus with scalding liquid. It scarred her uterus thereby making her sterile (she has 2 boys, her DH has vasectomy). She has light, infrequent periods now and is very happy with results. She said there was some mild cramping for a few days after the procedure but after a week, she was fine. Ibuprofen took care of the cramping.
Ah hah: ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION is the term.

[Tuckervill]

Yes, my GYN is talking about an ablation, but I'm not interested. My problems are few and far between. If that changed, I'd consider it.

Karen