Removing my Mirena

OK y'all. It seems I should let you know that before you go any further, this post is more for the ladies. Like back when we discussed o.b. gate... or a certain surgery I had. These things do not come up to often, but this is something I have to talk about. 

I'd also like to say that I full on welcome comments on this post especially, because I am still trying to make sense of things and am interested in other's experiences. I have been trying to write this post in particular for well over a month now. Only today after I left the doctor's office did I finally find the courage to put it all out there.

This afternoon, I had my Mirena removed. About 7 weeks shy of the one year mark. And I felt this instant weight lift off my shoulders.

Let me back up a little. After talking to my cousin a year ago - who loved hers - and several friends who also thought it was great - I went for it. After so many years of being on the pill I was no longer remembering to take it every single day and we aren't exactly in the financial position to have a fourth child right now. And I'm not going to lie. The thought of no periods... period... was pretty darn exciting to me as well. 

Out of everybody I knew that had a Mirena at some point, only one friend told me not to do it. She had it removed after several weeks. When I talked it over with my doctor, he told me there are so many people that don't stick with it long enough and have it removed too soon ... that it may take a few months. I didn't even need to think it over. Beginning of December 2011 it was in.

Looking back I wish I recorded everything as it happened, but I didn't. I can tell you I had my period for weeks after that... not spotting, a period period. When that finally stopped I would randomly spot. And then I would get another period. Aside from a one time stretch that went 5 glorious weeks... which happened to be when I thought the Mirena was finally working ... I started getting a period every two to three weeks. I couldn't even make the usual 4 week cycle.   

I called the doctor in the beginning to see if it was normal, at the time it was. I talked to my girlfriends - who had had better experiences. I had my Mirena's placement checked twice. Once it passed 6 months of that, I was put on the birth control pill. How is that for irony. On the pill to straighten out Mirena ... which I got so I wouldn't have to be on the pill anymore. I was told I might only need it for a month or so to regulate everything. The 1st month on the pill was great, until I got my period (when I was supposed to) - only it lasted 2 weeks. The next two cycles on the pill didn't seem to make that big a difference. I was back to a period every 3 weeks and spotting almost daily in between.

I won't even tell you how that affected certain things. But I was so determined to stick with this.  Because at some point things would have to click. They would have to. Only the last few months, I have started to have constant pain in my chest - like when I was pregnant with the kids, but without the extra cleavage this time. I got tingling in my arms that would happen randomly, but not like carpel tunnel. Constant cramping on my left side only. And horrible periods. And while I have no proof of any of this, I swear to you it hasn't done me any favors in the weight department. For the last year I have been horrified at how fast I manage to gain weight back after I lose some. 

None of it seemed right. Even if my period didn't go away on Mirena, it was supposed to get lighter. This was all wrong. I would randomly look online over the last year to see what people were saying and who was having problems. What I saw always horrified me. And yet no one I actually knew was having these experiences... so who do you believe. 

Yesterday I full on hit my breaking point. I called the doctor and they said they wanted to see me today. Last night I broke down on Al. I was done. He had told me all along that no matter what I chose it was fine... but I wanted this to work so much I didn't really want to think about taking it out after investing so much time with it already. One more cycle. A few more weeks. I thought I could will it to work somehow. I looked online some more and I could hear my friend Becca tell me what I remembered her say to me a month into Mirena when she could see the difference. If it isn't working, it isn't working.

Today I talked with the nurse at the office who agreed it didn't sound like it was for me, that it has been too long and I gave it a good try... that it is rare but sometimes a person's body will not adjust to it. 

Light bulb. 

I saw my doctor, who was amazing supportive and agreed it was time to come out. He made me feel good about the decision, he said how I gave it more than long enough and at this point it won't work for me. And the best part (sarcasm)... is that I am in that 1% of people whose bodies will not adjust to the mirena.  ONE freaking percent.  Because of course I am. 

I'm the girl that gets pregnant with identical twins 10 months after having a baby. I'm the girl with the complications from another surgery that they didn't see happening to me. I'm the girl that needs extra shots of novicaine at the dentist. The one who had an epidural wear off.  I always seem to be in that small percentage of hey this almost never happens, but...

And there it was. Confirmation that I had stuck with this nearly an entire year - for nothing. I didn't feel a thing when it was removed either, which seemed crazy. My body feels physically lighter, which seems ridiculous for something so tiny it weighed nothing. And I feel is extreme relief.  Like a weight lifted off of me.

My doctor apologized to me and handed me a prescription for a pill that I can take continuously so I can have a break for awhile. Which I thought was pretty funny for some reason. I can't wait to start on that after this current cycle, let me tell you.

I realize that people won't post the good stuff online generally, they only put the postings when its bad. But in the last year I have found more and more on the subject that makes me wonder. Have you been on Mirena? Tell me the good. Tell me the bad. Did it work for you? Or have you had an entire year of problems like I have.

Now I feel like I am waiting. I read about the "mirena crash" some people say they have (which is worse depending on where you read). I asked my doctor what to expect and he said nothing, that everything will just go back to normal finally. All I know is, no matter what happens, I am so glad I finally made the choice to have Mirena removed. And I wish I had done this months ago. Do you have a Mirena story? I would love to hear it!