Today marks the 8th day that Mirena has been removed from my body, and ladies, let me tell you -- I feel like I'm 15 again! I feel GREAT!! I actually went out running today, I carried my baby daughter for hours, I crawled around on the floor with my other kids, wrestling. Nine days ago, I couldn't have done any of these things!

I had Mirena inserted right after the birth of my daughter a year ago. For 8 months, I felt okay -- a bit more bloated and swollen in the belly each month, more stronger menstrual like cramps each month (where I'd never had them before in my life). Then the weight just kept creeping up, up, up. And the swelling in my fingers, legs, and belly. I felt like Santa!

After 8 months with Mirena and these side effects, which I kept chalking up to the pregnancy and my hormones getting back to normal, I started with severe arthritic pain. First, my knees. I couldn't walk any more. I did stairs on my butt, clinging to my daughter wriggling around on my lap. Then my hands. I couldn't hold her, couldn't change a diaper. My hands were eternally curled into a semi-fist. And my back -- after sitting, I couldn't stand and remain straight. My back would curl forward in pain. I'd try to change diapers in a military crawl as I couldn't straighten my back up enough to even face my baby. Something was horribly wrong, and I was deteriorating so quickly. My doctors tried every test we could think of, but all I knew is that I'd be wheelchair-bound by the end of the month at the rate it was progressing. How could I care for 3 little kids like this? I'm in my 30's, I'm too young!

All I could think is that it may be Mirena. I don't take any medications at all, I believe in holistic healing if at all possible. I eat well, exercise -- nothing else made sense. When I found this website, I cried. There are so many of you, just like me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I had this suc*** removed last Tuesday, right after the New Year and that night, and immediately the menstrual pains stopped. The next day, my period began, but pain free and my knees felt better -- a little, but better. Day three, I went up and down the stairs like old times. Day four, I could type an e-mail as my fingers were moving again. Day 5, I'm on the floor with my kids and realized my back doesn't hurt. Still a little weak, but nothing like before. Day 6, world, I'm back! I'm jogging, I'm doing the tae-bo, I'm out with my boys throwing a football and giving my little girl a bath with lotion rubbed into her skin - instead of just putting it on in streaks with the back of my hand when my fingers didn't work.

Call me crazy, but I'll swear it was Mirena that gave me these side effects. You just KNOW. Your body just KNOWS. Trust your instincts is all I can say. I'm so eternally grateful that I did as I had two months of my life wasted, thinking I'd never do any of these things ever again. The progression was so fast, so quick, that I thought my body was just shutting down. It's such a helpless feeling; I thank God that I'm back to normal. Ladies, if your body tells you to get the Mirena removed -- please listen. You know what I'm talking about. If it's working for you, fabulous! More power to ya! But if you have any of these side effects, please consider removing it. It can always be re-inserted. Just give it a week and see if you feel any better. You have nothing at all to lose!

Now I've got to run; there's a basketball game calling my name!