mirena IUD

After having the mirena IUD installed for adenomyosis about 15 months ago, I finally removed it in an act of desperation. I removed it myself with no incident after consulting many other women's descriptions of DIY removal. I was driven to do this because of the weird stranger I have become since opting for the mirena after a couple of horrible years of periods that can only be described as bloody torture. My uterus was double the normal size, I was filling a large tampon every hour for the first few days and had cramps that my prescription narcotics couldn't begin to cut through. In addition, I have autoimmune inflammatory (psoriatic) disease which affects 70% of my body as well as many of my joints. I have gained about 10 pounds in the last year and, while I was given a delightful respite from the periods from hell (and blood transfusions I had to get for severe anemia), I have become a horrible, miserable person. I find no happiness, I am exhausted from simple tasks, my ovaries sometimes hurt so badly I wake up in the middle of the night from a dead sleep with lightening pains. I cannot think straight (I should mention that I do not take any drugs and follow a gluten free diet, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, visiting an acupuncturist regularly and raising my two kids) and my new marriage is becoming a total disaster. I am a neurotic a**ho** and have become incredibly negative and self hating. I don't know myself anymore and spent the last year in a degree of quiet suicidal ideation that is very troubling. On the brink of losing my marriage and jumping off a building, I had to remove the mirena. In the last year, my ears have been ringing, as well. I can tell you that nothing in this world is more anxiety producing than mood swings you are incapable of predicting or controlling in combination with a high pitched, constant pitch in the ears. All noise makes me hurt, physically and everything is irritating. My kids have always been my joy and we have moved to a new country, only to find that my exhaustion, unpredictable moods, increased joint pain and general malaise has not just handicapped me but my family as well.

I am now on Day 4 after removal and am bleeding fairly heavily with manageable cramps. I am exhausted, my ears are still ringing and my new sensation is one of heaviness on my bladder and swelling/bloating of the abdomen. My appetite is completely gone and my mood is dark and turned toward introspection and loneliness. I am beyond senstive--much like when I was pregnant and cannot describe my need for relief.

Also, I am terrified that now I have removed it, the adenomyosis is going to come raging back and I hope that there will be some degree of prolonged relief for a while.

I wonder how long one should wait to have sex after removing the mirena and how long it takes to begin ovulating again.

Also, I am using progesterone cream 3x a day to combat the hormonal shift as well as taking some herbal/vitamin supplements for thyroid function and immunity.

If anyone has insights on how the mirena affects inflammatory diseases, an existing history of horrible trials with previous methods of birth control (I am 39 and have never tolerated any hormonal fluctuation easily) and the course of adenomyosis or just some words of encouragement, I would really appreciate it. Tweet