Hi everyone!! I’m sorry this is all over the place, but I just need to share my experience. About two and a half years ago, I had a Mirena IUD inserted. The first while was tough, and my body took a while to adjust to it. I had severe sharp abdominal pains and cramps that made me curl up in a ball crying. I even questioned whether it was worth keeping in, but the doctors said it could take a few months to adjust, so I pushed through.
thankfully, those intense pains eventually stopped, and I was happy to be free of the heavy, painful periods I had before. However, things started to take a turn for the worse when I went through some stressful times, which led to panic attacks and feeling like I was losing control. I wasn’t sure what was causing all the symptoms—whether it was my living situation or my emotional state—but I started experiencing sharp pains around my IUD. I was worried, so I had it checked with an ultrasound, but everything came back fine. Still, the pain never went away, and I really wanted it removed.
I have a history of bipolar depression, and I could feel those symptoms creeping back, though I didn’t fully recognize it at the time. Eventually, things got so bad that I had suicidal thoughts. I didn’t trust myself anymore, so I asked my stepdad to take me to the hospital. I was hospitalized for around three weeks to a month, and they put me on antidepressants and antipsychotics (Citalopram and Olanzapine).
While I was in the hospital, I asked the doctors to remove my IUD, but they tested my hormone levels and said everything looked fine and there was no medical reason to take it out. I insisted that I was in pain and wanted it out, but they wouldn’t listen. So, I told them I’d go to my family doctor. She wasn’t able to remove it because she couldn’t find the strings. I was worried, so I booked an appointment with my gynecologist.
Thankfully, my gynecologist called me the next day and got me in just two days later. It turns out that the IUD was still in place, but the strings were short because of a LEEP procedure I had earlier in the year, which had accidentally cauterized the strings. Instead of being 3-4 inches long, they were only about an inch.
She was able to remove it, and she said I had pelvic inflammation. It felt like my body was rejecting it, and I was ready to have it out. After the removal, I felt immediate relief, and I remember that day so clearly—it was a huge weight off my shoulders.
About a week later, I got my period, and it was the heaviest I had ever experienced. Having not seen that much blood in years, I felt weak and dizzy, so I took it easy. The heavy bleeding lasted for about seven days, and it was tough on my body.
Since leaving the hospital in June, it’s been a struggle to get my life back on track. I’m a second-year apprentice auto body technician, and I have a huge passion for my work. But I’m not the same person anymore. I feel like I’ve lost my resilience, and everything feels like too much to handle. I feel like I’m 17 again, struggling to cope with life.
I’ve heard about the “Mirena crash,” and I’ve been worried about how I’d feel once I left the hospital. I was on meds, but they made me feel numb. I couldn’t think clearly, and I felt disconnected. I was on Lamotrigine for mood swings, which helped somewhat, but I still couldn’t feel anything, and I felt emotionally distant. My sex drive was gone too, even though I’m really attracted to my partner.
I managed to get a job in the automotive industry, but the stress of the work and dealing with a boss who yelled at me all the time was too much. I had to leave, and I’m still in recovery. It feels like time has stopped.
My emotions are completely out of control. I’ve had interviews for my career, but I haven’t been able to land a job, and I think it’s due to my depression. The lack of enthusiasm and energy is misleading—it’s as though my body is not in sync with my mind. I’ve never felt so depressed or emotional in my life. I used to be a strong, courageous woman who loved cars, but now I feel like I’ve lost myself. I cry all the time, and sometimes it’s hard to even get out of bed. I’m lazy, unmotivated, and nothing like I used to be. I can’t believe I’m even saying all of this—it feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.
I know I may need medication, but I’m considering the herbal route with medicinal marijuana, as I can’t tolerate the side effects of pharmaceuticals. I’ve known people who’ve had terrible experiences with medication, and I want to be careful about what I put in my body.
I can’t help but wonder if my body is still out of balance from the hormones the Mirena released. I’ve read about a “Mirena crash” and detox protocols, and I’ve heard that the crash can happen a week or two before your period. Mine tends to happen two weeks prior, and it’s accompanied by intense PMS, which makes my depression worse.
I’ve never been this worried or scared in my life, and I still hope I’ll be able to have children one day. I’ve been waiting to hear from my doctor about hormone tests, but so far, the results have come back normal, and I’m still waiting for reassurance. I’m exhausted—mentally and physically—and I don’t know where to turn.
All I want is to get back to being my positive, happy, go-lucky self again.
Has anyone else gone through something similar? Any advice or insight would mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I’m sorry for the long post. :)))