Normal with Mirena?

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

Back in early September I had a Mirena IUC/IUD inserted in an attempt to stop the nearly constant bleeding that I've been experiencing since February.

A little back history.. [Unknown site tag]I am 32 and obese in declining health. Back in February of this year I began my "normal" menstrual cycle. Normal for me is pretty heavy and lasts about 7 to 10 days, sometimes a bit longer. This time it just got heavier and heavier until I was passing out, getting dizzy and being short of breath. After over a month of this bleeding I finally went to my regular PCP who sent me to the ER where I was told to see an OB/Gyn. After MONTHS of going back and forth between the ER and the OB/Gyn I was diagnosed with Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding and put on Provera to stop the bleeding and regulate my hormones (none of which were ever tested via blood work, btw). I had horrible side effects with the Provera and became desperate enough to agree to increasing the Provera as long as the bleeding would stop. Well, it didn't, and so I was given two options: I could either get a Mirena inserted or I could have a hysterectomy. If the Mirena wasn't effective than I would have to have the hysterectomy.

Of course I opted for the Mirena, but it's been two months and I'm still bleeding.. some days very heavily. I'm currently being treated for severe iron defeciency anemia due to blood loss, and I'm now being told that I should wait another 2 to 3 months to see if the Mirena would work, and even then if it doesn't the Gyn clinic wants to try hormonal injections for 3 to 4 months before resorting to surgery.

I'm at my wits end! I have a child, I don't want any more. I want my life back, and I'm sick of waiting for the bleeding to stop in order to resolve the anemia so I can have surgery that I really need (gastric bypass and surgical removal of a large lipoma).

My question is, has anyone else experienced continued bleeding after using Provera/Depo Provera and having the Mirena inserted? Is it worth waiting another 2 to 3 months to see if the bleeding will stop? Or should I just get another Ob/Gyn?

Comments

[bellabrigida.livejournal.com]

You need to see another doctor. Specifically an endocrinologist in conjunction with your OB/GYN. This is complete BS. If you have to bounce back and forth between a doctor and urgent care, then there's a problem and it's not just you, it's the damn doctor.

Good luck.

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, I've really been feeling like this is all in my head and that I'm just over-reacting.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

i spotted for 8-9 months with my mirena. just a heads up. :/

best of luck to you, it sounds like a mess. i agree with bellabrigida that you should see about finding a new doctor. :(

*hug*

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

wow, 8-9 months.. sheesh. I'm going to see about switching Ob/Gyn's, and we'll see what happens.

[maidenmorticia.livejournal.com]

has anyone else experienced continued bleeding after using Provera/Depo Provera and having the Mirena inserted? Is it worth waiting another 2 to 3 months to see if the bleeding will stop? Or should I just get another Ob/Gyn?

I would first like to point out that Provera and Depo Provera are 2 totally different things. Provera is a pill and is much weaker in strength than Depo Provera which is an injection. From you're description, I *think* you mean that you were on Provera the pill form?

I've been on Provera, the pill form, but only for 10 days. I did have a few side effects -- bloating and huge boobs (mine are already pretty big, but that was insane!). I was not taking it to stop bleeding; and I did not have a mirena IUD afterwards/during this time and so I can't really answer your question.

I've read a couple of your posts over the last few months as you situation develops. And I have to say that finding other specialists for a second opinion would perhaps be a good idea at this point.

If you've got all the children you want, would a partial hysterectomy be so bad?? (partial is when they leave the ovaries in) If you want to talk to other women who've had hysterectomies there is an LJ community for that and you can find it at hysterectomies. My mother had a partial in her mid-40s due to ongoing problems (not quite like yours) and she says it is the best thing that ever happened to her.

Hugs & kisses... & keep us informed!

xo M.

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for your reply. I was on Provera (the pill) 60mg a day.. for 4 months without stopping, or being late on taking the pill. My side effects were awful. High bloodpressure (which I knew was going to happen), nausea, headaches, fatigue, digestive problems and one of the worst was insomnia.

I called my PCP to see if he could give me a referral to someone else, because this is stupid. Honestly, at this point I'd cheer for a hysterectomy .. any kind of a hysterectomy. Anything to make the bleeding stop!

Thank you, also for the info on the other community. I'll check it out!

[anonymouse007.livejournal.com]

I have to say....first of all, I feel your pain.
My background is this: I've been bleeding since June. As my hubby and I are trying to conceive our first child-this is obviously problematic. Well, after running SEVERAL tests (blood work,vaginal exams, ultrasounds, MRI, HSGs, PAPsmears, etc....) they put me on Provera to stop the bleeding.
It didn't work. In fact, I've been off of Provera for 7 days now....AND, my bleeding got so bad that Monday during work (I teach high school), I bled through a tampon and 2 overnight pads!!! I went to the ER and they sent me home to go to the OB emergency clinic today. So...today I went in and they said "Provera SHOULD work, but if it doesn't we have to go more extreme". Basically, they're putting me on Ortho Novum (BC pills). For the next 3 days I'm taking 4 pills/day and then 2 pills/day until the bleeding stops. After that, I'm to continue the packs as normal until I have a regular cycle.
Ugh!

Provera didn't make me feel bad, per se--but, it definitely didn't work. All the doctors seem to be confused by it as well.

I'm 26 years old, never been pregnant and in overall good health. I am obese but I do not suffer from high blood pressure, pain or diabetes.

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. In this whole process I was evaluated for PCOS. Has anyone said anything to you about it? I know it's more "common" in obese women. Also, has your doctor said anything about DUB (dysfunctional uterine bleeding)? I keep being told that being overweight causes it because adipose (fat) tissue can actually create it's own estrogen.

Sounds like you've had a much better work-up than I have had and that you're at least in decent hands.

I hope things work out for you and I'll keep you in my prayers!

[anonymouse007.livejournal.com]

i was actually diagnosed with PCOS. They way they did this was by ruling everything else out. Not an exact method, in my opinion (I'm a research scientist by education)....but, if that's the way they do it-then whatever.

Nobody mentioned dysfunctional uterine bleeding to me--merely "anovulatory bleeding". Anovulatory bleeding may be a side effect of PCOS. Most women that have PCOS do not bleed often at all....but, a small percentage (lucky me) bleed almost all the time.

I have had a lot of tests done...most of them in vain, but the ultrasound, MRI, HSG, etc....did help. My husband's in the Army so fortunately we get everything covered through his insurance (my work doesn't provide as comprehensive an insurance as his does!!).

Thank you for your prayers and I'll be keeping you in my thoughts as well....
I'm obese as well...I stand at 5'3" (maybe slightly taller) and weigh 300 lbs. NOBODY has mentioned my weight to me.
I wonder if this is because my blood pressure is low and I don't have diabetes?!

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about the PCOS. It was ruled out in my case. I'm actually undergoing evaluation for autoimmune diseases/disorders now. My blood pressure had been under control for nearly 8 years with diet alone, and then when I started on the Provera it skyrocketed and still hasn't come down. I'm not diabetic, and my cholesterol is amazingly low (125). Yet I've had my weight thrown at me at every turn. I'm also 5'3" but I'm currently at 375 lbs down from 415 when all of this crazieness started.

I'm sure there is an answer to what we are both experiencing. I hope we find the answers.. soon.

[anonymouse007.livejournal.com]

Yes, I hope we do find answers soon...
my cholesterol is low too (135).

interesting, huh?

I used to have my weight thrown at me when I weighed around 200 lbs--now, 100 lbs later, nobody says anything.
I don't get it.

But, here's to us finding answers...