deannaB
04-18-2008, 12:00 PM
Good morning -
On 9/27/07 I decided, simply for convenience, to have the Mirena IUD inserted by suggestion from my OB, who just thought it was the greatest thing. Within 3 weeks I suffered a horrible panic attack in the middle of the night (I have suffered from anxiety before, but I've had 6+ years of it being under control) and from that time on, I constantly felt foggy, light-headed, and I never felt like I was really "here"..... Like it was all a dream (I knew I was there physically, but it was almost like an out of body experience).
On my 1 month checkup with my OB, he said that the Mirena could not have caused the anxiety and to give it some time for my body to adjust. I was concerned that I hadn't had a period yet and he indicated that it is normal and it's ok not to menstruate ever month. I'd like to add that I haven't had a period since that day I had the IUD put in.
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago... The fogginess seemed to dissipate somewhat, but I started to worry about EVERYTHING, not normal worrying either, but excessive worry and the anxiety started to build in. Then, while simply watching a movie with my husband, I felt this sudden waive of anxiety over nothing. So, I decided, that's it, I'm googling Mirena and anxiety to see what I can find. Well, guess what? I found tons of websites with people talking about the same damn thing as I was going through.
I immediately saw my primary care and he had indicated that, yes, the Mirena could very well be the cause of my symptoms (anxiety, excessive worry, panic attacks, moodiness, no libido, poor motivation, etc). Unfortunately, by this time I've already seen a psych and been put on zoloft and lorazepam. However, my primary care does think it is a good idea that I continue with the anti-anxiety meds to help me get over this hump.
Well, these last 7 days have been interesting. Last Friday, was a day after zero sleep and was suffering from an excruciating 14 hour panic attack, which landed me in my primary cares office.
This past Monday the IUD was finally removed (no pain and minimal spotting) and I immediately started my old pill again (which I was on for 2 years with no problem). I contemplated going hormone free for a month or so, but I've read about so many woman having problems with their 1st and 2nd periods, so I thought this would help me. During my appointment, neither the nurse or my OB were surprised that I was experiencing these symptoms and that if I don't begin to feel better over the next 3 weeks, to call him so we can discuss my options.
Now to today, the anxious feelings haven't really gone away and twice last night I woke up sweating with minor panic attacks. I can't say for sure that I would be feeling this way now if I never had the IUD put in, but it is certainly coincidental that I'm feeling like this after a change in hormones. Needless to say, after my night last night and this morning, I'm a little disappointed in my "recovery". I know it's only been a few days without the IUD, but I was hoping to feel some relief from the anxiety by now. I've been living with it for so long, that I do admit some of the anxiety is probably self-induced (it turns into a pattern after having it for so long), but I'm trying to keep my hopes up about it. I've just had so little motivation these last couple of weeks and it is so hard to pull myself out of this "lazy pattern".
I'm sorry for such a long post and I didn't mean to bore anyone, but I felt that maybe if I put all of this into words, I'd feel some relief. Which I do, but still a little disappointed at the same time.
I obviously had these Mirena symptoms since it's insertion, but it's hard to accept how quickly the massive amounts of anxiety kicked in. I mean, up until 2 weeks ago, I experienced nothing like this. It seems constant, like I'm always in "fight mode". I'm not a Dr and maybe it only feels like it happened "over night", when it was probably building for some time and it just showed its ugly head a couple of weeks ago.
I just can't wait to be back to myself and living a life of normalcy. I know I need to give it some time, but when it's your body and you have no control over it, it gets so frustrating.
Thanks for listening.
Hugs -
On 9/27/07 I decided, simply for convenience, to have the Mirena IUD inserted by suggestion from my OB, who just thought it was the greatest thing. Within 3 weeks I suffered a horrible panic attack in the middle of the night (I have suffered from anxiety before, but I've had 6+ years of it being under control) and from that time on, I constantly felt foggy, light-headed, and I never felt like I was really "here"..... Like it was all a dream (I knew I was there physically, but it was almost like an out of body experience).
On my 1 month checkup with my OB, he said that the Mirena could not have caused the anxiety and to give it some time for my body to adjust. I was concerned that I hadn't had a period yet and he indicated that it is normal and it's ok not to menstruate ever month. I'd like to add that I haven't had a period since that day I had the IUD put in.
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago... The fogginess seemed to dissipate somewhat, but I started to worry about EVERYTHING, not normal worrying either, but excessive worry and the anxiety started to build in. Then, while simply watching a movie with my husband, I felt this sudden waive of anxiety over nothing. So, I decided, that's it, I'm googling Mirena and anxiety to see what I can find. Well, guess what? I found tons of websites with people talking about the same damn thing as I was going through.
I immediately saw my primary care and he had indicated that, yes, the Mirena could very well be the cause of my symptoms (anxiety, excessive worry, panic attacks, moodiness, no libido, poor motivation, etc). Unfortunately, by this time I've already seen a psych and been put on zoloft and lorazepam. However, my primary care does think it is a good idea that I continue with the anti-anxiety meds to help me get over this hump.
Well, these last 7 days have been interesting. Last Friday, was a day after zero sleep and was suffering from an excruciating 14 hour panic attack, which landed me in my primary cares office.
This past Monday the IUD was finally removed (no pain and minimal spotting) and I immediately started my old pill again (which I was on for 2 years with no problem). I contemplated going hormone free for a month or so, but I've read about so many woman having problems with their 1st and 2nd periods, so I thought this would help me. During my appointment, neither the nurse or my OB were surprised that I was experiencing these symptoms and that if I don't begin to feel better over the next 3 weeks, to call him so we can discuss my options.
Now to today, the anxious feelings haven't really gone away and twice last night I woke up sweating with minor panic attacks. I can't say for sure that I would be feeling this way now if I never had the IUD put in, but it is certainly coincidental that I'm feeling like this after a change in hormones. Needless to say, after my night last night and this morning, I'm a little disappointed in my "recovery". I know it's only been a few days without the IUD, but I was hoping to feel some relief from the anxiety by now. I've been living with it for so long, that I do admit some of the anxiety is probably self-induced (it turns into a pattern after having it for so long), but I'm trying to keep my hopes up about it. I've just had so little motivation these last couple of weeks and it is so hard to pull myself out of this "lazy pattern".
I'm sorry for such a long post and I didn't mean to bore anyone, but I felt that maybe if I put all of this into words, I'd feel some relief. Which I do, but still a little disappointed at the same time.
I obviously had these Mirena symptoms since it's insertion, but it's hard to accept how quickly the massive amounts of anxiety kicked in. I mean, up until 2 weeks ago, I experienced nothing like this. It seems constant, like I'm always in "fight mode". I'm not a Dr and maybe it only feels like it happened "over night", when it was probably building for some time and it just showed its ugly head a couple of weeks ago.
I just can't wait to be back to myself and living a life of normalcy. I know I need to give it some time, but when it's your body and you have no control over it, it gets so frustrating.
Thanks for listening.
Hugs -