Copper IUD and Side effects - Page 2

[smeisnotapirate]

Dera, if you can reach your strings, do it yourself at the end of your period. Don't waste money going to the GYN.

[Amy_Jay]

How interesting... and sad, and a little disturbing.
I am 25. I have had a copper iud for over 4 years now. I noticed no immediate change in myself however thinking back to that time now I was quite fatigued and had no motivation. To this day this has not really changed, I suffered depression from a young age so just put it down to bouts of that and dealt with it in the same ways I would for depression. Over the past year, these such feelings have been getting progressively worse.
As for periods they are very heavy, can use over a 20 tampons in one day and I get extremely bad pains that extend from middle back down through my thighs and when I do not have my period I get sharp pains up through the middle of my pelvis. I also get very emotional from a week before hand. This I know can be normal but I had none of these symptoms before.
Every so often I also get headaches that can last for days and hot flushes are rare but not unheard of.
I have considered the period related things to be a result of iud but nothing else until now.
Tonight I was researching causes of a strong metallic taste in mouth, which I have had for over a week. I found this forum after following links related to copper toxicity. Although I'm not big on self diagnosis I will be having iud removed as soon as possible and will post any significant changes.

ps. as I have read cases where iud's left in over time can possibly become embedded in tissue, I believe it is unlikely however I would not recommend self removal of one.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Amy_Jay

How interesting... and sad, and a little disturbing.
I am 25. I have had a copper iud for over 4 years now. I noticed no immediate change in myself however thinking back to that time now I was quite fatigued and had no motivation. To this day this has not really changed, I suffered depression from a young age so just put it down to bouts of that and dealt with it in the same ways I would for depression. Over the past year, these such feelings have been getting progressively worse.
As for periods they are very heavy, can use over a 20 tampons in one day and I get extremely bad pains that extend from middle back down through my thighs and when I do not have my period I get sharp pains up through the middle of my pelvis. I also get very emotional from a week before hand. This I know can be normal but I had none of these symptoms before.
Every so often I also get headaches that can last for days and hot flushes are rare but not unheard of.
I have considered the period related things to be a result of iud but nothing else until now.
Tonight I was researching causes of a strong metallic taste in mouth, which I have had for over a week. I found this forum after following links related to copper toxicity. Although I'm not big on self diagnosis I will be having iud removed as soon as possible and will post any significant changes.

ps. as I have read cases where iud's left in over time can possibly become embedded in tissue, I believe it is unlikely however I would not recommend self removal of one.

First off, welcome to MDC!

The reason I'd recommend self-removal first is because the first thing your OB/MW/nurse is going to do is give the strings a gentle tug. Most IUDs come right out. If you feel pain when you give a gentle tug, then you can go in and tell them you think it's embedded. Otherwise, you've saved yourself $200+.

[Amy_Jay]

hey, thanks for the welcome!
eh, well as this is the only one I've ever had (and will ever get after all this) I didn't really know how they went about removing it but I guess that makes sense. As for cost, whoa, that's terrible. I live in Australia where such a precedure would at most cost of $40 if I went to GYN otherwise no charge at all through GP. Completely granted, if I were in that position I'd probably try giving it a little tug too

[Dera]

Well I got mine out today. I don't have periods, I'm postpartum 7 months and my son is EBF. So I reached and I could touch the strings but not grab them. My insurance covered the visit and it only took about 15 seconds. No problem at all! I'll post here in a few weeks to update.

[faithful2]

Thanks ladies

Hello ladies!

Thank you so much for posting your experiences. I have issues with hormonal bc and was considering the copper iud. I was already hesitant but now I think I'll pass. Thanks again and I hope those of you struggling with it get better soon!

[lactavia]

Going on short of a year without the IUD - and I feel like my old self. Friends I work with, I've talked them into getting rid of theirs and they feel wonderful and happy once again. I'm saying if you feel at all odd, get it taken out first before you dope yourselves up with drugs or spend a lot of time in the doctors trying to figure out what's up. Birth control isn't worth it that much. Condoms are a wonderful thing.

Sigh.

[PlayaMama]

this is so interesting to me.

i've had two copper iud's. the first i noticed no random symptoms, i was my usual optimistic happy self. i did get pregnant with my daughter while i had it, (99.9% effective ) and i got another put in after her birth.

i had been SO irritable and crabby and snappy all the time. it was really weird and i couldn't figure out what it was. so, i thought i was pregnant (two weeks late) and i took it out myself. i've felt SO much happier since then it's been nuts!!

my fingernails have ridges and i've heard that is a zinc defficiency and even though i took zinc supplements it never got any better, we'll see how it goes now!

[Dera]

Well no change for me. I'm still suffering vicious mood swings and 30+ pounds of weight that gradually had come off by now with my first son. I'm treating my adrenal glands with no signs of improvement yet. I'm getting ready to check into the loony bin. If I wasn't nursing I think I would try a fast but I just keep searching for a solution to my deteriorating health.

I guess the copper IUD is just fine for many people.

[changingseasons]

Wow. I just did a google search for "copper iud pms" and the first results was this thread! And it's still open!

I've had my IUD for about 2 years now. I always thought I was lucky, because I never had the severe cramping or super heavy bleeding (until a few months ago), and have always told people how great it was.

But the last 6 months, I have had PMS like I've never had in my life- about a week before my period starts. It's insane- I'm screaming at everyone in my house, completely out of control emotionally. I've never had to deal with that in my life. I'm just starting to make the connection that it might be the IUD. I also started bleeding really heavy on day 4 of my period, which is weird... and then spotting when I ovulate. No big deal, except that my iron was WAY low last time it was checked and I had to supplement which is not cool.

Ugh. Guess it's time to take this thing out....

eta: I just found another discussion board with someone talking about their belly being really bloated (which I also have lately), and how it went down after getting the IUD removed. dammit!

[AliciaJoanne]

So I jut found this and I'm so glad to see that there are new post. I havent felt deprest, moody, fatigued, or hotflahes, but I have had a period for 7 months and my dd is 8 months old. I got peragard after 1 month. Just in the past month or so I have been getting worse and worse cramps. I have also had back pain, but I atributed that to having back pain since i got boobs. I think I'm going to go call my obgyn.

[alaskaberry]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

I have had PMS like I've never had in my life- about a week before my period starts. It's insane- I'm screaming at everyone in my house, completely out of control emotionally. I've never had to deal with that in my life. I'm just starting to make the connection that it might be the IUD. I also started bleeding really heavy on day 4 of my period, which is weird...

Wow, I could have written that paragraph of your post. I didn't even think it could be my IUD till I starting reading this thread. My main problem is the bleeding...it's so heavy that I soak through an ultra (that's bigger than a super-plus) in half an hour, and I have to wear a super thick pads, so that they cover both the back and the front of my underwear (should just get depends, already) in case I sneeze or cough. Plus I'm always screaming at everyone...I'm always tired...and I've got pica again(I had it while I was pg, it means you have an iron or zinc deficency)--which means I'm craving a non-nutritive substance...in my case, potting soil. Ew.

I really want to get it taken out...but my dp still needs to get his V and he keeps putting it off! Grrr.

[riggs20]

Hell and back

I am so glad I found this post. I literally felt like I was going crazy these past few weeks. I've had the copper IUD in for a little over a month and have had so many horrible side effects I don't know where to start. I've had extreme anxiety, panic attacks like you wouldn't believe, thirsty all the time, hungry all the time, dizziness, shaky feeling, and a whole lot more. I went on Prozac because of it all. My friend finally showed me this post cause I felt like I couldn't be left alone. I am SO happy that I'm not just going crazy and that it's side effects from the IUD. I even had a blood test done and and everything came back normal. I can't believe birth control is legal. I hope others are able to find this post, get off the birth control and feel normal again. I am so excited to feel like my old self again, happy and anxiety free!!!

[echospiritwarrior]

I loved my Paragard until I became pregnant that resulted in

Good luck to you

[*bejeweled*]

I'm so happy for you. That IUD was horrible for me too.

Originally Posted by riggs20

I am so glad I found this post. I literally felt like I was going crazy these past few weeks. I've had the copper IUD in for a little over a month and have had so many horrible side effects I don't know where to start. I've had extreme anxiety, panic attacks like you wouldn't believe, thirsty all the time, hungry all the time, dizziness, shaky feeling, and a whole lot more. I went on Prozac because of it all. My friend finally showed me this post cause I felt like I couldn't be left alone. I am SO happy that I'm not just going crazy and that it's side effects from the IUD. I even had a blood test done and and everything came back normal. I can't believe birth control is legal. I hope others are able to find this post, get off the birth control and feel normal again. I am so excited to feel like my old self again, happy and anxiety free!!!

[fresh_veggie]

I'm getting mine out Tuesday. I gave the strings a tug, but it would really budge and I'm chicken. Effective as bc for me, but my periods never really settled down, and I bleed so so much from it. The amount of blood that I lose is scary to me. PMS is amplified, I need so much sleep the week before my period. I miss classes because I cannot leave the house, and I'm an emotional wreck half the month. Not to mention the uterus pain. AHHH!!! Glad that it's going to be gone. Going to use condoms, w/d, and charting.

[*MamaJen*]

Wow, I'm really glad I haven't had any bad side effects from it. Periods definitely a bit heavier, but not too bad, and my cramps actually got a lot easier -- they're pretty much gone now.
It sort of sucks, because some women have terrible problems with copper iud's and some women love them, but there's no way of knowing until you try -- and if your insurance doesn't cover them like mine didn't, they're not cheap.

[texaspeach]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

Wow, I'm really glad I haven't had any bad side effects from it. Periods definitely a bit heavier, but not too bad, and my cramps actually got a lot easier -- they're pretty much gone now.
It sort of sucks, because some women have terrible problems with copper iud's and some women love them, but there's no way of knowing until you try -- and if your insurance doesn't cover them like mine didn't, they're not cheap.

I am really hoping that my experience is similar to yours. I've had the paragard for 4 months and so far no problems, but I have not had a ppaf. my fingers a re crossed that it works out. I'm willing to trade a certain amount of cramping and bleeding for the side effects I had on hormonal bc.

nak

[Tulpen88]

Wow, I wish I had seen this post a few months ago! I got the Paragard IUD at my 6 week PP visit and in December (about 19 months PP) I went on antidepressants due to significant anxiety and depression issues. Looking back, I couldn't remember when the depression and anxiety had started, and I determined that it could have been PPD that lingered. I didn't realize that fatigue and loss of interest were depression symptoms, so I didn't seek treatment for a long time.

I also had the Paragard IUD removed (just a few weeks ago) so that we can TTC. But of course I'm feeling better anyway because I'm on Zoloft. I'd be interested to see if I still feel okay if I were to come off the Zoloft, but I'm not willing to give it a try quite yet. Still, it's interesting to consider that the Paragard may have played a part in this.

[*bejeweled*]