Copper IUD and Side effects - Page 17

[oklahoma]

Anyone detoxing...if so how is it going?  

[catracha25]

Lots of weird acne, continued hair loss, some anxiety/depression that comes and goes, some insomnia, some candida issues that have been coming and going this week....overall feeling better but the hair loss is really making me depressed.  I have read that it can take a year for it to get back on track with the cycles of growth/rest so that is not happy news!!!  And I still get some of the cravings that I had starting months ago for chocolate, juice, and sweets in general and no desire to eat other stuff....trying to say no!  Haha.  I have been living abroad the last 3 years and got the IUD last year on a trip back to the US...moving back next month so then I will be able to get a hair analysis done and find a nutritionist, etc. to work with and probably get a hair piece :(  If it would just stop falling out then I could find some sort of style to deal with until it really grows back.....

Hope everyone else out there is doing okay!!

[oklahoma]

Catratcha....just replied to you on the Yahoo forum....I am not clear on vit/ mirerlas for hair...wish i could help but put a ASK to the ladies over there as i understand how devestating this is to experience. many blessings to you ~ oklahoma

[oklahoma]

please read this Brave Womens blog, though she had the Merina IUD her words are powerful! http://mylifeaftermirena.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

[catracha25]

Yes!  Thanks!  I just replied back ;) I know the right vitamins and minerals for hair but it's apparently a whole lot more complicated than just that......so I am doing what I can!  

And that blog that you shared is very powerful!!!  Lots of interesting information there.

[musician31]

I’m also new to this thread, but I’ve been trying to find a rationale reason for all of the pain & problems my new Paragard might be causing me.

I had been on all sorts of different bcp’s, the shot, the patch since I was 16; I never had much trouble until I was about 25 (now 31) and the hormones started bothering me (headaches, migraines, weight gain, ovarian cysts, depression). Since then, I’ve been looking for a better solution.

During the 3 times I’ve been completely free of hormones since age 25, my libido shoots through the roof. I loose weight & feel amazing. But, I’m not in a position to start a family yet & I break out, get red, itchy & swollen any time I try latex.

I thought that the non-hormonal Paragard was finally the answer. Insertion wasn’t horrible & after just a couple days I felt fine. I knew there would be some pain, cramping & additional bleeding. No big deal. I had mine inserted in June 2012. This being only the 4^th month, my problems don’t seem to be lessening, but compounding! I noticed right away that my libido went from pouncing on my amazing boyfriend to having zero interest in sex. None. I give in because I feel like no matter how much he says he understands, at some point, he's going to wonder why I won't sleep with him anymore! I love him dearly, and he is absolutely the most loving man in the world. But again, I thought – I just had a copper thing shoved up inside me that is irritating my innards to prevent pregnancy; my sex drive will come back, right?

Well, it hasn’t. I’ve also been keeping track of the other compounding problems. I thought these were maybe just related to an intensifying PMS cycle, being the week before the next period but as time continues, these symptoms get worse & worse & more frequent. Maybe even PMDD? And I am talking about feeling anxious for no reason. I wake up in the middle of the night, heart racing & can’t get back to sleep. My heart will just start racing for no apparent reason. I feel scared to go to work….to teach…..to sit on the couch?! Seriously. So, especially that PMS week, I can’t sleep – can’t fall asleep & when I do, I wake up after a few hours & can’t fall back asleep. I’ve been finding myself crying, uncontrollably at times, sobbing feeling helpless & hopeless. Every little things bothers me. I get mad, sad, angry, furious, resentful, jealous & scared all in one action & it’s all very confusing. But the depression-like symptoms, crying & feeling lost has started creeping into non PMS time. Time for help!

So, I step back and think – this is not me! WTF is going on?! But even the realization that this is maybe my thyroid or too much copper or what?! The WHAT is what I’m trying to find out.  

Plus, the mid-cycle (just post ovulation for 4-5 days) odor sure doesn’t help wanting to be intimate either! It’s horrific & coming from inside. I cleanse with dial or some other normal bar soap so I don’t irritate anything with fragrances. I keep it as clean as possible & as dry as one can. After washing my hands, while checking for the string, the odor that comes back out is pungent & terrible! Maybe fishy, maybe just like something died! If this still smells tomorrow, I'm heading in. I would assume BV, but like every other month, it’s here for 4-5 days & then vanishes on it’s own. But my back hurts & all the “parts” feel swollen, too.Maybe ovarian cysts - but then they'd tell me there's nothing they can do for those. Again.

Anxiety, depression, foul odor, exhaustion, zero libido, bad acne, & insomnia is not what I expected from a non-hormonal method. Is it not related? Am I just nuts? I’m documenting anything daily so I don’t feel like I’m making this up! This is real; this is frightening & this is not what I signed up for when I thought, non-hormonal high libido birth control. Any suggestions?!

I do also have this weird calf pain that happens any time I stand & walk after sitting or sleeping. No clue if it's related, but it's just more pain I've encountered, no injury to be the cause since I got the Paragard inserted. It's not muscular, but feels like it's deep down. Maybe the Yaz I took did something awful to me!

[deConcreteRose]

OMG!!! Where do I start. I'll first start by thanking all of you ladies for sharing your stories. I have been following this thread for the past two weeks and it along with a lot of prayer has kept me from going berserk. I too have had similiar issues with the Paragard. Before getting it removed a week and a half ago, I had the paragard for 7 years. For years, as far as I can remember I don't believe I had any major issues. I do remember having lots of yeast infections but never linked it to the IUD. I also gained lots of weight that I couldn't seem to get off.

However about a year ago I believe, my period started to get really heavy....staying on for almost two weeks and my PMS symptoms would start 2-3 weeks before my period even came on. I would be EXTREMELY tired to the point where I could not move some days. I would also be soooo cranky that I even nicknamed myself CARRIE (from the movie) during that time of the month. I also had lots of clotting. Still never connected the dots to the IUD.

About 6 months I notices I would break out in red bumps in the folds of my arm and I got an itchy rash on one side of my body....inner thigh, outer thigh and arm. I had started on weight watchers around this time and had swritched to all whole grain products so I just thought my body was adjusting to the change in my diet. I found out later that whole grain foods are high in copper. I would also crave chocolate a lot which is high copper also.

The scare for me came three weeks ago when started having real bad panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations. I had never experienced anything like that in my life. I was in and out of urgent cares and doctors office every other day. I took a thyroid test, mono test, std panel, lab work and they all came back negative. Like many others on here I'm not sure what prompted me to research the copper iud but I did and I was literally in tears reading the forums. I was soo that others could relate to what I was going throug and that I was not crazy.

Over the past year, or even longer, I have experienced lots of pressure in my head, joint pain in my left wrist ( I had to wear an arm brace in order to type), a rash on one side of my body, bad pms symptoms, very blah feeling, no motivation to do anything, feelings of depression and in recent weeks anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, neck pains, throat pains, loss of appettite. I took an allergy test which showed that im allergic to something but im sure the IUD is behind that also.

I am now going on two weeks post IUD and I have my good days and I have my bad. I tried taking zinc supplement but heightnened the anxiety and I toss and turned all night. From what I've read the zinc makes the symptons worse as it works as a copper antagonist so Im sticking to just foods high in zinc and avoiding high copper food. My body doesnt hurt when I try to move it...which was one of the benefits i did feel.

I am now taking Vitamin C and Vitamin B6 and praying everyday to get better. I feel like im in a bad dream and i cant escape. I'm 31 and i've always been pretty healthy and vibrant but this copper iud/zinc defiency/copper excess has really taken a toll on my body and mind. I'm researching like crazy and have read several articles inclduing Dr. Wilson's, Paul Eck and others who have expertise in this issue.

Thank you all again for posting your stories. I truly appreciate you all. I'll continue to post each week to let you all know if things progress with my health and I would definitely like to hear how you all are doing post IUD.

[his sunshine]

Hi Leah,

I also have a copper IUD.  At the age of 38, I had the Paraguard inserted.  That was approximately 2 years ago.  I never had bad or heavy periods before the IUD and now my periods are unbearable at times.  I'm also having the jolts of what seem to be electricity shoot down my arm & head.  Here are some other symptoms I'm experiencing that all seemed to have started around the time when I had the IUD inserted:

horrible cramping during menstration

thin fluid leakage that has an odor  ( know this sounds gross but trying to be as detailed as possible)

very heavy bleeding & LONG periods - 6-8 days now (before they were only 3 days)

painful ovulation

extreme fatigue

complete loss of libido 

joint pain & stiffness

forgetfullness

I've mentioned my symptoms to my OB-GYN and my internest, and neither think my symptoms have anything to do with the IUD, however, after reading all these posts, I can't help but think differently.  I love the freedom the IUD provides, however, I'm very close to having it removed to see if my symptoms go away.  I'll be sure to give updates once that happens.....

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!!

[fkothansen]

Originally Posted by deConcreteRose 

OMG!!! Where do I start. I'll first start by thanking all of you ladies for sharing your stories. I have been following this thread for the past two weeks and it along with a lot of prayer has kept me from going berserk. I too have had similiar issues with the Paragard. Before getting it removed a week and a half ago, I had the paragard for 7 years. For years, as far as I can remember I don't believe I had any major issues. I do remember having lots of yeast infections but never linked it to the IUD. I also gained lots of weight that I couldn't seem to get off.

However about a year ago I believe, my period started to get really heavy....staying on for almost two weeks and my PMS symptoms would start 2-3 weeks before my period even came on. I would be EXTREMELY tired to the point where I could not move some days. I would also be soooo cranky that I even nicknamed myself CARRIE (from the movie) during that time of the month. I also had lots of clotting. Still never connected the dots to the IUD.

About 6 months I notices I would break out in red bumps in the folds of my arm and I got an itchy rash on one side of my body....inner thigh, outer thigh and arm. I had started on weight watchers around this time and had swritched to all whole grain products so I just thought my body was adjusting to the change in my diet. I found out later that whole grain foods are high in copper. I would also crave chocolate a lot which is high copper also.

The scare for me came three weeks ago when started having real bad panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations. I had never experienced anything like that in my life. I was in and out of urgent cares and doctors office every other day. I took a thyroid test, mono test, std panel, lab work and they all came back negative. Like many others on here I'm not sure what prompted me to research the copper iud but I did and I was literally in tears reading the forums. I was soo that others could relate to what I was going throug and that I was not crazy.

Over the past year, or even longer, I have experienced lots of pressure in my head, joint pain in my left wrist ( I had to wear an arm brace in order to type), a rash on one side of my body, bad pms symptoms, very blah feeling, no motivation to do anything, feelings of depression and in recent weeks anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, neck pains, throat pains, loss of appettite. I took an allergy test which showed that im allergic to something but im sure the IUD is behind that also.

I am now going on two weeks post IUD and I have my good days and I have my bad. I tried taking zinc supplement but heightnened the anxiety and I toss and turned all night. From what I've read the zinc makes the symptons worse as it works as a copper antagonist so Im sticking to just foods high in zinc and avoiding high copper food. My body doesnt hurt when I try to move it...which was one of the benefits i did feel.

I am now taking Vitamin C and Vitamin B6 and praying everyday to get better. I feel like im in a bad dream and i cant escape. I'm 31 and i've always been pretty healthy and vibrant but this copper iud/zinc defiency/copper excess has really taken a toll on my body and mind. I'm researching like crazy and have read several articles inclduing Dr. Wilson's, Paul Eck and others who have expertise in this issue.

Thank you all again for posting your stories. I truly appreciate you all. I'll continue to post each week to let you all know if things progress with my health and I would definitely like to hear how you all are doing post IUD.

Hi! I am happy to hear you decided to remove it. I am sure the IUD causes your symptoms. We all went through similar experiences and felt alone with our symptoms. If you like to share your detox process you can join us on http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/copperiuddetox/ There you will find a chart that I developed to follow up the symptoms during the detox process. Also we are uploading there all the links that can help us understanding what happened to us and getting back on track.

You are all welcome to join us! For Spanish spoken women I started http://cuidadoconeldiudecobre.wordpress.com/ with a summary on the information I found on copper toxicity in Spanish.

I hope you all start feeling better soon!

Love,

Flor

[catracha25]

It's not what any of us signed up for.  It is a nightmare.  One that unfolds slowly and takes even longer to go away.  I posted my story last month and had many of the symptoms you have shared....I diagnosed myself with copper toxicity/zinc definciency and took that sucker out myself one day.  I started feeling better immediately--what stopped right away was the weird, smelly discharge.  Literally, it stopped immediately.  No more.  The acne cleared up for a while but has since come back as I detox...it's not nearly as bad as it was but it comes and goes and before I got the IUD, I had hardly any acne at all.  The joint pain was scary for me.  Rheumatoid arthritis runs in the family and a cousin of mine was diagnosed around my age so the joint pain I kept feeling made me PANIC.  My grandmother has been on meds for that for so long that she now has to stop all of them and detox her body b/c of the horrible side effects......anyway, I have had TONS of symptoms of copper toxicity over the last year and the worst has definitely been the hair loss.  It started sometime this spring but I thought that it was just seasonal shedding...but it never stopped and then got worse and started coming out in clumps...I have maybe 1/4 the quantity of hair now as compared to before this little devil.  I have some new hairs growing now but the long hairs are still falling out since what must have happened was an interruption in the normal cycle of growth and rest of my hair...so the hair that had already gone into rest (which can last 3-4 months) before I removed the thing is still falling out.....so I have to wait for my hair cycle to readjust itself and regrow.  UGH.  So incredibly depressing.  I had been letting my hair grow out for 2 years and it was getting long before the IUD and then sometime during the winter, it seemed to just stop growing....or growing very slowly.  I didn't think about why but thought it was strange....then I started searching for clues symptom by symptom--thought that I had a thyroid problem or diabetes or something until I came across the common factor: copper.  Scary as hell.  So now that that is out of me, I am scared to death about becoming pregnant.  We don't have the financial stability for a baby right now AND it wouldn't be healthy for the baby or me...the baby would be born with high copper levels and I am already so unhealthy from the messed up diet that this thing led me to.......so I guess that I will get a diaphragm ASAP.  There don't seem to be any other options out there.  

Sooooo...this started off as a response to musician31......you are not alone.  It is not you.  It probably doesn't have much to do with the Yaz.  It probably has everything to do with the IUD.  The sooner you get it out, the less damage it can cause and the faster you can recover.  I wish that I would have known all of this longggggg before I did.  

[musician31]

You see, everything I’ve been noticing while having the IUD in is not really “critical.” If I was experiencing rashes or extreme bleeding, extreme cramping, clots or any of the above listed symptoms, I would be at the doctor ASAP.

But everything I seem to be experiencing might or might not be THAT critical.

I’m just worried that these symptoms might get worse, might cause other health problems, might mess with future fertility, might make me tear my hair out! (but only certain times of the month).  

Period week:

A bit heavier than before the IUD

4-5 days bleeding

Worse cramps than without the IUD, but nothing that stops normal routines.

The week following:

Some metallic smell, but not gross

Usually now is when libido is usually WAY up. And now, I have none. Take it, but preferably leave it.

Ovulation:

Pain & bloating & overall unwell feeling

Extreme smells starting just after ovulation. OMG. I can’t even breathe around myself! Fishy, nose curling smells

Post-ovulation – next period:

Smell is still bad

Stabbing/poking/pinching pains inside

These get progressively worse up until the next peiod:

Insomnia = leads to exhaustion (can’t fall asleep, can’t stay asleep)

Anxiety

Irrational anger/crying/fear/worry/doubt

Crying & sobbing spells

Still no libido

Bad acne

Cramps

If I go to a doctor, what would I even start out by saying? Do I go ask for them to check my thyroid? Copper levels? Regular old depression or anxiety? PMDD? It’s their job to diagnose, and if I go in saying that it might be A, B or C, I’m offering a poor attempt at doing their job, and I don’t want them swayed by what I “think” is the problem.

In general, this is an easy form of birth control & the actual change in period isn’t bad! It’s the mood & smells & mental problems that make living unbearable & stinky!!

And now I'm always hungry! Can copper cause hunger?! That's why I'm wondering is something else could be going on or if everything happening is "normal" for others with the Paragard.

Edited by musician31 - 10/5/12 at 3:10pm

[catracha25]

Wow, I had never really thought it all through week by week like you did....but yes, I have to say that most of what you shared was true for me and I just thought that it was a combo of stress and bad diet and a new job......until my hair started falling out like crazy.  That's when it made me think that it was something else.  I started searching for info on thyroid problems but it didn't quite fit...nothing seemed to until I read about copper toxicity and how being a vegetarian means that you have a high copper diet.  I was a vegetarian for years before getting the paragard, so I must have had a really high copper level to begin with..and the thing made me CRAVE high copper foods which is why my diet got soooo bad!  I am usually a pretty healthy eater with a few cookies and some chocolate once in a while but it got to the point where I ONLY wanted to eat starchy sweets and so I lost a TON of weight and just didn't even eat half the time.  So that was not normal....it seems to me that I had some symptoms early on---acne that wouldn't clear up no matter what I tried, itchy/dry scalp for no apparent reason, all of the lovely discharge, some months with terrible vaginal dryness and itchyness without infections, and lots of random crying spells.  My fiance couldn't figure out what was going on....once when we were walking back through downtown from running an errand, I got really teary and sad and didn't even know why and he had no idea what to do.  That happened several times after that first weird experience.....I don't cry like that on a normal basis so it was crazy for me.  Then I began to realize that I was depressed and not thinking things through very clearly......it's like the symptoms started off pretty manageable with more cramps and discharge, then acne, then sadness, then depression, then cravings, oh and the bloating was INSANE!  I could have sworn that I was 4 months pregnant for a few months in there b/c the water weight during ovulation was sooooo ridiculous.  I really thought that i was pregnant 2 different times.  I also got progressively worse little wrinkles around my eyes like crow's feet (I am only 25, so this was just ridiculous) and the dark circles that I always have under my eyes got extremely dark....basically, I started looking like I was twice my age which is crazy b/c I have always looked much younger than my age and people ask if I am 17....then in my research, I discovered that the copper can interfere with the proper production of collagen due to it's interaction with zinc...hence my intense wrinkles--no collagen!!!  Ahhhh.....then one of my molars broke for no apparent reason.  Turns out copper can deplete Vit. D (even tho I live in a tropical country where it's sunny 90% of the time so I get tan by walking to the grocery store) and lack of Vit. D can lead to dental decay.  Gosh, it just goes on and on and on how this thing destroyed my body in the period of one year.  I was perfectly healthy before this.  Never got sick, never was depressed, my period never bothered me....nothing.  It was a progressive thing that I am sorry to not have noticed sooner.  So I would recommend that if you already have some symptoms of copper toxicity to remove it now before it has a chance to progress any further....I thought that I was doing really well and then it seemed like overnight that I was super unhealthy and depressed.  It's a scary experience, to say the least!

[oklahoma]

Good morning Ladies! Hoping your having a good day.  Just found a link for taking an online quiz..its for ADRENAL FATIGUE http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/take-the-adrenal-fatigue-quiz

I am suggesting this link as I was diagnosed w/ AF after my hair test - and reading many forums otehrs have too been diagnosed w AF like me from copper overload. Though i would share w/ you as you never know will be of use to someone else. Many blessings to you and keep posting your recovery tips/ stories and health on here or http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/copperiuddetox/.

[Princess Faith]

I will like to know what happen after you removed your IUD because my symptoms are exactly the way yours were.

[oklahoma]

Princess Faith....well on 8/14/12 I posted "Since removal in Feb 2012 ( i had IUD 4.5 years prior to removeal): my nails are strong and growing, normal cycles of 4-5 days in 25 day cycle (norm for me) retaining more hair, feet smooth, skin not constantly red, more energy. I still,on occasion, have had a few allergic like reactions to food / chemicals as listed above and some light heated/ burning under the skin on checks, chin, lips, ears and forearms.

Äs of then Istarted taking Paramin, endomet labs sells this min/vit. supplement, i take 1 pill a day as this is all I can handle. The facial stuff had mostly gone, now with my cycle looming it is happening again on my right checkbone area of skin back towards the ear area. Also anxiety comes &goes and have had a couple small panic attack issues, small enough I could calm myself down. This is mostly only around my cycle I get like this, even before I started taking the supplement. Since my IUD weas removed my boil ance has deminished almost completely, my skin is not as dry and my hair loss reappaers during cycle as dose my nausea. BUT  I am sleeping! And that I am thankful for, every night!  Does this help - please feel free to ask questions.

[oklahoma]

de Concrete Rose...I too had inner elbow Rashes! one lasted 2 weeks, my last rash however is on my upper outer thigh -right side- it was unreal! Cortozson cream to help bring it under control using every few days for about 3/4 weeks. I never used cream on the elbow ones as they never burned, this hip one did. I Got the rash also from chemicals 6 times on my hands, drank liq benydrhl to help the allergic reaction, then one time a rash in my armpits after eating a cup of so of whole wheat pretzels, it also effected my face, again drank benydrhl as it was an allergic reaction ..butthe hip stuff is not according  to my practicionor it is copper detoxing from my body, the elbows were likely too.

[deConcreteRose]

Wow!!! That is so crazy. My rash first started in the inner elbows of my arms and the inner folds at the back of my knees. It was red, itchy and bumpy but it eventually went away after I used Kenalog cream. I'm not sure if it spread but for months I had a rash on my right outer arm, right inner thigh, and right outer leg. It's kind of like a dark rash with spots...cant really explain it but it looks to be clearing up. I'm thinking I was going through copper detox and the rashes are one of the symptons...excreting through my skin. I also seem to have some type of wheat/yeast allergy because when I feel nauseous when I eat pizza crust, cookie dough or the pretzels they sell in the middle of the mall. I have an appointment next week with an allergist to see exactly what I'm allergic too.

[deConcreteRose]

So I wanted to give an update about how I'm doing post IUD (its been almost three weeks). First I'll say that my body no longer feels "weighed" down and I don't have to take several naps throughout the day just to get through the day. I also don't need the 5 hour enery drinks that I have been drinking for the past year that have been helping get through my workdays. My body feels soo much lighter. I did lose weight when I didnt eat nor sleep for three days straight due to the panic attack, stress, anxiety and sweating that happened a week before removing the IUD. However, post IUD I am still doing good on the weight and I no longer have the bloated belly. Its such a weird feeling because I had gained so much weight over the course of seven years and no matter what I did I could not lose it. Now I am able to fit into clothing that  coulndnt fit into for years. I actually feel like a totally different person. I no longer crave junk especially chocolate (I HAD to have some type of chocolate everyday), I no longer overeat and I no longer feel the need to eat after a certain time of day. I think my appettite is a bit impaired which may be due to zinc defieciency.

I have been taking 500 mg Vitamin C and 100mg Vitamin B6 daily. I tried to take the Zinc daily but it causes me to sweat and have racing thoughts throughout the night and I cant sleep. I believe this happens because its forcing the copper into my bloodstream which is a good thing  but I just cant handle the not sleeping and racing thoughts. So I just try to eat lots of food that are high in Zinc such as animal protein. I'm avoiding high copper foods.

My anxiety has subsided tremendously. I no longer lose control under stressful situations. I still have a little bit of irrational fears but its easier to control now that my nervous system is getting back in order. I haven't had any panic attacks.

However I do seem to now have an allergy to certain foods. I get very nauseous when I eat anything with yeast or wheat flour so I have been avoiding those foods. I tried eating a Belvita breakfast biscuit (which has whole grain, wheat, etc.) and my throat felt like it was closing in. I immediately went to the doctor and the allergy test showed i am allergic to something....I have an appointment with an allergist next week.

Another good thing..........My first menstrual cycle post IUD was only FIVE DAYS.....whoo hoo....big difference from the TWELVE day periods I've had for the last couple years.

I'm still researching and doing what I can to get my body and mind back together. I truly appreciate all of you ladies for posting and replying and sharing your stories. We are all that we have since the doctors either don't know or don't care. Thank you all!!!!

[ChandlerKate]

Hello Ladies:  This is my 3rd post here and while I still have my Paragard, I have finally made an appointment to have it removed on 10/17/12.  My signs/symptoms are like most described here: foggy brain, anxiety, depression, very low sex drive, moodiness, hair loss, heart palpitations, skin rashes, and unexplained weight gain (15-20lbs).  Since my last post (#179) in January of this year, everything has gotten even worse despite the fact that my situation at home has improved greatly.  I thought that all these issues were due to stress, but now I see that while my stressors have diminished and/or completely gone away, I am getting more sick.  It's not stress!  My head is so foggy, I can barely get things done at the office or at home.  I am completely unplugged in all of my relationships, including my little boys. I am actually seeing a therapist for my anger and depression/anxiety.  I have an eczema-like rash on both eyelids that I can only help with massive doses of zinc which makes me too nauseous to continue. I have absolutely zero sex drive. And my periods!!! OMG, they continue to last 10-13 days and on heavy days, my Super Plus OB tampon is not enough to handle the volume. This cannot be normal!!! This is not normal. I wonder if anyone switched from Paragard to Mirena and felt any better.  Too bad our country has only two IUD choices available unlike the rest of the modern countries on this planet.  I'll definitely post again after 10/17/12.

[oklahoma]

Bravo ladies...deConcrete Rose and ChadlerKate...you both sound like you are listening to your bodies! ChandlerKate...i also read these forums for a few months - yours much longer- before I simply said I CANNOT DO THIS! My cycle consumed 2/3 weeks of every month- bleeding or PMS and crazy or all of it. deConcreteRose....zinc was too much for me...calcium/ mag w/ boron supplement called Paramin from Endomet labs works well for me at this time...this was all from a hair analysis I have done in late August. Sound like your body is dumping something ..which is terrific. Mine did this a bit at the end of having the IUD too, almost like it was sending me a message physically...I was just to fogged up to know what it meant. Kept reading these pages and found it ALL was sinking in and it was reading about the horrors of my own IUD life. Thankful and blessed to have it out...ChadlerKate...will keep good thoughts that the removal is swift and health is around the corner...PS my removal was swift and minimal pain - I took ibuprofen first;). Keep us posted.