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Copper IUD and Side effects - Page 3

post #41 of 467
2/16/10 at 12:10am

Had Paragard after problems with Mirena - so far so good

Hi, Ladies - Just chiming in. I'm 41 with an 11-yr-old, and decided on an IUD. Got the Mirena last September, and had a non-stop period and blah/anxious -feeling with it for 2 full months. I was divorced over a year and a half ago, and had just fallen in love in a new monogamous wonderful relationship when I had the Mirena put in... and let me tell you... the non-stop period and emotional blahs were driving me NUTS in light of my life events!!!!! Thank God my guy was so patient and understanding. Told the doctor that the Mirena needed to COME OUT! He suggested a Paragard, so after giving my womb a month to "rest", we put in Paragard in mid-December. So far so good. Love it. No emotional symptoms at all -- feel like "me". Periods have a little bit more intense cramping very periodically, but nothing that affects my day too much. Period is also just a tad longer and heavier... was originally a 3-day period pre-IUD, and with Paragard, am now a full 6-7 days with 3 days quite heavy (a super big tampon every 4 hours). But other than that, no bleeding so far between periods for the past 2 months; no discomfort. All is well and I pray this continues. While it would have been nice to have the added benefit of reduced periods with the Mirena... that was not my main concern and my body's reaction to Mirena negated any possible future benefits. I was one of those women who just reacted badly to even the small amounts of hormone in Mirena. Truth be told, I am happier not having the hormones in the picture, because of my susceptibility to emotional ups and downs and weight gain with them. Whatever you choose... just recognize that your body is unique, and give yourself the blessing of patience during such a process. (: It may take trying a couple of things to find the one that works the best for you and your love partner... so give yourself permission to be patient, but also allow a switch if things just don't work out. All the best to all you beautiful mamas out there...
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post #42 of 467
2/16/10 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamasublime View Post
Hi, Ladies - Just chiming in. I'm 41 with an 11-yr-old, and decided on an IUD. Got the Mirena last September, and had a non-stop period and blah/anxious -feeling with it for 2 full months. I was divorced over a year and a half ago, and had just fallen in love in a new monogamous wonderful relationship when I had the Mirena put in... and let me tell you... the non-stop period and emotional blahs were driving me NUTS in light of my life events!!!!! Thank God my guy was so patient and understanding. Told the doctor that the Mirena needed to COME OUT! He suggested a Paragard, so after giving my womb a month to "rest", we put in Paragard in mid-December. So far so good. Love it. No emotional symptoms at all -- feel like "me". Periods have a little bit more intense cramping very periodically, but nothing that affects my day too much. Period is also just a tad longer and heavier... was originally a 3-day period pre-IUD, and with Paragard, am now a full 6-7 days with 3 days quite heavy (a super big tampon every 4 hours). But other than that, no bleeding so far between periods for the past 2 months; no discomfort. All is well and I pray this continues. While it would have been nice to have the added benefit of reduced periods with the Mirena... that was not my main concern and my body's reaction to Mirena negated any possible future benefits. I was one of those women who just reacted badly to even the small amounts of hormone in Mirena. Truth be told, I am happier not having the hormones in the picture, because of my susceptibility to emotional ups and downs and weight gain with them. Whatever you choose... just recognize that your body is unique, and give yourself the blessing of patience during such a process. (: It may take trying a couple of things to find the one that works the best for you and your love partner... so give yourself permission to be patient, but also allow a switch if things just don't work out. All the best to all you beautiful mamas out there...
It's great finding a birth control method that works with your body. I can't do hormonal at all either, and I've been really happy with the copper IUD so far.
post #43 of 467
2/16/10 at 10:08am

Copper IUD and anxiety

Quote:
Originally Posted by lactavia View Post
I had the copper IUD for about 9 months. Shortly after I had it inserted, I started having anxiety, panic attacks on and off (nothing to be consistent enough at the beginning to make me wonder if it was the IUD) I also became unhappy, unmotivated, and just plain blah. I felt like I was sick all the time.

I had my IUD removed and two days after I felt like my old self again. Now I feel fantastic one month later! People at work are even commenting on how different or rather "normal" I am.

Did this happen to anybody else out there?
Hello 0
I was amazed when I typed in copper IUD and anxiety to find so many women out there that experinced this. I would have to say that I did not connect the anxiety to the IUD at first and for the first year I did not really notice anything. I think the effect was culmative. But as well, al the years that I had the IUD jsut happened to correspend with family events that were tragic and exhausting so I did not have much time to examine why I was feeling bad, and of course, I thought it was because of what I was going through. But finally I woke up and thought, I have been having dizziness, spaacey feelings, waves of anxiety for no reason, exhaustion, lethragy, cramping, bloating, emtoional swings, depression - all on and off for years - and what did I do a few years ago - put in the IUD!
I got it out now - and think I should do some cleansing. You do not know how relieved I am to realize that it was not me but a chemical reaction. But there is no warning of this when you get the IUD ( it seems safe compared to the hormonal one)
Thank you for writing and making me feel so relieved.
MDE
post #44 of 467
2/16/10 at 10:13am
I totally understand. I'm happy for you.


Quote:
Originally Posted by MegDallas View Post
Hello 0
I was amazed when I typed in copper IUD and anxiety to find so many women out there that experinced this. I would have to say that I did not connect the anxiety to the IUD at first and for the first year I did not really notice anything. I think the effect was culmative. But as well, al the years that I had the IUD jsut happened to correspend with family events that were tragic and exhausting so I did not have much time to examine why I was feeling bad, and of course, I thought it was because of what I was going through. But finally I woke up and thought, I have been having dizziness, spaacey feelings, waves of anxiety for no reason, exhaustion, lethragy, cramping, bloating, emtoional swings, depression - all on and off for years - and what did I do a few years ago - put in the IUD!
I got it out now - and think I should do some cleansing. You do not know how relieved I am to realize that it was not me but a chemical reaction. But there is no warning of this when you get the IUD ( it seems safe compared to the hormonal one)
Thank you for writing and making me feel so relieved.
MDE
post #45 of 467
2/17/10 at 11:37pm

Paragard & PMS

Wow! This has been so interesting to read. I had my Paragard inserted one year ago and have been suffering with horrible cramps at random times from ovulation until my period ends and also with ridiculous mood swings and extreme fatigue/lack of motivation during that time. PMS is nothing new for me, but with the help of supplements, exercise and healthy eating I have always been able to manage it quite well, but since the Paragard it has become completely unmanageable. It has gotten to the point where I am so crampy and tired that I spend at least one full day per cycle in bed and sometimes two or three. Also, I have noticed a lot of difficulty concentrating during the two weeks before my period. After doing lots of meditation and journaling to connect with what my body was trying to tell me with all of this it let me know loud and clear that it wanted this little piece of copper O-U-T! I went to Planned Parenthood today to have it removed - except no one bothered to tell me that I needed to wait a week from my last unprotected intercourse and it didn't occur to me to ask until after I had arrived. And technically they told me two weeks, but as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner student and long time FAM user I explained that I was confident that one week would be sufficient and they agreed to have me come back then. So one more week of this awfulness and then it's back to FAM/Persona Fertility Monitor and condoms. I am just so relieved to see that I'm not the only one who has experienced this - I looked for information about it and found nothing. I really thought I was losing my mind - I had some rough things happen this year and just haven't been able to bounce back which is super unusual for me - I've had a lifetime full of much more difficult things and have always managed to come out of it just fine, but since the Paragard, every two weeks I've been plunged back into emotional turmoil. Thanks for posting ladies - at least I will be able to give my patients a heads up about the possibility of this type of reaction.
post #46 of 467
2/20/10 at 1:18am
Yay- I finally got mine out yesterday! I was going to see if I could just pull it out myself, and for the first time couldn't find the strings. So the midwives got me right in, and luckily the strings had just slipped up into my cervix. Whew. I was afraid that after finally deciding to get it removed, it had gone and implanted itself into my uterine wall or something.

I'm having some sharp, shooting pains in my cervix area now, but I'm guessing that's normal for just having it removed. Otherwise, no issues- it was WAY easier (and less painful) getting it out than in.

I'll be really curious to see how my PMS is next month, since it's been getting progressively worse over the past 2 years with the Paragard. I'll try to come back and post an update.
post #47 of 467
3/14/10 at 5:31pm
Finally remembering to come back and update....

My first post-UID period came and went, with no PMS. None. Not even a hint of a cramp to let me know that AF was coming. The past six months it had been getting progressively worse, with a full week of cramps and horrid mood swings. It was unbearable. So I was hoping that it would be a little better without the IUD... I was SHOCKED when it just completely disappeared. Wow. Who knew a little piece of copper could cause such horrid mood disturbances?! SO glad to have it gone.
post #48 of 467
3/25/10 at 11:47am
Interesting thread. I've been wondering if my fatigue, mild anxiety and moodiness could be a result of my IUD. The thing is, it's not like I never struggled with fatigue and some moodiness before! So it's not terribly cut and dried, but then I began to wonder if it can just worsen it.I know there are threads all over the net on this, but has there been any development in the medical community about symptoms? Or are they still claiming that these are unrelated?
post #49 of 467
3/26/10 at 12:10pm
Thread Starter 
Coming up on my two year anniversary of the removal and I feel like my old self and going strong (and pregnant with planned baby number two!) I never regret having it removed, although I'm bummed that it didn't work out for me. I'm hoping that the no drug birth control that we have been practicing will continue to work for us after this little guy comes out. I think I will not be using anything anymore. My body doesn't like any of it.
post #50 of 467
4/7/10 at 7:26am
Wife used the copper one for about a year after our daughter was born. No side affects other then me feeling the string now and then. We've had it removed already and are TTC Good luck
post #51 of 467
4/11/10 at 11:16pm
Oh my... I had my copper IUD inserted year ago (April 2009) and everything was great until the dark day of December 17th 2009 !!! I started having horrible panic attacks and anxiety for no reason. I wasnt going thru anything stressful in my life and had no reasons to feel like this. I went to the doctor three times, blood work came back great! chest xray great! now Im being seen by cardioologist who complately doubts that there is anything wrong but will do testing this coming week anyway just to make sure.
Now I have random bleedings here and there. My anxiety and panic attacks seem to be getting worse and just about an hour ago in the shower a light bulb flashed above my head and I thought of the copper IUD. Im sooo glad that I have found this website and many others talking about copper toxicity. I will definitely schedule an appointment asap to have it removed and see what happens. Thank You all for posting your personal stories in here. Im tired of feeling this way. Axiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, its all me for no reason. I miss my oldself. Hope by removing this I will be back to normal. I wish everyone good luck and I will post an update later.

post #52 of 467
4/12/10 at 1:46am
i have been having similar experiences with my Mirena IUD. I get it removed on the 29th, hopefully I can get back to my old self
post #53 of 467
4/13/10 at 12:59am
I wanted to update. I have had my paragard for over a yr and a half. At first my period was horrible, really heavy, and crampy. I would have hormonal headaches around the time of ovulation for a whole week with terrible cramping during that time. I was really thinking of getting it removed but really am not ready for another child.

Luckily all of a sudden everything changed, I have had several cycles now where I have hardly any cramping and the bleeding is really light except one day of moderate flow. I am much more pleased with it now and am hoping it continues.
post #54 of 467
4/14/10 at 11:03am
Hey, I was looking at maybe getting an IUD, and this thread has definitely given me something to think about.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I was wondering if anyone knows of any other non-hormonal forms of birth control that would be as easy to use as the IUD, besides the IUD. I'd like to find out about all my options before deciding whether to find out if I'm one of the people who has no problem with IUDs.
post #55 of 467
4/14/10 at 6:50pm
I had my IUD removed today and look forward to having my happy life again. Hope the anxiety goes away real fast. I will update in a month and let everyone know what happened. Wish me luck !!!
post #56 of 467
4/15/10 at 1:49am
Good luck!!
post #57 of 467
4/18/10 at 10:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amandala View Post
Hey, I was looking at maybe getting an IUD, and this thread has definitely given me something to think about.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I was wondering if anyone knows of any other non-hormonal forms of birth control that would be as easy to use as the IUD, besides the IUD. I'd like to find out about all my options before deciding whether to find out if I'm one of the people who has no problem with IUDs.
I don't think there are any non-hormonal forms that are as easy as an IUD. It's pretty much the only one where you don't have to do anything once it's in (other than check the strings once a month).
The other non-hormonal options are diaphragm/cervical cap, spermicide, condoms, withdrawal, and charting/FAM. Many women would use two or three of those in conjunction.
post #58 of 467
4/25/10 at 10:54pm
I had a Paragard for about a year and a half. I had super heavy bleeding (would overflow my Diva cup in 90 minutes for 48 hours straight) and I believe I was anemic because of that. Never had my iron tested during that time but I was very fatigued. I felt much better after having it removed, it took about a cycle to get back to normal.

That said, I still preferred it to hormonal methods.
post #59 of 467
6/2/10 at 6:50pm
Ugh, this is so disappointing. I had the paragard put in 8 months ago. Last year around this time I could shovel mulch into a wheelbarrow, spread it out, do all sorts of gardening and landscaping projects as well as clean the house, all with my 20lb munchkin on my back in a hiking backpack. I could stay up until 3 am writing with no problem and still wake up with the little one, run a full day of doing things and need no nap. Now I'm sleeping at least 7-8 hours a night and napping during the day and I'm still tired. I have no waking time to myself because all of it is spent sleeping. I have no motivation to do much of anything and I can barely keep up with the little one.

My periods are heavy and there is cramping, but that doesn't bother me. It's the fatigue. I thought by now since the days were getting longer that perhaps it was seasonal affective disorder. Then I thought it was because of all the stress I had in the past year trying to run a computer business I found I really disliked on top of trying to care for a high needs baby. But I'm in the process of closing out the business and I still feel awful.

I'm taking zinc to help combat the copper, did that from the beginning actually. Maybe it's not enough anymore. I'm afraid to up the dosage because I don't need zinc toxicity on top of copper.

I refuse to take hormonal b/c anymore because I FELT LIKE THIS!!! Spermicide based b/c gives me yeast infections and other infections. Condoms are okay but my husband grouches about them and they do interfere in some of our lovemaking. I wanted this to work so badly. I really really did. But lo and behold, on top of the fatigue, MY DESIRE IS NEAR 0, JUST LIKE ON HORMONES!!!! Sorry for all the bolding, but it really infuriates me.

Gawd, I'm not even sure what to do. My little one is nearly 2 and is running around. It's so hard to keep up with him. I will go berzerk if I get pregnant again so soon because he takes up so much of my time and energy on a daily basis, I couldn't even imagine dealing with another one so soon. It's like a no-win situation.

I'd hate to get the iud out just to find out it really was just fatigue from stress, but the only serious change I can find from last year was the iud. I was still running the business (unhappily and stressed about it, but doing it) and still had energy. The idea of even trying to figure out charting is exhausting to me seeing as I can't even sit down and read an email lately without needing to sleep or a little guy yanking on my legs.

Reading this thread is leaning me in the direction that I need it out, but it's like the alternatives suck just as bad as the current. Thoughts?
post #60 of 467
6/2/10 at 6:58pm
I feel your frustration- I also got mine because I had issues with hormonal bc, and this seemed just as bad!

I've had mine out for a couple months (?) now, and I'm still dealing with a fair amount of fatigue. I'm hoping my body is still adjusting, trying to get back to normal. But my major PMS symptoms have completely disappeared, and lo and behold, I have a sex drive again! That one I didn't even suspect as an IUD symptom since it was non-hormonal, so that was a nice surprise after I got it removed.
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