I went to see a new OB/GYN yesterday (mine moved out of the area) to get Mirena IUD consultation and possibly get it removed. In another post I mentioned many of the symptoms that has led me to believe that I am at the beginning stages of perimenopause. I also inquired of that to the OB/GYN and the whole visit was a joke! When she heard all my symptoms, she made me feel like I was being dramatic and would say things like "I'm not a specialist in Psychiatry and I dont treat anxiety and depression!" She would also say things like, "In my 16 years of experience, Ive never had any woman come in and complain about any of the symptoms you have and think its the Mirena." If you go to the Mirena website and look at ALL the possible side effects, you will see mood changes and depression! She was so defensive of this type of birth control, i was like what is going on with the lady?? Then on top of that, when I would ask her a question, she would say "I don't know" alot! I'm just sitting there in her office in tears, thinking to myself "ok, if you have 16 years of experience, shouldn't you be able to answer my questions??" I then told her that I am NOW even more confused because I didn't get any answers and that I'll talk to my husband and think about it before I remove it. She then said if I didn't want a birth control with hormones, I could get the Paragard and gave me a brochure. She didn't care that I was in tears not even handing me a tissue. She definitely showed she didn't care, had no empathy, didn't listen to my needs, and was very cold and heartless. Then later, I found out from my husband (who was waiting for me in the waiting area) that he saw many brochures on the table about the practice and that they highly supported the Mirena. So this OB/ GYN apparently endorses and most likely gets a financial cut to recommend this type of birth control to women. So it made total sense as to why she acted the way she did! She must have gotten her feelings hurt and defended the Mirena. It makes me so sick that Dr's put their pay first BEFORE the needs of their patients.
When I got home later I looked up info on women who had their Mirena removed and about 95% of the posts I read, these women were so much happier after they had it taken out. Many of them complained that they suffered from anxiety and depression like symptoms after they had the Mirena put in (even months or years after). I've had mine just over one year and I am having it removed for sure, just not with that worthless OB/GYN I saw. Thankfully I found out that my Primary care physician or GP does women wellness care and can remove my Mirena. I have an appointment with her this Monday and will finally be rid of this IUD. Doing this will help me to determine if it is the Mirena that has caused me to feel my perimenopause symptoms or not. Process of elimination.I'll keep you posted. Anyone else have a similar experience?
Wow I'm sorry you had that experience! I used to be a nurse and the stories I could
Tell you ughhhh!!!! Some Drs are so clinical and go by the book if it isn't in the books then it can't happen! That happened with my husband and a medication he was on he was having horrible side effects and the dr kept telling him that's not a side effect wth!!!!! Just because some side effect is written doesn't mean it can't happen that is my belief that it can and everyone is different!!! Sorry the for rant but that p*ssed me off you went thru that tho I can say I worked with some amazing Drs that my opinion counted with them! Hopefully your gp can remove the IUD and it will help keep us posted and hang in there
I am not peri menopausal but I think you are right to have the coil removed. I think it is unsafe to put foreign objects in your body especially those that interfere with your hormones. Did your GP discuss the risks of the Mirena coil with you? If you were not informed about side effects then I think you should ask why not.
if you were fine before you had the coil fitted, it is highly likely that your body is reacting against it. I would also make a complaint about the specialist you saw and voice your concerns about the clinc's obvious bias towards Mirena.
I was left with a permanent injured arm after a blood test and the Practice nurse fobbed me off, defended her colleague and belittled and laughed at my concerns. I then developed IBS as a result of the Medieval treatment I received. This was my first treatment at my surgery and I was badly let down.
That's a shame what you went thru. Majority of the Dr's may seem helpful and nice but at the end of the day, they only care about what's best for them, especially financially.
My current GP isn't the one who put it in me. I live in the US and the OB/GYN who did the procedure and talked to me about it moved to another state. Unfortunately she did not disclose any of those possible symptoms I am now having. And unfortunately I didn't do my thorough research before making the decision to get it put in. But at least I am now and getting it removed in 2 days.
As for the worthless OB/GYN, yes, I am going to do some research on the best way of making a complaint and give my honest negative review on all the review sites I find her name on.
Oh yes!!!! When I first began to have missed periods I mentioned it to a nurse pratitioner who I was seeing with a single appt. about a bladder infection. I got a scathing lecture that menopause was completely normal. And get over it!!! How dare I ask!!! She was so rude and down right bitchy. I should have reported her for unprofessional behavior. I was not asked if I had symptoms, how frequently they were, no blood tests to find out where my hormones were at. I never asked anyone again for about five years. Whatever I experienced I just suffered through it. It felt my hormone flucuations were body slamming me. I have appt. on Monday. And I am taking charge of this appt. I will be telling this nurse pratitioner happened with that heartless bitch. I am not going bullied or treated like an uneducated idiot.
I learned more from this site than any other place.
Oh yes!!!! When I first began to have missed periods I mentioned it to a nurse pratitioner who I was seeing with a single appt. about a bladder infection. I got a scathing lecture that menopause was completely normal. And get over it!!! How dare I ask!!! She was so rude and down right bitchy. I should have reported her for unprofessional behavior. I was not asked if I had symptoms, how frequently they were, no blood tests to find out where my hormones were at. I never asked anyone again for about five years. Whatever I experienced I just suffered through it. It felt my hormone flucuations were body slamming me. I have appt. on Monday. And I am taking charge of this appt. I will be telling this nurse pratitioner happened with that heartless bitch. I am not going bullied or treated like an uneducated idiot.
I learned more from this site than any other place.
Beth you are so right to stand up for myself. I'm going to do the same thing on Monday when I see my PCP/GP. I'm not taking no for an answer. These Dr's make us feel like we have some other issue or the issues or symptoms we have are no big deal. I'm tired of Dr's being this way. When I asked this heartless OB/GYN what tests there are to see if I'm going thru perimenopause, she said there were none she could help me with and that I could go down the street to a clinic who would charge me an arm and a leg and it would be for nothing because apparently with me having this IUD in me, the hormones in it wouldn't give me accurate results on the test. Not sure if this is true but even if it is, it's the way she said it. She wasn't nice at all!
While the hormones could influence the results you should at least be given accurate information. And accurate information would include choices. And you should be able to request tests in doctors office without being treated like a f-ing idiot. You have a right to decide what's best for you and your husband in BC. You are entitled to facts. Its not like you are getting services free. I am asking for a test to find out where my homones are at. And there is a form of BC without hormones. I used it when I was married and it worked well. It was the barrier method. Its the sponge which I think is still on the market today. YOU HAVE RIGHTS A PATIENT AND AS A WOMAN!!! I am practicing my speech right now for my appt. with th new obgyn nurse pratitioner.
You can check a site called ProPublica to see if your doctor is getting money or anything from a pharmaceutical company. It can also tell you what, how much and when.
i spoke with you last week. Unfortunately I'm not surprised this as happened, I went after a year of having it in to get it removed and I was talked out of it, it is true I have spoke with a few people who have also had the same problem, when wanting it removing, I think they must get some sort of commissions from it. I ended up going back 5 weeks ago to have it removed, this time determined I wouldn't be talked into keeping it in, oh they tried again, but I was adamant and thank god it has gone and I do feel a lot better, with regards to anxiety and panic, also I was suffering with terrible spots, which I never had before and bad mood swings, all gone 😄.
i was never warned about any side effects just told it would make the menopause better, oh how wrong, it wasn't till I looked on the internet that like you could see that 95% of the people who have it get it removed because of bad side effects.
i think more research needs going into to this.
i wish you look and please don't let them talk you into keeping it, you need to see if it is that, but I promise you you will feel better when it's gone, I certainly did 😄😄
Ooh poor girl! First of all let me send you a big ((hug)). What an awful experience. I have been thinking about how to reply to your post without sounding like a raving, tub-thumping conspiracy theorist! I'll try, but it is a subject that gets me all steamed up.
My OH was diagnosed with diabetes in 2004. By the time he found out it had already done quite a bit of damage and he was on a ton of pills. I started with menopause miseries in 2012. I tried 'natural' remedies, but nothing worked. So I went to my GP and asked for HRT. For a while everything was fine. Then I started to get some bleeding. I had already discovered I had cysts and fibroids and have suffered from Endometriosis (all this is another LONG tale I won't go into, but I DO understand what you have been through!) I stopped the HRT and the misery started again.
As all this has been happening we have been looking at alternative treatments etc and educating ourselves. To date my OH has dramatically reduced the meds he is o
... Meds he is on and most of the side effects have vanished too! I have started taking Vit D and Magnesium. We have been changing our diets (we have always had a reasonably healthy diet) to include Coconut oil, cider vinegar (not supermarket stuff) butter (NOT) spreads, turmeric, grass fed meat all the sort of food that is beginning to creep into the media.
Ladies something is working because my hot flushes/night sweats have STOPPED.
The reason I have gone on about this is, when we have gone to the doctors about this they are all so ignorant and dismissive about it. They DON'T have all the answers - they just think they do. They only accept what Big Pharma tells them. They say 'oh these things have not been tested and PROVEN to work'. Well they won't because they can't be patented and sold at a vast profit.
Twice now I have mentioned to two doctors that I have started taking Vit D. The first doc said 'oh we are all deficient in Vit D in this part of the world'. The other, a younger female doc said, 'oh we don't test for Vit D deficiency anymore because it is assumed EVERYONE is deficient, (then she came out with the killer remark) we are only just beginning to understand how important Vit D is to our health'. HELLO, can you hear yourself? Why aren't you telling US your patients?
Rant over.... My advise to you is do your research, then get back in there and give her both barrels! Take your husband in next time, he doesn't have to say anything, just sit there, arms folded.
You deserve better, we all do. You said she said ' in her experience', she's not that experienced! Go get her girl!
It is a shame that we have to do all the research into our illnesses and medications because our doctors don't bother to tell us about the side effects when they are being paid to do this.
My problems began when I went for chiropractory and deep tissue massage. I assumed that they would outline the side effects so I didn't bother researching when I should have. They only told me about the mild side effects, not the extreme pain that I got.
I had my neck manipulated without them telling me of the dangers of it. The masseuse told me nothing and the questionnaire gave me no information about the treatment. She only confirmed the side effects when I complained about how ill I was feeling afterwards. Luckily, I got my money back. However, my health has never been the same. My energy levels never got back to normal and my pain is more widespread.
I don't use Mirena or any sort if birth control cause I am in Peri. However, I do emphathize with you if you poured out your feelings and asked all these questions about the side affects of having it in,and your OB Gyn made you feel crazy or over dramatic. I would definitely stop seeing her. She definitely cares more about her money to support a product that she clearly is denying knowing about the bad side affects- instead of helping or providing the best care of her patients health. Sorry Lara, but glad your getting it removed. Sometimes you have to follow your own gut. Make your own decisions that you know are best for you. Just would be nice if for once doctors would listen and really show empathy and care towards their patients.
Good Luck to you, and get yourself a better OBGyn.
Hi since they held my comment I will repost first I'm sorry you dealt with that dr! I was a nurse for a long time so I can relate to Drs some shouldn't be Drs and there was a few that I just loved working with they asked my opinion it wasn't all about them! I do notice a lot of Drs with perimenpause symptoms seem to be like welcome to your forties or say your too young I have experienced symptoms for about five years I'm 47 now they have gotten worse in the last year that is for sure! I also feel some Drs are too clinical meaning if a symptom is written it can't be then I had that experience with my husband he was on meds which he had terrible side effects and one of the side effects he had the dr was like I never heard of that I'm thinking ok well he didn't have stomach pain not being on these meds and because it isn't written doesn't mean it can't be a side effect! Once you get the coil out I hope you feel better it can be very frustrating
Hi Chris..thanks for the empathy, I'm sorry that happened to you and your husband. Hearing your thoughts on some Dr's being the way they are (especially that you worked along side many of them) really enforced even more my thoughts of how terrible this system of medical care is!! I am looking forward to getting this foreign object out of my system but at the same time scared, hoping that I don't have any adverse effects of the hormone leaving my body. I know most women say they are happy once it was removed, but there is also something called "The Mirena crash" that many women experience, I guess some sort of withdrawal effect since Mirena is a drug. I just hope that I don't get this "crash" as bad as some or none at all. I will definitely keep you all posted. I really think there needs to be more awareness of this type of birth control.
Phillippa, so sorry to hear that you went thru this terrible experience and are still feeling the adverse effects of it!! KInd of makes you not trust doctors anymore. I know for me, that's how I'm starting to feel. I do hope that you find the best way to find treatment, even if it isn't thru a Dr, but maybe even going the naturopathic or holistic route.
I definitely agree with all you're saying Beth, I'm glad you are taking charge of your body and health and I hope your visit goes well . Btw, do you also have the Mirena IUD?
As with anything there are side effects that you could possibly have but have you ever seen commercials for some drugs all the side effects make you not want to take anything lol!!!! You may have symptoms when they remove it you may not I know when I was on bc pills so many years ago when I went off them I was fine but as you know everyone is different! If you find a good dr and they are out there they are very empathic and caring the dr my husband sees now is one I worked with he is amazing young very smart and will listen and remembers you and goes over everything from the last time he saw you!!! I wish all Drs would be like him lol any questions I ever asked him when we worked together he would stop what he was doing and answer my question just a really good person he remembers where he came from he was human before a dr!!!! Have a good weekend
HI Sha, thanks for that info, I looked up my old obgyn who put me on the Mirena and there were no results found. I also looked up the worthless obgyn I saw on Thursday and there were no results found. Smh...I wonder why their names didn't show if they prescribe meds.