I am currently going thru many of the symptoms such as mood changes like anxiety and depression, crying spells. I feel tired all the time, no energy, fatigue, brain fog, memory problems at times, muscle aches, pains, tension, soreness (like after working out), headaches, and constipation. I have a history of both anxiety and depression from a traumatic event that took place in my life back in 2012, but now that my life is great, I have NO reason to feel this way. My Primary care physician told me it isn't perimenopause. I am not sure if I believe her. I google that word and I have most of the symptoms. The only thing I haven't experienced YET is the hot flashes. I literally feel like I'm going CRAZY! I'm only 38, but my mother went thru it around the same age I am now. I'm thinking of going to see an OB/GYN to get a second opinion. I currently have the Mirena IUD form of birth control which is known to stop your periods altogether. This is true for me. I spot occasionally but can't remember the last time I had a full blown period, at least a year. Maybe the IUD triggered the possible perimenopause because of the stopped periods/menstruation? ? Any thoughts or feedback is appreciated from anyone who reads this post. Thanks
While I have never used Mirena, I would like to caution you that it is a synthetic progestin. The hormone progesterone is released in the second half of the month for a normal ovulating woman. However, we normally do not get this hormone all month long in an significant amount. Progesterone has an anti estrogen effect. Therefore, it sounds like your birth control method is reducing the estrogen effect in your body. For some woman, this can create many f the effects all too familiar with peri and menopause symptoms.
I think I would start a discussion with my physician about the side effects of this medication. IMHO you might feel better if you used something else. But I would head for contraceptives that don't change your home grown production or alter your hormone balance.
Hey Lara, I agree with Gail whole heartily! Everything she explains. You are not going crazy, it's Google textbook menopause. I mirror your symptoms. Never ever thought while eating lunch one day a chicken sandwich would make me cry my eyes out!! Hot flashes will be there soon too. Ugh. "The wonders of being a woman". Hang in there.
I feel for you and you certainly sound peri. I too am 38 and experiencing everything that you are and I have not had the hot flushes yet either. My mom and other women in my family went through it around the same age as me and they had a rough time with it. I believe I was already in it for the past three years. You can start as early as 35. It never hurts to get a second opinion.
i have just had the Mirena taken out after 2 years, I had some terrible symptoms with it, yes it worked with regards to my heavy periods, but on my self for two years I felt awful, I got acne which I've never suffered before, I felt depressed and weepy, and I completely lost my sex drive.
i have had it removed for 4 weeks now and do feel a lot better, I still have my peri symptoms but just feel generally better on myself. I know everyone is different with the mirena xx
It does sound like peri yes, all your pms symptoms, increase during this time, its your first symptom, you should also come to get period changes, when that happens take it as read your in peri, blood tests during peri are highly unreliable, you will find reading other womens experiences, the drs all said the same to them during peri.
Dear Lara I had Mirena years ago. I had to take a blood thinning medication and mirena helped controlling heavy bleeding. When I was taken off using medication I thought there is no reason to have mirena, so meting artificial in me and got it taken out. This was around 2013. It seemed ok for a while and my periods cane back. But I startrd to have so many symptoms that you mentioned that I decided to have mirena put in again hoping that mirena would help by releasing some hormons. My GP didn't think mirena would help with mood or hormon balance etc. I only got it put in again before Xmas 2015. I have had all those symptoms that you mentioned before Mirena and now;after mirena. So I don't think mirena causes peri menapouse. I also feel happy that I have mirena during this time of my life because I wouldn't enjoy the hectic and unpredictable bleeding all over the place. Also if your family history is showing 38 then it sounds like you are going through perI. God luck with it. All the best
Hiya This sounds like classic peri to me love. I have a Mirena too and have all the things you say too. I get sad as I have completely lost the real me at times and even when I think that I could cry. I have always been so upbeat but sometimes this jst drags me down so much I just wanna sit and cry.. I can be perfectly fine and then all of a sudden I get a whoosh and need to let out the tears.
So very draining and it make sme feel 100 years old. I want the real me back.. Take care love this forum is great for genuine like minded support though so keep checking in xxxx
Thanks Gail for the informative feedback. I know when I was searching for a birth control, I rushed into it, not giving it much thought, nor did I do enough research on the Mirena. Here I am over a year later with the Mirena, finding out that there are so many women around I the world, who are in the same situation as me. I dont like that it is a synthetic, or manmade hormone and am starting to think its "unnatural" to not have a monthly menstruation. I am in process of finding a good OB/GYN who will hear me out and take the darn thing out. I don't want it to cause any further problems. And even if it isnt what is triggering my symptoms, at least I'll have peace of mind using process of elimination.
Jamie your situation sounds like mine. I feel that I was starting to have some of these symptoms back in mid 2014 (I was 26) and went to get blood work done to see if I was perimenopausal. But tests came back negative. My mom also went thru it around 35 yrs of age and I hear women usually follow suit to their mothers when it comes to our hormones. My mom got her period when she was 14 and I got it that age too. I am in process of finding a good OB/GYN to give me a good 2nd opinion and most likely remove my IUD. Thanks for the feedback. Good to hear that I'm not alone. What are you doing for your symptoms? My anxiety and depression symptoms have gotten so bad that I'm currently on medical leave from work and on medications.
Hi Sue, thanks for the feedback, it gives me some hope that maybe I'll start to feel better once I get the Mirena out. I am in process of finding a good OB/GYN who will hear my concerns and remove it. I have been reading up more on Mirena side effects and many women started feeling like you and me. Some women said even tho they had it removed, their perimenopause symptoms continued to progress. I hope and pray this isnt the case for me. My anxiety and depression symptoms have been so unbearable that I'm currently on a medical leave of absence from work and on medication. I can't get any worse.
Hi Jo, thanks for the feedback. It is comforting to know that I'm not alone in this. I'm in process of finding an OB/GYN who will give me an honest 2nd opinion. I feel VERY strongly that perimenopause is what I'm going thru. I'm not looking forward to the hot flashes tho.
just today my hubby said there had been a massive difference in me, he said I was more like my old self, I really do feel better, I haven't been no were near as anxious or panicky, I am so glad I didn't let them talk me out of it this time, I went last year and they said not to have it out as it would help my peri symptoms, well that wasn't the case for me. I am still having night sweats but hey I can cope with them. It was the anxiety and panic attacks that we're getting me down. Good luck and stick with what you want, don't let them talk you out of it xx
I was the youngest person in my family to start a menses at the age 10. Most of the women started peri at around 35 and one aunt was done completely with menses by the age of 40. My mom went through peri really bad but didn't know what it was and not into docs so she never went. She just endured it. I haven't been taking anything beside my scripts which is a BP pill, iron tablet, and a folic acid tablet. I've added eating a banana or a glass of OJ everyday for my potassium. I stopped the caffeine and eat more protein. That's pretty much it for me. My anxiety is the worst symptom. Which I have some good days and some are hard. I have Lorazepem for the anxiety but haven't started it yet. I recent resigned from my job. I was going and leaving early or not going at all. My anxiety was too rough at the time. I'm learning how to talk myself through it so it has gotten a little better but it still has me uncomfortable. I don't like being alone anymore and doing certain things automatically make me nervous. I had symptoms of peri that startes when I was 35 having my menses every 23 days, heavy bleeding and clotting which lead to my anemia and a lot of messed up clothing, heart palps, night sweats when I was on my menses, achy joints to the point I thought I had arthritis, and eating everything in sight epically during my menses, sore boobs to the point it hurt to have clothes on and I would cry all the time, and couldn't get enough sleep. Now I have developed the terrible anxiety, inside tremors and buzzing, occasional heart palps, terrible mood swings, doom and gloom feelings, weird head, dry skin and hair, sensitive teeth and gums, indegestion and terrible gas that gets in my chest and scares the hell out of me, you name it, I get it. I've taken a lot of the ladies suggestions and trying some. But other than that I'm just sticking it out.
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?
First let's start with a big "I am so sorry you had to experience that." Physicians can be so heartless. It's almost as though you have to handle your own health care these days, and just hope you can find someone to help.
I think you probably have your own answer, about removing the Mirena. Because the only way you will know the answer on how you feel, is to have it taken out and give yourself some time to adjust. (And please don't forget the adjustment part.)
AND now you know WHO NOT TO SEE, and apparently it's a female OB/GYN.
my goodness, thats terrible for you, thats exactly how it seems to be now with health care anywhere, i presume your american, and you paid for that service?? cant believe it, disgusting, you need to complain about that, dont let any dr tell you, there is something wrong with your head!! thats just typical of them.
Just go ahead, have it removed, and then wait see how you feel, if things dont improve, then see an endocrinologist and get your hormones checked out instead, but DONT let any dr tell you its all in your head, and DONT ever go back to see that one again either.
It is so worrying, how many patients have been put on anti depressants, and tranquilisers, believing their mentally ill, total arrogance, and ignorance, health care nowadays is so scary, and i totally agree, really your better tending to your own health if you can. so sorry for you