Mirena Mirena, Hair Loss, Vanity, Sake, Car Tail Lights

I wanted to take a second to describe the horrific experience I had with the Mirena IUD, in hopes that someone else out there dealing with the same side effects can find some hope that things will get better. I'm sure Mirena is a fabulous method for many women, but I was not so fortunate. This note is meant not to scare anyone from trying it, but only to hopefully reassure someone else with similar side effects that they are not in fact crazy.

I had the Mirena inserted about a year ago after looking for a more convenient method than taking the pill everyday. Let me tell you--I will GLADLY take it, if it means having my sanity back. Shortly after having the Mirena inserted, I began to have side effects--some of which I expected, and other strange ones which I did not:
-come-and-go pelvic cramps on my right side, near ovaries
-irregular periods (as I expected)
-occasional lower back pain
-a huge increase in the amount of acne on my face (consistently broken out--and deeper, hard to clear acne, and never had trouble before)
-increase in the amount of hair I'm losing on a daily basis (not a ton, but more than usual)
-off-and-on headaches
-Frequent feelings of nervousness and anxiety (never had any trouble at all before, even during very stressful times)
-raking up at night trembling and sweating
-mild panic attacks
-occasional and very mild dizziness
-occasional and very very mild tingling/ decreased sensation in hands
-more emotional than usual
-frequent upset stomach
-occasional difficulty focusing my eyes on high-contrast things (on TV), and bright lights (like car tail-lights)
-sinus infections
-occasional earache
-10-15 lbs weight loss
-overall, not feeling like myself

The worse symptom by far was the sense of hypochondria and extreme anxiety I was experiencing. I literally felt like a crazy person, and like no one really understood how I felt and what I was going through (even my family and very supportive boyfriend). I was requesting every medical test under the sun. I had literally convinced myself there was something severely wrong (thinking brain tumor, cancer, etc). All the while, my doctor's (who I love, by the way and have always been so helpful and responsive when corresponding) kept saying they highly doubted the Mirena could cause such side effects.

After every one of the tests done--CTs, brain MRI, bloodwork, ECG, among others-- were normal, and 5+ months of strange symptoms, I decided to have the Mirena removed. Though the symptoms did not stop immediately, I'm here to say--7 months later-- that I am completely symptom-free. I have my sanity back, and can now focus on my life, and not on what is ailing me.