3 Miscarriages and metrorrhagia - no answers - Mirena?

RiffRaffMama · May 22nd, 2008, 07:38 AM

About 3 years ago my husband and I started trying for our 3rd child. We have a 7 year old boy and and a 4 year old girl. After about 6 months of trying I fell pregnant and miscarried at about 8 weeks. We were very sad but were told of course that it happens and that it probably won't happen again. About 6 months later I fell pregnant again. And miscarried again at about the same time. And then for the third time about 6 months again after that.

The first 2 miscarriages expelled naturally. The 3rd one led to constant bleeding for 3 weeks and ultimately resulted in a D&C where they finally extracted everything. That was a year ago.
After the D&C I experienced prolonged bleeding (metrorrhagia) which has continued and become progressively worse in that time. My GP has tried me on every conceivable medicine and tested me for every possible hormonal deficiency/imbalance and come up with nothing. He referred me to a gynaecologist who has also drawn a blank.
In 4 weeks I'm booked for another D&C with a hysteroscopy. However I had so many scans when I was pregnant the last 3 times that I can't imagine that they will find anything with the hysteroscopy that didn't show up on the scans (ie: nothing).
Given the pill (microgynon 50) hasn't worked after trying it for 7-8 months, my gyno has suggested I have the Mirena IUD inserted at the same time they do the D&C and hysteroscopy, in an attempt at stopping the constant bleeding.
So finally getting to my point, has anyone been in a similar situation to me? Ideally I'd like to hear "yeah, the IUD fixed me right up and I went on to have more kids".... but any input on my situation and/or experience with Mirena would be great.
Thank you.

crazymomma · May 22nd, 2008, 08:49 AM

I have seen a few ads on v about it , but other than that I don't know anymore than you do. I'm sorry about all the health problems. Will pray that you have better lock soon.

PoohsBigSister · May 22nd, 2008, 10:22 AM

Ok... I HAVE the Mirena. AND I LOVE IT! I had it inserted for excessive bleeding as well, and after 9 months..finally have gone from 15 day periods to 4 days! my Gyno says that after the first year or so, i may even go to one day or no periods! I'm ok with that!!

I had my tubes tied when I was 23, so the more kids thing isn't something I can comment on, but I can tell you I've had a GREAT Experience with the Mirena.

One thing I hear ALOT of women complain about is that they didn't know how it would affect them...ok..If you TALK TO YOUR DR. and LISTEN TO THEM..then you will know these things:
1. It hurts like a contraction when they put it in!
2. YOU WILL BLEED IRREGULARLY FOR A WHILE (anywhere from a few weeks to several months!) and it's NORMAL as your body gets used to the new contraption and the hormones.
3. YOU WILL CRAMP!! and it will hurt! I now cramp only the for a day or so...but otherwise not anymore..but the first couple of months...i was taking four advil every four hours for two or three days each month.
4. Once your body is used to it, it will level out. BUT THIS IS NOT A SHORT TERM SOLUTION! It takes MONTHS AND MONTHS for this to happen. Don't expect to get it in and have all the problems fixed in a week or two. You will be disappointed.

Your best resource is your doctor. Talk to them...write down any question that comes into your head....then ASK ALL OF THEM - no matter how insignificant they may seem!

I also had a hysteroscopy, and believe it or not..the scans didn't pick up on the 11 polyps that were in my uterus!!! sooo..they may find something else with it...don't give up hope, and come back and tell us how it went!!!!

HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RiffRaffMama · November 28th, 2008, 09:38 AM

Sorry it's taken so long to reply, but maybe someone will find the answer they're looking for in my belated response......
After the 3 miscarriages, I experienced months and months and months of long, ridiculous periods. I would bleed for weeks at a time, often 3 out of 4 weeks of the month I would be bleeding....
Having sex only made things worse..... if I was lucky enough to have gone a few days without bleeding, intercourse would bring on more bleeding without question.
I finally found an understanding gyno who understood that bleeding for 25+ days a month was just unacceptable.
He suggested a D&C (another one) to check for abnormalities that hadn't been checked for/detected previously and the insertion of a Mirena IUD.
I have to admit I was apprehensive about the Mirena. The last thing I wanted was contraception.... I was trying to have a baby for goodness sake! But I accepted his suggestion (I'd tried pretty much everything else!)
I have to admit, 6 months on, I would like to say I couldn't be happier, but that's a lie.... the only way I could be happier is if I could have managed to carry a baby to term, but since that couldn't be done, the fact that I have finally found relief from my almost constant periods is satisfaction enough for now.
I had reached the point where I was very seriously considering a hysterectomy. I had resigned myself to the fact that I may never have another baby.
Mirena has given me hope.
It has regulated my cycle.
After the first 4 months, my cycle reduced to a day of spotting a month, and nothing more. While this is far from a "normal" menstrual cycle, it's worlds away from what I was suffering with. Regulating my cycle again gives me hope of one day carrying another baby.
My gyno recommends 12 months on Mirena then removing it and trying again for a baby.....
Let's see how it goes.
For now though, I couldn't recommend Mirena highly enough, especially to women with cycle problems.

PoohsBigSister · November 28th, 2008, 11:24 AM

Gotta tell ya...I had my Mirena removed after a year. I had mine insterted as a treatment for Mennoragia too. It worked fine for the first six months, then slowly but surely, the bleeding came back until at the end, I was bleeding to some degree every day with no breaks. I had it removed almost one year to the date. I had to wait three months for my hormones to level out before trying another treatment. By the time I was able to do something else, i was taking percoset for the cramps, and bleeding every single day heavily. My OB/GYN and I decided on endometrial ablation. Since I am only 38, I am desperately trying to avoid a hysterectomy, and endometrial ablation was the only other option. A D&C - of which I have had three to try to treat this problem is only temporary. The lining of the Uterus grows back to your "regular" thickness rather quickly. So, that wasn't an option for me anymore.

My only note here is to check ALL of your options thoroughly. Make sure your choice is the best one for you.... not just your doctor. And, if you have any problems or concerns, check with your doctor immediately! I probably could have avoided some of the pain and suffering if I had just gone to my OB/GYN with my concerns about the Mirena not working earlier.

Best of luck to you.. please let us know how you are doing, and you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!!

HUGS!

PBS

May 22nd, 2008, 07:38 AM	#1
RiffRaffMama Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2	3 Miscarriages and metrorrhagia - no answers - Mirena? About 3 years ago my husband and I started trying for our 3rd child. We have a 7 year old boy and and a 4 year old girl. After about 6 months of trying I fell pregnant and miscarried at about 8 weeks. We were very sad but were told of course that it happens and that it probably won't happen again. About 6 months later I fell pregnant again. And miscarried again at about the same time. And then for the third time about 6 months again after that. The first 2 miscarriages expelled naturally. The 3rd one led to constant bleeding for 3 weeks and ultimately resulted in a D&C where they finally extracted everything. That was a year ago. After the D&C I experienced prolonged bleeding (metrorrhagia) which has continued and become progressively worse in that time. My GP has tried me on every conceivable medicine and tested me for every possible hormonal deficiency/imbalance and come up with nothing. He referred me to a gynaecologist who has also drawn a blank. In 4 weeks I'm booked for another D&C with a hysteroscopy. However I had so many scans when I was pregnant the last 3 times that I can't imagine that they will find anything with the hysteroscopy that didn't show up on the scans (ie: nothing). Given the pill (microgynon 50) hasn't worked after trying it for 7-8 months, my gyno has suggested I have the Mirena IUD inserted at the same time they do the D&C and hysteroscopy, in an attempt at stopping the constant bleeding. So finally getting to my point, has anyone been in a similar situation to me? Ideally I'd like to hear "yeah, the IUD fixed me right up and I went on to have more kids".... but any input on my situation and/or experience with Mirena would be great. Thank you.

May 22nd, 2008, 08:49 AM	#2
crazymomma awesome cookie lady Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leechburgh, PA Posts: 1,993	I have seen a few ads on v about it , but other than that I don't know anymore than you do. I'm sorry about all the health problems. Will pray that you have better lock soon. __________________ It feels like home to me. Bonnie Rhatt

May 22nd, 2008, 10:22 AM	#3
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	Ok... I HAVE the Mirena. AND I LOVE IT! I had it inserted for excessive bleeding as well, and after 9 months..finally have gone from 15 day periods to 4 days! my Gyno says that after the first year or so, i may even go to one day or no periods! I'm ok with that!! I had my tubes tied when I was 23, so the more kids thing isn't something I can comment on, but I can tell you I've had a GREAT Experience with the Mirena. One thing I hear ALOT of women complain about is that they didn't know how it would affect them...ok..If you TALK TO YOUR DR. and LISTEN TO THEM..then you will know these things: 1. It hurts like a contraction when they put it in! 2. YOU WILL BLEED IRREGULARLY FOR A WHILE (anywhere from a few weeks to several months!) and it's NORMAL as your body gets used to the new contraption and the hormones. 3. YOU WILL CRAMP!! and it will hurt! I now cramp only the for a day or so...but otherwise not anymore..but the first couple of months...i was taking four advil every four hours for two or three days each month. 4. Once your body is used to it, it will level out. BUT THIS IS NOT A SHORT TERM SOLUTION! It takes MONTHS AND MONTHS for this to happen. Don't expect to get it in and have all the problems fixed in a week or two. You will be disappointed. Your best resource is your doctor. Talk to them...write down any question that comes into your head....then ASK ALL OF THEM - no matter how insignificant they may seem! I also had a hysteroscopy, and believe it or not..the scans didn't pick up on the 11 polyps that were in my uterus!!! sooo..they may find something else with it...don't give up hope, and come back and tell us how it went!!!! HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

November 28th, 2008, 11:24 AM	#5
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	Gotta tell ya...I had my Mirena removed after a year. I had mine insterted as a treatment for Mennoragia too. It worked fine for the first six months, then slowly but surely, the bleeding came back until at the end, I was bleeding to some degree every day with no breaks. I had it removed almost one year to the date. I had to wait three months for my hormones to level out before trying another treatment. By the time I was able to do something else, i was taking percoset for the cramps, and bleeding every single day heavily. My OB/GYN and I decided on endometrial ablation. Since I am only 38, I am desperately trying to avoid a hysterectomy, and endometrial ablation was the only other option. A D&C - of which I have had three to try to treat this problem is only temporary. The lining of the Uterus grows back to your "regular" thickness rather quickly. So, that wasn't an option for me anymore. My only note here is to check ALL of your options thoroughly. Make sure your choice is the best one for you.... not just your doctor. And, if you have any problems or concerns, check with your doctor immediately! I probably could have avoided some of the pain and suffering if I had just gone to my OB/GYN with my concerns about the Mirena not working earlier. Best of luck to you.. please let us know how you are doing, and you'll be in my thoughts and prayers!! HUGS! PBS __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

November 28th, 2008, 09:38 AM	#4
RiffRaffMama Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2	Sorry it's taken so long to reply, but maybe someone will find the answer they're looking for in my belated response...... After the 3 miscarriages, I experienced months and months and months of long, ridiculous periods. I would bleed for weeks at a time, often 3 out of 4 weeks of the month I would be bleeding.... Having sex only made things worse..... if I was lucky enough to have gone a few days without bleeding, intercourse would bring on more bleeding without question. I finally found an understanding gyno who understood that bleeding for 25+ days a month was just unacceptable. He suggested a D&C (another one) to check for abnormalities that hadn't been checked for/detected previously and the insertion of a Mirena IUD. I have to admit I was apprehensive about the Mirena. The last thing I wanted was contraception.... I was trying to have a baby for goodness sake! But I accepted his suggestion (I'd tried pretty much everything else!) I have to admit, 6 months on, I would like to say I couldn't be happier, but that's a lie.... the only way I could be happier is if I could have managed to carry a baby to term, but since that couldn't be done, the fact that I have finally found relief from my almost constant periods is satisfaction enough for now. I had reached the point where I was very seriously considering a hysterectomy. I had resigned myself to the fact that I may never have another baby. Mirena has given me hope. It has regulated my cycle. After the first 4 months, my cycle reduced to a day of spotting a month, and nothing more. While this is far from a "normal" menstrual cycle, it's worlds away from what I was suffering with. Regulating my cycle again gives me hope of one day carrying another baby. My gyno recommends 12 months on Mirena then removing it and trying again for a baby..... Let's see how it goes. For now though, I couldn't recommend Mirena highly enough, especially to women with cycle problems.