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Mirena and panic attacks

by Emily
(New York )

I thought I would try and ask here before I research myself to death. I'm pretty sure that I have signs of estrogen dominance... But I would love to hear everyone's input because I have been doing all this research myself. So here is the back story. I am 22, I've always been very sensitive to birth control when I went on the pill in high school I had to stop it because it gave me mood swings. So when I stopped my moods leveled out again. Then I got pregnant when I was 18 and although it was a very stressful time in my life I was the calmest/happiest I have ever been in my life. I was 19 when I had my son and I think I had some postpartum anxiety/depression. 3 months postpartum my gynecologist convinced my to get the Mirena IUD. Of course saying it was localized hormones wouldn't affect my moods at all and that all the other women she's had on it all had no side effects ect. So at first it was great I was happy, lost weight was confident for the first time in my life. I also stopped having a period. After having the Mirena for two years I had all these weird symptoms startup anxiety then panic attacks, I started getting eczema flare ups (which I never had before), hair loss (so much shedding), insomnia. So after researching for a few months I had the IUD taken out in february 5th thinking that I had some sort of hormonal imbalance because I was not myself. After about a week my panic attacks were no longer crippling. Slowly my periods have started back up they are very light like 2-3 days max and it's a bright red blood no clots at all very different from what I had before. My cycles are longer than I remember one cycle was about 45 days (I was convinced I was pregnant when I knew that we had been very protected) my other cycles have been 33-35 days. I understand that is not super long but I believe it is abnormal for me along with the very light periods.

So finally, here are my questions:

1. Could the reason that I was super calm and happy during my pregnancy be because my body was getting a good supply of progesterone from the placenta?

2. Could I have been so happy on the Mirena in the beginning because my body liked the extra dose of fake progesterone? Then I'm assuming after my body stopped producing my own progesterone I became estrogen dominant hence all my other problems starting up. I understand that . Levonorgestrel is a Progestin and is not equivalent to natural progesterone.

3. I've heard that the Levonorgestrel can inhibit my own body from making progesterone that means I would try and kick start it by taking bio-identical progesterone?

I bought Emerita Progest from a local vitamin shoppe and tried it yesterday and I felt very level compared to how I have been feeling (like anything could make me cry). I also got the best nights sleep since having my son haha!

So sorry this is so long like I said I have been researching this since february and I finally feel like I am getting somewhere.

Comments for Mirena and panic attacks

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Aug 12, 2016
 This site is so great
by: Emily

Wray this site is beautiful and your so knowledgable! I would really love your input if you have some time. I just wanted to say thank you for this amazing resource.
Aug 21, 2016
 Mirena and panic attacks
by: Joy

Hi Emily

Thank you for your kind words about Wray's website, I am quite sure that she appreciates them. There is so much information on this site alone about the dreaded Mirena, enter it into the search bar if you have not done so already. It should be banned and I know that Wray feels the same. All drug based Contraceptives and HRT for that matter, have a potential to cause harm as you have and still are experiencing them. Please take the time to read up on the side effects of the Mirena if you have not done so already, few escape these side effects. It can take months, years even, before the body adjusts again. The Copper T is the only device recommended as it does not interfere with the bodies natural cycle.

Progesterone is a calming hormone and the body produces huge amounts of progesterone while pregnant which explains the calm/happy feeling you experienced. Many pregnant women blossom while pregnant because of it. Instead of suggesting the Mirena, your doctor should have addressed your PND symtoms. What planet is she on saying that it wouldn't affect your moods? For me, it's even worse when it's a female doctor on top of it, which really indicates to me that she is pretty misinformed or would rather support the drug companies etc, than really help you and your PND! Shocking actually. Like most HRT's and BCP, one often feels fabulous in the beginning, then things come back and bites real hard! Something that I can't get my head around is that doctors seem to think that not having a monthly period is quite acceptable, because that is what happens with the Mirena, it often stops the natural monthly cycle. How can that be good? Yet doctors give it the green light! Great decision having it removed, but your body is now taking time to adjust. It's impossible to say how long things will take to return to normal.

Your body can't just stop producing it's natural progesterone, unless you do not have adrenals, ovaries or a brain because these produce progesterone, testes in males. You would certainly be suffering from Estrogen Dominance, more so because of the Mirena, but let's not forget the Environmental Toxins which affect each and every one of us daily making supplementing with the correct natural progesterone vital. It has to become the dominant hormone to cope with the excess estrogen, before one feels health benefits.

Most progesterone creams need to be doubled in use because of it's concentration, if not, symptoms get worse. Please double up on what you are using and consider switching to Natpro. Nothing less than 100mg per day is needed but I feel that you would benefit by using 200mg per day, possibly more if you are still suffering from anxiety etc. If you are, please consider taking the calming aminos mentioned on the page. Perhaps the page on PND will also help you to understand what happened to you after the birth of your son. Wray often refers to the late Dr Kittie Dalton who was the 'queen' on progesterone. If progesterone is not used correctly it will not work. It is not an overnight fix and can take anything from 2-6 months before positive results are felt, longer if symptoms are severe. Also important is to make sure that progesterone creams used do not contain parabens, chemicals, estrogen and testosterone, definitely not what any woman needs!

What is your Vitamin D3 level? A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone and is connected to every single function of the cells in the body. Magnesium is also vital as well as the other co-factors mentioned.

Please read the following pages:

How to use Progesterone Cream
Estrogen Dominance
Contraceptives
Anxiety
PND
Hair Loss
Environmental Toxins
Progesterone Cream
Vitamin D3
Magnesium
Mar 12, 2017
 Update?
by: Rachel

I came across this and was wondering if u are feeling better now?

I am currently experiencing similar issues and have read in Baby Center threads that some women are slow to recover, if at all!

I had a copper T inserted after the birth of my first son in 2005. It worked well and I didn't experience any side effects. I had a Mirena inserted after my second birth in 2012 and experienced anxiety attacks for the first time in my life. I tried medications and therapy, but after seeing little results I stopped and just learned to manage them through breathing and exercise. It expired in January so I had it removed and a new one put in on February 21st.

Now I'm living a nightmare! Severe insomnia and debilitating panic are the worst symptoms. My doctor has asked me to give it six weeks before making the decision to have it removed, but I don't think I'll be able to make it through a few more days of this!

Also I am so angry that these symptoms are not discussed in the doctors office! I am positive this is what caused 5 years of anxiety and that I have been seen by a handful of doctors and therapists and nobody has suggested that it was this birth control. I read some women's doctors have completely denied that the problem is Mirena! I also read some women continue to have attacks even after the Mirena was removed.

I know some months have passed since you wrote this and am wondering how you are feeling now? I sincerely hope you do!
Mar 19, 2017
 Update?
by: Joy

Hi Rachel

Many thanks for you input. May I asked why you didn't have another Copper T inserted? It is the only IUD that is recommended as it does not interfere with the natural process of the body.

If possible, please consider having the Mirena removed. Six months is not going to make a difference to the dreadful side effects, it's simply not worth it.

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