A Break Up Story (with Mirena IUD)

After Max was born, I was really unsure what form of birth control I wanted to use.  I don't love hormonal birth control and hadn't used it since before our wedding, but for a number of reasons, I decided to get the Mirena IUD.  I talked with a number of doctors and midwives at my practice and was told repeatedly how awesome the Mirena IUD was.  I wasn't completely at peace with the decision, but it was my best option at that time.  Things were pretty uneventful for the first few months I had it, but then strange things started to happen.

My stomach was constantly upset.  I thought maybe it was something I was eating; I've had problems with dairy in the past.  Maybe it was that?  I started getting strange tingling sensations in both my wrists and hands.  Maybe I was getting carpal tunnel syndrome?  I've always been an anxious person, but was able to cope with my anxiety pretty well.  All of a sudden I was having panic attacks where I'd start sweating and shaking uncontrollably.  My heart would race and I'd feel sick to my stomach, all while doing something as innocent as sitting on the couch and watching Netflix.  Maybe I was just too stressed out?  Then, for the first time in my life I started having high blood pressure.  I have never had an elevated blood pressure, even when I was hugely pregnant with both boys.  It started off with a slightly elevated blood pressure at my dentist's office.  I thought maybe their blood pressure monitor was incorrect.  Later at my chiropractor's office I told her that I'd had a high blood pressure at the dentist; she checked my blood pressure manually herself.  Sure enough, it was high.  I bought a blood pressure monitor on Amazon and started checking my blood pressure myself.  Every time it was high.  Let me tell you, there's no surer way to worry a former dialysis nurse than to have high blood pressure.  It just didn't make sense.  I've never had high blood pressure.  The only thing that had changed was the Mirena IUD...

I started doing research on high blood pressure and Mirena.  First I was discouraged because most articles I found said that Mirena was actually a good birth control choice for people that already had high blood pressure, because it's a progesterone-only form of birth control.  Estrogen containing birth control has shown to induce an increase on blood pressure, but Mirena doesn't have any estrogen.  After probing a little deeper, though, I found many many accounts of women claiming that they'd developed high blood pressure after getting the Mirena.  In all the instances, the hypertension resolved after the Mirena was removed.  After reading that, I decided to get the Mirena removed.

After having the Mirena removed, I immediately noticed that my digestive system was getting back to normal... like the very next day I was fine and I have been since.  Slowly the numbness and tingling in my hands started to fade, but a new and concerning symptom started.  I was getting horrible headaches.  I've never had migraines before, but these were debilitating.  I was having more days per week with headache than I was without.  My house was a mess.  My kids were tired of hanging around the in our pajamas while I lay on the couch miserable.  I went to see my primary care doctor.  I saw an eye doctor - maybe eye problems were causing the headaches?  I even had an MRI of my brain and neck to make sure something more sinister wasn't going on.  I was an anxious mess.

It's been almost two months since the Mirena was removed and I'm finally starting to feel normal again.  My anxiety is pretty much back to my baseline.  My blood pressure is totally normal again.  The headaches have mostly subsided.  Almost every doctor of midwife I told about my symptoms did not think that they were caused by the IUD, until it was removed and the symptoms went away.  My chiropractor told me she's heard lots of stories from women who've experienced similar issues with Mirena.

I'm not telling you all of this to scare you, but more to emphasize that hormonal birth control (while I'm super thankful it exists) is not without side effects!  Also, do your own research and be your own advocate!  I knew that something wasn't right with my body, and I'm so glad that I got the Mirena removed when I did.  If you have the Mirena IUD and you're happy with it, great!  But if you start having strange symptoms, maybe keep this story in the back of you mind and question if your symptoms could be caused by the Mirena.

Have you had any strange side effects from Mirena or another hormonal birth control method?

Please keep in mind that this is my own personal experience and story.  I don't have any hard proof that Mirena did this to me other than the fact that my symptoms started to resolve after it was removed.  Make sure to consult with your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.

Fevers Are Our Friends

Did you know that at least one third of pediatrician visits involve a child with a fever?  One quarter of caregivers report that they'd administer Tylenol or Motrin to a child for a "fever" of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and 85% of parents report that they've woken a sleeping child to administer medications to treat a fever!  Those are some shocking facts.  At least, I think so.  Few things are more worrisome to parents than a child with a fever.  But why?  I think a lot of parents perceive that an elevated temperature in and of itself can harm a child.  I'd like to dispel a few myths related to fevers today maybe even try and convince you that fevers can be useful.

First, let's talk about what a fever is and their purpose.  A fever is a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).  Anything below that... NOT A FEVER!  The degree of fever (how high it is) does not always correlate with the severity of illness; a fever of 103 does not mean your child is sicker than if they have a fever of 100.5.  Fevers signal a healthy immune system response.  An elevated core body temperature can slow growth and reproduction of the bacteria and viruses that make you sick.  It can also enhance immune system function that may help your illness pass quicker.

I was fascinated to read about a 1974 experiment involving iguanas.  A group of iguanas was infected with bacteria; horrible, I know, but the results are interesting...  The iguanas were given an opportunity to seek heat via a heat lamp.  Iguanas are cold-blooded and require an outside source to raise their body temperature.  All of the iguanas except one sought out the heat of the lamp.  What happened?  The only iguana that died was the one that didn't seek out the heat lamp!  They then infected another group of iguanas with bacteria and gave them fever-reducing medications.  Only the iguanas that were able to mount a fever despite the medications survived!

So what are some common misconceptions surrounding fever?  Many perceive that a fever will/can cause brain damage, but in a healthy individual (without a chronic health condition or decreased metabolic reserves) brain damage doesn't occur until a fever reaches and sustains a temperature of 105.8-107 degrees (41-42 degrees Celsius).  Another fear is febrile seizures.  Don't get me wrong, seizures are SCARY, but febrile seizures are short, resolve on their own, and have no long-term effects.  Febrile seizures only affect 2-5% of children under the age of 5 years.  Risk normally peaks in the second year of life.  Research shows that febrile seizures are not due to the height of fever, but are more related to how rapidly the fever spikes.  More compellingly, research demonstrates that fever-reducing drugs do not reduce febrile seizure recurrence.

So why are we all treating fevers aggressively?  I think misinformation is the main reason.  The only real reason to treat a fever is for the child's comfort, and fever alone doesn't necessarily mean the child is uncomfortable.  Instead of treating a fever to reduce body temperature alone, we should be judging whether or not to treat a fever by several other factors:

• Is the child eating and drinking?
• Is the child urinating normally?
• Does the child seem uncomfortable?

So what should you do instead of automatically resorting to fever-reducing medications?  Make sure the child gets plenty of rest.  Ensure they're adequately hydrated; fever increases the body's metabolic requirements and can lead to dehydration faster than normal.  Remove excess layers - you don't want to make the child unnecessarily warm.  Avoid cold baths, ice, and alcohol rubs as they can cause shivering, which will raise the body's temperature even further.

If you do decide to give fever-reducing medication, here are a few reminders.  Always dose the medication based on the child's weight, not their age.  Make sure to follow the directions on the medication's packaging carefully including recommended dose and how often to administer.  Infant and Children's Tylenol and Motrin come with their own dosing devices (oral syringes or medicine cups) pre-marked with the correct doses; use them instead of a teaspoon or other measuring device to ensure you're giving the correct amount of medication.  Don't give more or less of a medication based on the height of the child's fever.  Under-dosing does nothing and over dosing can be dangerous!  Motrin can be given to children older than 6 months of age.  Make sure that the child is well-hydrated before administering Motrin as it's metabolized in the kidneys and could lead to kidney injury if given in the presence of dehydration.  Never give Aspirin to anyone under the age of 18 years as it can result in a serious complication called Reye Syndrome.

There are a few instances in which you should always seek medical attention:

• A fever in a baby 0-3 months is a medical emergency.  Contact your health care provider immediately.  Do not stop.  Do not pass go.  Ok?
•  A fever that's unresolved for several days
• Lethargy or decreased level of consciousness in the presence of a fever
• Fever with headache and neck pain
• Dehydration
• Increased work of breathing
• Painful urination
• Fever with abdominal pain
• Possible exposure to toxins or poisons that could be causing fever
• Anything you're concerned about.  You know your child best; if you're worried, it's best to talk to your child's pediatrician.

So, what you do think?  Will you think twice before treating your child's next fever?  Did you learn something new?

Here are some great articles that helped me write this blog post:

Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children
Quick Guide to Treating Fever
Fever: Suppress or Let It Ride?
Pediatricians Say It's Often Better to Let a Child's Fever Run Its Course
Febrile Seizure Fact Sheet

Just a reminder to check out my disclaimer which can be found on the navigation bar at the top of the site.  This post is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as such.  Please contact your health care provider before making any medical decisions.