Any one experience trouble breathing, fatigue, heart palpitations?
Question posted by raquel89 on 22 Jan 2011
Last updated on 16 April 2024 by Jobug
I had Mirena in for a little bit over 3 weeks and had it removed. I started noticing heart palpitations (skipped beats, racing heart, fluttering) and chest pain. I also started getting short of breath over nothing. Just a few steps and i was breathing hard and felt so tired. Since having it removed (2 days ago) i havent had palpitations, the chest pain doesnt feel to bad anymore, but i still feel very tired and sleepy all the time along witht he short of breath. Was wondering if anyone else felt like this with Mirena. Also, I have been bleeding for 11 days now, and since I had it removed its been heavier... normal?
I already went to my regular doctor and they did blood work, im wearing a hedart monitor for a few days, and I also had an ultrasound of my heart done. Need to wait for the results but in the mean time Im worrying about these symptoms.
Other symptoms i had while on Mirena: irritability, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, brain fog.
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41 Answers
JO
Jobug
16 April 2024
I’m so glad to read the account from a female GP!! Thank you! I have reported symptoms in the UK - yellow card site. I’m also really keen to hear from Delete Menstrual on how you get on. I only really had mine in for mega periods
Votes: +0
JO
Jobug
16 April 2024
I had it for over two years and didn’t register the heart palpitations were caused by it until reading on forums about symptoms that medical professionals seem to deny. I had it taken out a month ago and have mild palpitations now. I really hope they go. I was also breathless. And I’m really fit - exercising nearly every day. In my mid-40s. I bled for 5 days after removal. Then had what I think is a period a week later that went on for about 10 days. My periods never stopped tho and in fact bled all the time and sporadically. Very stressful and no good for your sex Life. Definitely had anxiety and brain fog which everyone wanted to tell me was the menopause but I know it’s not. Had all my levels and heart checked out. For some people the Mirena is not good for others it’s a win!
Votes: +0
DE
DeleteMenstrual
16 April 2024
I made an account to answer this question. I had my mirena inserted for several months now without problems. But recently, there were a few occasions where I felt a sudden rush of light-headedness and partial blackout to the point that my whole body fell forwards but I always caught myself before fainting. Then the heart palpitations and breathlessness started. I had about 10 episodes today where it felt like my heart was running on a threadmill. I've never had so many episodes in a day, it is getting worrying. I've not gotten my mirena removed, but since Mirena was prescribed to regulate menstrual blood flow, I guess removing it might bring back the heavy periods.
Votes: +0
JA
Jazzpot
6 April 2024
Hi, I have also just made an account to add my experience. Like many of you I have ended up googling palpitations and mirena. I am a GP (family medicine) doctor in New Zealand. I have recommended the mirena countless times. So I decided to have one as contraception. Well 1 month of absolute hell - episodes of shortness of breath (subjective feeling, objectively I was not short of breath), palpitations, light headed. Built up to be almost constant with a constant kind of tightness/vibration in my chest. Also anxiety, panic and mood swings. Up at night waking in panic over work stuff which has never happened before. Breaking down in tears over small things. Never had any of this before. It is like night and day. ECG showed ectopic beats and bigeminy. Been desperate for removal but it’s a 4 week wait to get back with my doc who put it in and 3 week wait for a gp who may not take it out.
Got so bad I went to urgent care yesterday and begged them to take it out which they very kindly did. Less then 24 hours the chest feeling has gone and I feel so much better, feel more myself - happier and lighter. Didn’t realise how much my mood had dipped. Occasional palpitations but not the shortness of breath feeling. I’ll see how it goes but seems clear cut to me. Will definitely be discussing with women in future before insertion. The literature doesn’t support this connection but there are quite a few case studies out there with some extreme psychiatric and stress reactions (increased cortisol levels and heart rate). I will be reporting my symptoms to the local drug reaction place (ah another thing - brain fog, lost words etc!)
Votes: +0
JO
Jobug
17 March 2024
I am so grateful to have found this!! I started having palpitations 6 months after having mirena inserted. I had it mainly for really heavy periods. I bled for about 6 weeks after insertion. Since then it’s been sporadic, much lighter but I feel I have a period all the time. Plus the palpitations are really disturbing. No health professional seems to think there’s a link and yet here are all these women saying so!! I feel empowered to get it removed. My sister had a similar experience but had scarring and ended up having an operation to remove a fibroid that had migrated through her cervix. I think any concerns, just remove it.
Votes: +0
AS
Ashley1579
3 July 2023
Got Mirena put in February and have been having migraines and heart palpitations. Like many others have said, doctors don’t think it is mirena. But I’m going to get it out to see. Ahhh so hard. I have endometriosis and adenomyosis so need to stop bleeding, but these headaches and palpitations are not fun. So hard to know what to do.
Votes: +0
PI
Pixie Sticks
20 June 2023
I created an account to answer this question as it is happening to me, and mirrors almost exactly what others are going through. Mirena insertion a month ago, followed by heart palpitations and a tight chest, restrictive breathing taking full breaths (my lungs weren’t opening fully), and what must be extreme anxiety. I had a panic attack 1 week after insertion at the office and I have never had one before.
Fast forward - I called a therapist the day I had the panic attack, then called the Gyno who said this has nothing to do with the Mirena and I should see a general doc. The palpitations became unbearable - much worse when sitting for more than 20 min (on a couch, in a car, at the office) and awful when trying to sleep.
The cardiologist did a heart eco, an electrocardiogram and put me on a Holter for 24h to monitor the beats. Low and behold, my heart is structurally fine, and the electrocardiogram was fine, but I have enough extrasystoles (extra beats) to warrant medication. At least I knew it was not in my head. Interesting fact - I had a full yearly physical a month before the IUD insertion, including electrocardiogram, and my heart was fine. Either the Holter is picking something up that the physical didn’t, or it’s the IUD. I’d like to know which - it’s my heart.
Meanwhile, therapy continues and my therapist does not see the need to continue as I am OK. I mean I have issues but not enough to warrant this. I am a fan of therapy - but more so when it is needed! BetterHelp is great, I recommend it.
Anyway, getting a prescription for heart meds was the turning point. I had the IUD removed yesterday (didn’t even feel it, it was about 2% as bad as the insertion). Last night I had the palpitations but not as bad. This morning I am feeling much better and only have slight palpitations. I will update soon.
This thread saved me - I thought I was nuts.
Votes: +0
PI
Pixie Sticks
23 June 2023
Just a follow up if anyone reads this thread - it’s been almost 5 days since removal and the heart palpitations are gone. I had it removed Monday morning, continued with much lighter palpitations on Tuesday and by Wednesday I could barely notice them in the morning. They completely disappeared by Thursday and I feel normal again.
Another symptom that went away was a stiff upper back / neck. It has been very tight for weeks due to all this stress. I got some headaches on Wednesday and Thursday, took ibuprofen and stretched my upper back and neck - and now I’m back to normal again.
I regret getting the Mirena. What a mess - Thank goodness I removed it and didn’t wait.
MA
Mandy4life_2
27 May 2021
Hello I just made an account in the hopes of helping someone. like some of yours comments have helped me. I had severe anemia so I decided to get the iud to stop my periods. About a year in I started getting hart palpications. Very scary. Plus major brain fog I would get so bloated it hurt. As well as major anxiety. Finally I told the doctor I wanted it out. 2 days later still hart palpications. Started taking vitamin c and magnesium. 4 days go buy completely gone. No more hart palpications I feel 100 percent better if you have any questions about it remove it don't let the doctors talk you out of it you no your body better then anyone I hope this helps someone. Who is trying to figure out what is wrong.
Votes: +0
QM
Qmom
8 Aug 2020
Yes! I just had the Mirena put it 5 days ago. I’ve had progressive uncontrollable palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and mild chest pain that started the day after it was inserted. I just put 2 and 2 together today and googled “Mirena IUD and palpitations.” Thank God for all of you who reported your experiences here! I’m very heathy- daily exercise and a whole-foods, plant-based diet. No smoking or drugs and am considered alcohol-free by all my doctors (less than 6 drinks average per year).
I had occasional palpitations during the summer years ago when overexerting myself while pregnant but this is otherwise very rare for me. My Gyn recommended Mirena for heavy periods and put it in without providing any info on it. I feel so dumb- I should’ve asked! I ran clinical research trials for years and all of our subjects had to be informed of possible side effects in an informed consent form. Why aren’t our doctors required to provide this info as well? Shouldn’t there be an informed consent form for this as well? I just left a voicemail at my doctor’s office asking for an appt early next week to have this removed. I hope Big Pharma is reading all of these responses, does the right thing and takes action.
Votes: +0
SA
Saund111
2 Aug 2020
I had a Mirena for 6 weeks, two years ago and ever since I have panic attacks, palpitations, extreme anxiety (especially after eating or drinking). I will begin to feel normal for a while then something stressful will happen and my forearm will hurt like hell, followed by a panic attack and then palpitations. As it fades I will have buzzing through my whole body for days. It has been two years! I was doing good last year then a flu shot brought it back, the. The actual flu brought it on x1000. Be careful what you put in your body! I wish I had read more in the beginning.
Votes: +0
TE
Teamklement
9 June 2020
I had the Mirena in for a year to help with severely heavy cycles. It did calm the cycles but I had it removed as started getting palpitations and heart flutters. Two days after removal I haemorrhaged and ent to A and E. They have me tranxemic acid to stop the bleeding and said it was a withdrawal bleed. Strange as the Mirena is supposed to thin the build up of the uterus but I lost 898 ml of blood with heavy clotting! Jump forward two weeks I still have breathlessness, fast pulse and fatigue. Clearly hormonal after a year of artificial progesterone. But no answers my BP is fine, EKG showed an ectopic heartbeat but because I am breathless doctor ordered a chest x Ray. So awaiting results. I am using magnesium spray and praying I get a regular period soon and my body can go back to being able to walk, run after the kids etc without this fear of what’s wrong with my heart! I will definitely message and complain about the Mirena as I think it’s quite damaging and dangerous to woman despite being hailed as the cure for anything!
Votes: +0
BE
bettyJR
3 March 2020
I had Mirena fitted in October 2019. By the end of December I was having regular palpitations . Saw GP in feb because I was feeling lightheaded with them . Also always feeling tired and no libido plus spots and weight gain . I had it removed yesterday and hoping these will pass. Also have blood tests and ECG booked for next week. Will update soon .
Votes: +0
OS
Osterner
2 March 2020
I just had my Mirena removed because of reading these comments, I too have been having heart palpitations and dizziness. Please can anyone tell me how long before I should start feeling better. I had blood work done and wore a halter monitor and everything came back normal... my doctor doesn’t seem to believe the Mirena could be the issue:
Votes: +0
BA
Ballernicole
4 Feb 2020
Hello! I’m writing because I have experienced. Light headed ness, dizziness, panic attacks, severe anxiety, and depression, racing heart, chest tightness, and numbness in my arms. You name it ive had. Most days I feel like I’m dying. I got my mirena removed yesterday because after a year of dealing with all this. I just can’t. I was wondering how long after removal till the symptoms go away!
Votes: +0
JA
Jaclyningelido
1 May 2020
How long did it take you to start feeling normal again? I am waiting to have mine removed in a few days, and I just want to feel normal again. I too feel like I am dying everyday and I cannot breath normally.
KA
Katy78
17 Dec 2019
I have been experiencing chronic chest pain, shortness of breath, and generally feeling like I’m having heart attacks on many irregular occasions. Had heart, lungs and bloods checked, nothing ... just sent away with apparently Anxiety... I’ve never had this before and understand that the body also changes there was no referring to this by drs. Wasn’t till googling the two that I put the connection together as to when I was feeling this. Bayer has a lot to answer for .. beware ... I wouldn’t be surprised if drs get a kick back from getting people to have the mirena implanted. I felt completely fine in my head no depression or feelings of doom just the chronic chest pain. When I told my dr I wanted it out she still tried to convince me not to ... I just hope that now it is our this is the answer to what I have been dealing with for the last two years.
Votes: +0
GR
Grantie2021
1 Nov 2021
Hi, did removing it help with the chest pain and shortness of breath? I have been experiencing this for 1 year and it has taken over my life, had chest x-rays and CT scan but nothing showed up. I am getting the Mirena removed next week and hoping and praying that it stops these symptoms.