I know nothing about the mirena. I suspect you need iodine:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uid...


Pregnancy, therefore, represents one of the environmental factors that may help explain the higher prevalence of goiter and thyroid disorders in women compared with men. An iodine-deficient status in the mother also leads to goiter formation in the progeny and neuropsycho-intellectual impairment in the offspring. When adequate Iodine supplementation is given early during pregnancy, it allows for the correction and almost complete prevention of maternal and neonatal goitrogenesis.


http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/86/6/2360


During lactation, the mother must obtain enough Iodine for her own thyroid plus that of her growing infant. Calculations from the EAR for nonpregnant adult women (95 µg/day) and from an average loss in human breast milk (about 114 µg/day) lead to an EAR during lactation of 209 µg iodine/day and a RDA of 290 µg/day. The IOM report also includes "adequate intake" (AI) estimates (used when an EAR cannot be calculated) and RDAs for other population groups (8). The AI is less exact and, therefore, reaches higher levels than those derived by the EAR/RDA methodology, which is based largely on balance studies. The IOM sets the AI at 110 µg iodine/day for infants 0–6 months old and at 130 µg/day for those 7–12 months old; the RDA is 90 µg/day for children 1–8 yr old, 120 µg/day for those 9–13 yr, and 150 µg/day for older ages. These values correspond fairly closely to those recommended by WHO, ICCIDD, and other groups and provide a reasonable target in considering Iodine nutrition for mother and child. Positive iodine balance for the neonate and young infant, which is required to accommodate the increasing stores of the thyroid, is achieved only when the iodine intake is at least 15 µg/kg·day in full term and 30 µg/kg·day in preterm infants (10). This corresponds to an iodine intake of approximately 90 µg/day and is the present recommendation by WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD for infants and children aged 0–59 months (9).

Effects of iodine deficiency on the mother

Hypothyroxinemia, elevated serum TSH, enlargement of the thyroid (by 10–50%), and goiter are the most obvious consequences for the pregnant woman. They can be prevented by adequate iodine supplementation (14, 15). Because the increased demands for iodine continue during lactation, an iodine-deficient woman may face several years of exaggerated iodine loss and consequent goiter. Even after she stops lactation and the iodine demand decreases, her thyroid may not return to its previous size and she risks multinodular goiter and hyperthyroidism later. In iodine-sufficient countries like the United States, goiter is rarely found in pregnancy and unlikely to be related to iodine.

Iodine deficiency poses additional reproductive risks, including overt hypothyroidism, infertility, and increased abortions. Hypothyroidism causes anovulation, infertility, gestational hypertension, increased first trimester abortions, and stillbirths; all are common in iodine deficiency. Lack of iodine also has cultural and socioeconomic consequences for the mother. Infertility and fetal wastage may compromise her quality of life and her role in the family and community. If she produces a defective child, she will most likely be responsible for its long-term care, diverting her time and resources from other needs.

I would suggest having it removed and then see what happens. Good luck! :)

A woman I work with started having thyroid problems after she got her merina. She has said that her thyroid problems came from the Merina. So it might be a possibility. Take care.

B.

yes a few people have mentioned thyroid and Iodine connections with mirena, i do think it is worth us all keeping an eye on that one. certainly worth trying Kelp tablets which are a rich natural source of iodine, to see if any symptoms improve. obviously if your doctor is going to give you tablets though, don't take the kelp without talking to him first, as you could end up with too much Iodine in your system, which is as bad as not having enough!
good luck, let us know how you get on. x

When I had my IUD removed, my OB offered that it may be my thyroid causing my problems, but I thought hey, she's not listening to me that it's very obviously the IUD, it's not my thyroid. But since having it removed three weeks ago, I've only gotten worse. I've done lots of research on thyroid diseases in the past week... there is an increased risk of it 4-12 months postpartum. But I'm thinking the IUD still has some effect on it, it wouldn't make sense otherwise for everything to start right when the IUD was inserted.

I'm going to the doctor Tuesday, I'll come back here with my results when I get them. Yours may be before mine though, have you gone yet? What problems are you having?

i got mirena 4 yrs ago and i had to have my thyroid removed just over a yr ago,i blame mirena,get it out,good luck

I am sure i had to have my thyroid removed because of mirena,i got mirena in about 4 yrs ago and had to have my thyroid removed just over a yr ago,i have never had thyroid problems before,also i have gained so much weight,cysts on my ovaries,pain,i havnt worked for over a year because of all the problems i now know mirena Caused,I have to take thyroxine for the rest of my life now.how can i sue them??Thankyou
I Had it removed a few weeks ago

Hello, I just read your blog and it really hit home with me. I know you messaged this a couple of months ago, so hopefully you come back here to this site. Long story short, I had mirena about a month and then starting having horrible anxiey, fear, fatigue, some depression, hot/cold flashes, the list goes on. Anyhow, I got mirena taken out! It has been almost 4 weeks now and I do feel better, but not 100% bettter. I wanted to rule some things out so I got blood work done to test my thyroid and hormones. The thyroid test came back hypo! And now I am looking side effects from that up and am finding that I fit into that category as well with my anxiety! Anyhow, I have an appointment to see the doctor and go over my tests next week and I was just wondering what to expect. Also, any words of wisdom from you I would appreciate! How are you doing now and are you on medication?? I also had a baby just 5 months ago! Was just curious! Thanks and I hope there is hope getting back to 100%!!

MY IUD STORY:

I got my IUD inserted about 6 months ago. All of these symptoms started (hair was breaking off, I was feeling cold all the time, moody, irritable, exhausted, fatigued, ect, ect, ect.). I went to the doctor because of my hair falling out, and she tested my thyroid.

I HAD HYPOTHYROIDISM. She said, "Here! Take this pill. This will fix your thyroid and you will have to take it the rest of your life. And P.S. This has NOTHING to do with your IUD."

I don't believe it. Against doctors orders, I did not take the medicine, because against the doctors beliefs, I truly believed it was my IUD that had caused the hypothyroidism. I didn't want to take this medication, have my thyroid get better, and then get stuck taking a pill every day for the rest of my life (didn't I get on the IUD so I didn't have to take a pill??).

So, again, against doctor's requirement, I did not take my medicine. I DID, HOWEVER, get my IUD removed, immediately. And I told myself I was going to try to hold out 4-6 weeks after I got my IUD removed to get my thyroid tested again before I started taking my thyroid medicine.

4-6 weeks passed. I was feeling better. My energy/mood was noticeably better. I got my thyroid tested again.

NORMAL LEVELS! PHEW!

Doctor's message said "Thyroid levels are normal. Continue with the prescribed medication (i.e. thyroid medicine)" I then had to email back the doctor and say that I HADN'T been taking my medicine, and that this is good reason to believe they need to research the association between IUDs and Hypothyroidism.


Ladies, get your evil IUD removed! If you test positive for hypothyroidism while on the IUD (and never had it before), get the IUD OUT! Wait it out... don't take the medicine... and see if your levels improve. Doctors deny the association between the IUD and hypothyroidism. My case is evidence they may be associated! Listen to your body!