awayoutwest
09-17-2010, 01:32 AM
Hi all~
Hoping I might get some advice from those who have been dealing with hair loss that they believe was caused by the IUD Mirena. I had the Mirena inserted in early March 2010 and by mid-June I was noticing a dramatic increase in shedding, especially while brushing or washing my hair—this happened literally overnight. I had already been feeling just plain crappy on Mirena--headaches every single day. Never did I wake up not feeling like I was hung-over or had morning sickness (quite a combo, huh?). Plus my face was a mess with acne like I was 14 again and I swear my brain just quit working. I could hardly form a complete thought. And I think there might have been 3 days in 3 months when I wasn't spotting. My blood pressure was high and I was exhausted all the time. But it was the hair loss that made me really sit up and take notice. I think I knew it was the Mirena before I even did the famous "Mirena, hair loss" search. Once I came across this site, I made my appointment to have the Mirena removed. I can go on and on about how my OBGYN said the hair loss was not from the Mirena but whatever...I have no doubt that it was. Once the Mirena was out (we're talking by the next morning), I woke up headache-free. My blood pressure is down to its normal low. I was hoping the shedding would go away just as quickly. However, here we are about 10+ weeks later and I am still sick to my stomach every time I have to brush or wash my hair and come away with handfuls of hair. I actually thought it was getting better...I had been using Clinicure and taking Biotin (among other B vitamins), and was definitely losing less hair (although still way more than normal). But in the last few days, it seems to have kicked back up to the same sickening amount as before. The interesting thing I have noted is that this has corresponded exactly with my period, which makes me even more sure that my hormones are totally out of whack. My question is...what now? What is my next step? My primary doctor ran blood tests ("normal"). Do I go back? And ask her to do what? Do I go to a dermatologist? Someone else? Wait it out? Will it eventually stop? What questions do I ask and who do I ask them of? My husband has been quietly supportive until the other night when I made him stand there and watch me comb my hair when I go out of the shower. His eyes were huge when he asked me, "That's what happens every time? You have to do something." Yes. Yes, I do have to do SOMETHING but what next?
P.S. I am a 33 year-old, mother of two with no history of hereditary hair loss. I chose Mirena to begin with because I was “almost” sure I was done having kids but wanted to wait for my husband to get home from his impending deployment with the military before we decided for sure. Now, what I’ve got to show for my efforts is significantly less hair and a husband with a vasectomy appointment.
Hoping I might get some advice from those who have been dealing with hair loss that they believe was caused by the IUD Mirena. I had the Mirena inserted in early March 2010 and by mid-June I was noticing a dramatic increase in shedding, especially while brushing or washing my hair—this happened literally overnight. I had already been feeling just plain crappy on Mirena--headaches every single day. Never did I wake up not feeling like I was hung-over or had morning sickness (quite a combo, huh?). Plus my face was a mess with acne like I was 14 again and I swear my brain just quit working. I could hardly form a complete thought. And I think there might have been 3 days in 3 months when I wasn't spotting. My blood pressure was high and I was exhausted all the time. But it was the hair loss that made me really sit up and take notice. I think I knew it was the Mirena before I even did the famous "Mirena, hair loss" search. Once I came across this site, I made my appointment to have the Mirena removed. I can go on and on about how my OBGYN said the hair loss was not from the Mirena but whatever...I have no doubt that it was. Once the Mirena was out (we're talking by the next morning), I woke up headache-free. My blood pressure is down to its normal low. I was hoping the shedding would go away just as quickly. However, here we are about 10+ weeks later and I am still sick to my stomach every time I have to brush or wash my hair and come away with handfuls of hair. I actually thought it was getting better...I had been using Clinicure and taking Biotin (among other B vitamins), and was definitely losing less hair (although still way more than normal). But in the last few days, it seems to have kicked back up to the same sickening amount as before. The interesting thing I have noted is that this has corresponded exactly with my period, which makes me even more sure that my hormones are totally out of whack. My question is...what now? What is my next step? My primary doctor ran blood tests ("normal"). Do I go back? And ask her to do what? Do I go to a dermatologist? Someone else? Wait it out? Will it eventually stop? What questions do I ask and who do I ask them of? My husband has been quietly supportive until the other night when I made him stand there and watch me comb my hair when I go out of the shower. His eyes were huge when he asked me, "That's what happens every time? You have to do something." Yes. Yes, I do have to do SOMETHING but what next?
P.S. I am a 33 year-old, mother of two with no history of hereditary hair loss. I chose Mirena to begin with because I was “almost” sure I was done having kids but wanted to wait for my husband to get home from his impending deployment with the military before we decided for sure. Now, what I’ve got to show for my efforts is significantly less hair and a husband with a vasectomy appointment.