Mirena IUD & Depression - Follow Up

Last year I posted about my unfortunate experience with the Mirena IUD triggering depression. I recently looked at the traffic report for this site and realized that 90% of people who visit my blog get here by searching for "Mirena +IUD +Depression".

I still don't think there is enough information in the public domain about the risks of Mirena re-triggering depression in women with a history of depression.

Of course, if you want more information about a medication, you can always look it up on the internet, right? Not so fast... if you live in Canada, the Canadian Mirena website takes you to a secure location where you need to register along with the DIN (Drug Information Number) of the product "you have been prescribed".

That means that unless you have been prescribed the Mirena IUD and have the package sitting in your hand, you cannot log on to the Mirena Canadian website. How's that for transparency?

If you are fortunate enough to be able to download the product monograph you will find the following:

Patients with a history of emotional disturbances, especially the depressive type, may be more prone to have a recurrence of depression while using MIRENA. In cases of a serious recurrence, consideration should be given to removing MIRENA, since the depression may be drug-related. (Mirena Product Monograph, p.9)

It is interesting to note that the Mirena US site makes absolutely no mention of depression whatsoever. The US site also does not list depression as a contraindication, or as important medical history to tell your doctor about. On the other hand, the Mirena UK site lists depression as the third bullet point under "most common reactions".

So, if you are concerned that your depression might be a result of your Mirena IUD - you are not alone!

Tell me your story - please talk about your experience with Mirena and depression in comments section below.

school is in session

The weather seemed to change overnight. Fall is in the air and it's time to get back to school. This term I am supposed to complete my comprehensive exams - eek!

I think I'm ready, but there is a little part of me that would like to do more coursework...mostly just to buy more time. The good news is that my research is on track and for the first time in forever, I am actually feeling well. [smiley]

diagnosing behind my back

You may recall a few months ago I saw an Internist who discussed the possibility of a diagnosis of fibromyalgia with me...I was not impressed.

I just asked for a copy of her report to my family physician and was shocked to find the following statement "I have diagnosed this patient with fibromyalgia". WTF??

When we discussed fibromyalgia during my appointment, she seemed to agree with me that it did not apply to me (fatigue being my dominant complaint) and even wondered aloud about whether or not fibromyalgia even exists as a clinical entity. She never once touched me during the appointment. In answer to my questions about the validity of 'trigger points', I was told me that "too much knowledge" can be a dangerous thing.

Why did she not tell me her diagnosis in person?

It feels disrespectful to have a diagnosis on my medical file that does not in any way reflect what was said during my appointment. It feels disrespectful to be given a diagnosis that the doctor herself doubts even exists!

But most of all, I am angry that she chose to write this in her report; avoiding saying this conclusion directly to me, face to face.

low ferritin?

My ferritin is low.

It used to be a measly "8", now it's in the low 20s. Despite numerous investigations, no one is quite sure why my ferritin isn't rising since I have been supplementing for over two years now.

One of my physicians assures me that low ferritin does not cause fatigue if other blood tests do not indicate anemia.

My research has found conflicting information. But the fact is, I am crazy fatigued most days...and I have low ferritin.

Any ideas on how to raise it? Would dessicated liver tablets help?

BTW, my folate and B12 are all well within range.

You know you're in trouble when...

Fatigue is a common complaint of women in their 30's. When a woman presents with this routine symptom, she will be likely first be assessed for the 'usual suspects', such as:

- hypothyroid

- anemia

- pregnancy

- B12 deficiency

- diabetes

No answers there? Let's move on to the next possible culprits...

- sleep apnea

- depression

- autoimmune disease

But what if all these tests fail to reveal an obvious cause? What if you've become the medical equivalent to a 'cold case'?

Congratulations! You now have a "medically unexplained illness".

You may not be able to work, study or get out of bed more than a few hours a day - but hey - at least your lab results are within normal range.

When your Internist asks, "have you ever considered homeopathy?", you know you're in trouble.

turns out, I do get "aura"!

I always thought that I didn't get an aura before my migraines. I was actually a little jealous of the people who got flashing lights, zig-zags, and a host of other interesting "heads-up" symptoms that a migraine was on its way.

The other day I realized that about 20 minutes before the start of my headaches, I get a hard to describe "prickly", "pins and needles", "electric" kind of feeling from my occipital area around to my eyes.

I suppose I always thought that this was actually the headache (as it is uncomfortable), but I've recently learned that if I can throw enough medication at it while I'm in this "prickly" phase, I can prevent it from getting worse.

Does anyone else get "aura" that isn't visual?

teaching empathy?

A visting scholar, Dr. Arno Kumagai from the University of Michigan Medical School gave a fascinating presentation to our faculty a few weeks ago.

Dr. Kumagai is the director of an innovative program for first-year medical students called the "Family Centred Experience", where students are matched for a year with families dealing with chronic illness.

At the end of the year, the students create some form of artistic representation of the illness experience.

Please take a moment to listen to this mp3. I wish I could give proper credits, but was only able to find it listed as: Ben, Heiko, and Cailin
The song is about migraine experience, it left me in tears. These students are amazing.

mp3 Performance of "Lullaby", scroll down page to see