I had the Paraguard for 6 and 3 years. The first time, the effects were gradual. I had just had a baby and I didn’t immediately see the effects because of the already huge change in my life. Before the IUD I had a type of photographic memory, I could remember distinctly things I had read. I’m an introvert and thus living inside my mind is a fairly common thing for me.
Within a couple years I was going back to school here and there and it was insanely hard. Like I couldn’t even do basic high school math. My brain wasn’t just a fog it was full on smog. I couldn’t thing, focus or remember things. The beginning of my son’s life is literally a blank. But still I didnt realize it was the IUD because the doctors were ADAMANT that the IUD couldn’t possibly be the problem. My periods became these Niagara falls nightmares. And I struggled to lose weight. I didn’t necessarily GAIN weight, but I struggled to lose it.
After my 2nd kid 6years later we got the IUD again and the effect tripled and quickened. Migraines, heavy and sporadic periods (like it would stop and start), hormonal problems, brain smog, anxiety and depression on steroids and the weight I gained during pregnancy has REFUSED to come off. It’s been 3 years and I’ve had since had another baby but no more IUD. I can tell you, after getting it removed I had an almost withdrawal for a week afterwards where I just felt agitated and sick. I have hyperemesis so the pregnancy was difficult but now that I’m done with that I have definitely noticed a distinct difference in my brain and in my body.
I’m still struggling to lose weight but I can feel feel the difference in my body. My brain gets better every single day. My period has almost completely returned to normal. virtually no migraines. But I did have the IUD for a LONG time and the effect on my body is going to take a while to heal.
The IUD caused me to feel like I was literally losing my mind, like Alzheimer’s. It was the worst feeling in the world. And the changes in my period especially toward the end were like a nightmare. I didn’t even want to leave the house it was so bad. I’m still trying to get my life back but I get the feeling it’s going to take time.
Veronica
Submitted on: 2023/06/08
