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AIBU?

....to ask if anyone else has had a "lost" Mirena?

58 replies

Runningupthathill82 · 15/01/2015 23:16

So. I went to the GP to get my Mirena removed and she said she couldn't find the strings.

Half an hour of rummaging later, with increasingly grim and uncomfortable bits of equipment, there's still no sign. Gp is certain it's still in there - I haven't seen it come out and my periods haven't 're-started - but she thinks it has "migrated." So next step is a scan, to find it.

I'm very concerned to say the least. Where the fuck is it? Why did I have no idea this could happen? How will it ever come out? And is this normal?!

Any experiences from others would be much appreciated. I may be overreacting, but I'm worried there could be potential permanent problems and perhaps a lesser chance of conceiving DC2.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

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GothMummy · 15/01/2015 23:23

Yes me.....at the 6 week post mirena fitting check my GP could not find the strings. She rummaged around searching in a rather unpleasant way too. I was sent for a scan and it was not found. The scan was internal by the way. Then they sent me for an x ray. As it was not found on the xray everyone decided it must have come out when I was bleeding.

However I remain worried and unconvinced and am worried that its still there, wedged somewhere else. I saw the coil before it was fitted and it looked pretty big, I refuse to believe it fell out and I didnt notice!

heritagewarrior · 15/01/2015 23:24

Not a Mirena, but a regular coil got up into my womb and out through the wall. An x-Ray showed it free floating in my abdomen and they were worried that the strings would get wrapped around my intestines and cause serious damage, so had to have surgery to remove it. I did have another fitted afterwards, though, and that's been fine....

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 15/01/2015 23:24

It happened twice

I must have a good immune system and expelled it due to it being a foreign object.

GothMummy · 15/01/2015 23:25

In your case though its most likely just moved up into the womb lining or higher up your cervix as your periods have not returned, try not to worry!

SophieBarringtonWard · 15/01/2015 23:29

Not a mirena but a copper coil. Same as you, went to GP to have it removed & she couldn't find the strings. Sent me to a gynae who had a rummage, couldn't find strings & sent me to a ultrasound who located it right where it should be in my womb. Then had a hysteroscopy (?) wherein my womb was slightly inflated with fluid & a camera inserted through the cervix to pinpoint it, & it was removed with super narrow forceps. I got pregnant 4 cycles later.

Chances are it's still in the right place. I did find the whole process quite alarming though but it was quite cool getting to see inside my womb!

SophieBarringtonWard · 15/01/2015 23:31

Also, I think it is fairly normal. I had a coil between DC1 and DC2, & when that was removed there was only one string, the other has wrapped itself around the coil. With my most recent one both strings had wrapped themselves up. I will get another coil after this baby though.

Ihopeyoudance · 15/01/2015 23:42

In my experience, you know if it has migrated to another part of your body as it is fucking agony!

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 15/01/2015 23:49

Do you check the loo after you done a poo.

If you don't it may have came out then.

Runningupthathill82 · 15/01/2015 23:59

Ihopeyoudance - that's the fear! Have been having awful pains but had put it down to overexercise. I'm no wimp,but have had v bad pains in my back and stomach recently. Hmmmm.

OP posts:

KatoPotato · 16/01/2015 11:56

My strings vanished, but a scan showed it was just the strings had crept up and it was in situ fine and dandy.

Removal required a tool and a consultant but all was well and I'm now 23 weeks upduffed.

IdaBlankenship · 16/01/2015 12:21

Mine went missing and GP couldn't find it. A specialist at hospital went in with a pit helmet and crampons, and managed to locate it quite easily - I think he was rather disappointed he didn't get to use his fancy camera equipment actually

wyamc · 16/01/2015 12:37

Mine couldn't be found. In the end I had it removed under GA after 10 medical appointments where various people dug around a bit and either couldn't see it or couldn't get it out. I had no pain at all, I think the strings had just gone upwards and it had migrated north a bit.

It was a pain having to have it out under GA though as it means you need someone with you for 24 hours and then I was signed off work for a week.

Hopefully they'll find yours with better equipment and be able to retrieve it. I think that's usually the case.

strawberrysalsa · 16/01/2015 13:08

I am still waiting for mine to be removed...appointment to get it removed last July. Since then I have had hospital appointments, a scan and lots of messing around and, fingers crossed, it should be removed next week.

I'm not expecting a specialist with a pith helmet, I pictured little dwarves singing 'hi ho' as they crawl inside to dig away and remove the d**m thing.

Enjoyingmycoffee1981 · 16/01/2015 13:10

Mine fell out. It was only chance I saw it.

Enjoyingmycoffee1981 · 16/01/2015 13:11

Wyamc.. You were signed off work a week because you had a general???

Monmouth · 16/01/2015 13:22

We scan numerous people for 'lost coils' 95% of the time they are still there.

When they are fitted the strings are cut to a certain length, they don't like to leave them too long. Once you have had the coil in for a while it will often move up a bit, if the threads were left a bit short then that's enough to no longer feel them.

Coils can be expelled without you noticing, if it's not there on the scan you will have and abdominal x-ray and it would definitely be seen if still inside you.

A coil can end up in the abdominal cavity but that is rare.

wyamc · 16/01/2015 14:43

Enjoying - yes I was automatically given a slip from the hospital signing me off for a week. I did feel very shakey for a few days following.

LittleMachine · 16/01/2015 14:48

Not me but my SIL. They found it up at the top of her uterus and she had surgery to remove it.

HellKitty · 16/01/2015 14:54

My strings disappeared and the doctor couldn't find them. DP announced at a family meal that he had broken my fanny...

Anyway, another check when on my period and she popped it right out. Hopefully your strings have just gone for a wander.

atticusclaw · 16/01/2015 14:57

When mine was put in the GP went very red and then confessed she'd cut the strings too short and they'd immediately disappeared. That's going to be fun getting it out then!

Writerwannabe83 · 16/01/2015 15:41

When I had my routine check 8 weeks after insertion the GP could not see the syringe so I was referred to the hospital for an a ultrasound. The scan showed that my Mirena was in place but that the strings had recoiled back up my cervix and drawn into the womb. I was told it wouldn't affect the Mirena working so not to worry.

I saw my GP three years later to have it removed for TTC purposes and I explained that the strings were not visible. She had an instrument that was designed to locate lost strings which is like a mascara brush. It works by being inserted through the cervix and bring gently spun round in the hope that the bristles will detect and sweep up the lost strings. The GP had no luck though so I was referred to a Sexual Health clinic to see an obstetrician who specialised in such problems.

I turned up for my appointment and was put in a hospital gown and the obstetrician performed another scan. My legs were then hoisted up in stirrups and a nurse in scrubs then appeared with a theatre trolley laden with all sorts of instruments. She then held the scanning device on my abdomen whilst the obstetrician used the image to guide him. I won't lie, it wasn't pleasant being taken out and certainly not dignified.

God I squeezed my DH's hand so hard!!!

blibblibs · 16/01/2015 15:57

Mine couldn't be located during a routine smear. Nurse had a rumage around, sent me to Doctor who also had a rumage and then on for a scan.

Dr was pretty sure it was where it was meant to be as I hadn't started bleeding again, and it is where it should be - but it won't come out.

Got sent to FP because they have a special hook to get them out but they couldn't do it either. The next step is GA to get it out. Except we moved areas a few weeks ago so no doubt I'll have to start the process all over again

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Runningupthathill82 · 16/01/2015 18:51

Thanks for all the responses, tis very reassuring to know I'm not alone! Can't quite believe it's so common though, Mirena certainly isn't as simple and stress free as they'd have us believe.

Hoping it doesn't take months to get this resolved, as I'd just got my head round ttc!

OP posts:

MushroomSoup · 16/01/2015 19:20

I got pregnant, that's how we found out mine had vanished!

Do you use tampons? Apparently it's not unheard of for the strings to get entangled in the fibres of a tampon and be pulled out.

Runningupthathill82 · 16/01/2015 19:38

I don't use tampons, no - I haven't had a period since having the mirena, so no need...

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