I can't cope and I don't know what to do - Mirena and migraines

[NoWaterOnlyWine]

Posting for traffic and feeling really pathetic

I'm currently getting 2-3 migraines a week, varying in awfulness. They started up as soon as I had my coil fitted back in May. I was prescribed cosine and naproxen and basically told just to give it a few months to settle. It's just getting worse. I bleed daily, have constant heavy cramping and my entire body is tense and aches.

This migraine started last night around five, and I've been sick about six times since. Sleep hasn't helped, neither have lain killers and I've called in sick to work (first time) and it's a really bitchy environment and I know I'm going to be 'faking' or being dramatic. I would go in, the pain is manageable, but I can't stop vomiting.

In my area, you have to be referred to the hospital to have a coil taken out or removed. I booked in to have it taken out four weeks ago, and my appointment isn't until the 20th of November - so I've still got another month of these shit symptoms. I'm on the cancellation list.I just want to cry, actually am crying, because I can't cope like this. I either have a migraine or I'm getting over one, it's constant.

I've managed to get a doctors appointment this afternoon, about the symptoms, because I know they won't take it out for me. I'm wondering if there is anything else I can ask for I can't face four more weeks of this.

The doctor can give you an injection to stop the vomiting, then your pain meds have a chance to work. This is ridiculous, they should be treating your coil removal as an emergency. I used to have hormonal migraines like this, they are completely debilitating.

I had a coil cause me problems like this (luckly I don't vomit with my migraines normally so can take meds ok).

You need sumatriptain injection or Zomig injection. Migraine drugs take by injection like an epie pen. This will help for now then an urgent refural to have your coil removed.

I got mine removed quickly but luckly hear the doctors do it. It then took a while to charm down, I've still had other issues with my hormones but think that's age related.

I'm glad you're seeing the doctor today.

What bond of idiot prescribed codeine and naproxen for migraine? It's not on the approved list for dealing with it!

You are likely to be given a triptan. It's unlikely you'll get an injection as you would need to be shown how to administer and I doubt they'll have them at the surgery, but they may prescribe you the nasal spray because you can dose that yourself.

You should either ask for anti nausea pills or buy Buccastem over the counter - it might be cheaper to buy them if you pay for prescriptions. Can anyone go and get them now for you? You tuck them between your gum and cheek so you don't have to swallow them.

Oh yes I forgot about the naisel spray or the melts that go under the tounge. Silverhair is right though you shouldn't have codeine for migraines it's a big No.

I've been prescribed codeine for migraines for about 12 years now.

Do you have a sexual health clinic in your area? You should be able to have it removed there, depending on how busy it is you may get it done as a walk in or be given an appointment, hopefully sooner than 4 weeks.

Thank you all.

The clinic here is every other week, and they do the referrals to one of the five hospitals in the area. They won't remove or insert them. I did cry, a lot. But there's nothing they can do, apparently is not an emergency. I just feel so helpless.

They've prescribed sumatriptan, and suggested I try some migramax. Also booked in for a blood test as the doctor was concerned about anaemia.

Going to out myself completely. I'm in Oxfordshire if anyone can recommend a clinic that'll remove it.

I honestly don't know but I'm furious they're letting this happen to you!

Been there. Mine wasn’t causing migraines but agonising contractions, constantly. I had to wait a couple of months for an appointment to have it removed (after they’d already insisted they had to wait until 3 months). But they couldn’t get it out as the strings were cut too short.

I had to be referred to the hospital to have it removed under sedation except they didn’t sedate me, and couldn’t get it out either.

In the end I needed a GA to have it removed - by the time they got it out I’d had it for an entire year. I’d lost my job and was on huge doses of morphine. They’re happy to put them in but don’t give a shit if it goes wrong.

In my county FPCs can remove them - can you go to a neighbouring county if they do the same? Could get it done quicker? I’d have gone across the country or further to get it done, although I’m not sure that’s feasible

A GUM clinic should be able to remove it. I had the Mirena and it was the worst contraception I've ever used in terms of side effects. I can't offer any advice on the migraines other than what is above, but I understand what you're going through. I hope you get it sorted

@ems137 do they work for you? How often are you taking them? They are currently not approved for being prescribed for migraine by NICE due to rebound headache. No opioid is. I don't know when that advice started, but I used to be prescribed Migraleve which is co-codamol, but that was decades ago. It's not recommended anymore. There are far more effective options available now.

Hope the sumatriptan works soon OP!! It should be pretty quick and with a bit of luck it will knock you out for a quick sleep and you'll wake up in a lot less pain.

silver I think the reason I've been allowed them for so long is that I've been pregnant or breastfeeding for the vast majority of those years and couldn't take triptans. I find that if I feel a migraine coming on and I catch it quickly with codeine it can stop it in its tracks (not always but lots). I get quite a lot of migraines and the doctor has said as soon as I've managed to get the 16 month old off the breast he'll try beta-blockers but I also have asthma which complicates things too 🙄 lack of sleep is a HUGE trigger for migraines for me which isn't helped by having 2 bad sleepers!!

Why on earth won’t your GP remove it?? Mine did - it took less than a second

GP won't remove it because they 'don't deal with coils'. I don't know if it's lack of training or what, they just sent me to the clinic.

I'm going to try and get some sleep. Then I'm going to call around a few in Wiltshire and see if anyone in a clinic there would take it out. Thank you for suggesting other counties nearby, I really didn't think of that.

I've also spoken to my auntie who's going to try to see if she can get me in at her surgery next week if I can manage an hour and a half drive hoping she rings me back saying she can get me in on Monday when I'm off work anyway.

I'm so sorry that happened to you sinkgirl.

@ems137 strange then that they'd go straight to beta blockers when there are other options that aren't contraindicated for asthma. Have you had a look at the migraine pathway for your local NHS group? By way of example, here's the one for mine: southwest.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/formulary/chapters/4.-central-nervous-system/migraine

Have you looked to see if there is a sexual health clinic near you that does it? Try letstalkaboutit.nhs.co.uk put your postcode in, select a clinic then select the service (coil removal) might also be worth calling them.

I'm so sorry your having such a hard time and gutted that it's not being treated as an emergency!

silver I've had migraines since i was a really small child, I remember being about 5/6 and suffering quite badly some times. I never received any treatment until I was old enough to go to the doctors myself and push for it in my late teens.

Since then (when not pregnant obviously) I've tried, sumatriptan & rizatriptan as things to take when having an attack as well as being advised/given naproxen, aspirin and soluble paracetamol. And quite a few preventative tablets, some of them were amytriptaline, pizotofen and topamax. I went back to doctors a few weeks ago after having a really bad attack at the weekend and he actually mentioned cluster headaches too. I've seen 2 different neurologists in the past 15 years who haven't been much more helpful than the doctors tbh. I was also referred for Botox 4 years ago but a few weeks before the appt I discovered I was pregnant.

I had a mirena coil for menhorragia - menopause related
I needed to be weaned off norethisterone (after having a blood transfusion) so mirena was prescribed
I had it inserted at hospital - with 5 injections of local anaesthetic as it was so bad
But my GP practice removed it - a prescribing nurse had been trained to do this and I was sooo scared that it would hurt, or she wouldn't be able to do it
But she did it really well - quickly and smoothly 
If it comes to it - what about a private clinic and pay to have it done?

I paid to have the implant removed as I couldn't deal with the bleeding hormonal carp any more. I paid £150 at a London clinic. Best money I ever spent!

Poor you. I was lucky that I could have the mirena removed quickly. I think the fact that I was depressed and suicidal helped (although all the doctors deny any link between the mirena and depression..)

My advice for migraines is to take sumatriptan as soon as you feel a migraine coming. If I wait even a few minutes it doesn't help. Lay down with an ice pack under your neck, or alternate between ice and a hot water bottle. Make sure you're getting enough iron in your diet, and cut down on sugar.
Good luck.

Managed to get an appointment on Monday afternoon to have it taken out in another county - DM has offered to drive me which is a huge relief, not sure I'd make it there safely.

Thank you all so much for the advice and support. The GP and clinic I visited a couple of weeks ago have made me feel like a total wimp over this.

The mirena coil made me so very ill. They force it on womenas a cheap alternative to sterilisation or a hysterectomy,but fail to tell you ofthe complications and health issues it brings. Do you know the drs get a bonus for each coil that is fittedand kept in over 6 months... i had to threaten to rip it out myself before they buckled and took it out. Felt pretty much normal a week or so after having it out. Hope you feel better soon .

So pleased you are getting sorted. If this happens to anyone else, rather than googling GUM clinics (which on the whole dont exist on their own any more), try 'sexual health services' instead. Its the contraception service you want rather than GUM, and almost everywhere now, the two are integrated. There is a sexual health service in Oxford: www.sexualhealthoxfordshire.nhs.uk/contraception/

All they do is tug on the strings to pull it out.

I’d be tempted to do it myself