Freaking out about copper coil

[CopperCoil1]

I had this fitted today. I was roughly considering it but my hand was forced as I needed emergency contraception post ovulation due to an unfortunate set of circumstances I won't get into!

I was vaguely aware of horror stories but have now read a lot more and am freaking out.

Stories of infection turning into sepsis needing hysterectomy and all sorts! As well as copper intolerance causing anxiety, insomnia and other MH issues.

Also really worried about flooding and much heavier periods. My next period is due on the day before a huge PR event I am hosting and I am imagining flooding incontrollably in front of colleagues and customers. I just won't know until then how I am reacting to it.

Being a woman sucks so much, and I'm deep down raging at DH. He needs to get the snip, I've done pregnancy and childbirth I just can't be dealing with this!

In the meantime, should I just get it removed before my event or stick it out and hope for the best?

It’s called cognitive bias. You find things that suit your narrative and is a common cognitive distortion.

Very common. Don’t worry, give it time and you can always change your mind. If you need reassurance for that day. Period pants plus pad/extremely heavy tampon. Should do the trick.

I'm on my second copper coil, really happy with it, only had it removed last time to try for baby, had it put in again two months after DD2 was born. it didn't make much difference to my periods, just day two was heavier, but not that much. This time I did get heavy discharge for. Few weeks and a dull ache, but eased off and all was fine.

That's great thank you.

@kudja Interesting about the cup. I saw a couple of people on old threads saying not to use a cup with the coil. Good to know that's not been your experience as I'd like to use one.

Still no pain or ache this morning which I'm pleased about!

I always use a cup and have a copper coil too. I've never heard anything about not and not had any problems either

I started my period a few days early and it is definitely heavier and more painful, but manageable.

I have however been nauseous for a couple of days which is very unusual for me. Could it be linked? Did anyone have this?

A little concerned seeing as I used it as emergency contraception but with all the blood I've been losing surely that rules out a pregnancy?

I gagged changing my LO's nappy this morning and they have never bothered me before. The smell of antibac made me so nauseous earlier too. And when DH talked to me about eating fish at lunch I could have barfed. In fact just picturing food right now makes me feel queasy.

Urgh. Awful.

Copper iud... Please tell me I'm not alone.

I got the copper iud fitted April 2021 and since then (well earliest photo I have is December 21) my eye lids, coincidentally around my period become very itchy and swell a little. Last month they swelled alot. I could barely open my right eye and it lasted for days. Doctor thought it was a bacterial infection, took antibiotics (apparently I'm now allergic to them, face swelled and had rash) so I came off them. That's when I looked at previous photos of my eyes swelling and noticed it was always on or just before my period it happened, so I googled it. Google suggested premenopause, now I'm only 28 so a little young but it could still happen. I researched more into premenopausal symptoms and out of a list of 34 I have 24. I've now gone down the rabbit hole of symptoms of the copper coil and overall I have 30 different symptoms I've noticed over the months and years and they all could or could not link to the copper coil instead.

My question is... Does anyone else experience these symptoms. Do anyone else's eyelids get itchy and swell around there period?

I have blood tests booked and a doctor's appointment for hormonal imbalance but I fear they will come back normal and I will be sent on my way.

New here.. did not mean to post on this thread sorry, was trying to start my own 🤦🏻‍♀️

I would add myself to the list of women who have copper coils , think it worked out 18yrs in total until well after menopause , I was reluctant to give it up , the thought of sex without it was terrifying at first 🤣.

@Emmarjayne this is so helpful to me as I have been suffering such bad itchiness too on and off but in the last week its been near unbearable and am at a loss what it could be. This is the week before my period and I identify so much with your list. The worst is the tingling/feeling bugs on me, mostly on feet, legs and hands. But I do occasionally feel my face itches, particularly around my eye lids. I did briefly wonder if it could be linked to the copper coil.

Like you, I mostly find perimenopause when looking on Googling but I am dubious (I'm 38).

I was hoping the itching would pass but its causing me such anxiety and struggle to concentrate that I'm going to call the GP tomorrow. I had blood tests a couple of months ago already for the headaches/nausea/vertigo and they were all normal. The GP dismissed it as "probably hormonal".

Please keep me posted with what you find on your side.

I just tallied up and have 18 of those symptoms, sorry you're suffering too. This includes itchiness in the ears, so random, I had never had this before!

My itchy eyes starts just before my period but the swelling usually occurs when on my period. Well that's what the picture dates show compared with my period tracker app. It's only my eye lids and under my eyes that are itchy though and then I wake up a new days later and they are puffy. Last month I woke up and they were completely swollen (I had many stares in public, someone even thought I'd been in a fight) the swelling took 2 days to come down and then they were just very itchy to the point I just wanted to tear my eyes out. However my actually eyes are fine, no scratchiness or dryness it's just the skin around my eyes. The tingling/electric feeling is in my hands and feet but I kept putting it down to my job or wearing shoes too long. A few weeks ago I had to rip my shoes off because the skin of my feet hurt so badly and even just with socks on it felt like little tiny shocks through the skin, my hands just feel tight and the skin stings when I move them.

I went in after finally getting an appointment with the nurse who prescribed me antibiotics and instantly showed her a timeline of my eyes linked to my period and straight up told her it's either thyroids, hormone imbalance or premenopause.

I doubt the blood test will show anything but i will happily keep you updated on them and on what the doctor says when I mention the copper coil.

I get all sorts of symptoms in the run up to my period. It's not so bad these days, but a sample from my 30's that aren't already on your list included muscle spasms, sudden alcohol intolerance, hallucinations and sleepwalking, the latter 2 mostly if I was experiencing outside stress.

I do find my eyelids get a bit swollen in the run up to my period. It's related to water retention and usually goes away by day 3.

In my case, I can say with some certainty that the symptoms are completely unrelated to having the copper coil. Bodies just do weird things over the course of the menstrual cycle. Best get it checked out if you're worried, though.

@TheNestedIf most of those symptoms actually happen throughout the month. It's only really my eye symptoms that happen just before/on period. And I've only really noticed any of those symptoms since I had the coil fitted. They didn't come on straight away and I haven't really thought about it till my eyes swelling last month. But then slowly I put pieces together and it's looking very suspicious.

I had mine on for 7 years. Acne, heavy periods, serious pain. Fuck knows why I kept it in so long. Eventually it started to disintegrate in me and the metal coils were coming out in discharge lumps, had to get it removed straight away. Pulling an eroded coil from an infected uterus was hellish. Cocodamol, and 2 lots of strong antibiotics and a few days til it settled and I felt like a new woman. Loads of energy. Skin cleared up. Periods went from 8 days to 2. Just a far better quality of life! Never again.

I chose mirena coil over copper one. At first it was agony and I went to see nurse to take it out, she advised me to try it a bit longer so I did and it's been brilliant! No periods, pmt, cramps, wish I'd had it done a long time ago! X

Interesting some of these symptoms I have experienced in my teens and early twenties way before I went anywhere near any form of contraception. I then started the pill and some symptoms disappeared and others appeared or worsened.
I then stopped the pill and symptoms again changed.
I am now on the copper coil and some things have improved since stopping the pill and others have gone downhill.
I would say at the moment I match 14 of the symptoms list, but some of these I had experienced as a teen/young adult before I was on any contraception

I would give it a chance. You are more likely to hear about the bad stories as all the people with no issues are just happily getting on with their lives, not giving their coil a second thought.

I love mine. It's my 3rd. 17 years of no issues.

Had one for 10 years and it was brilliant. My favourite contraception

I'm a big fan. I've had 3 without any problems whatsoever.

I have been to the doctor's and I have an update .. blood tests came back normal (no surprise there). Doctor was completely clueless, his answer to me thinking all my symptoms were the copper coil was "why haven't you had it removed then" I even asked if it could possibly be copper toxicity and he asked me if you could get copper toxicity from the coil (I was completely gobsmacked). He has sent me for more blood tests to check my b12, copper, iron (again) and to check for premenopause. I tried to book into a sexual health clinic to get it removed but they all closed early this afternoon. My eyes are so sore that I just want to cry but can't because it makes them worse so I just 10 minutes ago pulled the coil out myself. If my symptoms go then I know it was the coil. If they don't go then I will get the coil put in again.

Omg you pulled your own coil out?? Woah! I would be terrified. Did it hurt? Are you ok?

@Swiftbushome I'm absolutely fine, if anything I feel lighter in a way. I was terrified at first but if I waited I would be waiting for weeks and I can't cope with the symptoms much longer. I googled if I could take it out myself and read alot saying I could and how to do it. I laid down put a pillow under my bum and found the string and pulled gently (online it said if it hurt then to stop) it didn't hurt but I did keep dropping the string. I felt the tip of the coil poking out. I pulled a little more and out it slipped, didn't hurt at all. I was expecting the pain I felt when it was put in but nothing. So now I wait to see if my symptoms lessen.

Oh my god I can't believe you pulled it out yourself! Are you OK?

Did it improve your symptoms at all? My itchiness was slightly better for a couple of weeks but has now come back with a vengeance. It is driving me crazy! Somethings off and all I can think of as the culprit is the coil!

I'm absolutely fine. It didn't hurt at all. I'm not advising people do it themselves. I was completely prepared to stop and wait for it to be removed if it did hurt at all but it didn't.

Too soon to see if symptoms have relieved themself. I've had another blood test today to test for copper toxicity, premenopause and other things. So need to wait for them results to come back. Won't know about swollen eyes till I'm due on next, which isn't for another month now. Think it's going to take awhile for my body to feel "normal" again if the coil was causing everything.