Coil removal without the torture

[LostInTheLaw]

I had a coil fitted yesterday. Holy sweet baby Jesus, that was amongst the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Even with an injection into my cervix. I fainted, sweated through my clothes and nearly threw up.

its not settling at all and the consultant who fitted it reckons it’s where it should be. It’s triggered a whole load of anxiety around the botched delivery of my stillborn son. So, in what must seem like the world’s quickest decision, I want it out.

But I want as much anaesthesia as you can get without having to go under general. I’m in Norfolk but can anyone recommend somewhere I can get it removed with anaesthesia- I’ve found one place in London that will do it with gas and air so I might book there but anyone, any recommendations? Within about 3 hour drive from Norwich would be good but given last night’s extreme pain and panic attack it needs to go.

Coil insertion is horrid. I completely agree. Removal OTOH is virtually nothing. All I feel is the speculum.

IME the coil takes a few days to settle. It's like your uterus recognises that there's a foreign object there and wants to push it out. But then you habituate and your uterus stops complaining. It gets better day by day.

I now get a dose of diazepam before my coil change, as well as paracetamol and ibuprofen, and it is not nearly as bad as the earlier ones. Absolutely tolerable.

I have never had any anaesthetic for this - the mere thought of an injection into my cervix and it flees up to hide behind my bellybutton.

Mine was horrendous, I was off work for 3 days. But it’s fine now. Just watching as I’ll need it out at some point and they have already said they want to do it in hospital.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why can’t we say this is not acceptable we must be able to devise something better?

I find the insertion horrendous but the removal was fine -I only felt the speculum.

Same for me. Insertion was awful and I was in pain for a few days afterwards.

I got mine out recently and the nurse put the speculum in, found the strings, told me to cough (lol!) and it was out. A bit uncomfortable but nothing like it was going in.

I hope it settles down for you OP but if you do decide to get it out, best of luck with finding somewhere.

The injection into the cervix was described to me as being like a little scratch. Was it hell. It was absolutely awful and I really would not recommend that at all. Also I was told that I would have some discomfort. What I am currently experiencing is nothing like discomfort, it is more like my innards are desperately trying to scrabble their way out to be outards. And why the fuck is anyone expected to put up with this shit? Men definitely wouldn’t. Nor would they expect to be patronised in the way I was yesterday and today.

so it’s definitely coming out asap (as in at some point in the next few days) and your stories of removal being better than insertion are hopeful. This was the place I was going to try https://clarewellclinics.co.uk/about-us/#our-team as they offer gas and air. The private hospital that put it in (BUPA insurance through work - only place I could find locally that talked about anaesthesia for insertion although I was given that almost as a “favour”) said it would cost about £3k to have it removed under sedation so that’s not happening as I don’t have £3k lurking.

as if, men would accept the provision of anaesthesia for a vasectomy being framed as a favour!

The strings will eventually curl up near your cervix, but right now you should be able to feel them very easily if you just reach up inside yourself. You could probably pull it out yourself. Not that I'm recommending that, but it's certainly something that women do.

But, seriously, take some OTC pain relief and give yourself a few days. Do whatever soothes you. Your body and mind are very naturally reacting against a traumatic experience.

IME having a Mirena has been worthwhile.

Honestly, getting it out takes a few seconds and doesn’t hurt at all - it’s completely different to getting it put in. You don’t even need painkillers never mind anaesthetic.

I'm not surprised an injection in your cervix was awful. I'd have thought they should have used some sort of numbing cream before jabbing a needle in. Christ. I can't actually bear the thought of it, so I have no idea how you coped.

They don't sound like they looked after you very well OP. I've found myself that experienced nurses that do a lot of coils are very good at them for want of a better phrase & they are very quick. Still unpleasant on the way in mind.

This.

If you want it out quickly just book in wherever has the first available appointment. Removal is nothing like insertion - just cough and it’s out.

I don't want to patronise you @LostInTheLaw and I am so sorry you are suffering so much pain. So apologies in advance if I sound patronising.

I know 4 or 5 young women - 25 to 30 - who have had the mirena coil over this past 2 years, and they were in floods of tears with the pain, and on tons of cocodomol, and naproxen, and were climbing the walls with the agony.

But after 3-4 days it settled right down. A week later it was like nothing was in there!

I have heard from some women also, that they have struggled to get it removed when they went back to the GP, as they insist you spend a few days getting used to it first.

I hope your pain subsides really soon, but you haven't give it much of a chance yet.

Despite what some posters have said DO NOT try to remove it yourself.

If you want it out contact the clinic who put it in. I had one fitted and was in agony immediately afterwards. I got home sobbing as it felt like I was in labour. Dosed up on pain relief as was told expect some discomfort lol. Three days later I was still in agony and when sitting it felt like I had a tampon not inserted properly so something was digging in. I called the clinic and she got me in that afternoon.

My body had rejected the coil and expelled it into the vaginal canal which is why it hurt sitting down! She asked me if I wanted another one, NO I did not!

So sorry you've had a truly horrible time OP. My experience is the same as many PPs. The memory of the insertion made me absolutely petrified of the removal. I got myself in such a state during the build up to it and when it happened I barely feel a thing and it took seconds If insertion is 100 the removal was a 4.

Could you go to a sexual health clinic where the staff will spend all day doing this sort of thing and will be spot on at it and very reassuring?

My first (Mirena) at my GP was AWFUL!!! My second was at a family planning clinic. They sprayed my cervix with anaesthetic spray and then gave the injection to that site. Can honestly say I didn’t feel a thing. It was such a positive experience. I didn't realise it could be so non-traumatic!

Do give it time OP. It really doesn’t hurt coming out but give it a few days to settle either way.

To be fair, I've had local anaesthetic injections into my cervix and didn't even feel them.

I'm not denying that OP felt pain, just saying that I do think it must be very variable. I was waiting for the dr to say he was going to do the injection (and was absolute terrified as, like you, I thought it sounded horrific), but then he just told me they were all done.
The multiple local anaesthetic injections I had after giving birth before they stitched me however, were painful. Maybe I just have a numb cervix 😂

No advice but feel like vomiting at the thought of LA in the cervix and I've had 2 coils inserted. I didn't even know that was a thing. You poor thing OP 😢

Christ and there's one of the many reasons I won't get a coil

You need to give it time to settle. If it's still bad in a week, and you can still feel the strings (so it's in the right place) then you should get it removed

I've always removed my own when needed, can't even feel it coming out

Ok, I've had 4 copper coils
Yes, afterwards for a few days is sore, I book the day off work after as I know I'm going to be cramping like mad. It settles fast after that, and even though I've had 4, I still have a few days of being really aware it feels "off"
I actually forget I have one most of the time unless the doctor asks me or something

If you still decided you want it out, it's basically like removing a (tmi) tampon that's not ready to come out... feels odd but no pain. Nothing like insertion and I hate having them put in

Insertion was the worst pain I've ever experienced (I haven't given birth yet ) I could barley walk after and thought I was going to pass out but getting it out didn't hurt at all I literally coughed and the nurse just took it out with one pull .

I had the same experience as you when I had one put in age 20. My mum came with me and I bit her hand I was in so much pain, so much pain I was adamant that they had caused some damage as it took 45 minutes to insert. I had it taken out 6 months later and it took seconds. The speculum was uncomfortable and I braced myself for another shit experience but actually it was out in a split second.

I then had another coil put in a few years later. A different GP tried this time and said it wasn't going in comfortably so referred me. Ended up having it done under gas and air and diazepam and that wasn't much better tbh. Again didn't agree with it so had it out within 3 months, again took seconds.

Coil insertion is horrific. I was really not prepared for my first one at all. I vomited.

Removal is straightforward. Not much worse than taking a tampon out.

Honestly having a mirena was a really good decision for me. Can't believe I put it off.

I had my Mirena removed after 7 days. I never actually wanted one in the first place but was coerced into it by a gynae Dr. Insertion was absolute agony. No pain relief ws given. After a couple of days I was convinced it wasn't positioned right, Then it affected my mood severely and I became very anxious and tearful and panicky, which is very unlike me, but I didn't link that to the coil at that point. I went to the gynae emergency clinic and said I thought it may be mispositioned , but they refused to check by ultrasound even though I was right beside one at the time. I demanded that they remove it, which they did. It didn't hurt a bit. My emotions returned to normal in two or three days. It was then I realised it was the Mirena affecting my mental health. I know some people get on well with it, but I didn't and it certainly doesn't suit everyone, but there seems to be little warning given of any possible ill effects in prior to fitting.

No advice, just frustration at yet another story about women's pain and distress during intimate procedures being played down. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.