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.

Having a coil fitted was the most painful experience of my life (and I’ve had 2 babies without pain relief, broken limbs etc). I don’t know why but for some women it’s agony, while for some it’s just a bit sore, and it’s practically impossible to get people to understand the level of pain you are talking about.

Mine never felt ok and I was in pain until it was removed. I tried another time in case the first one had been fitted poorly, but it was just as bad and I expelled it after a few days.

Having it taken out is a relative breeze and you’ll feel better very quickly.

I had a bad removal, I fainted. I had had it in for 8 years though.

🙋 Another who passed out during a coil insertion and my blood pressure tanked so much, the GP that put it in nearly called an ambulance.

Mine had to be removed under GA as it migrated through my uterus into my abdomen. Another reason not to have one.

And for a procedure that apparently is just a 'little uncomfortable'. What a pile of bullshit. Women are constantly lied to, patronised and gaslighted. I now don't believe anyone in healthcare when they describe a procedure as a 'bit uncomfortable'. Nope, not falling for that one again.

I too preferred childbirth to that pain.

I am so sorry about your son.

Could insertion is horrible. My body expelled mine and I was. Very unwell. However having it out was nothing. Couldn't feel it (had it taken out by a paramedic! But no pain relief).

Stupidly I had another years later. 7 months of the most awful periods and I had that one out. No pain at all.

Good luck x

*coil

Mine didn't hurt at all coming out.

I once asked my GP about the coil, and whether it was awkward to have it fitted. He hesitated a split second too long, before suggesting I could have one inserted under anaesthetic . I decided to stay on the pill.

I had my first coil put in under GA for various reasons. When it was removed I dreaded it being painful, but it wasn't at all. My GP grabbed the strings, told me to cough and gave a tug. Out it came, a completely pain free procedure.

I had my second coil put in three weeks ago, as part of my HRT. My gynaecologist said he'd put it in without a GA as I've had three normal deliveries and assured me it should be fine.

I was worried about it being painful, but in fact it wasn't at all. It was an odd sensation, yes, but at no point was it in any way painful. I had a hysteroscopy, a polyp removed, then the coil put in.

I don't want to dismiss anyone else's experiences, everyone is different, but wanted to say that having a coil put in or removed isn't a horrible experience, or even painful, for every woman.

Neither of mine hurt going in or out

I had one fitted a month ago and literally hardly felt it. However I have given birth vaginally 3 times and the Dr did say that it tends to be easier to fit them into women who have given birth vaginally. I do find it bizarre how it can vary so much between people!

I’ve had two Mirenas:

With my first Mirena the insertion was fine - it took about 20 minutes but it wasn’t painful. However, when it came to removing it I had an horrendous experience but that’s only because
my strings had been drawn up in to my uterus and were wrapped around the coil itself, therefore it couldn’t be removed via the usual method.

With my second coil the insertion was agonising. It was done in about two minutes and it was practically just shoved up me and the pain was unbearable. I was actually crying. However, when it came to having that one out, it took about 3 seconds and I didn’t even realise anything had happened.

My GP has been trying to get me to have another coil but after an awful experience of it going in and an awful experience of it coming out I have said no way!!

I’m really sorry it was so traumatic for you OP 💐

I also went into cervical shock on insertion, sweating, dizzy etc, so I spent 5 years dreading the removal.
In actual fact, it was nothing like insertion.
I coughed when they told me to and it was out!

Same.

First time I felt such intense pain for a second. I imagine it's slightly like a contraction?

Removing it a few years later was pain free, just a tug as it came out.

Fainted when I then had the minera one in. Was fine after a few days and I forget it's there now.

So in - horrible
Out -mild feeling

I think it depends on the person who does it, my second removal I didn't feel a thing, I think it depends how skilled they person is

Same with me. When I had my Mirena fitted 7 years ago, I remember the pain being so unbearable I struggled to drive home. The pain was almost instantaneous. I sat in a warm bath for an hour and the cramp was horrendous for a good two days. I kept it for around a year before I got it removed because it just didn't settle with me and went back to the pill

Also removal took 2 seconds. I was so scared to get it taken out in case they did the same thing again! But no cough and bam, straight out

This is awful to read and is making me feel a bit sick for all you poor women who suffered excruciating pain on jnsertion and removal.

It's made me much more cautious recommending IUS to my teen.

I had my first one, insertion and removal 4 years later, post two vaginal childbirths. I felt ,nothing at all on either occasion. I cannot imagine having an injection into my cervix though. That sounds barbaric and not like something a female clinician who has ever had a smear, sweep, birth or .. Well, anything, would ever do.

Cervices are designed to allow limited entry and exit.
Grim.

I also had only mild cramping after insertion. Much less bad than a period. It must be person dependent and possibly also due to the skill of the clinician. Mine was at a municipal sexual health clinic where treatment volumes must have been high ;) she was confident, no nonsense and very, very quick.

Blimey let's not terrify women - I've had 3 and only had mild discomfort (griping pains) and didn't have any injections that I recall either. I'm sure it hurts for some but some is not all

I've had a coil put in under GA a few years ago and am due to have one inserted next week without GA and after reading this thread, I'm absolutely terrified.

I've always had mine removed and replaced via an epidural.
It's great, I don't feel a thing and I get tea and toast in bed after.

Don't be
I have no DC and I've kept going back every time for a new coil - and I'm a wimp!
For me it was
Cervix clamp uncomfortable
Sounding (where they measure your womb) I said ow and it was done
Fitting the actual coil was another ow
Out of the entire time doing it was about 20 seconds altogether where it hurt

Last time was actually fine and barely any pain but i did go faint afterwards. They lowered the head of the bed and put a fan on which was mortifying as I was still half naked! Very kindly made me a sugary tea too

Like others on this thread I found insertion really painful (and had sweating, had to run to bathroom and felt like vomiting, felt faint had to lie down a while then taxi home as couldn't walk). Removal was fine just a relief.

I think that 'tends to be easier' is a massive understatement that they use to basically gaslight women! I've had one before giving birth vaginally and one after having two vaginal births. The difference was absolutely enormous: the first was almost unbearable, the second barely uncomfortable. I think that it really isn't appropriate to fit in nulliparous women without anaesthetic and they just pretend that's not the case (saying things like 'some discomfort') because of the cost of providing proper anaesthetic.

Ive had a Mirena ever since they were first passed for use for heavy persistent bleeding, so maybe 5 or 6 over the years ( one went wandering and had to be refitted )

The removal is a walk in the park compared to insertion.

Last one I had fitted was on a Christmas Eve, at hospital and whilst the insertion was OK, the pain after was so bad, DH had to stop the car whilst I threw up at the roadside. Christmas was a haze of pain and being as high as a kite from the pain relief ( I had prescription co codomol left over from something else ) It took 2 or 3 days to settle completely

I just had it removed last week by the GP and tbh I was shitting myself but like a PP, it was just the speculum I felt, the coil was out with a cough. Yes I felt a tad shaky and I did experience some cramping for a couple of hours but I was perfectly fine by mid afternoon

I had a Mirena for more then 30 years. Some insertions were better then others. All left me with contractions for 2 or 3 days . Same with removal, some came out with a cough, one in particular where the threads had been cut so short was horrendous and involved being held by two nurses and biting down on a towel - and that was a hospital DCU

The pain was always put down to the fact that I had never had children, like I was in the wrong. The same line trotted out to me when I was having constant D+C's for persistent heavy periods and tremendous pain