..to be really cross with the dr who fitted my coil - IN THE WRONG PLACE!!

[Swarski]

I had a mirena coil fitted 6 years ago under a general anaesthetic (whilst having some other yucky stuff done) and then when it came for replacement just under a year ago I toddled along to the GP to have it removed and a new one fitted.

This time it hurt like hell - I mean really hurt to the point of tears and the doctor seemed very flustered, but said that it was all done and in the right place.

One of the reasons I liked the first one is that within 2 months I had no periods at all and after having years of endometriosis and v bad monthly pains, it was bliss! However this did not happen the second time - I was still bleeding heavily after 3 months and there was no pattern to it - sometime 7 weeks between bleeds and sometimes only 10 days!!

Eventually went to GP about it and he referred me for a scan. I had this yesterday (vv horrid internal probe!) and the sonographer has said that it is in completely the wrong place (off to the side instead of in the fundus) and will have only been providing minimal contraception!! Surprised that I was not in more pain...

Now, tracking back to the summer there was a point at which I felt pregnant - sore boobs, feeling sick, but as I had a coil thought it was my imagination....all cleared up when I had a very heavy bleed 7 weeks after my last bleed. Now think that I was probably pregnant and miscarried.

Am seeing the GP at 11.30 today to have this one removed (different GP to the one who fittted it) and am not sure how far to push the fact that I am really cross with the GP who messed up fitting it....

Any views??

This isnt a thread where people are welcome to spout their pro life shit- start your own 'AIBU to think coils are evil' if thats what floats your boat.

Like I said confuddled, you are welcome to your own opinion on that, but Gemsy, not the time or place really is it?

*but like Gemsy says

I've not stated an opinion because I agree it's not the place. I just wanted to help because I could see something that could hurt the OP more than she needs right now not to mention other people being hurt by those comments.

Could people who believe that the coil only stops a fertilised egg embedding please read this.

It explains that the copper coil stops the sperm reaching the egg in the first place and then if that fails (all contraception has a chance of failing) can stop a fertilised egg embedding.

The mirena coil (as used by the OP) also has hormones to reduce the chances of conception in the same way the mini-pill does.

Please stop talking about things when you don't know the full facts and the OP wasn't asking for opinions on having a coil so why offer them?

Well said Happy! :)

danny that is completely incorrect!

OP I would suggest going to your local fp clinic as they have the most experience with fitting coils.

May not be your gps fault however as they can migrate

• sorry that should say fabby. Damn autocheck

Thanks Happy!

I've heard Fabby say that coils cause miscarriages before and it's NOT TRUE. You are only pregnant once the egg and sperm have implanted. Coils kill sperm and, if that doesn't work, stop the sperm and egg implanting so you don't become pregnant. I have had mine (copper) 3 years and have had perfectly regular periods throughout, never missed one, so was never pregnant.

My Mirena ended up in the wrong place too ... wrapped around my appendix . It was also a replacement, and the gynae who removed it said he thought the most likely thing was the removal of the first one (had had it 18 months but the strings had started to disappear into my cervix so they wanted to replace it) had perforated the uterus, so the second one just worked its way through the little hole and went for a stroll around my abdomen.

Took the GP a long time to believe me when I said I thought it had migrated though, since 'it would have hurt a lot more when it was being fitted if it had perforated' (it did hurt, but I have a high pain threshold and was using my natal hypnosis), and 'it is very rare' (yes but it happens). Funnily enough, once I finally had a scan 6 weeks later - no coil - and then it was found on the follow-up X-ray, I got referred straight to the consultant and was in hospital having it removed within a day and a half ...

So, although I was very happy with the Mirena before this happened, I have an implant now instead!

I was cross with GP too at the time, because of having to wait for a scan when I was pretty sure it had perforated, but really I don't think it was his fault. The coil moving around ending up in the wrong place is one of the rare side-effects. And it does sound like as soon as GP saw you he referred you on straight away. But the shock of it all is horrible. Hope the removal wasn't too uncomfortable.

Doctor's quite often don't seem to know what they're doing from what I've heard. My GP poked around for ages trying to fit mine (it really hurt!!) before sending me up to the hospital and the very nice lady doctor just popped it right in.

ALWAYS go to a family planning (sexual health) clinic to have IUDs fitted.

GPs simply don't do enough of them to be skilled; even if they have done the IUD fitting course. Even if you get a trainee doing your IUD at a sexual health clinic, they will always have a supervisor who is highly skilled.

I was musing the whole thing, I am sorry to have caused this on your thread. truly.

I hope you get it sorted.

I had a Mirena coil fitted 3 weeks ago, also under GA whilst having cyst removed, and I read loads before deciding to have it done. With what I read and several discussions with gynae consultant I would never have one fitted or removed by a GP - the gynae said he had done many repairs on women who had them incorrectly fitted and consequently suffered internal damage (yes I know he was also probably trying to drum up business) but I am too frightened of medical procedures to take any chances with my body.
To answer original question YANBU, it is important that you do make the practice aware of your problems to enable them to make sure it does not happen again, to you or anyone else.

Another vote for fitting at the fpc rather than the GPs. I had a malpositioned one from my GP and was in pain for ages before I gave up and had it removed. The coil that I had fitted at the fpc gives me no pain at all (and I got to avoid the patronising practice nurses at my GP practice, and instead see someone who knew about contraception )

I had a mirena coil fitted by a very experienced gynae about a year ago - this is normal where I am -not the job of a GP. After 6 weeks or so I went for a check up and the string had disappeared. The gynae saw this on the ultrasound and commented on it but was not at all concerned. Should I be worried about this? Is it working properly?

FYI I had been a little anxious about the fitting of the coil and took 2 ibuprofun an hour beforehand - I didn´t notice the job was done until the gynae told me to get dressed ; ) So it doesn´t have to hurt!

noloner if it's been seen on the ultrasound in the right place I wouldn't be worried. What I should have done when the strings of my first one disappeared is ask if they could check it with an ultrasound before they took it out and replaced it - as long as the coil itself is still sitting in the right place it's doing the job.

I got pregnant on the coil and tbh it sounds like this might have happened to you too OP. I had exactly the same thing - no bleeding for about 3 months and then a massive bleed and a lot of pain. GP confirmed I had been pregnant.

Have since had coil removed.

I hope it all goes well OP.

Well, have had it removed after a scary discussion about how it may have been implanted into the side of my uterus. GP agreed to 'give it a little tug' and if it hurt she would stop and I would have to go to the hospital!

It hurt a bit, but it came out!!

Now thinking about other options.....have info on minipill, implant and injection.....

GP pre-empted me and assured me that the GP who fitted it would be told what had happened and would be shown the ultrasound images....