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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want this bloody implant out now!

38 replies

ThisBloodyImplantHasToGo · 11/10/2014 23:24

About 18 months ago my GP managed to persuade me to come off the pill (which I had no problem with and had taken for years with no problems) and try a longer acting method instead. I feel like an idiot now but first he managed to convince me that the injection was great so I tried that.

It wasn't great. I only had two injections and those were the most miserable 6 months of my life. Constant headaches to the point where I threw up several times and I had terrible mood swings. It got to the point where my DH was scared to even ask me a simple question as my mood was so up and down that I would either just start shouting at him for no reason or just burst into tears Blush.

So I decided to stop the injection and planned to go back on the pill. Except then my GP managed to convince me that the implant was the most wonderful thing in the world (someone slap me now please!) so I stupidly had one of them put in.

My headaches went away with the implant so that was an improvement however my moods certainly didn't get better, in fact they've got worse and I've continued to be a hormonal unpredictable stroppy bitch even with the implant.

It's also made my periods horrendous (they were normal on the injection) and I bleed for three weeks out of every four and they are so heavy and so bloody painful! I've never really had painful periods before or heavy ones but with this bloody implant I've actually been reduced to tears because the pain is so bad. Painkillers don't help.

I've been back to my GP several times but each time I've been fobbed off and been told to give it a chance to settle down. But I've had this bloody thing for nearly a year now so surely it should of settled down now if it was going to.

WIBU to go back to my GP and beg for this bloody thing to be removed and also beg him to start prescribing the pill again for me (and hope he doesn't try and push a coil on me this time round)?

OP posts:
SchroSawMargeryDaw · 11/10/2014 23:28

I bled for 6 months straight on the implant, wanted it out but was convinced to take yet more hormones to stop the bleeding. Confused Finally demanded to have it out so YANBU.

When I was in getting mines out there was another woman in actually demanding to have hers out because she "can't face being such a crazy moody bitch anymore".

cherrybombxo · 11/10/2014 23:30

I had to beg to have mine removed, I had a horrendous experience with it. YADNBU.

PiperIsOrange · 11/10/2014 23:34

Go to family planning, they are more clued up then the gp

FelixFelix · 11/10/2014 23:37

I had mine removed after two weeks! It made me so horribly anxious, it was awful. Please keep pushing your GP and insist on getting it removed. Be firm and don't let them fob you off. You'll feel so much better without it by the sound of things.

I am not good on any hormonal contraception. Would you be able to have the copper coil? It wasn't nice having it put in, but it's made such a difference compared to the pill and implant I had before.

Longtalljosie · 11/10/2014 23:41

Go straight back on the pill. GPs are being encouraged to persuade women onto long-acting reversible contraception. It doesn't work for everyone.

HumptyDumptyBumpty · 11/10/2014 23:48

Agree with Felix. Copper coil is ace. No extra fake hormones, slightly uncomfortable fitting, but then done. The implant was horrendous for me too. Six months of bleeding without a single day off, fainting, anaemia. I ordered the doc to take it out, and wouldn't take no for an answer. I don't give a fuckity fuck if it's cheaper to bung it in, I'm never having the implant ever again. Vile little torture stick.

redexpat · 12/10/2014 00:40

Agree that family planning are more clued up. I would ring to book an appointment to have it taken out. Dont ask, just state. I dont know why your gp tried to change it in the first place - if it aint broke dont fix it.

goodasitgets · 12/10/2014 00:47

I would second going to family planning clinic. They were happy with me having a copper coil (probably because they're about 5p each or something)
Was offered the implant/injection etc and my "no, thanks" was absolutely fine

EatDessertFirst · 12/10/2014 07:21

I had to fight to get my implant removed. I bled horribly, was made to take another Pill to stop the bleeding (which came back) and after a year I had enough. THEN, the GP struggled to get the damn thing out. My arm is permanently scarred where he was digging around so much. Stick to your guns.

FlappertyFlippers · 12/10/2014 07:25

I had to fight to get the bloody thing removed early. I suffered with it in for 9 months. Either try family planning or book an appt with the gp, but when booking it tell the receptionist its specifically an appt for implant removal (only some GPs have been trained how to do it)

Charitybelle · 12/10/2014 08:15

Erm, you shouldn't have to 'beg'!
It's your body, your choice, it's not up to your gp fgs! Think your gp has been a bit unethical to continue you on contraception that you have stated several times is causing you physical and mental distress. Go back, state you want it out ASAP. Be polite and firm but don't ask, this is not a request, it's your right to have this thing removed from your body! If s/he refuses, go to family planning, but not before making an official complaint about them to the practice manager, copying in the trust and the gmc.

Hope you get it sorted op! x

Noyoucantwatchpeppapig · 12/10/2014 08:30

I had a similar experience, normal pill worked great. Then the study about migraine and stoke risk came out and they won't prescribe it anymore for me.
Mini pills (think I've tried at least 4 different ones) get forgotten too easily and cause on off bleeding/frequent periods.
Had implant for about a year, had periods every 3 weeks lasting 2 weeks. Not heavy but occasionally very painful. It's a brilliant contraceptive as if the constant periods don't put you off DTD the grumpiness will.
Book an appointment for removal tell nosy receptionist you have already discussed it and do not be persuaded when you get there. I felt back to normal a couple if days after removal. I hadn't realised now down it was making me feel.
I have decided I just don't agree with progesterone only methods.
Going to try a copper coil when I am not pregnant anymore. And not even agreeing to mirena. If coil is not good seriously considering sterilisation.
Good luck with GP

emms1981 · 12/10/2014 09:08

Just make an app with family planning to have it out, I had one after the birth of my 2nd son and I actually got on great with it for the 1st year had no periods, but then I was getting bleeds for 3 weeks and a week off if I was lucky, the dh was moaning about not getting any, I went to the docs and he was clueless never even offered me a pill, I then moved and my new docs couldn't fit them or remove so I had it removed at family planing.
I tried the patch for 3 months but had bad moods so now we only use condoms.

Original poster
ThisBloodyImplantHasToGo · 12/10/2014 13:30

I guess I will have to demand it to be taken out. Sometimes I'm even just so tempted to cut the bloody thing out myself because it's such a pain in the arse.

The funny thing is I've just read an article about promoting the use of LARC and one of the arguments for it was that it has less side effects than the pill. My first thought was "are you taking the fucking piss?"

OP posts:
fuckingpamela · 12/10/2014 14:00

The only way I could get mine out without another argument was to tell gp I wanted another baby!

zipzap · 12/10/2014 14:27

Just out of interest, does your go have any targets, bonuses, etc that the surgery gets when they have a certain number of women with it in - or is it more in his (or his surgery's) interest for you to have it in regardless of how much you're suffering?

Elledouble · 12/10/2014 14:35

I had one put in to try to control my two-week-long periods. And ended up with a constant, eight-month period before I got it taken out. It was awful.

After my baby is born I'm going to ask for the Mirena - I asked for one before but they couldn't get it in Blush

TeenageMutantNinjaTurtle · 12/10/2014 14:44

I had a copper cool between dc and it was miserable. Massively heavy, painful periods... I had a mirena put in a couple of weeks ago and now have daily spotting and feel quite teary. GP has advised to give it three months to see if the side effects settle down. I'm not ready for sterilisation, still hoping for a dc3 one day... But it does feel like there is no good side-effect free option...

LeftRightCentre · 12/10/2014 14:45

Get to an FPC. If the pill works for you, stand firm.

Vintagebeads · 12/10/2014 15:36

I had two GPs talk me out of getting the implant taken out even though I was on it a year and miserable.
Go in and stand firm.Bastard thing didnt work for me either.

Noyoucantwatchpeppapig · 13/10/2014 07:49

Teenageturtle I know how you feel, I figure I might as well try a coil but fast feeling like I've exhausted most options. We mainly use condoms when but they are disruptive and can get forgotten Blush

Leela5 · 13/10/2014 07:57

I was an evil cow on implant and lost sex drive. When I went to get it out I had locum doctor who had never met me before. She started to say she thought I should keep it and I just growled at her 'Get. This. Thing. Out. Of. My. Arm. Now'

She stopped talking and took it out. Within a month I felt normal again Smile

Hope it goes well OP

giraffescantboogie · 13/10/2014 08:57

This is why I won't even let them try one because I know they won't take it out and I would cut it out myself.

Right tell them if they don't take it out you are going to do it yourself then you will present at A&E and tell them why you have done it. Ask your GP for advice on where to buy a really sharp knife Wink

It is about money - they don't want to cut it out because it costs X amount. But it is making your life a misery - you have given it plenty time.

Littlegiraffe · 13/10/2014 09:09

Been there OP. Horrendously long and heavy periods, & felt completely drained. And my GP reluctant to take it out. I had 2 implants before DS was born in 2012 and they were amazing. This time around was hell.
I also seriously thought of cutting it out myself.
I now have the copper coil and it is great. Problem solved.
It's your body, they have no right to refuse to take it out, so maybe remind them of that at your next appointment (or take the easy route as per a previous posters advice, and say you're trying for another baby. Wish I'd thought of that! Smile)

tilliebob · 13/10/2014 09:14

I was just talking about when I had mine in yesterday. I bled for a fecking year and ended up at the FPC telling them that if they didn't take it out right there and then, I'd take it out myself at home.

Excellent contraceptive - bled constantly, made me anaemic, had to buy a new mattress for the bed, chucked out God knows how many clothes - but kept thinking the bleeding would stop and it would all be fine, like I was told when I got the damn thing implanted. Doubt we had sex at all in the whole year.

Totally gave up on hormonal contraception after that!