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Original poster

....to ask if anyone else has had a "lost" Mirena?

58 replies

Runningupthathill82 · 15/01/2015 23:16

So. I went to the GP to get my Mirena removed and she said she couldn't find the strings.

Half an hour of rummaging later, with increasingly grim and uncomfortable bits of equipment, there's still no sign. Gp is certain it's still in there - I haven't seen it come out and my periods haven't 're-started - but she thinks it has "migrated." So next step is a scan, to find it.

I'm very concerned to say the least. Where the fuck is it? Why did I have no idea this could happen? How will it ever come out? And is this normal?!

Any experiences from others would be much appreciated. I may be overreacting, but I'm worried there could be potential permanent problems and perhaps a lesser chance of conceiving DC2.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Rumours · 16/01/2015 19:40

I've been referred to the hospital to have mine out because the strings have moved up. The gp did use the brush thing but couldn't find it. If the hospital can't get it then I will have a scan and go from there. Such a faff!

autumnboys · 16/01/2015 19:49

Mine couldn't be found when I went to have it out. Went back for the Dr to try. Was advised to use condoms while waiting for a scan. We were really worried about it, so went privately to see a consultant who was able to locate and remove. He was modest enough to say it was probably because of the point in my cycle. I have quite a high cervix, which probably contributed in the first place.

I was a bit dismayed to be told that if it had punctured my uterus and escaped, any further pregnancies would be treated as VBAC, due to the scar.

Doilooklikeatourist · 16/01/2015 19:50

My GP couldn't find mine to remove it .
I was referred for a scan , where it was seen quite clearly where it should have been
Back to the GP a while later , she whipped it out and put another one in .
Now that I'm very very old , the second one is coming out this summer

FailOfTheCentury · 16/01/2015 19:55

I had a Jaydess put in and was enrolled on a study. Every so often, they send me a questionnaire and an Amazon voucher, and I write down that the thing made its own way out after only a couple of days in there. I had to hoik it out myself though; it got stuck halfway down.

Bodicea · 16/01/2015 20:02

I am a sonographer - I scan for lost strings all the time - the mirenas are usually there. Has totally put me off ever having one though. Make sure you take extra precautions until you get a scan to confirm it's still therez

flyingspaghettimonster · 16/01/2015 20:31

Yep - mine went missing - I found out when I was told I was pregnant... Son is nearly 6 now. I wouldn't be without him - but I was annoyed at the time - it cost $500 and I was told it was more effective than a tubal ligation!

Writerwannabe83 · 16/01/2015 20:51

When I had my Mirena inserted three years ago I was told to abstain from sex until I'd had my post-insertion check with the GP to check things were ok and I was 'covered' in terms of contraception.

My friend had a Mirena put in 12 months ago and was told it was absolutely fine to have sex straight away and I don't even think they booked her in for a follow-up appointment.

lostblonde86 · 16/01/2015 21:09

Hmm meant to be seeing gp in couple of weeks to fit. This really puts me off Blush

Writerwannabe83 · 16/01/2015 21:21

Well after my 'lost coil' experience I'm still going back to have another one inserted in two weeks time Grin

The benefits of it far outweighed the blip of lost strings Grin

Whitewhine · 16/01/2015 21:29

Twice mine has been lost... Finally got sterilised instead. Obstetrician in outpatients managed to locate and remove mine with a "string retriever". Not the most dignified or pleasant experience but not as bad as I feared.

Karoleann · 16/01/2015 22:49

My copper coil was very difficult to get out as apparently my uterus had retroverted after I had DC3. The nurse at the family planning clinic said she couldn't find it and neither could the 2 GP's and the student - luckily I'm fairly blasé about it all after 3 DC. .

The consultant obstetrician and his scanner took a good 45 minutes to find it and he had to press quite hard to my stomach in certain places to get it out - i did however pay for the obs/gyn appointment.
Blibbs - If you don't want the general, try Birth clinic, Harley Street, Dr Gibbs.

itchybumagain · 16/01/2015 23:56

Yes I have, but got it out in the end!

Went to GP she couldn't find strings even after a good rummage.

Referred privately to Gynae who put it in, as I have healthcare. He tried everything and as I have a fear of GA I told him to do what he had to, which was grim. I kept looking down and all these implements kept being passed over. Still couldn't find it!

Then had to have hysteroscopy to get it out, offered GA which I refused. Had local and it wasn't pleasant at all.

Only took minutes but was very uncomfortable and as they squirt water up your foof lots of leakage.

I had to sit for an hour and was a bit shaky but back to normal next day.

Looking back it was OK and I'm pleased its out as I hated it!

itchybumagain · 16/01/2015 23:58

Sorry forgot to say, it was in exactly right position but consultant said strings can erode or just fall off.

A scan confirmed it was still there.

TheMightyMing · 17/01/2015 00:02

Urgh! Yes- I lost mine and had to have a scan to locate it. They found it on a trip round my innards! But the appointment took ages and I was told no unprotected sex until my new one was in. Using condoms after 16 plus years of marriage was a trip down memory Lane!!!!

I could not have had my husband watch the very un dignified rooting to get it out, it took him years to get over seeing me give birth :)

Not awful, bit worse than a smear.

teawamutu · 17/01/2015 08:49

Had my third mirena put in six weeks after Ds1 born. Don't know if it was too soon, but mine disappeared too.

After nurse tried and couldn't find it, I went to a gynaecologist who whipped it out in about a minute flat. Pain no worse than normal removal.

Hasn't put me off, I've had mirenas since. Best contraception ever.

ToffeeLatteplease · 17/01/2015 08:58

I have had two copper cpils go wrong. The first had moved so it was offering any protection. Thayt mild abdominal pain i had ignored Hmm

The second was accidentally ripped out when DPs penis caught the strings. Oh the pain and blood

Haven't had one since

Angel1983 · 17/01/2015 09:25

ToffeeLatte - oh my word. Can that actually happen? I feel a bit faint at the thought!

ToffeeLatteplease · 17/01/2015 09:33

Yes it can and did. Late night trip to a&e Lots of pain and very very strong pain killers for a couple of weeks after. Thankfully no long term damage though.

teawamutu · 17/01/2015 09:38

OP, I should point out that I have conceived within two months of both my mirenas being removed, including the walkabout one. Doesn't seem to have had any effect long term.

MushroomSoup · 17/01/2015 23:36

I actually loved the coil and would use one again! Best contraceptive ever even though I got pregnant

Bodicea · 18/01/2015 08:08

Modena is better than copper coil though. Copper coil has to be in the exact night position to work. MirenA just has to be "somewhere" in the uterus.

Original poster
Runningupthathill82 · 19/01/2015 16:09

Slight update - I've been getting lots of bleeding since the appointment where the GP tried to find my "lost" Mirena, plus back pain.

Concerned about this, I called the surgery today to try and get an appointment to check this out. I also asked for guidance as to how long the referral to the hospital - for the scan to find the Mirena - should take.

I was told that no appointments were available and they had no update as to the date of the scan, as the gp hadn't done the referral yet. This doesn't seem right to me -I know GPs are horribly overworked, but should it really take 5 days to do a referral? I just don't know.

And should I be more worried about the bleeding and back pain that's been ongoing since the failed Mirena retrieval?

I'm in bits. I just want it out of me and rue the day I had the bastard put in. It's horrible to think it's in there but we don't know where.

Anyone got any experience or advice? I just want it out NOW and am so panicked.

OP posts:
Playdoughcaterpillar · 19/01/2015 16:20

Do you have an emergency gynae unit locally? they would see you if you are bleeding and in pain with lost strings for an urgent scan. Just turn up for most of them, depends where you are.

Original poster
Runningupthathill82 · 19/01/2015 16:29

No, we don't - it's A&E or a walk-in centre. Not sure if A&E could help, plus I don't want to overburden a stretched dept anyway.
Nearest emergency gynae unit is two hours' drive away.

OP posts:
summersfaraway · 19/01/2015 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.