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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if I want a mirena coil removed, it should be removed?

294 replies

Momentumista · 24/11/2016 12:38

I had the Hmm face 'well...no I don't think we'd want to be removing it yet' routine when make appt to ask. Was told 'Come back in 6 months when it's settled'... etc etc

This is not a 'how was the coil for you' thread as I know some people love it and swear by it, but really I know my own body by now and I know how I feel and I was

(a) crazy;
(b) gaining weight while eating the same;
(c) spotty as hell (really nasty acne);
(d) depressed;
(e) migraines;
(f) just feeling really heavy and uncomfortable.

And yet while presenting all of these symptoms I get told they will settle and migraines are not dangerous.

I pulled the bloody thing out myself and am already feeling better (1 week on) and skin is clearing, and lo and behold the jeans I could not get anywhere near done up are now done up. Hmm

I am really disappointed not to have been listened to though. WIBU to take matters into my own hands?

OP posts:
RosaliesGinBottle · 24/11/2016 16:49

I'm on my third Mirena. First one was textbook and lovely (after the pain of prekids insertion!). This one is also great. However! The second one! I felt wrong all the time, couldn't put my finger on it. Mood swings, weight gain, weirdness. The doctor didn't believe me that it was the Mirena, but took it out anyway. Cured. I actually think she inserted it slightly wrongly so it never sat right somehow.

Graphista · 24/11/2016 16:55

any gp prioritising financial incentive over patient care should be struck off in my opinion.

busyboysmum · 24/11/2016 16:57

My female gp was amazing when I told her all the side effects I was getting after 6 months and took it out for me without a quibble. I am outraged that they refused for you but it's something I've heard a lot.

Original poster
Momentumista · 24/11/2016 16:59

Graphista - I agree!

OP posts:
olderthanyouthink · 24/11/2016 17:00

Haven't RTFT, just skimmed (you guys are making me queazy)

It this really a cost thing? I had nuvaring for a few months and that costs $80 per month (in America) and the dr didn't try to get me to use something cheaper.
Maybe they just weren't shit, this was a young peoples sexual health clinic not a GP so that might have helped.

Original poster
Momentumista · 24/11/2016 17:02

Thing that annoys me BusyBiys, is the way they don't flat out refuse, but somehow try to manipulate you into thinking that they know best / you are imagining it / you are stupid / things will get better (they rarely do IMHO).

OP posts:
InglouriousBasterd · 24/11/2016 17:03

I agree Graphista! I find it sickening that products that vary massively in terms of side effect profile in different individuals are even incentivised - especially ones that can cause such awful issues in women. And they're basically told to 'sit it out' Hmm

facepalming · 24/11/2016 17:04

My GP said no, so I made an appt directly with the nurse who just whipped it out no questions asked :)

The relief was immediate. I hated the damn thing!!

Graphista · 24/11/2016 17:11

That's gas lighting!

expatinscotland · 24/11/2016 17:12

Can you believe a man would ever be told he had to leave a foreign object in his body that he said was giving him negative side effects? Because I fucking don't.

RubyGoat · 24/11/2016 17:14

My (lovely) GP removed my Mirena after my 3rd appointment in 4 months. However I couldn't get them to remove my copper coil as it contains no hormones, so after 9 months (of increasing joint pain & zero libido, both of which they claimed could not be related, & tried to get me onto antidepressants for,) I removed it myself. The joint pain cleared up within a week.

expatinscotland · 24/11/2016 17:16

'So that was eighteen years ago and I've never had any kind of contraceptive discussion with a doctor since, for which I'm very thankful. I will be reminding DD to watch out for this kind of thing and stand firm.'

I've already started this with my DD.

DoItTooJulia · 24/11/2016 17:17

And this is why I'm never having one. These threads crop up often up that I wouldn't trust a dr to take it out when (if) I wanted it out.

Kudos to you op, I'm glad you're feeling better for it.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 24/11/2016 17:23

You get told 'it will settle'. For months and months and months. I cannot imagine men ever being told to put up with something like this

Didn't the just halt the trials of the male hormone contraception due to a tiny amount of men experancing the very same common side effects women are just expected to put up with

Soubriquet · 24/11/2016 17:25

That's what I've heard too Need

That the men had the exact same side affects...but it's not deemed ok for them to suffer

Soubriquet · 24/11/2016 17:27

And yes it's

"This is a localised hormone. So you can't be suffering from migraines, anxiety, low sex drive and mood swings because it only affects your uterus" Hmm

Greengoddess12 · 24/11/2016 17:33

Lego

My joint pain is so bad I can't excersise and that just makes it worse. And added to weight gain not huge but 81b or so which is huge on me.

witsender · 24/11/2016 17:40

I'm so angry about this at the moment, and everything related tbh. Dh doesn't get it so will rant here.

Went to docs once a month for blinking months after the birth of Ds, as I was beyond exhausted, feeling blurry etc. Was told I was probably suffering from PND and given anti Ds. These lessened the irritability I had from being exhausted, but not the exhaustion.

Keep going back. Eventually they test blood... underactive thyroid. Get meds. Feel a little better. Stop taking hormonal contraception as see online it can cause depressive symptoms.

Go back. Oh yes, pernicious anaemia, have B12 jabs. Bit better. Get coil...no no no, I know you suffer from depression, have a bad history with hormonal meds etc but these will be fine.

Go back. Oh look, normal anaemia, have iron. Bit better.

Go back. Anaemia gone, but thyroid under treated, try more. Can i take coil out? I have put on a stone, am knackered, spotty, sore skinned, no libido and grumpy. "Well, we have been under treating your thyroid so that should help...SEE IF IT SETTLES."

Bah fucking humbug. If I hadn't have been going back and back for the last 4 years none of this would have been noticed, or I would just be fobbed off on anti-ds and not treating the rest. Why are we ignored so much?

Am going to make an appointment tomorrow and push for coil removal.

FledglingFTB · 24/11/2016 17:42

I had a similar thing a few years ago, a certain pill brand made me miserable. To the point where close friends and flat mates noticed and shared their concerns.

I went off it for a few months and felt a load better, so plucked up the courage to try something else. I had a locum and she didn't listen to me (I was a bit emotional and embarrassed). In a nutshell I was told that I sounded ridiculous, my claims were untrue and she prescribed me them again .

I was mortified, I thought it meant there was something wrong with me. I even got the prescription. Thankfully my flatmate spoke to me fort and lobbed them in the bin when he heard how I'd been treated. Moved docs afterwards. I prefer to go to sexual health clinics for advice now. Much more a

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 24/11/2016 17:48

YANBU.

I think on the one hand that doctors are really encouraged to whack in LARC, and I can understand why.

But, even before the recent depression study came out, there were a whole lot of women, including me, who sussed that actual messing with your hormones is not the most sensible course of action. But of course becupause we are women and get pregnant we should just deal with the side effects.

A lot of structural misogyny in medicine I fear Sad

expatinscotland · 24/11/2016 17:51

'And yes it's

"This is a localised hormone. So you can't be suffering from migraines, anxiety, low sex drive and mood swings because it only affects your uterus" hmm'

That one always makes me laugh. Since when was the uterus detached from the rest of the circulatory system? It isn't, so by that token, hormones introduced into the bloodstream go . . . everywhere.

Itmustbemyage · 24/11/2016 17:56

Might not be the same for everyone but I was able to remove mine, almost painlessly, with a sharp tug on the strings. I had got fed up waiting to get an appointment to have it removed.

stiffstink · 24/11/2016 18:02

I had it pushed on me by a midwife in my house, so literally just a week or so after I'd had the baby. I told them I wasn't even considering sex until I was fully recovered from the c section!

expatinscotland · 24/11/2016 18:06

I've had it pushed on me even though I've told the HCP my husband has had a vasectomy! WTAF? And no, I was not there for period problems or anything having to do with gynae issues.

Owllady · 24/11/2016 18:10

I've only read the OP
but I had one fitted 8 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago I had my 6 week check and I told the gynae my symptoms, how my migraines had increased and it was suggested I take my bottoms off, a chaperone was called in and it was taken out immediately! Confused
I'm apparently very sensitive to progesterone but your migraines alone should be cause for concern
I'm sorry you've had to take it out yourself :(