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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:
Original poster
Momentumista · 25/11/2016 20:38

Thank you cheesy- yes 'puffy' describes perfectly how I felt. I even felt my face was 'puffy'.

OP posts:
CheesyWeez · 25/11/2016 21:11

This blog is a bit old now but it's where I found the info that made me get my Mirena out.
lifeaftermirena.blogspot.fr/
It seems that many women are fine for a couple of years with it - then our bodies have had enough!
Good luck witsender with getting listened to.

PinkSwimGoggles · 25/11/2016 22:04

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

to report side effects

Original poster
Momentumista · 25/11/2016 22:30

Pink swim - thank you for that, I didn't know about yellow card scheme & definitely will report.

OP posts:
Badnaughtyzoot · 25/11/2016 22:30

I see your coils, and I raise you the implant.

Three months it took to get mine out, despite being suicidal. Previously no mh problems, not a bit, ever. Then I got the implant in and my entire world turned grey.And I mean physically the colour grey. Everything was muted and I didn't care about anything. I would temporarily lose the use of my arm because it went completely numb a couple of times a week. Yes to the usual bleeding, weight gain,exhaustion etc

It was when I found myself staring out of the window plotting suicide with the same casual yet definite attitude with which I'd plan the weekly shop, that I realised something was very wrong. Family, friends and DH had all commented that it was as if the lights had gone off behind my eyes

Still, the GP said it was all nonsense and simply refused to take it out. Numerous times. I went back time and time again, was tested for thyroid, offered anti depressants

I walked out of the clinic the last time after being fobbed off, stood on the street and thought for a minute, turned round, went back in, and sat in reception until they agreed to take it out.....which, surprise surprise, they managed to do that day. I was back to normal within a week and have had no problems since

What a coincidence that the only time in my life that I've been depressed and suicidal, also happened to be the few months I had the implant in.

NewBallsPlease00 · 25/11/2016 22:45

Every time I go to dr they try and sell me the mirena coil- I know no one who has had a good experience on it and always refuse. Have just started pill again after 6 year break... Feels like nothing has moved on in that time!

AnaG1ypta · 26/11/2016 00:28

I rang up today to make an appt to have mine taken out. No problems getting an appt, fingers crossed the nurse agrees to take it out without any issues.

Mintychoc1 · 26/11/2016 01:13

Inglourious I'm a GP and I fit coils. We don't get incentive payments for them at all. We get a nominal fee for offering contraceptive services (coils, implants) but when you take into account the number of appointments involved, we actually end up fitting them at a financial loss.

I warn patients (before they opt for a coil) that they may get a variety of side effects for up to 6 months, and that unless they are absolutely desperate they should be prepared to wait that long before having it removed.

Graphista · 26/11/2016 01:17

How much is the 'nominal' fee? Who covers the costs of the appointments you or the nhs or a combination?

EstelleRoberts · 26/11/2016 01:37

It is OUTRAGEOUS that HCPs are refusing to remove these contraceptive devices. All medical treatment requires informed consent. If you rescind that consent, I cannot see how they can refuse to remove it. I would be making it very clear to my GP/relevant HCP, that I was removing consent right there and then, and if they refused to remove it I would be making a complaint.

Makes my blood boil.

I agree with pps who made very valid points about this reflecting a more widespread attitude, in some quarters, that consent is somehow not required if it is for a procedure that is only required if you are female.

Mintychoc1 · 26/11/2016 01:43

I don't know the exact amount because I don't deal with the finances, but all GPs know from calculations that fitting coils is something that essentially loses the surgery money. We are under pressure to offer the service, but most of us would happily opt out and leave it to family planning clinics. We are seriously considering stopping coil fitting at my practice - it's more hassle than it's worth, as this thread demonstrates!

Manumission · 26/11/2016 01:57

I removed mine too. Arguing about it got boring (and it automatically folds as you tug the strings so it's not as drastic as it sounds, it's fishing about for the very short, wiry strings that is difficult).

I didn't realise about the incentive situation. That explains a lot Angry

EstelleRoberts · 26/11/2016 02:45

Minty/other HCPs: why is it, do you think, that so many on this thread are coming up against refusal to remove the coil, even though it is what the patient wants?

Why are so many women being denied autonomy over their own bodies/medical treatment?

mumofone1234 · 26/11/2016 02:46

When I finally was allowed to have mine out (I persevered for a year of horrible side effects as each time I went to the clinic to ask to have it out, the consultant talked me in to giving it a chance to 'settle'. This was actually my second time of trying a Mirena, so I don't know why I was so unassertive.

The third time I went back it was a nurse I saw. She said she wasn't meant to remove them without a Dr on the premises but she could see how desperate I was. I told her that I had thought of removing it myself and she said 'you would have been able to...it's not hard'

manhowdy · 26/11/2016 03:24

I had this too! Normal coil but it was causing me all sorts of grief. Family planning docs/nurses kept fobbing me off.

Had a colposcopy appt and a nice male doc on some sort of secondment from a hospital in Africa. Asked him to pull the fucker out while he was doing the biopsy and he did so without question.

Ahhhh, sweet relief.

Mintychoc1 · 26/11/2016 07:53

manumission please read my posts. There are not incentives.

Very few people have said how long they've had their coil in before they wanted it removed. I would be reluctant to remove a coil before 6 months, because in my experience (fitting coils for 20+ years) many symptoms settle after that. If someone still had problems after 6 months I'd remove it without question.

everythingtoplayfor · 26/11/2016 07:59

It's terrible they wouldn't take it out when you requested. My sister and a few friends had the Mirena coil and we are certain it can cause depression as there was no other obvious change that could have caused how each began to feel - all removed now and 3 happy ladies

PinkSwimGoggles · 26/11/2016 09:33

minty another question. to you report the side effects (as you should) when women tell you about their trouble with their coil?
(or anyone telling you about side effects of they medication, really)

and if not, why not?

EstelleRoberts · 26/11/2016 09:51

Minty, thanks for answering my question. I can understand a HCP thinking the patient may benefit medium-long term if they can ride out initial side-effects, but isn't it for the patient to decide whether they wish to put up with the side effects for that initial period, rather than the HCP?

(Not suggesting you would personally coerce patients in the way that other HCPs clearly are).

As a comparison, many psych drugs have troublesome side-effects. Some settle after an initial period, some don't. It is widely recognised that there is huge variability between patients, as to how these side effects manifest, and that tolerability varies greatly. Where patients feel side effects are not tolerable, meds are changed. Patients are certainly not required to wait six months (!) for side effects to settle (if they ever do). Six months is a long time to be troubled by iatrogenic depression, plus all the other problems some patients experience.

If HCPs in other branches of medicine/treating other issues are prepared to grant autonomy to the patient (as indeed they should/are required to do), why is this not being applied, in some cases, to women's contraceptive choices?

manhowdy · 26/11/2016 10:12

I would be reluctant to remove a coil before 6 months, because in my experience (fitting coils for 20+ years) many symptoms settle after that.

Should that be your decision though, or the patient's? Horrible for side effects for 6 months is a lot to ask of someone. I personally had constant thrush. Constant. Never had it before and as soon as the coil was removed it never came back. Thrush for months on end is miserable.

CmereTilliTellYa · 26/11/2016 10:14

Minty on the six months issue, I had frequent horrible headaches, very low mood and a constant fuzzy head. It felt like I had marshmallows for brains. It was awful and there was no way I was going to wait 6 months plus to see if it went away. I could barely function as it was and only lasted just shy of 3 months in the end before having it removed.

nichito · 26/11/2016 10:52

I'm sorry, but whether or not the side effects are more likely than not to go away after 6 months, it is eye-wateringly arrogant and dehumanising in a noxious, "for your own good, dear" way to outright disobey somebody's request to have a foreign body removed from their person.

If a person does not wish to put up with 3 months of side effects, they do not have to. End of story.

Graphista · 26/11/2016 11:08

1 I find it hard to believe you 'don't know' how much the incentive is either you don't want to say (because it's a lot of money?) or you're not really in a position to know.

2 the 6 month thing - then you tell the patient that side effects are likely to subside within 6 months so THEY can decide INFORMED consent

Are gp's telling patients honestly about the possible side effects BEFORE fitting? Are you replying side effects issue AS YOU ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO?

Graphista · 26/11/2016 11:09

*reporting not replying

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