To ask for gas and air for a coil fitting

[StillCantDecideOnaUsername]

I want it done but I'm terrified as I've heard a few horror stories about how painful it is. Do you think they'd give me gas and air or would the Dr think I was a bit bonkers?!

I don't know, but I love gas and air so I think it's a genius idea.

Ask by all means. But it isn't that bad. For me it was just like a contraction. Which is of course painful but you know it's going to come to an end shortly. Then after its just like having period pain. Take paracetamol beforehand

I had one fitted pre-childbirth and it wasn't the most fun I've ever had but was ok. And I'm no stoic. You always hear the worst experiences.

In answer to your actual question, you can but ask!

Can't think they'd have canisters of it on hand. They should however, have anaesthetic gel. I had the gel after I'd convinced the doctor that actually I did need it and was in pain.

Fitting was horrendous pre-gel, but it was fine with.

A) I mean, don't ask don't get, but I think it's quite unlikely that either the GP or family planning clinic that you're presumably going to even have gas and air just lying around...
B) I was terrified before mine, too - it wasn't nice but it also wasn't as horrendous as I'd thought. It was a sharp pain but very quick. I had also worked myself up on Internet horror stories; remember that no one bothers going online to post the mundane 'not a fun time but ok' stories. For obvious reasons those with extreme experiences are much more likely to talk about them.

YANBU. I had a GA for mine (but I have endometriosis).

It honestly wasn't that bad, more like a smear test. Take pain killer before, I can't imagine they will have gas and air available.

Have you had DC? Mine barely registered on the pain scale - period pain afterwards but nothing a paracetamol could sort out.

Couldn't sort out even!

Mine wasn't that bad. It just felt like bad period pains for a short while nothing like childbirth

If you don't ask you don't get! But it really isn't that bad; I didn't feel any pain when I had mine done just slight discomfort like a smear.

You're in and out in a few minutes, so being squiffy on gas and air would just be a nuisance.

You need special training for g and a so I very much doubt it will just be available.
Mine really wasn't that bad though if that helps

I had one and it didn't hurt at all, just felt like a smear.

I had a little injection beforehand with anaesthetic, and it wasn't painful at all, I didn't ask for it they said it was standard. I'm not sure they would have gas and air on hand, you could ask them what pain relief options are available if you're self conscious about asking? Good luck, I'm sure it will be fine. It's a lot we have to go through for the family isn't it! I've got my fingers grossed a vasectomy is on the cards after one more kid.

g and a is not generally available at gp surgeries as specialist training is required, a coil is straight forward but you might like to take paracetamol an hour or so before you have it done, usually uncomfortable more than painful though, good luck : )

I had heard horror stories too but honestly it really wasn't that bad at all. I would say no worse than a cervical smear. The anticipation is worse than the event.

I ended up having mine put in under a general but that was because they were looking at something else at the same time.

When we were discussing it beforehand the GP said that as I'd had four children she could probably just throw it across the room at me and it would go in! Charming!

Yabu, they won't have gas and air at a gp's/family planning clinic!

Thanks for all the replies, makes me feel a bit better that not everyone has had an awful experience! I've had two dc both with just g&a but I had a horrible experience beforehand with a stretch and sweep which was excruciating- I just wasn't prepared for the pain so I think that has scarred me a little bit! Am going to have a chat with Dr next week about it all anyway so I'll see what they suggest.

Truffle how rude of them!

I have had two fitted, not gone through childbirth, have had one miscarriage. It was fine both times, not something I would want to experience daily but fine. Ibuprofen and paracetamol was plenty to knock it on the head. You only read about the worst!

In fact the most uncomfortable part of my last coil fitting was when the nurse announced I had "tight young muscles" that wouldn't let go of the speculum, v awks.

Mine was fine. Uncomfortable but fine. Not sure they'd have agreed to gas and air at the GU clinic!

Phone around and try and find a clinic that offers a local anesthetic, that's what I did. Getting injected felt like when they do it at the dentist and then didn't feel a thing!

If it helps to reassure you I found having a coil fitted really quick and pretty painless (and this was pre DS). About 3 seconds of what felt like a period cramp and that was it. No cramping afterwards either. It's not always painful :)