to ask about your experience with mirena coil?

[lasangoles]

Sorry for posting in AIBU. My phone crashes when I try to change it for some reason. Very annoying.

Would anyone mind sharing their mirena coil experience with me? Was it painful to insert? Does it take a long time? I haven't let anyone near me intimately since I was sexually assaulted and in worried about having a panic attack. I've been told regardless of this, I can't have anyone with me because of covid. I'm worried I'm going to bleed for a long time afterwards, like I did with the implant. My periods are so heavy at the moment and my iron levels are so low. I'm really hoping it'll help.

Can anyone offer their experiences?

Even if you are not allowed anyone in the room with you do you have someone who can drive you and wait outside for you, maybe even video chat from the car? If not do you have a tablet or something you can watch your choice of video on so you can try to disassociate with the procedure?

That's a really good idea @OddBoots - tablets with games/videos are used in hospitals with children and are shown to significantly reduce anxiety levels and improve recovery times after surgeries - @lasangoles could you give that a go? Or the video chat thing?

I haven't had children and do have Mirena - on my 3rd I think. I've found it a bit painful when fitting - pain inside - like a smear test but a bit more scrapey/pinchey, but that lasts just a few seconds really. From memory the process is a bit like this; put in the speculum thing (like smear test), put in Mirena, scrapey pinchey pain maybe once or twice, then out comes the speculum and it's all over. Then low level period cramps for the day - hot water bottle!

Could you call the place where your'e scheduled to have it fitted and explain how worried you are? See what they say?

I haven't had a period for I don't know how many years now - I have a couple of days every month or two where there's some spotting (the level where a single panty liner for an entire day would deal with it) - a total revelation.

So sorry to hear about your assault. I had a female doctor and nurse present when mine was put in, very clinical and not at all intimate. I had mine put in 8 weeks after giving birth. Going in was fine, but she cut the strings too short and they were quite stabby apparently.
It did stop my periods, as well as my sex drive and good humour. It also stopped me losing the 3 stone of baby weight too.
So quite effective as contraception goes.
Took a year to persuade someone to take it out and I’m now on the copper coil which is much better for me, although periods are longer than they used to be.

@Catiopea

I understand the fear Iasa, I don’t know how great your GP is but it is best to tell them your fears and expectations (e.g. only females attending) and you may need to repeat that to booking and to whoever is fitting it on the day. Unfortunately most gynae type places will have treated assault survivors before, they will be sensitive to your feelings.

PP have given the pros/cons of the mirena itself and suggested practical things like diazepam or painkillers, so from an emotional angle:

Prepare yourself by remembering that it is a medical procedure and not the same situation as the assault(s). The doctor and nurse are coming from a place of care for you.

Having a small ‘mantra’ can help during the procedure to repeat to yourself, or a stress ball (since handholding will be out) and the assisting nurse may also try to chat with you to distract you, and importantly, if you say ‘Stop’ they will. You have choices, you are in control of your own body.

Clear the rest of your day if you can, have easy, tasty food in the house and maybe hot water bottle, blanket, film, because you may feel upset/tearful after its all over and you’ve gotten through it.

Or you may feel uplifted as its one more ‘first’ after the attack(s) survived and dealt with (first time leaving house, first day back at work, first conversation with a male etc) and one more step in your life that leaves the attacker further behind you and you further forward in your recovery and life.

I hope it goes well for you Iasa it isn’t easy, but it is probably worth it for your physical & mental health once its done.

What a fantastic post. I'd echo all that, especially the mantra. Something like "I'm safe, this is for me" could work. Also echo idea of some kind of distraction or video. I always use relaxation tracks on my phone whilst I'm having dental work. Good luck 💐

Okay, I got the Mirena and they said it was one of the worst insertions they had did...... And I would still have it done again. I started counting my breaths, the pain lasted for around 25 deep breaths. In for four, hold for four, out for four.... And so on. I have been sexually assaulted and find pain in that area quite triggering so I understand ..... But when it was over, the initial pain disappeared very quickly.. I had some cramping pain for the two to three days after but painkillers and a hot water bottle sorted it out. And now I have zero periods. You can do this.

Take painkillers before you go ( I foolishly didn't do this) .. or diazepam, whatever is recommended , whatever helps... And good luck. I'm sending you best wishes ....

I had one pre-children and the insertion and removal were fine. I took some ibuprofen which dealt with the little bit of cramping I got, and was back at work half an hour afterwards. I deliberately had my inserted at the contraception clinic at the local sexual health centre as I thought they would be more experienced in doing them than the GP, and the staff were brilliant. Probably also used to dealing with people who find intimate procedures difficult, I’d imagine.

Bleeding wise, I had very light bleeding on and off for a couple of months which was a bit annoying, but after that I didn’t have any periods or bleeding at all while I had it in, which was about 3 years.

It was a good option for me but as with all contraception it’s definitely not for everyone.

I had to go under general to have it put in as my gynaecologist said that it would be too painful due to my cervix (I was 41 and had had 4 c sections...no natural births). I had very light bleeding for the first few weeks and then haven’t had any at all for almost 3 years...

Wish I had had it earlier!

I love mine. I have had two vaginal births and insertion was fine, although the bit where they clamp the cervix was uncomfortable.
Even if you can't have someone who knows you, you should be able to have another practitioner like a nurse or HCA etc who will be there for you while someone else inserts the coil. They can hold your hand, talk to you, whatever you want / need. Definitely worth asking in advance and explaining your need for kind and sympathetic care on the day (not that you should have to but just so they know to be extra sensitive). Good luck

I've just had it done and I ended up having to talk to a mental health professional on my way home. I feel like I'm going in to a mental health crisis. Not really sure what to do. Was just given breathing exercises.

I didn't even tell them about my experiences and they didn't mention or ask about it even though it was in my notes from my consultation. I just froze.

Gosh, sorry to hear about your bad experience OP, I hope you have some time to recoup and someone to talk to

And I hope the Mirena helps with your period problems. The mini pill (Cerazette) also stopped mine for years, it was amazing

They are very eager to fit them but less eager to take out...

I feel like I want it out of my body already

‘Freezing’ is normal too Iasa its a protective action. Call the mental health team back if you need to. You have managed it though, the procedure is over and you managed it.

Call someone if that helps, distract yourself with something if that helps, post again if that helps. Sometime in the next hours or day you will feel how brave you’ve been and proud of yourself for taking back another part of your autonomy, your choices and your life.

You’ve conquered the fear of going, managed to complete the procedure to make your future life a bit easier, and asked for help when you needed it. That’s quite a lot for one day go easy on yourself and allow yourself to feel proud of what you’ve achieved, its not a step back to feel scared, just a little swing around and then forward again.

Give yourself some time first Iasa to see if that is the fear kicking back.

So sorry to hear that @lasangoles Have you got a good friend in rl that can support you?

You have been really brave today & you have done really well to hopefully solve your heavy periods. I know how bad that flooding is, just awful. Keep topped up with pain killers if you feel crampy and take it easy and try to relax.

Mine was fine personally I didn’t find it painful going in just like a smear test (I believe it is much easier/less painful to put in if you have had previous vaginal deliveries as your cervix has opened before). Took some paracetamol before as the GP has instructed me too and was fine apart from some light cramps. I bled for about a week after it went in and my periods pretty much stopped apart from some light spotting when my period was due. Worked great for a couple of years had it out to TTC DC2 and was preganant a month after removal!

Just seen your update OP you have done a really big thing today well done! I hope you have someone who can support and give you some some TLC

Made my periods light, got rid of PMT and worked as a contraceptive. Unfortunately I was one of the 10% odd who get ovarian cysts with it and the even smaller % for whom they caused pain. I was in agony several days a month around ovulation. So I took it out.

But if it weren't for that I'd still have one.

Oh op just seen your update. If it’s any help, I wanted mine removed instantly. I felt like I could feel it in my womb and it was horrid.

Give it a couple of weeks. Mine settled down in that time and now I really do love it.

Hope you’re ok

Had mine in for 2 years and had it removed today for TTC. I have had 1 child and apparently the insertion is slightly better. It was fine tho, it was more uncomfortable than painful and was over within a few mins. Have had no periods. Will defo have one again after I hopefully have next babies

OP so sorry you're feeling like this. Keep talking it through and know you can have it out anytime!

Six month's of sheer hell, today I’m much happier still bleed some days but the agony has gone only about once a week or even longer.

@Funkypolar

They are very eager to fit them but less eager to take out...

Yep. I had one for contraception, not heavy periods. I'd had two vaginal births and did not find insertion painful. But I took every negative side effect going and they wouldn't remove it for months, kept telling me it would settle and prescribing more drugs to counteract the side effects until I told them this was a matter of consent; that their refusal to remove it was a removal of my consent and forcing medical treatment on me.