To think the nurse fibbed?

[sheetspread]

Had a smear this morning and while making conversation with the nurse, mentioned that I'd had difficulty with the speculum when my coil was being fitted.

After she'd finished up she said all the usual about there being a wait of up to 4 weeks for results, but that my cervix looked normal and my coil strings were definitely in the right place.

I was in a huge hurry leaving so almost didn't process what she'd said until I was out of the door but - I don't have a coil in anymore! I haven't for years! Indeed have had a vaginal scan, a second baby (and so multiple more scans!), a caesarean section etc since the coil exited my body. I definitely haven't had another fitted in some kind of fugue state. I'm completely baffled by why she'd say that about the strings when there can't have been any visible because they're not there. Is there any way there'd be something in there anatomically that might give the appearance of coil strings? I'm stumped!

She just sounds a bit dozy to me.
Not necessarily lying, just her mind not fully on the job.

I'd ignore it unless you feel up to reporting her to the Practice Manager.

Wtf?!
Have you asked anyone involved if they have notes of what happened? You could be making all sorts of decisions based on the assumption there is no coil in!

Ahh nooooo

Did you sue?

Yes! For various reasons I have copies of all my notes from that surgery and there is no mention of coil! By the time I found out (3 years, as I had a smear at same time as op, while they were up there already and all that!) surgeon had retired, and would be unlikely to remember a coil if it wasn't in the notes.

Very long story that I'm currently not able to discuss for legal reasons.

;)

I had a weird experience with a coil. Many years ago I was fitted with a coil and I found it very painful. Went for check, all OK.2 months later I was pregnant. I began to bleed heavily and had a D&C . Was told they didnt see a coil. A few months later ( couldn't take pill) I was encouraged to try a different coil. This seemed satisfactory until it was removed before I conceived my last child. My situation changed and I did not need contraception. 36 years later I had a fall and went for an xray. I was asked if I had something in my pocket or round my waist as something odd was showing . Was sent for a scan . Eventually coil was found in my bladder . Which would explain years of discomfort. It was removed by a surgeon .

You need to contact the clinic and ask because it is important to know if you have a coin or not and it is important for your medical records to reflect this.

coil*

Maybe you have one of those longy wiry dark hairs which seem to grow overnight sprouting from your cervix. I have one on the mile on my chin but it's quite easy to get to with the tweezers 😁

Fair enough.

OUCH

She was just on autopilot. Surely it's just one vagina after another on a conveyor belt and she was probably just thinking of a previous one! You're overthinking it. She wasn't!

Some of the care experienced by posters here is appallingly awful 😔

Why the hell is everyone blithely talking about autopilot as if that's okay? So are we all just happy enough with nurses mixing patients up and mistakenly talking about a previous patient's results to the face of the patient in the room with them right now?

What if she finds something abnormal when examining someone, but says everything's clear because the previous patient was clear?! Is that okay as well?! Good lord.

Absolutely amazing attitude.

otnight · Today 17:05
Some of the care experienced by posters here is appallingly awful

this!

putting a coil in without consent, appalling disregard for women’s fertility and body choices. Leaving women not even knowing it’s there?? I’m
appall and sad for anyone impacted. Surely that’s assault?

This is what I would have assumed too.

Op I can see that she might think that you have a coil as you mentioned one being fitted.

However-would there be no notes for her to refer to?

Why would she reassure about a non existent coil?

I'd definitely be seeking clarification!

I would definitely double check as the PP said you do need to know.

It is actually frightening isn't it?

Me too! Me too!

I had a hysteroscopy to investigate post menopausal bleeding. They recommended having the Minnie Mouse coil (I'm sure it's not called that - but my menopause brain fog strikes again and it's the only name I can think of. I think it at least begins with M though 😂). I declined, as the incident of bleeding I had seemed to be a one-off, I take oral Progesterone separate to my HRT and am very reluctant to give that up as it helps enormously with my sleeping, so I declined on the agreement that if the biopsy results from the hysteroscopy revealed that the coil would be beneficial, I would reconsider.

Imagine my surprise when at my next smear some 12 months later, the nurse told me how nicely my coil was sitting! I was furious - my follow up later from the Gynae clinic after the hysteroscopy even said that no coil was fitted as I felt it wasn't necessary at the time.

So yes, I'd get it checked out. Can you deploy a good friend or partner up there with a miner's headlamp to carry out a pit inspection?! 😂

And dare I say it? Something this awful would never happen routinely to men regarding their healthcare.